I was a Peace Corps Volunteer: Going Back to Guinea

So I've been fortunate enough to go back to Guinea twice since ending my service, both within the last year because my day job sent me there.
In short, it's nice. You get to see the people you want to see and eat much better. If you're not swamped with work, you might even be able to go enjoy some of the touristic sites.
It sucks though because even though you're making much more money, eating better, and basically having a better life, you're still seeing how little your country has progressed. And it can make you feel bad, seeing your friends stuck with little opportunities, and oftentimes poorer health while still being at risk of political turmoil.
Use that to inspire you though. Development is complex and the solutions more so and it's going to require motivated people who want to make a difference.
You can be the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who started Dare to Innovate, a country-spanning org that helps aspiring entrepreneurs, or maybe you'll start a travel company using Peace Corps volunteers and friends as references, or a chocolate making company, or a sports company, or do pretty much anything if you really want to help out your old country.
I don't really have plans to go back to Guinea anytime soon. What I want to do with my career, the experiences I want, and the people I want to see--I just don't see myself having to go to Guinea for those. That's okay too. We all have different tracks and I didn't make any promises. I want to help people and the way that I want to help people just might take me to different places around the world.

[@MostHighDwelling]

Yayyy you’re back!!!!❤️

[@alanadelvecchio4220]

I really appreciate how you talked about your experience going back to Guinea post-PC. As a fellow Guinea RPCV I often think about returning to Guinea in the future but then all of the same challenges and obstacles that you talked about come up (not enough vacation time, expensive, feeling disconnected). I don't want to forget about Guinea but it's hard to find where it fits in with my life now...

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Yeah--it's tough! The past and the present can never be the same no matter how much we want them to be

[@ramatasy3739]

awesome vids, I keep up with them to see if PC is right for me! Thanks

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Hey Ramata, thanks for watching! I might actually be at the end of my videos about Peace Corps but there are so many other Returned and current volunteers who are sharing their experiences and stories on KZbin and blogs. Look for as many as you can and go to events too! Please let me know if you have any questions.

[@ramatasy3739]

Will do! Thanks so much

[@Theanine3D]

As a soon-to-be Peace Corps trainee, I really appreciate these vids. Thanks for posting them!

[@dawanrobinson5697]

You're welcome Peter! That's freaking awesome! Where are you going?

[@Theanine3D]

China! I'm super excited.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Awesome! They only teach English there, right? Huge place with lots of opportunities

[@brianb5771]

Hey Dawan, I just found your channel last week and I've seen all of your videos. I'm a Junior in college right now and I was thinking of possibly joining the Peace Corps after graduation. I'm majoring in economics with a minor in sociology and I'm not sure what to do as a career. I like to travel and see different cultures and I want to do something meaningful to me so I'm thinking about joining peace corps then getting settled into a government job when I return. I just wanted to say thanks for posting these videos they are very helpful.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Hey Brian, thanks so much for saying that and for watching! It's okay to be indecisive because that's normal. Peace Corps a great option to give you something to do while you think about what you want to do but keep in mind it's for two years. Think about what's right for you and how long it might take to realize what you really want to do. I'm pretty sure Peace Corps volunteers do still get the Non competitive eligibility for a year, however, where they get priority in government jobs. If you have any questions, please shoot them my way.

[@zaraybah7919]

Why i never met someone from the peace corps here in the USA.im a Guineen, i use to have plenty of friends from the peace corps, But i live here in the us now , i wish i can meet the people from the peace corps especially Guinee.

[@dawanrobinson5697]

There should be hundreds of returned volunteers and they can be found everywhere with pockets in DC and NYC, for sure!

[@toosthings]

I’m Guinean & he went more often than I did😂

[@dawanrobinson5697]

You should visit it sometime? Before the rainy season really gets started!

[@toosthings]

I can only visit during the rainy season because I will have to go for at least 3 weeks since I only have the opportunity once in 2/3 years

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Well you better get on it! :)

[@MostHighDwelling]

Please start making vlogs!

[@dawanrobinson5697]

Why thank you! Actually vlogs with a bit nicer production might be in the works in the future...depends on if I'm able to drive my career a certain way. Thanks for watching and let me know if you have any questions!

[@alikhsan3335]

Hallo