TravelingEv
Armenia,
Female, 27
I live and work in Armenia as a computer teacher at a college in one of the regions (not the modern capital city). Peace Corps service is a 27 month commitment in a 3rd world or developing country. I teach computer teachers and students about basic computer maintenance; I also teach software programs like Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, Photoshop, and CorelDraw. Everything I do--from teaching, buying food, visiting friends--is done in Armenian, which I learned since I arrived in country.
When you apply for Peace Corps, you can state a country or region of preference, but there are no guarantees that you will end up there. It depends on your work experience and abilities, and what the country is looking for--if the two match up, you are more likely to get your preference. Sometimes it also depends on your ability to already speak the language, although that doesn't guarantee anything. I did not choose to come to Armenia, and originally I was nominated to go to a South American country. But during the application process, I was eventually assigned to Armenia, which is a country I knew barely anything about. I was open to going anywhere, though, so it wasn't a big deal to me. I was just looking for a different cultural experience than what I could get at home in the U.S. So although it wasn't my first choice, I was flexible, and now am glad to be here.
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Peace Corps volunteers (PCVs) are given a monthly stipend that has been carefully calculated to cover all necessary expenses. The amount varies from country to country, and even from region to region in the same country. It also changes depending on the season. For example, I live in a town, so the amount I am given for rent (my housing allowance) is higher than those who live in a village, but less than those who live in a city. I also live in a place that gets very cold in the winter, so the amount I receive for utilities is increased in the winter months. All PCVs in Armenia are given a travel allowance that covers one round-trip travel to the capital every two months. Again, depending on where they live and how much it costs to get to the capital, that amount varies. If I choose to get tutoring in the language (and I do), there is a pool of money from which I can get reimbursed for that. Once that money runs out, I can no longer get reimbursed--but if you are careful with how much you pay your tutor, the amount of money is sufficient for 2 years. Finally, some PCVs are able to live comfortably off their monthly allowance, if they are thrifty and watch where their money goes. Other PCVs find themselves broke at the end of every month and sometimes supplement with savings from home.
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Yes. Peace Corps calculates what you should be spending on utilities, food, etc., and pays you accordingly, but ultimately, all the money you earn each month is your own, to spend how you like. If you don't spend all the money they give you, you will still have that money to spend later. Some people end up spending all their money each month, and other people are better at saving, and end up with a sum of money in their bank accounts at the end of their service, to take with them when they leave Peace Corps.
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I have been to Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Germany, Estonia, France, Switzerland, Italy, Portugal, Ukraine, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Armenia, and Georgia. Some of these countries I haven't explored a whole lot yet, and there are many more I'd still like to see. But out of this list, I would choose Portugal, New Zealand, and Italy.
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I don't think anyone in my family was surprised that I decided to join the Peace Corps, as I had already been traveling quite a bit. I studied abroad in Australia, went to Europe twice, and took many road trips around the U.S. They weren't overjoyed to hear that I would be leaving again, this time for 2 years, but they respected my decision. Were they supportive? Yes, but in more of a passive way, where they didn't try to stop me from going. The entire application and packing process was on my shoulders to deal with myself.
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All Peace Corps Volunteers commit to a full 27 months of service, but they can "Early Terminate" (or ET) voluntarily at any time. I have heard of people ET'ing at the airport on arrival day, a week into training, a few months into service, a year in, and even 24 months into service! Some volunteers are administratively separated for various reasons, such as medical, behavioral, and alcohol problems. I don't actually know what percentage of volunteers finish the full 2 years--statistics vary greatly by country. So far (just over a year in), out of 42 in my original group, 8 have gone home. The reasons for ET'ing also vary greatly. There are medical reasons, family problems back home, dissatisfaction with work assignment, troubles with Host Country Nationals (HCNs), inability to fit in, etc. Volunteers can also extend their service for up to 2 additional years in the same country, if they so desire.
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Thank you!
My relationships with friends and family back home has definitely changed while I've been abroad. But I'm not sure exactly how that change will manifest until I get home and spend time with them again.
People won't put their lives on hold for you, and they shouldn't. You just need to accept that; it would be the same if you got a job in another city or another state. They would still continue to live their lives without you around. Granted, it feels like a bigger deal when you're halfway around the world, but you can still fly home for important events, if you want, and there will be ways to communicate with loved ones back home. (Frequency and ease depends on country and site placement, but communication will be possible to some extent.)
My brother got married while I was in Armenia, and I had 5 nieces and nephews born in two years. I didn't go home for any of it, which was hard. But I will see my family when I get back, and will catch up with them when I get there.
I have kept up with some of my friends via email and phone, but I find that the longer I'm in Armenia, the less I feel like I have to say to them, and the less we have in common. I think that once I get home and we lead similar lives again, we will have more to talk about. We'll see.
It is definitely scary to think that people will change while you're gone, but you will also change. It's part of life, and you won't stop that from happening by staying home. If Peace Corps is something you want to do, please don't let your fears stop you!
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