Megumi T.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I have always wanted to live abroad and do development work, but I didn’t know the Peace Corps was an option until my senior year of high school, when one of my teachers told me about her own experience. Ever since she told me her stories of meeting children in the community, learning about different cultures, and helping where she could, Peace Corps quickly became something I really wanted to do, but never had the courage to until this past year. Now that I have been in Costa Rica for six months, I can truly say I don’t know why I was scared before. This work, this country, and this community are all exactly what I needed.

2. What projects are you working on?

The community development organization has a composting project that I am helping to transform into a composting business. The organization can then invest any income back into community projects.

I am also working with local businesses and farm owners to develop opportunities for tourism.

Lastly, I am working with the women’s group in the community to hold a monthly farmers market where women can sell handmade products and food.

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

I have been doing a lot of home visits and making time to meet everyone in the community. I also take walks throughout the community multiple times a week and greet people I know.

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

A highlight of my time has been becoming very comfortable with my host family, to the point where my host brother’s daughter calls me aunt!

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

The people are all very welcoming in my community, which is an amazing feeling. I have also learned so much about meat processing and farming. I grew up 10 minutes from Washington, D.C., so I am accustomed to city life. In my rural Costa Rican town I see wild chickens, green rolling hills, and giant trucks taking pigs to the butcher every morning. It is such a different life, but I love it.

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

Family is so important, as well as having access to good and healthy food. “Pura Vida” (“pure life”) is a common expression here that captures Costa Ricans’ ability to stay positive and celebrate the simple things in life.

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

I spend my time running, going to my community gym, playing soccer, playing with my host family’s dog Sachi or chatting with my host family.

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

Meet more people, bring the community together, hopefully create a public space of some sort, such as a park, empower the women’s group to start the farmers market, volunteer in the elementary school, better my Spanish and learn more about the Pura Vida lifestyle!

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

I think I will become a vegetarian because I have seen first-hand how badly some animals are treated on meat farms. I would also love to live somewhere with fresh vegetables and fruits, especially mamones and coconuts!