“The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love”

“Peace Corps is the toughest job you’ll ever love.” This statement couldn’t be any more true. Peace Corps is hard. It involves living in a developing country where almost nobody speaks your language, while you’re trying to learn theirs. I stand out even when I’m trying to blend in and live like a local. Everyone notices everything you do, even when you think no one is paying attention. When teaching, it seems like students don’t want to be there or they don’t understand. It’s hard to change their learning style of just copy and repeat. 

However difficult, frustrating, and lonely it can be, it’s all worth it. It seems sometimes that nobody understands you (especially when you tell them you don’t eat rice for every meal). However, the cultural exchanges are so important. Understanding other ways, ideas, and languages are key to creating peace in this world. Most disagreements come from lack of understanding or lack of trying to understand. While some people build walls to try and keep people out, others move to other countries to learn about and from others. One culture, country, language, gender, religion, skin color, or hair color is better than another. Rather than rejecting based on outside looks, ask questions and learn. Learning about others opens doors rather closing them. 

Eliminating cultural programs and aid only closes doors and creates ignorance, segregation, conflict and war because of a lack of understanding. However aid programs, cultural classes and programs allow for acceptance, understanding, friendship, improvement, and peace. While one might not be or want to travel to work in hardship, there are ambassadors out there who create these relationships, understandings and world growth. 


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