The nominee process (getting medical/dental/legal clearance) is the longest. I have an account with the PC online now where they send me all sorts of news, updates, resources, timelines, and checklists.
The family and friends section provides a lot of useful information and could answer all the questions you all keep asking me, so here you go:
BENEFITS:
The Peace Corps is a challenging opportunity that offers Americans of every background enormous rewards. Should your family member become a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will be proud of his or her two years spent helping others. But for all the giving they do, it's important to know that Peace Corps Volunteers are also opening worlds of opportunity for themselves.Serving in the Peace Corps gives Volunteers the chance to learn a new language, live in another culture, and develop career and leadership skills.
The Peace Corps experience can enhance long-term career prospects, whether a Volunteer wants to work for a corporation, a nonprofit organization, or a government agency. The Peace Corps can even open doors to graduate school. For your son, daughter, sister, brother, or parent to venture to a far-away place for two years where they don't know anyone can be a cause for concern. Some people, who may have worked hard to get a child through college or struggled to bring children to the United States in search of economic opportunity, may feel disappointed when a son or daughter does not take a high-paying job right after graduation. Others might think that Americans should help improve the quality of life in their own community here at home. The following information will help you learn more about the professional, educational, and financial benefits of service that await someone as a Peace Corps Volunteer. ProfessionalThe benefits of Peace Corps service last a lifetime, but you will start noticing them as soon as a Peace Corps Volunteer returns home. In today's global marketplace, fluency in foreign languages, international experience, and cross-cultural understanding are highly sought-after assets in many sectors of our increasingly global economy. The first three months of service in the Peace Corps provide cross-cultural, technical, and language training to help Volunteers integrate into their new overseas communities. In addition:
The Peace Corps' Office of Returned Volunteer Services (RVS) provides career, educational, and re-entry related assistance through its 11 regional recruiting offices and its Career Center in Washington, DC.
Returned Volunteers have non-competitive eligibility status for appointments to U.S. government executive branch agencies for one year after their completion of service. This means that you can be appointed to some federal government positions without competing with the general public.
Once you arrive in your country of service, you will receive intensive language instruction. Some Volunteers become fluent in more than one language.
Volunteers develop the ability to adapt to, and participate successfully in, the culture of the community in which they live and work. These skills are transferable to any culture as well as to new professional and social settings back home.
EducationalThe Peace Corps offers two innovative programs to Peace Corps Volunteers: Masters International and Fellows/USA.
The Master's International Program allows you to incorporate Peace Corps service into master's degree programs at more than 40 colleges and universities.
The Fellows/USA Program offers Volunteers who have returned home scholarships or reduced tuition in advanced degree programs at more than 25 participating colleges and universities. In return for these educational benefits, Fellows commit to work for two years in an underserved community as they pursue their graduate degree.
Additionally, Peace Corps Volunteers may apply for partial deferment of many loans and up to 15% cancellation of Perkins loans. FinancialAmong other financial benefits, the Peace Corps offers:
A monthly living allowance to cover your housing and other basic needs
Comprehensive medical and dental coverage, including annual exams and coverage for both service and non-service-related illnesses or injuries
$6,075 after the completion of three months of training and two years of Volunteer service
A reasonably priced health insurance plan available after the completion of Volunteer service for up to 18 months
24 vacation days per year
HEALTH:
Probably the greatest concern families have is for the health of their loved ones in the Peace Corps. As the family member of a Volunteer, you should know that your loved one's health and safety are the Peace Corps' highest priority. The medical screening process places each Volunteer in a country that has adequate medical facilities to accommodate that Volunteer's health care needs.
