Working in the city, a far cry from the Posh Corps
November 21st, 2006 by Sarin
Typical conversation about my job:
“How’s da job in Boston?”
“Eh”, I respond.
“Whaddya mean eh?
“Eh, it’s Boston.”
“Yep…”
Moving to Boston has been its own story. This entry is about working in Boston, more specifically, how it owned up to my last gig with the Peace Corps. I was expecting that working in Boston has perks, and would be more enjoyable than working anywhere else I have been so far. It turns out the truth is very much altered after leaving a comfortable volunteering gig abroad. It turns out working in a city is not as exciting as it sounds. If the work sounds boring, it will probably still be boring in a tall glass skyscraper.
But of course, comparing work in Boston to work in Cape Verde, West Africa is like comparing fruits and veggies. However, the bottom line still matters. Is it enjoyable, satisfiable, or in this case, what the imagination entailed? Still curious perhaps?
As I was grunting about this current frustration, I tossed up a few points. Points that people look for a job, or maybe what I see are essential. Point for point, here’s how things break down.
Facilities
Boston - I get to work in one of the most well known buildings in all of New England, the John Hancock Tower, currently the tallest building in Boston. One subway trip takes me from my home in Allston, to Copley square and I’m already at work. The building is climate controlled, tight with security, full range cafeteria, has its own ATM lobbies, a gift shop and corporate gym. Plus, my 15th floor location offers great views of downtown Boston, Back Bay neighborhood, Boston Common and the infamous Citgo sign over Kenmore.
CV – I get assigned to a dusty small youth center on the outskirts of town that has the worst 200 meter sun-drenched walk to work I’ve had ever. At least half an hour in the morning is spent trying to cool off from the blaring sun and another hour cleaning the dust in the building. It is one of the few internet access locations in town, which gives it a plus, but the lack of TP or lack of quiet spots to take a nap means this work environment should be avoided at all costs. The view, oh just the view of the Atlantic ocean. Nothing to see here, move on. The only thing really fun about this location is gathering together to watch American movies in the afternoon with dozens of curious teenagers.
Advantage - Boston’s got it here with the most pimp of addresses in New England.
Lunchtime
Boston – There are many eateries around the area that cater to the working population. In immediate walking distance there is numerous eateries plus normal full serve restaurants that might offer take-out. The amount of options are huge, although eating on a $5 budget is very limited. The best part, Newbury St dining.
The only drawback about eating, is that virtually everybody in the company eats at the desk. Hence I am working for 8 straight hours in a day squeezing in bites to eat when I get the chance. Unfortunately this practice will never change.
CV – Right behind the youth center, hidden in the bushes and past the dying pig is a food shack that caters to the teachers working in the high school next door. There is almost a lack of seating, except that I usually squeeze in wherever I can. Every dish on the menu is only $1.50 and there is more than enough food to go around (either tuna steak, roast chicken, beef liver, grouper fish or beef stew) and all are served with rice and homemade French fries. The tight quarters almost forces conversation, and here is the only place where I can finally escape work.
Adv. – Cheaper, more tasteful food, plus eating around the siesta gives Cape Verde a huge advantage.
Pay
Boston - In 2004, the Boston metropolitan area had the highest cost of living in the nation. Combine that with entry level, recent college graduate pay and I am struggling to live on my own. I am one of the few individuals I know that live away from their parents, and is so broke for that reason that I can’t feasibly afford a car. Once I decide to start paying back my school loans, having a car won’t be an option. I seriously had more spending money in college.
CV - How about never having to pay rent, $25 in utilities, living in a tax free country and all your healthcare is on the US Government’s tab. I can get anywhere on the island for less than $2.00 and it is amazing how much free food you can get by getting to know your neighbors. Since there is nothing here, there is nothing to buy!
Adv. – Cape Verde wins because the spending is always guilt free. A night out in Boston always comes back to bite you once you get your monthly statement.
Job usefullness
Boston - Handling credit operations for rich clients needing the funds to buy a home.
CV - Teaching computers and English to youth living on islands stuck in the middle of the ocean.
Adv. - I’ve explained that volunteering for the youth center and teaching computers was as useful as teaching a starving man how to fish in the desert. However I am opposed to the rich getting richer so CV wins by default.
Social life
Boston - Here is where I overestimated Boston. I have the job, and that’s about it. My life does not revolve around it 24/7. I am still dealing with the fact that I am just another number in Boston. There are social aspects with my job, but there isn’t going to be happy hours or conference lunches anytime soon.
CV - I get the full rockstar treatment with my job. Dinner is easily attained by mooching off the neighbors and lines are pushed out of the way when that funny Asian guy is trying to pay his bills. My job directly affects the community I live in, so there is never a time when I am not working. Because of this, I get invited to every function, meeting everybody and getting VIP access whether its the local music festival, a conference with the UN or thanksgiving at the US ambassador’s house. Being a local celebrity does get very fun. Plus, there is no other social group quite like the Peace Corps volunteer network. I will forever love these guys.
Adv. - Cape Verde wins over Boston’s lack of strength in numbers. Even though I played over 3 hours a day of Nintendo, I never felt just like a number. Sometimes the popularity does come too much.
The reality of time
Boston - Time flies faster than anything, months fly by like weeks, and the seasons change as often as changing a pair of shoes. It’s almost time to start receiving payments on my 401k.
