Sophia S.

1. What got you interested in the Peace Corps?

I have had a passion for humanitarian and volunteer work from a young age, thanks to my parents’ encouragement to get involved in the communities around me. Going to an international university where I was surrounded by people from different countries and studying political science and law furthered this interest in the world around me and learning about different cultures. At this time, my cousin Analiese was serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Panama and hearing about her experience made me interested in joining the Peace Corps myself. Finally, I was intrigued by the opportunity to be part of the third cohort in Viet Nam. That combined with the rich cultural tradition, amazing food culture, and beautiful nature made Viet Nam a standout choice for me.

2. What projects are you working on?

The main goal of Peace Corps/Việt Nam is to support English education in public high schools and by having a native speaker in the room. I work with a local high school in Hà Nội to help strengthen the English skills of students in grade 10 and 11 through lessons on speaking, listening, everyday communication, and culture. I co-teach lessons with my school’s English department and various teachers, typically 15 to 18 periods a week.

This summer Peace Corps/Việt Nam is also starting a pilot field trip program to take student groups to the American Center at the U.S. Embassy in Hà Nội and the U.S. consulate in Hồ Chí Minh City respectively, which I am excited to participate in!

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

I think the most important thing is consistency. People remember the effort and energy that you put into getting to know them and that goes a long way. In my time at site, I go to every single school event I can, play volleyball with students or staff after school, and go to the same restaurants and cafes regularly. This has helped people get comfortable with me and used to my presence.

For example, I played volleyball with one particular student nearly every single day for my first 6-8 months at site. He was very shy and never said a word to me beyond “My name is _” and “My class is _” when asked. Then, about a month into school this year, I asked him a question and it sparked a 45-minute conversation. Now he regularly talks to me in the presence of other students, encouraging them to do the same!

I also have become a regular at several restaurants and cafes in my area. At first, everyone was confused by my presence, and even more confused when I started speaking Vietnamese to them. But now I walk in, say hello, and don’t even need to order and they bring me my “regular.” Some students at the café may even try to guess what I am going to order. At my favorite café they stopped giving me a number with my order and write my name at the top of the bill. Being consistently present in the community has helped me integrate to the point where my community feels like home.

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

The highlight of my service so far has been connecting with people. I love spending time getting to know the people in my community and school, especially students. Peace Corps service has taught me that connection can take many forms in addition to talking, such as joining local holiday events, sitting in the courtyard with others, and my personal favorite, playing sports with students. The highlight of my day is getting to play volleyball with students at my school. At first, I was very intimidated to ask to play with them since they are very talented and it is also only boys who play, but I am so glad that I worked up the courage to do it because they are some of the kindest and funniest people I know. There is something new happening every day and it has been a great way for me to get to know new students and develop individual relationships with those I know. When I first began playing, I was very shy, and insecure in my Vietnamese, and now a year later nearly every day anywhere from 1-10 students will stay after we’re done playing to talk to me for 30 minutes to an hour in English. I really take advantage of living in the school and talk to students whenever I get a chance. I have even started a list of interesting things students have said to me because there really is never a dull moment.

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

I really have loved getting to participate in different cultural events and develop my cultural competence. I feel very lucky to be at a school that always includes me in events and other activities happening at my school. I have been on 3 field trips so far, to different temples, including cultural sites like Mai Châu, and even went on a military field trip! My school also celebrated its 40th anniversary this year with a 3-day-long celebration that was special to be a part of.

Graduation is also a really important event at my school (and others in Viet Nam). From January to March every single 12th grade class decorates their classroom extravagantly and spends a whole day taking professional pictures. For me this presented an opportunity to hang out with students outside of teaching and gave me with a better understanding of the large role education plays in Việt Nam. The first day of school, Vietnamese Women’s Day, and Teacher’s Day are also special days filled with music, performances, and traditional games or sports.

I have also gotten to participate in other cultural events in my community like local pagoda festivals, Tet holiday celebrations, and next month I am attending my first Vietnamese wedding. These events have enabled me to try new foods and wear traditional outfits (Áo dài) and observe ancestor worship. Living in a community presents a unique opportunity to immerse myself in Vietnamese culture that would not be possible in a larger city or town.

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

Patience really is a virtue. Peace Corps service is a marathon, not a race. Building relationships, learning a language, and adjusting to a completely new culture are all things that take time. It is important to be all in and committed to the process of saying yes to opportunities presented to you, but not everything happens overnight. The people in my community have been very kind and patient with me, helping me get adjusted to a new way of life and practice Vietnamese with me. I hope I too can extend these qualities to others long after I leave Việt Nam.

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

As mentioned before, I am very serious about volleyball, which takes up a good amount of my time. In the evenings after volleyball, and when the weather is cooler, I also like to go on walks in my community and explore the different villages and pagodas around my school. The culture of Việt Nam is so rich, and there is always something going on if you know where to look (or who to ask!). In the same vein, I also like to try different cafes both at my site and when I go into Ha Noi on some weekends. As someone who does not drink coffee in the United States, I love Vietnamese coffee and quickly became addicted to Cà phê muối (salted cream coffee) specifically. So much so that the security guards at school always joke about how I drink more coffee than Vietnamese people. During some of the public holidays in Việt Nam, I like to attend different festivals with other Volunteers or travel around Việt Nam and see their sites, which is another great way to learn more about the different regions of Việt Nam, get to know my fellow Volunteers, and gain perspective and ideas for my own site!

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

The transition to life here felt overwhelming in the beginning, but I have gotten into a rhythm and routine that I really enjoy. So I am excited to keep strengthening the relationships I have and creating new ones, especially as my Vietnamese language skills keep improving and I can communicate better and learn more about the people around me. Additionally, I am excited to attend festivals and experience more local customs and events with my time left. I also look forward to exploring more regions in Việt Nam this upcoming summer with fellow Volunteers.

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

I think my Peace Corps service has changed a lot about me, mainly the confidence that I have in my own abilities. I trust myself a lot more than I did before I got here because once you can do things in Vietnamese, it makes doing menial tasks in English much less intimidating. I think this increase in self-confidence will translate into being braver; trying new things whether it is food, different jobs, or just being more outgoing in talking to people. Joining Peace Corps was already stepping out of my comfort a bit as I’m sure it is for every Volunteer, and I hope to keep stepping out of my comfort zone when I go back to the U.S.

Learn more about serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Viet Nam.