About me
Résumé
Honestly there isn't much to tell. Born on Bastille Day, 1978 it's only fitting
that I spend some time in a francophone country. As a child I grew up in rural
Minnesota and participated heavily in school and summer recreation activities. Went
abroad for the first time in 1997 (Austria, Germany, Italy) and never got rid of the
travel bug. In the years after I would visit Venezuela, Brazil, Nicaragua, Mexico,
Spain and the UK. This has had a significant impact on the person I've become. I have
some incredible friends and family from all over the world and thoroughly enjoy their
companionship, sense of humor and open-mindedness. No need to name names, you all
know who you are.
My interests
- Languages
- Travel
- Reading
- Libraries and Information Technology
- Coffee
- Latin America
- Latin Dancing (Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cumbia, ChaCha, etc)
- Fitness and Sports
- Public Transportation
- Food
- Music (just about everything except the hard stuff i.e. metal, rap, etc)
- Brazilian Soccer
- Internet
- And now Africa...
Why I joined the Peace Corps
There are two primary reasons why I joined the Peace
Corps. First, the Peace Corps provides me with the opportunity to gain professional library-related experience abroad in a setting that fosters service-learning and innovative program development. Second, I have the chance to utilize my foreign language skills in a meaningful way that benefits the community in which I serve and has an impact on how information services are delivered. Moreover, I am extremely motivated by the concept of "bridging the digital
divide". Providing access to the Internet is one thing, but teaching people how to use it is another. That is, digital problems do not always have digital solutions.
Therefore, teaching people how to access the information they need with the
technology that is available to them is an absolute must.
Having read several job announcements and descriptions, the ones that interest me typically require a certain level of professional experience that I do not have. Thus, serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer gives me the necessary experience to qualify for such jobs and cultivate a first-hand understanding of the library profession in developing countries. In addition to the obvious professional development implications, the Peace Corps provides me with opportunities for personal development in the areas of foreign language and leadership. I am certain that I'm destined to work in an international setting and look forward to the day I will be able to share my Peace Corps story.
The views expressed on this website are solely those of the author and are not in any way affiliated with the Peace Corps or U.S. Government. I claim no responsibilty for content contained in any of the sites linked to this one.