One of the first official tasks you’re given before departure is to submit an aspiration statement. This allows for the the staff in your country of service to learn about the expectations, experiences, skills, education, and language ability that you will bring to your assigned project.  Feel free to read my statement if you’re interested to know about my expectations for my time in the Peace Corps, my strategies for adapting to a new culture, and how I expect my service to effect my personal and professional goals!

A: Three professional attributes that you plan to use during your Peace Corps service and how these will help you fulfill your aspirations and commitment to service

During my Peace Corps service I plan to use the following professional attributes: time management, dedication, and collaborative work efforts. Throughout the four years I spent at Heidelberg University, I was able to figure out the best ways to manage my time between academic and extracurricular activities. When working for the Office of Civic Engagement, I was given the opportunity to oversee and coordinate a variety of events all while completing a full class schedule. Each event coordinated involved both independent and collaborative efforts among others in the office. Working alongside other students and faculty members allowed me to gain  knowledge and ideas that would not have existed without the collaboration. While I had all of these obligations to fulfill, my dedication to them were never questioned. Whenever the office needed me to do something, I did with no hesitation.

All of these attributes will help me fulfill my aspirations and commitment to service. I will work as a team with my host country partner to assess the needs of my community. Additionally, I will put my time management skills to the test with delegating the projects alongside my teaching obligations. My dedication to learn more about the culture and way of life for those in Cambodia will help me to integrate into the community which, in turn, will allow for a better success rate of needs being fulfilled.

B: Identify two strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs

Open and direct communication as well as flexibility/ adaptability are two strategies that I think should be used consistently when working with host country partners. Two of the three goals of the Peace Corps mission revolve around the idea of promoting a better understanding to all. In country, I will work alongside host country partners while holding conversations to better understand their goals for the community and what they envision my role being in all of this.

Having the ability to be flexible is key when working with others. It is important to acknowledge that your opinion is not the only one being taken into account on projects and other workplace situations. When working with host country partners, I will modify my approach to the tasks at hand based on the understanding gained from active listening. My skill sets will be adaptable to the needs of the community and partners I work with throughout my service.

C: Your strategy for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background

My strategy for adapting to a new culture is to be open minded to all experiences and conscious of my own privilege. It would be naive of me to say that I will instantly understand all of the religious, social, and life practices of my community members in Cambodia. However I will enter into my service with an open mind to all experiences rather than passing judgement on these cultural differences. One of the first things I looked into when researching this position were the gender role differences between men and women. During my service, I will pay close attention to how I fit in to these expectations as a woman to ensure I do not overstep and come across as pushing a westernized agenda on women’s rights. Additionally, as a white woman with a degree in higher education, I acquire a certain amount of privilege. I am conscious of this and its implications. In my opinion, it is what you do with the privilege that determines its morality. I am privileged, and I will be conscious of that during my time in Cambodia. While working with others and integrating into my community, I will use my privilege to assist others with meeting the needs of those around me. Not as a savior, but as a person working in an interactive environment where my knowledge and insight can assist host country nationals in making positive change. An environment where, in turn, I will be able to learn from the people similarly to how they are learning from me.

D: The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training and throughout your service to best serve your future community and project

I hope to gain the language skills required to hold meaningful conversations during my pre-service training and time in Cambodia. One of the main reasons I am nervous to begin service is because of the language barrier that I know will exist during my first few months in country. As of now, I only know enough Khmer to count to ten and acknowledge family members. I hope that both by the end of my pre-service training and service in all, I will be able to hold conversations with other teachers, my host country partners, and both of my host families.

E: How you think Peace Corps will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends

This opportunity to emerge myself into another culture will help me to learn more about the world outside of the United States. After service I am not positive where life will be taking me, but I would like to hope it is in a field where I can do similar work to that of this organization. In my opinion, there are too many people that are uneducated on cultures outside of their own. At times, people seem to be quick to place others into stereotypical boxes. I hope that the work I do serving in the Peace Corps provides me with greater knowledge on different ways of life as well as experience assisting others meet their needs. This gained knowledge and experience will help me to educate others and potentially reshape their views of the people around them.