In every country in which Volunteers serve, the Peace Corps has a basic medical unit and medical provider. They brief Volunteers on staying healthy and provide them with the basic medical skills and supplies needed to do so. If a health problem occurs that cannot be treated locally, the Peace Corps will send the Volunteer to an appropriate facility in a nearby country or back to the United States. The poor sanitation found in many countries often results in contaminated food and water. These in turn cause the leading Volunteer health complaint: gastrointestinal ailments and parasites. Such afflictions are a nuisance, but they aren't a serious health risk. In most cases they either go away of their own accord or require a brief course of medication, which is provided by the Peace Corps Medical Officer. Prevention is an important part of each Volunteer's health care system. All requisite vaccinations or medications are given before and during a Volunteer's service. Other preventive measures include up to 25 hours of health education as part of pre-service training; mid-service and close-of-service physical and dental exams; medical newsletters and training during service; and visits by the Peace Corps Medical Officer to the Volunteer's site. Peace Corps assumes the costs of medical expenses during an individual's service as a Volunteer.
SAFETY:
Whether you are considering joining the Peace Corps, about to accept an invitation to serve in a particular country, or a family member or friend of a current or prospective Volunteer, it is important for you to understand the realities of Peace Corps service, particularly with regard to personal safety and welfare. If you or someone you know is about to accept an assignment to serve overseas, this is surely an exciting time, and we want your expectations to be as realistic as possible. The more you learn now about the realities of Peace Corps service, the better prepared you will be to handle the challenges and rewards ahead.
Because the Peace Corps works in some of the least developed countries and in some of the most remote areas in the world, health, safety, and security risks are an unavoidable part of life and of Volunteer service. While the majority of Volunteers serve their two years without major incident, it is important for you to know that Peace Corps service does involve certain risks, including road accidents, natural disasters, crime and civil unrest. The Peace Corps devotes significant resources to minimize safety risks to Volunteers and to ensure that they are given the training, support, and information they need for a safe experience. However, there are many variables beyond the agency's control that impact Volunteers' welfare and it is not possible to eliminate all the risks associated with Volunteers' service overseas. Key Points about Safety and Security in the Peace CorpsIn matters of safety and security, the Peace Corps makes the following key assumptions: Serving as a Volunteer Involves Safety and Security RisksLiving and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, having a limited understanding of local language and culture, and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assaults do occur. Volunteers Are Expected to Adopt a Culturally Appropriate Lifestyle to Promote Their SafetyBeing a Volunteer requires changes in lifestyle preferences and habits in deference to host country cultural expectations and in order to minimize security risks. Choices in dress, living arrangements, means of travel, entertainment, and companionship may have a direct impact on how Volunteers are viewed, and thus treated, by their communities. Navigating the differences in gender relations may be one of the most sensitive and difficult lessons to learn, but one which could have a direct impact on the Volunteer's safety and the protection provided by the local community. Mature behavior and the exercise of sound judgment will enhance personal safety. Each Peace Corps Post Maintains a Volunteer Safety Support System Designed to Minimize Safety Risks, as Prescribed by Peace Corps PolicyFundamental to the Peace Corps approach to Volunteer safety is the fact that Volunteers can most effectively minimize their safety risks by building respectful relationships with those in their community. The Peace Corps has instituted a broad and systematic approach to increase Volunteers' capacity to keep themselves safe during their two-year service. This approach is based upon several fundamental tenets of Volunteer safety and security, which are outlined below. These include: building relationships, sharing information, training, site development, incident reporting and response, and emergency communications and planning. Building Relationships Is Key to Volunteer SafetyLike the Peace Corps mission, safety and security are predicated on the development of close interpersonal relationships between Volunteers and host-country community members. The agency recognizes that Volunteers' daily safety is, for the most part, best assured when they are well integrated into the local community, valued and protected as extended family members, and viewed as contributors to development. To this end, the Peace Corps strives to build and maintain the support of host country governments, authorities, and local communities for the Peace Corps' presence in country and the work the Volunteers have been requested to perform. The responsibility of Volunteers is to learn the local language and integrate into the host community. Volunteers are expected to build and maintain respectful relationships with sponsoring agency representatives, colleagues, and other community members. These relationships help Volunteers establish a presence in their new homes, pave the way for many work and social opportunities, and become the basis of their new support systems in country. Knowing What to Expect Helps