Ross Szabo

LA FEST Uses Soccer to Bring Communities Together

2013-03-26T12:49:27-04:00

It may seem unimaginable to witness an event that brings together HIV and AIDS education in Africa, bone marrow transplants, celebrities and soccer for people of all ages. That event took place, however, Sunday at LAFEST at the Home Depot Center in Carson, CA. LAFEST co-founders and soccer enthusiasts Dylan Leiner and Jeffrey Saunders hosted the event alongside sports-industry power couple Mia Hamm and Nomar Garciaparra and Grassroot Soccer Co-Founder Ethan Zohn to raise money for bone marrow and HIV awareness charities.

Zohn has a way of making the impossible become possible. The winner of Survivor Africa and recipient of two successful stem cell transplants for Hodgkins Lymphoma said, "Personally it's a combination of everything that's important in my life. Soccer, entertainment, celebrity and saving lives. Nothing like this has ever happened in Los Angeles. It's a full day of soccer to benefit two charities that mean the world to me. It's literally a dream come true. We want to do this every year."

Grassroot Soccer was started in 2002. The organization uses the power of soccer to stop the spread of HIV by empowering African youth to make life saving decisions. The educational program has transformed the lives of 570,000 youth in Africa by using a proven approach to prevent HIV. The genius concept of utilizing the platform of soccer to reach kids with a positive message was developed by Dr. Thomas Clark, Methembe Ndlovu, Kirk Friedrich and Zohn after they lost many of their friends and teammates to AIDS.

Drawing on her personal experience from losing her brother Garrett to cancer, Mia Hamm started her foundation in 1997 to raise funds and awareness for bone marrow and cord blood transplants as well as girls' sports. The organization encourages people to join the National Marrow Donor Program Registry to increase the chances of people in need of transplants to have their lives saved. Hamm said, "The most important part of this day is getting people to become a part of the bone marrow registry. If one of you is ever called to become a potential donor, please say yes."

The day started early at 9 a.m. as 42 teams with kids ages 8-12 played a five-on-five futsal tournament. The teams were separated into brackets by age group and gender. Families cheered as the future Mia Hamms and Landon Donovans battled to see who would come out on top.

Photo Credit: Todd Williamson/Invision

Gloria Rodriguez, a proud mother of two daughters, shared her thoughts on the day, "This event is a great way for people from all over L.A. to have a chance to come together to support our kids, soccer and learn about issues that matter to the world. My girls look up to Mia and these other athletes and celebrities. I am so happy they take the time to give back."

While the kids were doing their thing, 40 teams from the entertainment industry were battling it out in a five-on-five tournament of their own. Companies entered teams from film, music, sports, fashion, TV advertising and design. Some teams brought in ringers to increase the chances of winning. Competition was fierce complete with genuine chippy moments including slide tackles, shoving and elbows, but definitely no flopping. Sony Pictures Classics captured the title in the advanced category.

After these two tournaments, it was time for the celebrity soccer match. Fans moved into the Home Depot Center for a chance to see some of their favorites and possibly snag an autograph. Celebrities from sports and entertainment were separated into Mia Hamm's "FC Mia" or Nomar Garciaparra's "Nomar United." Alex Morgan, Abby Wambach, Julie Foudy, Joy Fawcett, Chris Harrison, Jimmy Conrad, Jay Feely, Indi Cowie, Lauren Cheney, Cobi Jones, Rebecca Soni, Clark Gregg, Anthony Lapaglia, Ben Lyons, Mike Medavoy, Demian Bichir, Eric Wynalda, Miss Universe Olivia Culpo and Miss USA Nana Meriwether rounded out the teams.

The all-stars impressed the crowd with their extraordinary footwork, precision passing and quick goals, but the true highlight happened at halftime. Two patients who were suffering from leukemia, lymphoma and other life threatening diseases had the opportunity to meet their bone marrow donors in person for the first time.

Dr. Ami Shaw from Los Angeles Children's Hospital introduced Monica Tapia and an eight-year-old boy named Jack Schlumpberger. There were more than a few tears shed as Jack took the mic and thanked his donor, "for giving me a chance to live and go home to my family." The donors walked out onto the court to meet the people whose lives were changed and their loved ones in a truly impactful greeting.

Nomar Garciaparra said, "When I played baseball a lot of people would approach me and tell me I am their hero. The real heroes are the people we're honoring for donating bone marrow and giving others a chance to live longer."

Eventually the match resumed and fittingly it was a go ahead goal from team leader Hamm past a surprised Garciaparra that broke an 8-8 tie and eventually led to a 13-8 victory for FC Mia. Somehow, I doubt the scores of this day will be what anyone remembers the most.

LAFEST left it's mark on all of the people who attended and resulted in donations to assist two fabulous organizations that will reach people all over the country as well as children in Africa. As the sun set outside the stadium, families walked to their cars feeling connected to these issues in a new way. Check out LAFEST next year!

We Need More Than Dialogue About Mental Illness

2013-02-19T10:57:33-05:00

It seems everyone is coming out of the woodwork to talk about the need for dialogue about mental illness. Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius recently mentioned that the White House will be starting conversations about this issue in the next few weeks. Robert De Niro received a lot of attention for crying in an interview with Katie Couric about bipolar disorder. Even the NRA is suddenly up for talking about the need to help people with mental illnesses.

I have spent half of my life as a mental health advocate, and it's really refreshing to see how many people understand the need to talk about these issues. However, these problems won't be changed with conversation. They will be changed with action.

This is 2013, not 1913. We know what the problems are. Twenty-five percent of adults suffer a diagnosable mental disorder each year, and mental health problems affect 20 percent of young people. Military personnel have the highest rate of suicides in history, and the suicide rate in veterans has passed the civilian population. Millions of people don't have access to the mental health care they need. College-aged shooters are carrying out some of the worst atrocities of our time. Report after report, headline after headline details the endless need for mental health in our nation.

And we don't need to turn on the news to see this pain. We see it in our friends and families. We watch helplessly as someone spirals out of control and lands in a hospital or grave. We do everything we can to get a loved one treatment, medication, therapy or whatever we can to help them. An endless amount of people whisper to others about diagnoses and specifics of behavior they thought they would never have to witness.

We keep repeating patterns of identifying what's wrong and planning to talk about it. I am tired of the talking. Let's take action.

I applaud the recent efforts of Obamacare making mental health treatment more accessible, the Mental Health Parity Act and the White House's plan to train more providers to offer help to young people. However, leaders continuously say there is a need to increase services while ignoring the fact that approximately 66 percent of young people with a mental illness aren't seeking treatment. The dialogue about these issues shouldn't be happening just on Capitol Hill, it should be encouraged to be happening in homes everywhere in the country through powerful outreach campaigns.

When extreme symptoms of bipolar disorder hit me at age 16, my family, friends and teachers were completely unprepared. I was fortunate to have a network of people who cared about me, but they honestly had no idea what to do. They stood by, hoping for the best. I was a successful student and president of my class when I attempted to take my own life during my senior year. We had awareness campaigns for every other issue when I was in high school, but none for mental health.

If we really want to make a difference, then it's time to create and implement educational programs to change the way this youngest generation and those who care about them cope.

