I was happy to find an article today in my Alma Mater's student newspaper,
The Observer, an
article celebrating an increase in the number of alumni volunteers serving in the Peace Corps. This was especially encouraging to hear after reading several other articles noting a decrease in the number of overall Peace Corps volunteers worldwide. It was also an added bonus that the article features a PC in Mali, my former country of service. PC Sara Snider captures the heart of Malian culture quite well in this quote:
"Often I would just walk around the village and join in with whatever a group of people were doing. The culture here is such that anyone is more than welcome anywhere and anytime," she said. "It's completely acceptable to invite yourself to any activity."
Here she not only captures the spirit of Mali, but also captures one of the most important aspects of Peace Corps, the connection you develop with the people by living with them every day and just doing what they do.
My experience as a Peace Corps volunteer was a very positive one, but I'll be the first to admit that I was not well prepared for what I was getting into, nor was 2 years enough time to really figure it out. I did a couple big projects, but looking back I am not satisfied with any of them as now having more experience I can see the faults in them.
However, the one thing I have taken away and am very proud of is the connection I made with the people in my village. I lived with them in a mud hut with a thatch roof, no electricity or plumbing, ate all my meals with them, hunted with them, built houses with them, farmed with them, harvested with them, and danced with them. It never ceased to amaze (and amuse) people when they would see the toubab (white person) with a daba tilling the soil in the peanut fields. But eventually I succeeded in getting many of them to accept me as one of their own. In fact they even allowed me to marry one of their daughters and take her all the way to America. And I think at the same time I gave them a new perspective on the American toubab. And I was left with a lasting impression of a different world I could have never truly understood had I not lived there.
This impression is so lasting that I can't help but feel drawn back from time to time...wishing to be shelling peanuts over 3 rounds of tea in the hot African sun instead of sitting at my computer...or even entertaining the idea of going back for good some day.
Back in the US, working full time, raising a family, it's easy to start to forget this "impression" or let it fade. But recently, after reading about RPCVs' experience marching in the inaugural parade (like
here) and hearing President Obama himself mention Peace Corps at the "Be the Change"
ball and hearing about the call to service and sharing in the general sense of hope that the United States will renew its image in the eyes of the rest of the world, the "impression" is getting stronger again. I remember now how important, now more than ever, the last 2 goals of the Peace Corps mission are:
- Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans
While there are a lot of great Peace Corps projects that have been done and are being done, which will have a lasting impact on the people they serve, my own experience tells me that for a lot of volunteers these last 2 goals are our best chance to make an impact. Its hard in 2 years to learn a language, understand a culture and develop the skills to make great progress in sustainable development. But, in 2 years one can definitely leave a lasting impression on a community of America. And one can definitely come back and open Americans' eyes to life beyond our borders.
Thus, at this time I believe that Peace Corps and other institutions like it are vitally important to the renewal of the positive image of the United States for the rest of the world. It is real Americans going out and living with real people from other countries, and truly trying to walk in their shoes with humility.
With my extended family in Mali, I'm still working on number 2 and I now have renewed vigor to look for more opportunities to do number 3. And now that I've got some experience in the real world (both outside our borders and within) I hope someday I'll get the chance to try to fulfill goal number 1 again:
- Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
Maybe Peace Corps needs to realign their goals. Or maybe they just need more experienced men and women to follow the call. But, in either case I know that 2/3 of the goals are essential to the future of our nation and our world.
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