Welcome New Philippines Volunteers!

*****My Peace Corps Service Ended on September 17, 2013. Although some of this information may remain relevant, I will not be continuing to update this page.*****

Congrats! You’re so lucky to be coming to this wonderful country. I created this page to fill in some of the gaps between now and when you actually get here. Also to give you some of the information that I found it hard to find when I was still preparing during my last few months at home.

So from what I hear, you will be arriving in the Philippines sometime in July. That means you have a few months left to prepare and are probably trying to learn everything you can. So here is some info that I help will guide you. Of course there is so much that you will just have to wait an see for yourselves! Keep in mind though, that this info is coming from the perspective of a male, education volunteer. Sorry if some of the things seem vague to the women and volunteers heading to other sectors.

LANGUAGE
Ok, I’m sure some of you are wondering if you should be getting a head start on the language. It’s true that the major language here is Tagalog. However, there are so many other dialects that your chances of actually using it are pretty low unless you are in the Manila area. In fact, I haven’t spoken Tagolog since the first few weeks I was here.

Peace Corps has a great language program. Once you arrive you will be broken into language clusters.  With the last batch, PC started a new approach. In the past, PCTs would be broken into different language groups depending on the regional language of their sites. But now ALL incoming volunteers will learn the national language of Tagalog/Filipino.

The truth is, even after 3 months of language training, you may end up someplace where they speak another dialect. For me, I started learning Tagalog before I left. I was placed in the Ilokano language group. After arriving at site, I discovered that the local dialect is different.

If you want to get a head start on Tagalog, you are welcome to. But I would suggest not investing to much in it, like buying Rosetta Stone or anything like that. The language program here is excellent and even if you have no head start, you will do fine.

That being said, I tried out the Pimsleur Tagalog program and found it super easy and helpful. You can torrent it and try it out. If you like it and feel morally obligated to pay the outrageous price, you can buy it on their website.

STAGING
When I was researching the PC timeline, I couldn’t really find anything about staging. So here is the scoop. You’ll check into a hotel and have a day of quick orientation. This is the time to turn into a social butterfly and get to know everyone you see. After you arrive in the Philippines you will be broken into sectors (Community, Youth and Family; Education; and Coastal Resource Management). However, it is important that you network with all of the volunteers that you can. It will make your life much easier for the next two years.

At staging they will basically fill you in on some rules, issue passports, tell you the schedule after you arrive, etc. I really don’t remember a whole lot because I was so excited. I encourage you to go out that night with the other volunteers and enjoy your last meal in the States. They give you some money for food. But try and save a little so you can exchange it when you arrive.

The next day you’ll fly as a group. I was surprised that no Peace Corps Staff was there to chaperone us, but they will wait for you at the airport.

INITIAL ORIENTATION (IO)
Training is held a little different than it was in the past. My group was the first to try out this extended IO program and I can only assume it will be similar for 272. It used to be that volunteers had 3 days of orientation, and then were broken into their clusters and headed directly to their training sites. Now it’s a little different, but better for the most part.

There will be a 3 day orientation in which all the volunteers will be together. After that you will be broken into sectors and have two more weeks of training. If it is the same as last two years, you will be at the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. It is a beautiful place. Enjoy the aircon and showers while it lasts. You will have to bear full days of trainings, workshops, icebreakers, and powerpoints. During this time, it seems PC will only feed you bits of information bit by bit. You may not know your language group until the last week. And even then, that only tells you the region you are destined for. You won’t find out our permanent site until halfway through Pre-Service Training.

You may be surprised that all of the Peace Corps staff will know who you are the minute you step off of the bus. This is because they have been studying everything about you from the second they knew you were coming. Take this as a warning. Clean up your facebook now if you haven’t already. And while you are at IO, remember that they are constantly studying you to determine if you are fit to be a volunteer.

*Update: More rumors in the air! There is talk that the IO and PST may be rearranged AGAIN. If I haven't mentioned it already, don't set certain expectations! Things are always changing. This is just how it was for my group (270).

PRE-SERVICE TRAINING (PST)
I don’t want to say a lot here since it will be different for everyone. For PST, you will be broken into groups by sectors, and then possible again into smaller language clusters.Each language cluster usually has between 4-6 people, but for sector training, you will be bit larger group.

PACKING
The packing list issued to us by the Peace Corps was next to useless, so unless they changed it after our complaints, take note:

During the two weeks of IO, business casual attire is required every day. For teachers, you will be expected to wear business casual to work every day of your service. In case you don’t know what this means Business casual is slacks, collared shirt, and dress shoes for the men, and similar for the women. Definitely no shorts, t-shirts or flipflops. The rest of  time during PST is a little more lax, but I would still pack at least two or three sets of business casual attire.

