Concetta-
I am due to graduate with a BA in Linguistics in May and feel that this
would be a valuable asset for not only learning the language I would
need to speak, but also for teaching English if given such an
opportunity; however, I have two concerns, quite unrelated, that I am
worried about affecting my likelihood of being accepted into the PC.

The first one is I am a 23 year old woman with a good amount of
visible tattoos (my right arm is sleeved) and I know that while we have
a bit more lienient culture on such a thing, I am also aware that
others do not. This causes me to worry that this particular aspect will
deter me in being able to volunteer, even if I were to commit to
wearing light long sleeved shirts in the summer!

The second concern has to do with previous volunteer experience. My
volunteer experience is limited and sporadic as I have been attending
school full time and working full time for the past 4 years, leaving me
little spare time to do much more than an MDA Bowl-a-thon here or AIDS
walk there. In starting my application and reaching this portion, I
realize I don’t have many contacts for my limited volunteer experience.
I have, however, been with the same company for five years and have
moved up within it, which speaks to my work ethic and desire to succeed
in what I do. Is this something that would help my case?

Loaded questions, I know! But thank you for any insight you can offer!

Dear Friend: You know how I know you’ll be a good Peace Corps volunteer?  You asked two great questions and you have the foresight to anticipate some potential speed bumps in your application process.

You are correct in your assertion that we are the beneficiaries of a more lenient culture here in the United States.  It is also true that perceptions about tattoos can vary from an acceptable part of the culture to completely unacceptable.  But herein lies the beauty of serving in over a hundred different countries, your recruiter can work with you to steer you in the right direction.  Thankfully it appears that you will be looking to teach English which is one of the broadest programs in all of Peace Corps.  So I think that between the two of you, you’ll be able to find a country that is more accepting of the idea of body art.

The whole personal appearance thing can be such a tricky topic for folks interested in Peace Corps.  Of course, in the final analysis, each person must decide for himself whether to abandon dreadlocks, or facial hair, or piercings in order to volunteer, but the fact of the matter is that these things can be non-negotiable depending on your host country.  In Thailand for example,  beards and mustaches were culturally taboo- in fact, they indicated danger and evil- decidedly NOT the image you’d be striving for in your efforts to be a successful volunteer.  While some applicants find this a tad invasive, the reality is that there are a finite number of Peace Corps volunteer slots and many more interested men and women who want to serve, so the Peace Corps needs to take into account how successful an applicant might be and exhibiting culturally taboo body stuff can definitely impede success. From the thoughtfulness of your question, it would seem that you are aware of this and would do what you could to compensate if it became necessary (since unlike dreads or piercings- you can’t exactly “undo” a full sleeve of tats).

Next up- how much volunteering do you really need in order to apply?  Great question once again and with an added bonus of mentioning that you worked your way through school. So here’s the deal. You have to volunteer.   You just do. There is something about volunteering that is just different.  It’s esoteric, I realize, but true nonetheless. Who knows, maybe it’s the work for no pay thing. Maybe it’s the passionate opinionated people.  Maybe its something else, but volunteering is it’s own animal.  But, there is NO “double-secret” bare minimum  of volunteering and better still, you could apply right now and work with your recruiter to find some great volunteer opportunities that would make you a better Peace Corps Volunteer. So, get going on the application and just be sure to state clearly that you haven’t really had as much of a chance to volunteer because you’ve been working your way through school.

Which… ummmm HELLO??? is Fantastic! You have been going to school and working full time for four years.  One of the biggest things that recruiters look for is demonstrated dedication and perseverance- that’s 2 things I realize but you get the point. This is a major accomplishment and should not be minimized.  It shows that you have been able to take on several challenges and succeed at both.  No matter what happens- may I just say congrats to you!

Actually, this reminds me of something I used to tell my applicants all the time.  There is a question that asks you about cross cultural experiences and I would often get asked whether you had to have lived abroad for it to qualify.  And here’s what I would say…. I grew up on Long Island so if you were from upstate New York, or Ohio, or Pennslyvania or anywhere BUT Long Island and you showed up for college and your freshman roommate was from L.I.- trust me, that’s a cross cultural experience.  You needn’t have schlepped all over Europe in order to feel cultured.  We just want to know that you’ll be able to view life from a different perspective from what you are used to.  Your question reminds me of this because both questions usually came from people like you (and me- as it happens) who were working their way through school.  In fact, my work-study in college was working in the athletic department “cage”- which means I washed dirty sweat socks for four years-an honest living and a cross cultural experience to boot.

