What was your experience as a Peace Corps volunteer?
86114
I totally agree with gospdin...\nHowever, something he said must be EMPHASIZED!!!\n\nIt will not be anything you could have ever prepared for or anticipated (which is part of the fun). Everyone's experience is totally different (and yet, in some ways similar) no matter the country, site or assignment. \n\nAnd remember, 2 years is a long time to be immersed in another culture which can be very different from your own. \n\nThe only expectation to give yourself is that progress (work, language, comfort) happens in baby-steps and is often few and far between depending on your goals.\n\nI love my experience (6 months to go)!
667582
I don't know that it was a mission trip, but I did a spring break service trip with my college on spring break of 2001-02. We travelled to Washington, D.C., where we stayed and worked at the Dorothy Day shelter. We participated in peaceful protests, worked with the families staying at the shelter, and did other community service type projects. It was a very rewarding experience.
91898
Yep -- even extended to 3-1/2 years (the normal tour lasts two).  It was a lot of hard work but the most rewarding experience I ever had (and even married a man I met while serving!).\n\nTo join the Peace Corps you must have a college degree or an equivalent amount of experience.  It also helps if you have volunteered before.  You may not serve if you have children unless someone else has taken legal guardianship of them.  You may serve as a couple but both of you must go through the application process individually.\n\nThe greatest thing about PC is how it opens your eyes to the world and really helps you learn what is really important in life.  You may feel like you are not accomplishing much (and getting more out of it than you give) but I promise you, if you put a lot into it you will get ten times more out.  It is not a vacation, not a place to "drop out" to in between college and the "real world" of work (that's Americna real world -- the "real world" of most of the world is more like where you will serve).  I urge you to consider it in a professional manner, but live your life fully while there as it is a 24 hour job (in other words, really make an effort to become friends with the locals).\n\nYour best bet is to get in touch with the Peace Corps recruiting office in your region and also a returned Peace Corps Volunteer group in your area ("returned" becasue we are not "ex-" -- once a PCV always a PCV!).  The RPCV group or the recruiting office can arrange for you to meet some RPCVs in person, see their photos, hear their stories, etc.\n\nPeace Corps really is "THE TOUGHEST JOB YOU'LL EVER LOVE!"  (By the way, I left the world of NYC film production to join for what I thought was 2 years -- that was 16 years ago and I have continued to work in international development ever since -- and currently live in Africa!)\n\nGood luck! (see below for websites or do a search on the internet -- there are a lot of sites managed by RPCV groups or current PCVs!)
365095
My sister and I and my 11month old at the time were perfoming Hajj in Saudia Arabia and got lost in Mina a huge area where there are millions of people and a even bigger langue barrier You could imagine how afraid I was that we would never make it back to our tent area ,We where told if we got lost to show our bracelets to an officer but they failed to mention most of them didnt know how to read properly after 8 hours of wandering from tent to tent ,each of which represent differnet countries and no one who would help us a small very husky framed man from Sierra Leone came to our rescue,he spoke English,Arabic,and his contrymans laungue,he took my daughter and held her and to my suprise she was calm and quiet .My arms where so tierd so I let this complete stranger hold her I felt no fear and followed him as he spoke to my daughter about us visiting his country one day when the war there is finally over in two hours he got us back to our tent safely and disappeared just and quickly as he appeared till this day I think about that man especially when I read or hear about the atrocities going on in the countries of West Africa.
1088920
Briefly- yes!\n\nThe experience couldn't have gone better!\n\nThe staff was wonderful- did everything to make it all work in the end. They continue to give support if needed for my child!
61234
I have applied, but have friends who have done it.\n\nIt is the hardest program in the world.\nYou have to go to very poor and desolate places, eating local and often unwashed foods, living without the comforts of a nice bed or havign to shower only once a month.\nIt can be the most difficult and rewarding experience.\n\nOther options, not quite as difficult would be Americor, its also half the amount of time.
7195
As with all "People to People" student ambassadors they are reccomended by former ambassadors.\nI was a regular one years ago.
211437
join the peace corps.
266109
You can join United Nations Volunteer (UNV) http://www.unv.org/ - you do a good deed PLUS you get decent pay. It has the best compensation package for volunteers. Be prepared to be assigned to "hardship areas"
1180663
Port-au-Prince\n\nmy bro worked there with UN police ...\n\ngood luck :)
453140
Check out their website. UN and Red Cross usually hire people with experience. You may want to volunteer for some time, just to give your resume some experience, You may want to consider other top NGOs to work with too... try United Way or Cancer Society or Imran Khan's agency. The best way to start is to get a resume ready, start calling/ emailing agencies you'd want to work with. \n\nIts a wonderful and rewarding area of work. Am sure you'd find work you'd like. Talk to someone in your local mosque/gurudwara too.\n\nUse the Internet gal!
105687
i volunteer for my local crisis center. I take calls and help people with their problems, most are suicidal, but you get a little bit of everything. I want to start volunteering for a program that goes out to hospitals and they help women who have just been raped.
853584
Yes I have.  Usually I do my volunteer service during off peak season.  That is, not during the holiday season.  This time of the year a lot of "seasonal" volunteers come out of the woodwork and only do a half-hearted job.  I am not saying that I do not appreciate their effort but, helping others should be a year round experience.  Most of the work I have done has been with youths, beautifying the neighborhood by planting flowers, cleaning playgrounds, food drives, etc.  I also encourage others to help, who in turn get their friends involved too.
976852
An admirable goal.\n\nThe UN has many agencies that I'm sure would love to take some volunteer hours from you.  The one that comes right to mind is UNICEF.\n\nAlso check out the UN website.  There is probably a link to volunteer missions on there somewhere.\n\nGood luck!\nRXZ
1152337
I haven't been on one, but be prepared to be enlightened!  It's work no doubt, but if you can handle old ways, you should be good.  Depending on the intensity of it...\n\nI know that one trek they did the whole killing and cooking animals for their meals kind of thing.  Freaked out the girls and the guys where probably just as traumatized. \n\nInteresting though how desensitized we are by the modern day vs the olden days!\n\nHave fun!
197029
I have, I'm proud to say.  I served in the US Marine Corps.  I served with the 3rd Marine division in southeast Asia, as an ambulance driver. I also served with the 1st and 2nd Marine Divisions, in Camp Pendelton and Camp Jejune respectively. Most of this duty was in the pre-Vietnam and early Vietnam era.
953065
Are you volunteering?