Summary

The only guide that tells potential Peace Corps volunteers what to expect, through first-hand advice from recent volunteers. In this candid guide, experienced Peace Corps volunteers give the complete lowdown on all anyone needs to know before applying and volunteering, examining everything from the highly competitive application process to living like a local to Peace Corps rules and policy. The only handbook of its kind, this pragmatic manual provides answers that can't be found anywhere else. Containing the latest information and resources on Peace Corps programs, this is an essential reference for anyone contemplating the "toughest job you'll ever love."

Author Biography

DILLON BANERJEE served as an agroforestry volunteer in the Peace Corps from 1994 to 1996 in Belo, Cameroon. He currently works as a U.S. diplomat in Lisbon, Portugal, where he is the director of the American Embassy's International Trade program.

THE AUTHOR SCOOP

Read any good books lately?
I was on a roll a while back with books like Blindness, Bel Canto, Life of Pi, Perfume, and The Road. I just started The Friends of the Earth by T.C. Boyle and am hopeful.

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?
Having it edited. After laboring for endless hours over the manuscript, my initial reaction to recommended changes was usually denial. Nothing could be changed because it was so obviously perfect. Between my wife and the top-notch editors at Ten Speed, however, I came to accept that too many cooks can't spoil the broth when it comes to polishing a book manuscript. Revisions usually translate to improvements.

What's the first concert you ever attended?
Tenth grade, Siouxsie and the Banshees at Warner Theater in Washington, DC. I had my black jeans, black sneakers, and black concert-T on, but felt like a preppie as I watched grown men in ballroom gowns scaling the stage speakers and jumping into the crowd below.

Know any good jokes?
My five-year-old son loves to tell this knock-knock joke:
Knock knock
Who's there?
Nobody.
Nobody who?
…(silence)…
Don't know why, but it still kind of cracks me up.

What's the farthest you've ever traveled?
My second assignment in the Foreign Service was to Moscow, Russia, where I served as a Commercial Officer at the Embassy for two years. About halfway through my tour, I was asked to lead a business delegation to the capital city in Siberia – Novosibirsk. Russia is an enormous country with 11 time zones; it's shorter to fly from Moscow to Boston than Moscow to Vladivostok (in the far east). My flight to Novosibirsk carried me over vast expanses of nothingness, and when I landed, I spammed friends and family in the States with SMS's just to tell them that I was in Siberia. In truth, Novosibirsk is a nice town with over a million people, replete with a metro system, opera house, cafes, university, and a huge manmade lake (the Ob Sea). Still, it felt way off the beaten path.

Acknowledgments	p. i
Peace Corps Acronyms	p. x
Preface	p. 1
Pre-Application Jitters
What is the application process like? How long does it take?	p. 4
Am I qualified to join the Peace Corps?	p. 9
What if I'm married and we both want to join?	p. 11
Can I serve in the Peace Corps with my boyfriend or girlfriend?	p. 13
What will my Peace Corps experience be like if I'm an "older" volunteer?	p. 14
What will my Peace Corps experience be like if I'm gay?	p. 16
What will my Peace Corps experience be like if I'm a minority?	p. 18
Will the two years go by quickly or slowly?	p. 20
Will I be lonely?	p. 22
What will I miss the most?	p. 24
How to Pack for a Two-Year Trip
What should I bring?	p. 26
Can I really pack only eighty pounds to take with me?	p. 30
What kinds of games and toys should I bring?	p. 32
How many books should I bring?	p. 33
What about the water? Will I need a purifier?	p. 34
Can I bring my pet overseas with me?	p. 36
Peace Corps Training-Learning the Ropes
What is training like?	p. 38
How hard will it be to learn the language? What language(s) will I learn?	p. 41
Will I have enough technical training to do my job?	p. 43
Managing Your Money
How will I get paid? Where will I keep my money?	p. 46
Will I have enough money? Should I bring extra money with me?	p. 48
Living Like the Locals
Will I live in a mud hut? Will I have electricity or running water?	p. 52
How will I wash my clothes? Do my dishes? Clean my house?	p. 55
What is the food like?	p. 57
What if I'm a vegetarian?	p. 58
Can I buy or adopt a pet overseas?	p. 60
How will my neighbors and collegues view me?	p. 61
How will I travel around my work area?	p. 63
Common Medical and Safety Concerns
Will I get sick?	p. 66
Will I get worms?	p. 68
Will I lose weight? Gain weight?	p. 70
What medical services will be available to me?	p. 71
What if I become too sick to reach help?	p. 74
What if I get pregnant or impregnate someone while I'm in the Peace Corps?	p. 75
Is AIDS a big concern for Peace Corps volunteers?	p. 77
What if there is a crisis and I have to be evacuated from my post?	p. 79
Do local police and government officials harass volunteers?	p. 80
Is sexual harassment a problem for female volunteers?	p. 81
Staying in Touch with Home
How will I receive mail in the Peace Corps?	p. 84
Will people be able to send me things through the embassy's diplomatic mail pouch?	p. 88
Can I get magazine subscriptions sent to me?	p. 89
Will I be able to call the States?	p. 90
Peace Corps Gadgets and Technology
Will I have access to the Internet?	p. 94
Should I bring my laptop?	p. 96
Will I be able to use a cell phone in the field?	p. 98
Should I bring a digital camera? GPS unit? MP3 player?	p. 100
Do I need a shortwave radio?	p. 102
The Social Scene
How close will I live to another volunteer?	p. 104
How often will I see other volunteers?	p. 106
What is the drug and alcohol situation like?	p. 108
What is the dating scene like in the Peace Corps?	p. 110
What happens if I want to marry a host country national?	p. 112
The Toughest Job You'll Ever Love?
What is the work schedule like?	p. 114
How much supervision is there for volunteers in the field?	p. 115
Will I work with other international development agencies while I'm overseas?	p. 117
Is the Peace Corps effective as a development agency?	p. 119
What are some common criticisms of the Peace Corps?	p. 121
Rules to Live By-Peace Corps Policy
Will I be able to have friends and family visit from the States?	p. 124
How often do volunteers quit before their two years are over?	p. 126
What is the procedure for quitting early?	p. 129
Can I get kicked out of the Peace Corps?	p. 131
How many volunteers extend their service beyond the first two years?	p. 133
Will I be overseas for the whole two years or can I come home in between?	p. 135
Can I transfer programs if I don't like what I'm doing?	p. 136
Can I transfer countries if I don't like where I am?	p. 138
Will I have access to embassy, commissary, and American Club services?	p. 139
Traveling Like a Pro
Will I have the opportunity to travel much during my two years as a volunteer?	p. 142
Can I travel to other countries after my Peace Corps service is over?	p. 144
Will I be issued a diplomatic passport?	p. 146
Post-Peace Corps
How hard is readjusting to life back in the States?	p. 148
Does the Peace Corps look good on a resume? Will it help me get into graduate school?	p. 151
What is "noncompetitive eligibility" and what can it do for me?	p. 153
Can I bring my Peace Corps pet back to the States with me?	p. 154
Would you go back and do the Peace Corps all over again?	p. 155
Appendices
Peace Corps General Facts	p. 158
Peace Corps Country Map	p. 159
Peace Corps Programs Overview	p. 160
Medical Information for Applicants	p. 163
Peace Corps Master's International Program	p. 166
Peace Corps Regional Offices	p. 169
Peace Corps Information Online	p. 171
Vegetarian Questionnaire	p. 173
Romantic Involvement Worksheet	p. 175
Joining Peace Corps as a Couple	p. 176
Volunteering at Age 50+	p. 177
Index	p. 179
About the Author	p. 182
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Excerpts