Instead of putting armed guards in schools, let's arm kids and families with the information they need to better understand mental health. Studies show that the most critical time for people to develop their self-identity is during adolescence. Not enough is being done to help them through that process. By educating young people on the development of their brains, the realities of mental illnesses and what to do when we see someone suffering, we can open an environment for people to express themselves and get the help they need.

Dialogue in Washington can lead to task forces, laws and endless reports. What this country really needs right now is a forward thinking preventative program that takes action to intervene in peoples' lives before their problems get too big for them or others to handle.

Need help? In the U.S., call 1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Another Tragedy and Another College-aged Shooter

2012-12-18T13:10:05-05:00

There are a lot of alarming trends in these recent tragedies. One that is often overlooked is that the shooters in Aurora, Oregon, Newtown, and many other past atrocities are all college-aged. That fact begs the question, what kind of mental illness and or mental health education is being taught in schools and at universities?

Dr. Harold Koplewicz, President of the Child Mind Institute, recently mentioned the first signs of 75 percent of all mental disorders occur by age 24. The human brain starts to develop before birth and fully matures between the ages of 22-24. The coping mechanisms that develop during that time frame and the decisions that are made have consequences that last a lifetime for individuals and now all of society. Unfortunately, close to two-thirds of people who need help during that time period don't get it.

When it comes to responding to public health crises, we seem to wait until the worst happens, and then we react. Even in the few cases where one of these shooters was on someone's radar of needing help, communities were stuck talking about the warning signs they saw as families try to piece their lives back together after the worst case scenario.

Early intervention is a must when dealing with these issues. A large majority of schools and colleges don't have any mental health education. The only time a student hears about his or her brain is when the pituitary gland is randomly mentioned as a part of puberty during sex-ed. Students of all ages today are dealing with inestimable amounts of stress and pressure, which leads to lack of sleep, substance abuse and myriad of other mental health issues.

When I was in K-12 schools from the mid 1980s to mid 1990s we had a lot of programs telling us not to drink, not to use drugs, not to drive drunk, not to take our own lives and not to have sex. But no one ever came into my school to educate us about mental illnesses, development of the brain, our emotions or tell us it was OK to seek help. Unfortunately, that is still the case today.

When I was Director of Outreach for the National Mental Health Awareness Campaign, I had the opportunity to see the results of comprehensive mental health school programs. In schools that offered parent presentations, faculty/staff educational forums, large-scale assemblies for students, teacher lesson plans and informational brochures, the results were overwhelming. More students learned that help was available and the increase in students seeking assistance skyrocketed. Communication between parents and their children flourished in new ways. Kids learned important intervention steps to help their friends. By bringing these issues into the light less people were helpless in the dark.

Colleges that focus on mental health education during freshman orientation and are backed by student groups from Active Minds also have major success. Active Minds is the largest peer-to-peer mental health advocacy group on college campuses. When mental health is a focus at orientation it reaches an entire incoming class with the same supportive message. Students seek help and guidance at a higher rate during their difficult transition, which sets them up for a more productive four years. Having that information during such a critical adjustment makes a major difference.

There have been wide scale efforts to educate students and families on other public health crises. It is now time to create effective programs to help young people and everyone involved in their lives learn about mental health.

While there is no single fix to the issues we face today, wide-ranging mental health education is a necessary ingredient to prevent future tragedies and respond to emergencies. We need to normalize mental health instead of isolate mental illness. By educating young people on the development of their brains, the realities of mental illnesses and what to do when we see someone suffering we can open an environment for people to express themselves and get the help they need.

The age range of these shooters is one of the most crucial time periods for development. Hopefully, by beginning education early we won't have as many unanswerable questions later in their lives.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home

2012-09-18T17:12:06-04:00

There's something enchanting about visiting wineries. Getting to see firsthand where the wines are made, smelling the fresh air, admiring the scenery and taking in the whole process is always a special process. However, sometimes it's just not possible to get to an area where there are wineries.

When you can't get to a winery, why not bring the wine tasting to you? I recently spoke to Sommelier and Wine Director, Mariana Onofri, from The Vines of Mendoza about how people can have a wine tasting in the comfort of their own homes. It's an inexpensive and easy option to sample a variety of wines. It's also a great way to find new wines you might love.

Here's what you need:

Supplies:

White table cloth, paper or white surface.

Big wine glasses to evaluate aroma, color, flavor. Try to have one glass for each wine you will be tasting, as it's ideal for everyone to have the same glass.

Glasses for water.

Plain crackers or bread.

Decanter.

Spittoons.

Coffee grounds -- These can be used as an odor neutralizer between wines when your nose gets a bit overwhelmed with so many aromas.

Bags or cloth to cover wine bottles for blind tastings.

A Fun Concept: Invite your friends over for a night of wine tasting. Each person or couple brings one bottle of wine. You could have a theme like, "Chardonnay Night," where people bring bottles of Chardonnay from different parts of the world to determine which ones they like best. Or, you could have a Cabernet Sauvignon tasting where each person brings a bottle from different years. Or a night devoted to wines from Argentina or another part of the world. You can also cover the wines for a blind tasting to cut down on anyone being influenced by seeing the bottle.

Preparing the Wines: White wines should be served at about 50 degrees, and red wines are perfect around 60 degrees. If you don't have a wine fridge you can put the wines in your regular refrigerator an hour or half hour to get them cold or bring them to the right temperature. You should open the bottles of wine at least 30 minutes before serving.

Tips for the Glasses: Rinse glasses with the same type of wine you are going to drink. You can pour a small glass of wine, wash it around, then pour into the next glass and continue until all glasses have been rinsed. If you don't have a glass for every type of wine you are tasting, don't rinse your glass with water in between. Use the wine you will be tasting. Water will add aromas or chlorine that can negatively affect the tasting.

What not to do before a tasting: Don't brush your teeth immediately before tasting. Don't smoke. Don't eat strong cheeses or spicy foods.

Order of the Wines: It's important for your wines to go from least to most refined. You can start with the youngest wine and move to the oldest or start with wines not aged in oak and move to wines that were aged in oak. If you're using a variety of wines always start with the lightest first. If you're using all reds end with Cabernet Sauvignons or Cabernet Francs.

Tasting the Wines: Pour glasses an inch below the equator, which is the widest part of the glass. Relax and pace yourself. Avoid a power hour for wines. You can use crackers or drink water to neutralize your palate between wines. If you get tired of smelling wines, have some coffee grounds on hand to refresh your nose.

Take Notes: It helps to take notes to remember the wines. It's good to start by looking at the color of the wine. Swirl the glass and smell the aromas. Taste the wine by sipping air into your mouth to feel the body, texture, smoothness and finish. Rate the wine on a point scale. Could be 1-5 to make it simple. Or you can "play Parker" giving 80 to 100.

The key tip however is, ENJOY WINE, and don't be afraid of experimenting new grapes or regions. And, converse and debate with your friends to gain new viewpoints. There are wines for every single occasion in life!

5 Facts About Blended Wines for Beginners

2012-09-06T11:50:31-04:00

In my last piece I called blended wines the ice cream sundae of all of my favorite grapes. Blends are some of the most complex and interesting types of wine. In order to learn more about the process, I spent a day with Mariana Onofri, a sommelier and Wine Director at The Vines of Mendoza. Mariana leads more than 100 blending sessions per year working with the company's vineyard owners and guests.