Applicants and Volunteers Make Informed ChoicesThe Peace Corps is committed to providing accurate information about Volunteer service to interested individuals. This information describes the nature and conditions of Peace Corps service; the challenges Volunteers face; the impact that serving in another culture will have on individual lifestyle, comfort, and safety (e.g., living with host families, conservative dress, restrictions on movement and night travel); and the support Volunteers will receive in their respective countries of service. From the moment an applicant is invited to serve in a particular country, specific information about potential challenges is provided from a variety of sources. These challenges often include unwanted attention; harassment; health and safety risks; and cultural behaviors that an American might find offensive, uncomfortable, or threatening. With this information, potential Volunteers can make informed decisions about whether Peace Corps service is right for them and whether they are prepared to live at any site in their host country, where local community members will be their primary support system. Once the Volunteers are in-country, Peace Corps staff will keep them informed of security issues and provide guidance for maintaining their safety and well-being as appropriate. In addition, for the welfare of Volunteers, Peace Corps policy requires that Volunteers report their whereabouts when they travel away from their sites or change residences, and that they obtain Peace Corps authorization if they intend to leave their country of assignment for any reason. On-Going Training Equips Volunteers for a Safe and Productive ServiceThe Peace Corps takes an integrated approach to Volunteer training. Through language, cross-cultural, and health and safety instruction, training is designed to raise the Volunteer's awareness of their new environment, build their capacity to effectively cope with the many challenges they will face, and provide the tools the Volunteers need to adopt a safe and appropriate lifestyle. Volunteers are also instructed in Peace Corps policies and procedures and the Volunteer's responsibility to abide by them. Before reporting to the communities where they will live and work, Volunteers participate in 8-12 weeks of intensive training in their country of service. During pre-service training, Peace Corps typically places Volunteers with local families to aid in cultural integration and language acquisition. This early home-stay experience begins the process of building and maintaining various networks of friends and contacts with host country nationals and fellow Volunteers that will support each Volunteer's efforts for a successful service. The Peace Corps provides this integrated safety training throughout the Volunteer's tour of service to help Volunteers better understand their surroundings, how to cope with unwanted attention, and how to develop personal safety strategies. Volunteer Sites Are Assessed to Meet Safety and Security CriteriaPeace Corps staff in-country are responsible for assessing and approving the communities where Volunteers will live and work to ensure that placements are appropriate and safe and that secure housing and work sites are available. Site selection is based on established safety and security criteria that reflect consideration of site history; access to medical, banking, postal, and other essential services; access to communication, transportation, and local markets; availability of adequate housing and living arrangements; and the potential for obtaining and maintaining the acceptance and consent of host country authorities and the population-at-large. During their service, Volunteers are visited periodically at their sites by Peace Corps program managers and medical staff members to monitor issues related to Volunteers' site assignments. If a Volunteer's safety or well-being is placed at risk or compromised, the Peace Corps staff will try to resolve the situation or move the Volunteer to another location. Peace Corps Responds to Volunteers' Safety ConcernsVolunteers are strongly encouraged and expected to report safety concerns or incidents to the appropriate Peace Corps staff member. Staff members are prepared to provide appropriate medical, emotional, and administrative support as each case warrants. In such cases, Volunteers' need for confidentiality will be respected. The Peace Corps also maintains a collaborative relationship with the U.S. Embassy and host government officials in order to respond to Volunteers' safety and security concerns as they arise. Improvements in safety reporting have allowed the Peace Corps to identify associated risk factors (time of day, location, alcohol use, means of transportation, etc.) and develop strategies to help Volunteers address them. Volunteers are urged to be aware of their environment and to adopt a safe lifestyle and exercise judgment in a manner that reduces their exposure to risks. Emergency Communications and PlanningTypically, Volunteers live and work with community members, at some distance from the Peace Corps office in the capital city. Volunteers are expected to stay in touch with the Peace Corps office on a periodic basis. They are required to report their whereabouts when they travel away from their sites, and are required to receive Peace Corps authorization if they intend to leave the country of assignment for any reason. Although some Volunteers consider notification of movement and regular contact with the Peace Corps office restrictive, it is necessary to ensure that Volunteers can be contacted in case of emergency. The Peace Corps addresses larger security concerns through country-specific Emergency Action Plans (EAP) that are in place in each Peace Corps country. These plans, developed to address such events as natural disasters or civil unrest, set forth the strategies developed