Marching Into The Peace Corps, pt 11: “Do you know there’s a war over there?!”

There are few things that will strike more fear into the heart of a potential recruit than bellying up to the bar, downing a shot of moral courage, and then facing your worst fear about the Peace Corps process: informing your parents of your desire to leave the country for an extended period of time while hanging out in a mud puddle.

Parents instinctively had this desire to outlive their kids, which is something I can’t understand. They spent all of my childhood threatening to kill me for this dumb thing or that dumb incident. Why should it matter if they outlive me when they unselfishly scared the daylights and spirit out of me for all those years? My theory is they don’t want to outlive me as much as they want to pass on the bumper sticker curses: “live long enough to be a problem to your kids” and, “I’m spending my children’s inheritance”.

While I was growing up I had been exposed to my father’s promise: “when you turn 18, you’re OUT of this house!” Before I turned 19, I was indeed, out of the house and not off to college. It was too expensive for them, and my original dreams were crushed into fine powder. That’s ok – if they had come true, I wouldn’t be able to pack up my life and leave it. I can still remember when I told them I was moving out, and my dad threw a fit. “You’re not moving out! You’re not allowed to!”

Remembering how they didn’t take it well when I eventually moved out, I knew telling my parents wouldn’t exactly be easy, and I’ve been out of the house for 18 years.

The last time I went to the country I hope to be stationed in, she freaked! “Pin your passport and ticket in your underwear and always be ready to run!” She was terrified of me going to this place, and started recalling all these movies she had seen on TV, but neglected to understand where they had taken place wasn’t where I’d be located. Getting the answer to the question of life would be easier than getting her approval, but then again, she never approved of anything I’ve done in my life. She gave me life and an abundant sense of negativity.

I prayed, and then dialed the phone. After a short period of small talk, I came right to the point. “Mom, I wanted to talk to you about something I’m going to do, and I wanted to get your blessing on it.” I don’t like sugar coating things anymore to make it simple for her to swallow, and since this was going to be hard, there isn’t anything on God’s green earth that would help her to accept what was coming. “I’m working on joining the Peace Corps.”