So I know this question pops up a lot...

[ashleeamelia13]

 I have been thinking about doing something like peace corps for a while . I wanna see this world from a different perspective, good , bad I don't care I just want to make some sort of mark in the world while experiencing something that will most likely change me as a person. I just want to know what the process is, what the requirements are and

Comments

[west_nile_virus]

It's a lengthy, typically year long process. I have to echo what everyone else has ever said and say that you need patience, flexibility and a lot of planning ahead.

There's some really good articles here: http://peacecorpswiki.org/Application_Process, to fill you in on the details.

hey

[ashleeamelia13]

thanks for the info its going to be very help with my decision.

[windy_nocturne]

Yo. PCV Ecuador here. Been in country 5 months.

My advice to you is do your research. Read Peace Corps books, read the Peace Corps Wiki, Peace Corps blogs, and the Peace Corps website. Talk to RPCVs. There are other organizations with similar programs. Look into those too. Then come back with more specific questions.

Application is a long-ass process. Sometimes up to a year or more. Peace Corps is a bureaucratic institution entrenched in its ways, and you cannot depend on it to Be On Your Side. Each country's program is different. Some of them are run very well, and some of them extremely poorly. It's a crap shoot, and each person's Peace Corps experience varies wildly.

Peace Corps is certainly not for everyone. You need to be extremely emotionally mature and resilient, and also flexible beyond what it is reasonable to ask for. There will be times that you will have the legitimate right to be angry and stomp around, but you'll have to resist because it simply won't do you any good

[windy_nocturne]

Also, sorry for the creepy stalkerness, but I read your LJ entry, and if you're looking for a work program that won't make you miserable, DON'T do Peace Corps. Peace Corps is a huge commitment, and it's going to require a gigantic emotional investment. If you're looking for some way to get out of a slump and "escape" for a while, there are other programs that are shorter and less demanding. I suggest you look into WWOOF.

hey

[ashleeamelia13]

thanks for the advice !

[dangerdhotrod]

Getting out of what I was doing and into something completely different were my main reasons for applying and it was very worthwhile for me (hopefully for the people I interacted with as well as myself).

In some ways I felt like I had an advantage because I wasn't emotionally invested in 'saving the world' and didn't tend to get as bummed out as some other people in my group who were there for more altruistic reasons when what they were trying to accomplish wasn't meeting their expectations.

Just saying you never know what reasons people have for joining are good or bad, and how they'll serve if they get in.

thanks !

[ashleeamelia13]

Thanks for the tips ! Everyone on this site as been more than helpful :)

[ashleeamelia13]

how much cash does it take?