Hannon is living with a host family in a two-bedroom apartment for the first three months of his stay, learning the country's language and culture, and living in a manner similar to people in Kazakhstan. In his blog, Hannon described the first few days with his new family. "The first day all I heard was 'jea' = EAT and 'ish' = DRINK! And all day long that's all I did," wrote Hannon. "The rest of the time I spent using the few words I knew which were 'awesome,' 'yes' and 'thanks' which might have been part of the reason I was roped into drinking distilled goat milk. Other than that, I have no complaints as far as food goes. It is abundant and delicious."
Dave Hannon is currently training as a community development volunteer in Kazakhstan
Career path takes local volunteer to Peace Corps
By TONY BRUSCATO
Staff Writer
Caption: Dave Hannon has traded the streets of Plymouth for the streets of Kazakhstan after joining the Peace Corps.Photo: Bill Bresler | staff photographer
When Dave Hannon of Plymouth Township graduated last spring from Michigan State University's James Madison College with a degree in international relations, he didn't know where his career path would lead him.
However, the Salem High School graduate did know one thing.
"I was not ready to get a job and work 9-5," said Hannon, 21.
The other option - which he chose - was the Peace Corps, where he's currently training as a community development volunteer in Kazakhstan, the second-largest republic in the former Soviet Union.
"I dig the Peace Corps, it's a good thing to do," said Hannon before leaving Aug. 19 for his 27-month tour of duty. "It seemed like a good thing to do, go abroad while I'm young and give back by helping out."
Kazakhstan might not be the first choice of many volunteers, and it certainly wasn't Hannon's.
"My first option was the Pacific Islands," said Hannon. "I figured I'd spend two years in Fiji, but that didn't happen.
"They came back and offered me six options, so I chose Eastern Europe," he said.
Armed with information that most of the Peace Corps volunteers in Eastern Europe went to Romania, Hannon wrote his senior project on Romania "to get me prepared."
Apparently the Peace Corps had a different idea of what constitutes Eastern Europe.
"I found out the Peace Corps kind of puts together Eastern Europe and Central Asia," Hannon said. "Kazakhstan is loosely Eastern Europe.
"I called back to ask if Fiji was an option," he said. "I would have had to wait another full year, and I didn't have any job prospects, so I'm shipping out."
Hannon is living with a host family in a two-bedroom apartment for the first three months of his stay, learning the country's language and culture, and living in a manner similar to people in Kazakhstan. In his blog, Hannon described the first few days with his new family.
"The first day all I heard was 'jea' = EAT and 'ish' = DRINK! And all day long that's all I did," wrote Hannon. "The rest of the time I spent using the few words I knew which were 'awesome,' 'yes' and 'thanks' which might have been part of the reason I was roped into drinking distilled goat milk. Other than that, I have no complaints as far as food goes. It is abundant and delicious."
Hannon's mother, Jean, said the Peace Corps is a great opportunity for her son.
"I think he'll learn to understand different cultures, and help in ways that are needed and useful," Jean Hannon said. "He's off to do good things in the world, and I'm extremely proud of him."
After three months with his host family, Dave Hannon will once again be on the move, and no closer to Fiji.
"I could get placed to the north in Siberia, or to the south, which is like a desert," he said.
Dave Hannon's blog can be accessed at www.davehannon.blogspot.com.
tbruscato@hometownlife.com | (734) 459-2700