I hope this helps and I really hope that you’ll keep me posted with your progress.  Good luck and Happy New Year!

Concetta

Dear Concetta:

I am a college graduate interested in applying to the Peace Corps, however my family is concerned about my safety in certain areas of the world. They are convinced that as an attractive young female, I could be kidnapped, raped, or sent into human trafficking. How can I ease their worries? Also, which areas are considered safer than others, and how can female volunteers protect themselves?

Grace

•

Hi Grace:

True story…. When I got my Peace Corps assignment I did what many future volunteers do… ran to a map to try and figure out where Thailand was.  Then secure in this knowledge (or at least secure enough to fake it) I began to tell my family about my prospective new home and a few of my relatives were a bit confused.  One Aunt said to me “but isn’t like 80%  of what we get in the States made there?” (this was back in the early 90’s before the boom of Chinese products). It took me a while to get it but eventually I exclaimed “No, no.. not Taiwan …ThaiLAND!”

Point being:  any person who decides to volunteer for Peace Corps should be prepared for some interesting family discussions.  While my example might be a bit goofy, there is probably no greater topic for concern and communication as your safety- particularly true if you are a woman.  Herewith my two cents:

PLEASE NOTE: I am in no way stating or insinuating that any victim of sexual assault (in the Peace Corps or otherwise) did or did not follow these suggestions nor that this action or inaction contributed to the violence they experienced.

Does Sexual Assault happen to Female Volunteers in the Peace Corps? Sadly, yes it does.

Does it happen at a greater frequency than anywhere else in the world? No.

Are there things that you can do to make yourself safer? Absolutely.

Here’s the thing- at least 50% of the people who live in your host country are women. These ladies can be your biggest ally.  Sure it might mean that you give up a little bit of your US of A defined “freedom” but trust me, it’s worth it.  When I was a trainer, one of the biggest complaints we’d get from female volunteers in training during homestay was that they’d want to go for a walk to clear their head only to find that 5 (or more) little family members were following at close range making the volunteer slightly paranoid that the kids were “trailing” them.  I would explain that yes, they were absolutely trailing them.  The “face” of their family (that is their standing in the community) and that of the village as a whole was extremely linked to how well they took care of you. If something happened to you, and you got hurt -aside from being a complete bummer for you- it could potentially deal a devastating blow to how the rest of the community perceived them.  No one wants to be the family whose PCV broke  an ankle because she fell in a rice field. So, my first recommendation is to give up your notion of  “personal space” and allow some wise women to keep their collective eye on you- and if that means that you have little escorts on your daily constitutional then so be it.

Next up- “What to wear? What to wear???”

OK- so as you might expect, there is a story (funny and slightly humiliating as it may be)- here too.  There’s no delicate way to say this, so I’ll just come out with it…. I am a bit ahem…chesty- the last time I could go bra-less was somewhere around the release of Michael Jackson’s first solo album (and yes that means “Off the Wall” NOT “Thriller” ).  So- you can imagine the shock and amazement I must have felt the day one of my co-workers blurted out (without a hint of irony or sarcasm) “Oh- YOU wear a Bra???”   Ummmm… HELLO??? WHAT??  I said “Why yes, yes I do- but you seem surprised” and she replied (again completely earnestly)- “Well I just thought that American women didn’t wear bras- at least that’s what I heard” (now implied but NOT stated is the misconception that American women are a bit free-wheeling in the love department- never mind that half my Thai friends got more love than I did in my time overseas…)  Aside from feeling righteously indignant this scenario begs the question- what are you gonna do????  And here’s where dress comes in- I went out of my way to be the most politely dressed person in my village.  There is a weird psychological thing that happens when your neighbors only ever see you in culturally appropriate clothes- almost as if you are indicating every single day- I know your rules and I am abiding by them.  Was it my favorite thing to wear skirts and dresses (with slips of course) to work every day for 2 years?  Not so much.  Do I think that it helped send out a non-verbal signal that I was respectable and should be respected? Yes I do.

