The "Ah ha" Moment Part I.

Maria is one of ten children in the 2½ year old pre-school group. She is four feet tall with chin length brown hair, brown eyes, and cute little quotation-mark dimples around her constant speech. During the first three weeks of school when most children were homesick and shy, Maria was gregarious and curious. Maria’s only problem at pre-school, is that she does not speak English. None of the staff or other children understand Spanish, but this does not seem to be of concern to Maria.

There was one moment in the third week of school when Maria stopped talking. She just stopped, mid-speech, became silent, wide-eyed, and concerned. It was her “ah ha” moment—the moment she realized that no one could understand a word she was saying—she just looked around and took it all in. In the next moment she shook it off and ran over to hold hands and play with the other children, nothing had changed.

I recently had an “ah ha” moment. It came when I was telling my boss that I’m leaving in June to join the Peace Corps and move to Africa. This is a conversation I have been having fairly frequently for the past few months. “For how long?” is usually the first question, followed by “why?” and “are you nervous” concluded by “you’re crazy” or “good for you” while I know they’re really thinking “you’re crazy”. I am kind of crazy, but it’s somewhat under control, and it’s not a bad thing…or at least this is what I have been telling myself.

My boss’s reaction to my mission statement was different. She sort of stared at me, kindly—she could tell I was nervous about the conversation, but then she asked “What are you getting out of it?”. I started to go into the experience and broadening my horizons, ya da ya da, but she stopped me and said “no, like what do you get, do you get paid?”…I didn’t really have an answer, “Well, I guess I get a 6,000 stipend, and a living wage of the middle class of my village, and priority on government positions when I come home” I stated flatly. She started up again “So you’re just doing this to be good?” I’m really not just doing this to be good, “Well, that, and the experience.” She was polite and supportive, but I could tell she was both turned off by the prospect of the “the experience”, and baffled by the motivation.


To be continued…