By the numbers – Peace Corps Cambodia K6 volunteers
Back in my college football days, there was a column after every game called By the numbers. It was a unique way to represent the game and quantified a lot of the qualitative data that comes with a complete football game. So, here is my attempt to quantify a bit of this extremely qualitative experience, Peace Corps.
How many early terminations? – 16 out of 58= 28%
Our entire training group became Peace Corps Volunteers in early September of 2012. Our country director often tells us how ridiculous this fact is. Generally, someone always goes home during training. Since that date there has been 16 early terminations. The reality of our service is that it is long and not everyone will see it through. Recently, at the K6 COS conference, I noted how the personality of the group has shifted as various folk have packed up and headed back stateside. This will happen in every group of volunteers world-wide. People come and some stay and others go.
How many states? – 21 different states
Without even asking this question to my fellow volunteers I knew where over half of the volunteers came from in America. I have never been much of a promoter of where I came from, but here in Cambodia that has changed. I am able to tell you all the amazing things about Minnesota. I may rattle on about the debilitating beauty of endless amounts of snow, the crisp refreshing nature of cool, dew covered mornings in the early fall, the delicious cooking and comfortable atmosphere that fills up my parents’ home. Basically, we are all proud of where we come from in America.
How many K6 PCVs have/had a significant other during service? – 23 out of 41= 56%
The majority of the time while serving in Peace Corps a PCV is not in close contact with other volunteers. Some volunteers have site-mates or volunteers within short distances, but that is generally limited to only a few folks. Volunteers often will discuss the loneliness of the long days or missing the ease of fluent English when we find ourselves together after months away. There is an art to having a long-distance relationship and PCVs seem to find ways to make these happen. With the percentage more than half, it is obvious that many volunteers are finding ways to have significant emotional connections throughout these sometimes lonely days.
How many K6 PCVs visited USA? – 16 out of 41 = 39%
This percentage isn’t extremely high, but it isn’t low either. Cambodia is essentially on the other side of the world and this can be daunting for any one traveling to or from Cambodia, but many folks take a good chunk of their vacation days and head back to America for a wedding, a family event, some fast-food, or a cold PBR. I was not one of these folks and am looking to touching down in America after a couple of years.
How many K6 PCVs left country on vacation? – 34 out of 41 = 83%
The proximity of extremely interesting place abounds in Southeast Asia. There is the French influenced Hanoi, bustling Saigon and the islands of Vietnam, Laos with mountains, rivers, and jungles, Thailand with expansive Bangkok or relaxed Chang Mai in the north, Indonesia with the well-known island of Bali, the metropolitan and diverse city of Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, the financial wonder that is Singapore, and many more. These places are (generally) cheap, short flights away and offer all sorts of delights and cultures not found so readily in Cambodia. The numbers demonstrate how many of us, PCVs, have taken advantage of our time in Cambodia to become more familiar with this part of the world.
How many K6 PCVs got Dengue Fever? – 6 out of 41 = 15%
One of the biggest fears of the “just off the plane” volunteers is health concerns. Yes, there is ample reason for this, but these concerns are soon forgotten after a couple of fifty-cent beers and some fried noodles at a street stall. I for one (don’t tell Joanne), have worn bug-spray maybe 4 to 6 times in my two years and find that the Minnesotan (here I am talking about MN again) mosquitoes are much worse. Essentially, your health is a bit of chance mixing with personal choices. You can often choose where you eat, what you eat, but in the end it will depend on a whole lot of little things prior to that choice that may determine your health. So, good luck 🙂
How many K6 PCVs ate dog meat? – 21 out of 41 = 51%
Yes, eating dog meat is still happening. As you can see, over half of the present K6 volunteers have taken a piece of their local Fido and given it a try. I bet most would tell you something like this, “it isn’t too bad,” or “it’s a bit chewy, but sorta tasty,” because no one really wants to come out and say, “damn, these folks are on to something.” In my experience, the dog meat isn’t eaten as a meal, but as a special snack for drinking sessions or a holiday. It definitely took a bit of mental hoop-jumping to really wrap my head around it all, but I now am not one to think twice about some saach ch-kai (dog meat).
How many K6 PCVs visited Angkor Wat? – 38 out of 41 = 93%
I think this may be 100% now. Angkor Wat is easily the largest, most famous attraction in Cambodia. If you are unfamiliar with Angkor Wat, I suggest you do a quick search and see one of the greatest Temple complex ever built. It is epic.
How many K6 PCVs used money from an American bank account? – 34 out of 41 = 83%Yes, we receive a monthly Peace Corps stipend that easily funds all village life, but in a place like Cambodia….which is (becoming) a thriving tourist destination busting with temptations (ex. Veranda, Rusty’s ribs, Angkor What?, and more) it can often be difficult to live within the means of the stipend when traversing the country. So, a quick dip back into the safe, secure American funds becomes a slow whittle away at the numbers of our accounts until it shows a slow decrease through the months of service.
How many K6 PCVs had family/friends visit? – 25 out of 41 = 61%
Goal 3 of Peace Corps is to share your host country and its culture so Americans can gain an understanding. Having friends and family visit is one of the easiest, most direct ways to accomplish this goal. The percentage speaks for itself by demonstrating the amount of folks that come to see their volunteer in action and their home in Cambodia. I know that my mother would have never came to Cambodia if I wasn’t here as PCV and I think that is important to realize. The fact that Peace Corps service broadens the scope of the world for the volunteer, but also for anyone who participates in the volunteer’s life is an important piece of human connectivity.
How many K6 PCVs had been in an accident in Cambodia? – 18 out of 41= 44%
I don’t think any of the K6s have had to go home because of a vehicle related accident…that is the good news. However, traveling in this country is a bit risky at all times. The roads, the style of driving, and the lack of rules meshes into this mess that sometimes works amazingly and other times is a complete cluster f#$% of a ride. I hope the odds are in your favor when you travel in Cambodia.
How many K6 PCVs would do another round of PC? – 27 out of 41 = 66%
I asked this question on the tail-end of service to the other PCVs, with the completion date inching closer and closer with each day. It would have been interesting to compare the answers from mid-service to now, but I didn’t have that much forethought. The importance of this number is that over half of the current PCVs would do Peace Corps service all over again. I think that speaks volumes about the work of Peace Corps.
***An extra tid-bit – Many of the single volunteers often would say yes and then tack on the anecdotal piece of, “I’d rather do it again with my future wife/husband/partner.”
