Why Join the Peace Corps? (cont.)
A strong camaraderie existed among the Volunteers in-country. Most of us were involved in at least one project, driven by the idealistic desire to help the Malians. Our assignments varied. Besides gardening Volunteers, some of us dug wells and planted trees; others taught math or English. A typical refrain of most Volunteers was: "I learned as much as I taught." We often had to deal with corruption, slow-moving bureaucracies, and many other unforeseen difficulties. Living overseas, we learned to see America with new eyes, appreciating the education, health, and freedom of our country.
We all arrived in Mali feeling completely lost and confused—like small children, we each had to learn a new way to eat, speak, dress, bathe, and even use the bathroom. By the time we left, we had each gained a new self-assurance. We mastered speaking not only Bambara, but also French—the official language—and learned to ride a motorcycle and bargain in the market. After a year at our sites, there was nothing unique in having to butcher and pluck a chicken, or doing without running water and toilet paper.
In retrospect, I'm amazed at the physical hardships we endured. Almost every Volunteer experienced a stomach tied in knots from dysentery. Some of us came down with diseases whose very names sound frightening—malaria, and schistosomiasis. But each of us knew that with one trip to the capital, we would receive the medical attention we needed to get better. This kind of medical attention wasn't accessible for most Malians; almost every child had a bloated belly from malnutrition.
The impression that remains strongest in my mind is that Malians knew how to appreciate life. They always seemed to be laughing, despite—or maybe because of—the hardships they faced. Their standard of living was very poor by most criteria—at the time it was the third poorest country in the world. But this abject poverty was offset by the rich history and stability of Malian culture, in particular their strong social fabric centered on family. Children were taken care of by the extended family; the elderly were respected for their age and wisdom.
After sharing these thoughts with my caller, he thanked me and hung up. I don't know if he ever joined the Peace Corps. But his call reminded me of a call I had made 15 years earlier, shortly before completing college. I had just been accepted into the Peace Corps, but was having reservations and had phoned a former Volunteer. As I told him, "I will be away for two years. I might not like my site. I don't like hot weather," and so forth.
For every concern, he had the same rebuttal: "Just do it."
Finally I asked, "So you thought it was a good experience?"
Without hesitation, he replied, "It was a great experience...the best in my life."
Two years later, I agreed.
