You just arrived at your new Peace Corps site. You will be there for the next two years. This is a new experience. You look around. Everybody is looking back at you. Suddenly you realize that you’re not just visiting. As a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), you are noticed. They are very curious about you.…
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At times, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) can get so wrapped up in your Peace Corps service that creative mealtime is low on the priority list. We sometimes eat whatever is quick and available. You don’t realize that foodie games could enhance your time in service. But they can. Food is the ultimate cross-cultural bridge. Meals…
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Dear Peace Corps Volunteers, No one understand the uniqueness or challenges of Peace Corps service better than Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs). When we noticed your confusion on all the terms and acronyms across our website, we created the RPCV Lingo Glossary. We know there are some health-related things that you are experiencing or wondered…
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Ask any Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV) what the hardest part of their service was. You will typically hear a variety of answers around dysentery, language barriers, culture shock, participation, or homesickness. But what comes up often in second place is mind-numbing boredom. Before becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV), you expected your days to…
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At some point during your two years of Peace Corps service, you may wonder if your efforts matter. It might be during the mid-service slump. Or, it is on a random Tuesday afternoon during the rainy season. Are you sitting in your hut swatting bugs and looking at a half-finished project proposal? Your host country…
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Food safety matters. Following a few practical food safety tips can be the difference. It is not always quick and easy for Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) to get medical help during service. Sometimes we are posted at sites where the nearest clinic is hours away. Wouldn’t you rather focus on the work instead of running…
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Are you applying to serve in the Peace Corps? And, do you want to know about the health risks of a country you are interested in? Or, are you a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) who wants to stay as healthy as possible during your time in service? Do you want to keep up on your…
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Too many Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) develop dental problems during service. Some of us didn’t adjust enough for the conditions and expectations of service. Some PCVs let good oral care habits slide. Following the normal dental care routing from the USA may not be enough in your host country. And, don’t expect easy direct access…
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Following your regular dental routine from the USA may not be enough to ward off dental problems during Peace Corps service. In the USA, we have access to Fluoride in the drinking water and in oral care products. This may not be the case during service. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) often serve in countries with…
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There is a culture of food when cooking and eating with other Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). There are also common basic expectations when you are cooking and eating with other PCVs in country. You may each have your preferences. You don’t stand on ceremony. But you still need to work together to have a great…
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