Megan Hawks has spent nearly every day of the past two years living and working in Saint Lucia



Living on a small wage enough to keep her on par with the locals, Hawks feels she has gained more than just a travel experience. “I've done a lot of things that maybe I'd be scared to do in the past,” she said. “I've learned to cherish the little things. In the islands, they have this thing called ‘The Art of Sitting.' I think that's been a good lesson for me.”

Megan Hawks has spent nearly every day of the past two years living and working in Saint Lucia

Peace Corp

Published: Friday, June 8, 2007 2:14 PM CDT

Former Wellington resident Megan Hawks has spent nearly every day of the past two years living and working in the Carribean Islands, though one would ever guess from her blond hair and fair skin.

Hawks, a 1997 Wellington High School graduate, spent her whole life among the bitter cold winters and burning summers of Sumner County, and never dreamed she would one day find herself in St. Lucia, in the Carribean.

Hawks graduated from the University of Kansas and started working in Kansas City as an occupational therapist. After three years at her job, the idea of joining the Peace Corps became a reality.

The Peace Corps started in 1960 when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. After challenging the students, the organization grew to what it is today, with more than 187,000 Peace Corps volunteers in over 139 host countries working on issues ranging from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation.

Though it seems most people's knowledge of the Peace Corp comes from movie quotes and remembering that Baby from Dirty Dancing would later join it, Hawks is happy to educate those who don't know and to tell her story.

“I wanted to serve and that want to live internationally and experience a new culture was there,” said Hawks. Though volunteers can pick where they would like to serve, the choice is up to the organization.

St. Lucia is Hawk's newest home, though she has been on several different islands in the Carribean. During her time on the island she has spent her focus on the teaching of special education teachers, and on HIV and AIDS education and prevention.

Living on a small wage enough to keep her on par with the locals, Hawks feels she has gained more than just a travel experience.

“I've done a lot of things that maybe I'd be scared to do in the past,” she said. “I've learned to cherish the little things. In the islands, they have this thing called ‘The Art of Sitting.' I think that's been a good lesson for me.”

Though thousands of miles away, Hawks says St. Lucia reminds her of her childhood home.

“It reminds me a lot of Wellington, with that community feel,” said Hawks.

Hawks is currently back in Wellington on a two-week vacation to see family and friends, but will be returning to the Carribean until mid-September when her time in the Corp will be up.

“When you volunteer, it changes the volunteer more than the person you are helping. That sounds so clique but it's true,” said Hawks.

For more information on the Peace Corps, visit www.peacecorps.gov.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: June, 2007; Peace Corps Saint Lucia; Directory of Saint Lucia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Saint Lucia RPCVs

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




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