Peace Corps?

[kellybeen18]

Has anyone here ever been in the Peace Corps? It's something I considered a few years ago when I first graduated, but life got in the way and I was too scared to actually do it. I've recently been considering it again, because I realized this is my last chance before I get older and want to really settle down. Any thoughts?

[wordsmith]

I considered Peace Corps, but instead ended up going with a domestic corps that did mainly placements benefitting the urban poor. I did that for the one-year commitment and would have signed on for the optional second year, but the org I was volunteering with hired me on with salary and benefits, so I took a job with them versus a volunteer post.

Just a reminder that if committing to a program abroad seems unfeasible in some way, there are also quite a few options to do work in the same vein/similar philosophy here at home.

[Fender247]

I was actually a former peace corps volunteer. Believe it or not there are older volunteers but they are the ones who have most trouble learning the language and they have health issues as living conditions sometimes aren't the best. So age isn't really a factor unless of course you have a mortgage and kids.

I would say it's best to leave any expectations at home and go with an open mind. Don't sign up with any thoughts that you'll save the world or make life better for people in whatever country you will serve. If you do any good it's just an added bonus. If you want to do it to try something different than go for it. I met some amazing people and made some great friends both americans and host country nationals. I had some really great times and some really terrible times while I was serving but in the end it was all worthwhile I think. I did leave after my first year which I kind of regret but at the same time I was able to do somethings here in the U.S. that I would not have been able to do had I stay my full term.

Here is an NY Times article on PC from a development perspective. A lot of my friends who are/were volunteers agree with most of the points made. But keep in mind Peace Corps differs greatly from country to country.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/opinion/09strauss.html?_r=1&ex=1200805200&en=e0e9cf6a7154731c&ei=5070&emc=eta1&oref=slogin

Feel free to send me a PM if you have any other questions or want to know more.

[kellybeen18]

Thank you for all the great comments and advice! I’m still doing some research and trying to decide if this is really something I want to do. I haven’t talked to my parents about it yet, because I’m afraid they either won’t take me seriously or try to talk me out of it.

Fender – the article you suggested gave me a different perspective, which is helpful

Wordsmith – I realize there are serious issues in the U.S. that need addressed also, but part of my desire to join the Peace Corps is to get out of the country and experience a totally different culture and way of living

I’ve also be looking for a similar program, maybe that focuses on environmental volunteering, but so far the only things I have seen are basically “alternative vacations” that you have to pay for. I think that defeats part of the purpose for volunteering! Does anyone know of any other volunteer abroad opportunities?

[wordsmith]

Wordsmith – I realize there are serious issues in the U.S. that need addressed also, but part of my desire to join the Peace Corps is to get out of the country and experience a totally different culture and way of living

Totally valid. I just wasn't sure if you (or anybody else wishing to volunteer who might see the post) were aware of how easy it is to do the same stuff domestically if living abroad isn't for some reason feasible for you.

[go_vegan]

I could never do Peace Corps, but my boyfriend served in Ghana from 2003-2005, and his face lights up every time he talks about his experience. He's now 32 and wants to serve again next year to gain a difference experience, specifically one with electricity and running water, neither of which he had in Ghana.

My boyfriend has told me that your experience largely depends on the country in which you serve and agrees with Fender247 that you can't expect to save the world. He considers it the toughest experience of his life and admits that he wanted to quit many times during his service. Nevertheless, Peace Corps was by far the most influential experience of his life, and he always encourages others to sign up.

[wordsmith]

Volunteering is hands-down the most life-changing, life-shaping experience I've ever had, for what it's worth.

[Priscatip]

I seriously considered the Peace Corps for a while, and then determined that I couldn't commit that much time due to family commitments. Instead, I volunteered in South Africa for a month, just to try it out, through a program I found on www.gapyear.com. There are tons of volunteer programs of all different types. Just an idea.

[wordsmith]

Cool! I was in South Africa as a student, where were you placed as a volunteer?

[kellybeen18]

Thanks for the Gap Year lead, Priscatip. It looks like they are all what I was talking about before - you have to pay, so its more like an alternative vacation than volunteering. Not to sound cheap or anything, but I would rather volunteer and not have to pay for it. I mean, afterall I am giving up my time and lots of comforts to go to another country for an extended period of time.

[wordsmith]

I think mostly, you have to pay for ones that are short-term, because you are basically just taking a trip. Volunteer opps that require a year or more's service, you seldom have to pay to do, apart from application fees and vaccinations and such.

[Fender247]

If you're leaning towards doing PC at all, I would start the application process asap. It can take a long time.....

[kellybeen18]

I don't think I can handle the Peace Corps after all. First, I hate the fact that I would essentially be on my own in a strange place. I would feel much better being able to work as a team of volunteers.

Second, this is really silly, but I don't think I can handle the living conditions. Last night I was reading in bed before I went to sleep. When I went to turn out my light, I had a SWARM of gnats and little bugs crawling around my windows and walls. I freaked out. I can't stand bugs, especially crawling all over the place where I am going to sleep. All night long I kept waking up and twitching because I thought there was a bug on me.

I understood all along that living in another country could be primitive and I was keeping an open mind, but last night it hit me that I am not cut out for this. I just can't deal with this stress, even though I feel really pathetic for saying that. I feel like a prissy weakling now. I guess this is why no one took me seriously when I talked about it.

:(

[Fender247]

I don't think I can handle the Peace Corps after all. First, I hate the fact that I would essentially be on my own in a strange place. I would feel much better being able to work as a team of volunteers.

Second, this is really silly, but I don't think I can handle the living conditions. Last night I was reading in bed before I went to sleep. When I went to turn out my light, I had a SWARM of gnats and little bugs crawling around my windows and walls. I freaked out. I can't stand bugs, especially crawling all over the place where I am going to sleep. All night long I kept waking up and twitching because I thought there was a bug on me.

I understood all along that living in another country could be primitive and I was keeping an open mind, but last night it hit me that I am not cut out for this. I just can't deal with this stress, even though I feel really pathetic for saying that. I feel like a prissy weakling now. I guess this is why no one took me seriously when I talked about it.

:(

The work thing is an issue for everyone. A lot of people really lack the confidence to work with host country nationals on their own at first, except for some of the older volunteers. If you are a teacher you have your work cut out for you but some of the other programs finding things to work on and projects to start depends really on a variety of factors outside your control. Basically some people do very little work in their service. Some of these people are rather proactive people too but lots of things can go wrong in developing countries. I've heard stories of people filling out their quarterly reports and writing pretty much nothing and no questions were asked. I've had many failed attempts at trying to do things, but when you do get things done it is a real confidence builder. Keep in mind they ease you into everything and preservice training you are interacting a lot with other people. Even though you are alone at site you really aren't you have neighbors, host family, you meet people you make friends so keep that in mind too. After all you join PC to learn about a different culture and working with people from another country NOT to just work with americans (you can do that at home!).

the bugs and other creatures....keep in mind you could be living in a city too and the infrastructure might be pretty good. You have bugs and gnats at home what difference does it make if you encounter them in your room or in another room in a foreign country 6000 miles away? You have somewhat of a say too (or at least we did) when you arrive in country and your program manager asks if you want to live in a city, town or village...but that probably varies country to country. Honestly, primitive living conditions you get used to really fast. The hard things to get used to are cultural differences.