Pablo Arenas Gallo is the Peace Corps Recruiter at Rutgers University. He is a first-year Clinical Psychology doctoral student in the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers and earned his Master's in Global Affairs from Notre Dame. Prior to that, he served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Eswatini working on HIV/AIDS prevention and mitigation projects. Pablo was also the co-director of an organization called Boys Reaching Out (BRO), which teaches life skills, positive male identity, gender equity, HIV prevention, and positive parenting to boys in Eswatini. Pablo is Colombian-American but has lived most of his life in Brazil and the U.S. He speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian fluently, and is conversational in French and Siswati. Here he shares about his experiences with the Peace Corps.
What made you want to join the Peace Corps and where did you serve?
During my senior year at Indiana University, I decided that I wanted to gain meaningful work experience in a health field, while also being able to live abroad for a prolonged period. While searching for this, I happened upon the Peace Corps website and found that I could apply for a 27-month position as a Community Health Volunteer in the Kingdom of Eswatini, and my interest was immediately piqued. The Peace Corps’ focus on sustainability and community-led projects was also important in my decision to apply.
As a Peace Corps recruiter, do you find that there is a misconception about the program that you have to clear up when talking with potential recruits?
Despite a shared base philosophy relating to the work that volunteers do, every single Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) will have a totally different experience in the field. Whenever I get questions about my experience, I always must remind applicants that my answer is just one version of what the PCV experience looks like. It is extremely important to go into the application process with an open mind!
What kind of student is a good fit for the Peace Corps?
There are many soft skills that are vital to being a good fit for the Peace Corps. If you are adaptable, self-determined, and have a passion for service, I would definitely consider applying. It is worth remembering that this experience will require you to move to a new country, use a different language, and will often put you out of your comfort zone, so being prepared for that is super important.
Finally, it is vital that the applicants’ background, skills, and interests are in line with the specific position. While this is certainly an opportunity to learn new skills, PCVs are expected to go in with relevant experience. Luckily, there are positions in six different sectors: Youth in Development, Education, Health, Agriculture, Environment, and Community Economic Development.
How do you prepare potential recruits for the Peace Corps?
Have few expectations. It is easy to hear a friend’s story or read a blog about someone’s service and start forming an idea of what yours could look like. That being said, I would strongly urge applicants to keep an open mind and remember that everyone’s service is unique. This is true for every aspect of a PCV’s life (personal, professional, community, etc.).
What does your personal life look like while you’re in the Peace Corps? Do you have breaks to go home? How about breaks throughout the workday to make calls or write emails?
Every volunteer gets two “vacation days” per month of their service and these can be used for regional travel as well as to go home. Every international trip must be approved by your Peace Corps office as they are still responsible for your safety, but otherwise there is a good amount of freedom as far as how you use them!
As for personal breaks, PCVs quickly find a balance between getting their work done and finding time to connect with people at home and abroad. Whether it is getting together with a nearby volunteer during the weekend or finding a café with good Wi-Fi to make a video call, it is possible to keep in touch with loved ones.
What was the most satisfying moment of your service?
During my service, I worked as a co-director for a mentorship program called Boys Reaching Out (BRO), that supported clubs for young men around the country to learn about life skills, gender equity, and positive male identity. Once a year, we organized a three-day training for every BRO counselor in the country (around ~40 people). All the hard work paid off when I got to meet the counselors and see how important this organization was to them as well as the impact it had on the boys we served.
What was the hardest part of your service?
I thought I would struggle with all the life adjustments related to having a new job, moving to a new country, etc. The truth is that I quickly adjusted to these situations. What I found toughest was missing out on family events for two years. Every time that my friends and family got together for birthdays and holidays, I would get extra homesick. The friends that I made within my cohort and locally were a huge source of support during these moments.
Can people do more than one Peace Corps program?
Definitely! You can do it back-to-back as well as spaced out over time. This goes for serving in the same country as well as switching to a different program. One of my closest friends was on her second stint of a back-to-back Peace Corps experiences that included Moldova (2016 – 2018) and Eswatini (2018 – 2020).
Do people ever leave before their term is up?
Yes. There are a variety of reasons for people not completing their service, ranging from personal, medical, safety, and other reasons. The Peace Corps will provide as much support as possible in helping a volunteer resolve their situation while remaining a PCV but will also support them in heading back home if that is the best decision.
In closing, why should students today consider joining the Peace Corps?
Students should consider the Peace Corps because of the unique opportunity it presents to work and live abroad while developing important personal and professional life skills!
Visit Pablo Arenas Gallo at the Rutgers Global offices at 30 College Avenue in New Brunswick. His office hours are Fridays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
To learn more about Peace Corps at Rutgers, visit this page.