Any experience with the Peace Corps?

[Megster]

I'm a college senior expecting to graduate in May. My degree will be in communication sciences and disorders (basically speech therapy), but that field is not something I'm particularly interested in going in to.
I've been toying with the idea of going into the Peace Corps (after graduation) for the past couple weeks or so. I've looked over their website and am planning on attending a general info session in a few weeks. Of course, those things are designed to make the experience look absolutely amazing. I was wondering if anyone here had any experience with the Peace Corps, personally or otherwise. I'm looking for the good, bad and ugly.
TIA!!

 

[Megster]

giving myself a shameless bump...

anyone have any info??? I'll give you a and a

 

[ducklite]

I used to work with a girl who had worked with the Peace Corp for a couple of years after college. She was stationed in Eritria, Africa in a very remote village, I'm not sure exactly what her role was there.

The living conditions were rudimentary at best. She lived in a mud hut, not running water, no sanitary facilities.

Her goal was to work at the UN, and the Peace Corp experience along with her degree in international relations (or something along those lines) and ability to speak half a dozen languages got her there about a year after she returned from Africa. (I didn't work with her all that long.)

She had some fond memories of Africa, but she also said that in many ways the job was very different than she had expected. She did end up leaving about six months before her "hitch" was supposed to be over, she had just had it with the living conditions and had gotten sick and really needed Western medicine to get well.

My SIL's best friend from high school (a male) was also in the Peace Corp, he was in Jamaica for a couple of years. SIL went to visit him a couple of times down there, and she told me a lot of things about his experiences, but that was some time ago, and I'll be honest, I don't remember much. If you'd like I'll give her a call and pick her brains, although that will be 3rd hand info.

 

[Princess_Michelle]

All I know about it is that if you have ever belonged to the Peace Corps, it's extremely difficult, if not impossible, to ever get a government issued security clearance. Just a thought, if you ever plan on working for the governmet or doing government contract jobs, or something. Also, b/c I held a Top Secret security clearance, I can never join the Peace Corps....

 

[Megster]

Thank you so much!

I don't have any plans to work for the government. I'm just looking for something worthwhile to do while I figure out my next step.

 

[RUDisney]

I had a friend in the PC after college. She was stationed in Togo, Africa. Her degree was in economics and she got interested in agriculture while she was there. She now has a PhD in agricultural economics and is a professor, as is her DH. She was in Togo for 2.5 years. She loved the experience and traveled around Africa and through the middle east and into India. When she was getting her masters, she worked for the Dept of Agriculture and was sent to S. America to work on projects. She married a Canadian and lived in Winnepeg for a while. She also studied in England during college and traveled throughout Europe. She is one of the best traveled people whom I know. I think the only places she hasn't been are in SE Asia, Russia and Australia.

Another friend served in the Jesuit Volunteers. He taught English in Malaysia. He also cherishes his time with the JV.

You know in your heart if this is something that you want to do. If it is, then go for it! You're only young and able to do things like this once.

 

[bridget&jimmy]

My brother is in the Peace Corps right now. I know he is pretty miserable and the conditions are not what he thought they were going to be, I know he is thinking of coming home early because he is constantly getting sick and he is overall not too happy. He is in Paraguay.

 

[Megster]

Thanks for the info!

From what I've heard your experience really does depend on where you are located; and because you don't get to pick your location that is definitely a concern for me.

bridget&jimmy: hope your brother starts feeling better soon!

 

[TTFN]

My daughter is currently in the Peace Corps and is in Moldova (Eastern Europe..part of the former Soviet Union). She has been there since Sept of 2006. While you don't get to pick an exact location, you do get to indicate a preference as to general location. You can also not accept your assignment. The Peace Corps web site has a lot of info about different areas. While it hasn't been quite what DD expected, I don't think she will regret the time she served. She has learned sooo much about herself and about the world. She has traveled to some very exotic places (I have a picture of her riding a camel on Mt. Sinai). She wasn't sure what she wanted to do after college...her degree is in Marketing...and now she is on her way to law school next fall. (And she got to take the LSAT in Rome!)

 

[PlaneJoy1]

Thanks for the info!

From what I've heard your experience really does depend on where you are located; and because you don't get to pick your location that is definitely a concern for me.

bridget&jimmy: hope your brother starts feeling better soon!

I have no experience with the Peace Corps but if you are religeous your denomination probably has programs. If not, there are several more volunteer organizations that are country specific or let you pick the place you want to go. The one I heard about most in college was teaching English in China or other countries.

Good luck!