Here are the 5 facts you need to know:

1. Difference between varietals and blends: A standard varietal like Malbec, Chardonnay etc., is made from the same type of grape. Sometimes winemakers will use grapes from different plots of a vineyard or different regions for a varietal, but they are all the same type of grapes. In the U.S. a varietal needs to be 75 percent of one type of grape, while in Europe it's generally 80 percent and in Argentina it's 85 percent. It's possible for wineries to add other grapes to a varietal to enhance the elements and still call it a single varietal wine.

Blends are what their name suggests. They typically consist of at least 40-50 percent of one type of grape and a smaller mix of two or more other grapes.

2. Blending makes wines more complex: Blending is used to maximize the expression of a wine. It can enhance aromas, color, texture, body and finish, making it a more well-rounded and complex wine. If a wine doesn't have a strong scent, for example, a winemaker can add five percent of a more potent smelling grape and can experiment with different types of varietals coming from other vineyards. They could have been aged in oak barrels, fermented in various kinds of vessels or just harvested in different phases of ripeness.

In Argentina, the heart of most blends is Malbec. Merlot can be used to give the wine a better aroma and make it seem fresher or smoother. Cabernet Franc or Sauvignon are often added for structure or tannin concentration to make a more powerful wine. Creating the perfect blend also depends on the characteristics of the year and the expression of each grape. The possibility for combinations that result in a quality blend are endless.

3. Some single varietals are made for blending: Winemakers will often make a barrel of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot or other wines solely for the purpose of blending. As the grapes are being harvested, a winemaker determines what they think will be the best formula for a blend. Allotting specific barrels for blending allows them to experiment in finding the best types of mixtures. The idea is to highlight each grape's strength and complement the other grapes being used in the blend.

4. The timeline for mixing wines varies: Winemakers mix blends in a steel tank. Lower cost blends are rarely aged in oak and higher cost blends are generally aged in oak. Some winemakers put blended wines into an oak barrel half way through the aging process, while others put the wines together one to two weeks before bottling. Some try letting the wines ferment together from start to finish. Again, the goal is to develop the best of everything in the wines and each winery determines what approach works best for them.

5. Some grapes aren't used for blending: White wines tend to be pure varietals. However, there are some exceptions, particularly in certain regions in Europe where two or more white grapes are used. Pinot Noir is a type of grape that is rarely blended. That is why when you are having a Burgundy it will likely be a 100 percent Pinot Noir.

In the few months I have been in Mendoza, I have changed from avoiding blends to seeking out the best types.

Debunking 5 Common Wine Myths

2012-08-29T18:11:41-04:00

It seems just about everyone I meet has a variety of opinions about wine. I never know what to believe. Should I stick to Paul Giamatti's advice and not drink Merlot? When I tilt my wine glass and it appears to cling to the side like Spider-Man is that because of the tannins? Are blended wines just a mix of what's left over?

There are a lot of myths and urban legends floating around. I talked to Mariana Onofri, the Sommelier and Wine Director for The Vines of Mendoza, to learn what is true and what is an urban legend. Here are some of the most common myths I have heard -- and the real facts.

Myth #1: I Don't Want Any F#@!ing Merlot
Truth: Some lines from certain movies really stick. The Merlot myth stuck so much that it caused sales to plummet. This is not the first time movies had this unintended impact. Check out the 75 percent of the shark population that was killed after Jaws. While we can't defend the honor of sharks, the truth is that Merlots are quality wines. Petrus is one of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world. The composition is mainly Merlot and comes from Pomerol, France. Sometimes people drink blends such as a Bordeaux and don't even realize it is largely comprised of Merlot. Of course, as with any wine, you should be sure it is a quality wine before purchasing a bottle, but you shouldn't misjudge the entire varietal.

Myth #2: ABC-Anything But Chardonnay
Truth: This catchy statement came about, because people have a belief that Chardonnays are typically oak tasting and not crispy or fresh. Don't give up on Chardonnay. Depending on the style of winemaking you can find Chardonnays that don't have any oak and offer a refreshing flavor. If you enjoy a crisp white wine, you can certainly find a Chardonnay to suit your tastes.

Myth #3: The Legs of the Wine Mean _________________________
Truth: It's so common to see someone get a glass of wine tilt it, look at what's left on the glass and come up with some theory. It's the tannins. It's the alcohol. It's the quality of the wine. It's a secret plan to help digestion.

The reality is seeing the legs can be affected by the thickness of the glass, the type of glass and how it was washed. They are not a sign of quality. In some cases, glycerol, a type of alcohol found in wine, can be a part of identifying the legs. However, this is not always the case.

Myth #4: Blended Wines Are Not As Good As Non-Blended Wines
Truth: When given the choice between a Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah etc. or a blend, a lot of people will choose the single grape wines. Blends can often be the best mix of all of your favorites or what I like to call the ice cream sundae of wines. I love cookies and cream ice cream, but mix that with some brownie and coconut ice cream and it's amazing. When winemakers take a Malbec and mix it with a Cabernet Sauvignon or any other grape it can be so much better than one of them on their own. Blends are definitely worth exploring.

Myth #5: Don't Drink Wines With High Alcohol
Truth: A wine with high alcohol content doesn't mean it will be like taking a shot of vodka. There is a belief that a higher alcohol percentage will cause the wine to burn the throat or nose, but that isn't necessarily true. Argentine wines are high in alcohol, because the grapes are grown in a warm, dry climate. It is not uncommon for a wine to be as much as 16 percent alcohol. However, when winemakers deal with high alcohol, they make the other elements of wine (acidity, tannins and fruit flavor) high as well to give the wines a balance and hide the alcohol. Don't be afraid of high alcohol contents, but rather pay attention to the balance of the wine.

How to Select a Bottle of Argentine Wine

2012-08-23T10:43:34-04:00

My typical wine selection experience doesn't usually go well. I walk into a store. Stand in front of hundreds of bottles of wine. Then I try to decipher some hidden wine code that allows me to walk out with a quality bottle. I'm pretty sure a child could pick the same value of wine as me. Or I could just walk in, blindfold myself and choose one.

Sometimes I pretend to know what details to use to aid my decision. However, I tend to lean toward the bottle that has the "cooler" label. Other times I choose a wine because the bottle has a deeper groove in the bottom. That has to count for something, right? In more bizarre moments I have determined one bottle weighs more than the other and that either made me choose it or despise it.

It's safe to say a lot of people, like me, don't know what to look for when trying to decide which wine to buy. My wife, Heidi and I went through a mini training session with The Vines of Mendoza's sommelier, Mariana Onofri to get some tips and to help us make better wine selections in the future.

Here they are:

1. Understand different types of wine. The two most popular red wines from Argentina are Malbec and Bonarda, but Argentina also produces great Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Syrah and blends that have a Malbec base. For white wines, Torrontes is the most popular varietal, but Argentina also has Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay. Any of these can be great.

2. Choose a specific wine. Deciding what type of wine you want BEFORE going into a store can help cut down on the overwhelming feeling from all of the options. Maybe you want a Torrontes for its fruity flavor on a hot summer day or a deep Malbec to go with some juicy delicious steak.

3. White wines are generally best young. White wines are pretty simple. You want to drink all of them within 1-3 years of production, except for Chardonnay. White wines other than Chardonnay should be pale yellow in color or have a silver undertone. Argentine whites are generally very high quality, yet inexpensive -- between $8-$15.

