As someone who’s now lived on four continents, I like getting help from people when I don’t know what I’m doing. Whether it’s not speaking the language, not knowing which bus to take, or just a general ignorance as to what I should be doing, the average dude coming over to me and helping out can make a huge difference. But, as I’ve seen in Colombia, this sometimes backfires when trying to make a somewhat odd purchase. …..click here to read more

I brought more tech with me to Colombia than South Korea.

I like technology. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Barranquilla, Colombia, I think my life is very different than most of my peers. My public school has two computer labs, wireless internet (that usually works, too!), countless computers (some of which are still sitting in their boxes), microphones, speakers, etc. The second story apartment I call home is also equipped with wi-fi, which I use on my MacBook, iPhone and Kindle Fire. I am one well-connected dude. …..click here to read more

The Adventure Of Teaching At A Colombian Public School

My Colombian co-teachers and fellow adventurers.

I remember getting a call from the Peace Corps for my final interview. I had been teaching English at a private, after-school academy in Seoul, South Korea, for eight months while I played in two folk / rock bands and searched for new work opportunities to consider. I really liked Korea (loved, actually), but I was excited about the possibility to leave the country and join the Peace Corps. (It’s funny, as a current Peace Corps Volunteer, I’m now searching for ways to get back to Seoul after I’m finished). …..click here to read more

All of us after the game. NOT a coincidence that I'm on the ground.

I seem to have had a string of bad luck concerning my health. After spending 3 weeks in Iowa to see specialists regarding headaches and rashes I was having for 2 months, I was sent back to Colombia to resume my duties as a Teaching English for Livelihoods Volunteer at a public school in Barranquilla, Colombia. However, my joy of returning was short lived and replaced by sleepless nights and limping. It all started with a game of soccer. An EPIC game of soccer.

…..click here to read more

The following is an article I pitched to a few of my fellow Volunteers that run “Oiste”, Colombia’s official Peace Corps Newsletter. My idea (which fully outlined what the article would contain) was pre-approved without reservations and submitted before the publication deadline. I was not contacted regarding it’s status until I sent a follow-up message, after which I received two replies (portions of which appear below):

After reading your article, <xxx> and I have decided that, unfortunately, we are unable to publish it in Oíste. We value Volunteers’ stories–both positive and negative–and consider Oíste a medium for sharing those stories. However, we feel that elements of your article amount to accusations, and Oíste is not the appropriate place for that kind of discourse. We want to promote constructive dialogue among Volunteers and between Volunteers and staff, and we have decided that your article would detract from the productive tone that we want Oíste to have. …..click here to read more