Questions

On By Nathan BlockerLeave a comment

So, ever since I have made the announcement to my friends and family that I am going into the Peace Corps I have been asked many, many questions. The questions have been all over the map and some have been funny, some serious and some outrageous. Nonetheless, I am going to answer a few of them right now:

What is the Peace Corps?

  • The Peace Corps was established by President John F. Kennedy on March 1st, 1961. The Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps Volunteers work at the grassroots level toward sustainable change that lives on long after their service—at the same time becoming global citizens and serving their country.
  • The Peace Corps’ mission is to, “Promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals.” These three goals are:
    • To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
    • To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
    • To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
  • While the goals have never changed since the beginning of the Peace Corps, the way in which the goals are achieved has evolved over time. Since 1961 over 220,000 Americans have answered the call to serve in 140 countries. In 2014 the application process changed and there has been a sharp increase in applications. The Peace Corps is more competitive and popular then ever!

Why serve in the Peace Corps?

  • The simple answer to this question is that I want to serve and this is my way to do so. I come from a military family (Air Force) and it has always been a dream of mine and in my blood to serve my country in some way. I am not really built for the military but I am built to serve. With my unique skill set, personal background, desire to travel and education the Peace Corps seemed like a great fit. By serving in the Peace Corps I hope to have an impact that will last way past my time in service. However, I truly believe I will get at least as much out of serving if not more then what I put in.

What is going to be the hardest part?

  • There are many answers to this question, but anybody who knows me knows that I love to wear shorts and I have been joking around with friends and family that having to dress more formal and to have to wear pants more is gong to be the hardest part of being in Ukraine for me. While it is going to be hard it will not be the hardest part. There will be lots of challenges for me: the weather, the culture difference, the language barrier, the distance, the lack of modern amenities and many, many other things but no matter what challenges I face I will be able to adapt and overcome! After all the Peace Corps is, “The Toughest Job You’ll Ever Love!”

What are you looking forward to?

  • There are so many things I am looking forward to! I am looking forward to trying new food and seeing new things. I am looking forward to meeting new people and growing as a person both socially and professionally. I am looking forward to networking and the possibility of working with the Ukrainian Government and various NGO’s. The possibilities are endless and that excites me very much! Also, I am looking forward to not driving for awhile, especially on I40 and I am looking forward to not dealing with Time Warner Cable. It’s the little things, ya know?! If I had to put it in one sentence though, I am looking forward to a change of pace.

Why Ukraine?

  • I wish I could describe the looks I get when I tell people I am going to Ukraine. I tell people I am going into the Peace Corps and everyone is so excited and then they ask where I am going, thinking that it is probably going to be somewhere in Africa (most people seem to think that this is where everyone goes in the Peace Corps) and I answer with Ukraine. The next word I hear is, “why?!” Ukraine is definitely a different country to go to for Peace Corps service but the people and country of Ukraine have asked for help, and I want to go and I want to help them. The more I read about Ukraine the more excited I get for going there. It is a beautiful country, with amazing people and it will become my home, a home I probably won’t want to leave. Why Ukraine? Why not??!!

There are many more questions I could put on here but these are the most asked ones. I will try to answer more in future posts. I am sure more questions will also arise as service goes on and I will be happy to answer them as well. For now, I am 14 days away from staging in Miami and I believe that I finally have enough pants for Ukraine. Maybe…

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30 Days Out

On By Nathan BlockerLeave a comment

I am 30 days out, 29 now actually, from reporting for staging for the Peace Corps. I found out Friday night that staging will be in Miami, not D.C. like I was thinking it would be. I am thinking that this is a nice way of the Peace Corps allowing us to have a few days in the Miami sun before we head to the end of the Ukrainian winter. Regardless of the reason, I am looking forward to it and honestly it can’t come soon enough, I am ready to start my service.

I keep getting asked what I will be doing in the Peace Corps and my answer is, “I will be serving in Ukraine as a Business/NGO Advisor doing Community Economic Development.” The looks I get after this answer are hilarious to say the least. I keep telling everyone that, that is the broad description of what I will be doing and when I get a better idea of my main project I will be more then happy to pass it along and explain it better.

To say I am excited is an understatement. This has been a dream of mine for many, many years. That being said, I plan to document as much of this journey as possible across multiple social media platforms from this blog to a weekly vlog on my YouTube page, to Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. I want to be as open as possible about my experience and share as much as possible with the world as I can. I welcome all comments, questions and concerns.

Finally and most importantly, I chose the picture for this 1st blog post because it is one of my favorite pictures of me and my parents. It was taken at Pier Two in Sydney, Australia while I was on Student Exchange at the University of Newcastle taking my Globalization classes in the Fall of 2014. I was lucky enough for them to come visit me Down Under for a few weeks in October for my birthday (they have never missed a birthday in 30 years). These two amazing people have given me so much over my life and I will never be able to pay them back for everything they have done for me but hopefully I can make them proud. The fact that I get to join and serve in the Peace Corps is because of all the opportunities, travels, education and guidance given to me by my parents over the years.

Thanks mom & dad! What’s next…