"I, Charlotte Mailly do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.”
After a decade of thinking about joining the Peace Corps, a year of applications and medical appointments, three long months of countless training sessions, and hours of intensive language training, I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer!
This morning, 46 volunteers were sworn in at the brand new U.S. Embassy in Cotonou. It was surreal and humbling to be surrounded by a new family of 45, brought together to go forth and make a difference. We were accompanied by our incredible training staff, PC Alum, Current Volunteers and numberous government representatives from Benin and the U.S.
"I, Charlotte Mailly, promise to serve alongside the people of Benin. I promise to share my culture with an open heart and open mind. I promise to foster an understanding of the people of Benin, with creativity, cultural sensitivity, and respect. I will face the challenges of service with patience, humility, and determination. I will embrace the mission of world peace and friendship for as long as I serve and beyond. In the proud tradition of Peace Corps' legacy, and in the spirit of the Peace Corps family PST, present and future,
I am a Peace Corps Volunteer."
We are exhausted, elated and ready to serve!
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