Katie Mazanec

The Peace Corps Community

Assignment 1
UWRT 1104
9/26/15

The Area of Interest: The Peace Corps

Figured World: A large social structure that has specific rules and conventions for appropriate behavior.
A figured world consists of all the programs and volunteers in the entire community of the Peace Corps.
The Peace Corps has specific requirements and rules.

The Peace Corps is a competitive program where Americans can volunteer in poor areas around
the world in 2 year increments. This figured world filled with nearly 220,000 volunteers takes
place all over the world. Most Peace Corps volunteers have at least an undergraduate degree.
There are many reasons why people join the Peace Corps but most have a desire to make a
difference in the world and to help others in need. Volunteers are assigned specific projects to
work on with the community such as teaching children how to read or teaching adults about
contraceptives which would be the practices of the community. Most volunteers have one main
project and many other small ones to work on with the community. Before the volunteer is left
in their new community they go through a three month intensive training so that they are
comfortable with the area and customs of the community. Through the three months the
volunteers will learn about their projects in a more detail and learn how to fit into their new
home. Depending on the area where the volunteer is placed different living conditions will
apply. The volunteer is able to communicate with family and friends back home via text message
or email. As far as communicating to those in the community the volunteer is trained to adapt to
the traditions and customs of the community. I will be observing numerous volunteer videos
and documentaries about what it is like to be a volunteer in the Peace Corps. By immersing
oneself in a completely different country with different customs and traditions it is interesting to
see how one can react. Getting accustomed to the practices of another community is key to
being a successful volunteer. One must try to connect to the others around them even though
they may wish not to do so. Not only the volunteer but the natives have to adapt. I hope to gain
knowledge about the program through the observations and personal stories in the
documentaries that I will be analyzing.

Why I Choose to Research the Peace Corps:

Commented [MK1]: Be sure to caption and credit all

the images that you use throughout your observation
write up.
Excellent work with the citations; no other student in my
classes citing information that they used for this
project. Great work.
Give a bit more background about the person that you
decided to interview. I know you mentioned that it is a
recruiter for the Peace Corps, but I would like to know
how long he/she has been a recruiter, etc. You can do
this in 3-4 sentences at the beginning of the interview
section.
I want you to include more photos from the
documentaries that you have observed; I know you have
included some here, but a few more would be
useful. You describe a lot of interesting experiences from
the perspectives of the peace corps, but as a reader, I
kept wanting to "see" these scenes for myself. I would
suggest using the slideshow feature in Wix to incorporate
more relevant photos of the things you have observed.

My passion for helping others in need and my dream of traveling

around the world has sparked a new goal in my life. The Peace
Corps is something that I am hoping to do after college. Im
excited to research this topic and learn more about what it
means and takes to be a volunteer. I will be hoping to gain more
knowledge about the program itself and the areas where the
volunteers go. Many applicants have a specific place where they
request to go, but as for me I will be selecting anywhere. I will
be happy anywhere I get placed and it will be even more
interesting to have it as a surprise. A health volunteer or a
teaching volunteer is what I would apply for. I hope to use the
Peace Corps graduate programs, this means I will have grad
school payed for after my service. Through this assignment I will
be testing my seriousness on joining the Peace Corps.
Relevant Background Info:
The Peace Corps is a government run organization. The average age of a Peace Corps volunteer is 28.
Many recent college graduates join the Peace Corps. Most volunteers have at least a bachelor degree.
94% of volunteers are not married. The minimum age to be a volunteer is 18. There are not any set
guidelines or requirements to be a volunteer. It is suggested that one has a degree that can be useful as
a volunteer. It is also recommended that one has high grades and previous volunteer experience. It is
very difficult to become a volunteer and one must go through interviews and complete many essays to
show who they really are. Generally the Peace Corps after 2 years of service, pay you and give health
care benefits. The three main goals of the Peace Corps directly from http://www.peacecorps.gov/ are as
follows:
1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
History:
An impromptu speech was given by President John F. Kennedy at the University of Michigan
encouraging students to volunteer two years of their life to the people of the poor countries across the
world. Over 11,000 applications were received in the first few months of the agency officially opening.
President Kennedy began this program in hopes to help other countries and promote the American
image. Since the Peace Corps launched in 1961 there has been 139 countries served and over 210,000
volunteers.
Definitions:
Literacy Practices: Can be defined as ways of communicating with others that involve a form of writing
or speaking. Communicating with another community where the language is not the same is extremely
difficult. Through three month prior training to the trip, the volunteers learn the native language and

