Aspiration Statement

As part of the requirements when invited to the Peace Corps, an aspiration statement must be written. I was given a specific format and objectives to address in the statement. For whatever it's worth, I have included this statement below.

Aspiration Statement
Frank McGowan
Guinea, Africa
July 2006

Guinea. The word rolls around in my mind, surfacing from time to time, bringing a smile to my face and excitement through my core. The dream of the Peace Corps has lied dormant within me for 15 years and is finally coming to fruition. I am ecstatic over the opportunity to spend the next 27 months of my life living, working and developing bonds in a culture and community completely different from the United States / Western Europe. It seems impossible to boil down my thoughts and feelings into a short essay but the following is my attempt to verbalize expectations, strategies for adapting to a new way of life, and personal and professional goals.

Expectations
In my teaching over the past several years, I have challenged students to look inward at themselves and their culture. Not content with what is on the surface, I want them to dig down into the depths of their being. Ask themselves who they truly are. Have them demand to know what makes them who they are and to wonder at what pushes them in new directions. Peace Corps – Guinea is the next step for me to look deep into life and culture. I hope to both learn more about my true being and culture while embracing the lifestyle and values of different people. During this process, I expect to be challenged daily, resulting in both my greatest rewards and difficulties. I also expect to become an integral part of a new community where we celebrate our differences and grow together in our similarities.

Strategies for adapting to a new culture
I picture myself entering my new community, fresh from training and ready to embark upon the next two years. Upon arrival, reality sets in that I do not know a single person and my sudden appearance in the town or village has created a scene due to my apparent differences. Children, out of curiosity and maybe fear, will chance furtive glances in my direction. Adults may expect a different American, one gleaned from snapshots of a life that I have never lived. This will be my home and I must overcome obstacles to live smoothly. At first laughter and patience will be my guide. Laughter because I will make mistakes and because it is universal. It breaks down barriers. As a teacher, I know that my classes will be successful once I have laughed with students. Patience because learning will be slow and the inherent quality of life different than my sometimes chaotic and jam-packed experience. Visibility and respect are other strategies that I will call upon. I will be an oddity. An American dropped into Africa to live. Getting out and meeting people while exploring the local terrain will help me break down barriers to communication and understanding. Like other places I have moved to, life becomes better once friends are made and a feeling of community is established. Respect occupies at least two dimensions. First, my position in the community is as a guest with skills and talents that will hopefully support the community. The community has been there and will continue to exist long after my departure. I must respect local ways and customs as I integrate into their lives. Along with teaching about myself and working in the school, I will earn the community’s respect by working with its members inside their framework of life.

Personal and Professional Goals
Three years ago I transitioned from the engineering profession to become a teacher. On one hand this change was critical because I am a teacher at my core. My passions lie in teaching and questions of worth never rise. On the other hand, the wide range of opportunities available to a teacher is amazing. Personally, I want to experience as much of life as possible. For me, this involves entering new and potentially stressful situations to exit with more clarity and understanding. The Peace Corps is a challenge that allows me to grow personally while also continuing doing what I love.
At a growing rate, schools in the United States are filling with students with backgrounds different than my own Western European upbringing. Teachers in this country are predominately Caucasian and may or may not have an experience that allows them to understand the challenges of students from other countries and cultures. Being a member of a community where my culture is not the majority is essential for my personal and professional growth. I can read about challenges students face but until I understand these barriers through my experiences, I do not think that I grasp a fraction of what is happening. As a teacher, my primary goal is to provide quality lessons to all students. Teaching in Guinea will stretch me even farther as I have to plan and teach in a different language. It is my aim to become proficient in French and local dialects as quickly as possible so that I can better relate with people in my community.

The writing of this aspiration statement took place on a cliff overlooking the Columbia River, a might lifeline that has carved a spectacular path through the Pacific Northwest. In several months, I will be in Guinea, the headwaters of several major river systems in Africa. Water is one of life’s major connectors and I will leave the United States knowing that life requires water and at the core of humanity there are many more similarities than differences.

