Human to Human Diplomacy by a Former Advertising Major

“The toughest job you’ll ever love” is a phrase frequently touted around Peace Corps circles and recruitment sessions. The slogan was part of a public service campaign created by the Ad Council and ad agency, Young Rubicam to launch, John F. Kennedy’s bold campaign promise in 1961. While the madmen probably didn’t know it at the time of inception, the slogan truthfully captured the allure and reward of being a Peace Corps Volunteer, which still persists today. Now, I’m not suggesting that we ought to consume all headlines and slogans at their face value. In fact, disseminating and translating such media messages is part of my role as a Community Economic Development Volunteer for the Peace Corps in Colombia.

I am the only “gringo” that most people in my small town of about 5,000 personally know, though, as continental neighbors, Colombians often have indirect ties to the U.S. I am the assumed resident expert and directly paint the narrative of American current affairs, to which my community has a hefty appetite. The truth (or some version of it) about American current affairs and culture for my host country counterparts starts with, passes through, or ends with me. Each prompt is an opportunity to promote the second of Peace Corps’ three goals: “To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.”

Now this is normally the part where I tell you how past my work experience pushing papers effectively prepared me for the challenges I face doing development work in an emerging market. However, I consistently draw on my scholastic roots more than traditional work experience. The reason that being a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) is the “toughest job you’ll ever love” is because of the various roles you play. One of the roles that I enjoy most is being the “Voice of America”- an unofficial press secretary of sorts where I am the sounding board for host country national’s concerns and opinions about the day’s latest batch of headlines.

It’s humbling to be asked about U.S. Current affairs and such questions are a result of me holding a public service position. As a PCV, my voice is not mine alone, it is perceived as that of the U.S. and carries with it particular weight, especially for my host-country counterparts who confide in me. It is tough to distinguish the two because “off the record” really isn’t a thing when your service is 24/7. Therefore, I must be a responsible investigator, translator and narrator, all in a day’s work. In order to give the members of my community honest, fair and relevant information about American current affairs, I employ my journalistic ethics and media literacy developed throughout the classrooms of Martin Hall. I routinely start my day with a dose of “media hygiene” by monitoring news feeds and listening to the radio from a diverse set of news sources in order to stay informed and cognizant of current affairs. This also includes avoiding an echo chamber of opinions on social media channels, so that I can offer host country national’s differing point-of-views on the day’s current events, as no time is wasted when they inevitably come up for discussion during everyday conversations.

Political neutrality when speaking about politics and foreign policy is an expectation and principal of Peace Corps service and my journalistic training is the best tool I have to offer fair and appropriate commentary. That is to say that the way in which I communicate international affairs must be both non-partisan and still substantive. Facts about issues are preferred to opinion, and when opinions are discussed, I provide context for my audience and allow them to form opinions independent of my own. It is tough not to “tell it like it is.” An added layer of complexity and delicacy is added when communicating across cultural norms and languages. For example, in Colombia, one’s political affiliation is generally public knowledge and not assumed to be a guarded matter. Politics and public affairs are more openly discussed than in the United States. Often strangers ask me who I voted for or if I outright agree or disagree with specific policies. Host country nationals are often surprised by my restrained and tempered response to politically provocative questions but a part of my role, as a PCV is to exercise and embody a levelheaded voice to for U.S. affairs in various settings.

Not all job duties are as serious, albeit delicate, as discussing current affairs with political neutrality. In fact, most are light hearted and fun. Sharing personal memories of college football Saturdays singing “Country Roads” at Milan Puskar Stadium or describing the nostalgia of the first annual snowfall on Woodburn Circle do not necessarily require the same precision and skill as discussing American public affairs, but are just as necessary in the long haul of Peace Corps service.

Fortunately, The Reed College of Media uniquely prepared me to consume, analyze, and discuss U.S. current affairs with a diplomatic level of thoughtfulness. It wasn’t always apparent at the time, but those discussions about ethics and newsworthiness were making me into, a careful consumer of information and responsible orator. They created the well-rounded foundation required to hold outfacing positions of public trust.

So far so good as I near the halfway mark of my Peace Corps service (1 year). The 2016 presidential election gave my cohort and me an early test when dealing with international affairs. Recent actions by the new administration keep a steady stream of challenges and opportunities for PCVs to promote Peace Corp’s second goal. Rather than succumb to the partisan divide that characterizes much of recent U.S. politics, I rely on my education to help steer clear and promote a better understanding of Americans of both sides of the isle, while carrying out my service as a Peace Corps Volunteer.


- This blog was originally published on the West Virginia University Reed College of Media Blog.

Disclaimer: The views expressed on this blog are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Colombian Government.