Embedded Files
Walking Into the Unknown
Walking Into the Unknown
I finished college and I learned that I had been accepted into the Peace Corps and would be sent to Cameroon in west-central Africa. I was going to teach Carpentry, but I didn't know who my students were.
I had never thought to be a teacher, let alone a carpentry teacher.
Gulp. Yikes!
The Peace Corps is a US government agency responsible for sending volunteers around the world to poor countries to aid in their development. I had always dreamed of living and working abroad, and I did not want a job where I would have to wear a tie or sit at a desk. The Peace Corps seemed the place for me.
I was accepted. Suddenly, I realized that I was not ready and had a lot to learn.
Life suddenly became real. I wasn't a student in school anymore, but I had much to learn.
The Peace Corps provided information to help me prepare, but there was no way to really prepare. Remember, this was 1986, and there was no Internet.
I tried organizing what they gave me to make sense of what to expect. What was life going to be like? There were so many ideas going through my head, and I had difficulty organizing them all. I tried to group them and link them together.
In the end, I realized I only had a few main concerns. All the other worries were just details. These concerns involved, my health and well-being, Cameroonian culture and language, how I was going to teach and live, the ecology and weather, and what I would do for fun.
Basic Expectations
Basic Expectations
The opportunity to teach in Cameroon presented many challenges. First, most people in the country spoke French or another language, though some people spoke English. Even still, I had great difficulty understanding people who spoke English with accents different from more. Second, tropical diseases and unsanitary conditions were prevalent there, and I worried that I could become sick. Third, the food and drink were going to be different, and I didn't know if I would like any of it. But I figured that if they liked it, some of it had to be good. Also, I worried what I would do for fun. could I make friends and have fun, or would I sit home alone when I wasn't teaching. Finally, I was worried about teaching. I had never taught before, and I was not a skilled carpenter, but if the government said I could do it, then do it I would, no matter what it took. Strangely, I was never worried about my safety, as I somehow thought the government or good fortune would always be on my side. In the end, there were many other matters that I had to be concerned about, but this basically summarizes what I was feeling at that moment when I was preparing to leave.
How surprised do you think I was in the end?
How surprised do you think I was in the end?
Sample Paragraph
Sample Paragraph
As the time to leave my home approached, I tried to prepare myself. My three chief concerns regarded my health, being able to live and work in the country, and learning to live in a new land. I made sure my health records were up to date and I had acquired all needed vaccinations and medicines. Some diseases I had to worry about were Typhoid, Yellow Fever, and Malaria. I had to make sure all my official papers were in order. At some point I needed to show my birth certificate, driver's license, school records, and background checks. This was important so I could get my passport, the needed visas, work permits, a Cameroonian driver's license, a home to live in, and more. Finally, I was concerned about living with people who spoke different languages, had different religions, and customs, and lived a lifestyle that I could not comprehend. I tried studying French, I went to the library to find books about the country and listen to music from the religion, and I even found a local African restaurant that served Cameroonian food. Even though I tried to prepare for the move, nothing in the end prepared me for what I encountered upon arriving.
Practice Area
Practice Area
Send your completed practice work to: writing@bradleyarnold.info, and you will receive free feedback on your writing.
Exercise 1: Identify
Exercise 1: Identify
Identify a topic area you would like to delve into. You can pick any incident in your life to explore. I chose my journey to Cameroon, but yours does not have to be so grand as a trip overseas. It could be as simple as a trip to your local grovery store.
Make A Word Web
Make A Word Web
Make your own word web like the one I made for myself. Click one of the buttons below to to make your own web. Type or Write your topic in the center.
1. If you want to print and write your Word Web, click this button.
2. If you want to complete your web online, click this button.
Write a Paragraph
Write a Paragraph
Put together a composition based on the word web you created.
Open this link to get the full writing prompt. You can type directly on the file or print and write by hand.
Exercise 2: Define
Exercise 2: Define
Define New Words
Define New Words
Make a new chart for 3-6 significant words from your Word Web.
1. If you want to print and write your vocabulary work, click this button.
2. If you want to complete your vocabulary work online, click this button.
Write a Paragraph
Write a Paragraph
Put together a composition based on the 3-5 words you defined.
Open this link to get the full writing prompt. You can type directly on the file or print and write by hand.
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