When I was in 4th Grade, I remember a RPV from Ghana came to speak to my class about her service with the Peace Corps. She showed us pictures and told us stories about her amazing adventure. I was fascinated by her experience and I wanted to learn more about volunteering. From then on, many people would ask what I wanted to be when I grew up. “A Peace Corps Volunteer,” was my response. It became a dream of mine to some day have the “toughest job you will ever love.”
In the summer of 2000, I embarked on an incredible journey and began my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kyrgyzstan. I felt so humbled, so insignificant for the first time in my life, so small when contrasted against the entire scheme of the universe. It took 10,000 miles for me to learn this lesson, this painful, yet eye opening exercise of patience and humility. I learned many incredible lessons: the Kyrgyz language, politics, and the cultural differences. However, the most important revelations are the ones that stemmed from deep inside: that you become whole when you recognize your fears, grow when you learn your limits, and blossom when you are awakened by your deepest desires.
My purpose as a volunteer became clear, as I recognized the simplicity of the life in Kyrgyzstan. The unimportance of materialistic items and the love for families. The amazement from the children by a foreigner-an American-with a funny disc called a Frisbee. The smiles of people who were always excited to see me and who welcomed me with open arms and a bow with the hand on the heart-a simple greeting of Salamatizbi.
Despite the lack of hope for the future in Kyrgyzstan, it made me happy when I could make my students smile from sharing a piece of chocolate from America, or having a simple Kyrgyz conversation with an elderly woman at the bazaar. I lived in the moment, and was grateful for the universe and whatever it brought me, and found the meaning of both joy and pain. I surrendered to the unknown, stopped manipulating, and wanting, and ceased wrestling against the things I could not control. I loved unconditionally, did things out of love, even let go, because I loved. I learned to be patient and to curb my tendency to scream and climb mountains. I accepted the fact that I alone cannot change the world. I no longer expected miracles and I did the best I could do to make a difference.
Kyrgyzstan became my home and a place I crave to return. I still remain in contact with many of my students, friends and families I made while I lived in Kyrgyzstan. Today, it gives me great pleasure to share my experience with others, promote the Peace Corps and paint a picture of the beautiful country Kyrgyzstan truly is and the wonderful Kyrgyz culture. Kyrgyzstan will remain with my heart forever!
