#howiseepc

[celltophone1]

How to install iOS 17 on your iPhone

[ryanlemp]

Local high school students planting mustard greens in the community garden. In their senior year, these technical vocational students learn about composting, growing fruits and vegetables, among many other topics. It was amazing to see them working together and taking ownership of the work. 

[veronica-in-the-universe]

2019 was a year of Hellos and goodbyes Reconnections and learning It was a year of Relearning past passions And reigniting old flames It was a year full of laughter and tears Of good company and great memories It was a year of Challenges and accomplishments Travel and adventures Most importantly, it was a year of love. Here’s to 2019 and looking forward to 2020. #howiseepc #peacecorpsvanuatu #peacecorps #vanuatu #veronicainvanuatu #southpacific #colorado #love https://www.instagram.com/p/B6wXhcQFHo7/?igshid=erb9rcafkubu

[peacecorpspatrice]

This week I was invited to welcome the latest group of Peace Corps Trainees to Ukraine. When they arrived a traditional welcome ceremony occurred with special Ukrainian bread ceremony. Traditionally the bread must be baked by 7 women and each person then takes a hunk of this beautifully decorated sweetish bread dips it in salt and eats it. It is a beautiful ceremony and reminded me of my arrival to Ukraine two years ago. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #howiseepc #howiseepeacecorps #peacecorpsukraine #peacecorpsukraine52 #ukraine #peacecorps #tradition #ceremony #bread #хліб #свято #україна (at Ukraine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1QR-piCm88/?igshid=xuo9ne6409n6

[iamayeti]

Movie day in Madziabango! Inside Out is a big hit. #pcmalawi # peacecorpsmalawi #howiseepc #movieday https://www.instagram.com/p/B29Xd5-BKx1/?igshid=1svgqkd4v1ij3

[inhalexsky]

When golden hour delivers. #tbilisi #travel #georgia🇬🇪 #howiseepc #peacecorpsgeorgia #oldtbilisi #rooftop #goldenhour (at Old Tbilisi) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzVx34BhSgE/?igshid=15qay8ac7kgrm

[colorsofcambodia]

Thanks for making me the happiest Auntie for the past 11 months ❤️ He now has 8 🦷 and can crawl. Watching him grow everyday is nature at it’s best. His emotions are pure. His needs are unapologetic. He always reminds me to take it easy, be present, and play. #khmer #cambodia #kep #peacecorpscambodia #howiseepc #pck11 #peacecorps #cutebaby (at Kep, Cambodia) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1lqhQ_jgYB/?igshid=7p9ubk6pd7k0

[dumbonem]

(Taken day one in Jamaica) Two years and two days ago was my first day in Jamaica for Peace Corps. I am seeing all of my groups’ posts celebrating their anniversary and I’m proud of you all! Funny, as it makes me reflect on myself. While I wish I could have finished, it really only would have been for the sake of saying I finished. That’s one of the big reasons that kept me there so long, not quitting. However, when I look back I also know that leavings was the easiest, tough decision I made. It was WELL past time. Nine months left of service and was headed for my third move on top of so much else. I wasn’t about it. Sometimes I’m very bitter towards my experience, but know one day I might appreciate it as some profound lesson. Jamaica was so special to me pre-PC and my experience kind of killed it a bit. It wasn’t all bad, I just wasn’t where I needed to be. I knew that for a long time and I’m proud that I was big enough EVENTUALLY to make the bold move for myself, without shame. Hmmm, might finally have to do a blog about this at some point #PeaceCorps #ET #shameless #transparent #life #lessons #JA #Jamaica #experience #PC #HowISeePC #bold #ET (at Peace Corps Jamaica) https://www.instagram.com/dumbonem/p/BvCFNlWgU0l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=4gx5ppqff4zr

[followmeeastward]

Htantabin with the Folks (02/19)

They had seen photos, I had told them stories, but actually bringing my parents to my village was something I don’t think any of us were expecting. I had heard from other volunteer’s stories about bringing their families to their site, I was anxious to see how mine would react.

On Tuesday morning we woke up early to catch breakfast and see the marvelous view of the pagoda from atop of Esperado Hotel’s rooftop, then it was off to my village! The silly front desk people were trying to tell me that it would take three hours to get there, I just nodded my head and smiled. It would take two hours max, I make this trip way more than they do!

Upon arriving to Myanmar, my parents had traveled to Hong Kong, taking in the high tech city. Then once they got to their new destination, they were immediately placed into downtown Yangon, that has high rises and incredible traffic. Driving out to my village it was fun to watch the looks on their faces, as high rises slowly turned into small apartment buildings, which then faded into bamboo huts placed anywhere and everywhere that had available space. And as buildings faded, farm land arose, and rice fields took over where there once was people.

The road into Htantabin was in the process of receiving a much needed facelift on my parents arrival. So when we turned onto my the final stretch of road that took us into my village, what was suppose to 20 minutes, turned into about 30, and was VERY bumpy. Luckily the slow speed of our car allowed for the two of them to get a better look at my surrounding community.  Then we arrived at my house.

First thing my mother says, “It’s bigger than I thought.” As both my parents entered their daughters foreign living space, the investigation began. Checking out all the rooms, the bucket shower, the lack of running water, and if I really did clean the toiler space like I had said. They both smiled as the bright green walls blinded them with every look, commenting how they’re a lot brighter in person than over the phone. Then we all took a moments pause in my lovely air conditioned bedroom, before I had them right out the door again for their tour of my village. I tried to warn them that everyone I know would try and invite us into their homes, and sure enough the first house we walk by, a boy I tutor’s home, his parents invite us in. Within moments were being given snacks, fruit, beverages, and both my parents have wide eyed looks on their face. “Is this normal? Are they going to try and feed us? Do we have to eat everything?” just a few of the questions my parents quietly whisper as were sitting on the floor of a random home while the occupants just stare. I tell them, we just have to stay for a few minutes and I’d make an excuse to leave. Of course, the host family was happy to meet my American family, but our hostess really just used these moments as a trap to yell at me about how i needed to start tutoring both her sons, because one failed grade 8 english and the other isn’t learning fast enough at university.  I just smiled and stated that we had to go and see the rest of town.

