Julianna P.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

What got me interested in the Peace Corps was the opportunity to work alongside diverse people in the field and in a development capacity. Peace Corps’ capacity strengthening approach and their people- focused mission encouraged me to apply. I thrive when being challenged, involved in international efforts and when I’m exposed to new cultures. The chance to learn another language and to acquire new soft and professional skills also excited me.

2. What projects are you working on?

I am currently working on building latrines for the secondary school I teach at. There is a pressing need for toilets, especially for female students who are obliged to go in the open. Community members and I are working with NGOs in the area and relying on them for support with labor as well as funding. We have succeeded in finding an organization to take over both efforts. We are now in the first stage of the project, preparing the land to start construction.

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

I’ve worked hard to study the local language. I’m able to walk around and greet people, and in some cases, have basic conversations. Every day, I make sure to be away from my home at least two hours a day. I mostly sit with community members, help them with tasks/chores, or play with kids. In addition, I try to run errands in the village instead of in the nearest town in order to interact with more people in my community. I do my laundry at other people’s houses, go to church, and visit friends over the weekends.

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

A highlight of my service is the relationships I’ve built with my two counterparts. It is what I am most proud of accomplishing during my time in Benin. Building these relationships has required effort, flexibility, openness, and trust. It has been challenging at times, but having a good two-way communication always works. Expressing concerns and needs has been critical to our working relationship. I now trust my counterparts with any work we must perform; I know how hard they work and how much they care. Aside from being work partners, our relationships have turned into long-lasting friendships.

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

I have enjoyed living in a community-driven culture. People in my community are always ready to help however they can and with the resources they have. Community members are respectful towards one another, which builds better and more meaningful relationships. My community is very team oriented, and I’ve enjoyed that at work and when doing other activities in the village. People in my community are passionate about what they do, and they work hard to support their families and peers. They don’t rely on others to get what they want or need; instead, they sustain themselves through their work.

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

The most important things I have learned from my community are:

• Teamwork. How important it is to work together to get things done more efficiently and effectively. Everybody has different strengths and something to offer or contribute to the community.
• Confidence. I have learned to be more confident about myself, who I am, my choices, and why I do the things I do on an everyday basis.
• Acceptance/respect. Thanks to community members, I’m more accepting of others even if I don’t agree with them; I now respect people’s opinions without trying to change them. I can put myself in others’ shoes instead of judging for any behaviors or actions.

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

I usually visit friends in the village and walk around the village, greeting community members. I spend time with my host family and the people who live in my compound. I also help with the farm and chores at my village’s orphanage. When I’m at home, I do chores around the house, read, watch movies, cook a good meal, go on bike rides, or have lunch with Volunteers who live nearby.

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

I am looking forward to spending time with people in my community. I want to make the most of my time and continue to develop relationships at school and in the village. In addition, I want to make sure my projects are sustainable by setting monitoring and evaluation plans for the community and perhaps the next Volunteer. Lastly, I want to learn more about Benin and its culture. I would like to schedule some vacation time after school ends to explore and discover.

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

Being in Benin has given me the experience of working with others from different cultures. When I return to the U.S., I believe I will be more comfortable working with people who have different backgrounds than my own. I’ve also become a more resilient and community-minded individual. Now, I’m able to overcome challenges that at first, may have seemed impossible to solve. I want to rely on teamwork and people in general to get things done more efficiently. But most importantly, now I understand the importance of spending quality time with others because time doesn’t come back, and living in community with others is proven to help with mental health.