Twenty Things To Remember During Your Time In The Peace Corps:

1. Mostly, you couldn't be weirder than if you walked around in a pink bunny suit clashing cymbals in the streets, so don't worry about seeming out of place.

2. Your sense of humor is your best asset. You will be the butt of jokes, some of which you won't understand, but that doesn't mean your community doesn't love you. They are just testing you a little.

3. There will be moments, days, or weeks where you feel completely useless. That feeling will pass.

4. There will be moments where you will feel so wonderful that you can barely contain yourself. Unfortunately, those pass too. But, they get you through the low points.

5. Almost nothing will cork out the way you planned it.

6. Sometimes, Peace Corps feels like the easiest job you'll ever be sick and tired of. Other times, it truly is the toughest job you'll ever love. Don't be surprised if you feel both simutaneously.

7. Don't underestimate the healing power of underwear fresh out of the package, particularly after about 12-18 months in country.

8. You will make a difference in people's lives, but it probably won't be in the way you were intending.

9. Adults and children love dinamicas and free food. Make sure you have both ready at presentations.

10. Almost everyone will be varying degrees of late to any meeting or presentation you attend or prepare. It's not personal.

11. Abandon the idea that sitting and passing time with folks is "doing nothing." Some of our best moments will come from paseando with friends and neighbors.

12. Always carry rocks in your pocket...dogs serve a purpose in Latin America, and it's not as surrogate children. They take their roles as protectors seriously.

13. It takes many months to build up confianza with a community, don't be discouraged.

14. Take care of yourself. You're not Mother Theresa and no one expects you to be. The happier and healthier you are, the more you can give to your community. Reach out for support when you need it and be alone, when you need that too. And don't feel bad about doing either one.

15. Don't let yourself get sucked into teaching English unless you REALLY want to spend your time doing that.

16. Let your community's needs dictate your work, not the other way around.

17. Observe the town's power structure. Knowing who thinks what of whom can be invaluable in moving projects forward and keeping you out of the crossfire of interpersonal disputes.

18. You may need to take a break from your town and seek comfork with American friends. That doesn't make you less of a volunteer, it makes you human.

19. Buy a machete. You may need one, you may not. But trust me, you will probably never again have the chance to semi-legitimately own one in your life.

20. Hay mas tiempo que vida. You'll never get it all done, so relax. Enjoy. This is quite an adventure.