30.04.05 - 12:45

This is totally cheating, and rather boring and repetitive for most of you, but it's already typed up, so here you go. These are some interview questions a Haverford alum sent me about my Haverford College and Peace Corps experiences. Enjoy.

1. Where were you brought up? I have lived in Montgomery County, Maryland my whole life. Specifically Darnestown, Maryland.

2. How did you hear about Haverford? What influenced your decision to
attend? When I was on my “grand tour” of college visits, I stopped in Philadelphia. I visited Haverford because it had the academic strength I was looking for, although I was originally only really seriously considering large universities. The instant I stepped on campus, I felt comfortable. I was especially taken with the support the students gave to each other – no biting competition. People seemed to want to help each other. The importance of community, of all working together so that we can all be successful, was a major attraction.

3. What activities were you involved in as a Haverford student? I was a Peer Awareness facilitator for two years, which actually was one of the factors in leading me to consider the Health program in Peace Corps. I was involved in The Haverford Review (literary magazine) all four years, and was editor-in-chief for three.

4. What was your major? Philosophy. Minor in Ancient Greek.

5. At what point during your Haverford experience did you decide to enter
the Peace Corps? What factors influenced your decision to apply and,
ultimately, go overseas? I began considering the Peace Corps in my junior year. I was getting tired of academia and looking for adventure. I was also interested in helping those who had not grown up with my privileges. Haverford taught me a lot about responsibility for one’s community; the next logical step was to consider how I was contributing to the global community.

6. Had you traveled internationally before? In what capacities? Had you
ever been to the developing world? Yes. I studied abroad for a semester in Athens during my junior year at Haverford. Following that, I traveled across Europe for six weeks with Haverford friends.

7. Describe your living environment (where your town/village is located,
population, availability of water, electricity, etc...) in Mauritania. My site is a large village in the south of Mauritania called Kankossa. Kankossa is situated between a sand dune and a lake. The population fluctuates according to the season, but an average is about 4,000 people. There is no electricity. There are some public faucets for running water, but the majority of people (as well as myself) use a well. We just got cell phone coverage (!) There are two major ethnicities: Moors (descendents of Berbers who identify with Arabic culture and Halpulaar (who are a group of Black Africans.)

8. What is your work assignment? I am a community health/water sanitation volunteer. My primary project is to work with a feeding center for severely malnourished children under the age of five. I am also planning an AIDS and STD seminar. I have also done projects on medical waste and contributed to various vaccination campaigns.

9. Describe your work environment. The feeding center is in the hospital. (Kankossa has the regional hospital, which serves about 20,000 people in surrounding areas.) I work with the nurses and doctor there. My AIDS project is in cooperation with some local high school teachers. My work is completely self-structured.

10. Why did you decide to extend for a third year? Many reasons. In some ways, I simply feel that my work here is not yet finished. I have more to give my community, and it has valuable insights and experiences to give me as well. I’m looking for a different experience from my time in Kankossa. I also feel that, having been a volunteer in a rural site for the past two years, I would provide a perspective that may be lacking in Nouakchott, the capital city where I will spend my third year.

11. Of all the people you have met during your service, who has had the
most impact on you? Why? The children in my site have been a constant source of inspiration and anguish. They are able to be so happy, even in the face of abject poverty, and are remarkably honest with me. They have a spirit that never seems to waver. On the other hand, I watch these children get sick, and sometimes die. (Especially the starving children I see at my feeding center on a daily basis.) At times, I feel completely powerless to help them, although I do what I can to spread basic nutrition and sanitation information. They remind me why I am here – to make a positive difference in the lives of others. They inspire me to look past my petty difficulties and recognize my true priorities.

12. How has your Peace Corps experience influenced how you view the world?
How has it influenced your view of yourself as a U.S. citizen? Mauritania has been especially useful in that it gave me understanding about Islamic culture, which is especially relevant in the post 9-11 world. Of course Mauritania has broadened my worldview. How could it not? But it actually made me less of a relativist. I am increasingly thankful and proud to be an American, even as I realize the many problems that American culture possesses.

13. Do you see any similarities between the values espoused by Haverford as
an institution and those espoused by the Peace Corps? Yes. The both emphasize a sense of caring and responsibility for community, for sharing the gifts that you have been given. I think Haverford’s motto is “education to lead, education to serve.” Haverford prepared me to do both of those things in the Peace Corps.

14. What are your professional plans once you return to the States? At this point, I think I’d like to pursue an MPH and continue to work in underdeveloped and developing countries.

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