Anyone done the Peace Corps?

“Hi hi folks. I've been thinking about joining the Peace Corps. Has anyone been a volunteer? Please share your experiences. From looking at their web site (www.peacecorps.org), I would like to see central Asia (Mongolia, Nepal, etc.), think of the backpacking in the Himalayas. Anywhere would be wonderful though. Any thoguhts?”

“The Peace Corps gets sugar coated like many other things Oldie. I haven't done the PC thing but have run into people that have and they have mixed feelings about it. I do know that that IS a question that I have to ask folks when they are trying to enlist in the Army and iffin they have they cannot get a Top Secret Security Clearance. I don't know exactly why! I also recommend that you really consider all the situations that you could get caught up in like local people not wanting you there and the chance of contracting a serious disease and food/water situations. Iffin you are overweight and want to lose some then it's probably a sure fired way of winning the TT weight loss contest.LOL”

“I had thought about back in the college days. But I too have heard mixed and frightening stories about the P.C. aswell. Just did a summer with the Student Conservation Assoc. that was fun and easy, a all expense trip to the Arctic of AK.. If I was still in college I would look into a exchange school programs or field trips and go aboard. Just as rewarding and as fun as the P.C.”

“The Peace Corps came to China -- though China wouldn't let them call it that -- while we were there, and our campus was an in-country training site. The volunteers were all enthusiastic as our 8-year-old checked them out. But she came from meeting them in their dorm with a question. She said the leader (the guy running the program) told her he was a China expert. So she asked him how long he had lived in China (she had about 10 months under her belt at the time), and he said he never had, he had studied China for years and taught about it at a famous U.S. university. She looked at me and her mom and asked, "How can you be an expert on a country without ever living there?" Smart kid.

So be cautious Oldie. I've known some persons who had good PC experiences, others that were real tribulations. Whatever the case, your backpacking and camping skills will pay off in the third world.”

“According to the web site (and yes I'm sure they sugar coat some of it) you are provided with all of the vaccinations needed for the particular area. They also train you as to security issues as well as provide medical assistance if necessary. They also - according to the web site - place volunteers where they are asked for and where it would be beneficial. I am going to meet with the Peace Corps office here on campus to get more info.”

“Oldie:

Until about a year ago, I was going to do it with my girlfriend. A few things dissuaded me.
1) we'd have to get married to ensure we were placed together.
2)Two years is a long time!
3) They "try" to get you your number one choice, but will place you where they really need you and at this time, that means rebuilding Yugoslavia and other Eastern Europe countries.

We opted just to save up and travel instead.

It is one of the only volunteer-type jobs where they actually pay you something. You can defer your student loans.

I've talked to people who both loved and hated it. Basically you make it what you want. No one is looking over your shoulder telling you what to do. One guy I talked to spent 3 months in his hut reading during the monsoon season in Africa. Nothing was going on.”

“One of my oldest and best friends joined the Peace Corps right out of college, and his first choices were Nepal and Mongolia. I believe those are everyone's first choices, LOL....anyway, he ended up in The Sultanate of Oman.

He enjoyed his time there, but he said that the adult locals were very suspicious of foreigners, especially Americans. We almost got him busted because we sent him a 'care package' full of stuff you couldn't get in Oman and the inspectors turned it over to the American Embassy. He was warned to never let that happen again or he would be put on a plane and sent home.

But the kids he taught (he was a teacher) were great and he says it was an incredible experience. And he was able to go trekking in Nepal during some time off.”

“Personally, as far as the location preference goes, it doesn't really matter to me where I go. Yeah, central Asia wold be wonderful, but so would Ecuador, Jordan, Poland, Samoa or Russia.

I totally agree with "you make it what you want." That is a philosophy I live by every day. Yeah, it might end up in Mongolia in the middle of winter - great, I'll bring an extra sleeping bag.

The Peace Corps is attractive to me right now for a few reasons. I'm graduating with my BA this spring and I don't want to go into grad school right away. I'm not tied down to anybody or anything. I want to see the world. I want some more teaching experience. I want to do what I can to help people. I want to experience a culture that is completely different from my own.

Yeah, I have also heard good and bad things. A good family friend met his wife while working for the Peace Corps in Lesotho (tiny country in the middle of South Africa). He had a wonderful time.
I am determined to experience everything I can that I can.”

“I have a friend who teaches/taught on an island called Isla Isabela(Archipelagos)...he is part of some religious-based missionary program(although no actual religious teachings are a required part of his agenda). I dont' know the exact name of it off hand, but e-mail me if you are interested.
He gets a meager stipend, decent housing and his very own horse(the only means of transport on that isle). He also gets liberal time off to backpack and explore volcanoes, etc.

