The University of Puget Sound is ranked eighth in top Peace Corps volunteer-producing schools among small universities. Many students have expressed interest in the program, and a representative visited the campus last month to give out more information. To shed further light on this demanding and rewarding post-graduate option, The Trail talked with two current volunteers.
Shane Hanlon and Joshua Lamstein, both 23, are currently situated in Panama to teach English in schools. While teaching English is only one possible job available in Peace Corps, both Hanlon and Lamstein agreed that their placement suits them both well. According to Hanlon, volunteers can specify placement preferences; if a volunteer doesn’t have a specific idea, the Peace Corps will send him or her wherever they need.
Hanlon, who is located in Chiriqui near Davíd, joined Peace Corps with the goal to help those less fortunate, so he did not have many specifications. Before Peace Corps, he did not even speak Spanish, but he is now fluent thanks to the language classes held during the program’s three-month training period.
“[Peace Corps] tells you what you will be doing,” Hanlon said, describing the information sent to volunteers detailing their country. Hanlon said he had expected to be somewhere poorer than where he is placed. His site has electricity and running water, which is unusual.
Lamstein, who is located in the Darién near Metetí, said that while people can state preferences, volunteers are supposed to be flexible. His only specification was to have fresh fruit available wherever he volunteered. He entered Peace Corps with the goal of traveling, having not studied abroad in college and noted that friends who went abroad seemed to know something more.
Both Hanlon and Lamstein agree that Peace Corps is challenging. Hanlon said that the school system has many problems and trying to help without criticizing the teachers he works with is difficult. Lamstein said that while he came to Panama knowing some Spanish, it remains difficult to understand conversations that are not directed at him and teaching is challenging as a result.
However, there are good things about every site, as Lamstein said. He described how rewarding it is to see the children learn, a sentiment that Hanlon echoed. The people in Lamstein’s site are also remarkably giving and welcoming. Peace Corps volunteers are only sent to sites that want a volunteer, so the people are generally welcoming.
So thinking of joining? “Do it,” Hanlon said. “Don’t give up when you feel bad. If you think you’re up to Peace Corps, do it. It’s great.”
“Know why you’re doing it,” Lamstein added. “When it gets hard, you’ve got to remember why you’re doing it. And that’s the ultimate test. It’s not an expectation, it’s a reason.”