1. Kyrgyz Republic How I joined the Peace Corps--from Ecuador to Kyrgyzstan

      Up until the age of 16, I had no idea of what I wanted to be as an adult.  Then, in 1999, one event changed that and put me on an 11 year path towards serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer.  This is the story of that event.  I was living in Riobamba, Ecuador as a foreign exchange student.  I lived with a host family in a second story apartment on a street near the town’s market.  Every morning, after breakfast, I would sit on the family’s little patio outside the kitchen and drink coffee and w...

  2. Madagascar Home Therapy

    A young girl, 14 year-old Brenda, applies ground curry root to PCV Dorothy's bruises to help heal it.

  3. Madagascar Teaching English in Anketrakabe, Madagascar

    PCV Dorothy instructs an English class at the CEG in a rural town in the North of Madagascar.

  4. Mexico Paradise... Almost

    "El Paraiso - Plan de Emergencia Radiologica Externo" or, in Elnglish, "Paradise - Radiological Emergency Plan". What does it all mean? Well, there is a beach town in Veracruz on the coast of the Gulf of Mexico called El Paraiso. There is also a nuclear reactor just north of the town.

  5. Mexico Bicycle Kicks, Soccer Riots, and Pumas - Oh My!

    On Saturday, October 30th, 2010, the Gallos Blancos (White Cocks... or less comically, the White Roosters) from Queretaro took on the Pumas from Mexico City in a soccer match (or futbol, in Spanish) in Estadio Corregidora, the hometown stadium in Queretaro, a large stadium that seats 35,000 fans.   The Pumas are one of the best teams in the country. The Gallos, in contrast, are not; like my hometown Buffalo sports teams, the Gallos seem to be perpetual losers, and like Buffalo, the fans never...

  6. Tonga Why the old King's village is famous for its pigs

    Mark dug the knife into the side of the pig, it's golden roasted skin crackling as he drew it down to its foreleg, carving out a generous haunch for the guest of honour sitting to his right: a pastor that would, at 10PM later that night, be one of the dozen preachers to give consecutive messages until bell rang 2011 in at midnight. We were sitting at a long table, looking out across green Tongan fields from the airy porch where the feast was set, red flowered cloths tacked up in horizo...

  7. Jordan Hard Efforts and World Peace

    Showing off the finished World Peace Day crafts project. Each flag was made by one of the students of our special education center. 

  8. Jordan Colorful Shopping

    Bright green duali, or grape leaves, next to deep purple koch, or plums, creates an aesthetically pleasing food shopping experience. Jordanian produce sellers know how to attract a customer!

  9. Jordan Patriotism

    Walking around with another volunteer, extra early on a Friday morning before the noon prayer so that there weren't enough people around to notice us whipping out our cameras, we ran into this young man in the souq, or market. He asked to have his picture taken under the Jordanian flag in exchange for some raspberry gum. Of course, we obliged. 

  10. Jordan BBQ Night

    Welcoming the beginning of summer's warm nights by setting up this stone and coal stove, and grilling some kebab. 

Countdown to Weekly Contest Deadline!

“Sunset at the Railroad” by PCV Nicholas Baylor Hall. Namibia, 2011.