Peace Corps

viciouspenguin · #1 07-24-2007, 04:43 PM

I'm considering joining Peace Corps after I graduate from college. At the moment my top choices are business development and urban planning in either Cambodia, Thailand, or the Phillipines.

Anyone have any advice, stories, actual experience, etc.? Thanks. If you guys are curious why I'm considering Peace Corp, I'll post my situation/mindset later

www.peacecorp.gov

Badger · #2 07-24-2007, 05:16 PM

You only get to pick your preferred locations right? I recently got back from a trip where I spent 3 weeks staying on the dirt floor of a Peace Corps Volunteer's hut in Panama.

I met maybe a dozen or so PCVs on my trip and most of them were really cool. It sounded difficult at times and quite rewarding at other times. I couldn't handle the 27 month commitment, which is why I'm involved in another organization that does shorter trips. The area I was in had a high concentration of PCVs because it was rather poor. High concentration meaning from where I was there was another volunteer a 45 minute hike away and about 5 more within another 2 or so hours of hiking.

Most everyone I met was really well adapted to their surroundings. Drinking the water and getting sick was fairly routine for the volunteers. A lot of health risks that you wouldn't normally take seemed to be not a big deal given they were adjusting to their surroundings. I experienced this to a smaller degree in the short time I was there. The nearby volunteer we were working with didn't seem to get that she was in a 3rd world environment and still complained about a lot of the small things.

The community I was in was very friendly and dedicated to working on our project. A lot of the community members couldn't tell the difference between me and the volunteer I was staying with. We looked nothing alike other than we were both white.

A lot of people don't realize that one of the main goals of PC is selling America, or rather showing America works, this is how we do it. All in all though it's a really good program and there are some good people out there doing some great work.

TiK · #3 07-24-2007, 05:24 PM

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I couldn't handle the 27 month commitment, which is why I'm involved in another organization that does shorter trips.

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Would you mind telling us the name of this organization? Or could you PM it to me if you don't mind? Thanks.

steel108 · #4 07-24-2007, 05:30 PM

I had a HS friend that did this upon graduating from undergrad and she said that Peace Corps is REALLY selective about who they take on. Kind of surprised me; just an FYI

TiK · #5 07-24-2007, 05:32 PM

[ QUOTE ]
I had a HS friend that did this upon graduating from undergrad and she said that Peace Corps is REALLY selective about who they take on. Kind of surprised me; just an FYI

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Well, I'm sure training is expensive, and they don't want to train someone just to have them flake out halfway through. So I'm sure they make certain that the people who go are people who are most likely gonna stick it out for the entire length of time.

Badger · #6 07-24-2007, 05:48 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I had a HS friend that did this upon graduating from undergrad and she said that Peace Corps is REALLY selective about who they take on. Kind of surprised me; just an FYI

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I'm sure training is expensive, and they don't want to train someone just to have them flake out halfway through. So I'm sure they make certain that the people who go are people who are most likely gonna stick it out for the entire length of time.

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I heard a story of someone bailing immediately after training. In her exit meeting or whatever they have a supervisor said to her something along the lines of how do you feel about wasting $15,000 of the governments money?

I don't recall the exact figure, but no, it's not cheap. Maybe someone can chime in and say what percent of applicants they accept, but I'm pretty sure it is around 20%.

Badger · #7 07-24-2007, 05:39 PM

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I couldn't handle the 27 month commitment, which is why I'm involved in another organization that does shorter trips.

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Would you mind telling us the name of this organization? Or could you PM it to me if you don't mind? Thanks.

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Engineers Without Borders. It's a relatively new non-profit that grew out of the student org. in Boulder, CO. I'm part of a professional chapter that recently did our first trip. I've been meaning to post a trip report, maybe I'll get around to that someday. It was a simple project, basically just delivering spring water to a small 4-household community to improve some sanitation problems for them.

Dominic · #8 07-25-2007, 09:37 PM

i think that's awesome...it will most likely be two very memorable years and ones you'll never forget.

I joined the PC when I was 25, but a month before I was to leave for Zaire to teach English I sold a screenplay - so I moved to L.A. instead. It's probably the only thing I really regret not doing...

viciouspenguin · #9 07-25-2007, 10:26 PM

Thanks for the responses/willingness to pass on questions

Questions I may have:

-What was the hardest thing you had to do in the 2 years?
-What is the hardest thing you have to deal with everyday?
-How difficult is the language barrier/transition?
-What do you do on a typical day?
-How safe is it? Honestly? (referring to the food, water, possible kidnapping/wars, etc.)
-What was the most rewarding aspect of joining Peace Corp?
-Probability of getting your preferred country/project
-Admissions rate

My friend suggested "Teach for America" as an alternative to Peace Corps - if anyone has any comments on this as well, I'd appreciate it

Thanks again

bruin · #10 07-25-2007, 10:59 PM

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My friend suggested "Teach for America" as an alternative to Peace Corps - if anyone has any comments on this as well, I'd appreciate it

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From what I've heard, Teach for America is crap and not nearly as rewarding as Peace Corps.