Has anyone been in the peace corps or know someone who can give me an honest opinion?
2007-04-08 16:20:31 · 7 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Community Service
I have never met a person who was in the Peace Corps.
I have met people who were going into the PC and they were full of enthusiasm about it
2007-04-08 16:24:37 · answer #1 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I just recently finished my Peace Corps service in Nicaragua and absolutely loved it. The difference between PC and the private companies are not necessarily in the work you do but in the life you live. If you prefer 5 star hotels and luxuries, but don't necessarily want to understand why you're down there and who you're helping, go with the private companies. They'll usually provide you with more money and your home will probably be located in one of the larger cities.
However, if you want to not only understand a different culture, but to LIVE another culture, Peace Corps is the best, hands down.
I was assigned a small community of just under 200 people. I lived with the community, I ate with the community, I worked with the community. When I left there, I wasn't just some gringo that came down throwing out free dependency -- I was an active member of their community -- a neighbor, a friend.
Sure, you could change a few lives by joining the private sector -- or you can change *your* life and the lives of a whole community by joining the Peace Corps.
2007-04-10 11:07:35 · answer #2 · answered by coqueto 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
you can get paid 4 times more to live in the same 3rd world country and work privately at the same job. of course it's not about the money but you could be gettin a few more meat sticks and massages while you're there. Depends of course what it is you'd do, you can't exactly choose where you want to go either, but in the private sector you can go where ever you want. You do need to be a little more self reliant when not with the corp though, no one to ensure you have a way home or that you make it to where you're going besides you and the company you work for.
I taught abroad but wasn't in the peace corp, another person there was with the peace corp and only made 2000$ compared to my 5000, and she was actually more qualified than me.
2007-04-09 00:21:03 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Peace Corps is very good. I was a volunteer in Africa from 1976 to 1978, and it was one of the great shaping moments in my life. The fact that a Peace Corps volunteer is largely on his/her own, to fail or succeed is a great part of that. It is not like the Army where somebody stands over you all day telling you what to do and how to do it. You are brought over to do a specific job and you either do it or you don't. The US government tries to help you and train you somewhat, but most of the effort has to be done by the volunteer. People in other countries can see that Peace Corp is different from other types of foreign aid from other countries and they admire that. I once had a Russian friend say to me : "I wish my country had a Peace Corps." Peace Corps truly shows the world the best of ourselves.
2007-04-09 10:12:43 · answer #4 · answered by John S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The Peace Corps is a fabulous culture experience! I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador,South America. You can go to my group at peacecorpsnetwork. I'll let you visit for a few days. Write me when you have any questions. I'll send you an invitation to The Group when you write me back.
2007-04-09 04:24:37 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What could be bad about it?
Doing something good for someone in need gives you a feeling of euphoria money can't buy.
If you don't have a genuine desire to help someone less fortunate than yourself, even though it may be a hardship for you, you do not need to investigate the Peace Corps.
2007-04-08 23:53:00 · answer #6 · answered by TheHumbleOne 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was last in the Central Pacific three Peace Corps
Volunteers shared a marine ferry ride with me en route to
passenger berths aboard a cargo vessel. They had been
on an Island so over-run with rats that they were obliged to
request aluminum metal coffins be immediately dispatched
so they could sleep without being trod upon or bitten by
loathsome vermin. 'Aluminum ?', I repeated, astounded.
'Yep', one said, 'They are military surplus but built like bank vaults. Ours have holes drilled around the upper sides to
keep air fresh and vent heat.'
2007-04-10 22:20:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