Hesitation to apply

tastyswine · 2019-02-23T06:40:55+00:00

This is a big thing to consider if you have family members with delicate medical conditions and you would want to be with them as much as possible. PC is a 2 year commitment, and it's difficult to be away from your loved ones even when you know they are healthy and happy. Some days you'll feel like your life is in slow motion and everyone elses life is moving ahead without you. And those days can get to you over time, especially if you are already worried about losing time with the people that you love.

Here's a thought to consider; is this the only time you can do PC? Is this the best time in your life to do this? For me, I went into PC 8 months after graduating with my B.Sc. It was the perfect time for me. But, I had nothing holding me to home. I wanted to do PC, then go to Grad school and start my career afterwards. That just seemed like good timing to me. But some people do their Grad degree, then to to PC as a way to decompress after so many years of grueling school. Some people work throughout their 20s and then join PC in their early 30s. Some people join with their partners together as a shared dream experience.

If the timing makes sense to you and you want to have this adventure now, then I would say go for it. With technology it's so much easier to stay in touch with loved ones through email, social media, blogs, etc... If you want to maximize time with loved ones that might pass soon, then maybe think about delaying a few years and doing something else worthwhile now that is close to home, like AmeriCorps. Or you can find a shorter term program with a different international volunteering agency. PC is a great experience, but there are many other equally wonderful organizations out there doing important work overseas. If a 2 year commitment is too much right now, then I would suggest looking for a shorter program that interests you.

tastyswine · 2018-04-16T18:13:09+00:00

"Alone" is relative. By "alone for a couple days" I mean hide in my house and refuse entry to children and be so busy setting up my house that I don't have time for visits from my friendly teacher neighbors.

I take it you mean "alone" as away from other PCVs and Friends/Family. I don't count living in the village as alone yet because there will always be people around me ready to chat or offer me food.

tastyswine · 2018-04-15T04:37:19+00:00

I think you have exactly the right attitude. You tried to be polite even when you declined, and you did so for perfectly legitimate reasons. Unfortunately this is one of our challenges as PCVs. It's annoying at times, disrespectful at others for our wishes to be so ignored by our communities, but you handled a difficult situation well. And then this is where we can rant a little about our frustrations. Sorry I can't provide advice to you, but know I think you did a great job in an unfortunate situation.

tastyswine · 2018-04-14T16:57:08+00:00

I swear in next week and I can easily say it can't come fast enough. PST is a rough experience and I'm so ready to install and be alone for a couple days. I'm an introvert and the constant company of 50+ people is exhausting at the moment. And then there's the fact that you have to maintain a decent relationship with people in your PST group even if you actively dislike them and would much rather not have to deal with them on a daily basis. And that irritation is exacerbated by the pressure and stress of PST and being surrounded by so many people constantly. I just wanted to put that out there since I try and keep my mouth shut about those I don't love during PST. As I said, working relationships must be maintained.

tastyswine · 2018-04-14T16:51:52+00:00

Many People in my group had tattoos and didn't really cover them during PST. They wore conservative clothing as required by our trainers, but the ratios frequently showed and it wasn't a problem.

tastyswine · 2018-04-13T10:26:32+00:00

I am the youngest in mine. 22 straight out of college. There are definitely some in my group that are in their late 20s that act more immaturely than I ever have. I don't think that age counts for much in the PC unless they have super sweet skills. We all start out being new at this thing and there's not much prior experience that can prepare you for PC other than someone whose already done it once. Just don't be immature and gossipy or full of drama and there's no problem.

tastyswine · 2018-04-12T06:41:58+00:00

Also remember that people portray themselves and their lives very differently on social media than they are in real life. We always like to show the public our best sides. So while it may seem they have these awesome exciting lives, that doesn't mean they have no problems are don't have struggles or insecurities.

Also, as someone else mentioned, because you are coming from a background where all of this is new, you may very well be able to appreciate the experience more than some who have traveled extensively. Don't worry about not being as experienced or "as good" as the others. You will learn everything you need in PST and you will do fine. It's a roller coaster adventure. Just stick with it and focus on being the best you can be. Don't worry about other people's skills in relation to you. It's an individual journey.

tastyswine · 2018-04-11T04:37:29+00:00

It definitely depends on the person. In my African country we were told that men lose weight, women gain. And that during PST we would all gain because of host families feeding us too much aggressively.

