Peace Corps

[MyrddinsPrecint]

My brother in law served in the Peace Corps when I was younger, and as a result it has always been something I've considered doing. Well, I'm a senior, and it's time to apply for things for after I graduate in May.... I'm not ready to go to Grad School next year, so while doing some sort of less interesting work is fine, I'm also going to be looking into other things.

So, anyone have a Peace Corps experience? Anyone have other interesting alternatives?

[Peach]

My stories may or may not be useful for you, but you can add them to your brother's.

My father and brother both served, my brother because his long-term plans included foreign service and my father because his career had done a nosedive and he wanted to step out of his profession for a little while. My dad (whose assignment was to consult in market research) terminated his stint with the Corps in Colombia, South America, half way through and returned.

My brother served in Sierra Leone for two years (working in a rural area with local groups). The experience was not as useful for his purposes as he hoped. Consistent with his experience with the US government, the Corps took a fluent Russian-speaker and placed him in a country where the native language is Kreo, which they had to teach him from scratch; it also turned out that the US Foreign Service is not excited about Peace Corps experience as a basis for acceptance. He ended up afterwards working for contractors doing translation and passport processing, then the USIA, and when the USIA was (I think) merged into the foreign service he got in that way.

On the whole, I think my daughter's decision to work in a video store for a year after college before going to graduate school was more successful for her.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

You could always volunteer to work with disadvantaged kids here in the US through Peter Westbrook's foundation.

[seak]

One of the grad students in my program did Peace Corp in Ecuador. She had a really good time, and is still friends with many of the people she served with. That being said, I think she spent a lot of her time as the only American in a rural village. Different people's experiences vary. For some people it's great, for others it probably stinks. It will probably help you get into graduate school, though it will help more if you are going into the humanities or social sciences.

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Originally Posted by seak

One of the grad students in my program did Peace Corp in Ecuador. She had a really good time, and is still friends with many of the people she served with. That being said, I think she spent a lot of her time as the only American in a rural village. Different people's experiences vary. For some people it's great, for others it probably stinks. It will probably help you get into graduate school, though it will help more if you are going into the humanities or social sciences.

I've spent time in Ecuador. I have to say...it's a beautiful place and could DEFINITELY color your opinion. And when I went, the currency of Ecuador was the Sucre (after the general) and a dollar could buy you...well...LOTS! Now Ecuador has changed their currency to the US Dollar (how weird is that?) and it's not such a bargain.

I remember having a meal with my girlfriend at the time (who is Ecuadorian) at the Quito Raquet and Golf Club...a meal which would have cost $100 plus in the US. Five freakin' dollars is what it cost.

[Lemonaide]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

My brother in law served in the Peace Corps when I was younger, and as a result it has always been something I've considered doing. Well, I'm a senior, and it's time to apply for things for after I graduate in May.... I'm not ready to go to Grad School next year, so while doing some sort of less interesting work is fine, I'm also going to be looking into other things.

So, anyone have a Peace Corps experience? Anyone have other interesting alternatives?

Myrddins:
Hi, I haven't talked with you in quite some time and I just read your post. I did Peace Corps from 1986 through 1988 in the South Pacific and it was a great experience..... but..... no fencing there. I had to leave my stuff with my group before I left and it was a difficult adjustment, so I took up martial arts to pick up the slack. But, if you're lucky you might pull an invitation into an Eastern European nation that has fencing available. You may learn a great deal from them and have a great time as well. Good luck. Most of the assignments are either Health related or Education related where they have a shortage of personnel and want to bring in people to work - the US pays the volunteer a small stipend to live on. I was paid $250. dollars per month. [I walked a lot and ate dalo.]

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Beloit Fencer of Old

I've spent time in Ecuador. I have to say...it's a beautiful place and could DEFINITELY color your opinion. And when I went, the currency of Ecuador was the Sucre (after the general) and a dollar could buy you...well...LOTS! Now Ecuador has changed their currency to the US Dollar (how weird is that?) and it's not such a bargain.

And this, you think, is the strongest reason to why MP should or should not join the Peace Corps?

[Beloit Fencer of Old]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

And this, you think, is the strongest reason to why MP should or should not join the Peace Corps?

Nope. I'm saying that it's a beautiful country...Spending time there would tempt someone to go to extraordinary lengths to go back. That's all. It's a nice place.

[Sabresque]

I myself am also considering peace corps as an option post college. They have many interesting programs that can contribute toward graduate degrees at a great variety of schools across the country.

I think that in order to really get a lot out of a peace corps experience you have to truly understand what you are getting into. You will be sent across the world, oftentimes to a very isolated place where you know nobody. You will contribute to the community and have to learn to find your niche in the local culture. Two years is a long time, and I think that many of the people who end up not enjoying their peace corps experiences don't totally get what may happen to them.

