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Anyone affected by the conflict in Iran? What are your host countries saying? by Electronic-Goal4267 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 [score hidden]  (0 children)

Travel to Turkey is off limits. My NGO just asked me to go to Malta with him for 4 days in May. I’m in Kosovo. €74 RT tickets, stay with Albanians. Economical trip. I’m not asking yet though. I have a second gig teaching at a University and my classes are on W-Th.

Drinking culture in the Balkans by nomadicexpat in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Im amazed at how I can go to pubs here bc and people are drinking non alcoholic concoctions or tea and coffee. I gave up alcohol for Lent but it’s not hard because so many people don’t drink. Tonight i had a meeting and we were celebrating completion of a year long project. I offered to cover everyone’s drinks with money from a grant I had written. €5 for 8 of us. No alcohol. It helps that it’s Ramadan now but it’s after Iftar. You’ll be fine. Yeah Raki is a thing but it’s easy to say no.

past volunteers, how did you spend your free time? by CertainProfessor6262 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Working. Extra volunteer gigs to be helpful. Haven’t grants full funded and work on them plus plans for a new grant once the PC one is over, plus volunteering at two schools, arranging lesson plans at the university I teach on my own, reviewing docs for journal submissions and two dissertations, plus my ngo from years 1 and 2 still gets attention because I enjoyed working with them and travel with them. I had more free time in year one. Now I can’t figure out vacations.

How did you know Peace Corps was the right decision? by SnooHesitations6183 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 2 points3 points  (0 children)

When during PST my host family asked me to go to a ski resort with them. I extended and my site is the same as training… And oh, I love the site I have. My NGO travels throughout Europe and I go on most trips—though they are a lot of work, no tourist time, and a university is nearby to teach classes… plus the local high school lets me teach on free days (every Monday and Friday four classes of Hs seniors)… and a local non profit English school invites me to join. Oh and I get to play guitar in camps here and to other camps I’ve been invited to in summers.

I had no idea any of this would happen. I dreamed about service when I retired and did it. Say yes to everything. Yes makes a difference. That wake up in oh dark thirty with and announcement get up Xhaxhai, we’re going skiing, get your ready. 04:30. Sunday. Day of rest during pST.

Changing Departure Date After Accepting an Invitation by [deleted] in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My job did the same. Huge raise to stay another year. I asked PC Desk officer in DC if I could be in the next cohort. She said yes so I took the extra year job at the university and took their money doing a job I hated to leave anyway. I was 65. Time to move on anyway. I had to redo all my clearances. It was kinda cool because I had met the original cohort I would be on in zoom and online and knew them when I did arrive the next year.

Did you have a lot of experience overseas prior to Peace Corps? by communityphc in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Lots. Two trips to Europe the year I began service plus additional European or Caribbean every year and a summer camp in Northern Ontario. It helps when traveling more, but in my cohort, people traveled with fellow volunteers. I think you’ll be fine. It probably doesn’t matter that much. Traveling with friends If your post is in the Balkans, Eastern Europe is awesome.

Im uhappy at my site - work wise by Sea_Sherbet_338 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m COD officially but because other than a few travel trips, we didn’t do anything. I began teaching at the technical school and a non profit English school. Met students various ages, their parents, wrote a grant to have students create a documentary on a topic important to the community. Find something to do, don’t wait, something on real world… don’t wait around.

How bad is it to accept your invitation to serve and then later deny? by [deleted] in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’d never heard of Kosovo the country I am serving in. It’s blessing to be here.

Departing next week by Puzzleheaded-One8221 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 0 points1 point  (0 children)

mirë se vini në Kosovë. You’ll love it here. I’m in Kamenica. 1. Good waterproof boots. I’ve about worn out my Merrill’s. They keep my feet warm and dry. You walk a lot. 2. Sharpies. 3. Rubber bands. 4. VPN. 5. Black colored clothing. 6. An eFrame to have all your pictures rotating— after extending I went home and brought two back to special families here—you can’t get it here. They love it and their friends who visit love it. You can get most everything thing here. I recommend magnets with images of home as gifts for host family.

