From: Meg Harris  <meg-AT-rdsinc.com>
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1998 10:39:05
Subject: RE: What about the peace corps?


Michael,
I was a Peace Corps volunteer.  Don't know if that makes me an "expert" but I can certainly tell you a thing or two.  I was in Uruguay and my experience was not very good.  I had hoped to go to a developing nation but ended up in a fairly developed place.  I lived in a relatively large city in an apartment complex.  Uruguay really didn't need PCVs and when I expressed my frustration at the lack of daily, weekly or monthly focus I had there I was told by the country director that PC Uruguay was simple a diplomatic mission.  On the other hand, I have friends who have had great experiences both professionally and personally.  It does seem that most volunteers get more out of the experience personally than they can give.  Going to a new community as a young, twenty-something year old and thinking that you're going to make big changes is not the attitude to have.  If you are interested in international service, it's a great way to get 2-3 years of foreign living and language under your belt.  If you plan a career in foreign service, these years count as in service years for the US gov't.  It's hard to be picky about the country they assign you because turning down your country assignment can mean long waits for the next assignment.  Sometimes the country assignments seem arbitrary.  I was sent to Latin America because I had two years of high school Spanish.  No one asked if I remembered ANY of that Spanish!

The most important factor to a good experience is how the program is run by the PC director.  The focus of the director and the establishment of the program in the country dictates respect from locals, developed infrastructure and an ability to work with host country nationals.  Newer programs, such as Uruguay's, don't have these key success factors and it really inhibits the volunteer's ability to work in the country.  One thing you will definitely learn from being a PCV is how the US government works, or perhaps I should say doesn't work.  The bureaucracy is incredible!

Good Luck.

Meg

----------
From: 	Michael Prinz
Sent: 	Tuesday, October 06, 1998 10:56 PM
To: 	third-world-women-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu; Meg Harris (meg_harris-AT-rdsinc.com)
Subject: 	What about the peace corps?

To who ever knows more about this than I do,

I am a recent undergrad (minor in Women's Studies) and have taken a special interest in third world politics, especially involving thrid world women.  I consider my heritage third world (Native American) and wonder what "the experts" think of the Peace Corps.  I am currently trying to decide if its the right thing for me to do but I am strongly concerned about the issues of cultural imperialism and not wanting to perpetuate the disempowerment of third world peoples.  What are your opinions of the Peace Corps?  I would love to hear from anyone with an opinion.  Thank You

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Meg Harris
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