Peace Corps According to Ron Swanson

Those of you who follow my posts on Facebook may have noticed some quotes cropping up sporadically attributed to one Ron Swanson.  That's because I find his wisdom and guidance particularly helpful in my time as a PCV.  Though Ron was giving general life advice with his random maxims, or Swansonisms, I feel that many of them are specifically appropriate for the Peace Corps and I will proceed to explain why in this post.

For those of you who do not watch TV, or for some reason do watch TV but have never seen an episode of Parks and Recreation, Ron Swanson is the brilliant character on the show played by actor Nick Offerman and is depicted below:

Also, here, when he got a little drunk and decided to wear April's hat.

This pinnacle of masculinity and wisdom has said some of the most insightful gems on the whole show, and they have truly been an inspiration to me in the Peace Corps.  Allow me to explain why.

Ron Swanson Words of Wisdom #1: "Don't half-ass two things.  Whole-ass one thing."

When you first get to site, it's easy to become overwhelmed.  Even though you've been in country for three months already, everything is still new, and you've just moved to a new location in your host country where you're expected to stay and work for two years.  On top of that, you have to work on completing a needs assessment for that community so you can see what projects will be most helpful and most well-received by the community members.

This is where the trouble can start.  Talking with colleagues and community members can spark all sorts of ideas in your head, but the reality is that most of those projects will either never begin, or fail rather quickly.  The important thing to remember in Peace Corps is not to spread yourself too thin.  Focus on one project at a time, and work really hard on it.  Even if it ends up falling through, odds are you'll have accomplished something, even if it's just catching the attention of someone else who wants to work with you.  I know my friend who lives near me had an English club that none of her teachers attended, but the biology teacher came.  They ended up getting along really well, and she found a new ally in her community outside of the English teachers.

So Ron Swanson really has this one pegged.  When it comes to projects in your community, find something you really care about, and do that.  I may not have gotten much done in my first year here, but at least what I have completed has been successful.

Ron Swanson Words of Wisdom #2: "Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day.  Don't teach a man to fish, and you feed yourself.  He's a grown man, fishing's not that hard."

This one may sound harsh, especially as the original "give a man a fish" quote is very inspirational and relevant to Peace Corps without alteration.  However, this new Ron Swansonized version captures something that I want to stress: Don't try too hard.  Like with the first Ron Swanson Words of Wisdom, if you try too hard, or stretch yourself too thin, you'll burn out and exhaust yourself.  Pick your battles.  Don't try to fix every problem in one fell swoop.

For example, one of my "projects" involves teaching a full-time class, as you know.  I could choose to micromanage my class and nitpick everything from spelling and grammar to always getting the right answers.  I could hover and always be there to make sure they're not cheating.  But I prefer to let them learn and grow on their own, at their own pace.  Also, I don't like to assume that just because we're doing something new that they are going to need extra assistance and hovering.  I also focus on one thing.  Last semester, it was content accuracy.  This semester, I've learned a bit more, and have decided to focus on effort and discouraging cheating.  As a result, students have been working harder, learning more, and the incidences of cheating in the class have declined.  Inadvertently, this has also caused a decrease in tardiness and an increase in students coming to my office for extra help.  So I guess when you focus on one thing and give students the opportunity to prove themselves, you may be pleasantly surprised.

After all, it could be they already knew how to fish, but everyone was too busy trying to teach them to figure that out.

Ron Swanson Words of Wisdom #3: "It's always a good idea to demonstrate to your coworkers that you are capable of withstanding a tremendous amount of pain."

It's hard living in a host community where you are constantly viewed as an outsider, especially for young female volunteers like myself.  Many things can work against you in the workforce that you have no control over, including your skin color (especially for non-white American volunteers), your gender, and your age.  If you are young, especially if you are significantly younger than your colleagues, some people may assume you are inexperienced and have nothing to offer.  If you are a non-white foreigner, some may not see you as being as impressive as if you were white.  And if you're a woman, some people (especially men) will not take you very seriously.  This can be frustrating, which is why I turn to this quote.

If every day you persevere and endure and come back, you are proving your seriousness, woman or not.  If you discuss your qualifications, including relevant trainings and degrees you have, then you are showing that no matter how old you are you know what you're talking about.  And if you refuse to take bad treatment from anyone, you are showing that your skin color doesn't determine your worth or your nationality (many non-white Americans here get accused of not being American).