4. Know the four tiers for Argentine reds:

a. The lowest priced Malbecs taste more fruity, light, and have a strong berry flavor. They haven't been aged in oak, which makes them good to drink within 1-3 years. This type of wine usually costs around $15 or less.

b. The middle tier of Malbecs have the word Reserve or Reserva on the label. If they have been aged in oak it should say it on the front or back label. Their drinking prime is 2-6 years. These middle-tier wines have a bigger body and complexity, so they will be more powerful in taste. They typically cost between $20-30.

c. The higher end Malbecs are Gran Reserves, Gran Reservas or Gran fill-in name! They have been aged in oak, are very rich in flavor and much more complex overall. This range of Argentine wines can pleasantly surprise you if you are looking to impress your friends with a high-end wine. Their prime drinking period is 3-10 years. These wines are typically over $30.

d. Another tier of popular reds from Argentina are the blends. The best blends use Malbec as a base with Bonarda, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc or others. Most blends will have the word Corte on the label. Blends can range in price, but some of the highest end wines are blends and will be in a similar price range to the best Malbecs.

5. Don't be deterred by screw caps or alcohol content. Some people can be turned off by the sight of a screw cap, but there's no reason to be afraid, particularly when it's a white wine. Screw caps are effective in keeping the wine air-tight. They are more effective than a synthetic cork and are often used for wines that are best consumed when they are young (whites and more inexpensive reds.)

Some people look at the alcohol content of a wine and think the higher percentage leads to a bad taste. In Argentina wines have higher alcohol content due to its warmer and drier conditions. However, winemakers counter the high alcohol content by balancing the wines with other elements to make them delicious.

6. What doesn't matter. The label, the name, the shape, size, color and bottom of the bottle don't have any direct impact on choosing a quality wine. Some creative marketing is always appreciated, and can help with sales, but the other factors mentioned above are much more important in selecting a quality Argentine wine.

Peace Corps Service Expands Career Options

2012-08-13T14:30:29-04:00

The 27 months of Peace Corps service flies by. Some volunteers start thinking about what comes next early in their service and others don't worry about it until they are back in the U.S. All of us hope to utilize new skills we gained in foreign countries. Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) offer possible employers an endless array of attractive attributes including resourcefulness and adaptability. Here's a list of the most common decisions RPCVs make.

1. Extend Peace Corps Service
A lot of volunteers decide that they want more time in the Peace Corps. They choose to add another year or more in the country they served in or a different country where they can specialize in an issue they care about.

Alexis Kanter shared why she decided to extend for another year:

For me, serving as a third-year volunteer is empowering. We've accomplished the two-year hurdle, and now we're encouraged to take what we've learned from that service and grow from it in a new, but similar context. One of the benefits of serving a third-year is that we have more control over where we are and what we do. That enabled me to hone in on my interests and refine my experiences.

Joel Doucette feels more time in the Peace Corps benefits professional development. He said,

I get to gain experience in international development work. I get to work with the key players in public health on a daily basis such as heads and officials of CDC (Center for Disease Control), USAID, the Embassy, Ministers of Health, and many other prominent stakeholders. It can be difficult to gain international employment thus having significant experience is extremely beneficial to my future employment.

2. Grad School
Serving in the Peace Corps makes you a more attractive grad school candidate. Deciding to go for an advanced degree during service requires a lot of effort. One benefit is that there is a lot of time to study for the GRE. However, volunteers need to find a place to take the GRE in a foreign country, apply to colleges, receive responses and make the final decision. They do this while sometimes living in areas with no electricity, no internet or a lack of other modern luxuries. Studying for the GRE is hard enough when all comforts can be met, but studying for months then having to take a 14-hour bus ride just to take the test is rough to say the least.

RPCVs enter into a variety of graduate programs including international development, public health, social work, environmental fields and other valuable degrees. The Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program works with more than 50 universities to offer financial assistance to RPCVs. Also a lot of people join Peace Corps with advanced degrees or utilize service as part of their university programs.

3. Peace Corps Response
The Peace Corps Response program was started to offer shorter-term assignments in a multitude of programs around the world. Volunteers go to foreign countries to teach, assist in disaster response, conduct trainings on microfinance/business or other kinds of health related work. A person usually serves 6 months and receives a stipend for the time they serve. The host country determines what projects are needed. The program is open to both RPCVs and professionals who didn't serve in the Peace Corps.

RPCVs like Ryan Mannion applied to Peace Corps Response for personal and professional development. He said,

I joined for two reasons. First after being back in the States for a couple months I found the majority of jobs I was applying for were based somewhere in Africa. Second, the positions I was looking at were mostly entry-level office based jobs. A Peace Corps Response position offered the chance to be in the field for most of the week. I also had a chance to work closely with high-ranking government officials and have meetings at the US Embassy. All of these options made it an easy decision.

4. Work/Volunteer Abroad
Peace Corps service opens doors to international jobs and other volunteer opportunities. A lot of volunteers who get a chance to experience a different part of the world don't want to stop. It's common for RPCVs to come home after Peace Corps service, spend some time with family and friends and then look for the next international opportunity. Whether it's taking a job teaching English in Asia, volunteering in South America or finding a job in Africa, RPCvs continue to expand ways to work/volunteer and see different cultures.

5. Employment in the U.S. and Non-Competitive Eligibility Status
RPCVs come home with a unique set of skills, proof that they have overcome challenges and enhanced professional abilities that can set them apart from other job applicants. There's no standard for what types of jobs RPCVs apply to, but most look for openings to continue helping others. And after volunteering for 27 months we need an income quickly!

A huge benefit for RPCVs is having Non-Competitive Eligibility (NCE) status for one year for federal government jobs. It allows (but does not require) federal agencies to hire RPCVs with NCE who meet the minimum qualifications of a job quickly and easily (i.e., without posting announcements and screening/interviewing candidate via the traditional, competitive process). It's a nice advantage to have after serving our country.

Erica Burman, Director of Communications for the National Peace Corps Association, had this to say about the status,

In a tough job market, non-competitive eligibility for federal hiring is a valuable benefit for RPCVs looking to launch or re-launch their careers back in the U.S. Equally important, our country benefits by attracting a very talented group of people into public service. RPCVs are problem solvers with a proven ability to learn quickly and navigate complex environments. In addition to valuable language and cross-cultural skills, they bring a positive attitude and 'glass half full' view of the world into the workplace.

Check out these reasons to hire an RPCV!

WATCH:

5 Tips About Oak Aging for Wine Novices

2012-08-07T16:12:55-04:00

The word oak doesn't usually trigger instant enthusiasm. Some people have a negative connotation with the word, particularly when it comes to wine. However, experts know oak can often make or break a wine's flavor, price and even has scientists trying to develop ways to copy its importance.

My wife, Heidi, and I recently did a tasting with Mariana Onofri, an extremely knowledgeable sommelier at The Vines of Mendoza in Argentina. She gave us the following five helpful tips about oak.

1. Oak often determines cost of wine.

Oak barrels used for aging wine come from special areas in the United States or France. The cost of one barrel generally ranges between $600 and $1,500 and can be used up to four times.

Higher-end wines may only use barrels once. The cost of the barrel can account for up to half of the total production cost, which results in a higher-priced wine for the consumer.

Wines aged in oak are typically over $30, and wines under $10 were most likely not aged in oak.