Recently, he had to move, due to unrest amongst the fisherman on the island...
Now he's in Latacunga, Ecuador. I get all sorts of pics and stories from him every couple of weeks(internet usage is limited and pricey there).
IMHO, It sounds like a cool experience to try, especially just out of school.
:o)”

“Oldie, I have a great aunt who after divorcing her drunken husband of 45 years joined the PC three years ago. She was 70 at the time. She went to Africa to teach and absolutely loved it. Eventually she was sent home a few monthes early due to war. Just remember that there is no vacination for AIDs, (like 70% of Africans have HIV). It will never be any easier for you to do something like this.”

“I think 70% is a little high. I read recently that in a few countries it may be as high as 50%. I think on the continent, about 1/3 of the population has it.

Still pretty high tho.”

“Oldie,
While the P.C. may only be places it is "invited," local politics may be different than the capital where the ambassadors hole up. As several of you have noted, war, disease, suspicion and cultural conflicts are often part of the environment where P.C. does its work. The CIA, DOD, NSA and State Department don't really spend much time worrying about how a P.C. member might suffer if geopolitics change overnight. Unless, of course, you are actually in the CIA with P.C. as a cover (as a friend figured out about one of his P.C. mates when deep in the South American jungle). CIA is always recruiting bright college grads.

Other options are TESL - Teaching English as a Second Language/TEFL - Teaching English as a Foreign Language, or other methods of going abroad as an English teacher. Taiwan, Korea and Japan are all places that have many paid opportunities to do so and there are lots of Americans who have done it and can give you tips. Check out the publication Transitions Abroad, which is aimed at those wanting to teach overseas. It has a website, too. Your college's international ed. office should have info on getting certified as a ESL/EFL teacher.

I taught in mainland China on an exchange between universities. There are many opportunities to do so. Pay is meager by U.S. standards (though excellent by average Chinese standards), and the placements can vary from outstandingly cool (Kunming in Yunnan) to gulag (Inner Mongolian coal mining cities). An extra sleeping bag won't be enough to make the latter mentally or physically easy. The cultural pressure is intense even in the subtropics of Yunnan, which is where the last Mild Seven Adventure Race was run, in case you watch Outdoor Life Network tv.

But even in China, where American teachers generally are treated well or at least benignly, things change. Today it's in the news that an American teaching English in Wuhan, a big industrial city on the Yangtze, was stabbed to death at a church meeting. Religion and politics are very touchy in China right now. While China was very safe (crimewise, not trafficwise) when we were there '92-'93, the influence of Western capitalism and the rise of Falun Gong -- an offshoot of qigong, an ancient practice which was coming more into the open seven years ago -- change the dynamics.

Read all you can, Oldie, about Americans who go abroad for immersion experiences. A couple Minnesotans have written of teaching in China: Coming Home Crazy by Bill Holm and Saturday Night in Baoding by Richard Terrill. Rosemary Mahoney's Early Arrival of Dreams is highly recommended because it gives a woman's view (she was just out of college, too, I believe) and we read it after we came back and she was right on target.

But don't be deterred from an immersion experience. It WILL change your life. It is worth doing. Just do it for the right reasons. Boredom, escaping a failed romance, or other such reasons are not the right ones. Altruism is probably not a "right" one either. Be clearheaded and pragmatic about the decision. Figure there is a good chance you'll spend at least a year living in the equivalent of a AT shelter. That way, if it turns out better, it will seem like heaven.”

“Oldie!

You are a teacher, right? You might consider just getting a teaching job and wandering during the summer. That's what I do.

You could even get a nine-month lease and live in a foreign country for 3 months each year and still draw a regular paycheck while doing it. You might even be able to get a master's degree at an exotic locale.

BTW, I currently have a friend who just left for Ecuador for the Peace Corps and another in a similar program in Haiti. The guy in Haiti got malaria or dengue fever. He says he's okay, but...

I met a bunch of peace corps people before they left. They were so idealistic I wanted to slap 'em.”

“Well here's the deal. I'm getting my BA this spring (unfortunately the BA itself is useless since the U expects you to enroll in the graduate licensure program right away). I can defer enrolling for a year (or a little more in extenuating circumstances). When I finish the grad program I'll have a teaching license in MN and will be 4 credits shy of a masters.

9 month lease? Absolutely. Either that or I will have my own place and just have automatic bill paying and a house sitter for the summer. I'm gonna be gone and seeing the sights during the summer - I'm a restless person.

Malaria - what ever doesn't kill you makes you stronger right?

You'd probably want to slap me too. I'm darn idealistic.

Basically, I'm ready for some kind of adventure in my life. And I figure why not do it in some exotic locale, get more teaching experience, and hopefully help a few people along the way.

Time for more coffee.”

