Charles "CJ" B.

1. What inspired you to apply for this Peace Corps position?

In truth, I was tired of sitting behind a desk and wanted to do something that was out of my comfort zone. I had heard about the Peace Corps experiences from professors and it felt like the right move for me. The opportunity to live in and learn about a community and culture wholly different from my own was an exciting prospect.

2. Tell us about a moment that sticks with you from the first week at your site.

It snowed overnight on my first day at site, and when I woke up in the morning, the mountains and village were blanketed in four inches of fresh powder.

3. What projects are you working on?

My main job is to teach English to first through ninth graders. Outside of day-to-day teaching, I also work on Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) Code camps as well as a spelling bee, which we are trying to grow into a national initiative.

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

The strategies I’ve used are active listening and engaging with community spaces. I take afternoon photo walks through my village and have coffee almost every day with my counterpart. And of course, I play football (soccer) in the park with students.

5. What’s a typical day like for you?

I typically arrive at school around 7:45 a.m. and teach until 1:15 p.m. After school, I return home, where I eat lunch with my host family and chat with them about their days at school, work, and in the garden. After lunch, I typically go on a long walk around my village, where I speak with community members in the local language and photograph them as they work and talk to me about their lives.

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

My biggest highlight from service so far was the regional spelling bee that fellow Volunteer Katerina and I organized among three schools for sixth through ninth graders.

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

I enjoy the natural beauty and the hospitality of the people in my community.

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

My community has taught me to say “yes” to coffee.

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

I take a lot of photos of my village and explore the area quite a bit.

10. Tell us about the strongest relationship you’ve developed while in country.

The strongest relationship I’ve developed while in the country has been with my host family. They truly feel like family and have supported me in ways I will never be able to fully repay or thank them for. We spend a lot of downtime together after school and on the weekends, sharing conversations and meals. I’ve tutored my two host siblings in English and have had an absolute blast seeing their language skills develop in the year-plus that I’ve lived with them.

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

I’m looking forward to hosting my community’s first GLOW Code camp this summer, which will involve girls not only from my village, but from other Volunteers’ as well.

12. Tell us your favorite phrase in the local language.

"Punë, punë natë e ditë, që të shohim pakëz dritë." It means “Work, work, day and night so that we may see a little light.” It comes from Albanian writer Naim Frasheri.

13. What will you do differently when you return to the U.S.?

When I return to the United States, I will be more intentional about building and maintaining relationships. Albania has taught me that investing time in your community is more than showing up for big events; it’s talking to the curious community member, playing soccer with students in the street, and buying your eggs and vegetables from the same guy every time.

14. What would you say to someone thinking about joining the Peace Corps?

Do it. The Peace Corps will give you what you need, not what you want, and I believe that’s profoundly important.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Albania.