I would like to tell a story. A few weeks ago, I was having dinner with a friend. He had not been initially very supportive of my decision to join Peace Corps, mainly for two reasons. First, he thought it was unsafe; Second, he believes Americans should help Americans before we help the rest of the world. But, as he could tell I was determined to go through with it, he seemed disconcerted to know that I was having doubts. While he was still unsure of whether he agreed with Peace Corps' mission, he decided to try to be a good friend and encourage me. Surprisingly, what he said has been my guiding motivation through the doubts of the past few weeks.
He mentioned the scene from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, when Bilbo Baggins runs through the Shire shouting "I'm going on an Adventure!". Bilbo is a quiet hobbit with a life that is fine the way it was. And yet, leaving that comfortable life leads to all sorts of unexpected rewards. Joining Peace Corps, I think, will be similar- my job at the museum was reasonably comfortable, I had a good life, it may have even led in the direction I wanted my career to go. But, if I go on this adventure, it will be greatly rewarding in ways that I have and have not imagined (I'm going to ignore the bit of the metaphor where Bilbo nearly gets eaten by trolls and finds a Ring that nearly causes the downfall of society).
The Hobbit has been rather close to my heart since I was thirteen. There is, in existence, a musical version of The Hobbit meant for children's and youth theater groups, and it was the school musical when I was in eighth grade. I was cast as Gandalf, and of course played a big part in getting Bilbo (played by one of my best friends- I have such fond memories of that show) to go on the adventure in the first place. While I don't remember all of my lines, part of my song from the first scene ran thus:
I offer you adventure,
A chance to really get away
And travel
That's very broadening they say.
Wake up,
Leave your house!
Life life!
Are you a Hobbit or a Mouse?
You've spent your entire life in this small cave
Now just once, before your ready for your grave,
Roar like a bull,
Live life to the full,
Give in to the pull,
Of Adventure!
Ten years ago, I motivated Bilbo in the play. Today, Bilbo motivates me.
I'm going on an adventure, indeed.
Monday, June 17, 2013
First Impressions
In a few weeks, the staging event (where the group of Peace Corps Liberia Volunteers meets in the US for a quick orientation) will seem like the least interesting part of what I have done for Peace Corps so far. However, I thought I'd make a quick post about it now.
I landed in Philadelphia just before the staging event, and at baggage claim, found a bunch of other people loaded with the sort of baggage that could get them through two years in Africa- (I have 2 large suitcases, and big backpack, and a small backpack, which is similar to what others have). We all figured out we were Peace Corps, though I was a little bit confused that there were so many who had been on my flight- I didn't think there were other Peace Corps Liberia Volunteers from Denver. My confusion was cleared up when we approached the hotel shuttle desk and realized we gave the driver two different addresses, and I realized my "new friends" were actually going to Sierra Leone (I'm guessing Peace Corps put 2 neighboring countries having staging the same day and same city because we will be on the same flight to Africa tomorrow).
After we got to our respective hotels and I joined the LIBERIA group! I was the last to arrive at staging- anyone who was coming from further west than Colorado had flown in the night before, anyone who came in from further east was able to get there sooner- it seemed that I had the latest allowable flight. I sat down just before the talking about safety, expectations, anxieties, and aspirations began, but as I sat down I heard two guys behind me talking. "Well, I can follow East Coast swing a little, but not Lindy," one said. I turned around, delighted and said "Wait, you swing dance?", and I instantly had two new best friends. Watch out, Liberia's high schools, there probably will be swing lessons in the near future :).
Anyway, the group in general seems pretty nice. There are 39 of us, almost all are in their early 20s. (I'm pretty sure when the staging coordinator asked the room how many of us graduated within the past year, about 75% of the group raised their hands), so most are in a similar stage of life- though I'm sure our backgrounds, aspirations, and reasons for being in the Peace Corps are extremely varied.
The excitement of the group is contagious, and I do find myself less nervous than I was a few days ago, and less hesitant to leave than I have been in the past few months. Tomorrow, we fly!
Saturday, June 15, 2013
F.A.Q.'s
I figured I would put the answers to some frequently asked questions in a separate post.
1. Where is Liberia?
Liberia is in West Africa, between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. It is at about 3 degrees latitude, so you might see a future complaint about the heat from a certain girl who grew up in Colorado :).
2. Why did you decide you wanted to go to Liberia?
I didn't. I decided I wanted to join Peace Corps for a variety of reasons (see previous post), but you don't get to pick where you go.
