Peace Corps?

[Carl Carlson IV]

Peace Corps

So I've been thinking about my future and my life and how much I want a change. I'm depressed every time I work, not happy where I'm living, and just feel like in general, I'm going no where. I'm living paycheck to paycheck, barely being able to pay bills, have loads of debt, am getting frustrated often and seem to have absolutely no direction. Above all, my existence seems meaningless... maybe not to others (family, gf, friends, etc) but to me it does.

I'm not doing anything to help the planet or to help other people. I just feel... worthless. I'm so sick of worrying about the rat race, how I'm going to pay the bills, all these things that even though shouldn't matter, are really creating a lot of stress in my life. I guess I just don't know what to do, where to go, or where to even begin.

All of that might not have anything to do with the Peace Corps, but it's the reason I'm looking. It's pushing me to look for something else. From what I've read, it seems like it would really challenge myself. I'm pretty introverted and keep to myself most of the time, so I think it would really challenge me in that respect. Also, if I could help others in the process, I would feel a lot better. I want to be part of the solution, not the problem..

I realize that it is a HUGE commitment (did I mention I'm very bad with commitments?) but I'm starting to give this some serious consideration.

I guess what I want to know is if anyone has any direct experience working with the Peace Corps, or know anyone else who has? I've read about experiences on the website and watched some of the videos in the video vault, but just want to find out as much as I can.... what to expect, what it's like, if people had fun, things to worry about... etc etc.

Also, anyone know of any similar programs to look into? I've also looked at the Ameri Corps but traveling to another country seems a lot more thrilling to me.

[ns123]

I thought that to join the peace corps you had to reconcile all your debt. They will not let you join unless you have paid off all your debts. Meaning, if you have unpaid student loans from school, you can't join until it's all paid.

So joining the peace corps may not be an option if you are not going to be debt free first.

[Amandaaa]

I have 2 friends (and 2 acquaintances) who joined the Peace Corps... and all I can say is that it definitely changed them. :/

It's probably a positive experience in the grand scheme of things... but the most common thing I've noticed is that none of them are as lighthearted as they used to be. They act more serious, more moody, and more annoyed by things... (which is probably because it's hard to go live in Africa for 2 years, where you have to walk for 8 hours to retrieve some water -- and then come back to America, where people are complaining about the long line at Starbucks or having to stop at a stop light. )

But I've talked about it in depth with two people, and they both really enjoyed being gone. One of them actually came home for Christmas, and ironically: she couldn't wait to go back.



I think it would be hard to adjust to the lack of luxuries... like the way that they don't have cell phones, or the internet, or washing machines, or big fluffy beds. But I think the hardest part would be not having any income and being away from your friends & family for 2 years. :/ (You don't get paid for going; you just get a small monthly stipend.) That would be rough. But I'm sure that it's enlightening, and challenging, and humbling.


I can't remember the names of the specific programs that they were involved in...but I can ask them and get back to you.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by ns123

I thought that to join the peace corps you had to reconcile all your debt. They will not let you join unless you have paid off all your debts. Meaning, if you have unpaid student loans from school, you can't join until it's all paid.

So joining the peace corps may not be an option if you are not going to be debt free first.

If you have student loans you can defer your payments. That is really the big portion of my debt, so I should be okay. I will be able to pay the rest off before I go (if I do).

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by Amandaaa

I have 2 friends (and 2 acquaintances) who joined the Peace Corps... and all I can say is that it definitely changed them. :/

It's probably a positive experience in the grand scheme of things... but the most common thing I've noticed is that none of them are as lighthearted as they used to be. They act more serious, more moody, and more annoyed by things... (which is probably because it's hard to go live in Africa for 2 years, where you have to walk for 8 hours to retrieve some water -- and then come back to America, where people are complaining about the long line at Starbucks or having to stop at a stop light. )

But I've talked about it in depth with two people, and they both really enjoyed being gone. One of them actually came home for Christmas, and ironically: she couldn't wait to go back.



I think it would be hard to adjust to the lack of luxuries... like the way that they don't have cell phones, or the internet, or washing machines, or big fluffy beds. But I think the hardest part would be not having any income and being away from your friends & family for 2 years. :/ (You don't get paid for going; you just get a small monthly stipend.) That would be rough. But I'm sure that it's enlightening, and challenging, and humbling.


I can't remember the names of the specific programs that they were involved in...but I can ask them and get back to you.

Thanks for the info!

I already am starting to kind of feel like them, people complaining about petty things is starting to annoy me... myself included!

