Welcome Volunteers! is a multi-part, limited series of advice and tips for the new cohort preparing for service in Thailand. Each installment will focus on a theme of advice from members of Peace Corps Thailand Groups 133 & 134 and compiled by Teresa Derr. Graphics created by Clare Peppler.

Teresa Derr, 134 YinD

To Group 135:

Recently, I got to help my program manager with a Site Identification for Cohort 135. Watching her write down information on a very familiar-looking set of papers brought back my own memories of receiving that exact same set of papers for my site. I remember seeing my community’s name for the first time. I remember feeling my eyes pop at the number of dialects written down. But mostly, I remember the nervous, excited, anxious, giddy feeling I had as I finally held in my hands the entire reason I had come to Thailand. These were the people I was going to serve. 

When we got here, the first group back after Covid, it was daunting and terrifying and thrilling. Peace Corps 2.0, they called us, the first in the new post-Covid era. News outlets met us at the airport. We were a huge deal. Now, we are, as I heard another volunteer say, old news. Everyone is getting ready for the new volunteers. I’m not upset about this; I’m also excited! The site I was looking at is maybe 7km away from me. I don’t know if a volunteer will be placed there – it depends on so many variables! – yet I can’t help but hope. I’d love another friend here.

As I was thinking about this person who might get a chance to live near me, I thought about the process they were going through right now. (If they were anything like me last year this time, they might be obsessively checking to see if Peace Corps has sent them more tasks for clearance. They’re maybe freaking out over the medical and legal clearance process. They’re probably more or less calmly trying to figure out how to pause their life in the States for two years.) I thought about what I might like to have heard during this time, from a volunteer in the country I was going to in about three months. 

Turns out, I wasn’t the only one who had something to say to the new volunteers! Everyone is so excited to meet the new people coming in that I collected 9 pages worth of advice, encouragement, and reminders. Their words bolstered my spirits when I read them, and I hope yours will be too, soon-to-be Volunteers of Group 135. Since there is too much to include in one article, stay tuned for future articles of encouragement! But for now, enjoy these words of welcome and some (hopefully unnecessary!) advice for getting through the medical clearance process:

“Take a breath. Think about the process that you’ve taken to get this far. Confirm within yourself that this is what you want to do. Gear up for change. You will be welcomed with such enthusiasm and you will be overwhelmed with the kindness here. We can’t wait to have you join us!” -Bradford Reszel, TESS

“True grit. That was awful. If it was for you, too, you have my sympathy.” -Virginia Jackson, TESS

“Let the medical staff do their jobs. Take nothing personal.” -Margaret Jewell, YinD

“Trust the process and remember, if it doesn’t work out now that doesn’t mean it will never work out.” -Libby, YinD

“Just know that there are others going through this with you and don’t be afraid to ask questions and help each other out! Reddit and Facebook are your best friends!” -Conor Gill, TESS

“Sticky Rice and currently serving volunteers are a wealth of resources and are always cheering you on. Don’t hesitate to reach out!” -Cloé Fortier-King, YinD

“The medical clearance process sucks! Keep at it even when it feels like you don’t have a good chance. Literally felt like I wasn’t going to get through it but here I am. What matters is your resiliency and determination to get through it. You got this!” -Pa Nhue Vue, YinD

“I will openly admit I cried several times during the medical clearance process. That being said, patience and letting go of any sense of control are the only things that got me through it in the end.” -Kayla Kawalec, YinD

“Know some of the medical issues you may currently have WILL in fact be okay while in Thailand. Thailand has a great medical team/center.” -Raynna, YinD

“You will be uncomfortable! Be ok with that. Ready your mind and body for a few tumultuous, trying months. It’s a delightfully bumpy ride if you relinquish your control.” -Cadi Duncan, TESS

“Be clear with your doctor about what you need completed. I printed out a checklist for my doctor which proved to be very helpful!” – Cadi Duncan, TESS

“Communicate proactively with your doctors so that they know the timeline and what last minute support you may require of them in case the PC does come back to you with follow-up tasks.” -Jon, TESS

“Don’t procrastinate!!!” -Bianca, TESS

“Open every damn door before giving up. Don’t take no for an answer right away. Medical is looking out for you, no doubt, but they also don’t know you the way you and your doctors do.” -Kashmin Dalal, TESS

“Smile when you can. Be kind to yourself. Never be afraid to fail, and approach every day with a fresh and positive attitude.” -James Mycek, TESS

“Truthfully, the hard work has only just begun, but I can promise that whatever you do to get here will be far and away worth the reward of being here. Start making a habit of getting comfortable with uncertainty and try to look up every now and then and appreciate where you are.” -Kayla Kawalec, YinD

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Read more installments in the Welcome Volunteers! series