I stood at the wall of backpacks, wondering which one would be best for me. Eventually, an older man came up to me. I could tell he had worked there for a while.
"If you have any questions, just ask me, okay?"
"Actually, I do need help. It's been a while since I've done any camping, and I'm going to Morocco in a few months and I was wondering which would be best for me."
He immediately, went for the Osprey backpack and pulled it off the shelf.
"You are definitely going to want this one. It can hold up to 50 pounds comfortably and it is custom fitted so that you can have the best comfort level while you're walking."
I instinctively put the backpack on and began to fiddle with the straps. He came up to me and began helping.
"You want your body and your backpack to be as one."
I liked it. I liked how light it felt and the padding.
"So, what are you doing in Morocco?"
"I'm going to Peace Corps. I'm going to be teaching about basic health issues - sanitation, oral care, STI's, HIV - things like that."
"I couldn't imagine rural areas to have that much of a problem with sexual diseases."
"There's always the possibility that my focus will be on sanitation and health. Then again, I'm sure they can't be that bad off, seeing as though they're... well... alive."
The man smiled.
"I always find it funny that people will go over to these countries thinking that they're going to improve the lives of these people. What ends up happening is that the villagers teach the American much more than they learn."
"Maybe that's more of the point of Peace Corps now - to serve as a sort of cultural exchange for Americans, except we're the only ones who are exchangable."
"I'm sure you'll be fine."
I've been told numerous times that I need to be prepared to learn more than they will learn from me. I agree, of course, but something seems strange. As Americans, we're taught that we're the best - that we're the reason the world is so safe, that we're the reason Nazism was defeated, and the like - but when it comes down to it, look as us. Americans aren't generally known for being the most healthy individuals. I wonder what would happen to most of us if this thin veneer of Western culture were worn away. How many of us could survive if the local markets were closed due to food shortage? How many of us could hunt? How many of us could learn quickly enough planting techniques to feed ourselves and family?
Maybe that's another reason why the Peace Corps is necessary for as many people as possible. We have been born into this culture where everything we need is at our fingertips. Maybe everyone needs to perform some sort of service for their country during their early twenties - if not militarily, at least under the auspices of a humanitarian organization.
I want to learn firsthand what it means to be an American. I want to know beyond theory and into application. I want to know how lucky I am. I want to know what I am capable of. I don't want to be an armchair patriot who has never had to commit, to give, to sacrifice anything and who sits back complaining about the world without making an attempt to help it.
Then again, maybe the world doesn't really need help. 56 days until I find out.
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