2008.01.27: January 27, 2008: Headlines: COS - Cape Verde: The Heights: Stephanie Locatelli served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio in Cape Verde

Peace Corps Online: Directory: Cape Verde: Peace Corps Cape Verde : Peace Corps Cape Verde: Newest Stories: 2008.01.27: January 27, 2008: Headlines: COS - Cape Verde: The Heights: Stephanie Locatelli served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio in Cape Verde

By Admin1 (admin) (pool-151-196-52-32.balt.east.verizon.net - 151.196.52.32) on Saturday, February 16, 2008 - 9:50 am: Edit Post

Stephanie Locatelli served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio in Cape Verde

Stephanie Locatelli served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio in Cape Verde

Now, as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio, Locatelli teaches English to seventh through ninth grade students for approximately 26 hours each week. Although her work is sometimes difficult, the end result is worthwhile. "My students are so challenging because they can be fantastic and make me [feel] so great one minute, and then they can do something completely frustrating or heartbreaking the next. After a year and half of a serious campaign on my part to get my name disseminated to the general public, my students (and most adults) still will only call me "teacher,'" she says. Regardless of her title, Locatelli knows her students care. "A couple of weeks ago, I had a 102-degree fever and some stomach problems due to a parasite. I was sick the whole weekend, and when Monday rolled around, I still couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. So, I missed my first ever day of school.

Stephanie Locatelli served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio in Cape Verde

Alumna Profile: BC experience continues to linger

By Tula Batanchiev
Features Editor

A fond memory of inflatable, "oversized" sports, courtesy of Target, stuck out in Stephanie Locatelli's mind when thinking about her time at Boston College. After finishing her thesis, her Mod-mates decided a giant inflatable basketball and basketball hoop were a wise purchase. Soon enough, the six girls had also purchased inflatable soccer, hockey, badminton, and Frisbee. It was an afternoon of Mod fun that Locatelli has never forgotten.

Although she only graduated from BC in 2006, Locatelli speaks of her college experience with more enthusiasm than most adults speak of their children. "Whenever I think back on my four years there, I'm always a little incredulous that in one place I met so many inspiring people. From professors, to staff, to fellow students, there are so many people at BC who have such a passion for life," she says in an e-mail.

Through it all, Locatelli attributes her BC education as a reason for her spirit. "It's difficult to be at BC and not feel challenged to do your best, to find your niche in the world and really come into your own," she says.

While at BC, Mod sports aside, Locatelli majored in international studies on the political science track and minored in Italian. She took on an internship the summer before her senior year in the state department, working with five or six returned Peace Corps volunteers who convinced her to volunteer herself.

After graduating, Locatelli then threw herself into volunteerism - finally persuaded by her colleagues - and joined the Peace Corps. "I've always been interested in service, traveling, learning new languages, and learning about new cultures. I've done a lot of work with kids, from summer camp to classroom settings. My Peace Corps service basically pulls all these things together." Locatelli also notes that in her other travels she was more or less just a visitor. Her time abroad with the Peace Corps, however, has granted her the opportunity to be a community member, something she regards as priceless.

Now, as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) volunteer in the lone high school on the island of Maio, Locatelli teaches English to seventh through ninth grade students for approximately 26 hours each week. Although her work is sometimes difficult, the end result is worthwhile.

"My students are so challenging because they can be fantastic and make me [feel] so great one minute, and then they can do something completely frustrating or heartbreaking the next. After a year and half of a serious campaign on my part to get my name disseminated to the general public, my students (and most adults) still will only call me "teacher,'" she says.

Regardless of her title, Locatelli knows her students care. "A couple of weeks ago, I had a 102-degree fever and some stomach problems due to a parasite. I was sick the whole weekend, and when Monday rolled around, I still couldn't bring myself to get out of bed. So, I missed my first ever day of school.

"After a year and a half of begging me to skip a class so they could spend a free period … you would think this would make them happy. I had six classes that day, and every single one of them [my students] showed up at my house to inquire as to why I was not at school teaching them."

