The Toughest Job …

Last week I joined 4 other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers on a panel to share our experiences, along with a few words of support and encouragement, to prospective volunteers. It was during that time that I was reminded of how much of an amazing experience serving as a volunteer was. I’d like to use this week’s post as a recap.

My experience as a Peace Corps volunteer:

  •    was the most challenging and the most rewarding 27 months of my life
  •    allowed me to view America and Americans through a different lens
  •    helped me to gain an appreciation of cultural awareness and appreciation that no     class could ever teach me
  •   afforded me an opportunity to SERIOUSLY nurture my love for reading; I read          more books during my time there than I have ever done in twice and maybe three times that same time span here in the US
  •    assisted me in (re) learning the value or community
  •    taught me the value of communal living and modesty — in both dress and living
  •    enhanced my maturity by leaps and bounds … I often compare 2 years of Peace       Corps to 10 years state—side
  •    gave me an appreciation for bucket baths under the stars, daily market visits to buy fresh fruit, veggies and fish, as well as time spans with no electricity
  •    exposed me to people — some of whom became lifelong friends — and places that I will never forget for the rest of my life
  •    … truly was the toughest job I will EVER love. I’m so thankful for my Peace Corps experience!

Obviously people travel and live abroad every day, but I stand by my affirmation that there is NO other experience quite like living in the community, learning the language, eating the food of your host family for 2+ years. To me, very few experiences compare to VOLUNTEERING to live without many of the conveniences of life here in the U.S. For me, Peace Corps was a life-changing experience that has cultivated the way I now view myself, America, The Gambia and so much of the world. How far are you willing to go???

Comments:

  • September 2, 2012
    Oscar L. Beard

    Thanks for sharing, Sabrina! As I approach the age of 66 I can say that there has been no other life experience quite like the U.S. Peacer Corps tour. I was in Nigeria during the Biafran Conflict/Nigerian Civil War. Sargent Shriver flew as far as Amsterdam with us. This was a plane plan basically full of Whites, with the some 26 Black volunteers. Here we are, off to Mother Africa. It was a return to the womb. As we landed in Dakar, Senegal, there was a blackout. What a metaphor…the first stop on the black continent with a blackout as well. We all went into the terminal nonetheless. It would only be an hour layover. The Blacks returned unscathed. Mosquitoes just attacked the Whites. (http://ReadingDoctor.com)

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  • September 2, 2012

    Reblogged this on Southern Association of Black Peace Corps Volunteers and commented:
    Thanks you so much Sabrina for sharing! We look forward to following more of your thoughts!

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  • August 9, 2012

    You were so bold to be a part of the Peace Corps! Much respect!

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