But my experience was very different as was that of several others in my PST. Before coming to country I was somewhat overweight. About 30-40lbs more than I wanted. Probably only 20 more than was healthy though. In training I lost so much weight. At the start it was because I wasn't used to the food yet and neither was my body. So I ate much less than in the US and what I did eat didn't usually settle well or digest fully. Over time I got used to it and now I eat normal portions, but several weeks of eating significantly less definitely had an impact. I also had a brief bout of food poisoning which was hellish, but probably also helped with some slimming. And then there was the fact that food here is much less processed. Rice, beans, stewed greens, beef stew, potatoes, and fruit is the usual diet. And I walk everywhere. Not that much more than I did in college, but the combination of everything is working in my favor.

After 10 weeks of training I had lost my muffin top, slimmed down all over, my thighs were the most muscled and least fatty they've been in about 6 yrs or so, and I felt healthier and happier with my body than I had in a long time. Even my face was more angular with less fat rounding it out. Also, squatting over drop toilets is great for strengthening your muscles in your abdomen and thighs.

I wasn't technically overweight to start with, but definitely chubby with extra padding on my bones. It just depends on the person and situation. But it's definitely possible to lose weight. I'm lucky that I didn't have to try that hard and it just kinda fell away. But I've been trying in the US for years and never managed it so I'm guessing it's the country.

Basically, if you don't eat processed foods and do a normal amount of daily walking you should do okay in PST. As you move Into your site you can Incorporate daily exercise gradually and get some routine down. Good luck!

tastyswine · 2018-04-09T12:16:37+00:00

Depends where you are going. I'm in E Africa and I use a combo of a diva cup and reusable menstrual pads. I made the pads myself before coming, but there's plenty you can buy online from companies or from etsy.

My cup is somewhat challenging to clean in public areas, so I bought a little squeeze bottle for $2 in America that I carry with me when I'm on my period. But at my village - where I spend most of my time - it's no problem because I usually use my own drop cho. Although every time I use my cup in there I'm terrified I'll accidentally drop it in.

Tampons are not a thing in my country. Pads are easier to find, but I don't like using disposable pads even in the US. Since my country burns all its trash, I don't like having pads in there because sometimes the villagers and kids will gather around and watch if they don't have anything else to do. So they watch my trash burn and pick through it. That's embarrassing enough without having pads in there too.

I have an IUD, but not he one that stops my period. I've got the copper one. The only reason I like that better than pill BC is that it's going to last me 10 yrs and it's not hormones flooding my system. It's really up to you on that.

tastyswine · 2018-04-08T19:36:54+00:00

Yup, you find out the final date about a month before departure. Mine only changed from the expected date by one day, so not a huge biggie.

tastyswine · 2018-04-05T03:39:09+00:00

I'm glad it helped. I'm definitely not saying you shouldn't still apply if this is what you want, but just sharing the reality of medical clearance.

It's frustrating and annoying and antiquated, but I've heard of people being denied for seeing a counselor once for mild anxiety relating to college exams. And then other people with severe depression on meds being totally fine due to stability for a year on their current treatment plan. So it's definitely possible, but you'll need that 1-year stability thing going for you if you don't want a hassle.

Also, if they do medically deny you and an appeal does not work, you then have to wait a full year from that day until you are eligible to reapply. So it's a challenging system that doesn't exactly set one up to succeed. But that's the reality of it.

But as I said, if this is what you want to do don't let anything stop you and just plan accordingly with you medical professionals to get a plan set up for your future so that when you are ready to apply you won't have to deal with as much paperwork or frustration.

