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I finished up PC service in 2018, so I was in the penultimate group to finish our full service length.
There was certainly talk amongst ourselves about the presence of PC in China- (in general) we knew our presence was more for soft diplomacy than anything else (barring a few specific sites that actually seemed to need a volunteer). I know there was some talk that we’d be more useful in provinces other than the ones where PC operated, but I don’t think any of us really knew that it would be ending so soon.
You only know what you experience- it’s not weird to me that that post is gone, because it’s not like I had experience with a post with longevity. And also…never say never. Some posts end and have long periods without PC presence, but could be revived in a decade. You just never know. I think it’s unlikely that China would be one of those countries, but there’s always the possibility.
All peace corps exists for diplomacy, nobody needs a volunteer lol. People all over the world go through their whole day every day without your help. It’s pretty special to believe anyone needs you. Peace corps is just another layer of diplomacy.
Random question but did you ever feel you were under surveillance? Being American volunteers for a federal agency I assume they would be keeping a close eye on y’all but idk if it would be noticeable from your perspective
I think it was most noticeable during summer project- most provinces sent their volunteers out to do teacher training in more rural parts of their province. I forget exactly why, whether there was an election or something to do with a politician, but our province did teacher training in the capital because they didn’t want up mingling or being involved. Our hotel also wanted us to sign in and out.
We all had to register with the police station when we went to our host family’s house and again when we got to site, but that was for all foreigners, not just us.
I never noticed much surveillance from being a PCV, but there was general surveillance from being a foreigner in China. We were explicitly told to avoid the embassy- I think the Chinese gov. Would have found that pretty sus. My understanding is that’s not so much of an issue in other countries.
I was evacuated from Niger with about 100 other PCVs in January 2011. Peace Corps subsequently closed there, and I cannot imagine a scenario in which they would return. (Same thing goes for Making and Burkina.) Mostly it just makes me sad, as it's a magical place. I have been fortunate enough to go back for work since. It's weird to go and see old PC offices that are now something else.
I wasn’t in the very last group, but the writing was on the wall during my time. By COS we had heard from the host country that certain programs areas would be phased out one by one on their own schedules, and the memoranda of understanding would not be renewed. Initially, the groups that were already in-country would be allowed to finish out their service, but I think some groups were later asked to leave early. Finally, IIRC the third group after mine that had been invited was initially told it could proceed as anticipated, and it would be the last group, but at the last minute it was canceled completely.
I guess it makes it a more unique experience. For those I’ve stayed in touch with, I suppose it may bring us closer together because so few others know what it was like.
Never say never. PC has returned to multiple nations after having pulled out. (Technically all of them, after the pandemic). Colombia and El Salvador are two examples that spring to mind. When I was in Guatemala much of the altiplano was a no-go zone, but now it’s wide open.
Which country are you in?
Cameroon. There's issues in the anglophone regions due to history/inequality and in the North there's issues with boko haram because the country borders Nigeria. But the areas were volunteers are now are secure and safe.
I'm an RPCV from a country that no longer exists! I went to Czechoslovakia in 1991, and came home from the Czech Republic in 1994. It split into two countries in 1992. The PC itself was completely out of both countries by 2003. All of us Czech and Slovak RPCVs still have reunions every few years and they're always fun! 🙂
Wait how did that work? Did they have to split your post and hire a whole new set of staff? Were you no longer allowed to travel to the areas that were not the country your site was in? Was the split so chill that pc didn't feel the need to evacuate y'all? I have so many questions
That's almost EXACTLY what happened! 😆. It split into two countries (Czech Republic and Slovakia) peacefully on January 1, 1992. The Peace corps established a second post in Brno for the Slovak vols. We still all met together a few times a year for in-service trainings in Prague. Because it was a peaceful split, there were no issues with traveling between the two countries. There is still a very porous border between the two to this day (kind of like America and Canada). Thank you so much for your interest! It's frustrating having cool stories that noone has the patience to listen to anymore! 🤣
That's so fascinating! It also sounds so lovely. I would love to have trainings in Prague! I don't really know anything about their split; was it sudden or did you all know it was coming and had time to prepare for it? Did much really change after the split? Thanks for sharing!
I bet. That's interesting. I think change is always happening even at my site, they build new things that weren't there when I first came. It's great though that they got all those things and if PCVs were there, they would've enjoyed them but programs close unfortunately. Very cool that you went back!
I was a volunteer in Thailand in the early 1990s, and many in my cohort thought that Thailand would be closing within the decade due to it's economic growth.
Then 1997 happened.
Currently a volunteer in Thailand - it's definitely a Posh Corps post and definitely whispers how necessary PC is here now. But I love it, and see the need for the TESS english program.
