Peace Corps

[LardAss**]

If you're between the ages of 18-24, a very strong intermediate option to see if 'full immersion service' is for you would be something like Americorps NCCC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americorps_nccc

You get the experience of being away from home, working on random projects around the US with new people, making pretty much no money yet your basic living expenses are covered, but without the whole '3rd World Country' aspect.

If you're a guy, I hear the male-female ratio is like 4-1 on some NCCC campuses. Barring being an absolute retard leper or doing something that makes you a total pariah among the women, you will have absolutely no trouble smashing more ass than the paddle in a 19th Century schoolhouse.

I had two friends do this, it was apparently very challenging at times but it seems to have been an absolute high water-mark of their youth. Apparently, admission has gotten competative in recent years, but given the gender imbalance, being a guy, if you have a pulse can pass a piss test and have no criminal record, you're basically good.

 

[Mookieftw]

I don't know what kind of job people expect to get in the States after working on a development project in a developing country, but many high-level people working for international NGOs are former Peace Corp.

In other words, it is kind of a like an internship period or a "foot in the door" for people wanting to work on development projects for big money NGOs and a great way to learn about the local government and get some language skills. Or, a way to go abroad before continuing your career or education back home.

But so far as looking great on a resume you have to ask "to who would it look great?" - to a bank in the midwest or to a regional office for an INGO?

It depends on the program you worked on and what you actually did. I know a lot of environmental, education and health volunteers have used their description of service well after returning, but like you said, it's not going to be applicable everywhere and depends on what you're going for. However, Peace Corps does have a service on their website that links RPCVs to jobs posted by employers who value PC service and they host job fairs and other events for the same purpose. It's just not a good idea to do PC thinking that you're going to blow every potential employer away when you come back.

Off this specific topic, I should add that a lot of people apply for Peace Corps and go through the entire rigorous process only to get an invite and then terminate their service early for a variety of different reasons. You really need to be ready to experience something drastically different and be ready to be away from home, be isolated and at times lonely and to adapt to an entirely different culture. I loved my experience and am so glad I stuck it out, but it's not for everybody and deserves a lot of careful consideration.

 

[CraneKicks]

If you're between the ages of 18-24, a very strong intermediate option to see if 'full immersion service' is for you would be something like Americorps NCCC.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Americorps_nccc

You get the experience of being away from home, working on random projects around the US with new people, making pretty much no money yet your basic living expenses are covered, but without the whole '3rd World Country' aspect.

If you're a guy, I hear the male-female ratio is like 4-1 on some NCCC campuses. Barring being an absolute retard leper or doing something that makes you a total pariah among the women, you will have absolutely no trouble smashing more ass than the paddle in a 19th Century schoolhouse.

I had two friends do this, it was apparently very challenging at times but it seems to have been an absolute high water-mark of their youth. Apparently, admission has gotten competative in recent years, but given the gender imbalance, being a guy, if you have a pulse can pass a piss test and have no criminal record, you're basically good.

That might be good for some people. The real attraction for me was to see the REST of the world though.

 

[LardAss**]

That might be good for some people. The real attraction for me was to see the REST of the world though.

The guy I know spent a couple months at a time in like four different states, plus spent time traveling with Red Cross on disaster relief in other places. Not the same thing as being dropped in some godforsaken 3rd world shithole to build schoolhouses and drypoint shallow wells, but a better option for many who are looking for something different.

It's a pretty cool program, worth considering. As more and more people learn about it, the ability to get accepted is getting harder and harder. 15 years ago NCCC was basically non-competitive, sign on the line and you're in. Now, it's hugely competitive (unless you hit in certain preferred demographic groups). I imagine in another 10 years, it will be like trying to get into Yale.

 

[Bme26]

It depends on the program you worked on and what you actually did. I know a lot of environmental, education and health volunteers have used their description of service well after returning, but like you said, it's not going to be applicable everywhere and depends on what you're going for. However, Peace Corps does have a service on their website that links RPCVs to jobs posted by employers who value PC service and they host job fairs and other events for the same purpose. It's just not a good idea to do PC thinking that you're going to blow every potential employer away when you come back.

