So I just got back from a training in Albania (Tirana is actually a pretty cool city - except for the traffic) where we were fortunate enough to cross paths with U.S. Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn who is conducting a tour in the area and spoke at our training kick-off. She talked about the new posts opening up, the increased demand for Peace Corps worldwide, and made the pitch for us to make the pitch for others to join. So here goes! My top ten reasons why you (yes, I'm looking at you) should join Peace Corps.
1) To Serve/Do Good. Despite my antipathy towards the military-industrial complex, and the military in general, I believe every citizen, upon graduation from high school, should be required to serve their country for two years - be it in the military, Peace Corps, or AmeriCorps (VISTA). As Jebediah Springfield said, "A noble spirit embiggens the smallest man." :)
2) If you're young, Peace Corps will broaden your horizons, expose you to different cultures, peoples, ways of thinking, etc. Help you grow and mature.
3) If you're old, it's a great way to wind down your career, or to transition to retirement, or to re-engage if you've been retired a while and are restless.
4) You will learn (or re-learn) adaptability and flexibility. I can tell you for sure that, while it has been easier this second go round in some ways, it has also been more difficult. We all know old folks tend ot get set in their ways. Peace Corps will shake you up, make you re-examine the things you do and why, and force you to get over yourself in many ways.
5) As a sort of corollary to the above, to experience and overcome challenges. Nothing like occasional bouts of no water, no access to many of your comforts of home, etc to help you appreciate what you have/had - as well as help you realize what you can do without. And to strengthen your character and help you learn you are stronger than you may think.
6) To immerse yourself in another culture. I can't even begin to imagine how much more impatient I would be w/o my stints in Peace Corps. Living in cultures that are NOT rush rush rush helps you appreicate the simpler things in life. Not to mention the different (almost always healtheir) food that's out there, appreciate folklore, other geographies, other ways of looking at things, etc. More embiggening of the soul! :)
7) TRAVEL! No better way to see another part of the world than on someone else's dime. Not only does PC fly you there and home, they give you 2 vacation days each month and chip in $40 a month in your account just to travel in the region in which you are living. Next month, I'm off to Greece, Turkey, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, and Bosnia-Herzegovina. I've already traveled a fair amount around Mongenegro and Albania, and after this next trip, I'll be up to 65 countries visited in my lifetime - with a planned trip to Bulgaria, Romania, and Serbia next year, which will bring me to 68.
8) Other bennies! For you younger/mid-career folks, after your service you have non-competitive eligibility (NCE) for federal jobs. Of course health care is fully covered while you're here - as well as follow up care for any issues that happened while in service. Finally, PC also deposits $400 a month into an account while you serve, so you come back with a nice $10K "readjustment allowance."
9) Make a difference in someone's - or many someones - life/lives. Sometimes you won't know the impact your service will have - that kid who chose a different life path thanks to your inspiration. The family that was saved due to your work or secondary project. In many countries, Americans are still seen as glamorous/rock stars and if nothing else you'll give some folks a thrill just for them to be able to say they lived with, hung with, were taught by, worked with, an American (ooooh!). lol
10) Lifelong connections. One thing I didn't think about when I joined the first time around is the friendships I would make - not only with locals but with other Americans. Thanks to Peace Corps, I know people in at least 5-6 other states and 4-5 other countries that are good friends and/or I can rely on to crash at their place if needed when traveling/wandering. It's awesome.
Finally, I would add that you have WAY more flexibility and choice in where you serve now than when I first did it. You basically decide what you'd like to do, then search to see which countries are doing that, and can apply directly. But you can still let PC send you where the biggets need is or surprise you. Either way, do it! Click HERE!
Peace out!
Disclaimer: Any thoughts, observations, opinions, etc. are of course mine and not necessarily the views of Peace Corps.
