Ossian L.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I was introduced to the Peace Corps by family friends passing through on the way to their service site in Moldova, back in 2013. My father was working in the State Department at the time. My family has a long history of service to the U.S., predominantly in the military, and I in turn wanted to contribute to that tradition of service. So, near the completion of my master’s degree I applied to the Peace Corps. I can now proudly include the Peace Corps in my family’s list of American service organizations.

2. What projects are you working on?

I predominantly teach and create lesson plans for an elementary school and its two sister schools in the coastal region of Montenegro but have also done work with the regional vocational high school. Outside of teaching classes I’ve worked on various projects in my two years of service, including debate clubs, creative writing clubs, spelling bee competitions, the organization of international food days and a summer camp, translation of a career orientation manual, and translation/improvement of historical texts for a municipal open-air museum.

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

One of the best ways to quickly integrate is to learn how to get around using public transportation as soon as possible. It helps to learn about the country by going out and seeing it for yourself rather than let people simply tell you about it.

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

One highlight of service was initiating and co-organizing our school’s first international food day. With COVID-19, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as other international geo-political events in the past 5 years there has been a large influx of non-Montenegrin families into the country and settling chiefly along the coastline. Consequently, their children are being enrolled into local schools, and mine is no exception. Having grown up in predominantly international schools I thought it a great chance to encourage intercultural integration and share foods from those new and old to Montenegro. The festival was a great hit and we’ll be soon hosting our second!

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

The kindness of the locals and the helpfulness of my counterparts working alongside me to help my projects, events, and general Peace Corps service be a success!

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

When I am not working on projects or events, I try to find the time to explore Montenegro’s rightfully famed natural beauty and coastline.

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

Spending the time I have left with my counterparts and friends.

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

I’ll likely be taking back my coffee drinking habit that has been culturally “enforced” upon me