Off this specific topic, I should add that a lot of people apply for Peace Corps and go through the entire rigorous process only to get an invite and then terminate their service early for a variety of different reasons. You really need to be ready to experience something drastically different and be ready to be away from home, be isolated and at times lonely and to adapt to an entirely different culture. I loved my experience and am so glad I stuck it out, but it's not for everybody and deserves a lot of careful consideration.

Sometimes I think it's hard to ever know if you're ready till you are actually there and doing it. I remember the first time I arrived in Argentina, I didn't speak any Spanish, was an absolute nervous wreck when I arrived at the airport. I thought I was going to have an anxiety attack. One year later, I was leaving to come back home; I had a new network of friends, a gf, a job, played on a baseball team, spoke spanish,etc. I had established a whole new life in another country. I realized how much personal growth I had made throughout the whole time I was there, from my first day to my last day. Something that seemed potentially impossible in the beginning, was relatively easy at the end.

One thing you mentioned before was getting horribly sick. I remember knowing I was coming down with something in Chile, but didn't know how sick I was really going to be. I woke up the next morning feeling horrible. I was chronically going to sleep, waking up, sleep, wake up and when I would wake up I'd feel delirious and be confused about where I was. Eventually I had to goto the hospital and was bed ridden for a few days..I'd say that's definitely one of the bigger concerns in this, because from what I hear its almost inevitable.

As far as the job prospects, that's another concern. I'm 27 years old and feel this is a prime time in my life in establishing myself career wise. I'd just like to feel that I'm making the right choice in making this decision. My goal would be to work internationally, potentially for a business representing the US side of things. But then again I'd imagine what you wanted to do before the peace corps changed a lot aft you returned...

I appreciate the info you've provided. You've given me a lot more input then a lot of people have prior to this.....my app will be submitted by the end of next week. Then let the process begin!

 

[Doughbelly]

As far as the job prospects, that's definitely another concern. I'm 27 years old and feel this is a prime time in my life in establishing myself career wise. I'd just like to feel that I'm making the right choice in doing this. My goal would be to work internationally, potentially for a business representing the US side of things. But then again I'd imagine what you wanted to do before the peace corps changed a lot aft you returned...

Do you have any technical or specialized health related skills?

 

[Bme26]

Do you have any technical or specialized health related skills?

No I don't. My background is in govt and business, particularly in import/export regulations. I'm hoping to pursue a career in govt or to work for a company based out of the U.S. that has international branches, dealing in import/export

 

[goleta83**]

My ex is finishing up her 2yr3mo term in Ukraine as we speak. She heard a bunch of horror stories before going but she was enjoying it before we stopped talking. Just be prepared for culture shock I guess. She's the kind of chick that takes full advantage of her experiences though and makes the best of it. I met her Ukrainian family through Skype they were pretty funny. The bad things about Ukraine that I know are pickpocketing like a mother fucker (like when you are crammed 800 people on a bus), stray dogs everywhere in the small towns, and inadequate healthcare for the PC members. She was walking around on a fractured foot for a long long time with no proper care. And it took forfuckingever to get anywhere.

I believe the real bad stories she heard before going were from Africa though. And she had a hell of a time getting in, despite doing great in school, loads of volunteer work, completing all her essays asap, etc. They want to make SURE that you are SURE you are going to stick with it. They don't want spoiled fucks who want to travel and try to "look good" by telling everyone they did PC. They want hardcore go-getters who won't give up.

 

[goleta83**]

And she wasn't able to learn a ton of Russian/Ukrainian before she got there. It's some hard shit. But she was picking it up pretty quick.

 

[Bme26]

And she wasn't able to learn a ton of Russian/Ukrainian before she got there. It's some hard shit. But she was picking it up pretty quick.

Ya, once you live in the country and are reliant on using it, you'll def pick it up quicker.

 

[Bme26]

Just wanted to give an update for those of you that may be interested. I'm currently in the midst of the application process. When I completed my application and turned it in, the PC called me and basically said they needed me to gain more volunteer experience, but thought I was a great candidate. The volunteer experience they wanted me to fulfill was particularly in teaching english, AIDS education or agriculture. In the email it broke down examples of the different types of volunteering you can do to fulfill this requirement. With some they only needed 30 hrs of experience and others they wanted 3 months worth of experience.

