Zdravo! Hello!
I arrived in Macedonia with my group on Monday after almost 20 hours of traveling. We left WA DC, drove to Dulles airport in Virginia, flew out at 5:45pm on Sunday, Sept. 25th. The flight to Vienna was 9hours. Then we had a 6 hour layover in Vienna (which only had metal chairs and tile floor, which we slept on). Our hour and a half flight to Skopje Macedonia left Vienna at 3:30pm local time and we arrived at 5pm. Next took a bus to Veles (which broke down, had to wait for a new one). We got to the hotel, got our rooms, then a traditional Macedonian greeting of 2 women dressed in traditional clothes with bread that we dipped in salt and ate.
We also got a little tour of the town today. Macedonia is reminding me of a cross between Greece and Ecuador. It's beautiful, the people are friendly, the sidewalks are crooked, and the food is often fried.
We're staying at a hotel for 5 days, then this Friday we go to our host families and will stay there during our 11 weeks of training.
Things are cheap here. I guess the average Macedonian earns about $200/month. That's about what we'll make too. Internet is $1 an hour. My dinner cost me about $3 tonight.
Veles is a beautiful city, despite the pollution. It has a pop of about 40,000. I was surprised to learn that the capital city Skopje has 600,000! That is huge, a third of the country! Macedonia is about the size of Vermont, but has a pop of 2 million.
I learned that most likely I will be in a town with another PC Volunteer. That is great. I am also going to get a cell phone, as pretty much everyone else is too.
Today we had some technical training. I learned that I will be like student teaching during training. That eases my nerves too.
I am learning the language quickly. I really like it a lot. Today I learned how to say "Good Morning, Good Day, Good Night, How are you? Where is...", and count to 10.
By the way, Steve, the guy stuck in Houston, due to Hurricane Rita, arrived yesterday. Thanks for all the prayers. One cool thing, he studied at a University in Buenos Aires, so we had something in common.
Oooooooo! My favorite song in the whole world just came on here at the internet cafe.
"Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2
Love ya lots!
Prijatno! Chao!
Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Staging at WA DC
So I just finished Staging (really a broad overview and intro to Peace Corps) in Washington DC. I've met the rest of my team (with the exception of one, Steve, who has been stuck in Houston, trying to get here in time. Fortunately it sounds like he will get here just in time to join us as we fly out to Macedonia on Sunday). Our group has really gelled nicely, I like the other trainees a lot. We are 33 in number, being mostly caucasian, female and in their mid-20's. We have 4 older volunteers and two married couples. Geographically most are from the mid-west (Kansas, Texas and Colorado) and a few from the East Coast and Californians and me (the lone Seattle-ite).
I'm doing great. I got into WA DC late Thursday night, staying at a hotel in Georgetown. I have a roomate which is one of the gals that I got connected with via e-mail prior to coming here.
Generally speaking, staging is what I expected, sitting and listening to a lot of PC rhetoric, but it is also great to find out that others share similar anxieties and aspirations to myself and sometimes we've gotten to do some fun activities. The best part has been bonding with my fellow trainees and talking to some staging staff who have lived over in Macedonia.
I'm also discovering that many are less traveled than myself, for some this is their first time outside of the US!
One person, Todd, was previously in the PC in Uzbekistan for about a year and a half when the program closed. So he has chosen to join a new program, that one being with us in Macedonia.
Sunday is when we fly out of DC. Our flight is at 5:45pm local time. We have about a 6 hour layover in Vienna. Our flight from DC is almost 9 hours long. We arrive in Skopje, Macedonia (the capital city of 600,000) at 3:30pm on Monday. (Then we'll take a bus to the town of Veles, 45 minutes away, where we'll spend our 3 months for training).
I expect that they'll be some internet access in Veles.
I'm getting really excited about going to Macedonia. I know it is where I'm meant to be.
It is hot and humid in DC. I'm so glad that Macedonia won't have the humidity they have here in DC. I haven't had the time to sightsee, but that's ok, I'm more focused on the Peace Corps right now anyway. However, the last thing that some of us trainees did Saturday night was go to the (peaceful) anti-war rally where people all over the country have converged, including Cindy Sheean. It seems strange that the last thing I'm doing here in the US is going to an anti-war rally, esp since I'm now a part of the Peace Corps and a part of the US government.
I'll leave you with some interesting PC facts...
