It's time By happyRPCV



It's time By happyRPCV

It's time By happyRPCV

OK, so I've kept my mouth shut all week, and now I need to say what I think.

I loved my PC expience. It was great. Was it dangerous? yes, but what do you expect in a developing country.

There are a few things that really offended me about these columns-

1) saying that young woman straight out of college are not up for this. I was a young woman straight out of college and for me PC was a great time to plan the rest of my life. And to say that we arn't qualified is SO OFFENSIVE- I was in an education program. Even here in the US some of the best teachers I know are straight out of school. It didn't take a master's degree (which I now have) to explain to the teachers what paper mache was (it was in the curriculum but they didn't know what it was) or to pass out 4000 condoms or to explain to a woman how the earth revolves around the sun, or to contact a local doctor to come in and check the children's eyes and get glasses donated to children that needed them. I did all these things and now, even with 5 years work expierence and a master's I don't think I am "more" qualified.

2) HCN are not bad people. They are wonderful. They supported me when I had a bad day, and laughed with me when I was happy. They would have protected me if I needed it.

3)Pairing up volunteers- Please- that is the most ridiculous solution I ever heard. I lived 2 streets down from another volunteer. He couldn't have protected me from anything. If anything- he caused problems because many people in the communty didn't like him and I had to hear about it (I didn't like him either, so his "help" wouldn't have meant much)

I hope anyone reading this article realizes, PC is hard, you get homesick, you get sick, you might be harassed, but if you are a strong person, a person who wants to help, and wants to see a part of the world you would never have the chance to see any other way, then PC is the greatest experience you'll ever have.