50 Years of Peace Corps, today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7y2mZH1dVeA&feature=player_embedded

In short, it's been a while since I've posted to this blog. I've long since abandoned it, mostly out of uncertainty. I didn't know if I had any way of returning to Tanzania, or what my next step would be, for that matter. I suppose today would be the proper time to sum up what has happened since, and how my experience in Peace Corps Tanzania, however unexpected, has made an impact on my life.

Today is March 1st, 2011 (well, one hour left of it here in Eastern Standard time.)
It is 50 years to the day when then-President John F. Kennedy, Jr. signed executive order to form the United States Peace Corps.

Regardless of myriad debate (especially recently) of the effectiveness and security of volunteers in their respective placement sites, I still believe in what PC aspires to attain. Most notably, a cultural exchange. It's one that affects the volunteer for the rest of his or her life in ways that cannot be experienced otherwise. There is so much to learn about oneself when faced with daily challenges, taken from the securities of home, and becoming aware of an entirely new environment. Learning about oneself, her inner struggles and weaknesses as well as strengths, the need to connect with other people, and the willingness to admit that everyone (even the do-gooder volunteer) needs help.

In many ways, it is an eye-opening experience. It's not easy. There isn't much support (if any) when a volunteer returns home. Especially, if that volunteer (like myself) must come home early for whatever reason. There is no system in place for transition when a volunteer doesn't return at the same time as the rest of the group. In sum, it sucks.

The village of Itimbo had a deep impact on me, and I can only hope that I made some impact on the people I came to know and trust. It has been too personal a thing for me to write more about, and that is why I abandoned the blog for so long. I couldn't reflect on how or why I was not there any longer, or what I was going to do next. Since returning stateside in May of 2009, I have lived in Chicago, IL and am now residing in that big, crazy, blight-infested apple of New York, NY. Transitioning from Tanzania to Chicago proved difficult and bewildering, and prepared me well for the same feelings of living in the city that never sleeps.
It was not an intention of mine that I would want to live here, I'm too outdoorsy of a person to want to live in such a dense city, but it was my desire to continue teaching and serving that led me here.

In Chicago, I eventually found work in freelance and full-time design, though it took plenty of time to get back on my feet. I credit my sister (so much) for helping me through that. During that time, I also found a network of returned volunteers through the Chicago Area Peace Corps Association, and spent many hours involved with organizations such as 826 CHI and Chicago Hopes. Time spent teaching and interacting with students through these organizations, led me to realize that my time in the PC wasn't just a hiatus from full-time work; it was the beginning of my teaching career. I am currently pursuing my Masters of Education for ID/Autism in the Peace Corps Fellows program at Teachers College, Columbia University.

As one of my design instructors told us back (a few years ago) in my undergraduate years at Kent State, "You just never know where you're going to end up in a few years. Some of you will be doing something totally different." He was right. I'd like to think that I'm not abandoning anything, or leaving a different career behind, but adding to it. Creativity is creativity, and a knowledge of visual communication and organization is key to setting up a classroom of visual learners. So there, justified. bam.

So the one thing I can say about PC, is that it really brings out an understanding of who are and what you just gotta do. Wish me luck. "Bahati Njema."

... and thank YOU to whomever may have read this. Any and all support is (and certainly was) appreciated.

~ C