by each Peace corps office to prepare for, respond to, and recover from such crises. The plan defines roles and responsibilities for staff and Volunteers, explains standard policies and procedures, and lists emergency contact information for every Volunteer in country. These plans are tested and revised annually. A critical element of the EAP is a comprehensive locator form for each Volunteer, which ensures that Volunteers can be contacted in case of emergency and for important notices. Volunteers receive training about the EAP, are provided a copy of the EAP, and are expected to familiarize themselves with their roles and responsibilities during times of crises. The Peace Corps works very closely with the U.S. Embassy to share information, develop strategies, and coordinate communications in a crisis. If a situation arises in country that poses a potential threat to Volunteers, the Peace Corps will immediately assess the nature of the threat and respond in a manner that ensures the Volunteers' safety and well-being. If the decision is made to evacuate Volunteers from a country, the Peace Corps will commit every resource at hand to safely move each Volunteer and staff member out of harm's way. Although the Peace Corps does not automatically contact family members in all crisis situations the Peace Corps will, in the event of an evacuation, initiate calls to the emergency contact persons each Volunteer has identified. Safe JourneyEvery staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the support they need to successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. We hope that the information provided here will help you gain a sense of these challenges, the changes in attitude and lifestyle that may be required to adapt to a new environment, and the level of support that can be expected from the Peace Corps, local colleagues, and host communities. The success of each Peace Corps Volunteer is our goal. We rely on Volunteers to exercise personal responsibility, demonstrate a keen awareness of the world around them, and a willingness to adjust their behavior in a manner that will enhance their safety and well-being. In the end their efforts will be rewarded with an incredible, unique experience.
STAYING IN TOUCH:
Anyone who has seen a Volunteer open a letter from home knows how much support comes from the families of Volunteers. Keeping in touch during your loved one's two years of service will be important to you both. In fact, families and Volunteers are encouraged to stay in touch with each other. Family members and friends are also welcome to visit a Volunteer overseas.The following basic information covers communicating both on a regular basis and in the case of an emergency.
Letters and PackagesBefore departure, your Volunteer will receive information about you can keep in touch during his or her years of service. The instructions will be tailored to his or her particular country. If you have questions about communicating with your Volunteer, you may call Peace Corps headquarters and ask for the Country Desk. Your instructions will include an address for the initial 10-12 week training period. After training, you likely will receive new mailing instructions from your Volunteer. Please check the guidelines before sending care packages from home. Weight, content, and customs restrictions will apply. There may also be prohibitions against sending food items. You should consider carefully before sending items of great value, too. Please abide by the suggested regulations in order to prevent the loss or delay of items. Keep in mind that another country's postal system may take longer to distribute mail than the United States Postal Service. It is not uncommon for correspondence to take several weeks for delivery. For this reason, you and your Volunteer may want to number any letters you both write to keep track of your correspondence. Phone CallsTelephone systems vary from country to country, and both phone systems and access to a telephone may be different than you are accustomed to in the United States. Volunteers may have a phone in their home, or they may have to place calls from their place of work or a public facility. Other Volunteers make calls from a nearby town or a friend's house. E-mailAccess to e-mail is becoming more common but is far from universal. Your Volunteer may or may not have access to e-mail during his or her service. The reach of the Internet around the world is changing rapidly. In some Peace Corps countries, Internet cafés and computer access are common. In others, they are rare and expensive. Access may vary widely within a country, depending on the nature of a Volunteer's assignment and the community in which the Volunteer lives. Your Volunteer's Welcome Book packet will contain more specific guidance for his or her country of service. Family EmergenciesParents should call Peace Corps' Office of Special Services (OSS) at any time if they need to advise their Volunteer of a critical illness or death of a family member (telephone: 800-424-8580, ext. 2254 or 2256; 24-hour duty officer: 202-638-2574). OSS, in coordination with the attending physician, will determine whether the situation is critical enough to grant the Volunteer special emergency leave, at government expense, for two weeks. Even if the situation does not fall under the guidelines for obtaining special emergency leave, OSS will inform the Country Director so that the information is passed on to the Volunteer as soon as possible. Visiting a VolunteerFamily and friends can make the trip to see a Volunteer in his or her overseas community. Visiting a Peace Corps Volunteer is one of the most exciting ways to see and learn about another country's people, cultures, and traditions. The cost of your vacation travel is your responsibility. The Peace Corps provides two vacation days to Volunteers for every month of service.
