"It's always something I wanted to do," Kenline said about joining the Peace Corps. "I'm adventurous, and I wanted to help people."
Brooke Kenline has had a new place to call home — Bucay, Ecuador, where she is serving as a health volunteer for the Peace Corps
Peace Corps volunteer finds service rewarding
Sunday, July 6, 2008
GATEHOUSE OHIO GROUP
NEW PHILADELPHIA It has been a little more than a year since Brooke Kenline has been in the United States, visiting with friends and family.
Since June 2007, the 28-year-old Ohio State University graduate has had a new place to call home — Bucay, Ecuador, where she is serving as a health volunteer for the Peace Corps.
Kenline, the daughter of Brion and Kris Kenline of New Philadelphia, recently came home for a 19-day visit after working for a year with Bucay's city government, teaching and informing residents about practical health practices and preventive measures.
"It's always something I wanted to do," Kenline said about joining the Peace Corps. "I'm adventurous, and I wanted to help people."
And living in Ecuador has been anything but like living in the United States. Although she knew a bit of Spanish before traveling to South America, Kenline said, she's now fluent in the language because it's the only thing she hears.
She also has had to tackle washing her clothes by hand, boiling all water before consuming it, not being able to flush toilet paper and being apart from one of her favorite foods, Twizzlers.
Don't forget about the culture shock. One of many things Kenline said she had to get used to was people's lack of punctuality. Known in the country as "ya mismo," the phrase means right now or soon, although people rarely stick to it.
"People are always late," she said. "They think people can wait for them. ... Like the mayor, you could be waiting 15 minutes to two hours for him to show up at a meeting."
Her 27-month stay isn't all about learning the country's culture. Part of the Peace Corps' goals for the organization is to teach them about Americans as well. Many Ecuadoreans, Kenline said, have distorted views of the United States, including tremendous wealth for its citizens, who they believe are all Caucasian.
Although she'll never be able to conquer poverty in Ecuador, which she described as consisting of only the wealthy and poor classes, educating residents gives her a sense of accomplishment.
"I really do feel like I'm accomplishing something," she said. "Some (people) feel like we're not making a difference, but if you talk with the community, we're making a difference."
