What would you do if you found yourself in a country, completely unlike your own, where everyday everything you have known to be true was being questioned?
Serving in the Peace Corps is not for the faint of heart. It is a journey that forces you outside of your comfort zone and into situations that you never thought you'd be in, let alone be able to handle, in a million years. Last week in Margie's intro to Intercultural Communications class, students were led by a panel of Return Peace Corps Volunteers, on just what it could mean to enlist.
The panel was able to bring prospective from all different parts of the world. From Tanzania to Albania, to the Philippines and Indonesia. The class heard of stories and experiences, hardships and successes, but regardless, it seemed unanimous that Peace Corps would be life-altering. The Peace Corps, which has been around for 50 years, brings its members into countries where they are left to deal with different cultural implications everyday. From remembering to shake everyone's hand when you leave a room, to how to answer certain questions appropriately, to adapting to washing your laundry by hand and living without toilet paper. You begin to adjust to a new normal, because you have to. One of the most important points that the panel highlighted was that there may be times when you feel frustrated with how much you are actually contributing. Maybe there are days when you don't feel like you will ever make a difference. However, they noted that things may not change overnight, but you've got the ball rolling, began the conversation.
"When you are in the Peace Corps you are representing America." It is essential to remember this during your service as brought forth by the panel, because you may be the only contact that the family or community you are with has with Americans. What you do reflects on the entire country.
At the start of the class, the panel posed the question, "how many have you considered the Peace Corps?" After a very intriguing two hours, it's hard to say if the group convinced those on the edge to enlist or made them glad to be sitting in class that night. For there is a lot to consider. Could you adapt to bucket baths, stray cats, and having the weight of your home country on your shoulders? These RPCVs seem to think so.
The Return Peace Corps Panel Presents in MFJS 4912
