Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with peacecorps

The perils of applying for a lot of things!

Papagayo — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 15:49:21 -0800

Question about the Peace Corps and withdrawing acceptance of an invitation—is this possible? Will it make me look bad if/when I apply for other government things? Hi mefi, I guess I could ask this of a recruiter but I’m being a little paranoid. I was invited to a (really, really awesome) Peace Corps assignment last week. I want to accept it but am also waiting to hear back from a really prestigious grant that I cleared the first stage of a couple of months ago. At this point the PC is becoming more and more appealing to me than even the grant, but I would still prefer to have both options on the table. If I accept the assignment now, am I still able to go back on that later (say, a month from now, when I will hopefully have heard from the grant)? Would this blacklist me from anything else? The other grant is also a US government grant, and I think accepting that instead of PC would be understandable to someone familiar with both programs, but I’m afraid of possible longer-term consequences.

I haven’t been able to find this specific information on the PC website, so forgive me if it’s there and I just managed not to stumble upon it.

Peace corps medical history

Globallife12 — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 08:49:25 -0800

For current and previous peace corps volunteers, Have you lied on your peace corps medical clearance? What did you lie about and how did it end up working out? I am considering applying for the peace corps but about 4 years ago I took an anti-depressant for like 4 months . Never had i a relapse after I quit taking it nor did I have a history of depression before that. I was told its best not to mention it to the peace corps medical history form as it will decrease my chance of being selected so wanted to see if someone had similar story and perhaps some advises.

What are the advantages of the Peace Corps Masters International Program?

abirdinthehand — Sun, 02 Dec 2012 09:32:30 -0800

Have you participated in the Peace Corps Masters International program? How did it enhance your degree? I'm looking into the Masters International program because I would like to get experience abroad and get my masters, however I'm not really seeing how it's any different than just serving in the peace corps and then getting your masters.

Is there some advantage to serving in the corps in the middle of completing your program? Is your thesis centered around your term in the corps? How does that work, is it synergistic or did you feel that it was a somewhat clumsy marriage of goals?

If you or someone you know participated in the program please chime in with any useful anecdotes or advice!

I know what I'm passionate about but I don't know how to get there

Modica — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 10:31:29 -0800

The other day, I had a moment that was both a moment of clarity and a moment of existential crisis. I'm having some difficulty with figuring out how to take my life from where I am now to where I want to be and I could use some guidance, some advice (sorry for the long post). When I graduated high school, I was sixteen and very unsure of what I wanted to do with my life. However, I knew three things for certain: 1) I wanted to travel, and often; 2) I wanted to help people and work in service of others; and 3) I wanted to write. My original plan was to join the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps after finishing college.

My time in college was near-disastrous. I wasn't socially, emotionally, or mentally ready for it and I did very, very poorly. It took me six years to graduate and I did so just barely, getting a 2.34GPA overall (3.4 within my major, English/Nonfiction Writing). I had also developed a drinking problem during my time in school that developed into alcoholism. When I graduated, I was still actively drinking and I had no sense of purpose, no hope, and felt that I was a waste of life. I was suicidal, prone to self-injury, and had more or less given up on everything. I still held ideas of joining the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, but they were distant ideas at that point.

Fourteen months ago, I had my last drink. Since then, I've made a number of steps towards my personal recovery. I've started writing again (and I even sent out a piece for possible publication for the first time ever, something that terrified me). I've started reading again. I finally left my home state, moving from Des Moines, Iowa to Austin, Texas, a decision which has ignited a lot of these thoughts and actions to do something with myself at last. And I've also started thinking about that old question, what I want to do with myself and where I want my life to go.

Earlier today, I was watching a documentary (Urbanized, to be specific, which is about urban planning and city design/development) and I felt this rush of emotion and it became clear that my original desires had not changed. In fact, they had intensified. For a time, I had pursued anthropology in college, focusing on globalization and development. It was in that field that I felt most personally/professionally inspired and spurred to action. My drinking cut off that avenue of intent before it really got started. But watching the documentary brought about a resurgence of those thoughts and ideas.

