Everyone's Service Is Unique...

Last week I had the opportunity to host some AZ8s during their site visit. It's their chance to see the real life of a Volunteer as opposed to the bubble that they are in during training (as well as to get some choice in their meals). Staff reminds us to include in our conversations how what we talk about is our own personal experience, everyones' is different, etc.

And this is SO true.

I had a chance a few weeks ago to interact with some other Volunteers and the young adults they work with. It's interesting to see both the work they are doing and how it varies from one Volunteer to another. For example, I can't imagine speaking fluent English with anyone I work with. They can. And that's a huge difference.

I had enough agriculture experience to receive an agriculture nomination, yet I really have no interest in agriculture, so my work with my counterpart organization has focused on conversational English classes, profitability projects and the business side of things. And community projects for youth. But if I had an interest in farming practices there would easily have been an opportunity for that as well.

A Volunteer's preferences and interests definitely show through in their work. I love youth, so a lot of my work has focused on that population. Other Volunteers love drama and are putting on plays at local schools. Or helping to promote cultural heritage. Or doing workshops on preventative health care. And so many other things. While the Peace Corps in Azerbaijan does have three programs - Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Youth Development and Community Economic Development - we are told that we are all Community Development Volunteers, no matter where we are placed. All of the work we do is valued, not just what we do with our counterpart organization. Remember, two of the three goals of the Peace Corps focus on the cultural exchange we have with Azeris and Americans.

And while my service could easily have been very different depending on where I was placed (country, region, city), what organization I was placed with, or any other reason, looking back, I know I ended up in the right place for me. While I can't look back on my service with the same view as I will once I leave the country, or after a number of years have passed, currently I can say that it's been a great, fulfilling experience and I'm glad I took the leap.