3. Be careful. Is it safe there?
While no place is PERFECTLY safe, Peace Corps does an excellent job of only assigning Volunteers to REASONABLY safe regions, of making sure our living sites are secure, and of training us to be as safe as we possibly can while we are at our post, and while traveling. All things considered, Liberia seems to be a pretty good place to serve. The Peace Corps was a strong presence there from 1962 to 1990, when civil war broke out. After two wars in two decades, the country stabilized, and Peace Corps began to return to Liberia in 2008.
4. Will you be able to keep in touch while you are over there?
Probably some. The internet there is very slow, but exists at many posts (not all). However, if I do not have internet at my home, I will be able to occasionally get to a larger town and get online. Please do send me email, just know that it may take me some time to get back to you. The same is true for cell phone reception- exists in most but not all places. For those of you that have my US phone number, I have set up a basic Google Voice, so I can get voicemails as emails (not texts though). I will also hopefully be able to get an international SIM card so I can still use the same number/phone, but it may prove cheaper to get a local phone, in which case I will provide the new number by email. Snail mail is also an option, though letters may take a month to arrive. Still, I'd love to get mail, and I will write back! You can send to this address:
Sharon Beltracchi, Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps
Post Office Box 707
Monrovia, Liberia
5. What language do they speak there?
Liberia was created as an American territory, to be a place for freed slaves from the US to return to Africa. As a result, the main language there is English. There are still many indigenous local languages spoken throughout the country. I will be given language classes when I arrive in whichever language is common in the town where I am assigned (and no, I don't know where that will be yet).
6. What exactly will you be doing?
Right now, as far as I know, I will be teaching math at the junior high level, though it could change based on the needs of my community. It will not necessarily be the same math as is standard for American junior high students- Liberia's infrastructure and education system was destroyed in the civil war, and the schools are just starting to recover. In addition, many people growing up during the war were left uneducated, and are going back to school now, so it is possible I will have students my age or older returning to 8th grade. Without a doubt, it will be WAAAY different than my previous math-teaching experience in Palo Alto. ;)
7. Will you be mostly on your own, or with other Peace Corps Volunteers?
For training, I will be in a large group of PCVs- there are about 45 going at the same time as me (though I will live with a host family). After that, I will share a house at my site with another PCV from my group (I think almost everyone is 2 people per house right now, though my group is the biggest yet, so some house may have 3). I think it will be nice to have an American roommate to share the experience with, though- this doesn't happen in all PC posts- several are MUCH more isolating, so I think I'm lucky in that regard :).
8. How long will you be there? Can you come visit the US somewhere in the middle?
A Peace Corps assignment is 27 months long, which is 2 years doing the project and 2-3 months of training. I do accrue some vacation time while in the Peace Corps, so I will likely vacation to the US at some point in the middle of my service, though I will also probably use some of my vacation days to travel more in Africa.
9. What will you be doing afterwards?
Probably graduate school, probably in animal cognition and communication. But Peace Corps is a time for a great deal of personal growth and self-discovery, so my plans could change.
That's all the questions I can think of at the moment, but I will add more to this post if you ask (the blog just started, so I'm hoping the comments section works).
1. Where is Liberia?
Liberia is in West Africa, between Ivory Coast and Sierra Leone. It is at about 3 degrees latitude, so you might see a future complaint about the heat from a certain girl who grew up in Colorado :).
2. Why did you decide you wanted to go to Liberia?
I didn't. I decided I wanted to join Peace Corps for a variety of reasons (see previous post), but you don't get to pick where you go.
3. Be careful. Is it safe there?
While no place is PERFECTLY safe, Peace Corps does an excellent job of only assigning Volunteers to REASONABLY safe regions, of making sure our living sites are secure, and of training us to be as safe as we possibly can while we are at our post, and while traveling. All things considered, Liberia seems to be a pretty good place to serve. The Peace Corps was a strong presence there from 1962 to 1990, when civil war broke out. After two wars in two decades, the country stabilized, and Peace Corps began to return to Liberia in 2008.
