I finally got my Peace Corps application sent in about two weeks ago. (The above photo is from the Peace Corps Web site.) Ever since it's pretty much been the waiting game. About 10 days after I applied, I got a packed filled with information, a background check form and two fingerprinting cards. I've taken care of all the things necessary in order to proceed to my interview which is on Friday. I have a lot of questions to ask. I'm not really nervous, despite it being a formal interview. I'm more curious as to how the whole process works. I attended a Peace Corps social on Monday night with Trevor at Bus Boys and Poets. I talked to a girl who went to Albania (which I was truly hoping to find someone who went there after watching this horrifying movie called Taken over the weekend). I talked to her to find out how safe it was to be in Albania as a female and how rampant the sex trade is. She told me how she was upset that the movie portrayed Albanian's in such a terrible light because they're the nicest people she's ever known. She did acknowledge though that yes, there still is a huge problem with sex trafficking in Albania, but she never felt unsafe at any point in time. So, that eased my fears a little, but I've still been left a little traumatized from that movie and want to go over to eastern Europe and hunt down the pimps and sex lords that are kidnapping innocent young women, drugging them and sending them into a life of prostitution.
I also talked to a girl who just got back from Madagascar earlier this year. She was only there for a year because she was pulled out early because of the coups. Honestly, I had no idea there even was a coups in Madagascar because we rarely ever hear about that part of the world. She mentioned that her only regret was being so focused on the place she wanted to go, and not where her skills were most needed. She thinks she made a difference, but not as big of one as she thinks she could've made had she gone somewhere that her skills would've been better utilized.
Then lastly I talked to a guy who went to the Philippines in the 80s. I can only imagine it was totally different 20 years ago. He told us that it was very likely that as a volunteer you'd meet another volunteer who you'd eventually marry, because that's exactly what happened to him. He also talked to us about how when you come back there's an adjustment period, like when he came back he had trouble remembering that he had access to light switches. He also mentioned that when you come back, you realize you now have 200,000 friends you didn't have before you entered PC. That life is definitely different when you come back, which, makes sense. You spend two years somewhere that may or may not have running water and electricity and life in America probably seems like a cake walk.
So my interview is on Friday. I'm preparing for it. Trying to think of all possible questions I still have left to ask. Determine which countries I think will be best suited for me. I'm going to really push for Costa Rica for two reasons, 1) I've been there and I know I would be able to spend two whole years there, and 2) It's developed enough that I think my skills would be better suited to the needs of the people, in that I would be able to help further their development (if that makes any sense).
Anyway, stay tuned. I'll keep you updated on my Peace Corps process. Also, take note, I have joined the millions and hopped back on Twitter. You can find me @FikhmanFoto. Kept the name the same for simplicities sake. I tend to post a lot of links to news and photo Web sites and retweet a lot of what other photo-tweeters are posting.
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