2. Don't be fooled by fast food wine scientists.

You may have heard about scientists involvement in making fast food taste and smell better by utilizing an endless amount of additives and preservatives. We were surprised to hear that this also happens with wine!

Some wineries will use oak flavoring powder or a piece of oak (frequently referred to as an oak stave) in a steel barrel to make the wine taste like it was aged in an oak barrel. This limits the wine's taste and aging potential. Just like that late-night drive through isn't the same as a backyard grill!

It's also important to point out that oak doesn't only affect flavor. A good use of oak can help a wine's structure, aging process, aromas, flavors and overall quality.

3. Oak isn't for every wine.

Oak barrels require wines that have quality grapes and structure. Sometimes people believe that oak can destroy the flavor of the wine, but that is only possible if the grapes or structure are weak or a winemaker uses the wrong kind of oak. A perfect use of oak doesn't overpower the grape's character. It should provide balance.

4. Drink white wines not aged in oak quickly.

With the exception of Chardonnay, oak is rarely used when making white wines. For this reason, most white wines should be drunk while they are still young -- within one or two years -- because a majority aren't aged in oak.

5. Keep an eye on aging potential.

One of the best ways to check if oak barrels were used in aging a wine is to simply check the label. A lot of wineries will mention oak aging on the bottle. If a red wine was in a barrel for an average of 12 to 18 months, then it will have a much better aging potential.

Be careful if you see that a red wine hasn't been aged in oak and is around 7 years old. You should probably avoid the sale price, because it likely will have oxidized and lost its prime time period for drinking.

The Trick to Identifying Wine Tastes

2012-08-01T18:25:44-04:00

The two most important parts to determine a good wine are smell and taste. In my last piece, I covered three steps to become a wine aroma expert. Now that you have that part down, it's time to move on to a really useful trick to identify the tastes of wine.

When I lived in California, I used to do a lot of wine tastings with my friends. We'd go to Napa Valley or Santa Barbara. I did the tastings mainly for social reasons. When anyone would ask me what the wine tasted like I really couldn't come up with more than, "it tastes like wine."

I focused really hard on describing a truly specific flavor. When I couldn't do that, then I would feel lost about what to say. Much like describing wine aromas, it's important to become more comfortable with your senses and vocabulary to speak intelligently and accurately about taste.

Luckily, I am continuing to awaken my wine-tasting senses with an extremely talented sommelier in Mendoza, Argentina -- Mariana Onofri. She recently taught me how to uncover my ability to distinguish wine tastes.

Mariana reminded me, "The point of wine tasting is to understand what happens in your mouth. Anyone can talk about wine with nice words, but the essence of tasting is discovering the sensations in your mouth and how to describe them. The four elements vital to tasting wines are acidity, tannins, sweetness and alcohol." She told me that starting with the elements is important.

The best way to determine the different tastes is to try different wines and compare them. To determine the different flavors it's good to compare two different whites and reds. When tasting wines you need to let the wine roll around your mouth or open your lips and suck some air in to feel all of the wine.

1. Acidity

What it feels like: Acidity is freshness in your mouth. It's a juicy explosion felt on both sides of the tongue. Think of the first moment of contact with a lemonhead candy or lemon. Don't focus on the taste of that lemon. Think about the reactive sensations. You can have an uncontrollable rush of saliva that swirls around the whole mouth. The fresh juiciness that you feel in your mouth is the effect of the acidity in the wine.

Tastes: Once you can correctly identify acidity, then try and focus on the tastes inside that element. For white wines you may taste citrus fruits like lemon, orange, grapefruit. Red wines with higher acidity may also have a citrus component or taste like sour berries.

2. Tannins

What it feels like: Most people experience acidity first with the juiciness, then the tannins can balance that feeling. You feel the texture of tannins all over your mouth. They can feel similar to taking a big gulp of tea that has turned cold. When tannins are strong they can completely dry your mouth and teeth. Ripe tannins should never leave a bitter aftertaste, but unripe tannins will.

Tastes: Tannins contribute two characteristics to red wine -- astringency and bitterness. The bitterness should not be present unless these tannins are unripe. The cause for this is that when tannins are too young, they can create a harsh, puckery or astringent feeling in your mouth. When tannins are ripe they taste smooth, round and velvety. The key to tasting tannins is to focus on sense of touch rather than taste.

3. Sweetness

What it feels like: Sweetness in wines is not a sugary artificial flavor that chocoholics like me find addictive. The sweetness in wines is based in the grapes and has more of a natural fruit-based flavor. This sensation is typically felt on the tip of the tongue. When a wine is dry, the sweetness perceived is related to the fruit flavors found in wine. Sweetness of sugar concentration doesn't normally come across unless someone is drinking a port or a sweet late harvest wine.

Tastes: It's common to taste a subtle sweet flavor and not know exactly how to describe it. Sometimes it helps to think of fruits that are associated with wine. White wines have citrus flavors like the ones mentioned in acidity (peaches, apricots, pineapple or tropical fruits). Red wines have flavors like raspberries, blueberries, plums, cherries blackberries or jam.

4. Alcohol

What it feels like: A high alcohol level in wine feels like it is somewhat burning your nose or palate. You can also feel alcohol on the middle of your tongue where it gives off a hot or warm sensation.

Tastes: You shouldn't be able to taste alcohol in wine. There aren't flavors to associate with it. However, alcohol and sweetness are connected. The more alcohol that is in a wine the sweeter it can be perceived. Winemakers do their best to balance the alcohol with the other three wine components mentioned above and create a balanced wine.

Each wine has different levels of all of these elements. Every person has a unique palate, making each experience different. If you love acidity, or you love sweetness, or you love the texture provoked by tannins, the perception of each wine and preferences will be endless. The beauty of wine is that each one can provoke a multitude of sensations depending on the diversity of the palate. Knowing these elements of wine will give you the building blocks to identifying tastes. Enjoy the process! Enjoy wine!

A Fun Way to Discover Wine Aromas With Items Already in Your Kitchen

2012-07-24T12:13:10-04:00

As a person who rarely even selects which wine to drink when I am out for dinner, I am definitely a novice when it comes to properly identifying wine aromas. I can't tell you how many times I have put my nose over a glass and guessed, purely out of embarrassment. When tasting in the past, everyone's nose seemed better than mine, like they had an inside secret I would never know. I felt like I had some kind of impairment that would never be cured.

A large part of the problem was that I wasn't in touch with my senses enough to know what words to use to verbalize the scents wafting past my face. When I don't feel like I have words to describe what seems so commonplace to others, like most people in this situation I feel stupid and hesitant to speak up. However, all that changed with one simple exercise that anyone can do at home! This isn't a wine infomercial. I promise.

My wife, Heidi, and I were guided through a wonderful lesson on how to smell wines by a sommelier in Mendoza, Argentina, Mariana Onofri. She made the process really comfortable. She said, "Scents are one of the basic building blocks of wine tasting. People say they don't know about wine and feel inhibited. Wine is about enjoyment. My goal is to help people understand what they are tasting to enhance that enjoyment."

Here are the three simple steps to properly identifying aromas. You can even use them to throw a party.

1. It's important to include a variety of different whites and reds during this exercise. We had six glasses of wine for each person, including Torrontes, Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir, Malbec and Cabernet Franc. During our aroma ID session with Mariana, we smelled and tasted each wine one at a time. The first sniff should always be done before swirling the wine to preserve the purity. This exercise is to learn the scents, so it's important not to drink all of the wine, as you will be smelling and tasting them again. As we smelled each wine, I expressed to Heidi my lifelong frustration with not knowing how to describe the odors. Then the magic happened.

