Eric Jubeck to serve as Peace Corps volunteer in Eastern Caribbean



Based on his knowledge of the education system in the United States, Jubeck has "a feeling" he'll be doing something in the education field. He said he knows the people of the eastern Caribbean are looking to establish and run an effective special ed program. He's also likely to work on HIV/AIDS education, as that's a big push for the Peace Corps in developing countries. "What's probably going to be most difficult when that plane lands is I'll be completely on my own," he said. "I won't have family and friends to depend on." Jubeck said leaving "the comfort zone that is the United States and seeing what's out there" is just part of his journey, albeit one of the most challenging. He said going to school to be a teacher and then landing a teaching job was a smooth transition, but embarking on a stint of more than two years of volunteering in a foreign country will definitely take some getting used to.

Eric Jubeck to serve as Peace Corps volunteer in Eastern Caribbean

Answering the call of Peace Corps

Published Thursday, July 19, 2007 12:09:02 PM Central Time

By Kayla Bunge

kbunge@themonroetimes.com

MONROE -- "I don't know what I want to do with the rest of my life," Eric Jubeck said.

The 25-year-old Monroe native graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point in 2005 with a degree in elementary education and a minor in special education. He landed his first teaching job at an inner-city school in Phoenix, where he taught cognitively disabled seventh- and eighth-graders.

"I did enjoy my job, but it was difficult," Jubeck said.

He admitted he was a little burned out and wasn't 100 percent sure teaching special ed was the career for him.

Jubeck turned to the Peace Corps, something he said he's always had an interest in, but never found the right time to do.

"I felt I was ready for it at this time in my life," he said.

Jubeck said it's the Peace Corps' three-pronged mission that solidified his interest. The Peace Corps has three goals, according to its Web site:

* Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women;

* Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served; and

* Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

The Peace Corps was born in 1960, when Sen. John F. Kennedy challenged University of Michigan students to "serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries," the Web site says.

Jubeck said he's seeking self growth "in as selfless of a way as possible."

Of course, the opportunity to travel, live and work in a foreign land was an added bonus.

Jubeck isn't certain what his work will entail in the Peace Corps. He does know, however, that he'll be stationed in the eastern Caribbean, which includes six countries. There he'll be a "community development worker," a title all Peace Corps volunteers in the area have.

"When I got my packet, I was so excited," Jubeck said. "But then I saw 'community development worker,' and (that's) not a lot of specifics. I have no knowledge of what it is."

Based on his knowledge of the education system in the United States, Jubeck has "a feeling" he'll be doing something in the education field.

He said he knows the people of the eastern Caribbean are looking to establish and run an effective special ed program. He's also likely to work on HIV/AIDS education, as that's a big push for the Peace Corps in developing countries.

Jubeck's training begins in St. Lucia. After three weeks, he'll spend one to two months "integrating within the community, see what the community needs are," Jubeck said. Then it's all work for the next two years.

"What's probably going to be most difficult when that plane lands is I'll be completely on my own," he said. "I won't have family and friends to depend on."

Jubeck said leaving "the comfort zone that is the United States and seeing what's out there" is just part of his journey, albeit one of the most challenging. He said going to school to be a teacher and then landing a teaching job was a smooth transition, but embarking on a stint of more than two years of volunteering in a foreign country will definitely take some getting used to.

"Just take a deep breath, get down there, spend time and enjoy it," Jubeck said.

Since school ended in May, Jubeck has been mentally preparing himself for his Peace Corps experience. A big reader, he's gotten his hands on everything from economics to politics to geography.

"You name it, I've had a chance to read about it," Jubeck said.

For now, he's soaking up the time he's got left to see family and friends, who were a bit reserved about his leaving at first, but now are excited for him.

Jubeck leaves July 25, but will have been ready for two months.

"The last day of school was May 25," he said. "And I shot out of bed that morning at 5 o'clock and thought, 'OK, it's time to start this.'"

