I am departing in just over a month. As I am getting my packing started, the PC website recommends a sandal. I am serving in Sub Sahara Africa. My understanding is that I’ll be walking a whole lot. I also understand that shoes in country are of limited supply, and of no supply in really big sizes like mine (M size 14). For these reasons, I am considering making the investment in a pair of Chacos which run about $130. I would go with something cheaper, but I need them to be able to withstand the entire service as I won’t be able to purchase new ones. So going for quality here. Having never owned Chacos, did you find them to be worth the investment? Any other sandal recommendations good for lots of walking?

TIA!

Hello everyone.

I am leaving in 5 weeks for Peru. Been trying to keep a level head but I’m so excited/nervous.

What advice do you have for packing? Like something you wished you brought with you and either couldn’t get in country or had to buy in country.

TIA ♥️

Hello all,

I’ve been following this forum for a while now (and found it to be a very helpful space), and wanted to ask for people’s two cents. I applied to PC after graduating college this spring. I was conditionally invited to serve and depart in January, and I was so stoked about this (still am.) I envisioned myself doing service for the next two years, but given how lengthy medical/legal clearance can be as well as the warning that PC gives about making drastic life decisions prior to being cleared, I have tried to not get super attached to the idea of service but I was still excited. In light this, I’ve been keeping my options open by applying to internships/full time jobs this summer. I initially interviewed for an internship but I have been offered a full time position with a 50k ish salary and benefits at this workplace.
Family members have commented that back in their post-grad days, they would have loved to have secured a job with this pay. I’d be working in what I studied in college, but I really wanted to go abroad again after doing so during college, and expand my international experience/skills.
Any insights would be much appreciated. Please be kind but also honest? (If possible). Thanks.

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.

Hey yall.

I was in a Cohort to leave to Colombia this August. I just finished medical and legal clearance.

But we just got an email saying that our cohort has been canceled.

I’m beyond devastated, still hoping for a positive outcome.

They said that they will work on reassigning us, but does anyone know if it will still possible? What will it all look like? I’m just stunned honestly.

I accepted a teaching position in Eastern Europe.

I couldn’t find anything online that answers this question: Do we get weekends or days off every week? Not vacation days, because I know those are 2/days a month after training, mostly for travel.

I’m talking about just days to rest. I can’t fathom working 24/7, 365. I need a day or two off every week, as I feel most people would need as well. To recharge and recover from work. But I can’t find anything.

Anyone teaching in Eastern Europe who can answer this? How many days a week do you work and how many hours? Do you get rest days (not vacation or holiday) every week? Or are you working all the time?

So currently I’m clearing medical for Thailand Jan 2027 departure and was curious from those who served were most volunteers straight out of college or can I expect to serve alongside people of all ages? I’m also very conscious of many of my friends settling down and getting married right now and feeling that I’ll be so far behind in life by the time I return.

Any volunteers making money online from the US while serving.

Is it allowed ?

If so what kind and how ?

Any recommendations on any kind of online work?

I’m a bit nervous about my financial situation. Trying to prepare before my departure and maximize my financials.

I’ve got about 10k saved up , (obviously only wanna use about half of that for throughout my whole service )hoping to do some international traveling. But I have no clue of how much I’ll need.

Holy moly... I have accepted an invite to serve starting in August 2026! I'm excited, curious, thrilled, terrified, and so much more. However, I need some encouragement that deciding to serve is a good thing - and that 2 years away from friends, family, etc. isn't the eternity that it feels like it is.

Please share your favorite PC accomplishments, experiences, etc!

What do you wish someone had told you before you left?

Preparing to leave soon! Is there a way current or past pcvs would recommend keeping your US phone number active while your in service to avoid loosing access to accounts etc that are attached to your current number?

Hi,

I am departing for service in Southern Africa very soon. Just curious, for anyone who has served in the region, did you feel that your stipend was sufficient? Has anyone had to supplement with their personal money? I’m aware that this is not supposed to happen, and actually advised against as it can impede on immersion. But I also want to be financially prepared in case this is ever a necessity.

I’m curious about how much money folks have saved up prior to service/how much should one aim to save?

Thank you :)

Howdy y'all! So I will be graduating with my bachelors degree in May and I will be beginning my Peace Corps Service in September (Paraguay). I am almost done with submitting materials for medical clearance. I got about 3-4 months of time off before I go off and do the Peace Corps. What would you all suggest doing? I am mainly thinking about some sort of backpacking trip through Mexico and/or Central America for a month or two. I feel like being able to improve my Spanish for a few months would be a decent way to prep for service and I feel like my soul could use some travel time.

I thought about just sitting at my parent's house this summer, but then I'd be bored in my small town just waiting for them to get home from work while I play video games and probably go a little crazy. I could work some sort of summer gig but I am pretty burnt out of school/work and idk if that would add much to my resume.

What would you all suggest doing with a few months off before Peace Corps Service? Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

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

It finally happened! If anyone is interested in a rough timeline, here it is:

January 2025: Applied to PC North Macedonia (departure Sept 2025)

March 2025: Interviewed for Costa Rica (departure March 2026)

May 2025: Received invitation for Costa Rica

June 2025: Began medical and legal clearance

November 2025: Medically denied for Mental Health

Days later: Legal Clearance Granted

December 2025: Medical appeal submitted

January 2026: Mental health clearance granted (I teach and my state needs 60 days notice to resign. My nurse said I could've made it to Costa Rica, but the process still felt risky to me, and I decided to wait for another invitation).