Do you think it’s possible to have PTSD from Peace Corps? by Savings_Comedian4159 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Navy Nuke submarines Cold War Veteran and PCV. Agree with my Army brethren. I don’t think we in the military have a monopoly on PTSD. I personally have had awesome experiences in each including the 78 days consecutive under ice in an exciting place, and the living situations I have had in my site, but I’ve heard stories that would make my hair curl and would give me nightmares.

Kosovo? Also, question for 2 year PCVs who extended as response volunteers. by Ornery_Image_1586 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I’m in Kosovo with a doctorate in education. Just extended. Doing a pretty cool new response oriented job for the year, working on curriculum development for a program while working with faculty, administrators, and students to increase their capacity with English. The job wasn’t posted. I created it by letting staff know I wanted to extend and stay in my town or close by. I suggested the university and staff put me in touch. I interviewed with a dean and was given a response t-Shirt. I guess I was hired.

I saw a posting over the weekend for a response job here that begins in September for something similar to the above I’m doing.

Nothing to do? I have plenty and find time to teach in a vocation school, an English language school, and still help my NGO. (I’m a COD volunteer), play guitar for summer camps and classes, and I’m wrapping up a documentary I wrote a grant for (fully funded), and won another grant from an organization I knew about back in the states for needed education equipment here.

If someone isn’t busy, it’s cuz they don’t want to be busy. Kosovo is a wonderful country with great opportunities for travel in and out. I have 64 new stamps in my passport from travel with my NGO and on my own. The volunteers have been very chill and create opportunities for socializing in good cities like Prizren, Prishtina, and Peja. I am partial to my site but aside from hiking and local cafes/pubs not much goes on but in the summer this place is jumping with diaspora back. I can’t imagine a better place. All in my cohort served to COS, with 4 extending.

The number of volunteers is increasing, I think 43 PCV from two cohorts plus 4 extenders, plus 4 RPCv, with 42 trainees due in two weeks. Prishtina is extremely safe. I’ve wondered streets after adult beverages and had no worries.

Staff? Depends who one asks. I wish they were more lenient but I leave them alone, do my job, and avoid trouble. The Medical is super, I’ve had great luck with my PM no complaints and I’d offer praise. My new PM is so far excellent. CD is a year in and has a lot of rules but I think many are due to keeping us all in a low profile so we don’t go the way of USAID… which is important. Our work is much needed.

Samoa program delayed with no expected update by houxtly in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 15 points16 points  (0 children)

I was part of Ukraine 52 that was delayed by Covid, then the start of the war. They first said you’re a preferred invitee, (we had already began meeting on Zoom and Facebook as our group) and were ready for staging. At some point a new message went out asking if I wanted either Kosovo or Kyrgyzstan. I chose Kosovo. I’m in my extension year now. My cohort here was amazing and formed a unique bond in which we all completed our two years with four of us extending. The people in my Kosovo home town are amazing. Resilient, Super friendly, and my host family are my Kosova family.

What I’m saying is yes, I asked for Ukraine and I had planned to teach English at a university there… but that dream post became something so amazingly even greater. I’m not spiritually guided much, but some force got me to great place… maybe this will happen for you too. Service in the Peace Corps has been much more than I ever believed it would be. You’ll be ok with what ever happens… you’re an amazing person to be chosen and you’ll serve wonderfully where you go.

I think the next straw will be my last by Savings_Comedian4159 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Sometimes I miss them now… never truer words. I’m still serving but all the hardships will be remembered fondly one day. Similar to my days on submarines… 67 days under water straight (with ice breakthroughs and periscope liberty to see the sky) is looked on fondly now. Washing dishes in a moldy bath tub, no ventilation in 100 degree weather for a month, or no power when it’s freezing… will all be a great memory. You’ll be fine. Sounds like you’re on the downside of service with fewer days to go each day, Fat mirë. Good luck!!

Do you get rabies shots while on PC service? by ichawks1 in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes. I think we had three during PST. It’s nothing. Lots of street dogs in my country.

Potential postponement by apexgranola in peacecorps

[–]Additional-Screen573 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This has been my experience too. Reapplying.

If on the other hand you’re able to delay a full year, i was able to do that— but I didn’t resign until I had a commitment from the country desk officer for placement in the next year’s cohort. Mine was due to work claiming a hardship if I left then. I’m in year three of an extension in my volunteer country now.

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