cultural communication barriers so that they can easily transition to another community.
Communication is important for the connection between the volunteer and the community.

Body Language: A volunteer is generally not capable of learning a different language in three
month unless there is significant background knowledge of the native language such as a
degree. Body language for the most part is a universal language which can be understood. By
motioning towards food or to the bathroom it can be understood that one is hungry or needs to
go to the bathroom. This is important for both the natives and the volunteer to understand.

Repetition of Words: Most volunteers have some sort of knowledge of the language before their
work begins but sometimes a word may not be pronounced correctly. Through repetition and
sounding out key word phrases it can be easier to understand.

Texting/Email/Skype: In the areas where the volunteers work there is generally no electricity to
communicate with others. Volunteers usually have to travel a distance to a city building such as
a school to charge a phone or computer so that they can communicate with family and friends
back home.

Meetings: The need for the communication with other volunteers and other professionals in the
community is mandatory for projects to run smoothly.

Artifacts: Artifacts have an importance to to the community. Artifacts do not have to be a physical
object. Many smaller objects are significant to a particular programs of the Peace Corps but only a few
are significant to the entire Peace Corps community.

The Peace Corps Mission: The main purpose of the Peace Corps is to help a country in need and
promote the ideas of Americans. Through these ideas, the volunteers and the natives begin to
become emotionally attached to each other since the Peace Corps mission has brought them
together.

The attire of the natives: Through the attire of the natives we can tell about their religion and
social standing in the community. This is important for the volunteers to understand so that
their choice of dressing does not offend them.

Respect: This emotional quality is extremely important for both the volunteer and the natives to
understand. The differences between American culture and their culture can be dramatic but to
be a successful volunteer one must accept and embrace the differences.

Actor: An actor is a person who contributes to the community and has a specific purpose for being a
member of the community. There are many different actors in the Peace Corps community since there
are so many problems in other countries, therefore, many different volunteers are needed.

Native Children: The children have a huge impact on the volunteers since they are so innocent
and are very interested in learning. The children are the future of the community and the Peace
Corps focuses on the potential that they have through their projects.

Native Adults: The adults in the community have experience with community and have a lot of
knowledge about what can work best for their community. Native adults have specific jobs for

the community such as farmers, basket weavers, and teachers. Many of the jobs of the native
adults are very low paying and high labor work. This is because most do not have a degree to
work in an office or an opportunity to do so.

Education Volunteers: Through teaching the community, the natives can learn the importance of
an education. Focusing primarily on the native children, these volunteers are setting up the
community for success in the future.

Health Volunteers: Since HIV and Aids is a big problem in many developing and least developed
countries, the health volunteers are able to educate the natives on prevention and
contraceptives. Health volunteers also assist in rural hospitals in caring for the sick or just
helping manage the health care facility.

Agricultural Volunteers: These volunteers teach the community about sustainable ways to
achieve a high crop yield. By teaching the community ways to efficiently grow food, their overall
health will significantly improve. These volunteers may also work with the community on their
water source. Many times a community has only one water tap which is generally unpurified
and has parasites.

Other Volunteers: Other volunteers may be needed to work the business aspects of the
community or just to help out with the community.

Peace Corps Employees: The employees of the Peace Corps are not volunteers and are paid to
manage the volunteers projects. Employees of the Peace Corps are everywhere around the
world. Many are stationed in a particular region of a country. The Peace Corps is a government
agency therefore, many jobs are needed to run this community.

