Join the Peace Corps

I would like to hear stories from people who have been in the workforce and have made the decision to join the peace corp. I always hear of the college graduate leaving, but what about the young professional who has to quit their job, sell their house, sell their car? I have been in the workforce for about 5 years now after graduating college. I currently am pursueing my MBA, am married, have a house, and a great life. But working 45 hours in a job I dont enjoy and the monotony of working in a cube farm is not stimulating to me. What is my purpose, am I really living, will the world remember me for being a supply chain analyst, will anybody care if I disappeared? Is their any current or prospective stories that are similar, and is this a good reason to join the peace corp?

I accepted my invitation to serve in Kazakhstan

My application is almost complete. I only need to get the letters of recomendation and finish the dreaded essay portion. I still have no idea what I’m going to write about for one of them… :-( But as soon as I get home from work today I plan to finish that portion of it. Go me!

I know they want experience so I’m thinking I’ll apply after a few years in college, I hope I’m accepted – I’m so excited to help people and have new experiences!

I’ve dreamed about joining the Peace Corps for a very long time. I remember my mom telling me about her service in Niger and from an early age I thought about the possibility of becoming a volunteer and how to go about it.

After college for me was really the ideal time so I started the lengthy application a year before graduation. I listed my top region preferences as Sub-Sahara Africa, Pacific Islands and Central Asia, but when the recruiter asked if I would be interested in the Middle East/North Africa I knew immediately that would be an amazing experience. I was then nominated and began the medical clearance portion and shortly after that I received a formal invitation to Morocco focusing on Environmental Education.

I’ve now been in Morocco for about 16 months and am very happy. Thinking that I have less than a year left is saddening. I’ve found a second home in Morocco. Plus, it takes a lot of time to build the trust and language needed to implement sustainable projects in your community. So while two years might seem like a lot of time, it goes by very quickly.

Anyone thinking about joining, I promise there will be peaks and valleys in your service but overall and when you think back it will be one of your life changing decisions and a defining aspect of your life.

This is wishy washy with my laziness and guilty desire to have an average but great life. Every time I’m bored or not happy with where I am I dream of leaving it all behind and humbling myself in a different country by helping people. But I don’t know if this is a legit goal, I’m bad with commitment.

my initial 60+ page medical screening is in the mail to Peace Corps HQ! Luckily, I think I have everything in there they’d want a follow up on, minus the EKG, so unless my heart murmur is a truly bad thing I think I’ll know whether I’m going to be medically denied after this round.

All medical paperwork was mailed today. Now the real wait begins… :)
There did not seem to be anything outstanding that would need a follow-up, but this is the Peace Corps so I am prepared for anything!!

Please tell me their experience and what to expect, also is it a risk, dangerous, fun?

Whats a day in the life over there and what group did you go with? What do you think the best route to take is on this?

And finally if you could do it over, would you change anything to make yourself more prepared?

Wow!

It’s all happening so fast now, when it was lagging so far before…!

So I was medically qualified May 19th. I was lucky – I didn’t have to send in any extra information. And then May 20th, my Placement Officer emailed me asking for my resume, and asked some follow-up questions.

I responded this morning at about 9… at about 10, my PO emails me back and says they’ll be extending me an invitation!

I kind of want to call and ask for where – is that ‘kosher’? lol.

So far as I know, I’m being invited for a health-related extension for Central Asia for late September 09. :D! SO EXCITED! Also relieved!

Stick with it… it’ll happen. You just have to want it. And be patient.