PEACE CORPS ANTHEM //
28 November 2013, I overheard dad at the breakfast table singing some words to a similar tune to “You Are My Sunshine.” His sly glances begged me to question his shenanigans, “Peace Corps doesn’t have an anthem, so I’m writing one!” I have completed my 27 months of service and am on home leave gearing up for a third year in Botswana. Some things have changed since then… Azerbaijan is no longer active [I sub Botswana!] and maybe we’re less idealistic, but I think it captures the spirit of volunteering abroad.
Dear world, we present The [Tabacchi] Peace Corps Anthem !
We are the Peace Corps, we fight for peace / from Azerbaijan down to Belize / Our country called us and then we came / but not for riches and not for fame / Send English majors down to Peru / without their smartphones, what can they do? / We teach them English and be their friends / for up to two years, that’s when it ends / We trade Panera and Starbuck’s drinks / for local deep fried grasshopper treats / Our cultures differ, that may be true / we only do what is best for you / Our bodies tire, out hearts go proud / the bell of freedom is ringing loud / We are the peace corps, we fight for peace / from Azerbaijan, down to Belize / We serve our country and freedoms call / we in the Peace Corps are standing tall [spoken] ask not what you county can do for you. Ask what you can do for your country! #howiseepc #peacecorps #pcv #rpcv #homeleave #volunteer #botswana #anthem #peacecorpsvolunteer #peacecorpsfamily #peacecorpsbotswana (at Manassas Park, Virginia)