"Conversations" - 50th Anniversary Special Edition Peace Corps PSA

[EntJ]

It would have been so much better if every scene had been a different volunteer instead of using the same guy over and over. More realistic (an ENTIRE library out of bottles AND built a clinic?),more diverse (this is the most standard white guy ever), and more interesting...

[TravisHellstrom]

I really love this video. Well done Peace Corps. Thank you for the opportunity to serve, it's been an honor and privilege.

[ebw3st3r]

Awww. I've been back for almost 20 years, but that really struck a chord.

[stevo9er]

Super jealous about the beans... And the canoe.

[reva12]

So true about one wanting to quit at the beginning of service and the total turn around at the end: Peace Corps is addictive. My second time as PCRV!

That said, I do agree with @marmotzero and those that have made similar comments: The person in the PSA comes across at best as cocky and at worst as a patronizing American. And IMO, the promo's exclusive focus on the "exotica" may not be enough to generate interest amongst the uninitiated.

Anyhow,

Wish you another fruitful half century, PC:)

[ronzeno]

I'm married to a RPCV for 31 years. On retirement we both will join the PC and volunteer!

[nunut14]

This video brought a a big smile to my lips and a tear to my eye, 33 years after Returning from the Philippines. I rushed the link to my RPCV buddies, with whom I still maintain close friendships.

[linda3057]

The question is: Does the Peace Corps value its reputation over its volunteers. I do not hear the peace corps saying volunteers come first. It seems all about avoiding scandal.

[redmaypril]

@linda3057 huh? Volunteers came first in the country I served, but we had a great country director!

[greenwormsoup]

Exchange "rice" for "beans" and you have Peace Corps Nepal!

[cristaleena]

I ha beans for every meal too! -RPCV Honduras

[cristaleena]

Awesome video!

[jbibm81]

roosters as an alarm clock ... so true. that's funny about the goats in the bottom of the bus.

[tristanfoy]

They stuffed the goats into the bottom of the bus where I lived.

- Peace Corps Peru

[mcraed2004]

@tristanfoy I found you Tristan!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nuaka100]

When a friend sent me the link I was worried that it was going to be lame, but I ended up laughing out loud. Only a truly grumpy and uptight former volunteer wouldn't see a little bit of themselves here. The PSA is humorous and touching, and captures something real about the way most volunteers bring their experiences home (and can't stop talking about it for the first year back). Way more engaging and interesting than the old "the toughest job..." ads.

[JozUnderhill]

Too funny!! My alarm clock was a rooster when I was a PC volunteer in Micronesia!!

[dmm2323]

Im a pc volunter in Armenia right now, i love this :) my seatmate on the bus, was a goat. hahah, happened to me a few times

[fuzzymonkeypants]

My husband said it wasn't at all realistic, since there's no mention of parasites. Ah, the burden of being married to an RPCV!

[fuzzymonkeypants]

My husband said it wasn't at all realistic, since there's no mention of parasites. Ah, the burden of being married to an RPCV!

[elshadyusif]

I love PC!! I have a lot of friends who were volunteer in my country Azerbaijan, i also want to but it is bad that just US citizens can apply, anyway love you my PCVs..

[MSBAMB1]

I can't wait to become a volunteer; I just started filling out my application. :)

[adivineeternity]

I LOVE this new PSA. It's just funny, to me, and I can actually see myself being like this guy, just randomly talking nonstop to people who may or may not care about anything and everything related to my service, and I haven't even served (yet). Heck, it already IS me, since I talk about my years in college in a similar manner. It's not meant to be condescending, conceited, or anything else. Some people do actually talk at random with everybody just because it's part of who they are as a person.