CV - Time slows to a ridiculous standstill. Hours pass like days and you only worry about the immediate hours ahead. If you are bored sitting on the porch watching the day go by, all you can do is… sit on the porch and watch the day go by. There is only one season (hot as fuck) and you unfortunately packed one pair of sandals that will last for 2 years. Sounds like a heatwave is coming through.
Adv. - Neither
Vacation
Boston - Only 2 weeks vacation for the newbie. Again, your low pay means even a trip to Canada is a major financial decision.
CV - Uncle Sam treats you well! 3 and a half weeks of vacation and free weekends in country! Again, your really ridiculous high pay affords you an opportunity to fly across the pond and visit ‘real’ Africa. Welcome to the land of $10 hostels, dollar beers and all the free medications you could ever need.
Adv. - Absolute ownage by Cape Verde
It is of little surprise that any job I could have gotten after the Peace Corps will look small. There were hardships, enough for me to throw in the towel, but the Peace Corps was an experience. Something that not many jobs could possibly give me. And maybe it has gotten me numb to the point that following the norm and not delaying the real world is a safe bet. Considering that this is my first real job ever, I am fairly certain I tried to allow the job to give me an experience and failed miserably. The Peace Corps was an experience, I got to travel, learn new cultures, make new friends, and feel at home at another part of the world. I expected my life to be just as exciting as it was a year ago. For an after PC job, a career in banking was probably not the best choice. I guess I still need time to think things through.
While it is regular habit of mine to dismiss the joys of living in Boston, this situation is more or less my job. While I still prefer cities, there’s not much fun if you’re just starting out. As I stated before, if it sounds boring, it won’t get less boring in a city. My life in the real world hasn’t taken on good terms as of yet, and I’m still kicking in the water to enjoy myself. Realistically this sounds like I might be in the mood for another career. Or maybe this is just one of those forums where I just vent my frustrations.
Comments, if any, please leave them.
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I was just thinking on the way to work this morning how different our experiences were regarding Peace Corps since I had several years of corporate life under my belt and you were straight out of college. What a coincidence. All of the realizations you are having now about the two lifestyles are pretty much what I knew going in to Peace Corps, which I think is an advantage in many ways, because you know pretty much what life is going to be like if and when you decide to leave the PC experience/host country. At the same rate, I now appreciate much more about what I used to take for granted, and I have a different views on many things post-PC than I had going in.
Our PC experiences in general differ greatly, though, which also influences my views. You had tons of free time to do absolutely nothing, while I was getting killed with a teacher’s schedule/lifestyle. Although I technically “work” 20 more hours a week now than I did in Peace Corps, I have much more free time here than I did in Cape Verde in many ways.
CV has been on my mind a lot lately. Maybe I’ll have to post something about it, myself. Always good to hear others’ take on it all, though. Keep writing.
That is true. I really had no idea what being a 20 something in the real world is like. You don’t know until you try, and now I just hope I’m making the right choices. I must have sounded immature for wanting to go back home so early, but going home does and did make sense. It is what I do here that is just confusing me.
Cape Verde was a different experience for everybody. It’s hard to talk about your frustrations when it seems like everybody is having a good time. In retrospect, I can easily see why it’s a great country to be in. My frustrations stopped me from seeing past them. I’d like to hear more about your experience, post PC. I read all your letters (your peace corps section on your blog), but the story stopped once you got home. What’s your overall take on it now?
My overall take has stayed the same ever since I made the decision to come home: despite the frustrations with living in a different culture, not knowing the language well, being away from home, having roommate difficulties, facing racism, not being on the continent, not getting the “authentic” African experience, and dealing with administrative problems, I could have stayed in Cape Verde for the entire 27 months and had an amazing time. None of those things were the reason I decided to come home. My time in Cape Verde was quite possibly the best experience I’ve had in my life.
That being said, I stand behind my decision to come home 100%. Teaching in Cape Verde was, for me, unbearable. It made me feel like I was drowning in a hurricane. I knew the best thing I could do for myself was remove myself from that situation, and that if I didn’t, very bad things were going to happen. I just recently finished reading Frank McCourt’s “Teacher Man” and it should be required reading for every TEFL volunteer in Cape Verde. In it, he says something that I thought about every single day in Cape Verde: you have to put yourself first, or you can’t help anyone else. Just like how airplane instructions advise you to put the oxygen mask on yourself before helping anyone else with theirs, even your own children. Or just like how the Red Cross advises that if you see someone bleeding who needs mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, but you don’t have the protective equipment to ensure you’re not exposing yourself to HIV infection or other health risks, that you should refrain from trying to resuscitate that person, even if that person is going to die. You have to put yourself and your well-being first. It’s a lesson the Peace Corps administration, at least in Cape Verde, has yet to learn or teach to its volunteers, which is mind-boggling.
I am so glad that I had the chance to experience what I did in Cape Verde. And I am so glad that I decided to put my health and well-being first and leave the situation I was in.
Interesting. Taking care of yourself first is key, even outside of relief work.
It’s almost been a year and we are still talking about our experiences, albeit only along with each other (the novelty among my non PC friends has long died off). It was a great experience, and even if there were many problems, I did get more out of it than what I took in. And it sounds like we took a lot.
I don’t really think there will ever be a point when you stop talking about your PC experience–it’s not something you need to “get over.” But it will always be more common to talk about your experiences with other PCVs/RPCVs because they’ve been there, done that.
I think you should blog more about your positive experiences in Cape Verde. There’s gotta be more to tell.