The Peace Corps
I don't remember when I first wanted to join the Peace Corps. I don't even remember
when I first heard about or how I knew it existed.
My first memory involving Peace Corps was 10th grade Geometry 2. I was explaining
to the teacher that I would never NEED geometry in my future. He, in a misguided
attempt to prove me wrong, asked me what I planned to DO in the future. (I guess, he
was going to point out how geometry would could in handy in any career I could
name.) And I said I was joining the Peace Corps.
Well, the whole class laughed at me, and cracked jokes about disappearing into the
jungle, marrying King Matoeto and having 15 kids with rickets. (I distinctly remember
the rickets part).
And that was that. Until my freshman year of college.
I started dating a graduate student during my freshman year. He had been born in
Taiwan and had traveled throughout Asia (military family). All his friends were
returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCV). I thought they were such FREAKS.
The girls wore bizarre clothing from far off lands and wore no make-up. The guys
were almost as bizarre with there interest in strange foods and politics.
My
boyfriend listened to PUBLIC RADIO and used Tom's of Maine toothpaste.
I was always in my white mini-skirt with pink sweater. I used to change the station
to the local pop station, everytime my boyfriend left the room. And I mocked those
strange girls. "She will never get a boyfriend looking like that!"
So you can see where this story is going. 4 years later I was hauling my own bags
through the grasslands. I was in
TEVAS, no make-up and I couldn't remember the last time I had shaved anything.
I wrote that old boyfriend to tell him of the strange twist of events. He, of course
didn't give a rats ... and never responded. BUT ANYWAY....
How did I actually GET IN the Peace Corps, you may wonder.
How and why I applied
To my PC Table of Contents
Email: thefattraveler@hotmail.com