PC 101

Okay so here's a brief rundown on things PC:

First of all, know that how things are done in Jamaica are not necessarily how things are done in all PC countries everywhere. Although all volunteers are part of the PC, every individual country operates a little differently. A comparison that I often make is with my job at Big Brothers Big Sisters. Although BBBS is a nationwide organization and has certain aspects that are the same across the board (i.e. the terms Bigs and Littles, the use of the same database, the support a match is given, etc.), every office operates a little differently. How we operate in Alaska is not the same way things are done in Michigan or Northern Texas (i.e. overall office structure, recruiting techniques, activities offered to volunteers). We all are part of the same big happy family, have national conferences, and have a general understanding and appreciation amongst one another.

BUT when it comes down to it, we have some vast differences between one location to the next. This is much the same with the PC. There are many similarities throughout the PC (the overall application process, length of service, basic guidelines and groundrules). There are many differences (the overall training process, living accommodations, how structured your assignment is).

The differences seem to be largely based on 3 things:
1. Maybe the most obvious- culture.
2. The Country Director. Every PC country has one. Consider it the equivalent of a CEO for each location. Just like with BBBS, the "buck stops" at each individual CEO or Executive Director, the same is the case with the Country Directors. The Country Directors seem to have a large influence over country policies, rules, and the overall nature of the program.
3. The amount of time the PC has been working in the country. PCVs have been serving in Jamaica for almost 50 years. Matt and I will be in the 81st PCV group to come to Jamaica. PCVs have been serving in Mexico for barely 5 years. As you would guess, there is a huge difference between serving in a country that has a program that has been around for 50 years versus 5 years.

More to come...