Museum Night

At my amazing school in Portland, we work on large projects and then celebrate by inviting the community in to look at our work. Over the past several months, each class has studied a different ancient culture. My class studied Greece. The following photographs are from our "museum opening" on April 19, 2006. Each student created artifacts and also worked on large scale projects during class time. The photographs posted represent a fraction of the great work my students accomplished. Enjoy!



Bull-Leaping Fresco
The famous "Bull- leaping" fresco, from the East wing of the palace, where the different phases of the sport are shown.The Minoan bull- leapers were both men and women (c.1500 BC).



Swimming Dolphins Fresco Found in a very elaborately decorated room, the so-called "Queen's Chamber" in the Palace of Knossos on the Greek island of Crete, this image of marine life celebrated the sea for these Minoan people (c.1500 BC).





Minoan Snake Goddess Idol
The Minoan civilization occurred during the Bronze Age and was an influential precursor to Ancient Greece. The civilization was located on Crete, a large island in the southern Aegean. Minoan civilization is thought to have lasted from 1900 BC to 1100 BC. Little is known about the Minoan civilization since the written language has not been translated. Minoan society appears to be controlled by an elite class that controlled religious, political and economic centers. Minoan religion appears to be centered on worshipping Goddess idols in nature scenes. The Minoans created much art that still survives. This is a life size replica of an idol found by Arthur Evans at the Palace of Knossos.

The Agora

A model of the Acropolis is in the foreground.

More Museum Photographs

Zeus reigning from Mt Olympus.











The "war" room.

Official Invitation Received 4/5/2006

When I arrived home on Wednesday a large packet was waiting on my porch. My official invitation to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer in Guinea. I will be in the secondary education program and my title is "Secondary Science Teacher."

Potential class size: 25 - 100 (avg around 40).
Grade Levels: 7th - 10th

In just three months I will leave Portland for orientation on the east coast. At the orientation I will join the group of Guinea volunteers. I have been told that the size of the group may range from 20 to 30 people. After two days of orientation classes, immunizations and whatever else we will leave for Guinea. Three months of cultural, language and technical training await the group in Guinea. Sometime during this training I will find out where my community for the next two years is located. The only other job related information that I have is that I will be assigned to a school in a village or small town. My school will be within walking distance of my home. Schools have large classrooms, often with open sides instead of windows. Simple desks and a blackboard will be in the classroom.

Let the countdown begin!

Peace Corps or Priesthood?

If you've ever played the "telephone" game you understand how a statement can start at one end of a human chain an be something completely different by the time it reaches the other end. Whether it is due to the sounds of our language or the way our brains function, words can easily get twisted around. The following was related to me by a parent/co-worker at Sunnyside.

She came into the tail end of a conversation relating to my decision to join the Peace Corps. However, instead of hearing "Peace Corps" she heard "Priesthood" and the conversation between her and another revolved around this misunderstanding for a bit of time. The following is an attempt to capture the exchange:

"Hmmm, that just doesn't seem like something Frank would do."

"Really, I was thinking that it would be a good fit and something he would enjoy."

"No way. I mean he isn't the type to do something like that."

"I think he is. He is adventurous and likes the outdoors. It will be great for him to go do this."

"I still don't see it. What does adventure have to do with it? It doesn't match the person that I know. Well, I guess McGowan is Irish and Catholic."

"Irish and Catholic? Are we talking about the same thing?"

"You did say that he was entering the priesthood, didn't you?"


Laughter. "No, the Peace Corps!"

This shows that even in the same language communications can be exchanged where people are on two completely different planets. With this in mind, I embrace the idea of going to a new culture and learning how to communicate effectively with people. As this story ended, laughter will be an absolute necessity in adapting to life in Guinea.

Invitation at Last

For Spring Break, I traveled home to Wilmington, NC for a needed break and an opportunity to visit family and friends. Hours before departure on my red-eye flight I arrived home to find a FedEx envelope from the Peace Corps. Additional medical information needed... Once in Wilmington I got the necessary appointments and faxed documents to headquarters on Thursday. On Friday, I received the phone call that I have been waiting for...

An Invitation to the Peace Corps in Guinea

I really wanted to receive the news in Wilmington so that I could share it in person with my family. All of a sudden this decision is a reality. I am going. Three months are left in Portland.