Domain: A domain is what brings the community of practice together. People can be outside the
community of practice but have the same domain or common interest/goal. The common goal between
the Peace Corps and the natives is to help their community educationally, agriculturally, and create
better living standards for the natives.

High mortality rate: Due to the unsanitary living conditions and lack of nourishment through
food children have a hard time surviving. The education of the children and adults is important
so that they can learn how to make their community cleaner. Children are taught to wash their
hands and adults learn about contraceptives and abstinence.

Low standard of living: Though many natives are unaware of higher standards of living, many
communities are becoming wealthier and starting to be able to afford nicer things. Communities
with houses made out of sticks are now able to afford metal siding/roofing. However, to afford
such a luxury in their community one must be driven to do so. Through the Peace Corps,
volunteers encourage the community to become educated and learn how they can provide
more than just the bare minimum for their families.

Communities of Practice: A group of people that work together on the same goal to ultimately achieve
or improve something. To achieve something they collaborate and learn a way to solve the goal. A
community of practice is different than just a community. They key words are of practice meaning

that this group is working together on something rather than just being grouped together. These groups
are not simply interest groups, but rather they are working on something together.

Health Clubs: Clubs have been created by volunteers to gather many natives together to talk
about the importance of abstinence and safe sex to prevent the spread of STDs which is a
problem in many uneducated communities. Together the natives learn and work on ways so
others are able to learn about these techniques too.

Host Families: The native families that host a Peace Corps volunteer are a part of the community
but are involved in taking care of the volunteer. By providing shelter and learning about America
they in return have someone to help their community.

Practices of Community: The actual doing of the communities of practice is considered the practices of
the community. The activities that community is involved in together and the collaboration involved
would be known as the practices.

Education and other Social Institutions: Education plays a huge role in the goals of the Peace
Corps. By educating and working with the natives the Peace Corps can create a better life for the
community. Other social institutions that involve Aids and HIV awareness also have an impact
on the community. When the natives agree to work with Peace Corps volunteers it becomes
easier to achieve their domain.

Cultural Rituals: The community participates in religious rituals together to strengthen their
connection. In order for the volunteer to become a part of the community they must participate
in cultural traditions. By being a part of something together the community is able to work
together easier on the underlying problems that they are facing.

Observation 1: Peace Corps- The Volunteer Experience

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ycUh8hIYw (1.04.53)
Introduction: Through real life footage and interviews with the volunteers, a non-volunteer can
understand the experience of volunteering in Namibia. The details in the interviews are important for
learning about the practices of the community and the domain, what brings them together. The
volunteers tell us how to integrate by showing interest in their culture and their particular community of
practice.
5 minutes: The documentary opens up with vibrant scenery of waterfalls, grasslands, the ocean, and the
dessert. While the imagery of nature continues to flash by a song sounding like it was played by the
Namibian natives comes on. The drums and quiet chants continue and they begin to show their local
wildlife. All different types of African animals are shown such as hippos in a grassy pond area, lions
basking in the sun, and exotic bugs crawling around on leaves and dirt. The African song softly begins to
quiet down and the camera is now focused on a Peace Corps staff member for the Kavango region (in
Namibia). She begins describing her assigned community in Namibia in a cheerful foreign accent saying

