Norwich grad finds calling in the Peace Corps
NORWICH – After graduating from Norwich High School in 1998 and studying psychology and computers at SUNY Oswego, John Kolb knew he didn’t want to enter life’s normal rat race. Instead, he made a decision he states, he will never regret, entering the Peace Corps.
Growing up on a farm outside of Norwich, John said he always knew he wanted to do something different and meaningful with his life. While he was in college, he had heard some information about the Peace Corps, and while working some odd jobs after college, he decided to apply. “ I just felt it was something I wanted to do,” he said.
The Peace Corps was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. Peace Corps volunteers are invited to work in developing countries, where they work to achieve their three goals: Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
In March of 2005, John was invited into the Peace Corps and just three months later, he was on his way to a new life and a new culture in Armenia.
After a few days in a local hotel, the volunteers were sent to live with their host families, knowing only a few words of Armenian. “It’s actually really useful, because you have to learn the language,” John said of his time with the host family. “If you need something, you have to know how to ask for it.” John went through extensive training at the village school with 51 other Peace Corps trainees, and after two and a half months, he became an official volunteer and began working at a local business center.
“In Berd, where I’m living today, they’ve only had the Internet since January of 2005,” John said. “So, I try to teach people how to use the Internet and how to deal with viruses.”
According to John, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with the American stereotypes.
“I tried not to go in to this expecting anything,” John said. “I think it’s best to go in without any preconceived notions, because whatever you expect it to be, it won’t be that way.” Although John admits Armenia is one of the more developed Peace Corps locations – they have buildings, shelters, running water – he says he’s gotten used to the idea of looking at everything there as similar to rural America during the 50s in terms of peoples ideas and issues like women’s rights.
Peace Corps volunteers generally commit to spending two years in a given location, but because the experience has been so positive for John, he has decided to extend his tour for a third year. “I would recommend this experience to people, absolutely, but only if they’re sure it’s what they want to do,” John said. “It’s a very valuable experience learning the culture and the language, but it’s not something easy, so you can’t take it lightly.”
John is currently home on leave for a month before returning to Armenia. “It’s a very different experience, but it’s also very rewarding. It’s all what you make it,” John said.
For more information on the Peace Corps, visit the web site at www.peacecorps.gov.
Growing up on a farm outside of Norwich, John said he always knew he wanted to do something different and meaningful with his life. While he was in college, he had heard some information about the Peace Corps, and while working some odd jobs after college, he decided to apply. “ I just felt it was something I wanted to do,” he said.
The Peace Corps was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. Peace Corps volunteers are invited to work in developing countries, where they work to achieve their three goals: Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served and helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
In March of 2005, John was invited into the Peace Corps and just three months later, he was on his way to a new life and a new culture in Armenia.
After a few days in a local hotel, the volunteers were sent to live with their host families, knowing only a few words of Armenian. “It’s actually really useful, because you have to learn the language,” John said of his time with the host family. “If you need something, you have to know how to ask for it.” John went through extensive training at the village school with 51 other Peace Corps trainees, and after two and a half months, he became an official volunteer and began working at a local business center.
“In Berd, where I’m living today, they’ve only had the Internet since January of 2005,” John said. “So, I try to teach people how to use the Internet and how to deal with viruses.”
According to John, one of the biggest challenges is dealing with the American stereotypes.
“I tried not to go in to this expecting anything,” John said. “I think it’s best to go in without any preconceived notions, because whatever you expect it to be, it won’t be that way.” Although John admits Armenia is one of the more developed Peace Corps locations – they have buildings, shelters, running water – he says he’s gotten used to the idea of looking at everything there as similar to rural America during the 50s in terms of peoples ideas and issues like women’s rights.
Peace Corps volunteers generally commit to spending two years in a given location, but because the experience has been so positive for John, he has decided to extend his tour for a third year. “I would recommend this experience to people, absolutely, but only if they’re sure it’s what they want to do,” John said. “It’s a very valuable experience learning the culture and the language, but it’s not something easy, so you can’t take it lightly.”
John is currently home on leave for a month before returning to Armenia. “It’s a very different experience, but it’s also very rewarding. It’s all what you make it,” John said.
For more information on the Peace Corps, visit the web site at www.peacecorps.gov.
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