Pets and animals tend to play outsize roles for Peace Corps Volunteers. As companions who, like us, don’t speak the local language, they can make the experience a lot easier. For Helen Alesbury, her dog was at the center of one of her most memorable moments in her time in El Salvador.

Episode 20 - The Mutt And The Machete

An unfiltered look at the toughest job you'll ever love. Each episode features true stories about the Peace Corps, told by returned volunteers reflecting on the thrilling highs, the debilitating lows, the near-death experiences and the crazy adventures that you may not hear about from the Peace Corps organization itself.

The Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of New York City is a non-profit group based in NYC to bring people who have served in the Peace Corps, with their friends and family, together for charity and social events, as well as our annual Peace Corps Story Slam storytelling event. Find us on Facebook.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

There are many ways to learn about the local culture as a Peace Corps volunteer, but often the best lessons happen by accident rather than by design. In this episode we hear two stories out of the Ukraine, from Victoria Walker and Allison Miller, who made strong impressions on the locals, but maybe not for the reasons they would have chosen.

Episode 22 - Michelle Obama and the Soviet YMCA

Shawna Miller finds much more than love when the circus comes to her little Honduran town.

Episode 21 - Circus of Love

At some point, every volunteer finds themselves too far from a bathroom at the time they need it most. For Denver Governor, that moment turned out to be one of the most important.

Episode 19 - The Chinese Sushi Icebreaker

Bob Nolan considers what “justice” means when confronting one of his students and friends in Zimbabwe.

Episode 20 - The Mutt And The Machete

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