There are currently about 7 thousand PCV's (PC Volunteers) around the world serving in 71 countries.
Mexico is the most recent country to invite PCV's.
Ghana (Africa) was the first country to accept PCV's.
1961 is when the PC program began, thanks to JFK (the prez who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.")
About 178 thousand people have completed their service since the program began. 6 of them are currently members of congress.
58% of current volunteers are women
10% are married volunteers (serving with their spouse)
6% are over the age of 50
The oldest volunteer to have ever served was 82 years old!
There are currently 57 volunteers in Macedonia.
I'm doing great. I got into WA DC late Thursday night, staying at a hotel in Georgetown. I have a roomate which is one of the gals that I got connected with via e-mail prior to coming here.
Generally speaking, staging is what I expected, sitting and listening to a lot of PC rhetoric, but it is also great to find out that others share similar anxieties and aspirations to myself and sometimes we've gotten to do some fun activities. The best part has been bonding with my fellow trainees and talking to some staging staff who have lived over in Macedonia.
I'm also discovering that many are less traveled than myself, for some this is their first time outside of the US!
One person, Todd, was previously in the PC in Uzbekistan for about a year and a half when the program closed. So he has chosen to join a new program, that one being with us in Macedonia.
Sunday is when we fly out of DC. Our flight is at 5:45pm local time. We have about a 6 hour layover in Vienna. Our flight from DC is almost 9 hours long. We arrive in Skopje, Macedonia (the capital city of 600,000) at 3:30pm on Monday. (Then we'll take a bus to the town of Veles, 45 minutes away, where we'll spend our 3 months for training).
I expect that they'll be some internet access in Veles.
I'm getting really excited about going to Macedonia. I know it is where I'm meant to be.
It is hot and humid in DC. I'm so glad that Macedonia won't have the humidity they have here in DC. I haven't had the time to sightsee, but that's ok, I'm more focused on the Peace Corps right now anyway. However, the last thing that some of us trainees did Saturday night was go to the (peaceful) anti-war rally where people all over the country have converged, including Cindy Sheean. It seems strange that the last thing I'm doing here in the US is going to an anti-war rally, esp since I'm now a part of the Peace Corps and a part of the US government.
I'll leave you with some interesting PC facts...
There are currently about 7 thousand PCV's (PC Volunteers) around the world serving in 71 countries.
Mexico is the most recent country to invite PCV's.
Ghana (Africa) was the first country to accept PCV's.
1961 is when the PC program began, thanks to JFK (the prez who said, "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.")
About 178 thousand people have completed their service since the program began. 6 of them are currently members of congress.
58% of current volunteers are women
10% are married volunteers (serving with their spouse)
6% are over the age of 50
The oldest volunteer to have ever served was 82 years old!
There are currently 57 volunteers in Macedonia.
Jesse vs. Jill
Some of you have noticed that I have two names here, and most of you who are reading this know me as Jill. Well, I thought about it all summer and after long consideration, I decided to go by a new name and I chose Jesse.
In Ecuador the "j" letter has a "y" sound, so many Ecuadorians would call me "Heel" or "Geel". Upon first exposure to the Macedonian language I was under the same impression that the "j" letter has a "y" sound. I decided I didn't really want to be called "yill", so I started thinking of a new name to go by (but I'm not changing anything legally mind you). I thought about a few names that don't start with "J" for awhile and then one day I found out that Macedonian does have a "j" sound, although it's a different letter. So, again after consideration, I decided upon the name "Jesse".
Those of you back home can still call me Jill. Don't worry about that. Now, after I've gone by "Jesse" for two years, I may change my mind, but that's another story!
In Ecuador the "j" letter has a "y" sound, so many Ecuadorians would call me "Heel" or "Geel". Upon first exposure to the Macedonian language I was under the same impression that the "j" letter has a "y" sound. I decided I didn't really want to be called "yill", so I started thinking of a new name to go by (but I'm not changing anything legally mind you). I thought about a few names that don't start with "J" for awhile and then one day I found out that Macedonian does have a "j" sound, although it's a different letter. So, again after consideration, I decided upon the name "Jesse".
Those of you back home can still call me Jill. Don't worry about that. Now, after I've gone by "Jesse" for two years, I may change my mind, but that's another story!
