After an undergraduate exchange in New Zealand and completion of his Biology degree, Dan decided he wanted to continue his experiences overseas while giving something back. He accepted a Peace Corps assignment in Uganda preparing students to teach biological sciences in secondary schools. The position has its challenges. Dan has worked hard to inspire his students to be creative with their teaching and sympathetic to the plight of students who lack of proper resources and have a history of dropping out. He has also been working to gather basic teaching materials such as textbooks, as well as computers and other technology. And whether living his daily life or teaching ecology to his students, he constantly wrestles with significant language barriers. The challenges are real, but the rewards have been rich. Dan had the following to say about his time abroad as an undergraduate and in the Peace Corps:

"New Zealand provided me with my first honest and, at times, heart-wrenching time away from all that was 'home'. The frigid glacial ice of Franz-Josef Glacier in the South Island and the serene beauty of dolphins playing in the Bay of Islands of the North Island still dance in my dreams and motivate me to see and do all that I can in my short time on earth. Uganda, on the other hand, has provided me an opportunity to remove myself so far from the life I normally live that my biggest fear is the reverse-culture shock that is expected upon returning home. I wake at 4am...5am...6am to cocks crowing and the sounds of shovels hitting the earth. I find laughter in those who hear me speak their language of Lusoga. I find myself happily tearing up as a student says 'Mr. Daniel, I and the rest of the class cannot find the words to express to you how much we thank you and have appreciated your time and energy in teaching us. We cannot thank you enough.' It is amazing how fast the time has flown and how much I have grown to love and cherish each day here."