On a humid afternoon in July, I sat in an air conditioned conference room of the Carter Center for a question and answer session with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter. One of my fellow interns asked what advice they had for people interested in pursuing careers in global health or international development. Jimmy Carter answered without hesitation, "Join the Peace Corps."
It would be rather idyllic if I could claim that this advice from a former president inspired me to apply for the Peace Corps, but the truth is, I had submitted my application weeks before that afternoon in Atlanta. Still, I do agree that the Peace Corps provides an unparalleled opportunity to learn about development through first hand experience and cultural integration.
Since I first submitted my application in late June, I've had plenty of time to think about whether this is something I really want to do. On September 20th, I received a nomination from the Peace Corps for an English teaching position in Eastern Europe. (Possibly the best birthday present I've ever received, though it was one day late!) Although I was forewarned that this nomination was subject to change, I began reading about the region and trying to teach myself a few Russian phrases. I knew it would be several months before I learned anything else about the status of my application. Finally, on May 21st, I received a phone call from a Peace Corps placement officer. After a long conversation, she told me she was prepared to offer me a position with a program in Sub-Saharan Africa. I was incredibly excited about the change in plans, though I guess the few words of Russian I learned won't be useful after all!
I received my official Peace Corps invitation in the mail a few days later. Due to the fact that my landlord and his wife live in the apartment below mine, I resisted the impulse to jump up and down and shout with excitement as I opened my envelope. I'm going to Sierra Leone!!!!
My program departs on May 31st. We will spend a few days in Chicago for orientation or "staging" before flying to Africa. I will spend my first three months in Makeni, Sierra Leone for training and language lessons. After that, I'll be relocated to a village where I'll begin my new job as an English teacher!
