My Aspiration Statement

After receiving my assignment last week and filling out passport/visa applications, the next step was the intimidating "Aspiration Statement." It is a document that all PC volunteers must send to their host country as way of introduction. While the prompts seem simple enough at first, they can be deceptive! The difficulty for me was keeping my answers short and honest, without writing a manuscript of my life :)
(For anyone who needs further assistance with writing one of these, I suggest THIS article. And remember, no two Statements will ever look alike! Good luck!)



The professional attributes that you plan to use, and what aspirations you hope to fulfill, during your Peace Corps service.
In July 2010, I will take my first steps onto African soil. It will be only my second journey outside of the United States. But despite my novice experience in the field, I harbor a strong passion for seeing the world and contributing to positive change anywhere I can. The attributes I bring to my Peace Corps service are probably very similar to those of other 22-year old college graduates: a strong education, a love for learning, and an eagerness to help make a difference in a new land. My field of study was Political Science, with an emphasis in International, specifically African, Relations. Like many other African nations, I see the politics of Niger bound by struggles against poverty, AIDS, famine, and human rights challenges. Yet I believe hope still exists for a brighter future, and I very much look forward to being an agent of change within a community of promising people.

Your strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs.
I am well aware that to work in a new environment where I am considered a young outsider will present many unique challenges. There may be times when I feel useless or become frustrated to see my efforts going to “waste.” But in the face of these inevitable struggles, my strength will come from resolve, from remaining focused on doing the best job possible for the community I am trying to impact. That being said, my main objective while working as an MCD volunteer will be to assist rather than direct. In order to avoid repeating mistakes of the past, it is important that any systems set in place are respectful of the culture and the people for which they must work. Overall, I will strive to accept the challenges of working in Nigerièn politics, and keep in mind that as long as the end result is achieved, the means to getting there can be flexible.

Your strategies for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background.
Counting down the days to my departure, I am both excited and nervous about adapting to a new way of life in Niger. There, I will be encountering new languages, new foods, a strange landscape and climate, and different attitudes toward women’s roles in society. Certain things that I take for granted at home, like seeing my friends, computer access, and hot showers, I will have to learn to live without on a daily basis. Yet, as intimidating as this could be, for me it is a challenge I eagerly intend to meet head-on. I want to learn, I want to experience, and I want to enjoy every moment of my immersion into Nigerièn culture. Over the next two years of service, I intend to remain open-minded and find out just what I am capable of, while staying true to myself along the way.

The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training to best serve your future community and project.
During the pre-service training, I hope to gain an understanding of the people with whom I will be working. Good communication skills, for example, will be a major factor in a successful work environment, particularly when it comes to speaking local languages like Hausa and Zarma. More than studying in a classroom, I look forward to being able to use the language on a daily basis during training in order to feel more confident in my own abilities. Also, I hope to learn more about my role within my community. As a Westerner, as a woman, and as a Peace Corps Volunteer, I know there will be certain expectations (and limitations) if I am to be culturally sensitive and respectful. Most of all, I hope that through the pre-service training I will get a better grasp of the real Niger. Only so much can be taught through books and media, and nothing can compare to the first-hand experience of learning within the country.

How you think Peace Corps service will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends.
Beyond the immediate aspirations of experiencing a new culture and giving back to a community, I hope that the Peace Corps will serve to reinforce a life-long love of volunteering. Whether my journey leads me to work in International Politics or as a member of an NGO, this experience will no doubt continue to influence me long after my service is complete. The connections I make within the local communities and the permanent friendships I develop with the people will travel with me for the rest of my life. Every struggle I overcome, and every bit of progress I see will help me grow as an individual and a volunteer, so that one day I can look back and say, “I’ll do even better next time.”


Well, that's all for now! Next up is my updated resume, then getting to work on all the other billions of things that need doing before I leave in 7 weeks!!

~Mich

Welcome!

Hello, friends, and welcome to my new Blog, SPF 500! The purpose of this blog is to share with everyone back at home my experiences in Niger while I am in the Peace Corps. Depending on the convenience of internet access, I will post at least twice a month, hopefully with photos as well! Feel free to leave me comments here, but letters will always be nice, too ;)

Departure date is set for July 9, 2010 (the 7th-9th will be "staging" or orientation, still in the States)

Seven weeks away!

And there's still SO MUCH to do!!

~Mich