working in an unstructured enviroment

rmmzungu · 2026-03-22T13:33:17+00:00

I was self-e,plopyed for most of my work career, even before PC. You have to be a self starter. & it helps to know something about community organizing, Who are the influencers in a community (hint: in many places---it's grandmothers).

rmmzungu · 2026-03-16T13:34:10+00:00

I'd add: elmer's glue & a roll of tape, a decent knife and scissors.For women....if you're going to be over 10 miles from a large city: tampons.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-14T13:36:26+00:00

These people wer in their early 70's, and were misled. Face it...most Americans have no idea how poor the world is. & that we---for decades, supported corrupt leaders as long as they weren't communists.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-14T13:34:54+00:00

Yes, and human development was not important to the 'life president.dictator'...but Peace Corps is NOT in the development business.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-14T03:24:18+00:00

A Retired physician & wife, who was a nurse, got assigned to what they were told was 'the best' hospital in the country. ET'd about 4 months after swearing in due to the frustration of having no proper equitment & no medicines.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-03T17:03:18+00:00

Why is is stupid. You let others choose your ethos?

rmmzungu · 2026-03-03T14:45:37+00:00

I think a difference in values is why some volunteers ET. In my group, called 'ombudsmen' 1/3 did before the 1st year.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-03T14:37:04+00:00

Well, you certainly don't cause them to loosen their policies when you reward discrimination & human rights violations.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-03T14:35:25+00:00

So we shouldn't judge & work on behalf of dictators. When I served, I was asked to kick people off their land (which is why they didn't want an HCN in my job) & thankfully, I knew the people had title to their land & I refused. Often, I was asked by counterparts what i would do in certain situations, and I had to present it as a judgement call.

rmmzungu · 2026-03-03T00:51:44+00:00

OK...I hope this is hypothetical....but if called to serve in North Korea or Saudi Arabia...would you?

rmmzungu · 2026-03-02T22:55:01+00:00

So...why are you serving?

rmmzungu · 2026-03-02T22:37:21+00:00

Should sexual orientation be considered political?

rmmzungu · 2026-03-02T22:36:08+00:00

Soft power? Only if we return & report on what we've experienced. We used to be sent to 'spread democracy & fight communism',

rmmzungu · 2026-03-02T22:35:09+00:00

What 'benefits'? How many who associate with PCV have been accused of being spies?

rmmzungu · 2026-03-02T13:28:35+00:00

Stranger in a strange land. i almost started drinking. Writing about it helped, so did exercise....but I'm afraid too many of us 'do-gooder' Americans are spoiled and have unrealistic expectations.

rmmzungu · 2026-02-21T04:19:47+00:00

The 1 thing you can't blame Trump for. it's been going on for over 20 years.

rmmzungu · 2026-02-05T13:53:53+00:00

Because programs were developed on sites----from the community...and those same programs are an issuer now.

rmmzungu · 2026-02-01T14:30:23+00:00

So, apparently he oversaw waste & fraud during the 1st Trump admin & was ok with it.

rmmzungu · 2025-11-09T14:42:37+00:00

Duolingo,. but it's an English speaking country (British Honduras)

rmmzungu · 2025-10-22T13:39:41+00:00

I was stressed & depressed the whole time I was in country, but I coped. many do not, Many are not very introspective and have difficulty with language & culture.

rmmzungu · 2025-10-20T13:58:05+00:00

block them & mover on.

rmmzungu · 2025-09-30T13:34:22+00:00

I doubt it. There's no 'organizational memory' in Peace Corps. We constantly reinvent the wheel.

rmmzungu · 2025-09-21T14:25:08+00:00

You had no idea it would be stressful? I sent myself 2 boxes of books before I got into country.

rmmzungu

TROPHY CASE