This is what I want to do: I want to work towards the betterment of the lives of others. I want to work towards improving education for at-risk youth, improving living conditions for the impoverished, improving the lives of people who have been pushed down and forgotten about. I want to work towards bettering the lives of people that need it the most. It became suddenly clear to me today that what I want to do with my life is the same as what I've always wanted to do.

I come to Metafilter about this because, in the wake of this realization, I find myself at a loss on how to get to where I want to be from where I am. Before I got sober, I had spent the last several years in a pattern of total self-destruction. But even sober, I'm not sure of how to achieve my goals. I still have a powerful desire to join the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps, to find work in an organization or a career where I'm devoted to helping others. I still feel this strong want to help others. But I both don't know where to begin and have this fear of taking the first step, a fear of both success and failure.

I try to fight this irrational, self-defeating fear and the thoughts that it's too late in part by continuing to remind myself that I'm only 24, that I still have plenty of time. But I struggle to deal with the fact that my poor performance in school can't be changed and that places like the Peace Corps or AmeriCorps have pretty firm GPA requirements that start at a 2.5GPA. When I think on these things, I get frustrated and hopeless with my lack of knowledge on what to do to get into a career of serving others that's why I'm posting this. I'm looking for advice, personal stories, anything to help me get to where I want to be. I don't know how to do it. I don't know what to do. I'm hoping y'all can help. Thanks.

Post-college volunteer opportunities?

huskerdont — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 11:44:59 -0800

Post-college volunteer programs besides Americorps? One of my relatives is trying to find a six-month post-collegiate volunteer program that includes housing - basically, something along the line of Peace Corps or Americorps.

They'd prefer something in a structured environment where they'll be around others in their twenties and have either housing provided or assistance obtaining housing. Preferably, it will also include some mentoring component as well.

I've had limited success finding programs of interest on Ye Olde Google and their university counselors/offices haven't been of much help. Any suggestions, Hive Mind?

Become the change.

Tavern — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 07:11:45 -0800

Where to start on a new career path abroad (US citizen)? Opportunities have come up that will allow me to make a full change in my career and life. Looking at several options. Details Inside. I own a small business, but have been offered a buy out from a family member and am debating a career change.

Background:
- 30 Year old Male.
- BA and part way through MBA.
- No debt obligations or anything holding me here.
- Well traveled, but very basic language skills (Spanish and Italian)
- Main skills include project management, and maintenance. Good with tools and hands.

For most of my life I have always wanted to live somewhere else and help people, and now that the opportunity is here, I'm not sure where to start. I was thinking about the Peace Corps, but was looking for something more permanent with a better pay scale. I do want to be in a field where I help other people. I've looked at several NGOs, but the vast amount of them has left me overwhelmed.

I really want a hands on in the field position. I'm also open to positions in the environmental field. Something that makes me feel like I'm making a difference.

I'm a little lost as to where to begin. Are there groups out there like the Peace Corps that pay, and offer a life career, not just a 2 year stint at a time?

I'm open to really any country. I would rather stay away from TEFL though.

How do Peace Corps (or similar) volunteers communicate their experiences in the field?

charmston — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 12:18:29 -0800

What tools do Peace Corps (or similar) volunteers use to communicate their experiences in the field? I'm especially looking for creative uses of digital/web communication tools: Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, blogs, etc.. Bonus points for any good examples. Thanks!

I love it when you speak in Language X to me

threeants — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 17:47:24 -0800

Are there any institutions that, like the military, CIA, Foreign Service, and Peace Corps (and, I'm sure, parallel organizations in many countries, though I'm a US citizen myself) will give promising candidates terrific training in a language? One of my skills and passions is learning languages, and I think it would be terrific to be paid, or at least not have to pay, to do so (I know, right?). I'm also just starting my "career" (scare quotes because who knows what it actually is yet). Are there any other programs like the above? I don't really care what language it is, it's the process of gaining proficiency/fluency and the end ability to communicate with new people that excites me. My politics run pretty left, but feel free to suggest anything you know of-- it might be of interest to someone else. Please don't put down things like "Go do this job in rural Japan-- you'll speak great Japanese after living with the locals for a year or two!"; I'm looking for formalized, fairly intensive training (so also no "this company will subsidize you to take weekly Spanish classes at the local community college!"). I prefer things that don't necessitate moving from the US (for the actual job/career), but again, feel free to put down anything that fills my criteria.