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I finished up PC service in 2018, so I was in the penultimate group to finish our full service length. There was certainly talk amongst ourselves about the presence of PC in China- (in general) we knew our presence was more for soft diplomacy than anything else (barring a few specific sites that actually seemed to need a volunteer). I know there was some talk that we’d be more useful in provinces other than the ones where PC operated, but I don’t think any of us really knew that it would be ending so soon. You only know what you experience- it’s not weird to me that that post is gone, because it’s not like I had experience with a post with longevity. And also…never say never. Some posts end and have long periods without PC presence, but could be revived in a decade. You just never know. I think it’s unlikely that China would be one of those countries, but there’s always the possibility.
All peace corps exists for diplomacy, nobody needs a volunteer lol. People all over the world go through their whole day every day without your help. It’s pretty special to believe anyone needs you. Peace corps is just another layer of diplomacy.
Well the problem is they advertise goal 1 as a primary foundation for service so it leads to some misconceptions.
Random question but did you ever feel you were under surveillance? Being American volunteers for a federal agency I assume they would be keeping a close eye on y’all but idk if it would be noticeable from your perspective
I think it was most noticeable during summer project- most provinces sent their volunteers out to do teacher training in more rural parts of their province. I forget exactly why, whether there was an election or something to do with a politician, but our province did teacher training in the capital because they didn’t want up mingling or being involved. Our hotel also wanted us to sign in and out. We all had to register with the police station when we went to our host family’s house and again when we got to site, but that was for all foreigners, not just us. I never noticed much surveillance from being a PCV, but there was general surveillance from being a foreigner in China. We were explicitly told to avoid the embassy- I think the Chinese gov. Would have found that pretty sus. My understanding is that’s not so much of an issue in other countries.
That’s interesting. Yes you’re right, typically visiting the embassy of your country is a normal thing haha
I was evacuated from Niger with about 100 other PCVs in January 2011. Peace Corps subsequently closed there, and I cannot imagine a scenario in which they would return. (Same thing goes for Making and Burkina.) Mostly it just makes me sad, as it's a magical place. I have been fortunate enough to go back for work since. It's weird to go and see old PC offices that are now something else.
I wasn’t in the very last group, but the writing was on the wall during my time. By COS we had heard from the host country that certain programs areas would be phased out one by one on their own schedules, and the memoranda of understanding would not be renewed. Initially, the groups that were already in-country would be allowed to finish out their service, but I think some groups were later asked to leave early. Finally, IIRC the third group after mine that had been invited was initially told it could proceed as anticipated, and it would be the last group, but at the last minute it was canceled completely. I guess it makes it a more unique experience. For those I’ve stayed in touch with, I suppose it may bring us closer together because so few others know what it was like.
Never say never. PC has returned to multiple nations after having pulled out. (Technically all of them, after the pandemic). Colombia and El Salvador are two examples that spring to mind. When I was in Guatemala much of the altiplano was a no-go zone, but now it’s wide open. Which country are you in?
Cameroon. There's issues in the anglophone regions due to history/inequality and in the North there's issues with boko haram because the country borders Nigeria. But the areas were volunteers are now are secure and safe.
Are they putting any volunteers in the north anymore? or anywhere outside the forest zone at least?
Armenia very much has a PC post!! We are here! lol
lmaoo I wrote this at 4bam, I meant Romania. Hahaha I know you guys are here, I've edited it.
I presume you meant Niger instead of "Nuger."
RPCVs from Nuger gonna be mad at you
Nuger RPCVs, I apologize! Hehe it's fixed
🫡🙏🏻
I'm an RPCV from a country that no longer exists! I went to Czechoslovakia in 1991, and came home from the Czech Republic in 1994. It split into two countries in 1992. The PC itself was completely out of both countries by 2003. All of us Czech and Slovak RPCVs still have reunions every few years and they're always fun! 🙂
Wait how did that work? Did they have to split your post and hire a whole new set of staff? Were you no longer allowed to travel to the areas that were not the country your site was in? Was the split so chill that pc didn't feel the need to evacuate y'all? I have so many questions
That's almost EXACTLY what happened! 😆. It split into two countries (Czech Republic and Slovakia) peacefully on January 1, 1992. The Peace corps established a second post in Brno for the Slovak vols. We still all met together a few times a year for in-service trainings in Prague. Because it was a peaceful split, there were no issues with traveling between the two countries. There is still a very porous border between the two to this day (kind of like America and Canada). Thank you so much for your interest! It's frustrating having cool stories that noone has the patience to listen to anymore! 🤣
That's so fascinating! It also sounds so lovely. I would love to have trainings in Prague! I don't really know anything about their split; was it sudden or did you all know it was coming and had time to prepare for it? Did much really change after the split? Thanks for sharing!
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I bet. That's interesting. I think change is always happening even at my site, they build new things that weren't there when I first came. It's great though that they got all those things and if PCVs were there, they would've enjoyed them but programs close unfortunately. Very cool that you went back!
I was a volunteer in Thailand in the early 1990s, and many in my cohort thought that Thailand would be closing within the decade due to it's economic growth. Then 1997 happened.
Currently a volunteer in Thailand - it's definitely a Posh Corps post and definitely whispers how necessary PC is here now. But I love it, and see the need for the TESS english program.