CAQ

So I'm leaving soon. Really soon. I've compiled a list of questions that I get asked alot (which I don't mind...pretty much the only thing I'm capable of talking about right now is the peace corps, so I like the questions, even the repetitive ones).

Commonly Asked Questions:
1. You're still here?!
Yes. I leave this Sunday, February 17th for a two day training session in Philadelphia and will arrive in Bucharest on Thursday.

2. Where are you going?
Romania. Which city, I do not know. The first three months of in-country training will be in Ploiesti (30 miles north of Bucharest).

3. What language do they speak in Romania?
Romanian is the main language and is a romance language, similar to French, Spanish, and Italian.

4. Do you speak Romanian?
Heck no! I wish I did, and I will soon enough (fingers crossed). A huge part of the training is language, something like 5 hours a day. Plus, we'll be training in the country, surrounded by the language being spoken by native speakers, so hopefully it'll be a relatively quick transition. Wish me luck.

5. Did you get to pick where you're going?
Sorta. The Peace Corps is all about balance. You gotta balance your wants and desires and expectations with what you are capable of doing and what, according to the Peace Corps and the countries they serve, needs to be done. If you really want to go to Peru and hike Machu Picchu and become a temporary Peruvian, but have a background in computer science and PC Peru doesn't currently have any CS programs, but nearby Ecuador does, as well as not-so-nearby Moldova, you'll probably wind up in Ecuador. PC looks at the big picture - they realize that the typical volunteer is looking to gain something personal from this experience and envisions a certain background to accompany this experience, whether it's a mud hut in Africa, a rain forest in Brazil, or the vast steppe of Mongolia, but they also have a commitment to the country to fulfill by providing them with volunteers who can apply their previous experience to solve problems and enhance the community in a sustainable way. During the initial application and interview process, PC tries to do this - balance where you want to go with where your skills can best be applied. Lucky for me, there was a program in eastern Europe that I was qualified for and I'm getting to go where I had hoped (yay!) and do what I had hoped (yay!). Also, you don't know exactly which country within the region you'll be serving until you get invited. All I knew for a long time was that I was nominated into an Environmental Youth program in eastern Europe and that my nomination could change at any time. Flexibility and patience will come in handy when dealing with the peace corps.

6. What will you be doing?
My title will be Environmental Youth Adviser. From what I've deduced, it sounds like I'll be working with youth and the community at large to increase awareness on environmental issues via a job with an environmentally involved non profit or non governmental organization. Peace Corps strongly encourages its volunteers to start their own clubs and projects, as well, and one of the most common clubs is an English Club, where attendees learn the ins and outs of our language and culture, because many of the nationalities that PC serves often see English as a beneficial language to know and request that the volunteers tutor them. The key, though, is feeling out your community for a solid year or so to make sure the project you attempt to launch is not only beneficial for your adopted community, but also desired and culturally appropriate. Currently, I have no clue what my job or my project will be like and, according to most PC involved people, it's easier to go in without any set hopes or expectations because 90% of the volunteers wind up doing something that hadn't even crossed their minds prior to being introduced to their site. In short: Other than something environmental, I dunno.

7. Will you be living with a host family?
For the first three months of training and the first month on-site, yes. The host family in Romania is called a Gazda and (though I hate to admit this) I'm a little apprehensive about the whole living-with-strangers thing. Who wouldn't be? Especially after living by myself for the past two years, on my own schedule, with my own dirty dishes and strange cooking smells and obsessively spotless bathroom sink, I like having my own space. It'll be a tough adjustment, but, like all things peace corps, well worth it (or so I've heard). The Gazda will greatly increase my cultural integration and language skills and will ensure that I don't spend all of my time with other American PC volunteers speaking English and doing American things and, with a little bit o' luck, will be made up of awesome people whom I'll form lifelong friendships with. After training, I'll most likely live in a communist-era bloc like apartment by myself or, if in a smaller village, will have to seek out residence with another host family in a house, both of which my organization will help me find and both of which you will be able to ship packages of cookies, books, and caramel lattes to. Yes, you.

8. How long will you be gone?
27 months - three months of training, followed by two years of service.

9. Can you come back for a visit?
Yep, but the cost is up to me and wouldn't it be more exciting if you came to visit me instead? I think so. I can't have any visitors or go out of the country (unless an emergency arises) for the first nine months, though, to facilitate integration.

10. Do you get paid?
There are two general ways that volunteers receive money. 1. A monthly living allowance, which is equivalent to a local school teacher's salary and 2. A $6,000 readjustment payment, which is issued after successfully completing service and will come in handy when once again establishing life in the US. Also, PC provides volunteers with health insurance and with one flight to and from their country of service. Of all international volunteer opportunities I've looked into, this is the only one that actually pays you instead of you having to pay them and pay for your flights, which is a huge bonus.

11. Do you need a college degree?
No! Everybody's really shocked when they hear that. It does increase your chances of acceptance, but if you have a solid work or volunteer background in one of peace corps' focus areas, you will be considered just as thoroughly as a new college grad with little or no experience. The only requirements are that you are at least 18 years old and a US citizen. There is no upper age limit and PC is pushing to get more retirees involved because, let's face it, they have all the experience while us fresh faced young-ins pretend/try to know what we're talking about. There are benefits and drawbacks in both the young and the old volunteer and PC is going for a thoroughly diverse pool of applicants to fish from, so if it's crossed your mind, don't let the lack of a degree keep you from taking the plunge.

12. Ask away and I'll respond. I can think of a dozen more questions, but I can only type coherently for so many hours and you probably dozed off back at "caramel lattes", so it's bed time.