US Peace Corps - A Personal Story

When I asked Robyn Correll to tell a little about herself, she said:

"That's a loaded question. Haha. I guess the easy answer is I'm a 23 year old Peace Corps health volunteer from Minneapolis working in the northern coast of Peru."

Expats Guide: What made you decide to search for international volunteer programs ?

Robyn: There are a lot of reasons I decided to look for volunteer work overseas; no one really carrying more weight that the others. I didn't really quite know what I wanted to do after college, but I figured doing service work was a step in the right direction. I recognize the blessings and luck I have in my life being from the U.S. and getting a college education. I had this great opportunity to help out in some way. Once I realized that, I didn't really want to do anything else.

Expats Guide: Why did you choose the US Peace Corps?

Robyn: In college I had the opportunity to meet several returned PC volunteers. All of them had an energy and spark about them, with great stories and a generosity that amazed me. Every single one of them told it was the best thing they had ever done. I had looked into other service programs, talking to overseas volunteers from other organizations, and none of them left the same impression. The rave reviews on US Peace Corps sold me.

Expats Guide: What is the US Peace Corps looking for in a volunteer? Can anyone join? What is the process? Do you need to go through Exams, Health check-up, and psychological evaluation? For how long are you expected to volunteer?

Robyn: I'm only one person, and I do not, in any way, serve as a spokesperson for the US Peace Corps. But I think PC looks for people who are open-minded and adaptable, seeking an opportunity to put their skills to good use for developing countries, who has initiative and patience. US Peace Corps really isn't for everyone. It's very much a roller coaster, where the high times are high, but the low times are incredibly low. It's not something you just wake up one day and decide to do the next.

Which is probably why it's such a long process. You start with a lengthy application, followed by an interview. There's an extensive medical and dental exam plus a criminal background check. Some applicants are asked to beef up their resume in the programs they preference to give them an extra edge for the placement committee. The application process, alone, is demanding. But if you can stick through it, you're a little more likely to stick through the full 27 months of service.

Expats Guide: What made you choose the health program over other US Peace Corps programs?

Robyn: In US Peace Corps you preference the program where you want to serve, and the placement committee places you based on your experience and demonstrated interest (i.e. your resume). I've always had an interest in health and decided on the program after looking through the different types of projects they did. In Latin America, there's a strong need for work in water-borne illnesses, malnutrition, malaria and HIV. I wanted to help.

Expats Guide: Did you get to choose in which country to volunteer or was it decided for you by the US Peace Corps?

Robyn: US Peace Corps decided. Applicants are allowed to list their preference of region (Latin America, Caribbean, South East Asia, Eastern Europe or Africa). But US Peace Corps places you based on need and your skill set. Once I received my placement in Peru, however, I was allowed to look over the information. If I didn't feel comfortable with what they had chosen for me, I was allowed to deny it and request another placement.

Expats Guide: Was it difficult adjusting to expatriate life? How did you adjust to the food, language, culture, climate, and nature?

Robyn: It was difficult but not always in the ways I expected. Language, of course, is a constant hurdle. Even now, nearly a year into my time here, I still feel myself tripping over words sometimes. The food is tasty but carb-heavy, and a lot of female volunteers in Peru gain weight during their service. In Peruvian culture, it's not hurtful to tell someone they've gotten fatter, so you're getting constantly reminded of something that you'd rather ignore. You build a thick skin and look at it with a less sensitive eye. But it's not that easy to get used to.

Another cultural obstacle is punctuality. Very rarely does a meeting, party, workshop - anything really - start on time. It's hard for an American who sees punctuality as a sign of respect. For Peruvians, it's not like that. My mayor once was an hour and a half late for a meeting because he felt like taking a dip in the river. It was frustrating at first, but after awhile, you just have to hang your head and laugh. And bring a book.

As far as the climate and nature, they're both beautiful. With the exception of a very wet rainy season, I live in paradise.

Expats Guide: Tell us a little about your volunteering job in Peru? What is the daily routine?

Robyn: If a daily routine exists in Peace Corps Peru, I haven't found it yet. I work with several different organizations in my town of about 3,000, putting together and maintaining projects ranging from HIV to hand-washing.

My mornings are usually spent running around, meeting with my various counterparts in the community, writing documents (they LOVE paperwork here!) and preparing for educational sessions or workshops.

I'm ashamed to say my afternoons are pretty lazy. The sun and heat are intense here, and very few people work in the afternoon, which makes it harder for me to get much done. Those days, I work on building relationships with people in the community or relaxing with my host family in the hammock.

My weekends are usually spent meeting with my youth health promoters or teen groups and putting together movie nights. Never a dull moment.

Expats Guide: How many volunteers are there, and do you have social gathering? What do you do in your spare time?

Robyn: There are roughly 150 volunteers in Peru. I live in a very small department where there are only 7 of us working within fairly close proximity. Once a month we have a meeting with our regional coordinator in the regional capital, and every once in a while we work collaboratively on projects.

The time I have for myself is usually later in the evening after dinner until I go to bed. In these hours I read, write letters, talk with other US Peace Corps volunteers on the phone or watch movies on the laptop I've brought with me.

Expats Guide: How does the local community accept you?

Robyn: Whole-heartedly. I feel very fortunate to have been embraced by my community and have never once felt unwanted. I know that I will never be one of them, but people really go out of their way to talk to me, ask me questions and invite me to things.

Expats Guide: Do you have any suggestions for future US Peace Corps volunteers? Is there something you wish you knew before you came to Peru?

Robyn: Any suggestions? Oh, thousands.

Emotionally speaking, I would advise that volunteers make sure they take time for themselves. So many people get down on themselves for not saving the world every second of their service. But moving to a new place - where you're different, where you don't have the culture engrained in you, where you're far from anything that makes you comfortable and the support system you've built for yourself - is hard. And you have to give yourself a break.

Work-wise, I would tell them that it's easy to ride in hiking backpack and idealism blazing and build something, like latrines or a school. But it's harder to make actual sustainable and effective change, like hand-washing or good nutrition. Some things aren't going to work out. And that's ok. It doesn't mean you suck as a volunteer or you're failing; it just means you have to try something different. Try the best you can, and don't take things personally. Many people are just grateful that you've come so far to be with them and try.

Physically, be sure to bring pants that fit you and peanut butter. You never know if you'll find either in the country where you're living.

Expats Guide: Would you do this again?

Robyn: In a heartbeat.

Expats Guide: Thank You so much for taking the time to share with us your volunteering overseas experience. I am sure many can learn from it and follow your footsteps.

If you like to read more about Robyn's US peace corps volunterring adventure, you are welcome to visit her blog Robyn's in Peru.