Page 11 - Pauza Magazine

arts & cultural experiences

When Expectation ized that this is my Peace Corps experience. I did

not bring these technological items to Macedonia.
These are the tools that my fellow countrymen and
women need to complete their work, to be compet-
Meets Reality itive in their respective industries and to relax and
enjoy their lives. I did not join the Peace Corps to
live in poverty; I joined to make a difference. I had
previously resigned myself to the idea that poverty
would likely be my reality. But it is not and I should
not feel guilty for having such tools while serving
the world’s first wireless country.” My hometown in in the Peace Corps. I will not force myself to lose
Silicon Valley isn’t even wireless – was this some the computer, get rid of the television, or cancel
kind of joke? Then, on the road to Kumanovo for my Facebook account because losing these will
our first week of orientation, I noticed the first- not help me better integrate into my new society; it
world infrastructure, large clean buses and signs would do the exact opposite.
for Pepsi, Coca-Cola and McDonald’s. No less
than five minutes after switching the television on “at this point in our jour-
at Satelit Hotel did I find “Friends” and the Fugees neys, we must rely on each
singing “Killing me Softly”. To top off my first night
in Macedonia, I Skyped with my parents, texted other in our loneliest hour
my friends and stayed up until 5am to watch the and take comfort in one
San Francisco 49ers defeat the Detroit Lions. I fig-
ured these luxuries would be short lived, but mod- another.”
ern technological comforts continued into my host
family’s apartment, where I was given the wireless Now, it is not to say that I haven’t faced tough times.
password, added to each member’s Facebook In 2013, the challenge for many Peace Corps vol-
account and was invited to join them in watching unteers is still a battling of isolation. Despite the
ESPN America - all within five minutes of my ar- available ways of connecting to those back home,
rival. the fact remains that we are still thousands of
miles away from our loved ones during important
I wondered when my “real” Peace Corps experi- holidays and milestones. No computer program or
ence would begin. Where was the primal Peace smart phone app can replace mom’s homemade
Corps experience I was looking for? Where is the pie or Sunday football gatherings with the guys. I
bucket and well where I can get my water from? was sitting at home alone when the San Francisco
Where is the mud hut I was supposed to be living Giants won the World Series, and after my initial
in and the donkey I was to take from my village excitement passed, I was homesick just thinking
to my makeshift work area? It wasn’t until after I about the fun my friends were having in my ab-
left my host family, when I sat down alone on my sence. Please don’t get me wrong – I am not try-
couch in my own apartment in Prilep, that I real- ing to be a martyr nor looking for sympathy. I am
simply realizing that what I had pictured to be the
“I will not force myself to hardest part of participating in the Peace Corps is
lose the computer, get rid simply not my reality. Furthermore, I am beginning
to understand that it was never about the fact that
of the television, or cancel I might have to learn to live without certain items;

my Facebook account be- it is that I have to learn to live with our familiar
items in conjunction with the emotional toll of the
cause losing these will not Peace Corps. Just like the volunteers in the past,
there are many of us in towns and villages with
help me better integrate no American for miles and no peanut butter in the
into my new society; it local grocery store. And just like volunteers in the
past, at this point in our journeys, we must rely on
would do the exact oppo- each other in our loneliest hour and take comfort
site.” in one another.

Fall 2012 – 11
Winter 2013 – 11