My New Resume

Serving as a Peace Corps volunteer gives you a lot of new skills to add to your resume.  Some of them have a direct correlation to a future job, while others have a direct correlation to making people laugh.  There are plenty of articles that talk about the broader benefits of hiring a Peace Corps volunteer, but I’m going to share with you the real story on what I bring to the table after almost two years in Mexico.

Specifically, I’ve gained the ability to:

• Speak and understand Spanish
• Flush a toilet with a bucket of water
• Better appreciate the positive aspects of working with both millennials and retirees
• Communicate without the use of email in an office environment
• Navigate a totally different work culture (and life culture)

I navigated a local trail to see how construction was coming along on this place of worship up in the hills above town. 

• Be prepared for anything – Heading out for 12 hours en el campo with 5 minutes’ notice? On a bus that breaks down? Experiencing a non-pleasant reaction to that new food you just tried?  I’ve got snacks, an extra roll of TP, a book to read and a bag full of medicine at the ready.
• Practice sufficient patience to wait 15+ months to get a kid’s activity book printed (I'm still waiting on that but maintaining faith!)
• Be flexible about things getting canceled/scheduled at the last minute
• Keep plants alive - ok, I did kill a cactus and 4 of my original 9 plants, but the survivors are thriving!
• Walk slower 
• Embroider tortilla towels and cross-stitch  

So much time spent working on super important projects like good ol' Bugs Bunny here. If you hire me, this could soon be yours. 

Using a fan to get the sparks flying on the grill - always be prepared! 

There was no way to prepare for this large gathering of birds, but it was cool to watch them all take off together.  

• Create wall art using fabric and a staple gun
• Caulk windows
• Light a hot water boiler
• Take a bath using cups of water heated on the stove
• Make applesauce and soup from scratch
• Navigate public transportation in a foreign country
• Live without a car    
• Teach English to adults
• Teach kids about composting
• Take a nice, long, leisurely lunch break – and I can totally convince you why that’s important

I recently enjoyed a delicious lunch in this new restaurant, courtesy of my friend Marcel, complete with homemade hummus!

• Write a blog
• Read an entire book in one day
• Cook for two years with only one pan
• Make really good papas verdes and salsa
• Stay up late for the sole purpose of eating really good, homemade food lovingly cooked by someone else
• Disinfect fruits and vegetables with bleach or microdyn
• Really appreciate the small things – Do you have an office bathroom that always flushes, has a seat, and isn’t located right in front of someone’s desk?  How private! How fancy!  Can you give me my own desk and chair? Super fancy!

It was totally worth staying at the office until 9:00 PM to enjoy this delicious tlayuda made with fresh ingredients my coworker brought back from Oaxaca last week. 

Add a few squirts of this to a bowl full of drinking water, wait 15 minutes, rinse, dry, and enjoy your fresh produce!

• Find the best work-life balance (i.e. more life, less work)
• Respond to last minute requests without having an anxiety attack
• Wash clothes by hand
• Make coffee - finally!

I'll have to get all fancy when selling my volunteer experience with future employers by talking about the formal skills gained from my volunteer experience, such as: an aptitude for learning new things, a willingness to take (calculated) risks, adaptability, flexibility, the ability to embrace uncertainty and change, patience, tenacity, and an understanding of Mexican culture and customs.  However, I'm sure they'll also be impressed to know I can get that toilet flushed in a pinch, and probably keep an office plant alive.  Let the job offers pour in!