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4 Peace Corps Volunteers share what they learned from their host communities
Peace Corps Volunteers are passionate about making an impact while serving in a community abroad. But what they give is often equal to what they learn and gain from those they work alongside. During their service, Volunteers build confidence, learn new hard and soft skills, gain insight into different values, and much more. Below, four Volunteers reflect on what they learned from their host communities.
Palak W. learns to slow down
Community Economic Development, Dominican Republic
As a Volunteer, Palak has learned “to slow down. In the U.S. we have a tendency to always be on our toes and moving. In the Dominican Republic, people take their time and are rarely ever in a rush. When I first arrived, I was always on the go. I would greet people, talk to them for a few minutes, and then be on my way. I quickly learned that is not how things go around here. When people have visitors, they expect them to sit, have a coffee, and talk for a while. It’s something I’m still getting used to, but I do feel this aspect of the culture allows me to live in the moment and enhance my relationships.”
Joseph M. begins to grow food
Health, Uganda
“My community has taught me many things. The most impactful has been how to sustainably farm crops. Farmers in my community have small-scale farms for household consumption; everyone has land they cultivate. In the U.S., we are not accustomed to growing the vast majority of the food we eat. It has been powerful to experience that and gain local knowledge about agriculture. Everything from timing the rains, opening and preparing the land, intercropping, what to plant and when to plant it, and harvesting have been new for me. It has changed my connection with food and what it means to sustain myself.”
Maggie D. learns how communities work together
Education, Indonesia
“They have taught me to not worry about what we have, but to just give, because the more we give the more we gain; the needs of others are the needs of us all as a whole. This is a lesson that I learn over and over from my community. So many people here are willing to give of themselves even when they themselves are struggling because everyone’s focus is on building one another up instead of racing to get ahead of the pack.”
Joshua F. participates in new food traditions
Community Economic Development, Georgia
“One of the most important lessons I've learned in Georgia is the significance of the ritualistic ways of eating with others. Engaging in one of the oldest cultures globally, breaking bread with Georgians has deepened my appreciation for culturally significant practices. A poignant example is the supra, a communal feast where numerous toasts are made, giving thanks. Participants gather around the table, leaving negativity at the door. At the supra, we celebrate diverse topics, including religion, family, children, peace, and friendship.”
