Interested in Peace Corps? My application experience...

Many have asked along the way: How did you get involved with Peace Corps? What was the application process like? Am I too old? How do I qualify? Can you choose where you want to go?

In short, the process takes about a year on average from application submission to departure, but it varies. There is no age limit (my group includes several retirees) and, just an FYI, my group also includes two married couples. To qualify, one must be an American Citizen and must have some background or experience in any one of many areas, including (but not limited to) health, education, economics, agriculture, and youth/community development. Although there is a location preference form, placement is determined based on the need of a country for the skills reflected in the application.

I have a Master of Social Work degree and two years of experience working in inner city schools with City Year (an AmeriCorps Program). Two of my AmeriCorps supervisors were Returned Peace Corps Volunteers, they spoke fondly of their experiences and encouraged me to apply.  Given my educational background and experience working with youth, I was nominated for the Youth Development program, which is one of the recently added sectors in Peace Corps.

The application was completed online and required a resume, two essays, and three references. The application asked for general medical, educational, financial, and legal background information. The preference page included a disclaimer that stated that assignments are determined based on match of applicant skill and country need. My preference was to serve in Latin America since I have some knowledge of Spanish, or in the Caribbean. I also indicated preference for tropical climate due to Seasonal Affective Disorder (depression in gloomy climates).

Once all portions of the application are submitted, you will be scheduled with an interview with a recruiter who will ask general questions about your motivation and interests, and will provide a few scenarios and ask how you will deal with certain situations. The interview is followed by a nomination which would include a sector as well as a potential departure date and region.

This step must be followed by completion of a legal kit (finger prints and background check) and a medical kit. Completing the medical kit is the longest and most intensive part of the application. I actually had to go through the whole application process twice due to some issues with the medical clearance portion. I initially submitted my application in November 2011 and received a nomination with an anticipated departure date of January 2013, but due to circumstances out of my control (including an incomplete medical kit) that didn’t work out and my application was withdrawn.

The second time around, my timeline was a little different, due in part to Peace Corps systems conversions and process changes, and also due in part to the fact that my recruiter and medical officer agreed to work with some of the information that was already on file. I still had to complete all of the steps, but my interview was a bit less formal and I didn’t have to do five separate doctor visits just to verify my underweight condition.

February 2013, I resubmitted my application with updated resume, new references, and slightly modified essays.

March 2013, I completed my interview and received my nomination

April 2013,  I received, completed, and returned questionnaires and my legal kit (fingerprints and background check).

June 2013, I received my official invitation, pre-departure reading material, my medical kit, access to the online portal, and instructions to apply for a Peace Corps Passport and Thailand Visa.

July 2013, I completed my passport and visa applications and started my Medical Clearance Process.

August 2013, I completed all pre-departure courses and forms on the online database.

October 2013, I successfully completed my Medical Clearance process, which included several visits and follow-ups to the dentist, doctor, clinic, and laboratory. Submission of documentation and feedback were delayed by the Government Shutdown, but I still had all of my medical documents dated prior to deadline of 90-days pre-departure.

November 2013, I received and returned worksheets pertinent to my technical assignment and homestay.

December 2013, I received my travel itinerary, packing instructions, and staging information.

January 2014, I made it! The process is over and the experience has begun!

I rode an elephant

My host parents took me to the Thai Festival (Don-tae-dee). It was an amazing cultural experience. As we approached the gate, I saw a promoter with a young elephant, and I got so excited! As I pulled out my camera, my host mom gestured for me to hustle up because this was nothing to see, and she was right! As we entered, there was so much more to see. The festival was filled with lots of food, lots of games, lots of music, lots of clothes, lots of performances, huge elephants, elephant fights, and elephant rides. We ate a lot, played a few games, won some great prizes (not teddy bears, try kitchen appliances!), I bought a couple souvenirs to send home, and I got to ride an elephant with my host mom. It was amazing. I took a few pictures and captured some of the action on video, but mostly, I just really enjoyed myself.

My Host Home

I'm halfway through my first week at my host home, I'll be here for a couple months and will be taking more pictures along the way. Right now, I'm a bit hesitant to take pictures of the open areas, so please stay tuned for more in a future post.

I live in a very traditional Thai home with a very loving family. I'll be sharing more about the family dynamics in another post, but for today, I'll just share a little bit about my new living space. 

My room consists of a firm mattress and pillow, repellent coated mosquito net, and a lovely carpet (straw mat) --  all of which are provided by Peace Corps. My bedding is mostly Peace Corps provided, I sleep with three blankets (we have lows of 51°F) my own blanket at the top, green PC blanket, and pink blanket from my host family. I also have a desk, chair, clothes rack, and wastebasket provided by my host family. It is a fairly small and pretty simple room, but I have sufficient space and everything that I need. 

My room! (Sleep Area)

My room! (Study/Dressing Area)

The bathroom is located in a separate building and consists of a squat toilet and a wash area. I am getting accustomed to the squat toilet, I've had a couple near-slip incidents, but nothing serious. I scoop water from the container next to the toilet to flush. Notice that there is no garbage container and no toilet paper, so that has been quite an adjustment. I did bring wipes with me, but I must use them sparingly as I have only 40 sheets, and they are not available in the neighborhood stores.

Bathroom (not shown, clothes hamper and towel/clothes line)

The wash area is pretty straight forward, water runs in from outside into the reservoir, and I scoop out the water with a little container for my bath. This is the one aspect of my living arrangement that will probably take the longest time to adjust to. The water is cold, even in the daytime. I have considered boiling water for my showers, and will probably do so if this arrangement is still unbearable after the first week.

Our meal area is outdoors. My host mom cooks pretty well. Each person is served a bowl of rice, and the other dishes are placed in the middle of the table. Throughout the meal, each person reaches into the middle of the table and grabs a little bit of whatever they want to eat with their rice. This is the ritual for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So, I'm eating lots of rice. I'm encouraged to try all of the different dishes, and sometimes my host parents place different things on my plate. Usually, I don't mind. One of my most common dinner phrase is nit noy mak pet, which mean "Just a little bit too spicy" -- we have very different definitions of spicy, but my host mom tries to be accommodating, and I'm constantly trying to increase my tolerance.

Breakfast! rice, boiled eggs, fish pumpkin soup, chicken, pork) 

It's been a pretty good experience overall. The biggest challenge is the language barrier. I am more motivated to learn the language so that I can communicate more with my host family. There are a few other personal challenges that I'll be working through, most specifically the cold water and firm mattress situations. At the end of the day, it's all about the experience, and I'll be a stronger, better person because of it all.