4. Will you be able to keep in touch while you are over there?
Probably some. The internet there is very slow, but exists at many posts (not all). However, if I do not have internet at my home, I will be able to occasionally get to a larger town and get online. Please do send me email, just know that it may take me some time to get back to you. The same is true for cell phone reception- exists in most but not all places. For those of you that have my US phone number, I have set up a basic Google Voice, so I can get voicemails as emails (not texts though). I will also hopefully be able to get an international SIM card so I can still use the same number/phone, but it may prove cheaper to get a local phone, in which case I will provide the new number by email. Snail mail is also an option, though letters may take a month to arrive. Still, I'd love to get mail, and I will write back! You can send to this address:
Sharon Beltracchi, Peace Corps Volunteer
Peace Corps
Post Office Box 707
Monrovia, Liberia
5. What language do they speak there?
Liberia was created as an American territory, to be a place for freed slaves from the US to return to Africa. As a result, the main language there is English. There are still many indigenous local languages spoken throughout the country. I will be given language classes when I arrive in whichever language is common in the town where I am assigned (and no, I don't know where that will be yet).
6. What exactly will you be doing?
Right now, as far as I know, I will be teaching math at the junior high level, though it could change based on the needs of my community. It will not necessarily be the same math as is standard for American junior high students- Liberia's infrastructure and education system was destroyed in the civil war, and the schools are just starting to recover. In addition, many people growing up during the war were left uneducated, and are going back to school now, so it is possible I will have students my age or older returning to 8th grade. Without a doubt, it will be WAAAY different than my previous math-teaching experience in Palo Alto. ;)
7. Will you be mostly on your own, or with other Peace Corps Volunteers?
For training, I will be in a large group of PCVs- there are about 45 going at the same time as me (though I will live with a host family). After that, I will share a house at my site with another PCV from my group (I think almost everyone is 2 people per house right now, though my group is the biggest yet, so some house may have 3). I think it will be nice to have an American roommate to share the experience with, though- this doesn't happen in all PC posts- several are MUCH more isolating, so I think I'm lucky in that regard :).
8. How long will you be there? Can you come visit the US somewhere in the middle?
A Peace Corps assignment is 27 months long, which is 2 years doing the project and 2-3 months of training. I do accrue some vacation time while in the Peace Corps, so I will likely vacation to the US at some point in the middle of my service, though I will also probably use some of my vacation days to travel more in Africa.
9. What will you be doing afterwards?
Probably graduate school, probably in animal cognition and communication. But Peace Corps is a time for a great deal of personal growth and self-discovery, so my plans could change.
That's all the questions I can think of at the moment, but I will add more to this post if you ask (the blog just started, so I'm hoping the comments section works).
Introduction- What Led Me Here
18 months ago, I was a in the middle of my senior year at Stanford University. Like many of my peers, I was quite stressed about choosing something to do after graduation, wishing I would the right choice to find a fulfilling career, but mainly just hoping I would be able to support myself in a very tough job market. I majored in environmental science, which is a rather broad field, all things considered, and trying to pin down a specific career with a feasible path to get there seemed quite daunting. The school did host a large, general career fair, but, being in the middle of Silicon Valley, I felt intimidated by all the tech companies present- I was uninterested and unqualified for that field. Feeling overwhelmed and a bit disheartened as I wandered around the career fair, I noticed the Peace Corps table and thought, "I could do that." I hoped to be able to join right after I graduated, but as it turned out, the application process takes a good deal longer.
With an extra year of waiting to see if I was going to get assigned to Peace Corps, I learned that post-graduation life was not exactly what I was dreading. Yes, I shared a very small apartment, worked two jobs to pay for it, and relied on trains, busses, and a bicycle for transportation, but in general, I enjoyed myself. My floor staff job at a children's museum was greatly enjoyable (and as it turns out, getting a PAID entry-level job at a nonprofit is no easy thing- many other places only wanted volunteers). I continued to work with the theater company I had been very involved with as a student, I made new friends and kept the old, and I built a reasonable life for myself. So it was harder than I expected to say yes when, 4 months ago, I finally got my Peace Corps letter.
My assignment wasn't quite what I had hoped for, or expected. My biggest and unlikeliest hope was wildlife conservation, something that would lead to a career in that field. But I knew that most Peace Corps assignments were in education. I knew I would enjoy most kinds of environmental education projects, though I had already decided through my earlier education jobs (tutoring, teaching science camps, and museum floor staff), I much preferred informal education over classroom teaching. The regional recruiter with whom I had interviewed said he was nominating me to environmental education, and even when I got an email asking a few last-minute questions just DAYS before my invitation, it said Science Education. So, I was somewhat surprised, and a bit less enthusiastic when the invitation came and said "Math Education".
