Mind Set of a Peace Corps Volunteer

The Mind Set of a Peace Corps Volunteer

There were 67 of us Romania20, as we are officially known, at the beginning of our training. That was twenty months ago and we have just over 6 months to go before completing our term of service. If I count correctly 15 have left early for health, family or adjustment reasons. It was announced recently that almost an identical number - 14 - have put in for an extension of service. That makes us a nice symmetrical group, about as many people want to stay longer as had to go home earlier.

Nancy and I are not one of the 14 putting in for longer duty. We had considered it and a transfer to a different country for another two years held certain attractions. There have also been times in the past year and a half when we considered leaving early, so I suppose we are also symmetrical – part of us wanting to stay longer, part wishing to go home early.

As we got to know our colleagues during our initial training there was speculation as to who would successfully complete two plus years of service and who wouldn’t. Of those that have left, many were a surprise to me. Of those that have stuck around, many are a surprise to me. Contrary to my opinion of myself, obviously I am not a good judge of character.

Even now, if asked as to what makes a person able to complete a job for so long away from home, in a different culture with a different language, I couldn’t say. I am not sure exactly what there is in common between those of us who remain. Some people have been rewarded by their efforts and have seen the difference they can make. Others have a determination to finish their assignments even if on some days they can’t see that difference. All of us came to Romania to offer something of ourselves and there is joy when that something is appreciated and dismay when it seems that it is not.

On Monday evenings Nancy hosts an English Conversation Club which I often attend. People come to practice speaking English. This past week’s discussion was an amazing dialogue about the sacrifices and the compromises that people had to make while living under the Communist system. These were not the petty matters of lack of bananas or the need to stand in long lines, these were the moral choices that had to be made that meant having a job, or having a place to live, or being placed in jailed, or placing others in jail. It was amazing to hear these young adults speak of their youth under the totalitarian dictatorship and the choices that their parents had to make to survive.

This was a discussion that 17 years ago could not have been held. Even now it was painful to discuss. At one point I was asked “Why didn’t you come to help?”, meaning ‘why didn’t America stand up to Russia?” We didn’t come to help then because of fear of World War III, but we have come now. The need is not as great now, but there is still a need. I believe that we volunteers make a difference with our openness, our smiles and laughter, and our willingness to be volunteers. If we also accomplish ‘something’, a tangible measure of success, that is even better.

The picture accompanying this blog update is my favorite photo of a fellow Peace Corps volunteer. I am not sure the cow truly appreciated that fact that Matt gave up a portion of his life to come and spend it with her here, but she doesn’t look like she minds, either.