Comments on: Panama…sustainable agricultural agent!!! http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/ Peace Corps Stories and Photos Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:16:11 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Wakan http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2088 Wakan Wed, 28 Feb 2007 21:37:17 +0000 http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2088 <p>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.</p> <p>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!!</p> 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!!

]]> By: Ferney Giraldo http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2085 Ferney Giraldo Mon, 26 Feb 2007 17:59:56 +0000 http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2085 <p>Congrats, must be a great feeling!</p> Congrats, must be a great feeling!

]]> By: csylvestro http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2080 csylvestro Mon, 26 Feb 2007 07:47:57 +0000 http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2080 <p>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</p> 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

]]> By: Jenny http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2076 Jenny Sun, 25 Feb 2007 17:01:10 +0000 http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2076 <p>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</p> 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

]]> By: wlErik http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2075 wlErik Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:40:26 +0000 http://www.thirdgoal.com/jenny/2007/02/24/panamasustainable-agricultural-agent/#comment-2075 <p>Jenny,</p> <p>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.</p> <p>Erik</p> 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

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