Tell me about the Peace Corps

[arminnie]

I have several friends who served in the Peace Corps - but that was 35+ years ago. It was a meaningful life-altering experience for them. Yes a lot of hardships - but basic safety was not the issue back then that it is today.

It's not just these 3rd world countries. Think about here in the U.S. There are places that I would have gone alone at night by myself 35 years ago where armed SWAT teams fear to tread today. The world in general has become a really scary place at times.

I would have a real problem with someone being placed near real danger with absolutely no means of self-protection. How much can you ultimately help the world if you are dead or traumatized?

We have SO much need right here at home. I'm not opposed to helping other countries at all. It's not a case of help at home before going elsewhere. It's that a basic level of security needs to be provided where ever it is.

The Peace Corps is highly selective. Service could really help in getting into a highly competitive graduate program. She just needs to approach this with open eyes.

 

[IdesOmarch]

You make some good points and I agree, but I don't think you'll be able to drag up a news story about "10 Christians crucified and mutilated by band of marauding bandits" like the above news story about Africa.

Africa will never change IMO, yes there are a handful of countries there that are safe-er, but nothing like the USA IMO. I mean I just did a very quick google search and found story after story of 400 people murdered here, 395 people shot to death there, 50 people mutilated here, Congo still plauged by unprecedented lawlessness and bands of marauding bandits there, etc., etc., it is an endless amount of stories like this in Africa, and its not getting any better, in fact it may be getting worse.

In the movie Blood Diamond which is a very good movie about the diamond trade in Africa and how it finances a lot of these so-called armies of "freedom fighters" they had a saying "This is Africa" or TIA for short. It basically meant when the machine guns start blazing in the streets and hundreds of innocent women and children are massacred in cold blood, its just another day in Africa so to speak, or TIA.

Don't get me wrong, I am fascinated in many ways by Africa, but I would NEVER want to risk my life by visiting that continent. Disney's Animal Kingdom is going to have to do it for me!

 

[eliza61]

Sorry to disagree with you but it is absolutely 100% true. I did not mean to imply that EVERY country in Africa has these problems, but certainly many, maybe more than not.

I mean Somalia for one, is basically in a state of anarchy with war lords running things. (This was the country the famous Black Hawk Down movie was about) where our US Soldiers were killed by lawless machine gun wielding bandits. This is also one of the countries where you are constantly hearing news stories of modern day pirates attacking vessels off the African coast are based here.

Then there is Rwanda, which I believe is the country where they were at civil war with each other, and were hacking the limbs off of each other, at least the ones that did not have machine guns used machetes. And you would not want to get caught in the middle of this.

Then there are the countless troubles in Liberia, a country that was set up by the US no less, that has degenerated into lawlessness. I am no expert, and do not profess to know everything about the continent, but there is no doubt it is full of danger, and there really are marauding bandits with machine guns that will not think twice about killing you in many of the countries. And these are just a handful of examples that I know about as a casual observer. If you really studied up on it, it would probably be 10 times worse than how I make it sound.

Just as the United States is full of lawlessness.

FYI there are 47 countries on the continent of Africa. The vast majority peaceful countries. If you count the 3 islands off the coast of africa which are also independant nations, the count would be 53.

By your analogy we could say the US is full of drug dealers going around shooting every one in the country based on what goes on in some of our inner cities.

Maybe the problem is that there is nothing to report in the vast majority of African Nations. And maybe it's because our media has pretty much a "if it bleeds, it Leads" mentality so of course we get the Somalia pirate stories. I hardly doubt op, was talking about sending her child to Somalia.

Please, exactly what are you reading that gives all this murder and mayhem in All of Africa.

I've seen more violence in NYC then I ever saw in Botswana.
Using somalia as the standard of all african Nations is equivalent to using south Central LA or South Bronx as a representation of the U.S.


FYI in 2000 the U.S. had a firearms death rate (number of deaths per 100,000) of 10.2. Zimbabwe (that's in Africa) had one of 4.0% . While South Africa which many people consider a "develope" nation has an extremely high homicide rate.
So some could argue that our own country is way more violent.

You're using a Leo Decaprio movie as an accurate depiction of a continent. Whew, that's like trying to get a accurate portrayal of the wild west from a John Wayne movie.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Sorry to disagree with you but it is absolutely 100% true. I did not mean to imply that EVERY country in Africa has these problems, but certainly many, maybe more than not.