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Questions I Get Asked About Macedonia
I've been surprised at what people know about Maceodonia, the land of Phillip and Alexander the Great as well as Mother Teresa's birthplace. It's also mentioned in the Bible as a place where Paul preached. It has a Cyrillic alphabet, it's langage is more like Bulgarian or Russian than Greek. In the past Peace Corps volunteers were known to live in mud huts with dirt floors and no electricity and plumbing and no other English speaking person for many miles around. I guess people are imagining I'm gonna go live in a village like "Fiddler on the Roof" back at the turn of the century or something. But times have changed. Eastern Europe is jokingly called "The Posh Corps" in PC circles, apparently having a higher than average standard of living than other regions the PC goes to.
In the past before going to a country, I get a lot of questions. Sometimes they are interesting, funny and downright stupid. For everyone's amusement, I am keeping a list of questions that I get asked. I will try to have it prioritized by listing them by frequency (the first question gets asked the most, etc). And then when I arrive in Macedonia, I'll have a follow-up list of questions that they ask me about the United States. For example, when I was in Ecuador one of my good friends asked me what kind of music is played on the buses in the US? I had to stop laughing before I could answer her :D
So, after telling someone that I am going to Macedonia with the Peace Corps, here are their questions (and my answers):
1. Where's that? (in Eastern Europe, North of Greece)
2. What language do they speak? (Macedonian & Albanian)
3. Is that like Greek? (Macedonian is a Cyrillic language, similar to Russian & Bulgarian. It uses symbols similar to Russian and Greek)
4. Do you speak Macedonian? (Not yet, I'm learning a few basic words right now. I'll be learning it during training)
5. Is it safe? (Depends on how you define "safe". Is New York City "safe"? Is Seattle "safe"? The point is, be aware of your surroundings and you're fine. I don't walk around downtown Seattle by myself in the middle of the night. Or I could get hit by a car crossing the street in front of my house, it's not gonna stop me from leaving my house.)
6. What is the country like? (Varied, beautiful, mountainous. I recently learned that the country converges on three tectonic plates!)
7. What is the climate like? (More varied than the Pacific Northwest: hot summers, cool winters, average temp is 50F)
8. Who lives there? (Macedonians)
9. What do your parents/family think of all this? (They are very supportive and understanding.)10. Where in Macedonia will you be serving? (I don't know yet).
11. Where in Macedonia will you be living? (I'll live with a host family during training, the first three months. After that, I'll be placed in a city or village to serve my two years and live with either a host family, or hopefully get my own apartment.)
12. What is their currency? (Denar)
13. What are the people like? (I hear that they are friendly and hospitable, I'll let you know when I get there).
14. What percentage of them speak English? (I don't know).
15. Do they have a president? (Yes, they have a president).
16. What kind of government do they have? (a Republic; parliamentary democracy)
17. Is it a part of the European Union? (Not yet, but it is in the process of joining).
18. Is it a poor country? (Compared to the US, yes. The Peace Corps works in developing countries)
19. Are the people there black, like they are in, say Ethiopia? (no, I think they are more like the Greeks).
20. What do they eat over there? (A lot of meat, fish, lamb, vegetables, and coffee--yay!)
21. Are you gonna take your cat with you? (No, my parents will take care of him while I'm gone).
22. Are you gonna take your cell phone with you? (No.)
23. Do they have electricity? (Yes. They also have plumbing!)
24. Aren't they all Muslims over there? (No, the predominant religion is Eastern Orthodox. However, about 20% are Muslim, most of them also Albanian).
25. Is it a backwards country? (Well, it's a developing country, so it's not as advanced as the US, but I don't think they'd like to be thought of as backwards. I mean, they have things like electricity, plumbing, roads and internet cafes.)
26. Is it a primitive country? (Well, they have plumbing and electricity and CD's and most things that you can buy here, so, no I don't think so. But perhaps there are some villages that don't have all the things that we do. The issue will be more about availability and how affordable they are.)