how there is always someone to help. She begins to describe the domain of the community and what
brings them together.
10 minutes: Peace Corps employees describe the condition of Namibia. The low standard of living brings
the community closer together in their practices to help each other. One employee mentioned how
Namibia was always trying to become colonized by other countries. After more than 15 years of being
independent Namibians are still struggling. The mood changes when upbeat foreign music begins to
play. The focus is now on the smiling faces of the Namibian children. The smiling faces of the children
continue as they are in school and outside playing sports. The volunteers are shown smiling with the
children as the music continues. They are walking through town and in front of a classroom teaching.
The volunteers are now shown sharing their positive thoughts for joining the Peace Corps. Different
volunteers say: Always wanted to, begin to feel integrated with the community, the kids are
wonderful, toughest job you will ever have but well worth it in the end as the music continues.
15 minutes: A Peace Corps employee mentions how education was the first project in Namibia. He tells
us about the main subjects the volunteers teach: English, technology, math and science. As the
employee continues to talk about the needed subjects, pictures and videos of the classroom settings are
shown. Many teachers are interviewed about their experiences with the children. Volunteer teachers
talk about their teaching styles and how to reward the children who do well. The use of body language
and repetition is shown throughout the clips when the teachers are teaching the children various
subjects. The volunteers mention how hard it is to be teaching for most of the day but how it is
rewarding at the same time. As the volunteers are being interviewed clips of the children in the
classroom play.
20 minutes: The volunteers continue to be interviewed about their experiences as being a Peace Corps
education volunteer. The volunteer teachers mention how they work with the native teachers to create
a lesson plan by setting up meetings. Communication is important between the volunteer teachers and
the native teachers. Through the literary practices of the community the relationship with the
volunteers become closer. Many of the volunteers being interviewed note how there was not much
basic learning supplies such as paper, pens, or books. One mentions his work at the library and shows us
how empty the shelves are. Through donations from all over more material is becoming collected. Most
of the volunteers interviewed looked to be less than thirty and very energetic towards teaching children
in need. The volunteers play a huge role in the community for the years that they are serving. The
natives are generally very interested in the projects and ideas that volunteers have.
25 minutes: The teacher volunteers begin talking about how they integrated into the community. The
mentioned how it is important to get involved and show interest in their own culture and practices of
the community. If one shows interest they generally will open up and make the volunteer feel
welcomed. The video continues to interview another section of volunteers, the health volunteers. They
begin to talk about what they do in their community of interest. They try to get funding from other
organizations for HIV and Aids education and support groups. Many volunteers have mentioned that
they have created their own clubs for education about abstinence, prevention, youth groups, and many
more. The volunteers are being interviewed in their offices which consisted of a few books on a
bookshelf and very outdated office spaces. Though the office space not be like one in America, the
volunteers could not be any happier serving those in need.

Observation 2 the Host Family Experience

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAi7wTqDhkM&list=PLD8D860FA54B577C2 (35.10)
Introduction: This is a documentary consisting of videos, pictures, and experiences from the Peace Corps
volunteers in Namibia. The video gives a personal insight of what it is like to volunteer in a rural African
community. The experiences of the volunteers shown in the film show the difficulties of adapting to
another community of interest.
5 minutes: The video opens with actual footage of Namibia and the living conditions the volunteers must
deal with. Along with the imagery, music begins to play in the background, the loud continuous beating
of drums continues throughout the introduction of the film. The volunteers are now introduced stating
their name and region in which they are serving. All comments made by the volunteers are positive in
regards to the living condition. The images of ragged shacks, bugs, and smiling Namibian faces are
shown. Through the imagery and music the viewer can get a better idea of the community and its
practices.
10 minutes: The volunteers briefly state why they wanted to join; Ive always wanted to and for the
experience. Many of the ones being interviewed requested to live with a native family in Namibia.
They begin to go into detail on who they live with. The families they describes are large compared to our
developed country family size average. A tour of a Namibian village begins with the start of the beating
of African drums. The village is very rural and most of the structures are made up of large sticks and a
thatched roof making a quaint house. The volunteers mention how some communities are getting
more money to buy metal and cinder block to improve their current living.
15 minutes: The volunteers go into detail about what it is like to have electricity. Most were able to
adapt because this is what they were expecting. Another issue is finding tap water, generally there is
one water tap per homestead. The volunteers tell experiences of how sometimes the water would run
out and how they would have to walk to another community to get water. All the people interviewed
were positive about the situation and very easy going when it came to not having their laptop or phone
with them 24/7. Another tour begins with the sounds of drums. A volunteer takes us through his
homestead in another community. His house is significantly nicer than ones shown earlier. The house
has a living space with concrete walls and furnishings. The volunteer mentions how it was unexpected
that he would get an above average home and that he was very grateful. All volunteers interviewed had
a smile on their face and were happy with their living conditions even though some did not have
electricity or running water.
20 minutes: The host families are very accepting of the volunteers. The volunteers explain how they
understand that they need space. Most of the volunteers mention how it is important to get involved
with the host family and the community. The families are shown laughing together even though
generally they dont understand what the other is saying. The language barrier is hard a volunteer
explains. Many times the volunteers use sign language to understand each other. Some Namibians have
decent English and are able to hold a conversation with a volunteer. Music begins to play again and a
slideshow of pictures are shown. The pictures are of the housing (thatched roof and stick walls),
bathrooms (consisting of a bowl and a lever for the shower), and family members in the community.

