Why did you join Peace Corps? - It felt right. Like anything in life that requires a large change, it has to feel like the right thing to do at the time. It did and it still does. More realistically, we wanted to learn Spanish, a new culture and live in a different part of the world.

What do you do each day? - Each day is different. Some days we spend teaching children about the world. In our community there are no newspapers, magazines or Internet that the local population can use. Therefore they have little info on what is reality around the world. We try to help with this. Other days I spend trying to wash and dry my clothing in a rainforest environment. We are currently working with the community to find solutions to the local garbage collection problem. In addition, we have had some English classes for adults and currently have an English class for the 9 th graders. They have a national test coming up that they need to pass to enter into tenth grade. Part of that exam tests English skills. If they pass they would be the first students ever, in Tortuguero , to pass into tenth grade.

How can you give up two years of your life? That is a big commitment. - We have not "given up" two years of our life. A tourist once asked me this question, and the answer is simple - everyday we gain a new word, a new lesson, or a new story. I do not ever feel as if I have given up a moment of my time. I have given up the latest fashion, the latest episode of the bachelor, watching Husker football games and a long list of other US comforts. However, that is only challenging at times. I do not mind giving those things up when I feel I am gaining other lessons, skills, and abilities.