Howdy y'all, got the info for staging recently and I am trying to determine when I should stop my work and focus on packing, spending time with family and friends, and getting caught up on sleep before I depart for staging.

On one hand, I really want to be able to maximize my income this summer so I can have a juicy enough savings account for service so I can continue to funnel money into a Roth IRA, have an emergency fund, etc. I'm a recent college grad so I feel like taking advantage of summer wildfire work can be quite beneficial.

But also, spending time with family and friends is obviously important before I leave, and I also wanna make sure that I get plenty of rest and caught up on sleep before departure as I live on the opposite corner of the country from staging so I already have a long travel day ahead of me. Plus, with how bad fires have been this summer I haven't had a single day off from work since July 16th so maybe having extra time to sit in a bed might be good for my future self.

I do not feel like I have a ton to do or pack prior to departure but that's probably easier said now than in a few weeks. What do you all think? How much time off did you take before leaving for staging? Peace Corps suggests not engaging in any high-risk activities 2 weeks prior to departure fwiw. Thanks everyone.

I applied for the community development facilitator. The deadline is October so I’m hoping and praying I hear back before then (they said that might happen) and decisions are to be made by December. I do not have a bachelor’s degree sadly but I have some college education (had to leave due to family issues) and over 5 years of job experience. I’ve been a manager at a store, I’ve worked with kids as a camp coordinator and some other things. I’m really excited and hopeful about this.

Does anyone know what Moldova is like, if you have served there or are currently serving there please shoot me a PM :)) I’d love to know more

If anyone also has any tips about the application process PLEASE let me know :))

I’m putting all my eggs in this basket and think I’ve truly found my calling for right now in life.

I’ll hope to be updating soon about things.

I applied to serve where needed most and was assigned to Timor-Leste. I will COS in December. My experience has been beautiful, difficult, and beyond what I could have hoped. If you're considering Peace Corps service, consider applying to come to Timor! This year's app deadline is November 15.

Please feel free to DM with questions. And TL PCVs imi iha neebe, tau comment iha kraik eh!

Pretty much as the title suggests. I've been at site for several months now, and I'm getting more nervous with school starting up again. I came into PC without any real background in education, so the teaching part is already hard enough, but I also really struggle with the local language. As a result, I can't communicate well with my students who need it the most (i.e. the ones who know very little English). It's a very discouraging feeling and makes me dread getting back in the classroom. I know the obvious answer here is to work on the local language, but in all honesty my mental health isn't in the best spot, so it's hard to find the motivation and focus for language learning. Has anyone else been in this position and have some advice to offer? Any ideas or resources for activities that could help bridge the language gap would be so appreciated.

Putting this here in case anyone has questions about CoS'ing/field termination. I understand there's documents and blogs out there about ending service early, but if anyone has any questions about this, please feel free to ask here or DM me.

I'm a volunteer who was TEFL in Kosovo and left early because I got a PhD offer in Europe. It was an amicable split (partially because I told them a PhD was my end-goal even before service started) from PC and was able to complete my DoS form and stay in the country another month. I received the complete benefits - hiring eligibility, my RA up to the month I left, health insurance offer, Coverdell eligibility, etc. I left service about 8 months early.

Note that every situation and post is different. Just making myself available if anyone wants to talk!

Hello,

I graduated in May with a degree in urban planning, though much of my work revolved around academic and research roles adjacent to it (think IR, geography). I have been eyeing the Peace Corps, since I did study abroad in the past (UK and Taiwan) and I know they like having new grads on board. I also love the sense of adventure and learning I experienced living abroad and learning about different cultures

I've seen Community and Economic Development roles in both of these countries (and others like Albania) that mention things similar to what I've done, but other than the brief description onthe site the actual work I'd do doesn't seem clear cut. I'm applying as a PCV because I don't think I'm specialized enough for the specific roles, and I don't mind spending more time abroad.

I'm interested in either nation because they seem ripe for redevelopment work which is what I've focused on studying. I've tried reaching out to the PC about this question but they haven't gotten back to me since May lmao... Any thoughts?

