2006.11.01: November 1, 2006: Headlines: COS - Bolivia: Hardin County Index,: Peace Corps volunteer Monica Parks brings many memories from Bolivia
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2006.11.01: November 1, 2006: Headlines: COS - Bolivia: Hardin County Index,: Peace Corps volunteer Monica Parks brings many memories from Bolivia
Peace Corps volunteer Monica Parks brings many memories from Bolivia
"Being a part of the Peace Corps offers personal, emotional, and professional benefits that are boundless," said Parks. "How else could an individual visit six countries on a monthly salary of $265, emulate patience that most pray for, and return to value family and the efficiency of the U.S. in just two years?" As for the culture, Parks was amazed by the consistent character traits of Bolivians. "They don't complain. They have incredible patience," she recalls. "They don't correct each other and easily let imperfections slide."
Peace Corps volunteer Monica Parks brings many memories from Bolivia
Peace Corps volunteer brings many memories from Bolivia
By HOPE GONSOULIN
Caption: Monica Parks, a Hardin-Jefferson graduate, teaches literacy to Bolivian third-graders during her two-year service as a Peace Corps volunteer. Many of these children did not know the alphabet.
Spitting into a vat of home brewed beer to speed up the fermentation process is common practice in Bolivia. This was but one discovery made by 49- year-old Peace Corps volunteer Monica Parks.
This Hardin-Jefferson graduate recently returned from her two-year stint abroad where she implemented a literacy program and taught health, as well as child development in a remote region of Bolivia.
A registered nurse by trade, Parks' knowledge is what the Peace Corps utilizes in foreign countries as aid. "Providing services and expertise to countries that ask for it is one of Peace Corps' goals," explained Parks.
The community that she assisted expressed their respect for education by calling her Licenciado Monica. Translation - Licensed Monica.
By virtue of her degree, she was considered the village expert. Her advice or recommendations were heavily weighted even in areas absolutely unrelated to her field of study.
Prior to being integrated into this South American community, Parks received three months of intensive training from Peace Corps in areas of language, cultural sensitivity, safety, and technical training.
After two years, Parks progressed from a three to a seven on her verbal proficiency exam. A ten denotes the ability to carry on a political debate in Spanish.
At times, Parks laughs that she looked like the village idiot versus the village expert because units of measurement for temperature, weight, and distance were all in metrics.
"Before I could answer a simple question about life in the States, I would have to pause awhile and make the conversion in my head," she said.
As for the culture, Parks was amazed by the consistent character traits of Bolivians. "They don't complain. They have incredible patience," she recalls. "They don't correct each other and easily let imperfections slide."
Minimizing the risks of becoming a victim of disease and/or crime were a priority of Parks and the Corps. Preventative health measures such as immunizations, water sanitation,
and pest control were necessary. "I spent at least an hour each day performing extra measures of safety that are not necessary in the U.S.," she said.
The major obstacles for Parks, as well as for villagers,were the lack of mobility and lack of communication with the outer world.However, these sacrifices paid off.
"Being a part of the Peace Corps offers personal, emotional, and professional benefits that are boundless," said Parks. "How else could an individual visit six countries on a monthly salary of $265, emulate patience that most pray for, and return to value family and the efficiency of the U.S. in just two years?"
A few other memorable experiences for Parks included packing belongings for two years into two suitcases, being applauded while riding her bike (an activity which women are assumed incapable of), and of course the home-brewed beer.
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Headlines: November, 2006; Peace Corps Bolivia; Directory of Bolivia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Bolivia RPCVs
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