This post is my effort to address the questions from my loved ones about my decision to join the Peace Corps. Read on and find out why I joined and what I'll be doing for the next years. I hope this post will also quiet those that questions my sanity at making this decision :)
For as long as I can remember, the Peace Corps has been a part of my plan. I can't tell you the exact year that I discovered it, but it has been so long that it feels like I was born wanting to join. I'm sure my insightful dreamer of a mother was the one to initially plant the seed in my mind. I'm sure at the time she had no idea that the seed she planted would grow into an actual reality.
The older I got the more I started looking into the logistics of joining and actually considering it. Their were certain times throughout my college career where I would decide to apply, and then change my mind. I think my original fickleness was the result of a lot of factors. Mainly fear or being away from my loved ones, and fear of the unknown. I ultimately decided a year and half ago to go through with it. As much as I loved college, by my senior year I felt completely lost. My initial plan had been to graduate with my BSW (bachelor of Social Work) and then go straight into law school. Well that plan was fine and dandy until my LSAT score came back a lot lower than I thought it would be. Looking back, I am thankful that it was because I would probably be pulling my hair out at this exact time had I started law school. After the initial sense of failure and confusion, and with the help of my supportive family and friends, I took a good look around. I looked deeped within myself, and for the first time in what had been a very long time, I asked myself what I truly wanted. Not for the future, but at that exact moment. The answer came immediately and that's how I ended up applying to the Peace Corps. My heart new all along what I wanted, and when I stopped to listen to it, I heard it loud and clear.
So, that was almost a year and half ago. Now I am fulfilling this dream in Ukraine. Words can't even begin to describe the excitement and peace that I feel being here. I say all this to let people know what drove me to join the Peace Corps. I know it was a bit lengthy and wordy, but I've never been good at summarizing.
Now I'd like to take up just a little bit more of your time and answer some of the questions that have been thrown at me.
How long will you be gone?
-The Peace Corps requires us to serve exactly 27 months. The first 3 months in country are spent with a host family in different parts of the country. None of us know who are host families will be until we arrive. Don't worry though! The host families do go through a screening process. We are broken up into what are called clusters (groups of 5) who we train with throughout the three months. During those 3 months, we attend 4 hour language sessions 5 days a week. We also have technical and cross cultural sessions for 4 hours twice a week. When we are not doing those things, we are visiting different organizations and schools so that we might gain experience. We also get to teach different lessons to different grades at the local school!
I know many of you are now sitting in disbelief after seeing how long I'll be gone. Trust me, I know it's a long time. I also know that in the grand scheme of old Father Time, it really isn't.
Why Ukriane?
Because this is where the Peace Corps assigned me to serve. During the initial application and interview phase, we are given the opportunity to give our input on where we want to serve. However, I went into the process having decided that I would serve where I was needed. At first I was told that I would either be serving in Eastern Europe, Africa, the Carribean, or Asia. While of course I had certain places that I prefered over others, I was determined to keep an open mind and do my best to serve where ever I was assigned to serve. When I was told I would be serving in Ukraine, I have to admit that I had to turn to trusty google. Throughout my education, I really didn't learn much about Eastern Europose, let alone Ukraine! After a little research, I knew that I had lucked up (yet again) and that I was going to love it. So far, this initial reaction has been correct :)
What language do they speak?
-A majority of Ukrainians speak the national language which is Ukrainian. However, their is a large percent who speak Russian. This is because Ukraine was a part of Russia until 1991 when the Soviet Union collapsed. The language remained eventhough the offical country language was changed to Ukrainian soon after the collapse. In actuality, the two languages are quite similar and many citizens speak both.
What will you be doing over there?
-The Peace Corps assesses the skills of each and every volunteer and then assigns them to a certain skill area based on their previous experience. These areas include such things as community development, youth development, business, agriculture, and a few more. Before we are even invited to serve, we are told which area we will be assigned to and the possible countries of which we could serve. Because of my background and volunteer experience, I was invited to work in youth development. It is a very broad focus (in fact, we have more areas we cover than any other focus group in the PC), but it is beneficial in that we get to help in a lot of different ways. The Youth Development program in Ukraine was started by the PC and the Ukrainian government to address the growing gap between the development of urban and rural youth. Like American teens, many Ukrainian teens are getting left behind because of their location. That is where we come in :) Youth developers work in areas such as teaching healthy lifestyles, english clubs, working at NGO's, aiding social services, and several other aspects that deal directly with helping youth in their educational and emotional development.
I was thrilled when I found out I would be working in this area as my passion has always been working with children and youth! I do not know exactly what my offical job will be yet. During the initial 3 months of training, we intern at different locations so that we might get a good idea of the full spectrum of people we might be working with after training.
Will you be serving with other Americans?
-During these first 3 months I will be around other Americans pretty much every day. I have four other groupmates and I already feel connections with all of them. However, that will make it that much harder to leave them after training. The Peace Corps determines where we all serve after training. It's possible that I could end up in the same town as other volunteers, but it's also very possible that I could be the only American for miles. This is one of the many unknowns that I have gotten use to
Do you get to come home and visit?
-Unfortunately the Peace Corps does not fly us home for visits (which is completely understandable because of the costs). However, they will fly my home if their is ever an emergency, or heaven fobit it, a death in the family. As most of you know, traveling is not cheap and since my family would have to carry the burden of paying for my trip home, I highly doubt I'll be making it home much. But I am allowed visitors if any of you need a break from the states :)
Will you get to travel?
Yes! We aquire 2 vacation days a month (after training), plus weekends and we are given the freedom to use them as we please. Of course their is some paperwork and we have to get it approved by our superiors, but that is how it is with any job, right? I am hoping to travel as much as I possibly can! I will definitely be asking for $$ from Santa and on birthdays so that I can save up and see everything I want to see!
Are you scared?
-More like terrified. Previously, I did not have much opportunity to travel (as opposed to my new PC friends who have seen the world already). Actually, I hadn't even been on a plane since I was 18 months old! So, of course I was and still am a nervous wreck with all of these new changes. Traveling has always been dream of mine and this dream happen to coincide perfectly with joining the Peace Corps. I decided long ago to never let fear stop me from fulfilling my dreams. So, yes. I was a nervous wreck about traveling to a country that I knew next to nothing about. Not to mention being away from the family and home I'd always known! I knew that now was the time to do it and that I had to be brave. I have moments every day where I am scared and feel alone, but then I just remind myself what I'm doing. This knowledge gives me peace and comfort that I've never known before. The fear is great, but knowing that I'm living one of my biggest dreams is greater than the fear.
Well those are the main questions I can think of right now guys. If you have any that I didn't answer, please don't hesitate to comment or send me an email. It means a lot to me that you guys care to know about it! I hope this helps you have a better understanding of why I now live in Ukraine. I know a lot people don't understand my decision, but my hope is that they will respect it. Thanks for listening everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment