Kenney Tran is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Magdalena, Colombia. During my time in pre-service training (PST), I established myself as the premier goalie in our weekly games of micro soccer. My glorious uniform consisting of running shoes, high school football shorts, a tank top, and some gardening gloves … Continue reading Weak Fingers, Stronger Bonds
Alexandra Chavarriaga is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in La Guajira, Colombia. - Title: 35k Bike Ride in Dibulla, La Guajira On my 30th birthday, I decided to take a bike ride for self-reflection. I’ve always found exercise to be therapeutic, even meditative, but I didn't expect such a random surprise. February 21st, … Continue reading 35k Bike Ride in Dibulla, La Guajira
Gabe Levy is a Practical English for Success (PES) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Bolívar, Colombia. - Having just passed the one-year marker in country, I am familiar with the habits that keep me in the right frame of mind. I think most volunteers can agree that a good book, a long night of … Continue reading A Healthy Body for the Right Mind
Belen Castillo is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Atlántico, Colombia. - When I first started looking at different Peace Corps posts, I definitely did some eliminating based on whether I thought I would like the traditional food in that country. I am an adventurous person, but not when it … Continue reading Thyme and Again
Paul LaMancusa Jr. is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Bolívar, Colombia. - The kids don’t care if you didn’t leave your house that day. The kids don’t care that nobody showed up to your class. The kids don’t care that you’ve had a bad week serving in Peace Corps. … Continue reading The Kids Are Alright
Chaney Skadsen is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Bolívar, Colombia. - We’re all in the same boat here: foreigners in a new pueblo, around new people trying to do a job much bigger than ourselves. Some of our boats have motors, seats, and roofs. Some have bongeros and room … Continue reading Serendipitous Self-Care
Maya Sadagopal is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Sucre, Colombia. They say you always want what you can’t have. Though we frequently apply this adage to stories of unrequited love, I’ve found it describes all aspects of life. We wish for the warmth of the sun in the dead … Continue reading A Love Letter to my Local Mall
Isaac Ehlers is a Community Economic Development (CED) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Bolívar, Colombia. - I remember being in first grade, eager to get to school early so I could spend time with my first love. It was the beginning of a budding relationship that would influence the rest of my life. As I … Continue reading Integration Through a Shared Love
Brianna Thompson is a Practical English for Success (PES) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Atlántico, Colombia. Early on in every Peace Corps Volunteer’s service, they become very aware of threats to mental health. The topic is touched on during Pre-Service Training by both medical staff and Peace Corps Volunteer Leaders; all trainees discuss … Continue reading Clearing the Fog of Negativity
Angelica is a Practical English for Success (PES) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Magdalena, Colombia. - Ask yourself what has changed? What do you think caused yourself to feel this way? Do the research. What have other people done with similar problems? Try until something works. For me, I noticed that my self-confidence took … Continue reading How I Regained My Lost Confidence
Carrie is a Practical English for Success (PES) volunteer serving in a pueblo in Atlántico, Colombia. - “You are getting fat, Carrie,” my host mom says to me as I sit down outside with my afternoon cup of coffee. “You were getting thin but now you’re getting fat again.” It shocks me because, while … Continue reading Being Fat in a Beauty Pageant Culture
by Brianna Thompson The thing that has given me the most joy so far since arriving at site has been the girls’ rugby team that I practice and play with. They all began practicing the week after I did, at the end of April. Watching them develop as players, as people, and as a team … Continue reading Rugby and Salchipapas
By Megan Birnbaum I was first introduced to the idea of the Diva Cup on my trip to South Korea in 2012. One of my friends used one and she told me about it. From one female traveler to another, we were comfortable talking about intimate topics, like periods. Tampons had been in my life … Continue reading Diva Cup: Not just for Divas
By Jessi Atha About a month after I arrived at site, I finally decided to brave the stares and go out for a run. I ended up accidentally crashing a church service in the street and the whole town saw me, I was mortified. However, the next day, a woman at school came up and … Continue reading Unexpected Victories
By Alexis Huth Peace Corps: Seeking individuals who can provide creative and resourceful ideas at any given time, endure major life changes (all at once) while remaining calm and mentally at peace, learn/enhance yourself in a foreign language and then survive on it, and at the end of the day, go journal, jog, or do … Continue reading Costeños Saludables
