An observation about Volunteers
In the Peace Corps, you do things you wouldn't normally do in real life - and people, Americans, are helpful (to one another) in ways not often seen in America.
Perhaps its the intensity of the experience, the type of people PC attracts, or the fact that your "people" have shrunk in number, incredibly - but there is something about being thrown into the same boat that makes you more sensitive to others needs, more likely to go out of your way for them, and more appreciative of time spent together.
In the Peace Corps, a package of taco seasoning sent from America is enough of a reason to throw a party. You may have been waiting 3 months for those granola bars, but of course, you share. Yes, I will lug your bag of bricks from America to Moldova, because I'm going there anyway, and I know, it will never make it in the mail. Please carry this (expensive item, amount of cash, report) to Chisinau because I don't have the time to go myself. Quality time waiting in line at the bank, count me in. And of course I will ride a bus 3 hours to "watch" election results come in over the internet with you.
That's just how we are here. And I kind of like it. It's a good feeling knowing you are not in it alone. And a better feeling knowing that all you need is a supply of peanut butter to maintain friendships.
Perhaps its the intensity of the experience, the type of people PC attracts, or the fact that your "people" have shrunk in number, incredibly - but there is something about being thrown into the same boat that makes you more sensitive to others needs, more likely to go out of your way for them, and more appreciative of time spent together.
In the Peace Corps, a package of taco seasoning sent from America is enough of a reason to throw a party. You may have been waiting 3 months for those granola bars, but of course, you share. Yes, I will lug your bag of bricks from America to Moldova, because I'm going there anyway, and I know, it will never make it in the mail. Please carry this (expensive item, amount of cash, report) to Chisinau because I don't have the time to go myself. Quality time waiting in line at the bank, count me in. And of course I will ride a bus 3 hours to "watch" election results come in over the internet with you.
That's just how we are here. And I kind of like it. It's a good feeling knowing you are not in it alone. And a better feeling knowing that all you need is a supply of peanut butter to maintain friendships.
This entry was posted
on Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 2:42 PM.