I'm not sure if a 27 month commitment is something I should embark on, but I surely do want to experience something similar to this at some point in my life. I want to get rid of it all, technology, cell phones, internet, and just see what it is like. I know it will be tough and maybe I'm naive in thinking I would make it, but I just feel like I'm becoming too attached to stuff. Will this help me? Idk...

The no income thing will be pretty tough, I know. You live off of approximately what everyone else in the neighborhood does, which isn't much, but enough to survive. You are given $6,000 if you fulfill the full 27 months, which isn't much, but would help with the transition back home. They also pay for all your travel expenses.

The one thing I am most worried about the communication with my family and friends. I've read that on average it takes 30-40 days for mail to reach to US and another 30-40 to receive something back. Not being able to just pick up the phone and call or send someone an IM would be hard. I'm afraid I will become lonely not being with all my loved ones.

Maybe it isn't for me, maybe I won't do it, but I'm certainly not going to write it off. I'm going to keep looking into this and see if it is something I should do. I appreciate if you can get some more info from your friends, thanks!

[openeyes]

Brad, a good friend that I grew up with (our parents have been friends ~40 years), joined Peace Corps with his wife a couple years ago. They were in a rural part of Kenya, sufficiently remote that generally only married people are sent there, as they'll be rather isolated. Even they had a cell phone though. Once every week or two they'd bike to a town where there was cell phone reception and send off/receive emails. Doing so enabled them to keep in touch with family.

Their trip ended up being cut short when riots sprung up all over the country during Kenya's elections and all Peace Corps people were evacuated. All of it had been a rather extreme experience, and Brad/his wife chose not to be reassigned elsewhere. For his wife it had been rather difficult to live in their spartan conditions, while for him it was a little more manageable since he'd grown up in the mountains with a goat and solar power.

Elle (my girlfriend) and I considered Peace Corps, but changed our minds when we realized we'd have to be married to go as a couple, and that's not something we want to worry with for several more years. So for now we're looking at volunteering locally and WWOOFing (world wide opportunities for organic farming) internationally, going to an organic farm elsewhere in the world and working for a while, just to play with plants in an interesting area while having food/housing covered.

[Carl Carlson IV]

Originally Posted by openeyes

Elle (my girlfriend) and I considered Peace Corps, but changed our minds when we realized we'd have to be married to go as a couple, and that's not something we want to worry with for several more years. So for now we're looking at volunteering locally and WWOOFing (world wide opportunities for organic farming) internationally, going to an organic farm elsewhere in the world and working for a while, just to play with plants in an interesting area while having food/housing covered.

Thanks for the info! This is one thing that is a pretty big inconvenience... Me and my gf of 6 years wouldn't be guaranteed placement together unless we officially were married, which seems, for lack of a better word, stupid to me.

I looked up on the WWOOF, it sounds cool! I also always wanted to learn how to grow my own organic crops as well, would be nice to not have to go to the grocery store as much. However I have a question about something on their site. I understand volunteers won't be paid but it says "WWOOF organisations usually charge a small fee to hosts and volunteers. This fee helps maintain and develop the WWOOF network." So you have to pay to be involved? How much is this fee?

I was checking out the WWOOF USA and it says you should be expected to work 4-6 hours per day 6 days per week. How long does this last for? Do you set this up with a host?

Thanks for any info!

[openeyes]

Originally Posted by Carl Carlson IV

I understand volunteers won't be paid but it says "WWOOF organisations usually charge a small fee to hosts and volunteers. This fee helps maintain and develop the WWOOF network." So you have to pay to be involved? How much is this fee?

I was checking out the WWOOF USA and it says you should be expected to work 4-6 hours per day 6 days per week. How long does this last for? Do you set this up with a host?

Thanks for any info!

WWOOF is organized by country. The fee is generally in the range of about $20 per person. I went online to the Costa Rica WWOOF site, paid the small fee, and immediately had access to all the WWOOF hosts in the country. The list includes a description of each farm and provides contact info. Before paying, the site provide sample descriptions, sans contact info. In contacting the individual farm you provide your WWOOF id #. Each farm has it's own conditions. Some may want you to work 6 hours, 6 days per week, while others are closer to 4 hours, 3-5 days per week. Some provide cabins and prepared meals, others tents and access to the kitchen. It's a nice way to get to know/work with some locals while having time to get out into the region and explore a bit as well. Some places are happy for you to stay a week, while others may want a month+ commitment. I've even some mention special arrangements for if you want to stay long term.