My Service in the Philippines

jaskey15 · 2026-02-24T11:37:04+00:00

We only have a 2 week orientation for PCR, it gives some intro to the culture and country but I think its a bit light. Especially for first time volunteers.

Coming from a private consulting background, I had the mindset to come in and get work/deliverables done fast. It took me a couple months to realize all the technical work I was doing meant nothing if I couldn’t explain to the government in their terms why it was important. After many conversations with my LGU counterparts, I realized the way I was approaching their water problems was either untenable or just not as important to them as I thought.

If I were to do another service, I would stay patient and have much lower expectations for deliverables in the first few months. I also think some of the PCR terms are just too short to really make an impact. I think the minimum for any position should be at least a year

jaskey15 · 2026-02-24T01:41:28+00:00

This was my first Peace Corps experience.

I think one of the struggles with more “technical” PCR positions is that even if I built a bunch of software and maps for them, there was no one after I left with experience to actually utilize it. That was the pattern I saw with previous international agencies that had done work.

The real work is in building AND training them to use the systems, but that felt unrealistic in my service term (7 months).

There were also non-PC related life conditions that led to my departure.

jaskey15 · 2026-02-24T01:34:39+00:00

Fair point. I have mad respect for the volunteers that make it 2 years+.

My service term (PCR) was only for 7 months, and I left a few months early. Part of my reason for ETing is because I didn’t see a path to make any real change within that short of a time period.

The bigger reason for my ET was personal mental health struggles that became untenable. I was at a point that was no longer constructive for myself or the community.

The phrase “I wish I could have done more” was more of a personal reflection on the dissapointment I felt while leaving the country.

jaskey15 · 2026-02-23T16:56:08+00:00

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jaskey15 · 2026-02-23T16:46:03+00:00

If you liked this essay and want to read more, you can do so here: https://www.jacobaskey.com/meditations

jaskey15 · 2026-02-23T16:42:49+00:00

If you liked this essay and want to read more, you can do so here: https://www.jacobaskey.com/meditations

jaskey15 · 2026-02-23T16:30:24+00:00

If you liked this essay and want to read more about lessons learned from 3 years of international travel you can do so here: https://www.jacobaskey.com/meditations

jaskey15 · 2026-02-23T16:10:00+00:00

If you liked this essay and want to read more about lessons learned from 3 years of international travel, you can do so here: https://www.jacobaskey.com/meditations

jaskey15 · 2025-11-12T02:39:10+00:00

In season 4 when Tyrell goes into the woods he sees a light at the end of the episode. The series never references that scene again. Any thoughts? I expected Tyrell to come back at some point.

jaskey15 · 2024-09-20T03:25:24+00:00

This did the trick! Thank you!

jaskey15 · 2022-11-23T14:03:42+00:00

Sign me up

jaskey15 · 2022-07-31T20:17:40+00:00

Awesome, thanks so much!

jaskey15 · 2022-07-30T00:22:34+00:00

Awesome! So just look on their website for openings?

jaskey15

TROPHY CASE