I mean Somalia for one, is basically in a state of anarchy with war lords running things. (This was the country the famous Black Hawk Down movie was about) where our US Soldiers were killed by lawless machine gun wielding bandits. This is also one of the countries where you are constantly hearing news stories of modern day pirates attacking vessels off the African coast are based here.

Then there is Rwanda, which I believe is the country where they were at civil war with each other, and were hacking the limbs off of each other, at least the ones that did not have machine guns used machetes. And you would not want to get caught in the middle of this.

Then there are the countless troubles in Liberia, a country that was set up by the US no less, that has degenerated into lawlessness. I am no expert, and do not profess to know everything about the continent, but there is no doubt it is full of danger, and there really are marauding bandits with machine guns that will not think twice about killing you in many of the countries. And these are just a handful of examples that I know about as a casual observer. If you really studied up on it, it would probably be 10 times worse than how I make it sound.

True, there are awful things going on in the places you list. But we don't have Peace Corps volunteers there, so it's irrelevant.

There are awful things going on in Juarez, Mexico right now, I'm not cancelling my ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia because of it.

 

[IdesOmarch]

OMGosh, I honestly can't believe I have to explain this again, I already posted a small handful of stories. The USA does not have marauding bands of machine gun wielding pirates roaming the streets shooting hundreds of innocent women and children in the streets, we don't, don't think we ever had. However this is an everyday thing in Africa. All you have to do is google this, I'm not making this up, its a fact. I could list hundreds of RECENT stories like this, its not ancient history like the one poster attempted to explain this away.

USA does have murder and shootings, but not like Africa. Half the countries in Africa have killings by armed bands of rebel soldiers that are organized by some rebel leader, war lord, or some other type of drug lord or whatever the case may be. THere are countless examples of African countries that have their Peoples Liberation Army this, or the Freedom Fighters of that, rebel armies at active war with the government in power, that took power by killing the leaders of the previous government that took power by killing the leaders from before and on and on and on, that are all murderous thugs that don't hesitate to slaughter innocent women and children by the hundreds or thousands, this is Africa.

I also can't ever recall any stories of the USA having for example, the Republicans, going around to all Democrats houses to take them out into the streets and either shoot them in the head for being Democrats, or hack their arms off with a machete, however, this is Africa, TIA.

I also don't think you can take examples from the USA of entire armies of 12 and 14 year old boys roaming around with AK47s machine gunning people in the streets either, but yet this is Africa.

Trying to make Africa sound like the USA, with just a few bad places is not a reality. The reality is a large majority of Africa is like this, it is very un-safe. All you have to do is your own google search, I'm not making this up. TIA

 

[eliza61]

True, there are awful things going on in the places you list. But we don't have Peace Corps volunteers there, so it's irrelevant.

There are awful things going on in Juarez, Mexico right now, I'm not cancelling my ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia because of it.

I've went on a mind blowing African safari in Kenya many, many years ago. No one was hacked to death with a machete, Americans continue to go all the time and more probably get mauled by trying to take a picture of a lion (there's a reason they say don't get out of the jeep. LOL) then coming to harm by "lawlessness"
Adventures by disney has a great package to Africa, as soon as I hit the lottery I'm signing up.

 

[IdesOmarch]

True, there are awful things going on in the places you list. But we don't have Peace Corps volunteers there, so it's irrelevant.

There are awful things going on in Juarez, Mexico right now, I'm not cancelling my ski trip to Whistler, British Columbia because of it.

Ugh? I thought British Columbia was in Canada? What does that have to do with Mexico? And you are right, Mexico is EXTREMELY dangerous right now too, its on its way to become the next Africa, I would not even go to Cozymel or Cancun because of how unsafe Mexico is now. I don't want to take a vacation to only get kidnapped, which is happening all the time in Mexico now.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I've went on a mind blowing African safari in Kenya many, many years ago. No one was hacked to death with a machete, Americans continue to go all the time and more probably get mauled by trying to take a picture of a lion (there's a reason they say don't get out of the jeep. LOL) then coming to harm by "lawlessness"
Adventures by disney has a great package to Africa, as soon as I hit the lottery I'm signing up.