27. Is it a civilized country? (No, they are cannibals who eat the brains of their enemies).
In the past before going to a country, I get a lot of questions. Sometimes they are interesting, funny and downright stupid. For everyone's amusement, I am keeping a list of questions that I get asked. I will try to have it prioritized by listing them by frequency (the first question gets asked the most, etc). And then when I arrive in Macedonia, I'll have a follow-up list of questions that they ask me about the United States. For example, when I was in Ecuador one of my good friends asked me what kind of music is played on the buses in the US? I had to stop laughing before I could answer her :D
So, after telling someone that I am going to Macedonia with the Peace Corps, here are their questions (and my answers):
1. Where's that? (in Eastern Europe, North of Greece)
2. What language do they speak? (Macedonian & Albanian)
3. Is that like Greek? (Macedonian is a Cyrillic language, similar to Russian & Bulgarian. It uses symbols similar to Russian and Greek)
4. Do you speak Macedonian? (Not yet, I'm learning a few basic words right now. I'll be learning it during training)
5. Is it safe? (Depends on how you define "safe". Is New York City "safe"? Is Seattle "safe"? The point is, be aware of your surroundings and you're fine. I don't walk around downtown Seattle by myself in the middle of the night. Or I could get hit by a car crossing the street in front of my house, it's not gonna stop me from leaving my house.)
6. What is the country like? (Varied, beautiful, mountainous. I recently learned that the country converges on three tectonic plates!)
7. What is the climate like? (More varied than the Pacific Northwest: hot summers, cool winters, average temp is 50F)
8. Who lives there? (Macedonians)
9. What do your parents/family think of all this? (They are very supportive and understanding.)10. Where in Macedonia will you be serving? (I don't know yet).
11. Where in Macedonia will you be living? (I'll live with a host family during training, the first three months. After that, I'll be placed in a city or village to serve my two years and live with either a host family, or hopefully get my own apartment.)
12. What is their currency? (Denar)
13. What are the people like? (I hear that they are friendly and hospitable, I'll let you know when I get there).
14. What percentage of them speak English? (I don't know).
15. Do they have a president? (Yes, they have a president).
16. What kind of government do they have? (a Republic; parliamentary democracy)
17. Is it a part of the European Union? (Not yet, but it is in the process of joining).
18. Is it a poor country? (Compared to the US, yes. The Peace Corps works in developing countries)
19. Are the people there black, like they are in, say Ethiopia? (no, I think they are more like the Greeks).
20. What do they eat over there? (A lot of meat, fish, lamb, vegetables, and coffee--yay!)
21. Are you gonna take your cat with you? (No, my parents will take care of him while I'm gone).
22. Are you gonna take your cell phone with you? (No.)
23. Do they have electricity? (Yes. They also have plumbing!)
24. Aren't they all Muslims over there? (No, the predominant religion is Eastern Orthodox. However, about 20% are Muslim, most of them also Albanian).
25. Is it a backwards country? (Well, it's a developing country, so it's not as advanced as the US, but I don't think they'd like to be thought of as backwards. I mean, they have things like electricity, plumbing, roads and internet cafes.)
26. Is it a primitive country? (Well, they have plumbing and electricity and CD's and most things that you can buy here, so, no I don't think so. But perhaps there are some villages that don't have all the things that we do. The issue will be more about availability and how affordable they are.)
27. Is it a civilized country? (No, they are cannibals who eat the brains of their enemies).
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
My Itinerary & What You Can Do
Wow! My departure date is almost here! I've been so busy trying to get ready...packing, getting supplies, spending time with friends and family, finalizing business & finances, sorting out last minute details, and trying to keep my sanity!
Yes, I'm nervous and excited and freaking out and everything in between. I keep reminding myself that these feelings are all normal...
Here is my itinerary...(times are all local)
Thursday, Sept. 22nd 1:15pm Depart Seattle 9pm Arrive WA DC
Friday, Sept. 23rd 2pm Peace Corps Orientation begins in WA DC. I'll meet the rest of my Macedonian PCV's (Peace CorpsVolunteers). Our group is the 10th group to thecountry, hence we are called "MAC 10"
Sunday, Sept. 24th, 5:45pm Depart WA DC flyingAustrian airlines to Vienna, arrive 8:40am, layover inVienna, depart 1:45pm
Monday, Sept. 25th, 3:30pm Arrive in Skopje, Macedonia
Training will be held in the town of Veles, about 20miles from Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia.Training is 3 months, during that time I'll be living with a host family. In January 2006 I'll start my 2 year service in a townor city in the country, to be determined, doing English Teacher Training.
I believe there is 10 hours difference in time between Seattle and Macedonia. At least, that is until Daylight Savings Time ends.
