Work, Work

When signing up for the Peace Corps, you are told numerous times, “Peace Corps is a 24/7 job.” During training, or summer camp as I like to call it, you would never believe this saying is true. Surrounded by other gringos with all sorts of cool activities going on, life is pretty easy in the first ten weeks. Then you become a volunteer. Life changes and reality sets in. You begin to realize the job phrase was no joke. It is not just a job in the sense Americans think of work, day-to-day living is a challenge.

However, I am not writing this to gripe about the daily challenges, that is what I came to this country and Peace Corps for. I am writing about my theory on the importance of work and why it means that much to people back in the States. As I have stated in a previous entry, it is easy to let thoughts and emotions get the best of you. In the good ole U S of A, we have so many things to take our mind off of those thoughts and emotions. Television. Internet. A car. Most importantly- work. Sure work causes headaches all on its own, but it occupies so much time that you do not have time to be engulfed in the negative.

How does this relate to my Peace Corps experience? For one, let's just say I have it a bit easier having some semblance of a job. As I tell many people, it may not be the most rewarding work (lots of manual labor), but I least I have work to keep me occupied. Many volunteers cannot say the same thing. They struggle to find even some form of routine and that is the real challenge, I think, of Peace Corps. Without work, it is easy for doubts and other forms of pessimism to creep into your mind. It is even easier here in Ecuador because, for the most part, you do not have all of the amenities of home to keep your mind at bay. As I said, I have found myself battling the doubts just like every other volunteer, but I am fortunate to have a job to go to everyday.

So, while work may suck at home for you in the States, it still has some benefit. Try to stay alone with your thoughts for awhile and see how hard that can be. It is a 24/7 battle against those everyday here for every volunteer.