Bienvenidos! My name is Beatrice McDermott, but I usually go by Beatriz. I'm 23 years old and from Bethesda, Maryland, and I recently graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in English Writing and Sustainability.
When I first heard about the Peace Corps at a middle school career fair, I knew it was what I wanted to do when I grew up. I applied in my senior year of college and began my service in the D.R. in March 2023. The Peace Corps is a two-year commitment, so I'll be working as an Education volunteer until May 2025. My job as a Spanish Literacy Promoter is to assist in a rural elementary/middle school and help students learn how to read and write in Spanish.
I live in a province in the middle of the country in a pueblo (village) of about 1,000 people. In my town, the main industries are farming and dairy, and it's not unusual to see people riding their horses up and down the calle principal (main street) or leading around a herd of goats. My life here is a lot different than my life in the USA, and every day is a new experience. I'm so excited to share my service and everything I've learned in the DR with you! Dale (Let's go)!
Want to learn how to be a Peace Corps Volunteer like me? The Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners, and staff who are driven by the agency’s mission of world peace and friendship. At the invitation of governments around the world, Peace Corps Volunteers work alongside community members on locally-prioritized projects. Learn how you can #ServeBoldy with the Peace Corps.
