Bailey J.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

Toward the end of my time in college, I was uncertain about my future. I was interested in public service, and eventually found out about the Peace Corps and the amazing opportunity it offers to integrate into a new culture, work at the grassroots level in a new community, and build long-lasting relationships. I knew I had to take advantage of this special opportunity.

2. What projects are you working on?

I collaborate on many small-scale projects in my community. I support entrepreneurship classes with local teachers in two community-based schools. I recently finished a project with the local women’s office and the Ministry of Economy; we held a small business skills training course for a group of local entrepreneurs. At the end of the course, the local Women’s Office, the Ministry of Economy, and the Peace Corps cohosted an entrepreneurship fair.

3. What strategies have you used to integrate into your community?

I try to be open to new experiences. It can be intimidating to try new foods, visit new places, and speak new languages. New foods I’ve tried have quickly become favorites. I have also been able to learn phrases in a new language that help me better connect with people.

4. What is a highlight of your time in service so far?

The highlight of my service has been the cuisine of Guatemala. The food is spectacular, and the mix of Spanish and indigenous foods is genius. Seeing recipes that have been passed down for thousands of years with little change is one of the most interesting things I have seen. Foods like tamales (corn dough with a filling steamed in a corn husk), pepián (chicken stew), chiles rellenos (stuffed peppers), kak’ik (turkey soup), revolcado (pig’s head stew), rellenitos (plantains filled with sweet black bean and chocolate), and many more traditional Guatemalan foods have changed my taste buds and opened my mind to new flavors.

5. What have you enjoyed most about the community where you are serving?

There is so much! I would have to say the lifelong friendships I have made with work partners and community members have been most enjoyable. Those relationships have been priceless.

6. What are some of the most important things you’ve learned from your community?

How much collaboration and teamwork it takes to make things run in the community. Seeing all the work my partners do has helped me understand how challenging it is to be a public servant. It is a lot of hard but admirable work. Collaboration and communication are all very important in the successful functioning of any community, but seeing it firsthand makes me respect the public servants in Guatemala as well as at home in the U.S.

7. How do you spend time when you are not working on a project?

I enjoy spending free time with friends and my host family. I’ve become friends with a Volunteer close to my site. We visit each other and attend fairs and events in our community, such as Hija del Pueblo, Holy Week, and Burning of the Devil. I would advise new Volunteers to make sure they have time outside of work for fun and social activities. Look for opportunities to spend time with other Volunteers or community members. Explore the country in your free time.

8. What are you looking forward to in your remaining time as a Volunteer?

I am looking forward to collaborating with the new staff of the local women’s office as a new administration comes in with the new mayor. There’s an opportunity to support the administration with their community economic development priorities.

9. Once you finish your service, what will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

I plan on being more involved in my community. Living in a rural area of Kentucky, it is challenging to get involved in the community and support community needs. Peace Corps has provided me with many tools that I can use wherever I go in the world.