Anyone currently/previously in the peace corps?

[captainbackfire]

title is pretty self-explanatory...so. i've filled out the application and now it's a matter of waiting.

how old were you, when were you in/how long, what did you do, where did you spend time, are you glad you did/would you do it over if you had the choice?

also, what qualifications did you have that you feel made you stand out from other applicants?

thanks.

 

[AmorRoark]

You might want to open this up to bluelighters who know or have known persons who were in the peace corps. You may get more responses that way.

I personally know one person who went into the peace corps. He went to Nigeria. He said it was incredibly rewarding but at the same time infinitely frusturating. No matter how hard they worked it sometimes *felt* like they weren't improving anything. I know you probably know this but the gravity of this feeling really takes its toll on some who go (so he said). Anyway, in the end he said he was glad he did it but was ready to come home.

His previous experience credentials: undergraduate degree in psychology with really awesome grades at a State University, lots of experience in service work, very Christian (I say this not because it necessarily matters but it was one of the reasons he did so much service work), Eagle Scout. So yeah, basically he was the perfect candidate. I think the thoroughness of his background wasn't necessarily the norm of his fellow peers, however.

 

[IAmTheWalrus]

I see this thread was started a while ago. Did you ever get in? I'm in the application process myself.

 

[rangrz]

driving them and other charities around so they don't get RPG'd was pain in the ass.

 

[Rusted Chains]

I was in Peace Corps early 1990's. Got kicked out (administratively separated) because I wouldn't cut my hair. Anyone that didn't do EXACTLY as told was removed and considered subversive. PC isn't all it's cracked up to be. It's a US government run organization that was more concerned with image than anything else. Many of the programs and people involved were questionable...seemed to be nothing more than information gathering really. Wouldn't be surprised to find out that some of the other "volunteers" were intelligence agents, CIA etc. That being said, lots of volunteers say their PC years were the best of their lives. Good luck if you decide to do it.

To answer some of the OP's questions: I went in straight out of college with no special skills or experience. Assignment was environmental education. Don't want to provide country info...too easy to ID me then Hahaha.