The Peace Corps. An experience never to forget; one that teaches you incredible things that will last you a lifetime. You've heard this all before from me, but now you will really see this idea go into effect if you watch "Jimi Sir", a KeyWest IndieFest 2005 film about a volunteer's experience in Nepal. One sees the good and hard times of being a volunteer. One sees how this American fits his way into the life of Nepal, and how times change from the beginning to the end of his stay.

Times change because in the beginning, such are most volunteers, Jimi is homesick and lonely. Yet as he gets used to his new surroundings, Jimi eases into the everyday life of Nepal and before he knows it, it is time to leave. Jimi was a teacher in his town, and he taught students math and science. Through his American and teacher influence, he affected the people of his town. Jimi, near the end of his stay, managed the construction of a new science lab that would greatly benefit the students. Yet in the same way, through their Nepalan ways the townspeople impacted Jimi. He learns how to live without luxuries. One of the most important things he learns is, in a sticky situation he must fix it himself, perhaps in the most creative ways. For example, when a tailor cannot replace his button, Jimi goes out and finds one on the street.

When Jimi is asked why he joined the Peace Corps, he explains, "I wanted to learn about myself and establish goals and priorities. I wanted to see what was going on in the third world, to learn about development and to help out. Peace Corps seemed to be the best way to go about it." Just from being exposed to another world outside his own, Jimi learned a greater appreciation for others. Just like every other volunteer, he learned how to live a simple life filled with so much more satisfaction because it is based on helping out others. Jimi, just another American boy, was one of the American boys to learn that living is not about helping yourself, but about helping others.

At the end of the film, two American boys are asked, while sitting in the Boston Common, what is the Peace Corps. They have no idea. They also believe that Mt. Everest is a volcano. The point of this clip is to show us that most of the people of our nation really have absolutely no clue about the other half of the world. Americans are so self- absorbed that they do not even know that there are greater things out there, greater experiences out there, that are much better than their own. These great things may not be greater luxuries, but they are greater experiences that will change their entire outlook on the world, on their life, and on life itself because one simple, important lesson they could learn no where else except outside of their country and inside someone else's.

http://www.jimisir.com