Some people have asked about sending mail. My reply is yes please. However, I'm not sure about receiving packages during training. If you'd like my mailing address in Macedonia, please e-mail me for it. Others have asked what else they can do. My reply is to pray or send good thoughts and energy, if that is your inclination. What else? Be your sweet selves. Feel free to share this website with others who you think may be interested. And thanks again for all your love and support!
Here are some quotes that friends and family have shared with me this last week...
"With all the arguments, pro and con, for going to the moon, no one suggested that we should do it to look at the Earth. But that may, in fact, have been the most important reason of all."
--Joseph P. Allan, former astronaut.
This Great Lesson
"We can never make the world safe by fighting. Every nation must learn that the people of all nations are children of God, and must share the wealth of the world. You may say this is impracticable, far away, can never be accomplished, but it is the work we are appointed to do. Sometime, somehow, somewhere, we must ever teach this great lesson."
--Olympia Brown
Yes, I'm nervous and excited and freaking out and everything in between. I keep reminding myself that these feelings are all normal...
Here is my itinerary...(times are all local)
Thursday, Sept. 22nd 1:15pm Depart Seattle 9pm Arrive WA DC
Friday, Sept. 23rd 2pm Peace Corps Orientation begins in WA DC. I'll meet the rest of my Macedonian PCV's (Peace CorpsVolunteers). Our group is the 10th group to thecountry, hence we are called "MAC 10"
Sunday, Sept. 24th, 5:45pm Depart WA DC flyingAustrian airlines to Vienna, arrive 8:40am, layover inVienna, depart 1:45pm
Monday, Sept. 25th, 3:30pm Arrive in Skopje, Macedonia
Training will be held in the town of Veles, about 20miles from Skopje, the capital city of Macedonia.Training is 3 months, during that time I'll be living with a host family. In January 2006 I'll start my 2 year service in a townor city in the country, to be determined, doing English Teacher Training.
I believe there is 10 hours difference in time between Seattle and Macedonia. At least, that is until Daylight Savings Time ends.
Some people have asked about sending mail. My reply is yes please. However, I'm not sure about receiving packages during training. If you'd like my mailing address in Macedonia, please e-mail me for it. Others have asked what else they can do. My reply is to pray or send good thoughts and energy, if that is your inclination. What else? Be your sweet selves. Feel free to share this website with others who you think may be interested. And thanks again for all your love and support!
Here are some quotes that friends and family have shared with me this last week...
"With all the arguments, pro and con, for going to the moon, no one suggested that we should do it to look at the Earth. But that may, in fact, have been the most important reason of all."
--Joseph P. Allan, former astronaut.
This Great Lesson
"We can never make the world safe by fighting. Every nation must learn that the people of all nations are children of God, and must share the wealth of the world. You may say this is impracticable, far away, can never be accomplished, but it is the work we are appointed to do. Sometime, somehow, somewhere, we must ever teach this great lesson."
--Olympia Brown
A Gringa Like Me
On Thursday, Aug. 26th,2005 I finally submitted my application to the Peace Corps. Part of the application is to write a couple of essays. One of them asks to describe a cross-cultural experience. Well, that was easy, I just took my last journal entry that I wrote while I was still in South America. I don't have an exact date, but I believe it was written last August 2003, in Cuenca. So, here it is:
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A Gringa Like Me
As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t have all the answers. Over the years I’ve tried to sate my thirst for travel only to finally accept my addiction to it. I cannot fully explain what about travel makes it so enticing and fulfilling to me. Yet each experience abroad has taught me many things about a different culture and about myself. I’ve learned that it’s essential to be flexible, to be patient and to have the capacity to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake (like when I accidentally ate deer cookies in Japan). Having a sense of humor has helped stave off discouragement, unhappiness and disillusionment.
Travel, like life, has its ups and downs. Before I left to teach English in Ecuador I accepted the fact that living in South America would mean lapses in health, homesickness and moments of frustration due to a clash in cultures. And I definitely experienced all of these things more than once. However, the adventures I had, the moments of discovery, the joy of living my life different than the norm has overshadowed those times of difficulty. I have priceless memories of participating in a coastal dance performance, watching a baby capybara teetering in the grass, holding a young Shuar child in my lap with my face painted like a jungle warrior, wandering around the countless outdoor markets trying to identify strange fruit and learning how to dance Salsa at the local neighborhood club. I made Ecuadorian friends who invited me to special events, such as a birthday party, baptism and a coming of age celebration. They took me to special places such as National Parks and Incan ruins. They offered me a different insight into their culture, such as when one of them asked me what kind of music is played on the buses in the United States?
