Austin Dill's Top 5 Lessons from Year 1 in Peace Corps
1.) Simple living is complicated.
-People in the United States are always saying they wish they could live in a simpler time when life was not so complicated. To be honest, chances are you don't. "Simple" life involves having to figure out if your water is clean, pooping in a hole that probably has a lot of mosquitoes in it, and sweating like you did not know was previously possible. Yeah, life is chill at times (in a relaxed manner, not climatically... that's for sure) but it comes with a whole different variety of challenges.
2.) A shower is possibly God's greatest gift to man.
- You know how nice it feels to take a good shower after a long, hard day of yard work? You know nothing! Ha, well it may feel good, but living in a very sweaty land makes you appreciate getting clean that much more. Also a big shout-out to those volunteers that have to bathe in rivers in site. You never get
real clean that way, so they probably appreciate it even more than I do.
3.) No matter how patient you are, you are not patient enough.
- I have long considered myself a fairly chill personality and thought myself patient before coming to Peace Corps. Little did I know, I had no idea what patience was. I do a lot of waiting now-a-days. Waiting on the boat, waiting on the bus, waiting for a meeting, waiting for people to show up, waiting for water to boil. There has been much patience practiced out here when I don't get to control as many aspects of my life as perhaps I was used to. I feel it has made me a better person though, and now when I return to America the DMV will seem like a cake walk.
4.) Those with the least can give the most.
- To be honest Panamanian culture can sometimes come off as very rude in public/urban areas. There is a lot of honking, theater etiquette is almost non-existent, food service is horrible, and in general people seem inconsiderate. This sounds sad, but I don't live in the city. I live in the campo. Out in the boonies there is a lot of lacking for things. People don't have electricity, sewage systems, running water, or generally much of anything, but they will go out of there way to help you in ways you wouldn't believe. You don't have to ask for assistance half the time and if you do then they will give you food off their table, and whatever else you may need to help you out! (note: this offer not always valid on project work days or meetings, please inquire at nearest location)
5.) Someone always has more than you, but someone always has less as well.
- This is an interesting lesson. Ask my parents and they will tell you my community is quite poor. Ask me and I will tell you my community is not THAT poor, but we live with a lot less (mostly because I have seen some other, far poorer sites). Talk to my community about some other Panamanian communities and they will agree with how sad it is that the other communities have so little, and what a great abundance we have. No matter if you are in the United States of America or the middle of the Darien jungle in Panama, someone will always have more than you and someone will always have less. Be thankful for everything you have been blessed with and be generous with those who don't have what you do!
Here is to another great year in Panama! (and Happy Birthday America! You earned it!)
