Jacob L.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

During my work in corporate fitness, my brother volunteered as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Africa. I didn’t really know what the Peace Corps was but after hearing about his service and the impact he had on his community, he inspired me to apply. I am also proud and privileged to have grown up in the U.S., so I also wanted to find a way to serve my country!

2. What projects are you working on?

I teach grades 5-11 alongside two English teachers. We have over 280 students, so I’m at a smaller school compared to other Volunteers. We are in a rural village located in the Ak-Talaa district in the center of the country.

Besides my day-to-day English teaching, I actively participate in my students’ volleyball and football training. I conduct several preparation courses for my students including Olympiad training, English clubs, and FLEX prep.

We are also about to finish a grant that will fund an English resource center at school. The grant will fund a renovation of our classroom and provide a place for students and community members to develop English skills and work on career development. We have already secured new blinds, projectors, internet access, laptops, chairs, and desks. We plan to offer workshops on resumes, motivation letters for universities, and digital literacy.

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

Be open to everything. There are so many opportunities, you must be ready to take every day as a new adventure! One day you can be doing lesson planning and then get asked to help slaughter a sheep with your school director!

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

One of the highlights of my service (besides my students missing me over summer holiday!) is getting to go to my village’s summer “jailoo,” which means summer pasture. Our jailoo is about an hour from our village and there, horses, cows, sheep, and yak roam free. I also get to enjoy the fresh air and sip kumuz (mare’s milk) inside yurts with my family. It is a nice disconnect from the village or city life, as there is no internet connection for miles!

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

My students and host family really made the community integration and my service easy. My village is so kind. There are times where I am tired from school and on my way home, people will ask me to stop and drink tea. I also get invited to go to jailoo or guesting. My community also has an ice rink that the community uses during the winter and a stunning park that feels like it’s from a movie.

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

One of the most important things I’ve learned from my community is patience. Time moves a little slower here and if you let it get to you, it can become very frustrating. I have realized that while things might not go your way (scheduling, students not listening, people showing up late, etc.), it’s always beneficial to have a Plan B or Plan C.

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

Outside of school I am learning the three stringed guitar instrument called the komuz which has been very challenging and fun. We do several concerts every year where I dance and perform with my students for the entire village. I do trash cleanups every quarter in my village to help build community spirit and keep it clean.

I also like to catch up with my family in California and post on my Kyrgyz social media account. I have been able to share adventures, teachings, and Kyrgyz food this way. It has led me to connect with so many people from different parts of the country as well as people from America. I also like to watch shows, and play volleyball or video games, and read. Currently, I am reading “A history of Kyrgyzstan (from the Stone Age to the Present).”

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

I am looking forward to starting my next school year off strong. I really want my students to succeed so I will try my best to work hard and help them improve their English level so they will have more opportunities in the future. I also want to travel and see the rest of this beautiful country.

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

I don’t know what I will do differently, but I will always try to stay connected with my Kyrgyz community here. I want to keep in touch with them and help my students succeed in their careers. I will also encourage anyone that has the opportunity to serve to take that chance as it will be something they will never regret.

Want to learn more about serving in the Kyrgyz Republic? Connect with a recruiter today.