Peace Corps! Any Volunteers?
Posted by Capture on Mar 09, 2008 · Member since Jul 2007 · 3981 posts
Hey Everyone!
You know-I've mentioned how sick I am of all the bull crap that goes on in the world and how at some point I just want to run away and jump off the grid--well, then I was thinking, I could do that and actually help people at the same time, so I started to investigate the peace corps! I'm starting to think this could be a really good oppurtunity for me to explore after I graduate from my undergrad next year (May 09') and before I get started on my grad work.
So has anyone been in the peace corps? What's it like, did you enjoy your time? Was it vegan friendly? Anyone else interested in going too?
A couple of years ago I was really interested in doing this. I went to all the meetings and everything, filled out the application and was ready to go. Ultimately, however, I decided against it, mainly because I was always under the impression it was a one year commitment, in reality it was a two year commitment. After that I really began to think about delaying my life for two years and ultimately the filled out application sat on my desk for months until I finally threw it away.
Now that you mention the whole getting away from all the BS in the world, it would have been a great opportunity to get away from it all, which is probably exactly what I need.
Years and years ago, I had a friend (well I still have the friend) who was in the Peace Corps. I haven't asked her about it, but I had heard that part of the training involved learning how to wring a chicken's neck. Does anyone know if that's just an urban legend or is it true? That would stop me cold.
i thought about it a lot a couple of years ago, like foofie, but the deterrent for me was that it would probably be impossible to be a vegan (that is all i have heard anyway... almost impossible to even be a vegetarian) and i know i just couldn't do it...
what about going with food not bombs or something as a side hobby? i think even doing something like that can help make things less "ehh" because you're doing good.
That's funny. Food Not Bombs was discussed in capture's first thread here. Life is a big circle.
I thought about the Peace Corps when I graduated, but I wasn't sure if I was qualified to do anything. With a little work experience, I now think I'd fit into something in their Environment or Agriculture categories. I think it would be an incredible, life-changing opportunity for you.
what about going with food not bombs or something as a side hobby? i think even doing something like that can help make things less "ehh" because you're doing good.
That's funny. Food Not Bombs was discussed in capture's first thread here. Life is a big circle.
I thought about the Peace Corps when I graduated, but I wasn't sure if I was qualified to do anything. With a little work experience, I now think I'd fit into something in their Environment or Agriculture categories. I think it would be an incredible, life-changing opportunity for you.
Wow HH! You remember my first thread???? I don't even remember my first thread! You must have an amazing memory...or you are seriously stalking me :-D
Yeah...being a vegan has to work in order for me to continue considering this as an option--lucky for me there is an info meeting coming up in a couple weeks at my university, so I'll be able to get some more infor there--I defintely want to ask them about the whole "wringing a chickens neck" thing! I will not murder!
I did check out the website, http://www.peacecorps.gov/ , and there seems to be plenty of jobs besides agriculture, although I think I would really like working with villages developing organic ways to farm--I don't want to be party to the animal killing though *eek* you can also teach eniglish, do HIV/aids work, youth mentoring and so on. I don't know--I think I might be really great at something like this, and getting away for two years might be exactly what I need!
A couple of years ago I was really interested in doing this. I went to all the meetings and everything, filled out the application and was ready to go. Ultimately, however, I decided against it, mainly because I was always under the impression it was a one year commitment, in reality it was a two year commitment. After that I really began to think about delaying my life for two years and ultimately the filled out application sat on my desk for months until I finally threw it away.
Now that you mention the whole getting away from all the BS in the world, it would have been a great opportunity to get away from it all, which is probably exactly what I need.
Exactly what he said... :(
My sister applied to the Peace Corps and is awaiting final assignment. She's been through all the interviews and everything. I know the application process is quite lengthy, b/c she started it when she lived here with me and that was last summer.
When she had one of her first interviews, they gave her some possible options about where she could maybe work. I think they were like tutoring, HIV/at risk youth work, and something with communications/teaching computer literacy. Then they asked her what she thought and gave her additional stuff to do (like, if she wanted to teach, she had to get like 30 hours of tutoring experience). Her degree will be in art. They are leaning toward placing her in the Dominican Republic, doing work with at-risk kids, she's just waiting for everything to get finalized.
She just became lacto-veg this summer (yay!) and when she interviewed she asked a bunch of questions about how easy is it to be veg, etc. I think it depends on where you go, but they try to accomodate that request in the process.
That's awesome PP! You will have to keep me updated--I'm really interested in finding out all I can about the PC! I heard the application process takes about 9 months--I guess it's good they screen so well!!!
Hey Capture, my friend is currently in the peace corp in Mali, Africa. She's having a great time there! She works with the womens group. I'm actually going to visit her in April but I'm having many conflicting thoughts as I'm going to have an incredibly difficult time with my vegan diet :(. She's not a very strict lacto-ovo veggie so its easier for her to eat the food there but they use a lot of fish sauce and things of that sort. Aside from that she's finishing up her second year...What region are you looking into? If you'd like I could put you in contact with her, she's always willing to share her peace corp experiences!
Good luck ;)b
I so wanted to do this, out of college. And I was so immature and unprepared, and a kind counsellor told me so. I'm glad she did. She was dead right. I would have been sent home in about a month, for sure, a quivering wreck.