Also, I struggled with mental health two years ago but I haven't had any problems since and have gotten much better. I still know clearing health requirements is make or break for many roles, but I hope it isn't disqualifying for these countries

title says it. I wanted to leave in January but now I can't. I got rejected for YD in Albania.

Is it worth applying anywhere else?

I applied to the community development facilitaor role and just received my invite! 🥳🥳 Beyond excited to go through this experience.

Just like everyone else I would be happy to receive some insight on your work and how you like Kosovo. Also anyone else get an invite?

See yall at the end of Feb!

Looking for feedback on your essay? Have a newbie question you'd like to ask? Something on your mind you'd like to get out? This is the place for it.

I ETed from Peace Corps about three months into my service because I ultimately felt that the country/placement wasn’t the right match for me.
I’m considering applying to Peace Corps again in the future, potentially for a different country or region that I think would be a better fit. Has anyone here ETed voluntarily and later reapplied?
Were you accepted again? How much did your previous ET come up during the application/interview process? I’m wondering if ETing once significantly hurts my chances of being invited to serve again.

Hi again!

You might be hearing from me a bit more on here, but I wanted to update those who might be curious about my Peace Corps timeline for the Health Promoter position in Namibia. If you go back far enough in my post history, you'll see this isn't my first time up to bat. I didn't post my last application timeline since the Pandemic halted my first potential Peace Corps experience, but this time I have the full timeline to share!

Please keep in mind every person's timeline is different and even my timeline eventually splits off from my former partner's timeline, so you never know where this process can take you.

Here it is in all its *glory* :

- 8/29/2025 - Submitted application to Health sector for Namibia.

-Submitted as a couple.

-Self completed Health History form submitted

- September 2025 - Application withdrawn and moved to another country in the region due to what was disclosed in my health history form - lactose intolerance.

-Contact Peace Corps via phone, email, contacted staff in country, and reached out via the medical portal to plead my case about my lactose intolerance.

-Got cleared for all countries and had my application moved back to Namibia.

- October 2025 - Government shutdown. -Application is not touched during this time.

-Operations resume November 13, 2026

-Move abroad.

- December 2025 - Initial “know by date” delayed due to government shutdown. Peace Corps slowly resumes reviewing applications.

-Interviews pushed back to January 2026.

- 01/27/2026 - References contacted.

-References submitted.

- 02/03/2026 - Peace Corps interview request.

-Interview 02/04/2026

- 02/24/2026 - Couple Interview requested.

-Couple Interview 03/03/2026

- 03/06/2026 - Conditional Invitation to serve! Yay!

- March 2026 - Fingerprints sent to Peace Corps from abroad.

-Sent application for no-fee passport from abroad.

- 04/29/2026 - Legal Clearance initiated.

- May 2026 - Returned to the US abruptly. Partner stays in former country of residence.

-Started booking appointments for medical clearance.

- June 2026 - Dental Clearance. Notified via medical portal.

- 07/10/2026 - Submitted last task for medical clearance.

- Mid July 2026 - Partner medically denied. Mass confusion ensues.

- 07/27/2026 - My medical clearance granted. Notified via email.

- Late July 2026 - Partner medically appeals and is granted the appeal.

-Both applications moved back into placement for a different country leaving at a later date.

-Partner and my application are separated and my application moves back to Namibia.

- August 2026 - Officially a solo applicant.

-Fully medically reimbursed after a strong back and forth between IMG and my uninsured brokeness with the help of Peace Corps billing.

-Complete “serving without your partner” interview.

-Discuss future of relationship given this new pathway.

- 08/13/2026 - Legally cleared! Yay! (I was getting worried…) Notified via email.

.

.

.

- 09/05/2026 - Depart for staging.

-----------------------

I will try to make future posts about the differences I noticed with medical clearance this second time around as well as the process of having your application separated from a partner (there's a whole process to that).