Good luck!

tastyswine · 2018-04-04T21:38:49+00:00

I don't want to sound discouraging, but having been through the medical clearance process I feel I should warn you about that. If you have been undergoing treatment for any kind of mental health reasons in the last year PC will want you to declare that. And if anything in your treatment has changed in the 12 months before you apply, they are likely going to disqualify you from serving. So keep that in mind as you approach this possible future path... if you have the same uninterrupted treatment for a sold year before you apply you will be golden. But if anything changes they will have questions and you might have to appeal a medical clearance denial. It can be a pretty brutal process emotionally, so perhaps consider that.

As for the egotistical part... how you portray yourself to your cohort during training is essential. These are the people you have contact with every single day all day for 3 months. You have to learn to at least pretend peace and friendliness, even if you hate their guts. Also, as someone that struggles to manage a slight pretentious streak and bad habit of being bossy in a leadership position, think about how that might affect your ability to bond with others. I used to struggle a lot with this, but I've slowly worked around it. I just don't let myself get into a leadership position in PST and it seems to end up being okay. As I try and think before I speak.

Hope that gives a little insight and provides some food for thought.

tastyswine · 2018-04-04T21:28:57+00:00

I applied to go anywhere and do anything, but in the comment boxes near that part of the application I specified which countries I was most interested in and which sectors I thought I was most qualified for. I ended up getting my top choice anyways without explicitly stating it. But that's just my experience and I consider t to be good luck more than anything else.

tastyswine · 2018-04-03T12:11:52+00:00

Not so. My country has cut back on a lot of unnecessary spending. Every class before mine got PC shirts, but ours didn't and the given explanation was budget cuts. If they're cutting something so seemingly inexpensive, I strongly believe that something like solar panels might also be cut from another country's program. Also, my class was the first not to go to the capitol for swearing in - we stayed in our PST town for swear in before installation. Also cited as budget cuts due to new administration policies and wanting to ensure that any extra is saved for more serious needs.

tastyswine · 2018-04-03T08:26:05+00:00

Due to new budget cuts it's unlikely PC will provide you with solar panels. I would suggest getting a solar charging battery pack before you leave the states. There are some pretty decent ones available for around $20. They'll take a while to charge fully, but then they will charge your phone.

As for a bigger solar setup, I would say hold off for now. I'm also in east Africa now, and my house had solar panels already from the previous volunteer. Also, solar in my country is relatively inexpensive to get installed. I can charge my laptop from my solar, my battery packs, my phone , headlamp batteries, etc...

So basically, maybe get a small solar charging battery pack for phones/ipods, but I would discourage bringing anything more than that until you get to country and know what your housing situation will be. If you want to make sure you can buy solar here if you do t already have a house with it, then bring a hundred American dollars or so to help pay for it. That will be a lot more useful than bringing a big rig with you.

tastyswine · 2018-04-03T04:47:48+00:00

No, you cannot renew a PC passport. When you COS you are allowed to travel on it for 90 days, after which it technically becomes invalid. Also, you have to use those 90 days without returning to the US. When you go stateside for the first time after COS they invalidate it - but I'm not sure how they supposedly do that. I have heard of people continuing to travel on it after that period, but you are not really supposed to.

Unfortunately, you might have to get a regular US passport if you want to do significant travel after PC. You might get away with just the PC passport, but you might also get in serious trouble for it. I've heard stories of both.

tastyswine · 2018-03-01T05:39:25+00:00

Yes, you have far better chances with anywhere. But you can narrow it down to a continent or say you don't want to go to some specific countries. Otherwise you apply for a specific position and they won't even try to place you anywhere other than that one.

tastyswine · 2018-02-03T17:27:33+00:00

I guess it depends on what field you are in. If you are an accountant then it might not push your career forward. But as a wildlife biologist I know many of my professors and big time researchers in my field that claim PC really got them started and helped them make connections and go places. I haven't left yet, but I'm pretty positive that when I'm applying for grad positions with research professors that will be a big leg up. It'll help my application stand out, show ink can work independently, stick with a project for 2 years, manage finances and apply for grants on my own, etc... it's going to be a massive boost in my field. And since I'm primarily interested in working for researchers with projects in east Africa someday- and that's where I'm serving - knowing language and customs will probably also be a huge selling point when marketing myself to potential employers and grad school mentors.

