Peacin' out.

Well… as most of you know, I am leaving on Monday, May 9^th to start a new chapter. After completing staging events in Washington DC, I will be loading myself and a backpack onto a plane and departing to my new home; Nicaragua. As an agriculture volunteer, I will be working mostly in the fields of sustainable agricultural practices and improved food security and preservation. I will be devoting the next two and a half years of my life to serve my country as a Peace Corps volunteer and attempt to improve the quality of life for citizens of rural Nicaragua.

I have experienced the entire spectrum of emotions over the past few months but now that the time has come to go abroad, I am feeling cool, collected and prepared. After attending a ‘Bon Voyage’ party on Sunday and speaking with past volunteers (one of which just so happened to have served in Nicaragua!) there is no doubt in my mind that this is what I was born to do. I know how difficult the next two and a half years will be both physically and emotionally but for the first time in my life, I truly feel like I am doing what I was meant to do. It’s a wonderful and liberating feeling.

Most everyone that will read this blog has been with me through the application process and are aware of my passion and excitement to finally be serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. Below, I have included a very small section of my first PC application essay to better explain why I am leaving home. Thank you all so much for your love and support. I truly feel so blessed to have you all in my life.

                All humans have an innate desire to help others.  I truly believe that deep down, every person wishes they could make a difference in the world and improve the quality of life for their fellow man and woman.  Carrying through with this aspiration to an extent that will truly make a long-term difference takes time, commitment and a readiness to use the skills that you possess.  As a recent college graduate, I am in a unique point in my life where I am able and willing to undertake all three. Since the age of eleven, it has been an ongoing goal of mine to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer. Now the time has come, and I am ready to commit.  

I understand that to truly make a difference in the world with the Peace Corps, I must view my time abroad as a 24 hour position, conducting myself as a representative for the United States in a manner that my family and fellow Americans would find admirable.  I expect to live and breathe for my cause, focusing all of my time and effort into fulfilling my goals within the Peace Corps, improving the quality of life for the people of my host community. With my tenacity and the skills that I posses, I intend to acclimate well and make a positive impact within my host country.

Both of my grandfathers and several of my uncles have served in the military, dedicating their time and lives to the country that they love.  I too feel it is important to explore other regions, serve my country and act as a representative of the United States. Given some of my personal and political beliefs, I know that the armed forces are not for me.  I am aware that, like the military, it is common to be placed in to situations that are strange and unglamorous by western perception. Having spent much of my time living and working in very secluded locations, I have become accustomed to living without the amenities that some may find essential to every day life. No matter how sparse my environment may be, I intend to adapt quickly and make do with what few resources I am given.

My name is Ryan Hubbard. I am a proud American with a strong sense of community. When I arrive in my host country, it will be my new home; the local people my fellow men.  I will not lose focus of my mission and will work with determination towards the ultimate goal of improving the quality of life for the people of Nicaragua. I will make a difference.