You might have guessed by this point that I have a special interest in those of us whose existence sprung from the intercultural public service experience of the Peace Corps.
I myself would not be here if it weren’t for the Peace Corps (and the picture of Machu Picchu on a National Geographic cover that lured my father to Perú). And while there are so many things that have shaped who I am, being a Peace Corps kid, is a really important one.
What does it mean to me to be Peace Corps kid? It means having a different ethnic and racial identity than my parents, grandparents, and all of my cousins, uncles, and aunts on both sides. Visits to grandma and grandpa involved many hours in airplanes and airports, and entering a world very different than the one that I was most familiar with It means feeling intimately connected to the immigrant experience and to immigrant communities. As a child of someone from the dominant culture, it has also meant blending in communities and groups even though I didn’t feel like I fit in. And in order to try to make sense of it all, it has meant getting two degrees in cultural anthropology. Finally, for me, it also has meant having a strong desire to build bridges and understand across differences and to make the world a better place for everyone.
“I believe PeaceCorps Kids are a unique group of people who have a lot to contribute to our communities and to the world."
I have so much more to say but I have even more questions for all of you. But let me just say this, I believe PeaceCorps Kids are a unique group of people who have a lot to contribute to our communities and to the world. My idea to start an organization is driven by a very strong curiosity to learn more about your lives and see what we might create together. So... Please introduce yourself! Where do you and your family come from? Where are you now? What does it mean to you to be a Peace Corps kid or to be part of a mixed Peace Corps family?
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