I am currently beginning the process of applying to the
Peace Corps - to leave in January 2000. I am a Business
Administration and Law major, but the thing I truly love is
travelling. Anyone who has been in the Peace Corps and
can give me advice on whether or not to do it, your opinions
are welcome. I am concerned about the two year commitment,
but think that would be the best way to truly understand
another culture - by learning the language and being part of
the way of life.
If anyone knows of any 6-12 month volunteer or work
opportunities in Africa, India, or Nepal that are not too
expensive so I can do this without committing so long,
please let me know. It is easier for me if you respond via
e-mail. Thanks.
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I've known a number of ex-Peace Corps volunteers, two in
Africa, several in Thailand. All enjoyed the experience.
With your background, you might be able to to do something
in a govt Ministry (albeit out in the bboies at some
provincial office) where you could help in formulating or
implementing policy. the opportunities for travel vary
widely, depending on where you go. Finding other volunteer
opportunities can be difficult if you don't have language
skills (ex-Peace Corps people do very well in international
fields because of their language skills). If you know
French, that will help you in Francophone Africa, on the
other hand it would make you a pyriah in Vietnam or
Cambodia where the French are still much hated.
x
try doing a web search--there are places where you pay for
the experience (all too expensive, I'd say). There may be a
few organizations that want help in starting businesses,
however, and that would be the ticket.
I've not done the peace corps but have known several folks
that have. My impression is that most enjoyed the
experience but were disappointed with what they could
acheive. My guess is also that if you like to travel the
peace corps would be a bad option, if you want to go to a
specific place and live amoung a culture for a longer time
period, the peace corps would be a good option. As for the
two year commitment, why not?
The main point of thge Peace Corps is service to others. Your posts don't reflect much of this attitude. Absent this attitude I suspect that Scarlet's time in the PC will be quite short and not at all pleasant for those persons, US and local, with whom she has contact.
The main point of the Peace Corps is service to others. Your posts don't reflect much of this attitude. Absent this attitude I suspect that Scarlet's time in the PC will be quite short and not at all pleasant for those persons, US and local, with whom she has contact.
Doesn't the top of every Peace Corps advertisement say, "how
far are you willing to go to make a difference?" I AM
choosing some type of volunteer organization instead of just
travelling around with some tour group because I would like
to be of service. However, I do feel the people there could
probably teach me as much or more as I could teach them.
Hopefully the experience would promote growth for all
involved.
I've met many Peace Corps volunteers in the countries I've
lived and worked (and traveled) in (Kenya, Thailand, Nepal,
etc.) and dated an ex-volunteer for two years. I hear a
lot of mixed views. A lot depends on the country you're in
and who is running the program. From personal experience,
I can tell you that the application process is agaonizingly
long but what do you expect from the government. I'm sure
they want to make sure you're fit to go but it's painfully
long. I've met people who were placed in areas where they
were supposed to do a particular job (ex. agroforestry),
and ended up having to be moved (also agaonizingly long)
because the site was not suitable (ex. no forests,etc.).
People seem to be happy with their job and they walk away
having "received" more than they "gave". One friend who
was in Benin told me that he thought it was more of public
relations vehicle for the US govt. (although the intentions
are good). Many though express displeasure with the
organization itself and how it is managed, or mismanaged
(depending on where you are). There are a number of perks
to the job (scholarships, etc.) and the name is
recognizeable. As Uncle Dutch said, the main reason you're
there is to provide a service. There are many
organizations out there so don't think this is the only
one. Do some research. Good luck.
Mike Tidwell's "The Ponds of Kalambayi" - he was a pc
volunteer in Zaire. Fascinating look at Zaire and the
feelings that Mike experiences as he lives among the local
people and tries to get them interested in fish farming.
I can't even believe there are no RPCV's lurking out there
to give Scarlet a little input. I guess it's kind of the
opposite of travelling, in the sense that the PC stays in
one place and gets to know it very well whereas travellers
get a more short-term view of many places. Anyway, overall,
the experience was really extreme and difficult to summarize
in a short paragraph. My program was evacuated after like 5
months, so I can only tell you about my experience as a new
Vol in a rural site (and I hope some more experienced people
will kick in with posts). The beginning's the hardest part,
so everyone said, as you're plopped down in a totally new
place, a new culture, where you have limited contacts and
you're knowledge of the language isn't that strong. There's
only so much prep they can give you, and the prior posts are
right: the quality of support really varies from place to
place so it's best to be pretty self-motivated. Before I
went, the picture I had in mind was of people lined up for
technical help with fish farming. Maybe somewhere it's like
that, but where I was in the Philippines it just wasn't that
organized. So at first you have to meet people, work on
your language, gain people's trust and establish a
relationship with your host country agency (not to mention
find out what projects they REALLY want and could use, etc).
While the success of development projects vary, I can say
that's it's a very good (in the sense of thorough) cultural
experience. You really do get to know your host community
well (and they you). Anyway, I'd recommend talking with a
lot of people before deciding. Usually the PC gives
oncampus presentations, so ask a lot of questions. Also,
try to touch base with the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
(RPCV) group in your area and try to talk with some of them
to get as rounded a view as you can, and then see if you're
ready to jump in! Good luck and e-mail me if you have other
questions.