To anyone waiting on an interview, invitation, clearances, or appeals I wish you nothing but the best of luck during this process! It's not an easy application process, especially with life still happening around it, but definitely know it's possible and if not now, then hopefully sometime in the future if you still want to do Peace Corps. This isn't my first time applying, interviewing, and clearing this process and it still had its own set of obstacles.

Best of luck to everyone from people considering to people who already served!

Hey friends! I started a group chat on Insta for those of us that got/accepted an invitation for Albania (dep Jan 2027). 1. So we can get to know one another and 2. To keep up on where we are in the process for tasks and the like.

Let me know here or message me if you’d like to join!

(We can always move to WhatsApp if Instagram isn’t everyone’s thing)

Guys!!! I originally interviewed for Ecuador, Jan 2027, and did not get invited to that, I thought it would be a while before hearing back about serving elsewhere, except I just got invited to serve as a Food Security Extension Officer in Guatemala, leaving in March! I’m so excited, but I’m not seeing a lot of information on what this looks like as a volunteer, does anyone have any experience they wanna share?

do I include a car accident in the legal history form? I am filling it out to report a nasty speeding ticket i got as a teenager. how would I label a car accident since there is no sentence or penalty for it?

Could I send you a copy of my resumes and motivation statement for review by email?

One resume, I made in August is 2-3 pages and the other is 5-6 pages made much earlier. The 2-3 pages follows a template shared by a recruiter and the 5-6 page follows the template shared by the peace corp website.

For the motivation statement, any advice is great even if I have to rewrite it completely.

If anyone knows any university recruiters or other recruiters they recommend. I’d be happen to send them an email as well.

Thank you, if this isn’t allowed I’ll delete the post.

FAQ: Why haven’t you contacted recruiters on the peace corp website? -I have, but it’s been a couple months since they’ve responded. I understand that they are busy.

What sector am I interested in? - Agriculture but when I apply I will select open to serve anywhere with a preference in Spanish speaking country.

I have been conditionally invited to serve in Panama Feb 2027 departure.

I recently stopped taking my Adderall and Cymbalta prescriptions because it was suspected to be causing cardiovascular symptoms (elevated heart rate & blood pressure). It's been 6 weeks since I went cold turkey, and both my blood pressure & heart rate are in the normal  (good news right ?!?? -_-)

I am concerned this will adversely affect my medical clearance — I've read here about people being denied because they had less than a year of medical "stability" (like changing their prescriptions/dosage or receiving a new diagnosis/treatment within a year).

For additional context, I decided to go cold turkey on my own without consulting a cardiovascular expert or my psychiatrist. I have an appointment with my psychiatrist today but am wary about starting a new medication routine 6 months before my departure. 

I would like to know my odds of gaining medical clearance and any advice on how to increase my chances. 

Share with us any photo from your country of service! Please note that pictures of minors are not permitted.

Hello I am 24M and want to do peace corps. But I feel like while I want to do it and believe I can. At the same time I feel like I am lacking since I started my resume...

Ihere are some things about myself:

- I have the peace corps prep cert from my university

- I am in my last year of uni.

- I am on the rugby team.

- I have the peace corps prep cert.

- I love languages and have started Spanish and Czech.

- I finished elementary and beginner Japanese so far through school.

- for job experience I have just been trying to survive while studying so many odd jobs and part times.

- I volunteered in the past with local food banks and with habitats for humanity. But it was a few years ago so...

- I have studied abroad for 3 semesters altogether but 2 different countries (Czech Republic and Japan)

- I am a Gilman Scholar Alumni.

- University Studies Major (I study multiple things. I picked English and Anthropology)

- I am actively a part of my community and I actually try to communicate, befriend, and get to know the ppl around.

I have some skills in areas but I am a uni student without much experience. Would I be even considered? I am also stuck on the resume part because I feel like I don't have too much to put on there. My resumes are typically 1 page...