25 minutes: A native introduces her large family and states what each of their job is towards the
household. As the Namibian native is introducing her family laughter and smiling is shown on her
childrens faces. Trust and affection is shown through the household states one of the volunteers. The
volunteers begin to talk about what they eat. Many meals consist of porridge and potatoes. The
volunteers mention how they help pay for the groceries for the family. This is a courteous thing to do
and there is usually a set price given by the Peace Corps for the volunteers to follow. The music begins
to play once again and the volunteers are shown making their food over open fire which is propped up
by old tires.

Observation 3- Nepal
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA-lLHPMMJ8
Introduction: This video documents the experiences of Jimi a Peace Corps volunteer in a rural area in
Nepal. The documentary shows the practices of the community such as their religion and social status
jobs. Jimi shows how he has integrated in such a diverse community compared to the United States.
5 minutes: A friend of Jimi Sir, a Peace Corps volunteer, takes a journey through Nepal documenting
their experiences. The film opens up with Claude meeting Jimi in the city where they take a bus starting
a long journey to Jimis small town in Nepal. Jimi is very laid back when there is a landslide in the middle
of the road and the bus has to stop. Jimi mentions in a somehow upbeat tone that they will be walking
by foot for a day after their bus trip to get to his small village where he volunteers. Jimis attitude
towards living in such poor conditions show what is required to be a successful Peace Corps volunteer.
10 minutes: The bus ride continues through more rural areas passing other buses that are colored and
painted with writings in a different language. The road continues along the mountainside and they stop
at a town to rest for the night. The village they stayed in was on a river and surrounded by the
mountains. The next day they will be walking to their village. The calming scenes of Jimi crossing a
bridge over the water are shown as he tells Claude about the landscape and his first trip to Melung (the
town where he is volunteering in). He tells us about his stay in Melung which was in an unfinished
building without a roof.
15 minutes: Jimi shows Claude how to light a lantern which is what he has used for his source of light
since there is not electricity. Jimi explains how the life of the Nepal natives is different than those in the
states. They have different goals, they worry about the more simplistic things like keeping their children
clean and growing enough rice for food. Jimi tells Claude about his daily routine to the water tap after
one of the native children wakes him up for tea. There is only one water tap and the water needs to be
purified before Jimi can drink it. The water tap is drilled into the mountain and does not have a faucet
head. The natives, however, are used to the water not being purified since that is what their body is
used to.
20 minutes: There are no outhouses in this town so the people defecate in the fields, leading to poor
water sanitation. Jimi explains how it was important to get connected with a family so he can learn the
language and feel more like a part of the community. Jimi is shown playing with a Nepali child and eating
dinner with the family. The natives eat rice for every meal and sometimes a side of lentils or
vegetables. The meal is shown eaten with their hands, the rice is compact into mushy clumps and

served with a small portion foreign vegetables. Cheerfully Jimi eats the small portion of food given to
him while sitting on the floor.
25 minutes; The natives are very interested in the camera and are always smiling as Claude video tapes
Jimis experiences. Jimi and Claude are invited to witness a sacred ritual in which the natives worship the
cow by feeding it certain grains and putting flowers around its neck. At the ritual, children are shown
helping the adults prepare the cows by smearing another substance on its back. Through the religion
Hinduism it is important to honor all animals especially the cows which are thought to be even more
sacred. The natives are shown chanting verses from the scripture together in a different language. Jimi
mentions the importance of pronunciating the words correctly while praying to the Gods.