Good luck, you're braver than I am, I can post you tons of stories about people going on Safari only to be kidnapped and/or murdered, not to discourage you of course. Yes people go to Africa and make it out of there safely, but many others don't. Ignore this at your own peril IMO. I know no vacation of mine is worth taking this chance, Disney's AK will do just fine for my African fix.

 

[eliza61]

OMGosh, I honestly can't believe I have to explain this again, I already posted a small handful of stories. The USA does not have marauding bands of machine gun wielding pirates roaming the streets shooting hundreds of innocent women and children in the streets, we don't, don't think we ever had. However this is an everyday thing in Africa. All you have to do is google this, I'm not making this up, its a fact. I could list hundreds of RECENT stories like this, its not ancient history like the one poster attempted to explain this away.

USA does have murder and shootings, but not like Africa. Half the countries in Africa have killings by armed bands of rebel soldiers that are organized by some rebel leader, war lord, or some other type of drug lord or whatever the case may be. THere are countless examples of African countries that have their Peoples Liberation Army this, or the Freedom Fighters of that, rebel armies at active war with the government in power, that took power by killing the leaders of the previous government that took power by killing the leaders from before and on and on and on, that are all murderous thugs that don't hesitate to slaughter innocent women and children by the hundreds or thousands, this is Africa.

I also can't ever recall any stories of the USA having for example, the Republicans, going around to all Democrats houses to take them out into the streets and either shoot them in the head for being Democrats, or hack their arms off with a machete, however, this is Africa, TIA.

I also don't think you can take examples from the USA of entire armies of 12 and 14 year old boys roaming around with AK47s machine gunning people in the streets either, but yet this is Africa.Trying to make Africa sound like the USA, with just a few bad places is not a reality. The reality is a large majority of Africa is like this, it is very un-safe. All you have to do is your own google search, I'm not making this up. TIA

So it's the maurading bands that are the problem. So I guess the fact that we have 14 year old boys in drug gangs with ak 47's is no problem? LOL.


I guess teens doing drive by's is ok as long as it's only 4 or 5.

Sorry, I'm not trying to make Africa sound like any thing. Dead is dead.

whether its by some one in the peoples liberation army or whether is by some whackadoodle walking into the grocery store and taking out a group of people does not give anyone bragging rights.

And I'd damn sure take a bunch of African nations over Compton California or Camden NJ any day.

 

[IdesOmarch]

Yet another news story about people going on safari in Africa. Not to discourage YOU from going however.

Africa is one of the last frontiers of global tourism. While travelers can follow a well-developed tourist trail on most other continents, travel in Africa remains an adventure. The continent has a rich cultural heritage and fascinating ecosystem, but the tourism infrastructure is poorly developed, and travelers in many parts of Africa need a strong sense of adventure and courage. What concerns many travelers interested in visiting Africa is the fact that those of us who do not reside on the African continent hear a lot of bad news about this vast and varied assortment of countries. We hear of the kidnappings of tourists, civil war, piracy, violence, human rights abuses, tribal conflicts, economic collapse, and terrorist attacks. Sudan, Nigeria, Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, and South Africa have all made the headlines this past year with such frightening news. Eleven foreign tourists were kidnapped in a remote desert in Ethiopia in March 2007 and later freed by Egyptian and Sudanese commandos. In Kenya, over 1,000 people died during clashes after disputed elections in November 2007. Off the coast of Somalia, pirates are no longer just targeting cargo ships but have also captured several yachts in 2008—and have demanded high ransoms. In September 2008 eleven tourists were kidnapped while on a safari in a remote southern region of Egypt. Xenophobic attacks on African immigrants in South Africa from poor neighboring countries have resulted in numerous deaths, and crime against tourists is rising. Terrorist attacks by Islamic extremists have also increased drastically since 9-11, especially in Northern Africa.

In response, many Western governments have issued travel warnings for many African countries, advising their citizens not to travel there or to certain regions. A rising crime rate against tourists is one of the major concerns, but tribal conflicts, terrorism, and civil war also pose serious risks, often in border regions with unstable neighboring countries. West Africa has the lowest number of African countries with travel warnings from Western governments. Of the region’s sixteen countries, only Mauritania, Guinea, Liberia, Cote d’Ivoire, and Nigeria, are considered dangerous or partly dangerous for foreign travelers. In other parts of Africa, Botswana, Madagascar, Namibia, and Malawi are considered fairly safe, but most other African countries have at least an elevated and sometimes very high security risk for foreign travelers.

