Peace Corps

danielofthesaints

danielofthesaints

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Hey CZ,

I'm looking to join the Peace Corps after undergrad and before medical school. I was wondering if anyone has served in the Peace Corps or known someone who has. If so, how was the experience, where was the site, best/worst things about it? Also, any additional advice would be greatly welcomed.
 
Just had a cousin join last summer. After spend 3 months in a dangerous area of Africa, a certain cell of anti-American terrorists scared everyone away. After regrouping in Spain they returned to a different area closer to South Africa where it is safer.

She said learning a different language was difficult and living with just the basics of life was tough but overall she loved it. The biggest adjustment was the culture shock from living a normal post college American life to life in the Peace Corps.

Advice? Ha ha good luck and be very careful what you ask for.
 
big dog cowboy;3858819 said:
Just had a cousin join last summer. After spend 3 months in a dangerous area of Africa, a certain cell of anti-American terrorists scared everyone away. After regrouping in Spain they returned to a different area closer to South Africa where it is safer.

She said learning a different language was difficult and living with just the basics of life was tough but overall she loved it. The biggest adjustment was the culture shock from living a normal post college American life to life in the Peace Corps.

Advice? Ha ha good luck and be very careful what you ask for.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the reply. I have heard the best and worst accounts from RPCV's about their service time. I remember reading about a growing amounts of rape and sexual assault cases from women in the PC that were being covered up by the "higher-ups" in the PC to maintain good relations with the government of that area. Since I started college two years ago, I've spent a month every summer living in rural areas in Peru, so I have a good grasp of acclimating to a different culture and dealing with their customs, languages, and parasites.
 
A woman going into those areas has to realize that she could be a victim. Many of the countries the PC goes into do not treat women as anything but a piece of meat or a bargaining chip. Just because you are a American or a foreigner means nothing to them. Like those nitwits that got murdered by those pirates- they should very well have known that they were taking their lives in their hands going anywhere near there. As far as I am concerned if you go to a place like that then you should not cry if you get worked over.
 
burmafrd;3858856 said:
A woman going into those areas has to realize that she could be a victim. Many of the countries the PC goes into do not treat women as anything but a piece of meat or a bargaining chip. Just because you are a American or a foreigner means nothing to them. Like those nitwits that got murdered by those pirates- they should very well have known that they were taking their lives in their hands going anywhere near there. As far as I am concerned if you go to a place like that then you should not cry if you get worked over.
Click to expand...

Who said anything about crying and getting worked over? Im full aware of what I am getting into and I was just looking to see if anyone had any experiences or knew of any that they could share.
 
I knew a girl out of high school that joined the peace corps. She was murdered by rebels.
 
danielofthesaints;3859126 said:
do you remember her name?
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Cindy some thing. Brekmiller maybe? She went to some South American rat hole and I heard she was captured and murdered. This was in the early 80's.
 
danielofthesaints;3859126 said:
do you remember her name?
Click to expand...

An old friend I don't talk to much just got out after a few years of Peace Corps work in SA. Very attractive young lady, and she's pulled every single photo down of her time abroad, asked friends not to ask about her experiences etc. There was an update from one of her travelling buddies that she was in hospital and doing as well as can be expected.

Put two and two together in a South American **** hole and you can figure out what happened. Everyone assumes sexual assault/rape.
 
SaltwaterServr;3860256 said:
An old friend I don't talk to much just got out after a few years of Peace Corps work in SA. Very attractive young lady, and she's pulled every single photo down of her time abroad, asked friends not to ask about her experiences etc. There was an update from one of her travelling buddies that she was in hospital and doing as well as can be expected.

Put two and two together in a South American **** hole and you can figure out what happened. Everyone assumes sexual assault/rape.
Click to expand...

That very might well be the case. It is not uncommon from what I hear that someone in the group of 30 or so that you leave with will experience sexual assault/rape/robbery during the 27 months, and in very few cases death from natural causes or murder. Ever since the Peace Corps started back in the 60's, there have been a total of 270+ deaths (some from natural causes and sickness). I almost feel like I would get shot for sticking up for a girl who is being sexually exploited. For the life of me, I could never let that happen in front of me without taking action.
 
Sorry, I was in the War Corps. Not sure what the other side is like. ;)
 
I knew someone that did it. She quit and came back early. Basically she was alone for extended periods of time in a third world country and lived in constant fear of mugging/rape/murder situations.
 
sad thing is anymore that if the Peace Corps does not do a better job of giving their workers security, then they better end it. Its not right to send those young people out there without protetion.
 
theogt;3861007 said:
I knew someone that did it. She quit and came back early. Basically she was alone for extended periods of time in a third world country and lived in constant fear of mugging/rape/murder situations.
Click to expand...

burmafrd;3861052 said:
sad thing is anymore that if the Peace Corps does not do a better job of giving their workers security, then they better end it. Its not right to send those young people out there without protetion.
Click to expand...

Unfortunately, those situations sound very true and familiar to what I am hearing.
 
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