Third Goal

I’ve just joined up with Third Goal and I find a lot of interest but also some real questions about Peace Corps in general and the experience of being one.  I was a volunteer in Lesotho in the late 70’s and although there is some time difference and a lot of political changes, People do not change.  These people were some of the poorest, happiest, most giving people I have ever had the priviledge to work with.  I loved it so much that I stayed 3.5 yrs.

Peace Corps is a gov’t entity however and must operate under the usual restraints and timelines.  It takes time for the paperwork to clear, background checks to be completed and arrangements to be made.  Their budget is not flush like other arms of the federal gov’t and so you will find that the frills are missing.  But the administrative people are genuine and want to help you as much as they can.  However, this is not the military and the training will get you started but you will be on your own to complete it.

Peace Corps volunteers are a special breed of person.  They are soft and caring but develop a will to perservere and complete their mission which will change them forever.  Those of you wondering about your how you will live, where you will live and what you will live in will not find the answer until you get there.  I lived in a round thatch hut in a mission, some had running hot and cold water and car ports while other were in places where they might get out of the mountains every other month.  There is no real way to tell.  You will be going where you are needed and the people will be greatful and give you what they can.

It is very important to searcg yourself and find out what you want.  Do you want to help others? Do you need a nice place to live?  What are your looking for?  You will find what you are looking for.  If it is a great bunch of people that will be happy to be around you, you will find them.  If you are worried you will find problems, they will be there.  You must be proactive, friendly, willing to accept challenges as stepping stones not stumbling blocks.  Apprehension is normal, but it should not stop you from accepting the challenge.

I read one post that wanted to know what Lesotho was like.  I was a teacher in the lowlands where the population is the greatest.  It was quite easy to move around but I found after I got to know the people that there was a lot to do and I didn’t need to get out so much.  I enjoyed walking the countryside, visiting the villages, checking out the rock formations, dino foot prints and rock paintings.  It is a small country but it took us a long time to get anywhere.  I’ve noticed that a lot of things have changed and that a lot of improvements have taken place. But there are still many challenges.  As a volunteer, you must be ready to meet the people, interact with the people, learn their language, maybe even drink a little joala with them.  You must learn to have fun with them, laugh with them but realize that getting close will mean that you may also cry with them from time to time.  These things will help make you part of their community and you will be loved and treated as one of them.  I was 6 ft and blonde, they were 5.5 ft and dark but I was made to feel at home by them.

So set back, know that it will take time, learn as much as you can about the people and the country but realize that many of the things you learn were written by outsiders that never got to meet the people and live with them.  Your experience will be different.  It will be what you make it.

Go out there, make a difference and come back with some great stories to share.

JL

This entry was posted on Thursday, February 26th, 2009 at 10:39 pm and is filed under Africa, Southern Africa, Lesotho . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.