In other words, show them you are capable of withstanding anything they have to throw at you.  If nothing else, at least a few individuals may learn that you're a force to be reckoned with.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #4: "One rage every three months is permitted. Try not to hurt anyone who doesn’t deserve it."

This one is essential for anyone who has gone a little crazy from being at site or even just in country for too long.  Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is a highly stressful experience.  From dealing with daily harassment to having all your projects fall through, some days you just want to break down and cry or lash out at something or someone.  As Ron says, it's OK to feel that way and go a little crazy sometimes, just remember who and where you are, and try and keep the collateral damage to a minimum.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #5: "Capitalism: God's way of determining who is smart and who is poor."

This one is more about accepting the state of things.  There is a lot of poverty in the world, regardless of where your site is, and often this is something that's a result of much bigger systemic inequalities that you are incapable of fixing on your own in two years (like capitalism, among others).  Just remember to do the little things you can at your schools or partner organizations and it's more than enough.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #6: "America: The only country that matters. If you want to experience other ‘cultures,’ use an atlas or a ham radio."

This is actually one of Ron's quotes that I have incorporated ironically, in that as a PCV it's impossible, or at the very least a very bad idea, to act like America is the only country that matters.  Still, the image of atlases and ham radios draws up memories of Peace Corps' roots, before there was such a thing as internet and cell phones to keep us in touch.  And if Ron Swanson ever did Peace Corps, you know he'd be the one to go off the grid - even from his own community.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #7: "I like saying 'no.' It lowers their enthusiasm."

Learn to say no.  I cannot stress this hard enough.  I got roped into teaching classes (which is fine) alone (less fine) and being responsible for grades (disaster) because I wanted something, anything to do that felt like it needed to be done.  I wanted to help out with a project initiated by a local so I said yes a lot, but what ended up happening was a lot of it never got done.  Again, this goes with RSWoW #1.  It's important, sometimes, to just say no, even when people are enthusiastic and excited.  Don't worry.  Have them work with you on your current project, and then see if you can get to their thing later if you're already overloaded.  Or if you don't know if it's a good idea, say that outright.  Don't beat around the bush or make excuses, or worse, say yes to be a positive people pleaser.  A bad idea won't get better just because you agreed to "help" with it.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #8: "Of all my coworkers, he is one of a small number of whom I do not actively root against…uh, there I go again gettin’ all sappy."

Just like in every other job, you're going to work with people with whom you do not get along, or find unprofessional, but this can be more difficult when you're also living a million miles from where you normally call home.  Because you're so out of your comfort zone, your colleagues could also be your biggest pool for potential friends.  So when you find a solid colleague, who's not just professional but a congenial person that you find yourself not actively rooting against, seize the opportunity.  Ask her to coffee to discuss family and work life, and how you are adjusting to your life here.  As for those coworkers you do find yourself actively rooting against, that's OK.  Just do it quietly.

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #9: "Breakfast food can serve many purposes."

I eat eggs frequently, because they are easy for me to buy and easy to prepare.  This is perhaps very specific to me, but I take Ron Swanson's words to heart as I find every way possible to prepare eggs for a meal.  Fried eggs, scrambled eggs, deviled eggs, egg salad, I've done it all.  And when I'm not eating eggs, it's pancakes and nutella.  These are my two easy go-to meals if I really don't feel like cooking.  It's not like you could just hit the drive-thru or pick up some take away.  I think it's important to find one meal that you enjoy and that's easy to prepare so that when you're tired, you can always rely on that.  For me, it's breakfast food.  And now that I've gotten cinnamon from my COSing site mate, and plan to pick up some vanilla, I can make French toast too, and I look forward to it!

Ron Swanson's Words of Wisdom #10: "When I eat, it is the food that is scared."

I have always been an adventurous eater, and I will try everything once.  I've found that Peace Corps is an excellent place for an adventurous eater.  Despite warnings from our PCMO about certain cuisines here, I have at least sampled every one I have come across and have avoided most illnesses.  I would suggest the same to any other PCV.  Don't be afraid to try anything once.  In addition to that, when I go back to the West where delicious food is available everywhere I turn, I become a ravenous monster.  I expect such a transformation soon enough when I go back to the States in a few days.