Later on in the afternoon, after turning down more snacks and meals, and taking a much deserved rest, I took my parents to my counterparts house. There we went through the same ritual of sitting down for snacks, talking about our families, how my parents are enjoying Myanmar, how much my counterparts love and so forth. Then my counterparts asked my parents if they’d like to see the local Pagoda. Much to our surprise when we got there, they were having a large meal to celebrate the full moon. Everyone in town was there and staring at us as we walked barefoot through statues of buddha and the golden stuppas. It felt like in the quickest blink of an eye, our little group of 5 (me, my parents, and two counterparts) turned into a whole caravan of people, just wanting to watch us like zoo animals, and be apart of our adventure. Little kids, adults, elderly, we had a group of at least 20 following us to another pagoda. It was something so special, that I got to share with them. Unfortunately our time was cut short, with our driver coming back to get us at 4pm, but I know if we could’ve, my parents would've loved to stay longer.

[lutzgojoe]

Ziua Femeilor Și Iași

Ziua Femeilor Și Iași. My experiences of International Women's Day and visiting Iasi Romania

This past Friday, March 8th, was a busy one. On top of being International Women’s Day, I joined some of my host family and traveled to Iasi, Romania.

International Women’s Day is a day celebrated throughout the world that honors women. (You can see that name speaks for itself.) In former Soviet Union countries, the day is an important holiday. Schools had the 7th and 8th off, public offices…

[yesimgoingtopeacecorps]

Talk Less, Listen More

I've always prided myself on my speaking skills and being eloquent with my words. But in this last rotation around the sun, while trying to speak in two languages that I'm not fluent, I've found a massive shortfall in my personality- one that has been worn down and corroded by a year’s worth of unspoken words and ideas: who am I without being able to articulate my thoughts? This has caused me to think critically about how I come across to others when I can open up myself and my thoughts.

Tonight I sat down with another volunteer and good friend of mine and asked her point blank "What can I work on as a person? What do others view about me critically?"

The conversation was extensive, but I'll give you the punchline: 

Talk less, listen more.

When she told me this, I realized the truth of her words. I have spent my entire life talking about my own stories and who I am. Truthfully, I've done it in an effort to try to relate to those around me- to show that I am in solidarity with their problems or their lives. But, until tonight, I've never thought about how someone outside of my own mind sees this. It seems to take what I’m saying as if I am turning their problems into my own, and when I end up looking back at the grand picture, they're not wrong. My efforts to relate by telling people my own stories in comparison with theirs, makes it seem as if my experiences or problems are superior or more complicated to their own.

Talk less.

Listen more.

Ask more questions.

This entire two year journey is not just about the changes of my community, or my mission here, or the competence I gain in working in international development. I am here to grow and change as a person. I have gotten to the point in my life to where I understand that constructed criticism on who I am and how I conduct myself is not just a part of life- it is a gift. In order to develop as human beings, we need to be open to seeing ourselves from the lives of those around us. The quality of our experience on this earth is based on our interactions with the humans around us. 

Like any plant or tree, in order for us to thrive, we need to prune away the parts of ourselves that aren’t beneficial.

So, I urge those of you around me, who know me from all walks of life and have something to say to me that will help me improve as a person, or a thought or comment on what I can do better to improve my life or the lives of those who interact with me, send me a message and let's have a conversation.

Before you can be the change in the world, you have to be willing to be able to change yourself.

[pronnati]

How pharma industry focus on innovation and R&D will pave way for India to serve the world! . . . #focus #industry #pharma #pave #howsway #howiseepc #photooftheday #lifestyle #musicmaker #india_everydayclicks (at India) https://www.instagram.com/p/CgUMOUThR9K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ryanlemp]

As i’m still processing and coming to terms with the fact that my service is over, I made a video showing just a few small aspects of my life and the people who have made this experience incredible beyond words. To those back home, it will be hard for me to truly explain this entire experience to you, I just can’t sum it up in 30 minutes much less 30 seconds, but it’s ok, I understand that. The love and support you’ve shown me throughout these two years has given me great strength and I will forever be appreciative of that. I love every single person and place in this video (and many more not captured) beyond words, they are still some of my dearest friends and family. As I continue to reflect on these two years, I feel such immense gratitude and thankfulness for being lucky enough have lived and laughed in a place so unique and beautiful as Timor-Leste.            Ha’u sei hadomi ita hotu ba nafatin, ha’u nunca haluha ita. Thank you.

[veronica-in-the-universe]

There’s something magical about introducing one of your favorite games from childhood to the kids in the village and watching them fall in love with it! #howiseepc #peacecorpseducation #peacecorpsvanuatu #peacecorps #veronicainvanuatu #southpacific #vanuatu #mancala (at Naoné, Aoba/Maewo, Vanuatu) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2XlJynlKP0/?igshid=1dlcp93odgi14

[peacecorpspatrice]

My parents got to witness some impromptu singing after the Lviv Book Fair. Dad said it reminded him of my grandmother and her best friend. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ #folksongs #пісняукраїнською #ukrainiansongs #peacecorpsukraine #peacecorpsukraine52 #howiseepc #ukraine #lviv (at Lviv, Ukraine) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2vvPVYIDpI/?igshid=k3pf6k6wcpci