AFTER THE PEACE CORPS:
Returned Volunteers (RPCVs) use the skills and experiences they gained overseas to enhance virtually every sector of our society — Congress, the Executive Branch, the Foreign Service, business, finance, trade, health care, and social services.Today more than 168,000 returned Volunteers can be found in every walk of life, and many say their Peace Corps service had a profound impact on their careers. Returned Volunteers possess a high level of confidence, independent judgment, and cross-cultural resourcefulness that are recognized by employers in all professions. RPCVs are also valuable members of their communities and are often asked to speak about their experience living overseas.
Returned Volunteer ServicesThrough Returned Volunteer Services (RVS), the Peace Corps provides career, educational, and transitional assistance to more than 3,500 Volunteers returning to the United States each year. RVS provides free (for two years) to all RPCVs the Hotline newsletter, an employment and educational bulletin that is published twice a month. RVS also makes available various career publications, nationwide services, and informative career workshops. The Peace Corps headquarters and each regional office also house career centers that RPCVs may use for job searching purposes. Returned Volunteer Alumni GroupsRPCVs stay involved through a nationwide network of approximately 140 organizations and Country of Service groups. These organizations can assist newly returned Volunteers with readjustment and job search issues. They provide a ready-made job network of people in different fields. Although RPCV groups are as diverse as the returned Volunteers who organize them, membership gives a sense of shared service and common experience. Community InvolvementThroughout the country, RPCVs stay active in their communities. They are helping build homes for the homeless, delivering food to the needy, and cleaning up parks and highways, for example. Many are serving as mentors and tutors for children, while others are using their language and cross-cultural skills to assist refugees and immigrants. Part of the Peace Corps' mission is to educate Americans back home about the people with whom Volunteers have lived and worked. RPCVs provide first-hand experience to help other Americans understand the nation where they have served. Returned Volunteers are frequently asked to speak at churches, conferences, community group meetings, and other forums about their experiences overseas.
Sorry I've been so terrible at blogging. I've found that with such limited time and availability in the internet cafe's here, it's just easier to write mass emails for now. I've also found that EVERYONE reads eachothers blogs here, so emailing and letter writing is a much more intimate way of communicating things I don't necessarily want to share with the entire world. If you haven't been getting my emails I'm sorry... send me your email addresses and I will add you to my list. I have updated my phone number and address there on the right. That will be my permanent address up in Butha-Buthe for the next 2 years. If you look at the map, it's the northernmost district and my village is RIGHT outside the camptown of Butha Buthe. The volunteer who lived in my house (rondavel/round mut hut) previously told me that the camp-town is about a 15 minute walk from my house, which is phenominally close. I also have a water tap right outside my house, which I'm very thankful for. "BB" is also the home of the ski resort and the national park :) I've been uploading photos onto facebook whenever I get a chance, so visit my facebook page if you get a chance. It is absolutely beautiful here; even the "lowlands" are incredible!.JPG)