So there you have it.  Ten succinct maxims that sum up my experiences in my first year as a PCV in Ethiopia.  I hope that by painting the tale through the words of Ron Swanson I can better get my point across, and I also hope that Ron's words can inspire other PCVs like me.  I hope you enjoyed this blog post as much as I enjoyed writing it.

So in conclusion, allow me to leave you with ten more wise words from Ron: "Honor: If you need it defined, you don't have it."

On The Homefront

I recently just passed my one year anniversary mark here in country on June 6th.  I've been wanting to write a blog post, or more of a public thank you note, to all of the people who have been so supportive of me back home.  This support comes in many different forms, but it all matters.

Keep in mind that if I don't mention you by name, it's not because I don't value the support you give me.  I have a lot of friends and family that have expressed positive thoughts and well-wishes about my service, and I appreciate each and every source of encouragement.  However, the people I name here have gone above and beyond in their support, which is why I wanted to honor them specifically.

It's easy to forget that a friend or loved one is going through a hard time.  And regardless of everything else that the Peace Corps is, it is certainly a hard time.  I have more bad days in Ethiopia than I ever had in Seattle - but the thing is, I also have more awesome days, too.  High risk, high reward, as they say, but it's the high risk that causes trouble with morale sometimes.  And it's easy to forget that a friend is in a high stress environment for two years, because, I mean, hey, you have your own lives, your own problems, your own stresses.

This is why I think it's super important to recognize the people who go out of their way to tell me that they know what I'm doing, they know it's hard, and they appreciate it and they support me.  There are a few people on this list, like my parents, who are an obvious given.  But there are some people on this list that may surprise you.  I know that they surprised me.

So let's start with the obvious: My parents.

Both of my parents at one time worked for the State Department, and my mother still does.  As a result of that, I spent the first eighteen years of my life growing up in seven other countries, and none of them was the United States.  When I first started applying to Peace Corps, I thought this would help me adjust, but then my father wisely pointed out that it wouldn't.  He explained that when I was overseas, I got to live in my little embassy bubble.  I got to see the high poverty and development problems from behind the glass in my ivory four-runner.  And he was absolutely right.  I remember bringing this up with my Country Director when he interviewed me before swear-in to see if I was ready for service.  A former ambassador himself, he sympathized, saying that even administratively, Peace Corps was way different from the foreign service.

Since coming to country, my mother has been a typical mother, always wanting to know how I'm doing and what's going on and what's Ethiopia like and am I making friends and all that other stuff.  And she Skypes me all the time and they even sent me a care package in the summer.  My dad is often with her when we talk on Skype, asking his questions and stuff, and even if he's not, I'm sure she tells him.

I have never spent a Christmas away from my parents before, not in twenty-five years of life.  Not even the fact that my family members often live in different countries on different continents can keep me away from them at Christmas.  When my mother was posted in Tunisia, and my father was still wrapping things up in DC, and I was up in Seattle, he flew both me and him all the way to Tunis so we could spend Christmas with my Mom, and then the next year, he flew both of them out from Tunis and me from Seattle down to Los Angeles to spend Christmas with my brother.  I don't know if it's as big a deal to them as it is to me, but spending Christmas with my parents matters a lot to me at this point in my life, and I was really nervous that this might actually be the first Christmas I have to spend without them.  But from the very beginning, my parents just acted like they expected to come, and again they bought me a plane ticket from Ethiopia to go spend the holidays with them in Belgium.  Not only this, but they opened their door and their home to a fellow PCV who couldn't go home for Christmas, and I know that he is still grateful for their hospitality.  What's more, my parents are going a step further for Christmas 2013 by allowing me to bring not one, not two, but three other guest PCVs, who must have heard how great the vacation was for my other friend and want to see what it's like.  And they did it with open hearts and not a hint of hesitation.

