Carin Goodall |
| Country of Service |
| Bulgaria |
| Dates Served |
| 2005 - 2007 |
| Volunteer Position |
| Secondary TEFL |
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| Description of main volunteer activities: |
| My primary purpose was teaching English to high school students in a small town in rural Bulgaria. I incorporated American and world cultures into my class whenever I could. This led to the successful celebration of two school-wide Halloween parties and a Thanksgiving feast. Since Bulgarian students receive little health education in school, I updated and redesigned a life skills and health curriculum that could be taught to Bulgarian middle and high school students. My own students translated the lessons into Bulgarian so that students with low or no English proficiency could also benefit from the health education. Human trafficking in Eastern Europe is a serious crime, especially in Bulgaria which is a country of origin, transit, and destination for trafficked persons. As a result of the struggling democracy and economy, I recognized the vulnerability in my students and the risks they faced when looking for work after graduation. I chaired our volunteer Anti-Trafficking in Persons (ATIP) Committee for one year, where our main accomplishments included two regional conferences between volunteers and Bulgarian natives as well as the digitalization and dissemination of an ATIP kit to all PCVs in the country |
| How Peace Corps service influenced decision to go into nursing and future plans: |
| My main motivation to go into nursing was patient education and direct patient care. I am a teacher at heart and my PC service allowed me to explore various areas of teaching and develop my skills. I learned to recognize what was missing in and needed by students. Above all, I wanted to provide them with knowledge and information that would help them make better decisions and take care of themselves. Teaching health to high school students gave me so much satisfaction that I felt I was really making a difference, although I would never know just how much. I realized that I also wanted to do more for people, and decided that nursing was the best answer. As a nurse I can provide care and information to patients that will help them get back on their feet and take care of themselves. |
| Impact of RPCV Fellows experience: |
| Through the RPCV Fellows program I have connected with so many volunteers with an explosion of different experiences. Although we served all over the world, we are united in that we share the same goals and philosophy. Learning and working alongside other RPCVs has helped validate my own Peace Corps experience. The RPCV Fellows program provides an environment where I feel welcomed and accepted. We understand what the other went through and share stories that only other RPCVs can truly relate to. This is a bond we all share, and I am thrilled and grateful to call these folks my colleagues in nursing. We all share a vision of future healthcare, which is motivated by our Peace Corps experiences. |
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