Finally, remember that while your role in your host country requires you to be more or less apolitical with regard to host country politics, you are indeed in the Peace Corps which is a federal agency and has (or should have) a host of people at both headquarters and at your host country admin HQ whose sole job it is to ensure that you can properly fulfill your duties as a volunteer safely and effectively.

I hope this helps and thanks for writing.
Concetta

Dear Concetta,

I just graduated from college and am very interested in joining the Peace Corps. However, ideally, I would leave in the fall of 2010, as I have plans for the summer of 2010.

When would the best time to apply be and is my desire to join the Peace Corps after the summer of 2010 too rigid of a date?

Thank you!

A Recent College Grad

Hello freshly minted graduate and Congrats on getting that degree! As a side note to all those who graduated this year may I just say that I completely feel your pain. No, Really- I do! I graduated High School in 1987, College in 1991 and returned from Peace Corps service in December of 1994.  Besides being milestones in my own personal development, these were all either major or minor recessions and the job market was decidedly not pleasant and I turned out okay (at least I *think* I did.)

Back in the olden days of paper applications, there was a “shelf life” of 18 months on an application from the date it was signed and I’m not sure what the translation is in the electronic era.  Can anyone out there help out?

There is not a hard and fast application deadline. In university parlance it’s a “rolling admission” process and it is perfectly acceptable to state the earliest date you’re available for service.  So, get crackin on that application and we’ll see you overseas next fall.

Thanks for writing,

Concetta

So, as a new era is about to dawn I have decided to emancipate myself from “blogging detention” and get us all caught up on some of the great inquiries and questions I’ve received. Here we go….

First up- DISCLOSE! DISCLOSE! DISCLOSE???

Dear Concetta,

I’m nominated for Sept 2009, and I’ve heard this advice (”disclose, disclose, disclose”) before.

Okay, I admit, I’m a worrier. As an older volunteer, I have a long past. I’m worrying that there might be something I’m forgetting to disclose.

Is there a list somewhere of things that it’s important to disclose? Better still, is there a list of things that can get you in trouble (disqualify you)? Such a list might help nominees be SURE that they’ve disclosed all relevant stuff from their past.

I know there are medical things, but even this can be problematic. I’ve tried to disclose everything, but with 50+ years of medical history, worry there might still be something. If I knew more about what they might be looking for, it would help me be sure I’ve disclosed. I’ve never been arrested (fortunately), but are there other things besides criminal records that can get a nominee disqualified?

Signed,

Kate L

Dear Kate,

First apologies for the tardy reply. I know that you are leaving in the near future and I’m sure that all turned out well for you.  Okay, so worrying about your Peace Corps application and the process is a bit of a rite of passage for all the hearty souls who decide to join Peace Corps.  The most important thing to remember is that your recruiter is actually there to help you navigate the process.  When in doubt, it shouldn’t hurt to start with your recruiter and they can give you guidance.  Remember that this whole blog started by discussing peeing in public- how much worse could it be?

As far as I know there is no exhaustive disqualification list- situations are really and truly decided on a case by case basis… a good thing in my opinion since it means that Peace Corps is evaluating the individual and not some goofy action or affiliation from many years ago.

With regard to medical information, while it can feel like a final exam- the truth is that your medical information is not a test.  Peace Corps requires such exhaustive information to make sure that we don’t send an applicant who is deathly allergic to bees to volunteer in a bee keeping program.  It is meant to keep you safe and not to double check your knowledge of when you had your silver fillings replaced.

Hope this helps and Good Luck overseas!

Concetta

Dear Concetta

I’m 22 years old, I graduated from university  with a degree in pr &  mass communication. I speak English & Spanish.  I’m an American citizen but I was born, raised and live currently in Venezuela.  What kind of chance do I stand with joining the Peace Corps because I can’t find anyone close enough to talk to about this experience

Thanx 4 ur help
Tracy

Hi Tracy,

Thanks for your question.  The short answer is that it is difficult to apply from abroad but not impossible.  Back when I was a recruiter, the New York Regional office was charged with handling overseas applications but I am not sure if that is still the case.  Heck, when I was a recruiter you couldn’t even apply online- so it’s been a while.  The largest challenges typically come when it is time to get your physical.  Doing an interview took a bit of planning, but wasn’t impossible because we could do phone interviews.  My first bit of advice for you would be to snoop around on the Peace Corps website:  www.peacecorps.gov to see if you can find a link for US citizens applying from overseas.