And if that weren't enough, my father decided that the best birthday present he could give me this year was flying down to Addis Ababa to see where I live for himself, and of course he brought all sorts of delicious goodies with him, including all the ingredients required to make my traditional birthday cake since I was twelve years old - dirt cake.  Oreos, cream cheese, vanilla budding, and I don't even know all of what else, but it was delicious.  So I took him on a tour of this beautiful country in which I serve.  Hawassa, Arba Minch, up through Hossana, and then back to Addis Ababa.  Afterwards, he commented that he understood a lot better how I live now, and that he finally realized the need (as opposed to want) for an external hard drive.

So this is what I believe is "above and beyond" as far as support goes.  And maybe some people think, "Well, yeah, sure, but your parents are expected to be supportive."  Well, yeah.  But consider this - I am one of seventy volunteers in my group who have been here for a year now, and I am only one of a handful who have had anyone, let alone a parent come visit me.  And everyone's parents are supportive, but I think that says a lot.

Next on the list: Layne

Layne herself will probably be surprised to see her name on this list.  She was a friend of mine I met when I was in high school in Cairo, and while we don't see each other much anymore (on account of we lived in different states, and now different countries) we talk rather frequently, and I attended her wedding almost two years ago now.  Wow, has it really been almost two years?  Congrats to Layne and her husband, Chris, on that.  Still, since moving to Ethiopia, I have noticed a marked increase in my communication with Layne.  She messages me all the time, Skypes me a lot, likes almost all of the photos and posts I make on Facebook about Ethiopia, and she was really supportive in my first ten weeks in country, arguable the most difficult ten weeks of my service as I readjusted.  Layne hasn't done anything like fly out on a plane to visit me, or even send me a care package (although she says she's putting one together).  Her support is much simpler, and that is that she frequently takes time out of her day to check in with me.  It's simple, and it doesn't sound like much, but it can really go a long way, especially when you're out at site on your own and a friendly message from an old friend can really mean a lot.

And then, there's Laura.

Laura is probably the only person out of all of my friends in Seattle who seems actively interested in what I am doing and continuously supportive.  We have chats on Facebook, and she always seems genuinely curious about my life and how I'm doing.  Meanwhile, she had to go and get herself pregnant and now I don't get to see that stick figure of hers swell into a balloon shape, at least not until this July.  She's due in July, too, so I hope I can still recognize her!  I was so sad I had to miss this big event in her and her husband's life.  Still, I comfort myself with the knowledge that at least I'll get to meet the little squirt when I come back for good in 2014.  Sure, the kid will be a year old by then, but that's not too bad, when you think about it.  Still, she's pregnant, such a big life adventure, and yet she still finds time to be interested in me and my crazy life.  That's pretty awesome.  Laura is also one of the people who seems most excited about seeing me when I visit this summer.  She has also been a doll, agreeing to accept all packages of supplies that we need for our summer camp.  In fact, she just told me today that she was beginning to get shipments in, and how that made her excited because it meant that I would be in Seattle soon.  It's sweet comments like that, that, like Layne's simple support, can really go a long way to making a PCV smile.

And last but not least, I'd like to recognize Tod and Linda.

Tod and Linda are very old friends of my parents, being old college chums of my mother way back in the day.  They are rather like my aunt and uncle, regardless of blood relation.  Tod was the one who even taught me how to drive.  They, along with two other old friends of my parents in Seattle, served as surrogate parents for me when I was living in Washington and my folks were off gallivanting all over the world.  Since I've been here, Tod and Linda win the contest for sending me the most stuff through the mail.  I will never forget the day when I arrived at the post office in November and there was not just one care package there waiting for me, but two humongous boxes full of American goodies and all for me.  I was so excited I went home and photographed everything to mark the occasion.  And being as this was really the only time I received care packages other than one that my parents sent, that alone earns them a spot on this list.  It is expensive to send care packages, and I appreciate all the time and effort (and money!) that goes into putting them together.  It's one reason why they are so rare for me, I believe.  So thanks so much, to this wonderful couple, who put so much effort into bringing a little piece of America to Ethiopia for me.

I go on vacation in two and a half weeks to Seattle.  I look forward to seeing all of my old friends and family in the area while I'm there.  And I do want to give a general thank you to all of you for the support you do manage to give.  As I said, I know you have your own busy and interesting lives, but I really do appreciate it when you drop me a line.  It gets lonely out here in the rural highlands.

Much love and gratitude,
Carlin