Faced with these bleak assessments from their governments and with discouraging media reports, it is not surprising that many travelers wonder if it is worth taking the risk of visiting Africa. But travelers interested in Africa should be aware that the travel advisories and news we hear only tell part of the story. Ethnic conflict, political instability, civil unrest and violence are no doubt serious threats to travelers, but there are many places in Africa that are peaceful and relatively stable. We need to remind ourselves that a safe and successful trip depends to a large degree on being well-informed, taking safety precautions and choosing our travel destination and itinerary very carefully.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

Ugh? I thought British Columbia was in Canada? What does that have to do with Mexico? And you are right, Mexico is EXTREMELY dangerous right now too, its on its way to become the next Africa, I would not even go to Cozymel or Cancun because of how unsafe Mexico is now. I don't want to take a vacation to only get kidnapped, which is happening all the time in Mexico now.

That's my point. Juarez is in Mexico, BC is in Canada, they're very far apart and totally different countries.

Kind of like the Congo, and Somalia, and other countries you talk about are very far away from, and totally different countries from, the places where we have Peace Corps volunteers.

Mexico can't become the next Africa because Africa is not a country.

 

[dakcp2001]

I came very close to joining the PC in 2002. I too was told of all the horror stories of women being attacked. It definately made me rethink my personal safety. They make no guarantees on where you will go and you do not get to choose which country you are interested in serving. For me the deciding factor came down to a guy from Lowell, Massachusetts (Walter Porier) that had gone missing in Bolivia in January of 2001. This kid's mother met my mother by chance at my moms work and told my mom her story and there was no calming my mother after that. She was so afraid, I had never seen her like that. They never found him, and the scary thing for me was that the PC didnt even look for him or realize he was missing until his family started chasing after them. It was several months before they took action and they dragged their feet. Google him.

I ended up doing a short term volunteer program in Central America that was for 3 months. I loved it, and still regret not joining the PC. I think I will always regret not joining when I was young and had the freedom. Bad things happen everywhere, not just in the PC. If you read the statistics about living in NYC you might never go there either. I regret letting fear hold me back.

There are a LOT of volunteer abroad programs out there, and as a teacher she would prob be perfect for one of the summer programs. She doesnt need 2 years to do it, it will still change her life.

 

[NotUrsula]

Ugh? I thought British Columbia was in Canada? What does that have to do with Mexico? And you are right, Mexico is EXTREMELY dangerous right now too, its on its way to become the next Africa, I would not even go to Cozymel or Cancun because of how unsafe Mexico is now. I don't want to take a vacation to only get kidnapped, which is happening all the time in Mexico now.

About as much as violence in the Somalia, the Sudan, or the Congolese/Ugandan border region has to do with conditions in Mali. Flying time between those regions is more than 5 hours.

The point the poster was trying to make is that you are condemning an entire continent. Last I checked, Mexico and Canada are on the same continent as well, so by your reasoning, Canada must have really serious drug violence.

You are basing your opinions solely on fictionalized films and on US-based news reports. The people who are saying that you are overdoing it have actually been there or do business with people there on a regular basis.

 

[Mrs. Darcy]

My parish priest is from Ghana, Africa. He has said that Africa is the most dangerous continent in the world. As someone said, lots of African countries have safe places/cities, but that's not where the Peace Corps send it's workers. He said if someone wants to visit an African country, unless they're armed and with proper guides, they need to stay within the tourist areas of the cities or of the safari areas. there are some beautiful places to see there, beautiful resorts, but that a different world than where the Peace Corps people are sent. I'd be afraid for one of my loved ones to be there.

 

[eliza61]

My parish priest is from Ghana, Africa. He has said that Africa is the most dangerous continent in the world. As someone said, lots of African countries have safe places/cities, but that's not where the Peace Corps send it's workers. He said if someone wants to visit an African country, unless they're armed and with proper guides, they need to stay within the tourist areas of the cities or of the safari areas. there are some beautiful places to see there, beautiful resorts, but that a different world than where the Peace Corps people are sent. I'd be afraid for one of my loved ones to be there.

Totally understandable. the way to combat the fear, is to get as much accurate information that you can. Preferably from a better source than a hollywood movie.