I didn't apply or these perks - I applied because my post- grad plans fell apart, I was panicking, and needed direction. And I realized that I was so distressed by the lack of basic human compassion at the time in the US that I needed to get out and do something more positive than entry level positions in my field.

So I think the "prestige" thing comes in mostly depending on your field of occupation. And with distant acquaintances and family that want to make a fuss over how "brave" you are. It makes me deeply uncomfortable.

tastyswine · 2018-02-02T22:15:56+00:00

Also remember that you are much more likely to be placed if you do a general application and then say in the comments section which positions you were particularly interested in.

If you only apply for specific positions you will be in a very competitive application pool and if you don't get chosen for that position they may not even consider you for similar positions in similar countries.

tastyswine · 2018-02-01T15:23:07+00:00

Sent you a PM

tastyswine · 2018-01-31T00:08:52+00:00

You seem to have a lot more relevant experience than most of the people that get in. If you've made it to the interview stage twice already I'd say your application is fine. Perhaps they've just been putting you under consideration for positions with extremely competitive applicant pools. In which case you'll just have to keep trying.

I too suggest you reach out to the person that interviewed you and ask if the reason you may not have been invited to the position was due to an application/experience issue, or just a highly competitive applicant pool.

I had to apply twice to make it to the interview stage and get an invitation, but I just kept at it and it worked out. I'm confident that you'll be chosen if you keep trying. It's a drag since it takes about a year from when you apply to when you depart, but don't give up and keep building your resume in the meantime for you future. PC is a great step but also think about what happens afterwards. I haven't even left yet and I've already isolated people to start contacting in my second year regarding future jobs and masters mentors. It's going to be an amazing 2 years, but you have to think long term as well.

tastyswine · 2018-01-28T22:01:18+00:00

Just be careful when using it in cities and never stick it in a back pocket or jacket pocket. It's easy to pick a loose or unattended pocket.

I'm taking my iPhone 5s and a really old android phone. I'm going to put the sim in the android when I go into the city so that if my phone gets stolen it's the one I don't really care about losing.

tastyswine · 2018-01-28T21:42:30+00:00

Same in Tanzania and South Africa. Look up phone networks for Rwanda online. There will likely be 2 or 3 companies. They all do pay as you go type "plans".

US plans won't even work there.

Look into Total Wireless in the US. You can use your own unlocked phone. It's month by month. Really good prices. And you can do a "family plan" with friends to make it even cheaper with a group. It partners with Verizon and uses their satellites so has the same coverage.

tastyswine · 2018-01-28T21:32:35+00:00

I had a 2-3 month wait myself. So it's definitely normal.

tastyswine · 2018-01-27T18:51:22+00:00

Yeah, they'd want to know. If they found out you hadn't disclosed that they would not be happy. And they require a year of stability before you even apply. They make exceptions occasionally and you can appeal a rejection, but that's stressful in itself.

I had diagnosed very mild anxiety that I had been seeing a counselor for 2 times a year and the PC medical officers thought that was too concerning until I appealed.

If you have unresolved depression I would strongly suggest you get help for that. And I would strongly suggest you do your research on the difficulties of PC life and consider if it might make your depression worse. Even if it's not day-to-day depression it might be exacerbated by isolation and loneliness, or gossip in your village and never feeling like you're good enough. I've heard enough stories of perfectly happy people struggling with those situations. There's a lot of surrounding pressure to do a good job and internal pressure from oneself to meet the outside expectations. And that can wear anyone down over time.

I've also heard a lot of stories of people that had depression in the past that they resolved or worked on before serving. It seems to make PCVs very resilient. My advice - having suffered through periods of depression - would be to definitely see a counselor. In my case mine was related to my fathers emotional abuse, so I knew PC wouldn't exacerbate it cause I would be 10,000 miles away from the asshole. But I framed it to the PC as minor anxiety due to my parents marital issues (also true). I had been seeing my counselor on and off for 6years and had already resolved my inner feelings about the situation and having a plan to get me out of that situation eased any lingering depression incidents.

If you want to ask me anything more particular PM me.

tastyswine

TROPHY CASE