2.5 stars

An anthology of 29 stories by Peace Corps volunteers. The writers aren't necessarily gifted in writing; there are a lot of clichés used, especially the idea that "they changed me more than I changed them."

However, a few of them include cultural tidbits from their host countries that actually are interesting. I think I'm just more interested in reading about the entire 2-year experience than only the highlights included in this collection.

If one has ever considered joining the Peace Corps, I'd recommend reading everything about it that one can get their hands on, even this, before making a decision.

The downside to the Peace Corps is the requisite college degree. It didn't seem as if every volunteer even utilized their degrees, so why not accept non-degreed individuals? ( )

An anthology of short, personal essays by Peace Corps Volunteers and Returned Volunteers. There's a nice breadth of countries and experiences, including those of several African-Americans. Read to learn more about the Peace Corps or in a class to stimulate discussion about issues such as acculturation. For better literary quality, read a book-length Peace Corps narrative that has been better edited for style. ( )

This book is really interesting because it gives real-life narratives of Peace Corps volunteers in many different countries. This is a really great read if you are considering the Peace Corps and want to know more about what you can gain from being a peace corps volunteer. Most of the book is just short stories or a general overview of the experience from past Peace Corps volunteers. These stories are truly inspiring and show the effects of a Peace Corps volunteer. Volunteer experiences from 25 different countries is what really makes this book a great read (there is a map on the last page of the book showing which countries are represented). There are some stories that are only 3 or 4 pages and I recommend reading those first if you are not sure of the book and just want to get an idea of its contents. Stories like "Finding meaning in hair", which is on page 20, is only 4 pages long and it is really inspiring. On page 184 the goals of Peace Corps are stated and unfortunately it does not talk about how to become a Peace Corp volunteer but it does give you the website.
-PCA ( )