The Peace Corps Challenge

by Pooja Patel

Imagine immersing yourself in a country, in a culture completely opposite of your own. Imagine a language with unheard consonants and clicks, a 60% unemployment rate, an HIV epidemic ravaging the nation, and oh, not to forget the bathroom situation is really unimaginable.  For two years this would be your home. Could you handle it?

Meet, Lisa Thoyakulathu, the Peace Corps’ newest edition. She’s taken up this challenge. Nestled in eastern South Africa, the tiny, independent nation of Swaziland will be her home. Thoyakulathu has chosen to spend the next two years of her life in Swaziland working at the grassroots level to educate locals about HIV transmission.

This, Thoyakulathu says, wasn’t her original calling. She spent much of her undergraduate career focusing on activities designed to get her into medical school. During this time, she doubted whether medical school was right for her, a path strongly encouraged by her parents. Questioning her future led to a delay in turning in her applications. After learning that medical school wasn’t in her stars for the time being, she knew she had to get involved with something much bigger than herself. Something that was different, something that made a difference. There were many factors that helped her make this decision: A strong interest in International policy, development, HIV research, and travel experience, to name a few.

Lisa Thoyakulathu in Swaziland for the Peace Corps.

It’s been three months since Thoyakulathu left the States. She’s currently at her permanent homestead in Mliba, about 45 minutes north of Swaziland’s commercial center Manzini. Her short time there has already yielded a lifetime of experiences. Some simple, from her learning SiSwati, to more horrid experiences of outdoor latrines and even a near robbery experience. She has said that adjusting isn’t as bad as she thought it would be. Her laptop keeps her connected to friends, family, and everything going on back home. An avid observer of the political scene, she said updates from friends and internet research has kept her updated from everything from the Presidential and Vice Presidential debates, Joe the Plumber, to the final Obama victory.

The other 11 PC volunteers in her community have become a sort of pseudo-family. Exchanging stories like hand-washing clothes, to challenges facing the area keep them bonded. There is one thing, above all others, that has saved her, Thoyakulathu recounts the phrase: “This is Africa” (from the film Blood Diamond). The acceptance of residual red clay stains on their clothing, to bathing out of a bucket, their standard of living needed to be readjusted. Accepting the way things are in Africa is a necessary tip of survival.

Thoyakulathu is currently gathering research and data from her local surroundings. Her goal while in Swaziland is to get people empowered with age-appropriate sexual education and to get people to test. Her other goals include reducing the stigma around HIV and helping those infected with the virus to cope by connecting them with services and knowledge. But, most importantly, behavior changes must happen. She hopes to implement new and innovative ways to relay the message, as previous methods have not been working.

Although she no longer has to travel 3 miles every other day to fetch water for food, bathing, and washing clothes/dishes, she realizes just how precious of a commodity water is. Swaziland is currently facing a 10 year drought, a crisis by any means. Limited resources, she says, are practically the root for most conflicts. She recommends the film Without the King to those interested in learning the hardships and conflicts the country is facing. Even with all the difficulties she’s faced, she’s determined to stay, to do her part, to make a difference.

For those interested in joining the Peace Corps, I’ll leave you with Thoyakulathu’s own words:

I first say be ready for some sacrifices, but also, be ready for an experience of a lifetime. I don’t regret this choice for a minute, but make sure YOU are willing to live without certain things. I honestly think that the hard stuff like not having electricity or indoor plumbing gets easier after you adjust and that’s not what the problem is. The problem is: can you be away from your friends and family for two years. Consider carefully before you jump into this, because a lot of people do leave early and that saddens the community that they left. Also, you have to be okay with helping on a small, grassroots level. So, I’ll leave you with this quote that I think epitomizes the people who choose to do the Peace Corps:

“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something, and just because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.” ~Helen Keller

Do you have any unique experiences you would like to share with other BrownGirl readers? Have any words for Lisa? I invite you all to post below!