Don't know if this has been done before, but here it is anyhow...
How to have a peace corps adventure while still in the states...
For those who are curious about the day to day, people who wanted to join but couldn't go, or those who just want to have "the experience" the following is a do-it-yourself peace corps training guide.
1. Move in with any random family in a small town that someone chooses for you. Make sure that this family is given some basic confusing instructions how to feed you, treat you and expect you to behave.
2. Do not buy ANYTHING for 3 months besides lunch and the occasional piece of fruit.
3. Charge everything electronic you have at a training center one thing at a time..do not for get to bring, a) adapter b) corresponding cord c) device needing to be charged
4. Set an alarm with animal noises to go off at random intervals during the night, increasing frequency as dawn approaches, be sure to include, donkey, goat, sheep, cow, and many, many roosters (sick roosters, not healthy ones)
5. Wear the same pair of sandals for 3 months, divide your clothes in half, then half again, not necessarily excluding everything you like, but anything ripped, stained, or revealing
6. Eat with randomly chosen host family every night and morning (remember you can only purchase lunch) hope the food made for you doesn't make you sick, or resemble snot, or contain entrails, genitals or discernible craniums.
7. For go all kinds of tea and coffee beside Lipton, and Nescafe instant. Do not break this rule.
8. Participate in development training and learn a language only 1-2 million people speak with 40-60 strangers experiencing exactly the same culture shock and health issues as you, make sure every room is 80 degrees or warmer with 50% humidity. Breezes are infrequently allowed.
9. Ask your family for care packages that take 6-8 weeks to arrive
10. Don't forget malaria profilaxis! Take once a week, or everyday depending on prescription, take with food as horrible indigestion and acid reflex is common.
Hope you enjoy! Don't forget to smile, greet strangers like you know them and ask how everyone is doing!
