Peace Corps

"Among the scholars who have built the field of Korean studies are former Peace Corps volunteers who served in South Korea in the 1960s and 1970s before pursuing advanced degrees in anthropology, history, and literature. These scholars, who formed the core of the second generation of Korean Studies scholars in the US, reflect in this volume on their personal experience of serving during Korea's period of military dictatorship, on issues of gender and the Peace Corps experience, and on how random assignment to Korea sparked fascination and led to lifelong professional involvement with the country. Two chapters by Korean studies scholars who were not Peace Corps volunteers (one American and one Korean) assess how Peace Corps volunteers have influenced development of the field"--

The Peace Corps, one of the great symbols of relief and assistance in countries around the world, is an opportunity for men and women of all ages to give a small part of their lives in the effort to help those much less fortunate than them. In 2007, the Peace Corps announced its highest volunteer number in 37 years with more than 8,000 volunteers and the Corps continues to grow as more people jump at the chance to help around the world. Many people want to join and help in the Peace Corps, and more than 160,000 people have, since it was established by President Kennedy in 1961. But, many more wonder what it involves and what they need to know before they can volunteer and sign up for the world famous Peace Corps. This informative book will guide you through the process of not only deciding whether you want to join the Peace Corps, but of showing you everything you will experience and need along the way. You will learn all of the basic lingo and necessary information needed to start the application process. You will be shown the specific qualifications to join and what you can do to boost your chances of submitting a winning application. Advice for older volunteers as well as those who are married or worried about entering another country as a minority or different sexual orientation is included in a special chapter about preparing for the Peace Corps mentality. Once you have applied and are ready for your Peace Corps commitment to start, you will learn what you should bring for two years abroad and what kind of training the Peace Corps will provide to you. A full list of the countries you might travel to and the languages you will need to learn are included, alongside the vital medical and safety information that you will need to remain safe during your travels. Learn how to stay in touch with home through the proper channels and how much travel and free time you will be permitted. Social interaction is a vital part of any volunteer commitment and you will learn how and when you can get to know you fellow volunteers and the rules for interaction with the local nationals. Finally, the process of returning to normal life will be hard, but this book will walk you through everything you need to know, including the procedure for coming home early and a full section on how to adjust to your life once more. You will also find information on incorporating your new outlook on life gained from the humbling experience of your travels into the life that you left back at home. For those interested in joining the Peace Corps who feel overwhelmed by everything it represents, this book will take your hand and walk you through every step of the way.

Joining the Peace Corps can seem like a daunting task. However, if you ve ever been interested or have entertained the thought of it, this book is the all-inclusive guide you need. When you turn 18, you can join the more than 220,000 Americans who have served in 63 countries. This experience is truly life changing; if you feel like you re in a rut or want to get out there and do something that you might not be able to do in the future, joining the Peace Corps might be the answer. This book contains many interviews with young people who have served in the Peace Corps; they tell their stories and give practical advice about joining. You will learn how to apply, the specific qualifications to join, and what you can do to boost your chances of submitting a winning application. We also cover everything that comes after the application process, such as the countries served, the languages spoken, and the vital medical and safety information that you will need to remain safe during your travels, all explained simply. After reading this book, the young adult audience will feel prepared and will know exactly what to expect. This book even covers how to adjust to coming back home. Pack your bags for a great adventure this book has you covered.-- (11/30/2016 12:00:00 AM)"

As the 1967 graduates of Dartmouth College received their diplomas, not many of them envisioned spending several years overseas in the underdeveloped world, living and working amid unimaginable disease, extreme poverty, and other hardships. But an extraordinary number of class members from the remote college in New Hampshire’s mountains subsequently accepted invitations to journey to twenty-four different countries to live, work, learn, socialize, subsist, and grow with families in their host countries. They were Peace Corps volunteers, and their mission was to promote world peace and friendship in programs of agriculture, conservation, education, forestry, health, hydrology, law, marketing, engineering, rural development, urban development, and tourism. These volunteers were among the more than 650 graduates of the small but historic ivy league institution in the upper Connecticut river valley who have responded over the past sixty years to President John F. Kennedy’s challenge to help their country and the world. Peace Corps’ national headquarters has described Dartmouth’s cooperation with the Corps as “unsurpassed.” This book features their incredible stories, compellingly describing what nineteen of them and five spouses did, how they lived, whom they met, what they learned, and how they were challenged and changed by their experiences.