What I've learned...

The following is a collection of submissions provided by fellow volunteers in answering the question:

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED OVER YOUR FIRST YEAR IN PEACE CORPS?

Anything that doesn’t taste bitter is edible. Otherwise it’s probably either medicine or poison (or both).

The sign, “15 passengers, no standing room” is a challenge for a chapa driver, not a limit.

That pretty much anything is better with coconut.

That erasing the stigma of diarrhea is an excellent secondary project… hello, my name is Sarah and I have a problem.

I learned that the teacher is the natural ally of the proletariat and the peasant… really, I didn’t know that before.

If the ants don’t eat it, neither should you.

It gets damn COLD in Africa!

No, someone’s house did not erupt into a blazing inferno. It’s just burning trash.

When your tomato lady tells you you’re fatter than yesterday, it’s a compliment.

Males who hold hands while jamming to Celine Dion are probably not homosexual.

Holding hands with another man is the ultimate triple threat. 1) It makes you an immediate badass. 2) It ups your street cred exponentially. 3) It is a goddamn beautiful thing.

After a couple weeks at site with no meat, the prospect of eating some goat or chicken head can really make your mouth water.

As much as you may resent the fact that you will always, always have people staring at you wondering, “what is that foreigner is doing here,” when you see another foreigner at your site you will always, always stare at them and wonder what are they are doing here.

You can be surrounded by people and still feel completely alone.

You can be completely alone and still be very pleased with the company.

Start throwing a Frisbee or kicking a soccer ball and throngs of children you’ve never seen before will appear as if by magic.

“Must be refrigerated” is nothing more than a polite suggestion.

That doesn’t mean your food won’t turn odd colors after sitting in your hot kitchen for a week.

THAT doesn’t mean you might not eat it anyway.

A sincere hug from a friend after a couple weeks at site feels absolutely amazing.

Staring at the wall and just thinking is a good way to kill a couple hours.

And finally… Life is short. Embrace it with both hands and every orifice.

A big Thank-You to all the volunteers who contributed to this post.