Thanks in advance! I hope I've expressed my question clearly enough; if not, please let me know.

Is AmeriCorps a good lead-in for Peace Corps?

ramenopres — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 14:03:28 -0800

(Inter)national service filter: Does an AmeriCorps stint make you a more attractive Peace Corps candidate? If what I really want to do is Peace Corps, would NCCC help me get there or be valuable of itself? Peace Corps fits into my goals, background, most intimate dreams and desires, etc. However, the application process is very long and I still don't have all of the skills to make myself a competitive applicant (I have a BA, limited experience with agriculture, team service project experience, etc., general savviness, motivation, international experience and language, but nothing like long-term business planning experience or forestry or ___). NCCC sounds like the kind of thing I enjoy doing --working on a team to do active projects-- and it would give me concrete skills in things like disaster response. Would that make me a way more attractive Peace Corps candidate (and is it realistic to go through the PC application process while serving the 10 months in NCCC)? Should I apply for VISTA programs instead? Hold out for the Peace Corps? (Go to grad school? Okay, that's a separate question.)

If you're familiar with NCCC, is it actually a good choice for someone who enjoys thinking and analyzing as well as getting down and dirty? The admission requirements seem sort of low and the interview felt more like advertising than screening.

Gifts for Peace Corps Volunteer?

radiomayonnaise — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 07:46:46 -0800

[giftfilter] It's that time of year again. I want to send a Christmas care package to a friend who is volunteering with the Peace Corps in the Philippines. What's good to send? She's teaching English language fluency to students in a fairly developed area - she has regular internet access and such. I saw this post and I plan on sending her some nice soaps and stuff, magazines, and some tasty (gluten-free) American food. But I want some more ideas. Things she may not be able to get in the Philippines? Or things you would have appreciated while traveling/living in Southeast Asia?

She's a big reader so I think I might send her an amazon.com giftcard but it seems she'll have to spend a lot on shipping the books. I know she's been enjoying reading free books from Project Gutenberg. Would a gift certificate to something like eBooks.com be better?

Also, anything I should know about shipping internationally?

Thanks!

Something kinda like the Peace Corps, but not?

carpyful — Fri, 15 Aug 2008 12:00:34 -0800

Alternatives to the Peace Corps for a non-US Citizen (Permanent Resident) living in the US? I am a recent college grad who wants to go abroad and hopefully work/volunteer for a good cause. I was looking into the Peace Corps, but two issues came up:

1. 27 months is a long time :x I am ideally looking to commit 12-18 months.
2. I live in the US, but I am not an American Citizen. I am a US Permanent Resident with a Brazilian passport.

I like the fact that the Peace Corps does good for the world and the fact that they provide you with living expenses, student loan deferment, and other benefits.

I was wondering if there are any programs that I can look into that fit what I am looking for.

I've been looking into the Americorps and I am interested in their program, I was just wondering if the hive mind could perhaps suggest programs I've never heard of.

So is there a program that's right for me, or am I SOL?

What goes in a care package to Kyrgyzstan?

emyd — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 20:18:47 -0800

Ideas for a care package for a Peace Corps volunteer in Kyrgyzstan? I'd like to keep it open for many different types of suggestions, but perhaps the fact that he is 24 year old male from Northern California is relevant. Anyone know what kinds of things he'll be missing while he's stuck there for two years?

