The job of the Peace Corps volunteer
Is to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time
To visit as many families as possible
To ensure that everyone knows who she is

And to try to be like an authentic Paraguayan
Without ever wanting to be like one
To live somewhere that is nowhere
And make it everything

To focus on the friendships and teaching moments
And share whatever she can about whatever she knows
With the single hope of leaving her community better
Somehow, just a little happier or with a bit more knowledge

The Peace Corps volunteer is everywhere
Because she’s trying to get to know her community
As well as an authentic Paraguayan
Who had generations to learn, and she only has two years.

The Peace Corps volunteer is nowhere
Because she lives in a country her family hardly knew existed
Before she left, but now is very real to her
But it’s experience, not distance, that makes her seem so far away

The job of the Peace Corps volunteer
Is to be everywhere and nowhere at the same time
Because everywhere is her community and nowhere is what she left behind
But not always, sometimes it’s quite the opposite.