I accepted the fact that I will always be a gringa to the locals. I cannot hide my skin color, my ethnicity, my culture or my sex. Nor would I want to. While I get tired of locals looking at me and seeing dollar signs it reminds me about the differences that exist in this world and that I set an example for my culture and my country. With humility, I try to set an example of an American who is not arrogant, ignorant or loud. I learned what the average Ecuadorian wage is and, compared to my teacher’s salary, it isn’t much. When I calculate the cost of normal, everyday items and compare it to their wage, I begin to understand why some may hold resentment towards gringos like me. Yet I meet many locals who are genuinely very friendly, like the man who owns the Columbian restaurant down the street, or the lady that sells bread rolls on the street corner. These people come across as being kind and happy despite these economically challenging times.
Some days I really tire of the cultural differences, the extra effort required to speak and communicate in another language, the inefficiencies when dealing with the slow wheels of bureaucracy, the personal questions strangers ask, the insensitive comments, being stared at or cut off in line, the scent of urine next to a street corner, the strange customs and festivals I don’t understand, like shooting random fireworks into a crowd of families and the lack of punctuality prevalent in this society. However, living in another country, experiencing another culture has made me, on occasion, question my own. I enjoy the slower pace of life, allowing people the chance to appreciate the beauty of each day and I like the stronger sense of family and community. The families of my Ecuadorian friends have adopted me like one of their own. I feel as though I’ve found a place to belong.
Through these dichotomies, these opposing contrasting joys and frustrations, I’ve been given an experience that I will always remember for the rest of my life—Ecuador will always be a part of me, for better or worse. I have mixed feelings about leaving it to return to my origins—my home country. I don’t look forward to the reverse culture shock and readjustment that I will inevitably experience. Yet I know it’s bound to happen and is part of the package deal, the last segment of the journey.
With teaching—-and the relationship with teacher and student—-I may think that all I have done is teach something to my students, yet the reality is that my students have taught me just as much, especially a different perspective and a new way of seeing things. My time in Ecuador has a parallel. Ecuador has taught me just as much, and much more than I ever expected.
--------------------------------------
A Gringa Like Me
As much as I hate to admit it, I don’t have all the answers. Over the years I’ve tried to sate my thirst for travel only to finally accept my addiction to it. I cannot fully explain what about travel makes it so enticing and fulfilling to me. Yet each experience abroad has taught me many things about a different culture and about myself. I’ve learned that it’s essential to be flexible, to be patient and to have the capacity to laugh at yourself when you make a mistake (like when I accidentally ate deer cookies in Japan). Having a sense of humor has helped stave off discouragement, unhappiness and disillusionment.
Travel, like life, has its ups and downs. Before I left to teach English in Ecuador I accepted the fact that living in South America would mean lapses in health, homesickness and moments of frustration due to a clash in cultures. And I definitely experienced all of these things more than once. However, the adventures I had, the moments of discovery, the joy of living my life different than the norm has overshadowed those times of difficulty. I have priceless memories of participating in a coastal dance performance, watching a baby capybara teetering in the grass, holding a young Shuar child in my lap with my face painted like a jungle warrior, wandering around the countless outdoor markets trying to identify strange fruit and learning how to dance Salsa at the local neighborhood club. I made Ecuadorian friends who invited me to special events, such as a birthday party, baptism and a coming of age celebration. They took me to special places such as National Parks and Incan ruins. They offered me a different insight into their culture, such as when one of them asked me what kind of music is played on the buses in the United States?
I accepted the fact that I will always be a gringa to the locals. I cannot hide my skin color, my ethnicity, my culture or my sex. Nor would I want to. While I get tired of locals looking at me and seeing dollar signs it reminds me about the differences that exist in this world and that I set an example for my culture and my country. With humility, I try to set an example of an American who is not arrogant, ignorant or loud. I learned what the average Ecuadorian wage is and, compared to my teacher’s salary, it isn’t much. When I calculate the cost of normal, everyday items and compare it to their wage, I begin to understand why some may hold resentment towards gringos like me. Yet I meet many locals who are genuinely very friendly, like the man who owns the Columbian restaurant down the street, or the lady that sells bread rolls on the street corner. These people come across as being kind and happy despite these economically challenging times.