Help me fill my RSS reader

charmston — Fri, 30 May 2008 09:41:38 -0800

I've found myself with a little more time on my hands. I'd like to add a few useful, relevant blogs and podcasts to the ranks of my RSS reader. Any suggestions for me? I very much prefer quality to quantity. I'd much rather read 5 low-volume, high-quality blogs than sift through a single feed with 50 posts/day to find the ones of interest.
Interests include:

Some of my favorites are intelligent blogs without a true theme. Jason Kottke, I'm looking at you.
I'll be going into the Peace Corps in the next year. There are over 4000 blogs about it. Do you have any favorites?
I dig web design stuff, especially in the standards arena. Favorites: A List Apart, Freelance Switch, and Vitamin.
I also love product and packaging design blogs. Favorites: Yanko Design, The Dieline.
After the Peace Corps, I'll be going into graduate school in either justice and peace studies or some derivative of it (international development, conflict resolution, etc.) I read no related blogs. Suggestions?
Personal development blogs are among my favorites, especially Zen Habits, Urban Monk, and Lifehacker.
I love baseball and tend to be the sabermetric type. Baseball Prospectus, Roto Authority...?
Green Daily is the only environmental blog that I read. I'd like a few more.
I recently became a vegetarian. Any favorite veggie blogs?
I love politics but have trouble keeping up with Talking Points Memo and The Huffington Post.

I also welcome podcast recommendations. I currently listen to Boagworld, The Rissington Podcast, and a handful of ESPN podcasts. Any others that you think that I may like?
Thanks in advance everyone!

A Peace Corps that doesn't suck?

loquacious — Sat, 03 May 2008 17:39:56 -0800

I'm looking for a Peace Corps that doesn't suck. Does it exist? I recently applied to the Peace Corps because I heard they were looking for IT workers of a particular sort, which I am.

But I've been warned off by a handful of people that have either been in the Peace Corps or who have had relatives or close friends in it.

Their complaints describe an agency that's hindered by bureacracy, unsupportive of their volunteers and otherwise not all it claims to be through shiny advertisements.

What other options are there? I can do IT work, I can teach IT and general computing, I do graphic design and I can teach that, too - and I can do office work, construction work and grunt work.

I'm interested in two levels of volunteering:

1) Committed, destination-based engagements like the Peace Corps with nominal material and transportation support from the organization.

2) Local hands on volunteering in SF - hopefully as free of bureacracy as humanly possible, but more formal and less ad hoc than the sorts of things I'm used to. (Soup kitchens, clothing distribution, etc.)

In both cases, I want to stay away from government or religious organizations as much as possible. I don't want to volunteer my time to promote a religion, nor do I particularly wish for it to be in the name or authority of any given country.

Where to download free French music?

solotoro — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 19:09:53 -0800

Francofilter (part 1): I would like to start listening to French music. Can you recommend places online to find good, (legally) free music with French singing? I'm about to be nominated to a Peace Corps program in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa. I'll probably have questions about language training (I have no French background) and other things about the region before my departure (hopefully in early May), hence the "part 1." In the meantime, though, I'm going through the recordings and books offered here from the U.S. State Department's Foreign Service Institute, and I'm starting to study the region...so part 1 is music!

I have a pretty long commute, so I thought it might be cool to listen to French singing that I might somewhat passively absorb - for instance, I can tolerably well sing along with Rufus Wainwright's "La Complainte de la Butte" from Moulin Rouge...er, well at least I think I can. Never mind that. The point is that it won't hurt my brain like audio lessons will, which is bad when one is driving, but it's still helping me get used to the sounds of the language.

My main constraints are that it be free, and that the singer would be easily understood by a French speaker, without it being a kid's song. Bonus points for music that would actually be heard in sub-Saharan Africa, but that's not really the focus. My musical tastes are fairly broad and I don't want to limit answers too much in that dimension.

To reiterate an important point, I don't want to download illegal stuff. I'm looking for recordings that are public domain, or that the artist has intentionally made available for free.