The Interview with local Peace Corps Recruiter and Volunteer

Alumni
Describe why you joined the Peace Corps.
LIFE LONG DESIRE, ADVENTURE, EXPAND MY MIND AND PERSONAL
LIFE EXPERIENCE, TRY MY BEST AT LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE,
SHAKE UP MY ADULT LIFE HAVING SPENT OVER 30 YEARS WORKING
AT HIGH PRESSURE CORPORATE JOBS, GROW SPIRITUALLY,
CULTURALLY, LET-GO OF CONTROL ISSUES, RELEASE FROM HAVING
TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR A HOUSE, FAMILY AND ANIMALS, SERVICE
HAVE ALWAYS VOLUNTEERED
Please tell me what stands out to you about the Peace Corps
Community?
HARD TO PUT INTO WORDS THE CONNECTION THAT IMMEDIATELY
EXISTS WHEN RETURNED VOLUNTEERS MEET. A SENSE OF DOING
THE RIGHT THING, THAT LIFE IS LARGER THAN ONESELF, A
PERSPECTIVE OUTSIDE OF ONESELF, PATIENCE, BENEFIT OF THE
DOUBT, ENERGETIC ABOUT LIFE, LEARNING AND LOVE FOR
HUMANKIND / THE HUMAN SPIRIT, LIFE-LONG DESIRE TO SERVE.
Describe how your own experiences in the Peace Corps (work and/or volunteer experience) has changed
you in some way.
MORE PATIENT AND LESS AT THE AFFECT OF THINGS OUT OF MY CONTROL. I LIVE A MUCH MORE
SIMPLE LIFE WITHOUT ALL THE TRAPPINGS OF MATERIAL GOODS AND COMFORTS OF MODERN LIVING /
LIFE OF LIVING IN A WEALTHY AND PRIVILEGED COUNTRY.
How does a volunteer immerse themselves into a different culture?
BY OBSERVING, ASKING QUESTIONS, LISTENING, COLLABORATING, NEVER PASSING UP AN INVITATION,
FINDING A COMMUNITY FRIEND/CONTACT WHO WILL HELP YOU INTEGRATE THROUGH
INTRODUCTIONS, EDUCATION, VISITS, TOUR OF YOUR SITE, ETC AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST AND BEST
WAYS TO INTEGRATE IS TO LEARN THE LANGUAGE AS BEST AS POSSIBLE.

What are the benefits of becoming a volunteer?

THE LIST IS SO SO LONG AND DIFFERENT DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU ARE IN YOUR LIFE.. YOU CAN
FIND WHAT WE SAY ON THE WEBSITE here. (Link shows the benefits of being a Peace Corps Volunteer
directly from the Peace Corps Website)
What are the goals of the Peace Corps?
THERE ARE THREE ON THE WEBSITE HERE (embedded is the three goals of the Peace Corps
Community).

Citations: All other information, statistics, and photos besides the video observations were found on the
Peace Corps website.

Peace Corps. (n.d.). Retrieved September 12, 2015.

Wolf, C., & Sears, J. (2011, April 11). Peace Corps, The Volunteer Experience. Retrieved
September 10, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-ycUh8hIYw

Wolf, C. (2011, April 11). Peace Corps, The Host Family Experience. Retrieved September 12,
2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAi7wTqDhkM&list=PLD8D860FA54B577C2

Roesgen, C., & Sir, J. (2012, May 13). Jimi Sir: An American Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal.
Retrieved September 12, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA-lLHPMMJ8