Some days I really tire of the cultural differences, the extra effort required to speak and communicate in another language, the inefficiencies when dealing with the slow wheels of bureaucracy, the personal questions strangers ask, the insensitive comments, being stared at or cut off in line, the scent of urine next to a street corner, the strange customs and festivals I don’t understand, like shooting random fireworks into a crowd of families and the lack of punctuality prevalent in this society. However, living in another country, experiencing another culture has made me, on occasion, question my own. I enjoy the slower pace of life, allowing people the chance to appreciate the beauty of each day and I like the stronger sense of family and community. The families of my Ecuadorian friends have adopted me like one of their own. I feel as though I’ve found a place to belong.
Through these dichotomies, these opposing contrasting joys and frustrations, I’ve been given an experience that I will always remember for the rest of my life—Ecuador will always be a part of me, for better or worse. I have mixed feelings about leaving it to return to my origins—my home country. I don’t look forward to the reverse culture shock and readjustment that I will inevitably experience. Yet I know it’s bound to happen and is part of the package deal, the last segment of the journey.
With teaching—-and the relationship with teacher and student—-I may think that all I have done is teach something to my students, yet the reality is that my students have taught me just as much, especially a different perspective and a new way of seeing things. My time in Ecuador has a parallel. Ecuador has taught me just as much, and much more than I ever expected.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Messages
Recently, in the last month or two I've gotten the following Chinese fortunes:
"There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead for you"
"You will touch the hearts of many"
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Then I came across this message from the Dalai Lama on a card which I purchased, laminated and am taking with me in the Peace Corps:
"There is a prospect of a thrilling time ahead for you"
"You will touch the hearts of many"
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Then I came across this message from the Dalai Lama on a card which I purchased, laminated and am taking with me in the Peace Corps:
"Never Give up
No matter what is going on
Never Give up
Develop the heart
Too much energy in your country
is spent developing the mind
instead of the heart
Be compassionate
Not just to your friends
but to everyone
Be compassionate
Work for peace
in your heart and in the world
Work for peace
and I say again
Never Give up
No matter what is happening
No matter what is going on around you
Never Give up. "
--H.H. the XIVth Dalai Lama
For the Record...
I'd heard that it takes 6 months to a year from start to finish for the application process of the Peace Corps. For me, it was the latter...
Submitted application: August 26th, 2004
Interview: September 9th, 2004
Nominated: October 8th, 2004
Received Medical/Dental/Legal Clearance packet: October 15th?, 2004
Submitted said packet: February 10th, 2005
Medically Cleared: April 28th, 2005
Received Invite: June 6th, 2005
Staging (Pre-dept orientation): September 22-24th, 2005
Pre-Service Training (in-country): September 26th-December 16th, 2005
Dates of Service: September 26th 2005-December 16th, 2007
People sometimes ask me if it is hard to get into the Peace Corps. That depends. According to the PC the requirements are that you are 18 and a US citizen. The reality is that the PC usually wants you to have a college degree and some kind of experience that will lend itself to your assignment. It is also best if you are a go-getter kind of person. It's also best if you are patient and persistant about the application process since it is kind of grueling and ideally you are sane and healthy. :) The PC is not able to accomodate volunteers overseas that have certain medical conditions, such as being HIV-positive.
For more info, check out the official Peace Corps website: www.peacecorps.gov
Submitted application: August 26th, 2004
Interview: September 9th, 2004
Nominated: October 8th, 2004
Received Medical/Dental/Legal Clearance packet: October 15th?, 2004
Submitted said packet: February 10th, 2005
Medically Cleared: April 28th, 2005
Received Invite: June 6th, 2005
Staging (Pre-dept orientation): September 22-24th, 2005
Pre-Service Training (in-country): September 26th-December 16th, 2005
Dates of Service: September 26th 2005-December 16th, 2007
People sometimes ask me if it is hard to get into the Peace Corps. That depends. According to the PC the requirements are that you are 18 and a US citizen. The reality is that the PC usually wants you to have a college degree and some kind of experience that will lend itself to your assignment. It is also best if you are a go-getter kind of person. It's also best if you are patient and persistant about the application process since it is kind of grueling and ideally you are sane and healthy. :) The PC is not able to accomodate volunteers overseas that have certain medical conditions, such as being HIV-positive.
