Two, travel is my raison d'etre, and few jobs feed that need like PC. Not only will I get to see places of the world most people don't, but I get to learn language the best possible way: through total immersion. That's reason number 2a. I love languages and making connections between languages. For example, one word I already know in Turkmen is the word for man, 'adam.' Now I know that the Turkmen language was either influenced by or developed from the same mother language as Hebrew because the Hebrew name Adam means 'man.' That's my etymological bent coming through.
Three, it's good for my resume. Even if I don't take advantage of the perks associated with applying for other government jobs or getting a master's that PC offers, it's still an advantage to show any employer that you're well-travelled and willing to take risks.
Four, it will take me outside my comfort zone. I'm a firm believer in doing that regularly. It's why I went skydiving. It's why I'm training for a half-marathon. Staying in your bubble of comfort is a great way to live a stagnant, unproductive, meaningless life. Growth requires change, and change is uncomfortable. So I like to always be trying something new, learning something new, pushing myself. It doesn't always have to be a huge thing; typically it takes the form of cooking a new recipe or taking an alternate route to the grocery store. But sometimes, it does need to be actually scary. The little things keep you in practice, keep your mind sharp. The big things, they grow you.
Five, it will be meaningful. This is where some people who have accused me of being a hippie will feel some validation. I care about living my life out in a way that is pleasing to God, and while I don't think that means I have to be Mother Teresa, I do think there needs to be a humanitarian aspect to life. I will say that I'm excited about the fact that much of the meaningfulness of this work is the cross-cultural aspect. SOAPBOX ALERT: I abhor the typical American attitude of 'us vs. them,' or, really, if we're honest, the attitude of just 'us' with absolutely no thought about any 'them.' As though America is the center of the universe and, yeah, there are other countries, but who needs to learn anything about them? One of the things that pisses me off is the inevitability that whenever we send aid to foreign countries, someone will say, "we should be taking care of our own." As if the fact that those who sprang forth from the loins of a woman on American soil share a special connection. Right. I'm so glad I chose to be born to an American. What were those other people thinking who chose to be born in developing countries? Sillies. So, in my travels, I try to be the antidote to the 'ugly American' and show the people I meet that many of us are not spoiled and ignorant. It's like diplomacy on a cellular level.