Panama…sustainable agricultural agent!!!
February 24th, 2007 by jenny.Hi there so I just recieved my invitation yesterday and man I am so excited and I really want this but the job description looks really hard and I am scared! Working out in the sun for 9 hours a day is fine but with long pants, boots and a hat not to mention working with a machete! I think that I am freakin a bit! I am so not ungrateful for this opportunity I am just scared that I won’t be any good at it! I must sound like such a big baby but the packet also said that I would more than likely be the only American at my site which is fine but not all the time, I don’t know what to think or if I am just freaking myself out!!! Please anyone that has been through this or is going to be going through this with me please, please, please write me back!!!! Thanks!
Jenny
February 24th, 2007 at 8:23 pm
Not sure how I got this , just pop up, What are you worried about? Walk and breath, or follow your feet. But follow them fast! Greg ? are you in Panama or going there?
February 24th, 2007 at 10:40 pm
Jenny,
CONGRATULATIONS!! Sounds like a great opportunity. I was a PCV in Guatemala. I loved it!!
Sounds like you are a bit nervous of the unknown. That is natural. It is true that Peace Corps is the toughest job you will ever love. However, it’s not that hard. You will do just fine. If you have been seleted, you can do it. If you have dificulties, you will find ways to surmount those dificulties. Life is a journey, don’t be afraid to move forward. If you back out now you will regret it for the rest of your life. Countless people have told me how they thought about doing the Peace Corps when they were younger, but never did and regret the missed opportunity.
Erik
February 25th, 2007 at 12:01 pm
Hey Greg and Erik thank you so much for your words of wisdom. I know that I can do it I am just a little bit nervous I am sure that it will pass! Three months left before I leave so I have some time to get over my nerves!! Thanks again! Jenny
February 26th, 2007 at 2:47 am
i agree w/erik jenny…when you are past this experience and you look back on your life and the time you spent in panama you will have nothing but a huge smile across your face and consider yourself lucky to have endured and overcome the challenges you will meet in central america
February 26th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Congrats, must be a great feeling!
February 28th, 2007 at 4:37 pm
Hey Jenny! I just got from Panama as a sustainable agriculture agent as well…so congratulations I loved it! Let me relieve some of your stress…everything that you are afraid of will probably happen, but it won’t seem like it does to you today. Yes…you will be the only American…but you can request to be in a site near other volunteers. I lived in a very rural village (not everyone does) and I had three volunteers within an hour hike (that doesn’t seem like that long once you are there). You have a little say in where your site placement will be, and the country staff will do their best to find a site that fits your needs. As to the agriculture part, you will be trained in the techniques you will teaching, but just keep in mind that the experience is what you make it and often times your main work might not be in your area. I did a lot of teaching English, I did health projects, and my fair share of ag stuff. Anytime you start to feel lonely or stressed out, you can text (yes most volunteers in Panama have cell phones that can at least text in your site) another volunteer for support, that is what they are there for. On my worst days I would tell myself to give it one more day, and then if I needed I would go spend a night or two in town at a hotel with air conditioning and cable with another volunteer so I could speak English and relax.
Key point: YOU ARE GOING TO BE TOTALLY FINE!! I still know lots of volunteers down there so if you want to get in contact with someone drop me a line. Also if you go to google and type in PeaceCorps blogs you can check out several current blogs from volunteers in Panama. There are also several volunteers on myspace if you have that. Let me know if you need any more information…and seriously…CONGRATULATIONS!! drop me a line if you want: wakan_5@hotmail.com. Bueno suerte pues!!