2. We took a break from smelling the wines and played a game. There were 16 ingredients placed into individual short, black, opaque wine glasses. At home you could use coffee mugs, or small plastic cups -- just as long as you cannot see what's inside. We passed around the glasses and wrote down what we smelled in each of them.

When we couldn't identify exactly what was in the glass, it helped to write down memories the scents evoked. For example, Heidi's answers consisted of ocean, grass, Christmas and other familiar memories from her life. For me, Chardonnay smelled like fresh pancakes from my childhood, but I was actually identifying the buttery nature of the varietal. Smell often triggers memories. If they do, you should write down that feeling. The important thing is that this exercise is not about being correct, it's about becoming more in touch with your senses and references from your world.

After writing down our thoughts, Mariana told us the answers, and the hidden scents came alive one by one. The ingredients were green olives, orange, honey, chamomile, fruit jam, pepper seasoning, butter, lemon, vanilla, red pepper, pineapple, black licorice, green pepper, caramel, cinnamon and apple. We kept score to see who had correctly identified the most items. You can come up with a fun punishment for the person who has the lowest amount of correct answers.

3. The next step was to go back to the wines and smell them again. For me the bouquet of smells came alive from every glass. Because we had taken the time to identify the individual aromas earlier, it all clicked for me now as I smelled the wines. I finally felt like I was part of the club that could identify different aromas of wines, instead of just looking around the room and trying to fit in or giving up on the idea of ever having this skill. Being comfortable with the words to describe the smells has changed my entire wine tasting experience.

It's easy, and a lot of fun, to replicate this process at home. Invite some of your friends over and have each of them bring a different wine. There will always be cheaters trying to see what is in the hidden cups. Try to discourage them, as it is so much more important to be identifying with your own experience, rather than "the right" answer. You'll be amazed at how well the sniffing experiment works.

The Hardest Adjustment in Peace Corps is Coming Home

2012-07-16T09:31:49-04:00

When a lot of people think about the most difficult parts of the 27 months of Peace Corps service they tend to focus on the time spent in the foreign country, but for numerous volunteers the hardest adjustment is coming back to America. There can be a bit of culture shock.

In my first 2 weeks out of Botswana I experienced what I like to call Post Peace Corps Experience Disorder. I desperately missed my friends, co-workers and village. Everything felt out of place. I looked the wrong way down the street. Went to the wrong side of the car. All of my dreams were filled with moments from my service. I still have flashbacks of water not coming out of the faucet, constantly needing to clean to stop ants or other things that became habit. Most of my sentences start with, "In Botswana..." The change is hard.

Luckily, the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is there to help make the transition a little easier. The membership organization was founded in 1979 and is separate from U.S. Peace Corps, the federal agency. The organization's vision is a more peaceful world shaped by greater cross-cultural understanding and lifelong engagement at home and abroad. The mission is to connect and champion Peace Corps community members in "bringing the world home." They do this both by advocating for the Peace Corps and its values, and connecting volunteers who have returned or Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs).

I asked Erica Burman, Director of Communications, at NPCA and an RPCV from The Gambia (1987-89) about the 5 biggest challenges RPCVs face. Each person's adjustment is unique. Some come home, are happy to be back and don't have a hard time. Others have issues. Here are some of them.

1. You have changed, but other things stayed the same. In talking about volunteers' adjustment Erica said, "Most people just can't understand that the past 27 months have been a transformative life experience. You've seen and done and survived things most Americans can't imagine. Things that you couldn't have imagined before Peace Corps. You've witnessed exquisite beauty and the most squalid ugliness. Had your values and assumptions fundamentally tested, and your priorities shifted. So you may no longer be your sister's best shopping buddy, or your dad's sports guy. But many friends and loved ones expect you to be, more or less, the same person you were before and you're just not. That can really be painful for everyone."

2. It's great that you volunteered, but have you heard about the Kardashians? Erica stated, "Sadly, most people aren't that interested in what you've done for the past 27 months. Their tolerance for stories about your Peace Corps experience is generally pretty low. They might ask, 'So how was Africa?' Not your country, but the entire continent. 'Was it hot? Did you see animals?' After a few minutes the conversation changes to pop culture or some other topic. Meanwhile you have days, weeks, months worth of stories and anecdotes and impressions and comparisons bursting to get out and be shared."

3. Daily life in the U.S. can be boring. Volunteers spend a lot of days talking about how boring life can be during service, but life in the U.S. can seem mundane. Erica shared, "You miss the daily challenges of figuring things out and overcoming obstacles. It can be tough and painful during service, but it's also immensely satisfying when you do persevere and succeed. Life in America is more routine, more predictable. There aren't those thrilling frissons of bewilderment and strangeness."

4. You are no longer a pseudo-celebrity. As I have started to adjust back to life out of Peace Corps it is a bit weird to not have every child yell to me and most people excited to see me walk by them. The novelty of volunteering disappears quickly. Erica says this is pretty common, "As much as volunteers complain about living their lives under a microscope, we can miss the fact that we're no longer special, that people don't really care about our every move. Truth be told, it can be kind of fun and ego boosting to be somewhat famous."

5. Going back to the material world. A lot of Peace Corps Volunteers leave developing countries with water, electricity and basic need shortages and enter America's first world problems like not getting all of the apps on the I-pad to work. Erica talked about this as well, "The superficiality, rush and materialness of much of American life can be hard to come to terms with. Overseas many of us learn to greet everyone, to take in and value each person we meet. We may sit for hours under a tree cracking peanuts with our host mother, just being. Often we become enmeshed in close-knit communities for the very first time. That's different than the hurried, "yeah, let's get together," that never happens. Also striking is the waste. We waste so much stuff. Water, heat, electricity, paper, plastic containers. You name it. Stuff that would be prized overseas is casually tossed here. It can be really disturbing."

RPCVs cope with all of these unique difficulties in different ways. Obviously not all of the adjustment is bad. We reconnect with family/friends, devour sorely missed foods, and bask in the land of washing machines and technology. We come home having missed weddings, births, funerals, divorces and a host of other life changes. We worry about what is next. It takes time to catch up with the people we are closest to. Some parts of the brain just click back on from the pause they had experienced and other parts take a little more time.

NPCA offers a lot of resources to help RPCVs and currently serving volunteers. The most important one is becoming a free member of NPCA to stay connected. Members can get the e-newsletter, WorldView magazine and be informed about all types of Peace Corps news including the Annual Gathering.

There are local groups all over the country where people can connect with other former volunteers in their area who know what they are going through. Current and returned volunteers can see a listing of local member groups and country of service groups here.

NPCA offers its own social network site.

A mentoring program.

One of the most difficult adaptations can include finding a job/dealing with expenses. NPCA offers a Next Stop Job Finder to assist. And discounts on car insurance.

WATCH:

Two Bags, Two Years: The End of Peace Corps Service

2012-06-19T18:17:56-04:00

One of the hardest preparations before leaving for Peace Corps service is figuring out how to fit most of the things you will need for two years into two 45-pound bags. I spent days trying to fill every possible crevice. Weighed the bags. Repacked. Drank a few beers out of frustration. Then started the whole process over again. The requirement of two bags seemed impossible to achieve.