My second bit of advice for you might sound a bit harsh, but I am a firm believer in “tough love” correspondence.  If you go back to your original question that you submitted and compare this to what I published you’ll find that I had to edit your submission quite a bit. You have this enormous gift to give to the Peace Corps (or anywhere else for that matter) and that is your ability to-already prior to training- conduct your life in 2 different languages.  This is a HUGE asset.  If you do decide to pursue the Peace Corps and I hope you will- you need to make sure that your application is correct with spelling, grammar and syntax.  Proofread, use spell check and- my personal favorite- get another native English speaker to read it over for you.

The irony of this advice is that I am currently typing this message from Italy and I have been reminded-acutely and painfully-in recent days how horrible Americans can be when it comes to embracing another language.  So while I completely concede that we in the US are some of the laziest communicators in the world (expecting everyone else to speak English and traipsing around countries where the folks are too polite and oblige us) ; the fact remains that having an application chock full of errors (for whatever reason) can hinder your chances of getting in.

Buena Suerte and keep me posted.

Ciao,

Concetta

Concetta,

I finally submitted my application yesterday and had a question for you. I am allergic to bee stings and I’m having a hard time finding any information on what the ramifications may be for this condition when I face medical evaluations and/or placement concerns. I have heard that I will be probably be disqualified from serving in Sub Saharan Africa and other places. Just wondering whether you may be able to provide any insight in my chances or if you ever came across someone in the same situation while you were a recruiter. Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

WJC

Hi there WJC.,

First, Congratulations on submitting your application. You are ON YOUR WAY!! You also happen to have highlighted one of the most talked about, confusing and sometimes contentious aspects of becoming (and being) a Peace Corps Volunteer….. The Medical Evaluation.

Let’s set the stage… remember the two truisms about Peace Corps 1) Peace Corps only goes where it is requested and 2) Volunteers only do that which they are asked to do- in other words, the US does not send “development swat teams” in to unsuspecting countries to decide what would be “best” for said country’s improvement.   Like most things Peace Corps, there is a third truism- Peace Corps can only send you where you are medically qualified to serve.

This is where the difficulty begins. If you grew up in the States, you are used to a world of a cure for what ails you- a pill for this, an epi pen for that.  While many countries where volunteers serve have very good medical systems, unless Peace Corps can be certain that the country requesting your skill set can support your medical condition, they can’t- in good faith- let you get on the plane.

Does this mean that you can’t become a volunteer? Absolutely NOT.  It does however mean that it might take you a little longer and you might have to broaden your horizons on where you’d like to serve (remember that my advice is to be as broad as possible in this category to give yourself the best chances you can).

Let me tell you 3 quick things (see there’s the 3 thing- it’s contagious after a while).

1) When I arrived in Bangkok to begin my Peace Corps service we were sitting around in the hotel getting to know one another and somehow, someone brought up their asthma. I said “Hey I have asthma too- pretty mild, but I do have it” and the person next to me said “Me too.” So sort of as a joke someone else said “Hey if you have asthma raise your hand!” And well over half the people in the room shot up their hands.  We joked that PC Thailand must have been the ‘Asthmatics R Us” country… and trust me, it wasn’t due to the stellar air quality in Bangkok- it was because Thailand has one of the best medical systems in Southeast Asia and was well equipped to deal with volunteers with Asthma.

2) Peace Corps is an agency of the Federal Government and as such is subject to the American’s with Disabilities Act. That means that they must make a very strong effort to reasonably accommodate all sorts of medical situations.  When I was a recruiter, I placed plenty of people with allergies (food allergies, animal allergies, seasonal allergies), asthma, other conditions requiring medicine as well as a few hearing impaired folks. So it can and does happen.