I was a PCV and PC Staff in Bangladesh and Iran, 30 yrs ago
and have traveled a great deal afterwards. The VSO's and
WT's are different.
~
PCV's get excellent training and structured support. It
takes two years, because the first is usually just really
getting to know what is really happening and how to live and
function effectively. THEN maybe the second year you begin
to become functional. At the end of your tour is when you
finally are ready to really begin effective work within a
foreign culture. Traveling around observing a variety of
superficial impressions is fine, but something altogether
different. I notice I get totally different impressions of a
place after 1 day, 1 month and 6 months, 1 year. So be it.
~
At the high end, The Embassies, USAID, etc. are something
totally different from either travelers or VSO's.
~
I recommend Peace Corps (or other VSO's) if you want to
learn to live and work in a foreign place, within a
structured support system. The training, experience and
discipline are quite valuable, and you might even be a
little help if you last long enough to learn how to be
effective. Go to learn, not to teach or do. It is an
exchange. You don't necessarily have all the answers when
you arrive. The experience for me was invaluable.
~
ok..i was a pc in chad 1 year ago. because of security problems we were all evacuated. we were offered the chance to go to cameroun but i opted for coming back to the states and am currently going back after i finish 1.5 years of grad school in public health. i agree with all of the other posts. it is a grueling experience that will test all of your emotions, patience, sanity, but can be very rewarding. just be sure you know what to expect. many people go with the intent to save the world but change is often slow and difficult in the countries where the peace corps is at. i went over there with more of an expectation of cultural exchange, helping people however i could and that is what i got out of it. it is alot different from travelling as you really dont leave your site that ofter, but you develop friendships and see the cultural dynamics of a setting that you really cant if you are jumping from place to place travelling. it was real hard at times, but i was prepared for that before i left the states. peace corps provides a unique experience that nothing else can offer. you are living in a remote setting but at the same time can get out quickly if you need to. plus you have the support of other volunteers and the pc medical staff. if you have any inclination to do it, give it a shot...how many other chances do you think you may have to do something like this?
Hi-
You would be very surprised how diffrent the programs can
be. They are very autonomous from country to country. Some
are awful, others are better. I served breifly in an Asian
country. I came home because of a family emergency. I've
kept in touch with my fellow volunteers, and they are very
unhappy, many have left. Some ended up in the middle of
nowhere with no real work to do. Others found themselvs
doing work that had nothing to do with their profession,
things they were not trained for and had no experence with.
We were supposed to be given a medical kit when we got off
the plane, it was not delivered until weeks later. Worse, we
were not told to stay away from locally made ice cream due
to the possibility of TB until SIX weeks after arriving.
Given that there was a small ice cream stand near the school
where we had our training that hot summer, we had all eaten
pleanty of ice cream there.
Then again, I have met PCVs who had great experences. They
all hate PC bureaucracy, but the programs were much better
run.
And of course, some sites are better that others. Some have
more comforts, some have few comforts (which some PCVs
prefer,) some have fewer temp extreams, and some have a more
interesting culture than others (which depends on the PCV,
of course.)
It's really hard to say what you will end up with.
Robert
OK, I'll come out of the woodwork. I served in Namibia.
Only advice I can give you is, "Just do it!" If you want
to go home when you get there, fine. But don't regret not
going for it. I made my decision to sacrifice my "career"
because every RPCV I talked to was pleased with their
decision. And, luckily, it was the best experience of my
life.
I was in the same boat as you. About a year ago I applied
to the PC. I was all gung-ho about it, I wanted to change
the world and get to know more of it as well. I think the
PC is a really noble idea, the vols go in w/ the intention
of really helping. But I also think that they go in w/ all
the weight of the US gov't on their shoulders...the usual
american mentality of "You're poor, we're rich, and we know
what's best for you," they go into these countries w/o
really understanding the culture or the problems and they
try to fix them. I've heard many stories of projects gone
awry, for example one in Bolivia which tried to protect a
national park, but took that land away from farmers who
then didn't have a way to eat...Or the many projects of
teaching English in Africa...come on now, Africans need
many more things before they need to learn to speak
English. The PC, however unintentionally, brings certain
ideas and mentalities (capitalism, for one) into these
countries, and changes their cultures in many small ways.
I became really doubtful, especially after spending several
months in Central/South Am, where I met some PCVs and
worked for an NGO...I realized I couldn't do it if I wasn't
going into it 100% sure. I do think that it can be a rich
and rewarding experience, and that the vols can do a lot of
good. Read The Village of the Waiting, by George Packer, a
RPCV who volunteered in Togo.
My decision was to work for an NGO instead. I eventually
want to do this in Latin America, but I'm going to Africa
for a year and plan to spend some months with an NGO down
there. Of course, these orgs aren't perfect either,but you
can find one you identify w/ more and have more flexibility
w/. check out www.idealist.org by action without borders,
it's a great NGO resource.
good luck!
PC volunteers are ultimately State department employees,
under the ambassador of each respective embassy. A
byproduct of their work is turning out "success stories".
Learn more from Alternatives to the PC, published by the
Institute for Food First, Oakland, CA.