The reality was that all of my fears, anxiety, excitement and uncertainty about the future weren't as tangible as the items I was packing. Most of the stress about leaving the country for two years was projected into questions like should I pack a cooking knife? Where will I fit a sleeping bag? Or how long can I go with two pairs of dress pants? The answer to that last question was the whole service!

When I got to Botswana, the items in those bags started to lose their importance. Being a Peace Corps Volunteer was a series of constant adjustments.

Volunteers experience extreme emotions from the time they get an invitation to serve until they finish. It starts with anticipation and curiosity as the journey begins. During training I felt eager to learn as much as I could and eventually a little constrained, as I just wanted to get to work. Once I was at my site I went through the range of emotions that can happen anywhere over a two-year period. I desperately missed my family and friends. I tried to stay patient during the first couple months. Felt major frustration when trying to identify projects. Eventually some level of pride set in as things started to come together. Then nervousness as I moved quickly toward my departure date.

I experienced days or weeks where it seemed like nothing mattered. Times where I no longer wanted to try. Those days would flip into moments where every single thing had significant purpose and the smallest act brought tears to my eyes. All of the emotions were often fueled by changes in the environment. Times when it's too hot, too cold, not enough rain or too much rain to go to work. Volunteers tend to complain a lot about weather.

Towards the end of service I was sad to be leaving, thankful for my time and to my own surprise I felt a bit relieved that I had made it through all of the ups and downs. When people ask me what it was like, I realize that it's almost impossible to sum up in one conversation or blog. Peace Corps service was definitely the most strengthening two years of my life. I am one million times more patient. My time in Botswana taught me a lot about being resourceful. I never imagined I would clean a toilet with a pocket knife, rush around my house for the 20 minutes I had water or learn to not be fazed by power outages. By the end I really wasn't fazed by most changes! However, that's what Peace Corps service does. It helps you address what is really important in your life and makes you a significantly better person in the process.

When I look back at my service I think it's easy to list the bigger achievements. The projects that went well. The friendships that were made. The quintessential volunteer experiences that capture what people think of when they hear about Peace Corps. But for me I hope to hold on to the smaller moments. The days spent in 120-degree heat staring at dirt in my yard. The knowledge gained from the failures. Or the endless hours lost in conversation with people surrounded by the most serene and peaceful environment I will ever know. I hope to be able to take those priceless moments and keep them as a part of me forever.

After my going away party and the gut wrenching goodbyes, I sat in my house staring at the two bags I came with. By the end of service most of the items I had were either already gone or useless. The clothes I stressed out about were so destroyed from hand-washing and line drying that they weren't worth saving, but the process of packing to go home is much harder. I realized that there are an inestimable amount of things I couldn't pack.

The memories, friendships, laughter, work and totally unique experiences could never be quantified. As I zipped up my bags one last time in Botswana I realized how ridiculous it was to worry about what to pack. Peace Corps service is obviously much more than anything you can fit into luggage.

The Few, The Proud: Military Veterans in the Peace Corps

2012-05-24T11:41:32-04:00

Veterans and current soldiers are often honored for serving their country on the front lines of wars, conflicts and truly unimaginable experiences. On Memorial Day it's common to see images of soldiers in uniform, giving thanks from military bases all over the world or retired veterans marching in hometowns with a gaze in their eyes that gives a glimpse into the reflections of their service running through their minds.

We honor military personnel and veterans for what they are doing and have done for our country. It may be a bit of a surprise to hear that some veterans extend their opportunity to represent the U.S.A. after military service by joining the Peace Corps. I interviewed five veterans who are volunteering in Botswana.

Charles McGee is in his early 60's. He served in the Army for 30 years. He has a strong sociable personality augmented by his great sense of humor. He joined the Army in 1966. He said, "We were involved in a war. I suddenly found myself in the academic zone of eligibility
for the draft. So, to beat the draft I enlisted for a nice cushy desk job out of harm's way. My Uncle Sam trained me well, and before long, I was flying helicopters as a young, green behind the ears lieutenant on a yearlong, all expense paid, experience-building trip to Southeast Asia."

When President Kennedy launched the Peace Corps in 1961, Charles really liked the idea and wanted to join. Forty-nine years after the formation of the Peace Corps he followed his dream. He began his service in Botswana with his wife, Mary. He said Peace Corps and military service are similar in the following ways, "Both have provided me with the opportunity to travel outside the United States; to represent the American people in foreign lands well outside the beaten path; meet and grow to understand and appreciate people with a different culture, language, customs and traditions and work alongside them as they pursue a free and better life."

Charles also noted some differences, "For over 150 years the official name for what is now the Department of Defense was the United States Department of War. With that said, I suppose you could call one the, "War Corps," and the other the, "Peace Corps." It is with great pride that I can say I've served them both. They both serve a very definite but different purpose for the American people. The military protects and preserves our way of life while the Peace Corps expands understanding and good will."

Marion Mobley is a thrill seeking, resourceful man who just turned 61. He also joined the military during the Vietnam Conflict. He shared, "I was undecided about what to do career-wise, and did not like school. I was running out of money to pay for school. I had a very low draft number and knew I would be drafted into the service eventually anyway. I decided to join the Air Force rather than be drafted into the Army."

He served in North Dakota for 4 years, married his longtime girlfriend, Tish, and began a career in IT work. He is continuing IT work in the Peace Corps.

There can be similarities in adjusting to both types of service. Marion offered his perspective, "The culture shock is similar. The culture of the military with its jargon, uniforms and discipline requires as much adjustment as joining the Peace Corps and moving to Africa. The bonds you make with your friends in the service are strong, very similar to the friendships you make in your Peace Corps group. It seems that friendships made during stressful times are stronger."

Marion has found three main differences between his military and Peace Corps service. He noted, "First, the military micro-manages and tells you what you are to do in great detail. In the Peace Corps, after PST (Pre-Service Training), we are mostly left alone to find projects to
do based on the needs of our community and our own interests. Second, I am serving in the Peace Corps with my wife, which would not be the case in the military. Third, rather than working in an organization whose purpose is to defend the country with arms, the Peace Corps puts us "on the front line" as it were, alone, armed with just our good intentions."

Cherry Washington has an endearing personality and truly enjoys helping others. When she graduated from high school in 1972 she didn't have the means to go to college or a definite focus or idea of what to do next. She enlisted in the Air Force. Her decision eventually led to
her graduation from Grambling State University and meeting her husband, Glenn. She retired after 22 years and felt she still had a lot to give back.

She sees a lot of similarities between military service and the Peace Corps. She said, "In my time, no one joined the military to go to war -- we joined as a means of doing something positive for ourselves and the country. Most people view the military in terms of war, but that's not its mission. The mission of the military is not that different from the Peace Corps, it's about service to our country to bring about a better world for everyone."

She continued with her view of the shared roles, "Over the years I have represented our nation in countries such as Korea, Sweden, Finland, Malaysia and Germany in the role of military protector. As a Peace Corps Volunteer I represent my country as a capability builder,
not protecting but building. Trying to build skills and confidence in people so that they can live richer and rewarding lives. I am blessed to have had the opportunity to serve in the military and Peace Corps."