[madagascarjoan]

A respected international scholar sent this to me asking if it were satire or an attempt at humor, adding, if not it gives a totally wrong impression of Peace Corps. I'd add, yes,especially to an overseas audience, not the target but it's on youtube; contact in Jordon saw it before I did. The RPCV comes across as self centered, patronizing jerk. It's ironic that money was spent on coml PSA when there are 2 minute videos by and about real PCV/ RPCV in Piece of Corps series. RPCV COL XI

[elliotthoey]

peace corps jordan isnt a real site anyway

[azkt1965]

I agree Kukuru331 I think it has a charm and humor about it, without being preachy or noble. I think it captures the enthusiasm that a volunteer might want to share. People react differently...not everyone has a quiet nobility. My "hoped for" departure date is in June after the teaching year ends. I'm not a young, doofus by any stretch of the imagination and I CAN'T WAIT!

[TransbayGuy]

Hilarious - love it. All true. Especially the part where people just look at him weird.

[caitlynisher]

Yessssss!

[marmotzero]

From a marketing perspective, who is this video supposed to appeal to? Who would possibly want to be like this desperate, conceited, annoying guy?

As an RPCV, this video represents everything I've tried to avoid when telling people about my service. This ad does not represent the humility and strength that you gain from Peace Corps service at all, and I can only hope that it doesn't get much air time. Emphatic dislike.

[mbrocenos]

@marmotzero yeah, the guy does seem like a pretentious tool, yet it's the third most watched video on the Peace Corps' YouTube page and it's only been up for three days. Maybe they're trying a new tactic and maybe it's working for America's narcissistic youth.

[marmotzero]

@mbrocenos They'll be in for a shock... the hardest part for me about returning to America wasn't the change in culture, it was the complete lack of connection that people in America had to anything I had experienced. Most people have no point of cultural reference, and they check out about 30 seconds after the initial "oh, you were in Peace Corps! That's so cool!" The guy in the video just seems really desperate for attention, and he doesn't realize he's not making a connection with anyone.

[AfricanDakota]

Nice work. PSA's are not easy to develop and this captures so much in just one minute. And most of the volunteers I manage will be happy to be thanked for their service. Sure, they aren't in this for the thanks - but it doesn't hurt to hear it once in a while, especially from Susan Sarandon! Merci, jerejeff, tatenda, kea leboga, obrigado, gracias!

[Chevalier2035]

My students also taught me as much or more than I taught them, although they were happy to be learning English. Joel Mayer, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Republic of Niger, 1973-75 & 1978-81.

[The06140614]

"After two months I was ready to quit, but after two years, I didn't want to leave."

[TheJohncoleman83]

I sensed humility in, "my students actually ended up teaching me," gratitude in his dance and goat story to a young child, and wisdom in his advice about always including village elders. Except for maybe the first comment, he did forget to mention his failures, so it probably wasn't very honest though ;) Are those the qualities of "vacationing toolish hipsters?" May we continue to learn today and implement what our experiences gave us, and never forget all who invested positively in our lives.

[kukuru331]

I think it's great! I saw myself in this PSA and I'm certainly not a hipster. Learning a new language, assimilating to a new culture (including the oddities), and seeing your hard work pay off through education and community development are all memorable to me. Wanting to shout it out to the world upon returning home? YES! In a short, humorous manner, this PSA portrays the transition we go through as we try to connect two different worlds and share our love of our Peace Corps experience at home.

[heidiraels]

I'm mixed.... I wish the actor wasn't such a "known" buffoon.... and I think there was a little too much focus on and glamorization of the ultimately trivial oddities of Peace Corps life. It also is far from reality for a large number of volunteers. Yes, those are possibilities, and maybe those are the things most memorable to the non-volunteer, but they aren't reality most of the time, and they are rarely the things that make our service so memorable. It is an unfortunate blunder I think.

[nealybob]

Awful. As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I can only hope that I and my fellow former volunteers don't come across like the gentleman here does. This PSA trivializes service in Peace Corps and makes it seem like a vacation for toolish hipsters.

[rbz12run]

Well done!

[lafty1970]

that how i think it will be like, lol

[cristaleena]

Actually funny

[badu2fan]

Love the subtleness