How Peace Corps Changed My Life

You know, everyone thinks of Peace Corps as a totally different world to step into. "That's one of the hardest things you can do in life Gia!" "You're crazy." "Wow." "So you actually like it?" "HOW MANY PARASITES?!" An upside world where the people of X exotic country many do not ever get the chance to experience and you, the "developed," will be absolute polar opposites. I'm here to tell you different traditions, languages and lands make no difference to the fact that we humans in our purest form are all much more similar than we believe. For how dynamic our problems and victories are, it's the same planet, same species, same worries, joys, life lessons, all that jazz. There a bajillion and one things Peace Corps teaches you but that right there is what changed my life personally. Every day I walk around, no matter the language or skin color, I see a person just like myself. Mirrors are walking next to you at work, on the bus, in the grocery store, everywhere. Look closely and fine tune your senses to feel the soul of the human struggle all around us. Your eyes, ears, and hands are not my eyes, ears, and hands yet we see, hear and feel the same. Our human struggle is fighting the good fight by trying to unite us every day. Through this understanding, we become powerfully aware of the ways we can help each other and spread the message of love. Peace Corps gives me that chance every day I walk out the front door of my host family's casita. The ultimate fulfillment comes from doing your best to give of yourself but you must have this human struggle complex as a foundation of your philanthropy. This time alive would mean nothing without your loved ones and the ever-present, kind of familiar stranger at the store. I firmly believe we are on this Earth for one another. I am here for you. You are here for me. The strongest force is love and life is nothing without the love we give each other every day.

Knowing that there is so much love on this Earth enables me to trust in the mysteries of life. Peace in heart, I am calm, sailing life's seven seas, and I am happy to be alive.