Upon driving to work a few days ago, this quote was displayed on a billboard.
"No person was ever honored for what they received. Honor has been the reward for what they gave."
- Calvin Coolidge
I would think that most volunteers would not identify 'honor' as their primary motivation for joining the Peace Corps. Our motivations for applying, interviewing, and enduring the year-long, medically-intensive process vary: helping those less fortunate, personal growth, the opportunity to immerse oneself in an entirely different culture, and the opportunity to travel.
The quote, however, had me thinking about the reciprocal relationship between PCV's and in-country locals. Volunteers serve - work in education, agriculture, business, health, or community development - their respective communities, while reciprocally, conversing and learning from in-country locals provides PCV's with an enriching, cultural experience.
Just a thought.
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