Thank you so much to everyone for their responses!
While I am rather young (23), my goals in joining the Peace Corps couldn't be less about improving my resume. I am extremely interested in cultures different from my own and meeting people with different perspectives. Also, I have also realized that I won't be happy with my life if I'm not pursuing some sort of altruistic goal. The most important and rewarding thing to me is connecting with people and helping them however I can. For what I gather from the comments, I am the kind of person who gets a lot out of the experience. That's very encouraging to me!
It's great to hear that while PCVs have difficult experiences, most say they would do it again.
You've all given me some great information and a lot of things to think about. Thanks again!
Hi! I am a RPCV still here in Ecuador. And now I am working for a local environmental non-profit. Peace Corps was black and white and so many shades of gray. But what other program are you going to find where Bush pays all your expenses to live in Paradise. At least Ecuador is paradise I dont know where you want to go. But above all if you apply, apply, no ifs, but have patience! And if you want a Peace Corps type experience come volunteer for a month with me!
Thanks!
A Tropical Rainforest Paradise:
Monte Saíno Natural Resource Conservation Center Volunteer Program
To the southwest region of the province of Esmeraldas, you find Punta Galera, the last remnant of preserved coastal rainforest in Ecuador, located in the transitional zone of two important eco-regions, El Chocó and Tumbesina. This area is one of the 25 hotspots in the world due to the incredibly high biodiversity of endemic flora and fauna species. Monte Saíno Conservation Center is situated only 6 km/3.73 miles from the coastal community of Cabo de San Francisco.
Monte Saíno Natural Resource Conservation Center is situated in a protected forest reserve that consists of 209 hectares/ 516 acres of land. The Center is managed by EcoCiencia, (Ecuadorian Foundation for Ecological Studies), a private non-profit organization with headquarters based in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. Monte Saíno and EcoCiencia have pioneered sustainable conservation projects in the area for more than six years.
The objective of Monte Saíno Conservation Center is to promote management of natural resources endanger of extinction among local community members through conservation efforts. Monte Saíno offers volunteer opportunities through a range of environmental projects. The Center is currently seeking volunteers to assist in meeting the following priorities:
· Forest restoration by incorporating analog forestry methods into neighboring farms.
· Sustainable collection of native forest seeds from community seed sources.
· Quality control inspection and providing a guarantee of viability for seeds.
· Sustainable collection of seeds and other products for the development of handicrafts.
· Experimental management of crawfish as an income generating project.
Volunteer opportunities exist at Monte Saíno all year round but require a one-month commitment. However, special projects may be arranged for shorter time periods as appropriate.
Monte Saíno Natural Resource Conservation Center Volunteer Program
Fax/Telephone Quito:EcoCiencia 011(593-2)252-2999/254-5999/223-1624
E-mail: montesaino@ecociencia.org
Web Page: www.ecociencia.org
Thanks for that info and advice, montesaino. Ecuador sounds beautiful, although honestly I'm more interested in Asia and the Pacific. Sounds like you're doing good work though, that's great!
I was a PCV in Botswana 89 to 91. It was not easy, I hated it the first year - but it changed my life and I've not lived in the States since then. It opened my eyes to a huge world and I have continued to explore it.
You may well be interested in Asia and Pacific - but the PC usually sends you where your skills are most needed. You can refuse a posting - but you are not guaranteed another offer.
I was 39 when I joined - I wish I had joined when I was 23! I would probably have lived a VERY different life.
Don't wear rose-colored idealist glasses while applying - it just ain't going to work that way. The PC is a huge bureaucracy and you will come to hate that part of it probably. Also - know that the process of being accepted is long and time consuming.
Overall - it did great things for my life - and I think I did some great things while I was in Botswana.
Thank you TedKarma. Your advice about not being idealist is well taken. That is something I tend to do : ) Nothing comes without a price, I suppose. Hopefully the bureaucratic aspects won't be too overwhelming for me.
Also thanks for pointing out that they place you where you're needed. I knew that was the case, but wasn't sure what happened if you refused your assignment. Although, to be honest, there are very few, if any, countries that I would consider refusing. Asia/Pacific is just my preference.
Thanks again for the advice. I'll have to keep it in mind if I start to get too frustrated!
I asked for South or Central America - got Botswana.
In my ignorance at the time, I go the map out and started looking for Botswana in South America, but couldn't find it . . .
The PC does a lot of things to frustrate you in the application process, but I always suspected it was kind of a gatekeeping function - where if that process is too much for you - you'll never survive the two years.
There is so much to learn from all of it. As a volunteer, I managed a textile manufacturing company [an unusual job for a PCV - I had a fresh MBA at the time] - but my PC supervisor was an art teacher who thought she knew the business world. Talk about frustrating!
But, in the end, I walked away a revitalized and re-energized person who came to know that I could do just about anything if I wanted to - and able to not fear scary things (if that makes sense?).
There were also a lot of life lessons for a 39-40 year old - that might not mean as much to a 20+ year old. Not to demean your age - just saying that older people have learned some not-so-good things about life and themselves that can be turned around by the experience. Quite possibly just about perseverance if nothing else . . .
There was nothing magical about the thing, it was a huge hassle for me - but the whole process was a real transformation. For all that - I am thankful.
Your comments about the frustration being a gatekeeping method make a lot of sense to me. Even just in the very initial stages, I was surprised by the amount of paperwork.
I see your point about the lessons you learned as a 39-40 year old. It's very likely that I will not learn the same lessons that you did. I just hope that the lessons for a 23 year old are as useful as your seemed to be!
Thanks very much for your advice and comments!
I agree about the gatekeeping function--the application process seems to wean out people like me! I have lived abroad successfully in several different countries for several years, but always on my own terms... I'm sure there are people out there who are a better fit for the Peace Corps. Good luck!
I would say it is a good experience overall./ have visited several frieds on site and enjoyed the visits. How much good they are doing is up for grabs (and depends on the person and circumstances). Indeed, as a student of economic development, I saw a lot of the pitfalls studied in class on the ground in PeaceCorpsville. It will be up to you to think about your projects and see if they are really effective.
There are also groups of peple who are bsically tourists but too scared to do it alone. Peace Corps helps them. That doesn't mean you have to be one of them.
A piece of advice that has rung true through the different sites I have seen (Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe), is thatif you know you can handle it and can live alone in a new culture, you should ask for the more remote locations. This keeps you from having to go into the capital and attend BS parties and events, as well as having a more authentic experience. This is not from my mouth, but from actual volunteers (although I do agree, and have been to those BS parties).
Good luck. Hope it works out. After all I wrote, most people I know have no regrets in terms of participating in the program.
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