June/July 2012 - Nebraska, "the good life" and RPCV-land

Yes, I have been enjoying the good ol' summertime in my home state this year; first time I've been able to do so since college days. It has been wonderful, and the corn was indeed way more than knee-high by the 4th of July. Unfortunately, the record-breaking drought we are experiencing this year has adversely affected the cornfields, and everything else that needs H2O to survive. I've been based in my hometown, Nebraska City, while I work on job applications, help out my folks, and keep physically active. My first major post-Peace Corps purchase was a bicycle, and it's what gets me around our scenic county seat, the home of Arbor Day. Thankfully our small town has a wonderful fitness center, complete with an indoor pool, and I've become a regular, especially in the pool.

I ventured up to Minneapolis, MN for a few days in late June/early July to join other Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs, my "new" status), for the first annual gathering of RPCVs to be held on a national scale, coordinated by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA). I'm really glad I attended (even if I did lose my Paraguayan thermos to a thirsty, fellow-traveller on the last-leg of my Greyhound bus transportation between Minneapolis and Omaha). The NPCA and the Peace Corps' Office of the Third Goal and RPCV Services did a great job with this event. The final day included a Third Goal Expo, and was open to the public. It was fun to staff a Paraguay table with other RPCVs from Paraguay. We festooned our space with nanduti, wood pieces and, of course, a thermos and guampa with which to offer folks a taste of terere, the Paraguayan version of cold, iced tea.

I've made reference to the Peace Corps' "Third Goal." You may wonder what that means. Here it is verbatim from the Peace Corps web site, http://www.peacecorps.gov/resources/returned/thirdgoal/whatis/:

"The Third Goal of the Peace Corps aims to help Americans understand the people and cultures of other countries. It is one of the three goals that support the mission of the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship." (The first two goals are focused on the country of service; the Third Goal brings the Peace Corps "home.")

So, now that I'm officially a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) I'm pleased to be able to live the Third Goal of the Peace Corps, sharing my experiences lived outside of the US with Americans here at home. I'm looking forward to meeting fellow RPCVs based in Nebraska at a potluck gathering next month, at which time we'll also welcome newly-nominated Peace Corps Volunteers. Long live--VIVA!--the Peace Corps, both at home and abroad!
Peace,
Denise Davis
RPCV Paraguay 2009-2012