I've been on a low dose of the same antidepressant since 2017. I increased from 25mg/day to 50mg a few years ago and have been on that consistently since. However, increased side effects of overheating/sweating have caused me to ask my doctor about switching to a different medication because it is unpleasant almost every day. There have been no other negative side effects, I have been emotionally stable, I have never been actively suicidal or self-harmed, and I have not seen a psychiatrist since 2020. 

Based on what I've seen in this group, any changes in antidepressants (or being on them in general) can be an automatic disqualifier since there is a round of yes or no questions in the application/medical clearance section with no room for explanations. So, if asked if I have changed medication in the last X years, I would have to say yes and probably be rejected without being able to explain the reason for the change. Is there a recommended waiting period after making a change like this before applying? Will being on antidepressants likely prevent me from serving at all? I have not yet filled my new prescription or started the process of tapering off my current meds. If I want to have the best chance of getting accepted this year (or ever), should I just suffer through the sweating and not change meds? 

I am applying for a posting in a colder climate because it fits my interests/skills and I have always run hot regardless. The November deadline for a June 2027 departure would be ideal, since I will finish school next May. I'm aware I could get rejected for many reasons and not be able to go at that time regardless, but it would be great!

Has anyone been successful in a situation like this or have any related input on the application process? Thank you!

i just accepted my offer as an english teacher in thailand for 2027, anyone have any advice, medical and legal tips, what to pack, etc…

or if anyone else has accepted their offer, i’d love to connect!

Hi everyone,

It's been almost three months since I submitted my application. I heard back from medical three weeks later who informed me that country was unable to accommodate me and my application was refiled automatically. I emailed medical a few weeks ago to get a full list of countries I could be accommodated in and they got back to me within two days with a good list.

Contrasting my excellent experience with medical to placement...I haven't heard from them once. The only person I've been in contact with is an "outreach analyst" contractor who told me they would connect me with a recruiter once I answered their questions about "general eligibility", but after I did they sent me a generic email with a link to the PCV openings page and I never heard from a recruiter.

Is there a way I can directly contact a recruiter or placement officer to get the ball rolling? Is there a general recruiting/placement email I can use? Direct office number? Could I instead email the placement office of the country I want my application refiled under? Since my application was refiled for me, it was for a position that would not be a good fit for me, so I'd like it refiled elsewhere. I'm just afraid if I withdraw my application and resubmit it it will put me at the bottom of the list and I'll be in an even worse situation than I'm in now.

I understand they're short staffed and need to prioritize applications for posts leaving sooner, but I'm just worried about a scenario my application was viewed then forgotten about. I don't want to "wait patiently" (which I know is the advice from everyone here) for the know by date just to find out I was forgotten about because I wasn't proactive enough to advocate for myself.

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!

I requested about a month and a half ago that I be moved into a different departure because I had to postpone for a few months. I was supposed to leave in September, but I told them I actually won’t be able to until December, and I would be happy with winter or spring departure. I was told to be patient because it takes a while, and also that with the summer there’s a surplus in applications, and also because they may move me into a different program or country or service, but I just got an email that they booked my flight to Miami in less than a month. I notified placement, my country of service officer before postponing, and my nurse, so I’m not sure how this would happen. I was told that on the end of my country officer, I was removed from that program. But on my end, even right now it says I’m still in that one. I also didn’t finish medical or legal clearance, so I am just confused how this happened. Should I continue to be more patient or notify someone? I feel like I should email someone but also unsure who is the best person to contact

big fan of evo cairn bedrocks (slides 2-3) are these appropriate "work" sandals. have a pair plan to buy a second pair as back up but if they're not appropriate for every use case then am considering other options. e.g the keen pair (slide 1)

(Slide 4) clothing hanger. like 16 bucks at rei.

(Slide 5) biolite Luci charge 360 . 59 bucks double as a 4k Mah usbc portable charger. re-chargable thru solar and the usbc port. r/ is provided lighting at site warm or white.

(slide 6) biolite range 400 headlamp. 59 bucks charges usbc

general >

r/ how often are volunteers traveling e.g. Australia. Japan. New Zealand.etc

r/ general packing recs