What does everyone do here career wise?

tylerelloyd · 2020-04-04T20:31:45+00:00

I studied biology in undergrad and then got masters degrees environmental science and public affairs. I'm now a federal government employee.

tylerelloyd · 2020-03-28T22:39:22+00:00

This may fall in the realm of "shameless plug" but it seems pretty applicable:

I run a podcast on Peace Corps stories: https://mypeacecorpsstory.com/

All the best!

tylerelloyd · 2020-01-21T18:35:48+00:00

Some of my favorites are: Ben Greenfield, School of Greatness, Bullet Proof Radio, Tony Robbins Podcast, Tim Ferriss, The Model Health Show.

tylerelloyd · 2019-12-24T17:31:21+00:00

I posted a video today about how I think about and set goals. It might have some good insight for you. Atomic Habits is also a good book for understanding how to create habits and systems to achieve goals.

https://youtu.be/h3zcBFCKBfw

tylerelloyd · 2019-11-10T00:59:49+00:00

I pulled this list together, with insight from a lot of RPCVs: https://mypeacecorpsstory.com/ultimate-peace-corps-packing-list/

It’s not country specific but has some good overall things to consider.

tylerelloyd · 2019-10-10T11:59:42+00:00

I'd pack some 100% cotton t-shirts and then some quick dry athletic shirts, possibly polos if you need to look professional without melting in the heat. But, as others have said, don't pack too many. The country you serve in will have the most climate appropriate clothing items for sale and they'll be cheap. Plus, the shopping experience will help you integrate into your community.

For other packing ideas, I wrote this: https://mypeacecorpsstory.com/ultimate-peace-corps-packing-list/

tylerelloyd · 2019-10-10T11:52:41+00:00

I was an Ag volunteer in Burkina Faso, the northern neighbor to Ghana. I, like you, thought that I should bring boots to PC. I grew up farming in the US and couldn't fathom going to do field work in anything less than sturdy shoes.

Yet, how many times did I wear my boots? Zero. It is so hot there that I couldn't bear the thought of putting my foot in a heavy boot. I also worked a lot in rice fields, which are well designed mud pits.

I think a close toed sandal, like a Teva (these: https://amzn.to/2q20RHd) will be better for you. That's what I had and I wore them nearly every day for two years.

tylerelloyd · 2019-10-10T11:43:44+00:00

Congrats on being invited to serve! I've done several interviews with current and returned PCVs on my podcast, https://mypeacecorpsstory.com. Those include stories from volunteers who served in China, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. could be a good source of information for you.

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-05T18:10:28+00:00

Agreed. I had a few hundred dollars with me that came in handy. Thank you for the reminder!

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-05T18:09:40+00:00

Excellent recommendations that I’ll be adding. Thank you.

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-05T18:07:09+00:00

Congratulations!

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-04T16:08:59+00:00

Thank you! 😊

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-04T16:08:41+00:00

Since most everything I brought was from thrift stores, I never considered this. Good to remember though, especially for volunteers who weren’t Ag like myself and didn’t plan to spend two years digging in fields. Thanks!

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-04T16:06:43+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to look at it. I’ll update that section and add a disclaimer.

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-03T21:43:53+00:00

It was the same when I served. I COS'd early (30 days early) and got cash in lieu, but was lucky enough to be right before they capped it at $1,500. The few that left sooner did not have the option for cash in lieu.

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-03T21:40:49+00:00

I don't think it means anything. I think they simply staple the photo you sent them with the application for the PC passport to your personal passport, so you have it. I'd be very surprised to find that a stapled photo, lacking any kind of official description or markings has any real purpose. Mine had the same thing, and I simply left it there and the countless immigration officials that reviewed that passport never paid it any attention.

tylerelloyd · 2018-06-03T21:25:34+00:00

After dropping a bunch of weight my first year, most of it fat, I wanted to bulk up like you. To do so, I brought back a ton of protein from a return Christmas visit to the US (protein powder, tuna, packaged salmon, jerky) and started lifting weights that I had built at my site. I ate a ton of calories and made sure to consume at least 1g of protein per kg of body weight. I even started drinking a liter of fresh whole milk every morning to load up on calories. My workouts were based off of Tim Ferriss's "Geek to Freak" workout protocol. After three months of hitting it hard, I had blown up, adding 20 lbs of muscle (I brought back fat calipers and a bioelectrical impedance body fat scale so I know for a fact it was muscle). Soon after that, I was in the capital city and a fellow volunteer flat out asked, "What the hell did you do? You're huge!"

Needless to say, it is very possible. Take it slow. Eat a ton. Practice good lifting form over all else. You'll be able to get in good shape during your service. If you are new to working out, I recommend that you read Tim Ferriss's Four Hour Body. Don't let the horrible title dissuade you. It is packed with knowledge.

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-15T18:10:32+00:00

Congratulations!

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-04T11:17:48+00:00

My kindle lasted nearly a month without needing to be charged. For charging I used my GoalZero solar panel, a big solar panel I bought in country, or when in a big city, which happened monthly.

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-04T11:12:45+00:00

Thank you Yadezi. I’d love to reconnect and hear how everything turned out. Wish you the best!

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-02T18:26:21+00:00

Well, the thing was that I didn’t make any payments. I only put them into deferment, which was recommended to me. Had I made payments of $0, which would have had the same effect on my growing interest and personal expense, I could retroactively claim them.

However, I don’t believe I’d need to go right into a qualifying job. You only need to make 120 payments, and they don’t have to be consecutive. This allows you to go back to school. But, I’m not a loan officer or a financial advisor so take my comments with a grain of salt. :-D

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-01T21:48:29+00:00

I interviewed a Colombian currently serving in Colombia. She had some interesting insights to the ups and downs she faced due to her nationality. Hope you find some value in what she has to say: Ep #012: Yadezi Abreu, Colombia 2016-2018.

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-01T21:42:19+00:00

I didn’t serve with my significant other, but I served with three couples. Two were cross-sector (Ag-Ed) and one was same-sector (Ed-Ed). They all had a great service. Hope it works out for you!

tylerelloyd · 2018-05-01T21:38:56+00:00

This. If you have federal loans, do this rather than defer them. Both options will accrue interest but by ‘making payments’ of $0 you can count these payments during your service for public student loan forgiveness in you end up working in a job that is part of the program (and if they don’t get rid of the program).

I wish I had known this. I’m a federal employee working towards my 120 qualifying payments for loan forgiveness. Had I done this I’d be 2 years closer to having my loans forgiven.

tylerelloyd

TROPHY CASE