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: July, 2007; Peace Corps Eastern Caribbean; Directory of Eastern Caribbean RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Eastern Caribbean RPCVs

When this story was posted in November 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

---

Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Senator Chris Dodd vowed to filibuster the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act that would grant retroactive immunity to telecommunications companies that helped this administration violate the civil liberties of Americans. "It is time to say: No more. No more trampling on our Constitution. No more excusing those who violate the rule of law. These are fundamental, basic, eternal principles. They have been around, some of them, for as long as the Magna Carta. They are enduring. What they are not is temporary. And what we do not do in a time where our country is at risk is abandon them."

---

---

November 12, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Chris Dodd's service began with Peace Corps 9 Nov Matthew McCue called back to Iraq from Peace Corps 9 Nov Tschetter Visits Turkmenistan 9 Nov Lara Weber writes: Oprah Winfrey's stumble 9 Nov Heather Thompson works with P Diddy 7 Nov Karen Hughes' public diplomacy came to nothing 4 Nov James Rupert writes: Musharraf seizes power 3 Nov Martin Puryear is Man of Mysteries 2 Nov Sarah Chayes says Taliban score major victory 1 Nov John Sullivan runs Sudan Divestment Task Force. 30 Oct Tom Bissell writes: Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro 28 Oct Chris Shays to seek 12th term 25 Oct Helen Dudley can't stop giving 25 Oct Joseph Acaba named to STS-119 Shuttle Crew 22 Oct Vince Floriani in USA Today's All-USA Teacher Team 22 Oct Kelly J. Morris writes "The Bight of Benin" 20 Oct Charles Shelan was Buddhist monk Wondam’s teacher 19 Oct Peace Corps returning to Liberia 18 Oct David Peckham started Village Bicycle Project 16 Oct Alberto Ibarguen announces grant for "Project Impunity" 15 Oct Campbell Memorial Park boosts ecotourism 15 Oct Bowers Family keep daughter's dream alive 15 Oct

---

What is the greatest threat facing us now? "People will say it's terrorism. But are there any terrorists in the world who can change the American way of life or our political system? No. Can they knock down a building? Yes. Can they kill somebody? Yes. But can they change us? No. Only we can change ourselves. So what is the great threat we are facing? I would approach this differently, in almost Marshall-like terms. What are the great opportunities out there - ones that we can take advantage of?" Read more.

---

Senator Dodd's Peace Corps Hearings Read PCOL's executive summary of Senator Chris Dodd's hearings on July 25 on the Peace Corps Volunteer Empowerment Act and why Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter does not believe the bill would contribute to an improved Peace Corps while four other RPCV witnesses do. Highlights of the hearings included Dodd's questioning of Tschetter on political meetings at Peace Corps Headquarters and the Inspector General's testimony on the re-opening of the Walter Poirier III investigation.

---

Paul Theroux: Peace Corps Writer Paul Theroux began by writing about the life he knew in Africa as a Peace Corps Volunteer. His first first three novels are set in Africa and two of his later novels recast his Peace Corps tour as fiction. Read about how Theroux involved himself with rebel politicians, was expelled from Malawi, and how the Peace Corps tried to ruin him financially in John Coyne's analysis and appreciation of one of the greatest American writers of his generation (who also happens to be an RPCV).

---

Ambassador revokes clearance for PC Director A post made on PCOL from volunteers in Tanzania alleges that Ambassador Retzer has acted improperly in revoking the country clearance of Country Director Christine Djondo. A statement from Peace Corps' Press Office says that the Peace Corps strongly disagrees with the ambassador’s decision. On June 8 the White House announced that Retzer is being replaced as Ambassador. Latest: Senator Dodd has placed a hold on Mark Green's nomination to be Ambassador to Tanzania.

---

Suspect confesses in murder of PCV Search parties in the Philippines discovered the body of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell near Barangay Batad, Banaue town on April 17. Director Tschetter expressed his sorrow at learning the news. “Julia was a proud member of the Peace Corps family, and she contributed greatly to the lives of Filipino citizens in Donsol, Sorsogon, where she served,” he said. Latest: Suspect Juan Duntugan admits to killing Campbell. Leave your thoughts and condolences .

---

He served with honor One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Read the stories and leave your comments.