How do I choose which Peace Corps assignment to take?

piratebowling — Mon, 14 May 2007 09:51:25 -0800

How do I choose which Peace Corps assignment to take? I have just completed the Peace Corps application process (forms, recs, interview) and my recruiter emailed me with three options. I need to answer him by Thursday (eep!) and the descriptions are very vague. In all three, the assignment is the same (Secondary English Education). I need to give the recruiter a definite ranking of my choices, so he can nominate me for my choice. I'm freaking out a little bit about how to rank my preferences.

Option one: Africa, French experience required (not a problem, see below).

Option two: Eastern Europe, no other language skill required.

Option three: Central Asia and Asia, no other language skill required, does mention I have to be "flexible between the two regions."

There are no major differences between departure time, the main choice I'm making here is location. Still, I feel like I have no real strong preference, all three sound like amazing opportunities.

About me: conversational French and German experience, elementary Czech experience. I am more familiar with Eastern Europe than the other two options. I feel like the experience in Eastern Europe would relate more to my areas of study, but I may never have the opportunity to visit Africa or Asia in this context ever again.

How should I choose? I'm looking for feedback, thoughts, or even just something I should consider that maybe I am not thinking about right now.

Thank you so much!

Well, as civil as could be expected, given the circumstances...

solotoro — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:56:53 -0800

Am I "currently a party in a civil suit"? I'm getting divorced. I need to know for my Peace Corps application. I've filed for divorce in Cherokee County, GA and the complaint has been sent to my wife (the words "irretrievably broken" were used, I assume as the "fault". I'm sorry for the "quotes," but I don't know what the correct legalese is, what's no longer used, and what the internets have made up completely). Soon we will have a settlement agreement, but that hasn't been filed yet. So is this considered a "civil suit"?
If it is, does anyone know whether it would be better for me to go ahead and mark "Yes" in my Peace Corps application and give the details, or just wait the hopefully month or two until the divorce is final? Which would delay the application more?

Peace Corps Azerbaijan

wandering steve — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 11:37:46 -0800

So, despite your advice, I ended up declining my first Peace Corps offer. But good news! I've been given an assignment in Azerbaijan that I've accepted. I depart June 23, and in the meantime, I'm trying to get as much info as I can on the country.

Of course, I'm talking to RPCVs in my area (in fact, luckily enough, I just found someone who has just returned from Azerbaijan), but I'm wondering if any of you have any experience with the country, or any extra input. What should I know going over? Heck, what kinds of questions should I ask the RPCVs that I know of here? Thanks in advance!

Ideas on how to write a Peace Corps book

brokekid — Fri, 23 Feb 2007 10:22:07 -0800

I need help putting together a book about my Peace Corps experiences, though I have no idea where to even begin. Any ideas? I'm aware that a number of books already exist but still feel like I have a fresh direction which to go in.

I kept a blog and an off-line diary of my experiences, kept track of every book I read, have a list of the music I listened to and have a lot of art and pics from that time. I want to do something a little different with all my records but don't have a clue where to begin. Do you have any ideas for me?

Peace Corps?

wandering steve — Tue, 28 Nov 2006 16:55:28 -0800

Peace Corps - leave in Jan or leave in spring/summer? So, I've been accepted into the Peace Corps. That's pretty awesome, as it's something I've wanted to do for a long time (I've been overseas quite a bit). But.

Through my entire application process, I've been told "you'll be leaving this spring" - so I made plans around that. Specifically, a rent and plans to take the LSAT in Feb. The Peace Corps called me up today, saying that after looking at my app, they want me to leave in Jan. This would be to someplace - they won't say where - in Asia (yeah, big place), to start a new program teaching English.

It's a 27-month assignment, so I'd get back in April. This obviously isn't enough time to take the June LSAT and still get into a law school the next August.

So - should I go now, or should I politely decline? I'm pretty dang jazzed about setting up a new program, and am leaning strongly toward that, but I'm also remember that I got my arse kicked trying to learn Chinese (although I picked up rather fluent Hungarian in under 6 months). Should I go now and plan on working/applying to law schools for a year after I get back, or go in spring after I've taken the LSAT and gotten going on applying to law schools?

