To the couple of friends I have already spoken there was no surprise when I first brought up my interest in joining the Peace Corps. Kristi actually responded with, "Cool, don't forget to write." I wasn't sure entirely what response I was looking for, and I only really wanted to begin a conversation with those who know me best about applying, so I guess that step has been a success. Even my parents, children of the flower power generation who have since grown up to be respectable and responsible adults in small town America, were instantly supportive of the idea (this after voicing disapproval of an as-of-yet untaken Central American Odyssey through Honduras, Nicaragua, and Costa Rica).
My reasons for applying are simple, and I believe universal amongst my age-group:
1. I want to travel for an extended period of time (Peace Corps pays for everything)
2. Learning a new language would be fun
3. If it were feasible to volunteer and help people my entire life, I probably would. Peace Corps makes that a reality for two years, which is pretty good.
4. Scholarships/fellowships for grad school, some up to 1/2 off tuition. We also get access to an alumni network, and have the opportunity to make numerous contacts abroad for future career goals.
5. I'm sick of working for the man.
Welcome to my blog. I hope for my blog to be not a stereotype of the standard "I'm going away to live my dream and change the world" idealism that I had in college, but rather a more realistic view of what's going on, and what it's like (including eating bugs, not having TP, and contracting some exotic disease). That all begins with the application, which I hope to have finished by Friday.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comments:
Chuh we were fairly under-surprised at the thought...You are such a hippie, and you need to go spread hippie dreams around the globe! So fly hippie, fly :o) You know you have my undying support!
Schatz Fields
Post a Comment