Though I’ve pretty much heard the full range of comments-
negative to positive- about joining the Peace corps, a particular one has stuck
with me: “It’s so nice that young people like you are willing to put your life
on hold for 2 years to join the Peace Corps.”
Every time I’ve heard it, it’s been from well-meaning friends and
acquaintances, but since actually experiencing what Peace Corps is, my
automatic reaction to these people is to tell them that they’re wrong.
As I’ve previously written, two years is a long time no
matter where you are or what you’re doing.
So when you take into consideration the distance from the known
(friends, family, American culture, etc.) as well as the stereotypical Peace
Corps conditions of hardship and cultural displacement, I can see how many
people would arrive at the conclusion that two years spent as a Peace Corps
volunteer is two years of life put on hold.
However, to those people I ask, what is life to you? If life is accumulating wealth, living in
close proximity to almost any amenity or material good you may desire, or
having a corporate-climbing job, then yes, volunteers put their lives on
hold.
It’s only when you’re to look outside the box of a typical
American life that you can understand why that statement is wrong. If to you, life is having a fulfilling
career, constantly learning, living around people who love you, and having the
opportunity to truly experience a culture different then your own, then Peace
Corps service would simply be two more years of living a fun and fulfilling
life.
Of course, I’d be lying if I said there weren’t days where I
crave comforts of home and the “life” I left behind. I miss dressing up for work, running errands
in my own car, eating nice food, and not being the most educated person in my
town. Sometimes I love teaching simple business charlas, but sometimes it’s hard not
to think about my friends back home working on fancy (to me) advertising
campaigns or getting that next promotion. So on hard days in Panama, I too fall
into the trap of thinking only of what I’ve left behind, and forgetting all
that I’ve gained.
However, as my two-year commitment was coming to a close and I began
to seriously consider my next steps, both personally and professionally, the
incredible time I’ve spent as a Peace Corps volunteer really came to
light. These two years, though at times
long, hard, and uncomfortable, have been two of the best and most formative
years of my life. I've had all of the sterotypical Peace Corps experiences such as traveling, teaching kids English, and enjoying bastante hammock time, but I've also been able to experience first hand that Peace Corps is so much more than that. I've added some seriously awesome points to my résumé and had some of the coolest experiences I could have imagined (hiking through the Darién rainforest with an indigenous guide? It was pretty fun). On top of all of that, I've made incredible connections, lifelong friendships, and precious memories.
So, that’s the main reason I’ve decided to stay a third
year- because for me Peace Corps hasn’t been “putting my life on hold,” but
instead living life to the fullest.