While I had some strong preferences about my project, I had very little preferences about location. I had spent 3 months doing ecology in Hawai'i, and thought another Pacific Island could be a nice extension of that experience, but I have not traveled many places outside of the US, so I had few notions about country assignment. When I found out I was going to Liberia, I had to do a good deal of research, but I think there are certainly some things about it that make it a good Peace Corps post: the people there are extremely welcoming, and most Liberians really appreciate the Peace Corps. While the infrastructure is damaged and I likely won't have access to amenities like electricity and running water, a good attitude and a welcoming community will likely help me overcome those difficulties.
The last four months have been an emotional roller coaster. Even after I officially accepted my invitation to serve, I wavered on whether it was what I really should do with the next two years. Sometimes I felt like I was continuing with the preparations because I felt I HAD to, not because I WANTED to. But I kept at it, knowing that if I backed out, I would regret it forever (and I was assured that second thoughts was normal- moving to another country for two years is a HUGE decision not to be taken lightly). Not everyone stays on for their assignment after training. I hope I will feel immersed in the experience, get to know the people I serve, and enjoy it once I am there. I hope I will hardly believe that I ever doubted the decision. But if I don't stay, at least I will have tried, and will still have some understanding of the experience.
So, here I am, two days before I leave for two years. I am enjoying my last fast internet for a while, have a huge pile of stuff in my living room that needs to be condensed into two suitcases and a backpack, and have, it seems, for the moment, stopped second-guessing my decision to join the Peace Corps. So, I suppose, it is time for an adventure!
With an extra year of waiting to see if I was going to get assigned to Peace Corps, I learned that post-graduation life was not exactly what I was dreading. Yes, I shared a very small apartment, worked two jobs to pay for it, and relied on trains, busses, and a bicycle for transportation, but in general, I enjoyed myself. My floor staff job at a children's museum was greatly enjoyable (and as it turns out, getting a PAID entry-level job at a nonprofit is no easy thing- many other places only wanted volunteers). I continued to work with the theater company I had been very involved with as a student, I made new friends and kept the old, and I built a reasonable life for myself. So it was harder than I expected to say yes when, 4 months ago, I finally got my Peace Corps letter.
My assignment wasn't quite what I had hoped for, or expected. My biggest and unlikeliest hope was wildlife conservation, something that would lead to a career in that field. But I knew that most Peace Corps assignments were in education. I knew I would enjoy most kinds of environmental education projects, though I had already decided through my earlier education jobs (tutoring, teaching science camps, and museum floor staff), I much preferred informal education over classroom teaching. The regional recruiter with whom I had interviewed said he was nominating me to environmental education, and even when I got an email asking a few last-minute questions just DAYS before my invitation, it said Science Education. So, I was somewhat surprised, and a bit less enthusiastic when the invitation came and said "Math Education".
While I had some strong preferences about my project, I had very little preferences about location. I had spent 3 months doing ecology in Hawai'i, and thought another Pacific Island could be a nice extension of that experience, but I have not traveled many places outside of the US, so I had few notions about country assignment. When I found out I was going to Liberia, I had to do a good deal of research, but I think there are certainly some things about it that make it a good Peace Corps post: the people there are extremely welcoming, and most Liberians really appreciate the Peace Corps. While the infrastructure is damaged and I likely won't have access to amenities like electricity and running water, a good attitude and a welcoming community will likely help me overcome those difficulties.
The last four months have been an emotional roller coaster. Even after I officially accepted my invitation to serve, I wavered on whether it was what I really should do with the next two years. Sometimes I felt like I was continuing with the preparations because I felt I HAD to, not because I WANTED to. But I kept at it, knowing that if I backed out, I would regret it forever (and I was assured that second thoughts was normal- moving to another country for two years is a HUGE decision not to be taken lightly). Not everyone stays on for their assignment after training. I hope I will feel immersed in the experience, get to know the people I serve, and enjoy it once I am there. I hope I will hardly believe that I ever doubted the decision. But if I don't stay, at least I will have tried, and will still have some understanding of the experience.
So, here I am, two days before I leave for two years. I am enjoying my last fast internet for a while, have a huge pile of stuff in my living room that needs to be condensed into two suitcases and a backpack, and have, it seems, for the moment, stopped second-guessing my decision to join the Peace Corps. So, I suppose, it is time for an adventure!
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