Wait A Second, What Is Peace Corps, Anyway?

I realize that an explanation of what exactly I am doing here might be a good start to this written relationship. When I wrote my first blog to you, I, myself, had no idea who I was or what I was doing. Was I going to save lives, was I going to change people forever? Hell, was I going to become a national hero? One month has taught me a lot.

I dramatized the Peace Corps so much. I built it up in my head so much that I almost gave myself goose bumps thinking of all the great, selfless, heroic acts I’d be doing in the upcoming 27 months. I felt so inspired knowing that I’d be saving lives, “roughing it”, and losing all contact with the world I knew. My life in the past month has been so far from that imagined utopia that I almost forgot I was in the Peace Corps all together. In the past couple weeks especially, as I started conversation clubs with local youth and inched closer and closer to the end of my training and the beginning of my actual service, I realized, this job doesn’t need any drama! The people I work with are not interested in being saved, and the Peace Corps is not interested in me doing any saving. I realized the other day, as an AZ6 (I am an AZ8) gave an account of his past 2 years here, that to come here interested in being a hero and changing people is a terrible mistake and the opposite of what Peace Corps is trying to do. To have such an attitude, as counter-intuitive as it seems, is the most selfish thing I could do!

As far as I have come to understand, the Peace Corps is built on the foundation of an “asset-based approach” to development. In other words, we are not here to bring about drastic change and foster eternal prosperity for all Azerbaijanis. We are here to encourage. We are here to use the resources the Azerbaijanis already have in order to develop what they already know and support what they have already started. To do this, I must observe, participate, ask questions, and learn. Then, and only then, may I work WITH locals to foster positive change. The aim of Peace Corps is not to bring change to Azerbaijan, or work for Azerbaijanis in order to bring about said change. The goal is to work WITH Azerbaijanis, and eventually see the work done solely BY Azerbaijanis.

A secondary goal of my job is simply cultural exchange. In fact, writing to you at this very moment is part of my job. Introducing myself to people in my community and having tea with locals is part of my job. Playing soccer with kids is actually part of my job! I am here to learn and to introduce. The greater our (as Americans) understanding of Azerbaijanis, and the greater their understanding of us, the better off the world is and the brighter our future as global citizens can be.

In conclusion, the quote that best summarizes my job description is: “Change begins at the moment you ask the question.” Early on, we face a lot of problems trying to explain to locals exactly what a Youth Development Facilitator is. In fact, I have trouble explaining it in English. I am not an English teacher and I am not a businessman. My belief as to what I am doing here is that, in working with youth, I can help to awaken their senses. My goal, by observing, participating, asking questions, and learning, is to lead them to focus on their dreams for the future. When I look at it that way, the word “facilitator” makes perfect sense. I am not here to save anyone or create anything; I am just here to serve as a spark from which the youth of Azerbaijan can reach their true potential.

I am currently living in a city called Khirdalan, about 20 minutes outside of Baku, the capital. I have 4 hours of language training everyday, followed by a few hours of technical training. I live with a host family. I will be in Khirdalan until December 9, at which point I will move to my permanent site (which I don't know yet).

I look forward to any questions you all may have.