Am I fit?

treepour — Thu, 09 Nov 2006 16:26:48 -0800

I'm interested in spending a couple of years in another part of the world, either volunteering or teaching. Am I fit to do so? If so, what programs should I look into? I'm considering looking into something along the lines of the Peace Corps or an english-teaching program.

About me: I'm male, 34, live in the U.S., but have never traveled abroad. I have a degree in philosophy, am about to get an MFA in writing, and have decent computer/programming/web skills. I want to make a positive contribution to the world, however small, and also learn about what life is like outside of the isolated world I live in.

Possible complications: I'm gay, but would be (reluctantly) willing to go back into the closet for a year or two. I do have a history of depression & anxiety disorders, for which I might need monthly prescription medications. Pretty bad allergies are generally kept under control via over-the-counter meds.

Am I even possibly fit for such endeavors? If so, what programs should I look into?

Never lived away from home, no college. Is Peace Corps an option?

SlyBevel — Thu, 12 Oct 2006 08:56:23 -0800

Is Peace Corps an option for a young guy with no college? My little brother's life is circling the drain. He graduated high school a couple of years ago, has never lived away from home, doesn't have a job, and spends his days in front of his PC watching anime and playing video games.

We love him dearly, and are concerned that he's building a catastrophic future for himself.

The good part: Drugs, alcohol, tobacco are not part of the equation. He's smart. He's lean and fit (amazing, for his lifestyle). There are also no girlfriends to worry about, and he's not gay. (It would be ok if he were, though.)

The family's religious background is LDS, but there's been absolutely no pressure on him to serve an LDS mission, as he's made it clear he's not interested.

So the question is (sorry it took so long to get here):

If we encourage him to get out if his bedroom and join the Peace Corps, will they even take him?

Do you know of anyone from a similar situation who's joined the Peace Corps? Good stories? Horror stories? Solutions to similar family situations?

What are some Australian/international volunteer organisations.

Serial Killer Slumber Party — Thu, 24 Aug 2006 20:11:06 -0800

What are some Australian or international organisations that are similar to the Peace Corps? Sometime shortly after I graduate, I want to do some form of volunteer work abroad, something like the Peace Corps offer. However, as an Australian citizen, I can't exactly join the Peace Corps. Are there any organisations that have similar kinds of work?

Ideally I'm looking for something that offers a living wage and look somewhat respectable on a CV. I'm not really bothered about where abouts most work is located, anywhere would be great. I would want to do it in 3-6 years time and by then would hopefully have a diploma in science with a Chemistry/Geography double major.

Anecdotes welcome!

Will my army deployment make me ineligible for Peace Corps?

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Jan 2006 14:50:50 -0800

Does my involvement in information-gathering activities make me ineligible for Peace Corps? I was in the Army from 1997 to 2001. I was operationally deployed during the spring/summer of 2000. During my deployment, my unit engaged in information/intelligence-gathering activities. In fact, my unit was involved in two separate programs; one involved the CIA, one did not. I was involved in the program that did not involve the CIA, and never actively collected information. Rather, I edited situation reports sent to our headquarters from teams in the field. Does my involvement in this program, or the fact that my unit (but again, not me personally) had contact with the CIA make me ineligible for Peace Corps? If so, for how long? I've read the Peace Corps form relating to this topic, but it looks like there's some gray area. Anyone else with a similar military background applied to Peace Corps?

Where can I find a php developer to donate some time to a Peace Corps project?

brokekid — Wed, 21 Dec 2005 14:46:53 -0800

Where can I find a php developer to donate some time to a Peace Corps project? I’ve started a project on Ning 9http://corpsrequest.ning.com) where Peace Corps volunteers around the world can post requests for help on various projects. We try to use local resources and materials but often what we need is not available or just not there. There are needs for materials, funding, virtual volunteers, hopefully this site will help volunteers fill those needs. I need some serious php and css help though so I can get this project off the ground.