You will need one set of formal attire for the swearing in ceremony. If you don’t have room for it, I know some of the volunteers bought their outfits here.

Other things to remember:
You don’t need to bring toiletries to last you for two years. Bring enough to get you through a week or so before you have a chance to make it to the mall. During IO, you will have the opportunity to go to a department store. However, one exception is contacts. If you wear contacts (and there are many of us here that do), it is true that PC won’t help you out. But it’s manageable. You can buy solution in any eyeglass store. But I’d bring enough to last you a few months at least.

Peace Corps will issue you a cell phone. However, if you are dead set on keeping yours, you can have it unlocked once you get here for around $10.

For keeping in touch with friends and family back home, there are a few options I'd recommend. First, you can buy an international calling card here called Hellow! that will allow you to call the states for 2.5 pesos/minute (~$0.06). OR download Skype if you haven't already. It costs about 2 cents to call a landline or cellphone, or free if you want to video chat. There is also Google Voice which you can download. It is free and last time I checked it was free to call, and even send text messages. But download it before you come because once you are here it is a little tricky to get. Lastly, I've heard of some volunteers using MagicJack. I'm not exactly sure how it works, but I know it requires a land-line to tap into (which there is none at my site). It still may be worth checking into though. And as you can see, almost all of these options are cheaper than buying a calling card at home, most of which charge between 10 and 20 cents per minute to call the Philippines.

For, me the allowance has been enough to keep me happy. If you have a little bit left over from staging, you shouldn't have to worry about bringing extra funds, unless you are planning on a big purchase one you are here, like swearing in cloths, or a computer.

Bring your laptop or your notebook. Everyone has one. Also, if you don’t have one, I highly recommend bringing an external hard drive. PCVs are notorious for sharing movies, music, kindle books and software.

If you like to read, buy a kindle. This was the best purchase I made before coming here. Books are relatively expensive here even if they are used. E-book files are easy to share, and a Kindle’s battery life will last months.

You will need small gifts to give out to host families and friends. I wish I had packed more because they go so quickly. They don’t have to be anything large. Things like decks of cards, candy, calendars, mugs, t-shirts, and American-branded cosmetics are always appreciated. Even comic books or American Cookbooks - cooking, not baking...very few ovens here.They will love to see anything from your place, weather it is a keychain with your state slogan or food manufactured in your place (my host family was amazed at the beef jerky I gave them) Remember not to give them all away at once!

Another thing you might want to look into before you come is shipping arrangements for any care packages your family may want to send you, or gifts you will want to send home for Christmas. Of course you can use the Postal Service (flat rate boxes are great), or FedEX. There is also another option for sending BIG boxes through Manila Forwarder and its associated branches. These have become termed as "Balikbayan Boxes" and are commonly used by Filipinos working in the states wanting to send packages home to the Philippines. You can send a huge box (unlimited weight) for less than $100. Try and find a branch in your state and ask questions before you leave. My family has used them to send books, sports equipment and other things to my school.

When you're choosing clothes to bring remember:
Everything will most like have to be hand washed. This is tougher on clothing than you may think.

Assuming you will be going to a warm humid place, bring light cloths that will dry quickly.

Polo shirts are great for casual or semi-formal events. Go easy on the T-shirts. They are cheap here and you will collect many of them.

Bring at least one pair of jeans. They are suitable to wear almost anywhere, especially if you are stumped as to what is appropriate to wear (for example attending a church for the first time).

Don’t go easy on underwear and socks. Pack as many as will fit.

But don't worry! Surprisingly, the Philippines is packed with super-malls. Not sure why, but you can find anything you need or any brand you want. And of course, if you prefer, you can find that Lacoste shirt  or pair of Oakley sunglasses you've always wanted for $3 in the land famous for knockoffs.

Don’t forget:

• Headlamp
• Duck tape, zip-lock bags
• Camera AND camera cable AND charger
• USB Flash Drive
• Ipod
• Pictures from home
• One or two quick dry towels
• Multitool (leatherman, swiss army knife)
• A Philippines Travel Book (Do NOT buy Culture Shock. I found it rather useless)
• A map of the U.S. if you can find one that will pack easily.
• A small photo album with pictures from home that you can share with students, host families and friends. They will want to see your house. They will want to see your family. They will want to see a picture of a typical meal to see if it is true that we don't eat rice every day.

Aside from the last items on the list, all of these things can be found in the Philippines. However you may find a bit more peace of mind knowing you have it already and won't have to run around searching for thumb-drive or camera that is legit and won't break after a day.


If you guys have any questions at all, please don't hesitate to contact me. I hope I'll see you here this summer. Good luck in the meantime!