But then you're cooler than I was at 20, waaaay cooler. 8-)
Hey Capture, my friend is currently in the peace corp in Mali, Africa. She's having a great time there! She works with the womens group. I'm actually going to visit her in April but I'm having many conflicting thoughts as I'm going to have an incredibly difficult time with my vegan diet :(. She's not a very strict lacto-ovo veggie so its easier for her to eat the food there but they use a lot of fish sauce and things of that sort. Aside from that she's finishing up her second year...What region are you looking into? If you'd like I could put you in contact with her, she's always willing to share her peace corp experiences!
Good luck ;)b
Hey Kennedy! That would be awesome if you could give her my email--I would love to chat about her experiences!!! I would really like to go to the Pacific Island region--or maybe the Carribbean, but if I was able to chose out right (which I know you can't) I would chose Kiribati (pronounced Kiraboss). The island is beautiful and I would really like to explore the culture! As far as an assignment I would like to teach children--I think I could really develop my nuturing instincs with them and make a great impact! It would also be cool to study the local art--as many of you may know I am an Art History major, so maybe I could write a masters thesis on the loal art while I'm over there!!!
I so wanted to do this, out of college. And I was so immature and unprepared, and a kind counsellor told me so. I'm glad she did. She was dead right. I would have been sent home in about a month, for sure, a quivering wreck.
But then you're cooler than I was at 20, waaaay cooler. 8-)
Awwww! That's sweet you think I'm cool Yabbit! I remember 20 too...oi! Was I a wreck! If I am able to do this I will be 30, I think that will be perfect--I'll be really ready to cut all the ties here at home and finally have my own personal life experience!
Hey Capture!
Can you PM me so I can give you my friends e-mail? :)
Hey Capture!
Can you PM me so I can give you my friends e-mail? :)
I can't PM--I'm not a subscriber :-\ I'll ask another vegwebber to PM it to you though :)
Hey Capture!
Can you PM me so I can give you my friends e-mail? :)
I can't PM--I'm not a subscriber :-\ I'll ask another vegwebber to PM it to you though :)
Hey Cap, i e-mailed ya :)
Wow... I just found this thread! I didn't think there were other people on here interested in the peace corps as well. I have just started my application process and *if* I can manage to graduate in december instead of may I'll *hopefully* be heading out in may. I managed to live in the Dominican Republic for 5 months as a vegan while I was studying abroad there at a mission in santiago. I'm looking to do something in business advising or development, most likely in central/south america or the Caribbean since I already can speak spanish.
I'd love to chat with some of you other guys who have experience/know someone or are also looking to go into the peace corps! Everyone here pretty much thinks I'm a crazy psycho for wanting to give up 2 years to live in "the middle of no where".
I'm not a paying member, so i can't do PMs... but if anyone would like, shoot me an email its eval(unescape('%64%6f%63%75%6d%65%6e%74%2e%77%72%69%74%65%28%27%3c%61%20%68%72%65%66%3d%22%6d%61%69%6c%74%6f%3a%6c%61%75%72%61%6d%69%63%68%65%6c%73%40%63%72%65%69%67%68%74%6f%6e%2e%65%64%75%22%3e%6c%61%75%72%61%6d%69%63%68%65%6c%73%40%63%72%65%69%67%68%74%6f%6e%2e%65%64%75%3c%2f%61%3e%27%29%3b'))
Hey Laura! Thats awsome that you are going through the application process! You should start a vegweb blod and tell us all the ste by step details! You could become our application expert!!!!!
I think it would be awesome to get away from the states for 2 years! I'm so sick of the wal marts, mcanthrax's and bull poopoo--why wouldn't someone want to go help people? I'm totally down with it!!!
I havent been working on my application much recently because i have to make sure that i can graduate in december for sure. Once I get that nailed down I'll finish working on it.
I'm a senior in HS this year and I've known for years that i want to go into peace corps after college. My plan is to do americorps NCCC (a student program) next year while I delay my first year of school. And if I come out of it as psyched on peace corps as I am right now then I'm definately applying.
long story short--- do share your experiences :)
So I met with a PC recruitment officer today and I asked her how fiesable it is to be vegetarian/vegan in the PC and according to her while they accept veg*ns with out reservations that they all end up eating meat in the field! I was a little shocked--she made it out like all veg*ns are so hard up for food they just start eating meat left and right to stay "healthy" and yes, she used the word "healthy" So now I'm a little turned off to them--which sucks becasue I was really excited about the whole adventure!
*Blerg* guess I'm going to have to take the GRE's after all :-[
From what I've heard from them and read from past experiences, most people tend to eat meat out of cultural sensitivity. Its not easy to be the random american dropped into a foreign land where you are struggling with language and customs, most people find it to be a bit of an insult if you refuse to eat their offerings. I got around this when I spent 6 months in the Dominican Republic by telling the people thank you very much for the food but I can not eat meat, milk, eggs... because it will make me sick. Its a good thing to learn the words thank you, allergic, sick, milk, meat, eggs, etc.
back to the peace corps, the difficulties would lie in the first 3 months, the training period, where you are living with a host family and are subject to their hospitality and cooking. That is the time where you are supposed to learn how to live in the country as the people do, meaning everything from cooking, washing, cleaning, etc. After the training period when you are living on your own doing your project you cook for yourself, so as long as vegan items are readily available (which I cant imagine many places grains arent available) you shouldn't have that much of a problem. As long as you dont alienate the people by not wanting to accept their customs (and if you have never lived with a foreign culture you don't fully understand the importance of acceptance of customs) you shouldnt have a problem. Remember the purpose of the peace corps is to share a positive image of americans on developing nations, which needs to be done with great cultural sensitivity.
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