Noah Nieting, PCV


"I, Noah Mikeal Nieting, promise to serve alongside the people of Benin.

 "I promise to share my culture with an open heart and open mind.

 "I promise to foster an understanding of the people of Benin with creativity, cultural sensitivity and respect.

 "I will face the challenges of service with patience, humility and determination.

 "I will embrace the mission of world peace and friendship for as long as I serve and beyond.
"In the proud tradition of Peace Corps’ legacy and in the spirit of the Peace Corps family — past, present and future — I am a Peace Corps Volunteer."


I officially became a Peace Corps Volunteer yesterday! After three months of language classes, instruction in agriculture and business development (public health for some), and living with a host family, the 38 members of Stage 30B took our oaths of office from the American Ambassador. Three cabinet-level ministers were in attendance, as were our host families and Peace Corps staff. Tomorrow we move on to our sites to begin the real work of two years. In so doing we will support the three goals of the Peace Corps mission:


  1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
  2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
  3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
One thing that I’ve come to recognize is that two of the three mission goals implicate cultural exchange. Yes, more concrete and traditional development work is the first goal for a very good reason. Sending employees of the U.S. federal government abroad should have something to show for it in terms of improving the lives lived of host country community members. Most of the mission goals nevertheless remain in the domain of what we call “l’amitié international,” or international friendship. First, this is to be expected from young, briefly trained generalists who often lack experience. Out of this weakness, though, is the opportunity to make development practice more than the importation of a few glitzy ideas or snazzy new tools. There’s the hope of relationship-building, not only to improve the success of First Goal activities but also for its contributions to a more connected and compassionate world. This also reflects the fact that our local partners are the real agents of change. As our Country Director recently said, PCVs don’t change the world themselves, but changing individual lives and (maybe) communities precipitates broader development.
Throw every invective at me and my idealism you want. I know the road to hell is paved with good intentions and that rose-colored glasses block out the sun. It is all too easy to name these goals and do nothing about them, or do something no one asked for thinking you’re playing the savior. What I described above doesn’t have to look like that. It can include thorough monitoring and evaluation to demonstrate program efficacy and critical self-reflection. Not only does this allow idealism in the job, but the job can be part of something bigger – a dream and a promise for a more peaceful and prosperous world. 2017 has been an easy year for cynicism and fatalism, especially when it comes to public affairs and service. I haven’t found someone for whom cynicism and fatalism make for a meaningful life perspective, so I find the need for an aspirational alternative clear and pressing. There’s an Eleanor Roosevelt quote hanging on the wall of the Peace Corps Benin training center conference room: “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” Development work is not all that beautiful, but the dream of communities across the globe having more to eat and a better understanding of strange lands they’ve never seen is one of the most beautiful expressions I can conjure.
Which brings me to my last point, on the purpose of this blog. I will be more intentional with my posts where each one should have one, maybe two, subjects on my work (Goal 1) or sharing Beninese culture with America (Goal 3). Whatever platform this blog gives me should make my experiences in a country that’s foreign -if not unidentifiable- to Americans more understandable and relatable to their daily life. Be prepared for future updates on Beninese culture and my work in food security and sustainable agriculture.

My extended host family and I as we bid goodbye


Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 24, 2017 at 2:33 PM

    Merry Christmas Noah, I hope this finds you happy and healthy! Miss you, Brad Parker

    ReplyDelete
  2. ocboVpihiMay 21, 2022 at 2:07 AM

    ocboVpihi Angela Sonnier Crack
    nalbernbooten

    ReplyDelete

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