What is the peace corps really like?

Question

i'm interested in hearing the real stuff, the good and the bad. how old were you when you joined? i'm seriously considering joining after i graduate from college.

Answer 1

go to their website, I am sure you can talk to people that are members. my friend went to china for 2 years, she seemed to like it but it was hard work and not very good conditions, like little heat and no hot water for the winter.

Answer 2

I wasn't in the peace corps but worked along side them closely in Central America. They are a great bunch of people, anyone will like them. Hard conditions but seriously why would you join up if you are expecting anything more..? You will never know the greatness of their work unless you join because sadly, their work is "boring" to the media - Britney Spears creates far more interest and WHY do you ask...? Who knows... but anyone who assists in getting an entire village of hundreds fresh water and medical supplies deserves a medal. Un-sung heroes. If you are one of them, for sure... JOIN.

Answer 3

Start at

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

and read until you finish it all or get tired of me, whichever comes first. My experience is dated (I was a PCV 36 years go) but it was real. Any straighter from the horse's mouth and it would be wet, with little green flecks in it.

Answer 4

You can't decide to join the PeaceCorps -- you can decide to apply, and hope you are chosen. MOST applications are *not*. It's a highly competitive process.

Go to Google and type in

PeaceCorps blogs

You will receive a list of links to testimonials by actual PeaceCorps members.

Answer 5

That is a difficult question to answer because every Peace Corps volunteer has a different experience depending on many factors from what country you are placed in and what kind of work you end up doing.

Peace Corps is very challenging, but also can be a very rewarding experience. For many, including myself, it is a life changing experience.

You need to really know what you want to do and why you are applying. Definitely not a decision to take lightly. Peace Corps needs skilled people and you have to be able to adjust and be flexible to handle situations that are unfamiliar to you. Many think that the difficulties of Peace Corps comes from living with less, but the real thing that makes it hard is that you are living in a completely different culture and are often having assumptions you have had all of your life challenged.

I highly recommend looking into Peace Corps. Contact a recruiter. Seek out returned volunteers in your community - they are almost always willing to share their experiences - both the good and the bad. My advice is if you are serious about becoming a Peace Corps volunteer understand that a lot of what Peace Corps service is, is what you make it.