I made the decision to pursue the teaching english option and therefore I began tutoring ESL students 2-5 times a week for the last couple months. I fulfilled the requirement of teaching english and was notified by my recruiter that they are going to continue this process with my application.

Next up will be a sit down interview with a recruiter......

 

[t3c9]

A girl I did my undergrad with went through the process all the way to a mud hut in the middle of hell. She bailed and came back the next day.

 

[FistsofScotland]

Sounds like you are on the right track, BME. Good Luck!

My brother was in Costa Rica for 26mos and he loved it. He lives very simply anyway (by choice) so it worked out just fine for him. He speaks fluent (Tican) Spanish and is a soccer stud, so he fit right in.
He worked at a school, helped his community get better access to fresh, clean water, started a community garden, painted a mural, and organized a national soccer tournament for the indigenous villages.
He came back to the states, lived in Boston for a little while, and is now down in Nicaragua helping underprivileged women form soccer programs. (on his own)

 

[ShackleMeNot]

my girlfriend's stepsister works for PC corporate i believe in recruiting for the chicago area. She's been with em for about 10-15 years if i remember correctly. Currently she's helping organize a community garden in my neighborhood with some of her friends that she went to africa with several years ago. I'm assuming she's very happy with her position there, as she talks about it a lot.

 

[Bme26]

Sounds like you are on the right track, BME. Good Luck!

My brother was in Costa Rica for 26mos and he loved it. He lives very simply anyway (by choice) so it worked out just fine for him. He speaks fluent (Tican) Spanish and is a soccer stud, so he fit right in.
He worked at a school, helped his community get better access to fresh, clean water, started a community garden, painted a mural, and organized a national soccer tournament for the indigenous villages.
He came back to the states, lived in Boston for a little while, and is now down in Nicaragua helping underprivileged women form soccer programs. (on his own)

That's awesome man!! These are the stories that keep me motivated with my decision. I know things can potentially be very difficult, but then again it was never stated that it was going to be easy.

 

[Scrody]

It'd be an interesting experience.

 

[FistsofScotland]

That's awesome man!! These are the stories that keep me motivated with my decision. I know things can potentially be very difficult, but then again it was never stated that it was going to be easy.

From what I gathered, the hard work is extremely gratifying and worth it. It's really what you make of it.

My wife & I went down to visit him and we were so glad we did. Mainly because we didn't do the typical, protected tourist thing. We were introduced to the actual culture and saw what the day to day lives were like for people outside of the big cities. What an extreme difference there is from Westernized San Jose to just 30 mins into the hills. Makes you really realize how much we take for granted every minute of every day.

If you asked my bro, he would do it again in a second

 

[Bme26]

From what I gathered, the hard work is extremely gratifying and worth it. It's really what you make of it.

My wife & I went down to visit him and we were so glad we did. Mainly because we didn't do the typical, protected tourist thing. We were introduced to the actual culture and saw what the day to day lives were like for people outside of the big cities. What an extreme difference there is from Westernized San Jose to just 30 mins into the hills. Makes you really realize how much we take for granted every minute of every day.

If you asked my bro, he would do it again in a second

Awesome man!! I have my first interview with a recruiter scheduled next Monday. The process has definitely been in motion lately. I'm kind of excited and nervous at the same time.

 

[mateo]

I served for 3.5 years in Panama, first for two years as an environmental health volunteer helping a community mobilize to build an aqueduct (no water, no electricty, but had a great time), then as a regional coordinator looking for new communities for volunteers to serve, maintaining relationships with the local government, and providing support for volunteers.
I've really taken to the lifestyle here, and have stayed in the Eastern Panama regions and worked with various local organizations for the past couple of years.
To answer a previous question of yours, I picked Eastern Europe or Southeast Asia as regional preferences, but was told that my Spanish was too good to not go to Latin America. It seems that PC is much more competitive now (ie there were people in my training group that did not speak any Spanish when they came down), but it seems that the newest groups are better prepared in that sense.

Would also do it again in a second, and ask away/PM me.

 

[trainharder]

Have you read The Ugly American ts?

Also is the PC doesn't work out for you, hope it does, look into americorps like a poster above mentioned.