TravelingEv
Armenia,
Female, 27
I live and work in Armenia as a computer teacher at a college in one of the regions (not the modern capital city). Peace Corps service is a 27 month commitment in a 3rd world or developing country. I teach computer teachers and students about basic computer maintenance; I also teach software programs like Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Photoshop, and CorelDraw. Everything I do--from teaching, buying food, visiting friends--is done in Armenian, which I learned since I arrived in country.
Not so far... That's not to say that I haven't had very difficult periods. I have, and they've been brutal. There was a time where every single day seemed to last an eternity. For awhile I went through some hard relationship stuff, and missed home dreadfully. There was the shock of how cold and miserable winter really is here. There were headaches and illnesses and digestive problems. There were awkward moments and misunderstandings and cultural faux pas. But I (more or less) expected all this going in, and I have been able to look at everything so far as learning moments. I have definitely had strong yearnings for home from time to time, but no, I have not yet seriously considered quitting (also known as ET'ing.) However, I won't rule out the possibility that the feeling could still come up! It's perfectly normal, from what I hear. Most volunteers I talk to have a personal rule, such as, "If I have this feeling for X amount of time, then I will ET." Or, "I will revisit this issue in X amount of time, and if it hasn't gotten better, I will ET." Or, "If it gets so bad that I [fill in the blank], I will ET." Or, "I will definitely ET if I ever run into X situation." It's a personal decision, and one that needs to be respected, since everyone has their own threshold. My guiding light is, "Well, if I went home now, what would I do?" And so far, the answer isn't exciting enough to make it worth my leaving early.
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The thing about being a foreigner here is that I stand out--blond hair and casual clothing in a community of well-dressed brunettes. So I get stared at a lot. But usually it feels more uncomfortable than dangerous. I try not to do anything that will put me in real personal danger--I use common sense--and so far, that has worked well for me.
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I'm sorry I don't really know the answer to your question. Here's what I have heard: if you want to "park" your application, you can do so at any time in the application process, and they keep it on file for a certain amount of time (maybe 6 months-1 year), during which you can re-open your application. After that time expires, you would have to start the entire application process over again.
However, if you are given an invitation (meaning you have made it through the entire application process and they are trying to place you), and you reject it without good reason, there is not a good chance of them giving you a second option.
I hope this helps.
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I have rarely had a "normal" 9-5 desk job, and I didn't really like the ones I did have. So I can't really see myself having that kind of job in the future. This has nothing to do with having joined Peace Corps--it's just who I am. But it probably has a lot to do with why I joined Peace Corps.
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Inner City English Teacher
Are you pressured by administrators to pass kids that aren't ready yet?
Hairstylist and Makeup Artist
What types of clients are the worst to deal with?
School Teacher
How do you see parents failing in their children's education?
I know they take a pee sample, but I'm not 100% sure what they're testing for. To be on the safe side, I would assume that they do a drug test, because they have strict policies against drugs, similar to other governmental jobs.
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Yes, I have had many negative (and positive) experiences in Armenia. It's life. The same would be true no matter where I was. But in Peace Corps, the highs are usually higher and the lows are lower, and the ups and downs happen much more frequently than in "normal" life.
It's hard to give advice to someone applying for the Peace Corps, because there is so much to say that might "help," but most of the things I would say wouldn't make sense until that person was actually in the middle of Peace Corps and had already figured it out for themself.
So I'll give the standard responses that everyone gives, but are extremely important. Be flexible. Be patient. Be culturally sensitive. Don't expect to make huge visible changes during your two years in Peace Corps; focus small, and there will be a ripple effect years into the future. Trust that everything will work out. Peace Corps stretches you way way out of your comfort zone, and sometimes you have to purposely push yourself even farther, if you want a fulfilling experience. Try to be the best "you" that you can, during Peace Corps, and people will appreciate that.
If you jump through all the hoops in the application process without giving up, you will probably get into the Peace Corps.
Good luck!
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I don't actually know the answer to this, but I am starting to think about my life post-Peace Corps. I know many people go to grad school, enrolling in the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program which offers benefits and financial aid. Other people take advantage of their one year of non-competitive eligibility status and get a job with the federal government. Often people stay working with non-profits, aid programs, or the foreign service.
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