Ironically, I saw the piece on world news tonight about the rapes in the peace corp and the girls that they highlighted I believe were assaulted in India and as the pp pointed out, Bolivia.

Ironically the same warning you got from your priest is the same warning I got when I went to Ochios Rios Jamaica. We were told not to be outside the resort (couples) after dark unless you were with some one who was a Jamaican.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I never said I was impuning the entire continent of Africa. Just listing the countless stories that are out there, I don't know what else to say. You act as if Africa is no different than going to NYC, and IMO that is far from the case, but if that's how you want to think, fine by me.

And if you can point to one single sitting US governor, or past governor in the USA, that took power by kicking down the doors of the governor's mansion with his private army of 12 and 13 year old boys armed with AK-47s and grenade launchers, murdering the governor and his family to take power, then I may be a little more persuaded by your arguments. THis type of thing is very common in Africa, and if you want to ignore these countless news stories, that's fine by me, but I'm not going to ignore them.

 

[mrsv98]

I concur with Americorps. My youngest sister spent two years teaching middle school kids in the Mississippi Delta after college and before Grad school. It was a very difficult position, the kids are woefully undereducated and could be "rough" but she was right here, a days drive away. There are many underserved children in America and if your DD wants to serve, looking at "home" would be a good place to start!

 

[IdesOmarch]

Living that type of adventurous lifestyle sounds all romantic, and glamourous and fun, and I would love to go on safari if you could guarantee my safety, but that's not possible. Safari sounds like a ton of fun until you get there and things suddenly go wrong, and you end up down the wrong trail at the end of the wrong jungle, and lost, no guide to be found, and you run into some.........people, then they proceed to rob you and do things you could never post on this board to you, I'm guessing African safaris would be off the list of "to do" in the vacation department. A vacation to me isn't worth risking my life over.

 

[palavra]

You make some good points and I agree, but I don't think you'll be able to drag up a news story about "10 Christians crucified and mutilated by band of marauding bandits" like the above news story about Africa.

Africa will never change IMO, yes there are a handful of countries there that are safe-er, but nothing like the USA IMO. I mean I just did a very quick google search and found story after story of 400 people murdered here, 395 people shot to death there, 50 people mutilated here, Congo still plauged by unprecedented lawlessness and bands of marauding bandits there, etc., etc., it is an endless amount of stories like this in Africa, and its not getting any better, in fact it may be getting worse.

In the movie Blood Diamond which is a very good movie about the diamond trade in Africa and how it finances a lot of these so-called armies of "freedom fighters" they had a saying "This is Africa" or TIA for short. It basically meant when the machine guns start blazing in the streets and hundreds of innocent women and children are massacred in cold blood, its just another day in Africa so to speak, or TIA.

Don't get me wrong, I am fascinated in many ways by Africa, but I would NEVER want to risk my life by visiting that continent. Disney's Animal Kingdom is going to have to do it for me!

You are welcome to you own opinion, of course, but I cringe every time I read or hear misinformation perpetuated by people who have never been to Africa. Your line, "Africa will never change," is a good example of that. Yes, Africa is changing.Look at the headlines. Both Tunisia and Egypt are having riots that will hopefully bring about much needed government change in their countries. Most of the countries have only been independent for 50 or so years. When the U.S. was about 80 years old, we were in the midst of a very bloody Civil War.

I spent 6 months in Africa in the countries of Mali, Burkina Faso and Cote d'Ivoire in the 1990's. The lifestyles in these countries are so different from ours, but I didn't feel less safe. Heck, I got lost driving in Atlanta once and felt more fear from gangs.

I think the Peace Corps is a great organization for the most part. Those who choose to apply should know that they will face danger of different sorts from living in an area of the world that desperately needs help. I would never trade my 6 months in Africa. I learned so much from warm, friendly people who had virtually no "creature comforts" and yet knew how to enjoy life.

 

[IdesOmarch]

I will take your word for it. And I realize hearing the "news" is going to be mainly the horror stories, and you can't impune an entire continent based on a ton of horror news stories. But when I say things will never change there, just as things will never change to that extent in the USA. There will always be murder, happens all the time in the USA and that will never change too. Its not just Africa that probably will never change, I realize I shouldn't say "never" because it impunes that humanity will never evolve to a true state of peace, but I don't have much faith in it.