Tom DeFayette is the kind of person who goes out of his way to help others with whatever they need. He attended Norwich University as an ROTC student and enlisted in the Army after college. He was a medical supplies officer for 20 years. Now he is working at a District AIDS Coordination Office. He talked about the overlap between joining the military and Peace Corps, "I felt I would like the lifestyle of travelling, educational opportunities, job security, meeting people and the excitement. However, a key reason for joining the Peace Corps was to use my acquired skills and knowledge in an unselfish way for no other reason but to help others."

For Tom the similarities in service are based on strength and adaptability. He said, "Both types of service require resiliency and enduring many unknowns. The military, like the Peace Corps, requires you to go to places you are unfamiliar with and get right to work. This requires you to be self-motivated and focused on the outcome. In return, you become confident and flexible."

He agreed with Marion about the regimented procedures of the military. He talked about the differences he is currently seeing, "Peace Corps service, for the most part, requires you to write your own procedures as to how you are going to get the work done. If something doesn't get the job done you need to come up with a different approach. In the Peace Corps you are often on your own to figure out what your next step will be."

Corey McEachern is a 35-year-old veteran with a big heart and passion for helping others. He joined the Marines two weeks after graduating from high school in Rineyville, Kentucky in 1994. Corey appreciates public service and wanted to give back to his country by serving. He served for four years as a scout sniper, infantryman and operations non-commissioned officer. Corey was in 12 countries including Bosnia, South Korea and Israel. He is now doing public health education in a primary school.

Having a connection to others is important to Corey. He joined the Peace Corps to continue serving his country and expand his community. He talked about what he enjoys most about both kinds of service, "First of all, members have been sent to a foreign land, to work and live with people from all over the United States and the world. Secondly, the members are some of the best people you'll ever meet. Each person is fantastic."

The biggest difference Corey appreciates is having a voice in his service. He said, "There's a big difference in the day to day administration. The types of policies, volunteer support systems and activities, are all heavily influenced by volunteers. Peace Corps gives volunteers plenty of room to express themselves professionally and personally."

When I asked each person what is the most special part about serving in the Peace Corps, the most common answer was friendships. The camaraderie that develops between people who serve their nation in the military or Peace Corps and the people they work with in foreign countries is a unique bond that crosses borders and opens minds.

This Memorial Day, let's take some time to thank numerous female and male veterans who have chosen to continue to serve their country in the Peace Corps.

GLBTQ Peace Corps Volunteers Overcome Challenges with Disclosing Their Sexuality

2012-05-07T11:33:58-04:00

Peace Corps Volunteers are known for their ability to adapt, succeed in spite of difficult odds and learn about themselves in the process. GLBTQ Peace Corps Volunteers definitely possess all of these traits and so many more as they serve in countries where being gay or lesbian is illegal.

Balancing their altruism and concerns of helping others while choosing to disclose or not disclose their sexuality leads to very challenging decisions during their service. Each person has unique experiences that can cause a wide range of emotions. For their own safety, I am not using the real names of volunteers or mentioning the countries they serve in.

The process of understanding one's sexuality, coming out, and building relationships is a unique journey for every person. For some, coming out can take a long time. In the Peace Corps a lot of volunteers have to go back into the closet.

John is a creative, intellectual man who has a natural ability to talk about all topics. He shared:

Coming out is one of the most important processes of a GLBTQ person's identity. It means revealing a part of yourself to friends and loved ones and seeking acceptance for being different. The task of coming out of the closet is often emotional and difficult, but going back in presents its own challenges. When working in a small village the job is your whole life. The underlying goal of anything a volunteer does is community integration. The difference for GLBTQ people is the boundary on the information we can share and the issues we must circumvent because of it.

Not being able to come out to friends and co-workers in the village affects a person's feeling of closeness. Jane is the kind of woman whose passion for life flows through every single word she says and action she takes. She talked about her experience:

The most difficult part of not being out in my village is definitely the divide it creates with friends. Making friends is such a huge part of our service. Having people in your life that you can trust, who can trust you is monumental to being an effective volunteer. While I feel that my service has been quite effective, I also feel as if I will never be fully known in my village, with the people that I hold very close to my heart.

A volunteer's sexuality can also affect his or her relationship with in-country Peace Corps staff. While staff members are known to be accepting, there is still a fear of sharing something so personal that can be foreign to others.

Jody, a free-spirited and down-to-earth woman talked about her experience:

American staff members pretty much know who I am, but the local staff doesn't. I haven't come out to any local staff members, even though I have heard that it's not a big deal. I am scared that it may change how they feel about me and the work I am doing here. I feel like I am constantly on guard about anyone finding out. I feel there are hints that I am a lesbian but so far no one has caught on. I have the worst case scenario of how people might react in my mind and I judge them for that, even though it's unfair because I haven't given anyone a chance to maybe prove me wrong.

John feels Peace Corps staff has been widely supportive, "The Peace Corps community embraces diversity in all respects. The typical volunteer is open-minded, well travelled, and concerned foremost with human rights. I have never felt uncomfortable sharing that aspect of my life with my volunteer friends, nor have I felt at all discriminated against by staff because of my sexuality."

Two of the four volunteers I interviewed have come out to local people. One of them is a man named Alex. He has an unforgettable personality fueled by a seemingly unending need for unique experiences. He talked about his decision, "I am out in my village. I do not run down the street screaming that I am gay but I never hide the fact that I am gay and if someone asks and I feel that they do not have ulterior motives I will tell them the truth."

Many volunteers feel coming out would be the best example of a cultural exchange. Alex has been able to experience this. He explained:

Being gay has been the most beneficial part of my service and integration into my community. I have made the most amazing local friends who are a part of the GLBTQ community. These communities throughout the world are usually close knit due to discrimination and stigma. The GLBTQ community in the country I serve in is very close. Once you are introduced to one person you know them all. It is also so exciting and fun getting to know other gay individuals in the context of a different continent, because you hear so much that it is dangerous for us and in my host country things are very open, easy and overall the GLBTQ community is accepted into society even though it's illegal.

Coping with these circumstances varies for each volunteer. John lives in a small, very remote village. He said, "The absence of a gay community where I live makes me feel more isolated than anything else in this experience. I definitely cannot date in my village, and coping is sometimes exacerbated by the lack of people nearby who empathize with this part of my identity. This is a personal journey for me and I was prepared for the sacrifice before I made the commitment, but two years is a long time."

Those who haven't come out in the same manner as Alex have learned a lot about themselves in other ways. Jane talked about this aspect:

It's been very difficult to hide part of myself. However, I somewhat separated my sexual orientation from my purpose here and found it to be enlightening. My sexual orientation is a big part of who I am. There is a subculture that comes along with it and while I am looking forward to returning to the states, where I am out to my friends and family, I will now do it with a better sense of self.

Jody added, "I hate having to hide this part of my identity but I've realized that being a lesbian doesn't exclusively define who I am. Those other parts of me are coming out more in my personality and I think that's pretty healthy."

It's common for GLBTQ volunteers to turn to fellow volunteers, family and friends back home or a host of other healthy outlets to deal with the more difficult days. Relying on a support system in the country where volunteers serve as well as home in America adds the extra strength volunteers need. A majority of GLBTQ volunteers benefit from the self-exploration and discovery those 2 years of service offer.

When I asked Alex how he has coped with all of the situations he has faced he poignantly answered, "I have coped, because I am gay."

Flickr photo by @bastique.

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