Real Girls Do Real Things: Nothing Comes Easy.

Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary, and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live along side the nationals of the country in which the are stationed-doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language.

But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the PC-who works in a foreign land-will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace.”

President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1961

I have spent the last three months in intensive language, cultural, technical-Peace Corps Guatemala training. All I can say is I am glad it is over, not that I did not enjoy the plethora of information and wonderful experiences that come along with training, During one of the first sessions we were told the three characteristics to become a successful volunteer: Patience, Flexibility and Enthusiasm. I need to work a little bit on the patience part but I have two years, right? The best parts of training were hands on, visiting schools, interacting with students and giving a shot at teaching. My favorite experience by far was visiting a middle schools in one of the training towns and having a cultural exchange with the students. They shared their national anthem and a folk dance with us and we shared our national anthem and an 'American Dance', it took us a little while to think of a dance but we all naturally agreed on the Electric Slide. After visiting volunteers sites and finally receiving my site assignment I was ready to move forward and become a volunteer...and that is just what happened. As of July 14, 2011 I am an official Peace Corps Volunteer! I will be serving in a small town in Quiché, working in three middle schools, working with students, teachers and parents. I will also be working in the Municipalidad (City Hall) with the Commission for Youth and Adolescence. My work will include implementing a life skills program into each school, giving parent and teacher workshops to improve relations with the teenagers and develop out of school activities. I really liked my site when I went to visit and my new host family is very sweet, I cant wait to move in and get to work.