I need opinions on the peace corps!?

Question

Ok. I'm really considering joining the peace corps after college. I've researched it and the minimum time you have to serve is 27 months. I'm absolutely willing to do this, and i think it will really impact my life in a huge way and could impact my future and outlook on life. Helping other people in foreign countries and having new experiences is really appealing to me. I don't know...what are some of your opinions on this? Should I do it? Is it a little extreme? Is there any risks that I should know about that might effect my decision that I don't know? Just need some opinions.

Answer 1

I would go to www.peacecorpsjournals.com. There you will find blogs of current peace corps volunteers as well as returned peace corps volunteers. The journals are organized by region and country.

You may also want to check out the yahoo group peacecorps2. There are a lot of users and the forum is really active.

There are definite risks and concerns. A lot of volunteers get very lonely and feel very isolated at their sites. Also, seeing how major the problems a country is facing first hand and realizing that there is only so much that you can do is also hard. As far as risks go, people have died brutal deaths while serving while others have been raped. People have had to leave service because of foreign illness. On top of that, your current support group will be oceans away.

Literally.

That said, I would go for it. Joining the PC has ALWAYS been a dream of mine and reading journals only makes me want to go more. Although there are definite risks, most volunteers who follow the safety guidelines presented during training (Don't go out alone at night. Don't drink until you're sloppy drunk) complete their service safely.

Although I do not recommend going into the Peace Corps with a "I can always leave" mindset, do know that you can leave. If you get too lonely or if you get bored with service or if you feel threatened, you can always leave. The PC will fly you back home and you can carry on from there.

Good luck in your decision making and feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Answer 2

I was a PCV many years ago. My daughter is one now. It was a wonderful experience. Frustrating at times, but all in all it was something I have never regretted.

Read LOTS more:

http://www.tedpack.org/pchead.html

Answer 3

Just like the other girl said, definitely check out peacecorpsjournals.com and the yahoo group "peacecorps2" they have been great great sources for me. pcjournals is great for really getting ideas of what could happen while you are there. peacecorps2 is a GREAT message board--you can ask anything and people will respond, there are also great files on there (you have to join the group to see)

I guess I should tell you where I'm at right now! :) I applied on February 28th, and have had a *very quick* application process, unusually quick. I sent my Medical Packet in to the PC (May 7th) and hope to be cleared and invited in the next couple weeks (which is also very quick, but since I have a summer nomination, they are starting to do process us through much quicker).  So I'm currently expecting to be in Central or South America working in Youth Development this August.

For me, joining the Peace Corps was a lot* to think about.  I'd always had it in the very back of my mind through h.s. and college, and my senior year of college I nearly applied, but things came up and I didn't. Though, I'm glad I didn't because I don't think I would have been personally/mentally ready for it. Not because I was just graduating, but more of where I was in life at that point. A little over a year later I decided to apply for real. I had been researching it and reading PCV blogs, and decided that I wanted similar experiences in my life. So it seems now I'm on my way!

It sounds to me like you want to do this, and in your heart you are sure of it, but you are a little scared because it is such a big deal. You need to really figure it out for yourself, but in the mean time, I'll give some ideas :) I of course promote it, but it isn't for everyone. Its a huge commitment and can be very stressful at times.  But on the other hand, you will learn and experience things that will forever benefit you and you can get no where else.

This of course is something extreme, that's why not everyone does it. But I haven't found a volunteer yet who had regretted spending 27 months in Benin, Peru, Madagascar, Azerbaijan, Mongolia, Georgia, Philippines, Jamaica, Samoa, Morocco, etc! :) Everyone I've talked to falls in love with their country and their community. They say it was incredibly difficult--hard times conquering the language, being away from their family and friends, reaching their goal, but it was all worth it. I know there are going to be times where I stop and think that I must be crazy for doing this, I can't believe I'm doing this, that I'll be really lonely, or not know how to accomplish something. But I know that when I do accomplish something, make a new friend, try something new....it will far outweigh any bad day.

There are things that have happened like rape or murder....but is is extremely rare and often was when someone was alone or out at night.  ...I don't want to come off as making what happened to them and the people in particular seem like it was their fault or lessened... However, in the amount of volunteers since the creation of the PC til now, there has been an extremely small number, and it is more likely to happen in one of our big US cities like Chicago, NY, DC, Miami, LA than it is abroad. The communities are often very close and people take care of each other. I don't mean to scare you off by this, but it is a very sad and real fact, I have read about it and I feel assured that I will be safe where ever I go.

Again, it sounds like you are really very interested and close to applying for the peace corps. I totally promote it, but its for you to choose! You have to decide if this is really something you want. Can you be away from  home for 2 years? Will you benefit from this? How will you handle stressful times? Are you ready for adventure? Hard work? Meeting new people? Learning a new language?  Just keep thinking about it. Make a pro/con list if you need to, make sure you feel right about it! :)

I wish you the best of luck. Definitely check out peacecorpsjournals.com and read about some experiences, and join & check out the message board and files section on yahoo's group: peacecorps2

If you want check out my blog, http://www.jcorps.blogspot.com

Good luck deciding on all this! It is a huge decision, but you'll make the right one, and no matter what you decide, PC or work here, it'll be the right one and you'll love it.

Jenna

Answer 4

was it really neccesary to answer my question? i know you were just saying that he doesnt like me because i said you were giving girls a bad name but what ever. its time to start acting mature.