I think also that your experience depends a lot on your assignment and where you are placed. I have a feeling its a bit hit and miss. I would really like to serve in latin america somewhere, but unfortunatly i don't have too much control over where I end up and that worries me a little.

[TBean]

While you won't see the world, you could think about City Year. It is a full-time year of service, they are a memeber of AmeriCorps, which also provides service opportunties for men and women in this country. They partner with non-profits in various service sectors.

Don't know what you are planning for grad school but maybe there is something with either of these two groups that will help you with those plans as well. I know one of my old housemates did City Year (loved it) and then on to graduate school for public health.

[parrythis]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

My brother in law served in the Peace Corps when I was younger, and as a result it has always been something I've considered doing.

Go for it. You will learn more in your time there than most people do in a lifetime.

[Lemonaide]

Zilverzmurfen, no offense, but you have a sort of lazy streak, you gotta get it together. My advice is to challenge yourself to something difficult to learn. Fencing is not enough.... Think about it.

MP: go for it, and since you're a fencer, go for a place where there's fencing, it's not a cop out, you'll do fine. They want well rounded people who do things, not lumps on a sofa. You could connect with some great fencing people, and still do your job.

It's completely different than the military, it's a volunteer group, if you don't like the work you can request to ET [early terminate], and you might still qualify for a different position. It's a two year volunteer job. Most people try to stay for the two years if possible, some people ET due to illness, or family difficulties back at home, but most stay until COS [close of service].

Some of the best volunteers were retirees, they had professional careers behind them. One of them wrote a procedure manuel for a hospital, it was great, she was an old lady and went to work every day, and just helped out with little things.

[Zilverzmurfen]

Originally Posted by Lemonaide

Zilverzmurfen, no offense, but you have a sort of lazy streak, you gotta get it together. My advice is to challenge yourself to something difficult to learn. Fencing is not enough.... Think about it.

Ok, I've been thinking about it and I have no idea what you mean.

How exactly have I shown myself to have a lazy streak, and why are you bringing that up in a thread about the Peace Corps?

[MyrddinsPrecint]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Ok, I've been thinking about it and I have no idea what you mean.

How exactly have I shown myself to have a lazy streak, and why are you bringing that up in a thread about the Peace Corps?

If it sounds like a Mango and tastes like a Mango.....

[Neinteen]

Originally Posted by Zilverzmurfen

Ok, I've been thinking about it and I have no idea what you mean.

Don'tcha Love the Feeling?

[BrianH]

Originally Posted by Lemonaide

Zilverzmurfen, no offense, but you have a sort of lazy streak, you gotta get it together. My advice is to challenge yourself to something difficult to learn. Fencing is not enough.... Think about it.

Mango, Umbrella, Introspective, Lemonaide, et al: Don't mess with my friend ZZ.

[oiuyt]

Originally Posted by MyrddinsPrecint

If it sounds like a Mango and tastes like a Mango.....

When life gives you Mangos, make Lemonaide....

-B

edit note: both are, of course, on my ignore list (along with several other "personalities")

[Jason]

And like that, I'm resurrected.

The Peace Corps can be an awesome experience, but I'd suggest analyzing your motives. A LOT of kids go who into the Peace Corps do not finish their two years because they didn't quite understand what the experience would entail (naturally). For sure, being a college kid, you've got some ideas about what the experience will be. I'm going to tell you that you are undoubtedly wrong (naturally).

The big negatives to prepare for are feelings of depression, loneliness, and isolation. There are loads and loads of positives, but they won't matter if you're not prepared for the negatives. If you're as lucky as I was, you'll be somewhere where you'll be able to fence and it'll become one of the greatest experiences of your life. Don't expect to be as lucky as I was. However, if there is something in the country you'll be able to immerse yourself in, you'll have a fantastic time. The kids who I knew who didn't get the most of their experience were the ones who weren't engaged in something they loved (not too many people "loved" teaching English, for example, so it had to be something other than their PC "job").

Anyway, it can be a fantastic experience and I encourage anyone to consider it. But think about your motives carefully. (P.S. "Change the world and help people" is a sucker's motive and you'll hate your time in the PC.)

Oh, and Peach isn't entirely accurate about the Foreign Service. PCVs are given an "easier" foreign service exam than the normies, if taken within a year of service.

I was in the PC from '99-'01--fairly recently. You kids can feel free to PM me for more info.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by Lemonaide

But, if you're lucky you might pull an invitation into an Eastern European nation that has fencing available.

I'm pretty sure that there are no longer programs in any Eastern European nation. There are certainly no longer programs in Russia, Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, or Slovakia.

[Peach]

Originally Posted by Jason

Oh, and Peach isn't entirely accurate about the Foreign Service. PCVs are given an "easier" foreign service exam than the normies, if taken within a year of service.

I'm accurate for the time my brother was in--I'm glad to hear it has changed.