Post college idea
Okay, so last night at dinner we were talking about who was going abroad and all that, and I mentioned that I was thinking of moving to either Ireland or Australia for a year or so and just getting some job there and living. Someone mentioned a different alternative, and I'm wondering what all you happy people think of it
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1. You're giving up two years of your life. Two years is A LOT. I mean, just think back to how much you've experienced over the past two years. It's a huge time commitment that will undoubtedly feel like a hole in your life on occasion, no matter how wonderful an experience you may have.
2. There are other, less intense, ways to achieve the same goals. It doesn't take two years in a foreign country to become fluent in one or two languages. Just a summer abroad, or a job that involve a heavy Hispanic (or other) interaction can provide that. You can also see places without becoming a permanent resident. In the end, you only experience one other place anyways. True, it will be a very enriching experience of that place, but can't you achieve that independently in less than 27 months? Do you get to choose where to go with the Peace Corps? I don't know.
3. My Writing Seminar instructor was in the Peace Corps, and he's weird. OK, bad reason.
4. You're so disconnected from everyone. I mean, that's gonna be hard not just for you, but for all your close friends/relatives, too. I would, quite literally, die if I couldn't see my family for over two years. I mean, two months at college is nothing, I'm not grossly attached. But two years, again, is a long time.
5. It doesn't take a stint in the Peace Corps to make a difference in the world. I know people always feed everyone the bullshit about the "little things", but there are plenty of major social problems in the United States in which you could immerse yourself through various means, without what seems to be the slightly overbearing burden (in my humble opinion) of the Peace Corps.
Take it or leave it, that's what I think. I'm sure the Peace Corps would be a great experience for you. But I don't know. I'm sure you'll make the right decision either way, anyways.
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1) I really can't refute this. I don't know if I would call it a "hole" in my life, but something very very different. I am looking into if I would be able to have contact with other volunteers, which would be nice to make friends who I could actually stay in contact with.
2) true, I could see other places...but I wouldnt really be able to experiance a different culture. Most accounts say that the first year is really learning the culture. And while I would mostly live in one other place, I would be able to take vacation days to see other places. So if I'm in South Africa, I could take trips to see Kenya and such. As far as I've read, they give you a selection of places you can go, and you choose from that list. English Education is needed in I think every country they have services.
3) I'm weird. :)
4) This is the hardest. I mean, I assume that family or friends could come visit if they wanted, but I don't know. Thats three birthdays I miss, 2 christmases/new years...its a lot. This is the biggest factor against going.
5) True, there are major issues in America that I could help with...but many of these problems are nearly as severe on the whole as other countries. Plus, I would have the chance to really see something new. And be immersed in the culture.
I'm still very undecided, but thanks for the concrete sequential list of arguments against. Arguments against will probably do more to help me decide.
you and your logic.
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