As some of you know from my recent posts, I’m in a period of transition, re-evaluating my next move. I’ve recently trademarked:

GUTSY LIVING™

and I’m looking for other adventures, including the Peace Corps. On July 11th, I have an appointment with a Peace Corps recruiter to ask many questions, including my desire to blog for the Peace Corps, and more. Here is my list of questions for my recruiter appointment.

Peace Corps Questions

• I am fluent in French. How likely is it they will send me to a French speaking country?
• As a published author and blogger, can I blog for PC site?
• Do we get to bring our laptops?
• How likely is it that we have Internet in our country? Senegal, Madagascar, Benin, Vanuatu?
• Any Caribbean countries that need a French speaker?
• What about personal supplies like face cream, sunblock, toothpaste we like, etc? Can we receive care packages? How often?
• When do we need to start the doctor/dentist visits?
• I have a degree in Environmental Science but prefer to work with helping women and children. Is that possible?
• Can you connect me with other women 56+ who are PC volunteers?
• Can I work as a trainer for PC?
• How easy is it to get a job as a recruiter for baby boomers when I return? Is it a full-time paying job?
• Do recruiters get to travel around the US?
• Are there other jobs available for older PC volunteers when they return?
• An ex-PC volunteer sent me this. Is it true that I could perhaps apply for an assignment for 6 months ? “Peace Corps Response is now open to non RPCVs.  It’s a shorter term assignment, usually about 6 months, and they take volunteers with specific skills.  In your case, I’d imagine organizing and marketing.  And the fact that you are already fluent in French can be a real asset.”

Yelena Parker is a global citizen who has worked in over twenty countries, and who just completed 4 months in Moshi, Tanzania, followed by Zanzibar. I first interviewed her with Monika Fox who founded “Give a Heart to Africa” where Yelena volunteered for two months.

Follow-up Interview with Yelena Parker after her 4 months volunteering in Moshi and Zanzibar, Tanzania. She also talks about her 6-day climb up

Mt. Kilimanjaro.

Yelena Parker is an expert on expatriate life and has published a guidebook-meets-memoir called Moving Without Shaking, available now in Kindle format, and very soon in print format.