Life After Peace Corps: One Month as an RPCV
As of today, I’ve officially been an RPCV for one month—and wow, how much life has changed since my initial interview here. Reflecting on my service makes me a bit emotional; I think about all that my counterparts and I accomplished together and the challenges I overcame along the way. It was truly the toughest job I’ve ever loved, and I’ll never forget it.
Completing my Peace Corps service is the accomplishment I am the most proud of in my life. I am forever grateful to all the people who made it possible: my lovely counterparts Jang and Mild, my host family, my school director, the students, my volunteer friends, the Peace Corps Thailand staff, and everyone who cheered me on back home. Thank you for being part of this chapter.
🌱 Year Two: Confidence, Growth, and Impact
When I wrote my first interview, it was just before our Mid-Service Conference, so I was sharing perspectives shaped only by my first year. In year two, volunteers generally feel a bit more grounded and confident. It’s a very special time because you begin to actually observe some of the impact from your projects and presence in the community.
I noticed that my counterparts had become stronger leaders at school, registration for English club skyrocketed, and community members trusted me more. We finally got to bring some long-discussed projects to life, which was incredibly rewarding.
🎯 Project Spotlight: Phonics Workshop for Teachers
My favorite project we did was a workshop on teaching phonics and reading for teachers across the school subdistrict. It went perfectly and the feedback was phenomenal, with participants reporting that they actually used what we taught them to reach hundreds of kids.
Even though I once doubted my impact on English learning at the community level, the district office is now funding a foreign English teacher for each school. You never know what your legacy will be—or if you'll even see it—but every PCV leaves a mark.
Peace Corps may have a set end date, but don’t let that stop you from living each day fully.
⚠️ The Stress No One Talks About
One thing I’d like to share because I think it’s criminally underplayed is how anxiety inducing the last six months are. In that time, Volunteers have to start thinking about what they will do next and prepare application materials for higher education, internships, jobs, etc.
For my cohort, this stress was amplified by the presidential election and the uncertainty of what kind of America we’d return to. Everything in my life—personal and professional—seemed to come crashing down with just four months to go.
That long distance relationship I mentioned in my last interview ended, and with it, all my plans for after service. I was also grieving the death of a longtime dream—working at USAID.
💬 Getting Help Was a Turning Point
I ended up going to weekly sessions with a Peace Corps-provided therapist, which gave me the outlet I needed. I’m sharing this because someone else’s story encouraged me to seek help. Mental health and self-care should be normalized—because someone out there might need that permission.
🌏 Life After Service: Still in Thailand
I am happy to say that I’m doing very well now and continuing the Peace Corps spirit through new service. I currently work at Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG) as their Programme Management Fellow, based in western Thailand. Yes, I never left!
I deeply connect with KHRG’s mission to improve human rights in southeast Burma, and their use of capacity building workshops fits perfectly with the skills I built in Peace Corps.
🛠️ Peace Corps Skills That Really Matter
Peace Corps gave me so many tools for this work—especially in project design and management. I’ll say it again and again:
Do your VRG thoughtfully. Track your outcomes. Evaluate your goals. Apply for small grants.
All of that is relevant in the "real world."
In my first week at KHRG, we wrote our triannual strategic plan. I felt totally ready because it resembled the 2-Year Plan I created during Reconnect.
I also use my intercultural communication skills every day in our predominantly Karen office. I’m learning Burmese while keeping up my Thai—and loving life in a welcoming, diverse town.
Oh, and best of all: I can drive my own motorbike. 😄
💌 Advice for Future Peace Corps Thailand Volunteers
You’re making the right choice. You should do Peace Corps.
Enjoy the cheerful moments. Let the bad ones go quickly. Make friends in your cohort—you’ll need each other. No one else gets it like another PCV.
Peace Corps may have an end date, but don’t treat it like a pause in your life. Be present. Let it shape you.
You’re going to do great.
Best of luck,
Bianca