“In some of those places that you are talking about going to Oldie you could go and pay for your trip instead of paying rent at home while your gone. Break the lease, hire on as a Merchant Marine for a part time gig til you get to where you want to go, buy a one way ticket home and live off the land! LOL”

“One of my oldest friends, and college roomate, went to Belize as a PC volunteer after college. His experience was also one of highs and lows. He was stationed in a remote area near the Guatemala border, where I believe his second year seemed pretty long.

Somehow during his stay he contracted a virus that attacked his hearing in one ear. They flew him back to Washington DC and did a bunch of tests, but ultimately pronounced his hearing loss (almost total) to be permanent. Near as they could tell, he probably got it while swimming in a local river. It hasn't slowed him down too much, but did effectively ruin his dream of becoming an astronaut. Not surprisingly, his "disability" didn't meet their strict minimum physical standards. To his credit, he's still doin' the rocket scientist thing for Lockheed and JPL though. He's currently helping to design the entry vehicle for the next Mars probe. If that one goes "Tango Uniform" too, he might be thinkin' the ol' Peace Corp doesn't look too bad!!”

“If your going Oldie because you want to help these people.Please be aware that some of these people do not want American help and therefor your not looked at very nice in these contries. one of the hikers we had stay with us was going but when he found out the truth about what you ACTUALLY do there he went back to college instead. some of the PC members do nothing but sit in towns for 2 years teaching nothing doing nothing because no one wants them there. be careful decideing but good luck if this is what you really want.”

“I will certainly do some research on the areas to which I am most interested in going before I send in my application. I will also do some research on the place I get sent (if I actually do get accepted).

Does anybody know if the government has a website listing their travel suggestions/precautions that they give for tourists. I don't know which department does this, but if it is online that might be a little helpful.”

“Oldie,
The State Department gives travel advisories on their website somewhere. The Centers for Disease Control has a place on their site, I believe, for info on health risks abroad and what shots/meds are recommended for particular areas.”

“I was in the PC in the late '70's - and left because there was so little required of me but to play nice with the locals. I figured out later that those with a real skill had a lot more to offer, and a lot better results than those of us with nothing but a BA and good intentions. If you know construction, finance, public health, etc. you have a better chance of really doing some good than those of us with liberal arts degrees.”

“Here's the URL for State Department's on-line travel warnings and consular information sheets:

http://travel.state.gov/travel_warnings.html”

“Thanks. I'm going to talk to someone at the Peace Corps office here on campus on Wed. I think there is also an informational meeting coming up too.”

“My sister did the Peace corps in 89-91 I think. She was in Honduras, she had a rough, but wonderful time. "The toughest job you'll ever love" seemed to fit her experience.

I know she was attracted by the preference offered PC graduates for Federal jobs... including conservation and national forest jobs.

Oldie, if you wanna hear from her about the PC or email questions. I can relay stuff or ask her to email you directly.”

“Cool. Yeah, I don't doubt that it would be a trying experience. Yeah, if I could get her email address, or if you could have her email me, that would be great. Thanks. You have been declared awsome.”

“I went and talked to a guy at the peace corps office on campus. We talked for almost an hour before I had to go. I got a ton of information, and picked up an application. He served in central and western Africa a couple years ago and had some great stories. At the same time he wasn't hiding anything. He was very honest with me when I asked questions about safety, the application process, the whole system. It sounds like it has the potential to be a very trying experience. At the same time though, a person who is flexible, adaptable, and can cope in difficult situations when they arize can have a life changing experience. I've started on the application. Wish me luck.”

“Oldie, best wishes. Going for it heads up and clear eyed is the only way. An overseas immersion experience of any kind will pay dividends down the road once you survive it. You are to be lauded for considering such a commitment toward your own goals. Keep us up on how things develop.”

“Never did the Peace Corps...

... but an old girlfriend says she did the Marine Corps...
... and the football team...”

“Rick, you so badddd!

Oldie, good luck. I could never go to countries and see these people suffering, even though I care. It's the same as I love animals, but couldn't handle being a veternarian, even though you help animals.”

“Peace corps, no. But I know several people very well that gave volunteer service for a couple of years. That is pay your own way service. The only thing they didn?t have to pay for was the plane ticket home at the end. Anyway it was hard for them. Gave up time, money and did a lot of work. For what? For the people they served and nothing else. If you are looking for a way to see another part of the world and have some fun just travel the cheap way that is explained in one of those books. If you want to be a stronger, better person go serve those with less somewhere like the peace corps. Most people that do this are changed for the better. I have seen it first hand. They never get back the time or the money they used but they are wiser, more insightful, more peaceful people. It will not be easy but that does not mean it will not be worth it. You don?t get stronger by doing the easy thing. You don?t improve the world by doing only what everyone will approve of. If you do it, do it all the way. Don?t just hang out at peace corps expense.”

“Oh, nice anaolgy there!!!”

“Oldie - Do it.

Life is short.”

“Never did the peace corp, but i did work for the "war corp".”