1 What is the application process like? How long does it take?

The application process can be arduous and seemingly endless. The Peace Corps receives over two hundred thousand inquiries each year from people interested in applying. Tens of thousands of those people submit applications, and only a fraction is eventually accepted. Besides the fact that the Peace Corps is a government agency--which, by definition, means it can be slow and bureaucratic--the sheer number of applicants combined with the excruciating detail each must provide on the application forms make it easy to understand why the review process can last up to a year.

The Peace Corps tells potential recruits that three personality traits are invaluable during the application process: persistence, patience, and a sense of humor. Persistence is required because, try as they may, the Peace Corps does not always review every application and forward every file in a timely manner. Every so often you'll need to prod and encourage them to keep the process moving. I knew an applicant who, after submitting his completed application, sat back and waited to hear from the Peace Corps. He never followed up with calls; he never thought to check on the status of his application. After almost six months of waiting, he received a letter notifying him that his application had been deemed "inactive." Apparently, having never heard from him, his recruiter assumed he had lost interest in joining.

Patience is a virtue for Peace Corps applicants simply because, even if you are persistent and hound the office with weekly calls, the entire process may take anywhere from four to twelve months. Why does it take so long? Because there are several steps one must take to navigate successfully through the system. In a nutshell, they are:

1. Filling out the application. This is no easy feat, though it has been made a bit less cumbersome now that the entire process can be completed online. From Peace Corps' official website (www.peacecorps.gov), you can create an account that allows you to access the application and complete it in stages at your convenience. You can also track your progress so you know where you are in the process at any given time. That said, the application still consists of seventeen distinct sections ranging from queries on personal and legal information to military status, language skills, and employment history. The Peace Corps demands an account of every relevant course, internship, summer job, and hobby that may qualify you for one of their programs. You must provide three references (one professional, one personal, and one from a volunteer work supervisor) and write two five hundred-word essays (detailing your motivation to apply, and any past cross-cultural experiences). The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) estimates that the Peace Corps application should take approximately eight hours to complete. In reality, expect to be filling in the blanks for days, if not weeks, due to the amount and depth of information requested. If you are unable to access or complete the forms online, you can request that Peace Corps send you hard copies so you can put pen to paper.

2. Passing an interview. Once your application has been reviewed, the Peace Corps determines whether or not you "fit" into any of their program areas. If you do, you will be called into the nearest Peace Corps office for an interview with a recruiter. If you are unable to attend in person, the interview may be conducted over the phone. This step of the process is a major screening tool for the Peace Corps. It is their forum for evaluating your level of commitment, maturity, and experience, and it is your golden opportunity to sell yourself, your skills, and your ambition. During the interview, expect to be grilled on your reasons for wanting to join, your expectations, your hopes and fears, your strengths and weakne

Excerpted from The Insider's Guide to the Peace Corps: What to Know Before You Go by Dillon Banerjee
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.