Are there any RPCV(returned PC volunteer)out there?
If so can you tell me about your experience?

I have a good friend who returned early from her Peace Corps assignment in Senegal, Africa. She enjoyed her time there but felt she had to come home. She was terribly lonely and due to some other circumstances, cut her tour short.

If you will post an e-mail address, I'll be happy to send you her e-mail address so you may ask her questions.

Sherri,

I attempted to join the PC about ten years ago. At the time they were ONLY accepting Ph.Ds (I only have an MA). Fortunately, I was discovered by another volunteer organization and ended up being stationed on the island of Saipan in the Marianas Pacific, where I taught ESL to Chamorro, Korean and Japanese children.

I only tell you this so that you will make sure to check out the precise qualifications necessary to gain entrance into the PC. I was naive in thinking they would accept my friends and I with MAs (even though we were willing to go anywhere and do anything). Anyway, what they're looking for constantly changes but please check into it first.

DCS

David -

That's odd - my old boyfriend (also David) went into the PC in '91 with a B.A.)

My brother was a PC volunteer in Benin. He had very mixed opinions about the assignment. The Benin government wanted him to teach advanced math at a local college. Fine, except the students barely understood basic algebra. My brother repeatedly tried to explain that advanced math would do them no good until they had a better grasp of mathematics at a lower level (which he was very willing to teach), but to no avail. He did the best he could and the students tried, too, but it was just beyond them. The students were bright, they just didn't have the coursework under their belt to tackle such advanced math. Anyway, my brother developed a severe health problem (dental, actually) that was beyond the scope of medical care available there and ended his assignment early. FYI, the accommodations were better than he had expected--a single room in a fairly modern dormitory and electricity, decent plumbing, bathing facilities, etc. He liked Benin, the people and his fellow PC volunteers, but just had a problem with the government education official at the time.