Swearing In Speech
Trip Start
Mar 02, 2003
1
8
41
Trip End
Jul 04, 2005
Kyiv,
Ukraine
Tuesday, May 27, 2003
I'm going to post an update about my life here soon and hopefully I'll get more pictures up. I'm trying to work on the picture situation... soon.
Swearing-in Speech 27 May 2002
Who are you?
English - Cristina O'Keeffe
Ukrainian - Maggie Koziol
Russian - Douglas Margossian
Good morning Ambassador Pasqual, President Kravchuk, members of the Ukrainian government, Director of Peace Corps Ukraine, Karl Beck, representatives of Peace Corps, volunteers, and honored guests.
Xto vi? Who are you? What are you? Three months ago back home in America this question might elicit responses such as: "I am smart. I am young. I am funny. I like to swim." Simple adjectives have evolved into phrases carrying deeper meaning.
I am a Peace Corps volunteer. I am American. I am a business-person.
Regardless of what language we speak, English, Ukrainian or Russian, these words hold great meaning, great responsibility and great truth. Although they are common words and phrases to each of us, they represent very different experiences, values and backgrounds for all those here today. We are not average Americans. We have made a decision to leave behind family and friends, our homes and jobs to be here now.
Costumes
Fortified by a common desire to share our professional expertise and personal experience, we have come to promote greater understanding and mutual cooperation between Ukraine and the United States.
For the next two years, we will work as Business volunteers sharing the technical skills and knowledge necessary to operate in the economy of the 21st century.
As Environmental volunteers we will work to preserve and protect the resources of Ukraine through education and training.
As NGO volunteers, we will work to develop sustainable programs that will foster the potential of many just causes in Ukraine.
We have spent the past three months preparing for the challenges ahead through intense language and cross-cultural sessions with dedicated, hard-working LCF's and supportive Peace Corps staff. Our efforts have been encouraged by the local business communities, our internship sites, community administrations and local authorities. These groups helped us effectively integrate into our towns and cities. Finally, we have lived with Ukrainian families who have welcomed us into their homes, allowing us to take part in their daily lives, their celebrations, their disappointments and triumphs. For all the evenings sitting around eating cookies and drinking tea, singing songs and sharing stories, we are forever grateful.
Our presence here alone and our interactions with Ukrainians on a daily basis are the seeds of global harmony, cultural exchange and mutual understanding. As the forces of globalization continue to shrink the world in which we all live, understanding the cultural values and traditions that shape our respective views of each other becomes even more important.
Americans have always believed in the prospect of a better tomorrow. Instilling and sustaining this belief is our challenge as Peace Corps volunteers and as Americans. We will have the opportunity to make this a reality ever day we are here. Our time in Ukraine is short so let us use it wisely. Our experience in the next two years is what we make of it.
As we prepare to join hands with our Ukrainian counterparts, remember the importance of who you are and why you are here. The next time you are asked the question: Who are you? Take pride in the reply: I am a Peace Corps volunteer.