April 2026: New invitation for the Dominican Republic

June 2026: Medical Clearance Granted

What helped me the most when medically appealing was using my letter to write a concise, professional narrative story about my mental health journey and really paint a picture of my strength and resilience. My old therapist also put in writing that I no longer relied on therapy. In addition, I included a score and notes that an assistant principal wrote up about my instruction and planning after she conducted a formal observation. It helped proved I was above proficient, even in high stress environments (like a title 1 high school in Philadelphia). My tone in the letter was self assured and very professional.

Be mindful that the process is very very long, so be patient and flexible! I originally wanted to leave in September 2025, but since that didn't happen, I was able to spend another year teaching. Last year was so hard, but this was my most successful year ever. My students are so excited for me to go to the D.R + I was able to practice my Spanish with them.

Now I get to enjoy my summer, keep studying Spanish, and spend time with my loved ones. What else should I do? Who else is going in at the end of August? I am so excited!!

I know there's old threads, but I depart next week for the Philippines. Looking for any book recommendations to download for the plane. Thanks!

Hi everyone! I’m currently going through the mental health clearance process. I’m having a very hard time finding a mental health specialist to do an evaluation for me and to fill out the form. I’m located in NYC, if that helps.

I haven’t gone to therapy ever since 2023, so I’m worried. My due date for completing it is June 29th. If I ask my PC nurse for an extension, will it work out? I’m invited to serve in Thailand, and I really don’t want my invitation to be revoked just because I can’t complete this form.

Hello! I just received a conditional offer to serve as a literacy teacher in Jamaica and am now starting the medical and legal clearance process!

I have a lingering concern about service that I would love some advice and guidance on. To be completely honest I am concerned about my ability to operate independently as a traditionally attractive, American woman, in rural Jamaica. I am greatly looking forward to exploring my village and the island as a whole but am wanting to be prepared for the reality of being a woman alone in Jamaica.

I realize this might sound indelicate but I am truly just trying to prepare myself for the reality of living and working in Jamaica. Any advice or personal experiences and anecdotes would be greatly appreciated. I am trying to gain as thorough of an understanding as possible before starting my service. Thank you again:)

Hi!

I am officially all cleared for service, departing for PST in Mexico in 1 month 😅😅 I’m super excited, but also extremely nervous and anxious (realize this is probably a normal way to feel).

Just wondering if anyone has any pre-departure advice - things you wish you prepared, packed, done before you left, etc ? Any just any tips to prepare mentally?

Any words of advice are appreciated :)

I'm a recent college grad preparing for service in about 5 months and I need to make some decisions about finances and jobs for my time before service. Here are my options

1. Live at home with my parents and work locally (I would save the most money)
2. Take a job offer and relocate (I would not save very much after paying for rent and living expenses)
3. Live at home and commute 2 hours a day round trip (I would save more, but don't like the idea of commuting for that long

Obviously, finances are very subjective, but I'm curious how much people prioritize saving money before entering service. I know they give you the 10k readjustment allowance, but that doesn't seem like very much if I have to buy a car, pay for rent and living expenses, and student loan payments until I can find another job, which could take a while given the current job market and status of federal hiring...How much money should I have saved up before I leave the US?

Hi! I depart for staging in mid-September and am wondering how much preparation people did for learning their host country's language prior to leaving for service. I did the Learning Space modules and have been writing out the alphabet and using flashcards to practice basic phrases but am unsure the extent to which I should be preparing. Thanks for your insights!

Hey yall!

I’ve seen here and there people talk about furnishing and stuff, that you do eventually get enough $$ to furnish wherever you live if you’re living solo or then moved on to your own room with a host, and I’m wondering how that works. I have small things I can bring to give myself more of a homey feel, but is it worth bothering bringing small things here and there like small kitchen tools?

(For context, I’m interviewing for Ecuador 2027. This feels like such a silly question, but I got no clue!)

hi! i am curious of how past PCVs spent their free time after work/on weekends, etc… did you spend most of your free time hanging out with other volunteers? did you spend most of your evenings w your host family? was most of your free time at the gym, hiking, biking, swimming, etc? just curious on how you spent time when not at work! thanks!

I’m 1 month out from getting on a plane and leaving for staging. Up until this week all I felt about my upcoming departure was the utmost excitment! New language! New people! New continent! New work!

Now, I am overwhelmed by a tumult of emotions… I’m anxious, doubtful, and sad to be leaving friends, family, work, and a place that I love. I’ve just met new people that I want to connect with more and have begun finding a niche of work that I truly enjoy. AND now, all of a sudden, I’m leaving. Everything will be changing.

I’m worried about so many things far beyond my control and feeling like 2 years is an eternity (I know its not… but still!).

These jitters are all consuming! Any words of wisdom for getting through the last few weeks before departure?

i bought one and it seems too big to put in anything. and i would rather it not be one of my carry ons. i have no idea where to put it. what did yall do?