3) Finally, unless it is coming out of the mouth of a Peace Corps medical evaluator, don’t believe what you hear. If you talk to any recruiter and lots of current and former volunteers, they all probably have a “war story” about dealing with the medical evaluation- and most are probably true. There are thousands and thousands of applicants and trying to make sure each is medically qualified and  technically skilled to serve in X country is sort of like a GRE question on steroids. It gets confusing, people get rigid, and sometimes you need a second opinion.  But here’s the thing- in all of my years as a recruiter I never (ever) thought it was a good idea to “go to the mattresses” to send an applicant to a country that wasn’t equipped to deal with this or her particular medical issue.  Remembering that the medical team is there to help you become a volunteer and STAY a healthy volunteer can really help with the process.

You are on your way and definitely keep me posted!

Concetta

Here’s why….

1) While the good people of the More Peace Corps campaign are doing their darndest to try and get more funding for Peace Corps (more funding = more slots for volunteers = more possibilities for applicants), the sad reality is that the organization has been on a bit of a starvation diet for the past 8+ years.

2) In the meantime, recent events have provided a once-in-a-generation wake up call for people whose only goal in life was to land a six figure job on Wall Street.  So, people are re-discovering the notion of service.

3) All the while students like you have come of age and most of you have never known the notion of not volunteering (gramatically, an ugly proposition, but what I mean is volunteering and service has become as integral a part of your education- and your educational expectations- as say algebra and a foreign language).

So, we find ourselves in the midst of a perfect storm where demand for volunteer positions will greatly exceed the number of available slots.

By submitting your application now, you’ll give yourself a great lead time to try and secure a volunteer position for after you graduate. And, most importantly you will have the summer to work with your recruiter on ways to strengthen your chances.  Want to be an English teacher?  Why not spend the summer working or volunteering with an ESL organization?  Interested in health outreach?  Go find an organization in your community (where you go to school or where your family lives) that does health outreach.

If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, the summer between your Junior and Senior years of college offers you an opportunity that doesn’t come around very often… time to make yourself a stronger candidate!

Concetta,

I am currently finishing my 3rd year at Texas A&M and was considering applying for the Peace Corp in the fall. I’ve been looking into recruiting services and found that the nearest office is located in Dallas. Is there any other way to go about talking with a recruiter about my options/get more information?

• • •

Dear Aggie,

First, I feel compelled to tell you that if you did what I did and chose to study in Austin (M.P.Aff, LBJ 2001), you’d have been that much closer to Dallas… Just kidding, of course  (aaahhh chooo”hook ‘em”oooo)- Okay- sorry couldn’t resist.

I will echo what John Coyne already said- Dallas is your nearest recruitment office, but they spend lots of time out of the office and you can find out exactly where they will be if you go to the Peace Corps website (www.peacecorps.gov) click on the Find Local Events section and plug in your state.  But don’t you fret my friend- I’ve already done it for you.  Your next opportunity to “talk” (or in this case cyber-talk) to Dallas is coming up on May 14th- you can sign up for an online information session.  Then on June 25th there is a recruiting information session in Houston. Hope this helps. (Your post by the way has inspired my next topic on college juniors- so keep reading!)

Thanks for your email.  Good luck with the process and in the meantime, please have some Amy’s ice cream for me . . .  I certainly miss that, and Texas sunsets, and live music, and the Texas 2 Step at the Broken Spoke, and great burgers, and great tex-mex, and Lyle Lovett . . .  Great- now I’m Texas homesick . . . . . . .

I am 17 years old, live on Guam, and I’m about to test for my GED. After my 18th birthday(late this year) I wish to take part in the Peace Corps. Any information on how to go about that?

Nia

• • •

Dear Nia:

Hi there. Thanks for your message and for your great question.  Here’s the thing- there are basically 2 overriding principles that determine where Peace Corps sends volunteers.

1. Peace Corps only goes to countries that have requested volunteers and
2. Peace Corps only does what they are asked to do.

What does this mean for you? At least 95% of the time host countries request volunteers with a college degree.  So the great news is that you can still become a Peace Corps volunteer.  It just might be a bit later than you had hoped.  Good luck with your GED and keep going with your education.

All the best,

Concetta