For more info, check out the official Peace Corps website: www.peacecorps.gov
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Why join the Peace Corps?
The following is an essay that I wrote for my Peace Corps application about a year ago...
For as long as I remember I’ve wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. I discovered early on, from volunteering at soup kitchens to working with homeless children that helping others is incredibly rewarding. I also realized that I love to travel, meet new people, learn about new cultures and have different experiences. In addition, I found that I really liked working with kids and families, from helping out with vacation bible school to working at the Ronald McDonald House, assisting families with ill children. Also, I discovered the joy of teaching, like the moment that a student learns something, seeing their eyes light up with a smile on their face. I have considered joining the Peace Corps for many years, but I wasn’t sure what I would want to do. Now, several years after completing college, I feel I have many skills to offer, with teaching youth, community experience, good communication skills, creativity, patience and flexibility. I was also concerned about the two-year time commitment being a long time. But when I went to Ecuador to teach English for a year, I noticed that one year flew by quickly and afterwards felt that I could easily stay for a second year. I also enjoy a challenge and work hard to pursue my goals. I’m sensitive to other people’s needs and strive for a balance with my own needs, always with a focus on the task at hand. I learn from my mistakes and always try to keep a positive attitude. My sense of humor helps me keep my sanity and stay in check. I have been a tourist on six continents in twenty countries. I know that I can adapt to new situations and manage in new places that have a different language and culture. I’m a people person, I work well with others and I really enjoy helping people. My experience in Ecuador and my six months as an exchange student in Australia showed me that I much prefer to live abroad amongst the locals rather than be a tourist. It’s a totally different experience, much more rewarding and enriching. I look forward to once more living, working with and assisting local people in another country, learning their language and their culture. Helping others allows me to grow as a person just as much as I am helping others to improve their lives. I feel strongly that my experience can be a benefit to the Peace Corps program just as much as the Peace Corps program can benefit me. I believe that my experience in the Peace Corps will be rewarding and beneficial after I return to the US to pursue a career in education and social work. I’m excited for this next chapter in my life to begin. Life is an adventure, full of discoveries, there are ups and there are downs. The opportunity to serve in the Peace Corps is an opportunity that I don’t want to miss.
For as long as I remember I’ve wanted to make a difference in other people’s lives. I discovered early on, from volunteering at soup kitchens to working with homeless children that helping others is incredibly rewarding. I also realized that I love to travel, meet new people, learn about new cultures and have different experiences. In addition, I found that I really liked working with kids and families, from helping out with vacation bible school to working at the Ronald McDonald House, assisting families with ill children. Also, I discovered the joy of teaching, like the moment that a student learns something, seeing their eyes light up with a smile on their face. I have considered joining the Peace Corps for many years, but I wasn’t sure what I would want to do. Now, several years after completing college, I feel I have many skills to offer, with teaching youth, community experience, good communication skills, creativity, patience and flexibility. I was also concerned about the two-year time commitment being a long time. But when I went to Ecuador to teach English for a year, I noticed that one year flew by quickly and afterwards felt that I could easily stay for a second year. I also enjoy a challenge and work hard to pursue my goals. I’m sensitive to other people’s needs and strive for a balance with my own needs, always with a focus on the task at hand. I learn from my mistakes and always try to keep a positive attitude. My sense of humor helps me keep my sanity and stay in check. I have been a tourist on six continents in twenty countries. I know that I can adapt to new situations and manage in new places that have a different language and culture. I’m a people person, I work well with others and I really enjoy helping people. My experience in Ecuador and my six months as an exchange student in Australia showed me that I much prefer to live abroad amongst the locals rather than be a tourist. It’s a totally different experience, much more rewarding and enriching. I look forward to once more living, working with and assisting local people in another country, learning their language and their culture. Helping others allows me to grow as a person just as much as I am helping others to improve their lives. I feel strongly that my experience can be a benefit to the Peace Corps program just as much as the Peace Corps program can benefit me. I believe that my experience in the Peace Corps will be rewarding and beneficial after I return to the US to pursue a career in education and social work. I’m excited for this next chapter in my life to begin. Life is an adventure, full of discoveries, there are ups and there are downs. The opportunity to serve in the Peace Corps is an opportunity that I don’t want to miss.
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