Her experiences abroad in the Peace Corps have altered her once-defined future plans. Although still certain of earning her master's degree, her experiences have pushed her toward applied linguistics and teaching English as a foreign language. "Either way, I somehow see myself working internationally," she says.

Looking back, not only on her time abroad but on her time at BC, Locatelli insists that the greatest thing that any BC student can do is explore. Although memories of her Mod sports days linger, she acknowledges that the University has provided her with many other opportunities. "At BC, you want to do something - organize an event, start a club, protest something - and there's always someone else who wants to help, or who at least wants to support you in your work. There is always an opportunity for you to be involved in something, always an opportunity to bring to fruition an idea you've had. This is such a huge opportunity to exploit, but it's hard to do so because while you're in the moment you take this sort of thing for granted. I know I definitely did," Locatelli says.

"There's so much great stuff going on at BC that four years almost isn't enough to take a good look around. But if you try, you're bound to find something that makes all those cold winters worth it," she says.




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2008; Peace Corps Cape Verde; Directory of Cape Verde RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Cape Verde RPCVs





When this story was posted in February 2008, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers RSS Feed
Dodd vows to filibuster Surveillance Act Date: October 27 2007 No: 1206 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."

Peace Corps News Peace Corps Library Peace corps History RPCV Directory Sign Up

What is Wrong at the US Embassy in Bolivia? Date: February 10 2008 No: 1227 What is Wrong at the US Embassy in Bolivia?
Last summer Peace Corps Inspector General David Kotz cited the lack of cooperation from the US embassy in Bolivia in the search for missing Peace Corps Volunteer Walter Poirier III. Now a member of the US Embassy Staff in Bolivia is accused of asking Peace Corps Volunteers "to basically spy" on Cubans and Venezuelans in the country. Could US Ambassador Philip S.Goldberg please explain what is going on at the embassy that he has been running in La Paz since 2006?

January 12, 2008: This Month's Top Stories Date: January 13 2008 No: 1221 January 12, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
Jack Vaughn, Peace Corps Legend 12 Jan
Hill Puts Gentle Pressure on North Korea 11 Jan
Sarah Chayes writes Bhutto's decision tarnishes her memory 10 Jan
Tom Petri is a Republican who 'gets it' 10 Jan
Robert Strauss writes: PCVs lack maturity and experience 9 Jan
James Rupert writes: Musharraf May Use Election Delay 7 Jan
Senate Increases Funding for Peace Corps 4 Jan
Chris Dodd addresses supporters after Iowa Caucuses 3 Jan
John Granville Shot Dead in Sudan 2 Jan
Kathleen Stephens appointed ambassador to South Korea 19 Dec
Obituary for St. Clair Bourne 18 Dec
Dr. Robert Zeigler warns of global rice shortage 13 Dec
PCV Blythe Ann O’Sullivan dies in Suriname accident 8 Dec
David Kotz named new Inspector General at SEC 6 Dec
Obama calls for doubling the size of the Peace Corps 5 Dec
Obituary for Henry Hyde - Friend of the Peace Corps 29 Nov
Robert M. Gates calls for “soft power” tools 27 Nov
Kevin Quigley writes: To win the peace, Restore the corps 27 Nov
Michael Adlerstein says UN renovation will be done right 27 Nov
Peru Trade Pact is Victory for Toledo 24 Nov
Crisis Corps is now Peace Corps Response 19 Nov
Tony Hall works for Middle East peace 13 Nov

Peace Corps Volunteers Remain Safe in Kenya Date: January 5 2008 No: 1218 Peace Corps Volunteers Remain Safe in Kenya
The U.S. Peace Corps has evacuated 35 of its volunteers from western Kenya because of the violence that has rocked the country since the disputed December 27 presidential election. The Peace Corps has 144 volunteers based in Kenya, although the organization says 22 of them are currently out of the country. An agency statement says the remaining volunteers have been consolidated in a variety of locations. Latest News: Peace Corps says volunteers in Kenya remain safe.

What is the greatest threat facing us now?  Date: September 12 2007 No: 1195 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.



Read the stories and leave your comments.








Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: The Heights

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Cape Verde

PCOL40394
12


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: