"What do your days look like?" is one of the most frequently asked questions by Peace Corps hopefuls to current volunteers. I would know because I asked nearly every volunteer I spoke with what they did each day… despite getting a variation of the same answer each time.
"There's no typical day in the Peace Corps!"
What an annoying answer, right? I thought there were surely some tasks that were done each day or every other day that I could plan on doing during my service.
However, as I communicate more and more with those who are planning on joining the Peace Corps or even just friends and family, I find myself regurgitating the same answer that caused my frustration many months ago.
Though I may have the same couple of tasks each day or week, the Peace Corps experience is unique to the volunteer, and it is improbable that two volunteers in the same country and sector would have days that look the same. This is why it's hard to answer questions about my day to Peace Corps hopefuls because their days won't look like mine. Here's why:
1. Each Peace Corps country has different rules for their volunteers
In the enigmatic realm of the Peace Corps, the saying "When you've seen one Peace Corps, you've seen one Peace Corps" holds truer than ever. The rules for volunteers can be as different as the countries we are placed in. Local customs, traditions, and laws play a big role in shaping our expectations and experiences. While volunteers in other countries might have their own work schedules, dress codes, or travel restrictions, my experience in Cameroon comes with its own set of unique rules. For instance, Cameroon is one of just a few Peace Corps countries where volunteers can ride motorcycles, which comes with its own rules. Being flexible is essential, as our service guidelines here adapt to the local community, making integration smoother -- even if some rules don't make much sense from an American perspective.
2. Each Peace Corps sector has different goals and, therefore, different tasks
The nature of your service largely hinges on the sector in which you're placed. In my role as an agriculture volunteer, my days are less structured, and I have a lot of freedom in my work and project schedule. My days also depend on the planting, tending, and harvesting cycles, which rely on the rotation of dry and rainy seasons. Meanwhile, education volunteers are far more structured in the work they do, and health volunteers rely less on weather patterns. As for agriculture volunteers in other countries, they may experience different seasons or have soil that is less suitable for the crops I am focusing on. The work of all volunteers can also be highly impacted by our counterparts who are host country nationals who live and work in our communities in our sector. For me, my counterpart is the president of a women's agriculture organization, so I do a lot of work with the women of her organization.
3. Volunteers are known to have a lot of free time
The Peace Corps experience often unveils a delightful paradox: although we're dedicated to our roles, we're also graced with more free time than we might expect. This is where the magic happens. It's a time to dive into community life, cultivate relationships, partake in local traditions, and initiate personal projects. For me, it's been an opportunity to invest in myself and the growth I hope to achieve while I am in Cameroon. How each volunteer utilizes this free time is as varied as the volunteers themselves, adding another layer of uniqueness to our Peace Corps journeys.
What about Me?
Despite telling people that my days aren't easy to quantify, those back home are still curious about what life is like for an American in another country. I know during my application process, I was eager for any crumb of information that current volunteers were willing to give, so here I am, dispersing the crumbs!
My Job
As an agriculture volunteer, I spend several days a week in the fields where I work with women in some of the local women's organizations. We have been planting sweet potatoes and cassava over the past couple of weeks, which are staples here in Cameroon. I thoroughly enjoy my time in the fields working with different women because I am able to get to know them better and hopefully help them with at least one agriculture issue they are facing.
One of the women I have had the honor of working with
Planting some potatoes
One of my most rewarding endeavors here has been a project I've started with local school children. I have been teaching them about soil conservation, climate change mitigation, and how to grow moringa trees, which will contribute to my nutrition goals in the community. It's heartwarming to see their enthusiasm and curiosity, and it reminds me why I signed up for the Peace Corps in the first place – to make a tangible impact and to create connections with my community.
Some students collecting soil for a lesson on soil testing and conservation
I have also recently partnered with the pastor's wife in my community to bring educational lessons to the women in the community. My first lesson is based on the fact that most women in my village are small business owners. They sell their crops, baskets, and products in the market each week, so I plan on teaching them basic entrepreneurial skills to diversify and maximize their income. I hope to continue to do lessons on improved agriculture, small animal husbandry, income-generating skills, life skills, and everything in between.
But what happens outside the fields? Well, there's a whole lot more to my day than just playing in the dirt.
My Chores
Chores are an integral part of life for a Peace Corps volunteer anywhere. These daily tasks might sound simple, but they offer a unique perspective on the local way of life and a deeper connection with the community. They also take way longer than they take in the United States.
When it's not the rainy season, the day often starts with a trip to the water pump. Access to clean water is a precious commodity, and many volunteers, like me, join the locals in the daily ritual of filling up large containers with water. It's not only a practical task but also a valuable opportunity to chat with neighbors and build relationships within the community. I actually rarely pump my own water since so many of my neighbors offer to do it for me.
However, unlike the watering holes across different African ecosystems during the rainy season, our watering hole is often neglected because everyone collects rainwater.
Only someone without running water can genuinely appreciate the beauty of this photo
In a place where dust and bugs are cohabitators, I find myself sweeping my house every day. I also frequently wipe down all surfaces as well. I have always found a lot of comfort in cleaning and having control of my living space, even if I don't have much control over other aspects of my life, so I have thoroughly enjoyed the moments I spend cleaning.
I spend a lot of time each week doing my laundry by hand in buckets. Though it is tedious and makes me all the more appreciative of washing machines, I enjoy the time I can spend on my porch disconnected from everything other than my clothes and buckets. Once I finish washing and rinsing my clothes in clean water, I have to wait at least one day, sometimes three days, for my clothes to dry. With it being the rainy season, I have been leaning closer to the three-day dry time.
My beloved clothesline
Shopping in the market is a weekly chore for me in Cameroon. It's a bustling and colorful experience where I can pick up fresh fruit, vegetables, and any other essentials I may need. The market is one of the best opportunities for volunteers to immerse themselves in the local culture and practice their language skills, all while building connections with friendly vendors.
A typical vendor set-up at the market featuring my favorite mama to buy my veggies
My Free Time
As I said before, no Peace Corps volunteer is immune to abundant free time, and I am no exception. Free time among volunteers is one of the areas of our lives that can make or break service and the lessons we bring home. Though I try to make the most of my free time by integrating into the community, I also find myself engaging in comforts from home.
Spending time with my community host, Mama Anna, is a cherished part of my life here. We've built a strong connection, and I've even started giving her English lessons. We go to church together almost every Sunday and work together in her field every Wednesday morning. She has been a fantastic resource and has taught me more about local agriculture practices than I could have imagined.
English lesson with Mama Anna
The lovely Mama Anna and Mama Isabelle (who deserves a blog post of her own)
Attending various community meetings and events is also always something I look forward to. I am given the opportunity to meet new people in the village, which often leads to me being able to work in their fields. One of the most recent events I attended was Rural Women's Day in a neighboring village, which was a beautiful display of culture and appreciation for the women I work with every day.
My site-mate and I were given the honor of carrying the banner of our village during the Rural Women's Day parade in a nearby village
I've taken to making snacks to share with my neighbors or the women I work with. Nearly every time I work with a woman in her field, she gifts me something, so I enjoy returning the favor next time we work together. My most recent and favorite things to make have been candied peanuts and plantain chips.
Plantain chips with a spicy mayo
Candied peanuts with cinnamon and ginger powder
When I am home with nothing on my agenda, I listen to a lot of podcasts (Popular Front with Jake Hanrahan is a current favorite), read a book, call friends or family, and even watch Netflix. Fortunately, I have reliable internet in my village, so I feel pretty connected to home, which has helped me not feel homesick. However, reliable internet reception is not typical among Peace Corps volunteers. In another effort to productively use up some of my free time, I have signed up to teach English classes at a local technical school.
Nothing like a good book and a cocoa pod
"There's no typical day in the Peace Corps." Initially frustrating, this elusive answer has now become my reality. The diversity of experiences, the rules, the sector-specific goals, and the abundant free time shape the unique nature of each volunteer's service. Even though some of my daily tasks remain consistent, it's improbable that two volunteers in the same country and sector would share identical days. This is why I find it challenging to respond when asked about my day. The beauty of the Peace Corps lies in the uniqueness of each volunteer's journey, and that's the message I hope to convey to future volunteers, friends, and family. My daily life in Cameroon reflects this truth: a blend of meaningful work, chores, and the special moments that make my Peace Corps experience genuinely unique.
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