Episodes

This episode is something a little different. Today, I talk about calling your friends and family in your community of service once you become an RPCV.

Almost every time I do an interview with a Peace Corps volunteer, I end up wanting to travel to their country of service. Corey Jacobson's interview was one of those interviews. We talk about the general sense of adventure that Peace Corps offers, the climate and culture of Azerbaijan, about his numerous projects, and much more. Sevindirir!

Sena Woldetensay wanted to serve in the Peace Corps since middle school. Born in Ethiopia, she originally had her sights set on Latin America, but when an earthquake changed her plans a month before she was to leave for Ecuador, Sena was reassigned to Zambia. We talk about village weddings, poaching, and serving in Africa as an African volunteer.

"I worked with another PCV to train Nazmi Rushiti's team for Model UN Albania. Our team represented Burkina Faso. I worked on a side project of trying to start a community radio station for Peshkopi and our local region. There had been attempts at a similar idea before me, and there were several residents and many students very interested in the project, but we did not succeed in getting together a Board of Directors willing and able to stick with it."

Weather is often a notable aspect of a volunteer's Peace Corps service. From snow to rain to lack-there-of, precipitation shapes the life of a volunteer and the communities they call home for two years. For Chris Maxwell-Gaines, weather continues to shape his life. On this week's episode, we learn about Chris's service in Suriname, his work with rain collection and water access, and how his service helped create his career.

John W. Bing served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Afghanistan from 1964 to 1967 as an English teacher. Afterwards he worked on the Peace Corps staff in Afghanistan (1967), and at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, D.C., as Regional Training Officer for the Middle East (1967-1968).

Looking for something to fill her time this past winter, as her fellow teachers in Kosovo were on strike, Gina Larson turned to Instagram. Rather than opting to fill her time with endless scrolling, she decided to create @artistofpeacecorps. Through her awesome micro blog, Gina shares art created by volunteers and the local artists in communities where volunteers serve.

Photos from Betsy’s Service Elizabeth (Betsy) Gallery’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? Nkongsamba, East Cameroun 1963 What is one of your favorite Peace Corps memories? Seeing the tiny gazelle eating from our salad dishes in Yaounde where I spent some time with a French boyfriend. And […]

Serving as a volunteer provides numerous unforeseen challenges and is a job that requires you to be "at work" 24/7. For even the most outgoing of volunteers, this can become tiring. For those who consider themselves introverts, it can leave you utterly drained. Yet, Kate Martin, a self-described introvert, had an amazing service, despite the pull to always be out in her community. It all comes down to knowing how to make your service yours and working within your personality and skill set.

NICA Ceramic Art was born out of the Peace Corps experience of founder Paul H. Devoti in the indigenous pottery pueblo of San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua. NICA Ceramic Art’s mission is to expose the world to the ceramic art work of the master artisans of the pueblo as well as the Nicoyan Indian heritage […]

Toward the end of my service, I was made queen mother of development (Nkosuahemaa) in my village. It was an amazing day full of music, speeches, parading through the village & celebrations. I was given a beautiful piece of kente cloth that probably weighed ten pounds & wore it throughout the day. It was just such a beautiful culmination to my service with so many people in my community who I loved.

Photos from Mark’s Service Mark Bryson’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? I served in Jamaica from March of 2010 till June of 2013 as a volunteer in the Green Initiative Sector. I was partnered with the Ewarton Community Development Action Committee (ECODAC) in Ewarton , St. […]

Adam’s desire to help others led him to the Peace Corps where he served as a business advisor in Moldova. While serving, he began building websites for the local governments and small businesses he worked with. Adam saw an opportunity to start a full-service creative agency. In 2016, he formed Enspire which has grown to a dynamic 11-member team of Moldovans and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers dedicated to creating unique value for their customers. Recently returned from Moldova, we talk about Ad...

Photos from Deborah’s Service Deborah Moskovitz’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? I served with the Peace Corps in Concepcion, Intibuca, Honduras 1992-1994, as an Agricultural Extension Volunteer. We had a longer training of five months, because we had to learn Spanish, cross cultural training, and soil conservation […]

On November 17, 2018, the Kentucky Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and University of Kentucky’s Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce, with a grant from the National Peace Corps Association, held a day-long event centered around international experiences. This episode comes from audio recorded during that event.

Working with a non-government funded organization (NGO) I worked closely with the youth of my community creating sustainable projects primarily centered around eco-awareness and the arts. My secondary projects included an after school program that bridged the gaps between American and Macedonian culture, facilitating courses on college prep or the importance of volunteering, and co-lead the National English Essay Challenge (NEEC).

"I miss my family and friends. I miss the food. I miss the ease of walking everywhere and the accessibility to cross-country transportation. I miss my healthy lifestyle. Feeling free and like I could do anything. Having no bills to worry about." - Kelly Branyik, RPCV China

I hope you had a great 2018 and have an even more amazing 2019. You'll be hearing from me in February. Until then, I wish you the very best and want you to remember that every volunteer has a story. What's yours?

Volunteers tell stories of celebrating with newly found family and friends in their community, sharing large meals with fellow volunteers, and crafting makeshift Christmas trees from Styrofoam packing material.

Michelle Claus didn't go into Peace Corps expecting to have a pet, but after her house was broken into she thought getting a dog would be a good idea. You know, for security. But, she'd only have her dog during service. She wasn't going to bring him home. Yet, Sipi had other plans...

Photo’s from Craig’s Story Craig Hahn’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? Moldova 2011 Teaching health (preventative) education. What is one of your favorite Peace Corps memories? Working with the children at the orphanage for those with tuberculosis. What is one of your least favorite Peace Corps memories? […]

We served in Jamaica 2012-14. Michelle did literacy tutoring at a rural primary school while Jedd helped start up a brand new community center in town and taught basic computer classes to senior citizens.

Chris Norris’s Peace Corps Story Where and when did you serve? What did you do? Costa Rica, 2009-2011, Youth and Economic Development – taught business classes to teens and adults, taught English, did multi-use court infrastructure project, soccer tournament, wrote grant to build computer lab and get computers in high school. What is one of […]

Stephen McBay and Kevin Ryterski served as Community Economic Development volunteers in Paraguay. After their service, they found a way to continue to serve. Through their company Artezanz, they are working with the Artisan Community, both established and up and coming, to create an online marketplace where global goods can be made available to anyone. Kevin and Stephan give the artisan direct access to the site, so they can remove the need for a middleman and sell their products directly to you...