In this interview, we hear from Ashli Alston. Ashli is working as a Peace Corps Community Organizational Development volunteer in Moldova. What Ashli shares gives us a better understanding of the work volunteers do. We learn about the challenges, rewards, and personal growth that happens from volunteering in a new place. Ashli talks about living in a different country, working with local people, and dealing with surprise situations. Join us as we learn about Ashli’s journey and see how volunteering with Peace Corps can change lives.
Table of Contents
- Volunteer Experience and Motivation
- Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
- Surprises and Challenges
- Advice and Support
- Practical Tips and Language Learning
- Social Identity during Service
- Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. Can you tell us more about serving as a Community Development volunteer in Moldova?
In Moldova, Community Organizational Development (COD) volunteers work for a variety of organizations such as libraries, cultural/community centers, NGOs, youth centers, and mayor’s offices. My permanent placement is serving with a cultural center. We work closely together with the mayor’s office and the library for the majority of our events.
On a typical day, I work 9am-5pm with a 2 hour break from 12-2pm, where I get to go home for lunch (and a nap). A characteristic of COD is that the work tends to vary day to day. So this means I can be doing anything from planning and implementing after-school clubs, creating promotional materials, researching and writing grant proposals, organizing monthly community events, and/or preparing materials for local council meetings.
Reviving a village youth council
My primary project during service has been reviving a village youth council that has fallen into disarray after COVID. Many of the youth previously involved in the council moved away for work or higher education and a new group was never formed. As such, my counterparts and I spent the first year of service strengthening our relationships with the current youth and learning how to successfully engage them in new ways.
We decided to create more opportunities for them to grow in their leadership skills, use critical thinking, and have fun together in a space outside of the pressure of school. We began the process to create a mini youth center in April 2024, submitted a grant proposal in November, and were awarded funds from the Peace Corps in December. My second year of service has been spent constructing the space and planning our new activities. As my service nears its end in December, I hope to spend the rest of my time helping set the foundations for future youth work in my community.
2. What motivated you to join the Peace Corps and choose Moldova?
The idea of living and working abroad has intrigued me since high school, and after completing a five week study abroad in graduate school, I knew I wanted a longer, more encompassing experience. The Peace Corps was a natural choice with the added benefit of learning a new language and utilizing knowledge and skills that I had previously only exercised in academic settings.
I applied specifically to Moldova because I wanted to work in the Community Development sector, and Moldova was one of two openings available. I didn’t know anything about the country, but the location, culture, and job description sounded most suited to my wants and needs.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. Tell us more about your home situation
My permanent site is a village of approximately 3,000 people, but nearly half of that number spend the majority of the year working abroad. PC Moldova requires volunteers to spend their first six months living with a host family. This experience tends to be beneficial for language acquisition, integration, and experiencing traditional life, such as helping make wine, tending to the garden, and taking care of the various animals a host family may have (chickens, ducks, pigs, cows, etc.).
I lived with host families for my first eight months and got to experience the joys of an outhouse (which my host mom kept impeccably clean), the killing and riding of a pig (it’s tradition, I promise), and a myriad of celebrations with more food than I could possibly eat. After that, I moved into independent housing called a “casă mica” which is a small house separate from the main big house. I am very lucky and grateful that independent options existed in my community, but it’s not a guarantee that every site will. Most volunteers live with a host family for their whole two years.
In terms of recreation, options for exercise and entertainment will vary depending on the size of your site. Some will have gyms or exercise equipment in parks. If not, indoor activity can be done depending on your space, and outdoor options are unlimited. My site has small grocery stores where I can sit outside with a snack and drink, two public parks, and a lake. My closest coffee shop, restaurant, and large grocery store are 15 minutes by car and a minimum of 45 minutes by bus.
4. Any memorable experiences or interactions you’ve had?
I am not someone used to the outdoors or physical labor, but I have done more of that here than in my whole life. My counterparts love to mention this whenever we do anything physical, whether that be getting water from the well, painting walls, carrying heavy equipment, or pulling weeds in front of our outdoor theater. For most things, they give me the easy tasks because I’m a “city girl” and honestly, I’m not complaining.
Last fall, the time to harvest grapes came, and I was excited to see the process of how wine was made. My counterpart willingly took me along to her vineyards, where around 15 people had gathered to pick grapes. 90% of the people there were older than me (including a woman as old as my grandmother), and I thought to myself, “Okay, if they can do it, surely I can as well.” Ten minutes later, my legs were aching, bees were attacking me, and I was the slowest person there. To make matters worse, I had an inch of mud weighing me down with every step forward I took.
My counterpart eventually told me that I could stop, that I didn’t need to work the whole time with them. But I asked to be there! I couldn’t be the only one not working, so I trudged on. We finally finished and transported the grapes to a huge barrel in the backyard to be crushed. Luckily, the crushing was left to the men, and my work was done. I was glad I got to experience something most Moldovan households do every year, but I probably won’t be volunteering my help again this year.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about challenges in Moldova?
Moldova prides itself on its wine. They have the world’s largest wine cellar, and most village households grow their own grapes and make their own wine. I don’t drink alcohol and assumed that rejecting it might raise an eyebrow or two, but wouldn’t cause any problems. What surprised me was when I rejected a glass, I received disapproving looks, comments, and follow-up offers for wine every 30 minutes. Even when I gave excuses about taking medicine or having a sensitive stomach, the persistence continued. So I struggled with the feeling that I was offending or disappointing my hosts and that I wasn’t integrating properly by not partaking in such a prominent part of Moldovan culture.
I would like to note that this has been my experience with a few people in my village, but I’ve visited other volunteers at their sites and had no problems rejecting alcohol. Everyone’s service is unique! For me, as time passed and I stayed consistent with not drinking, the people around me adjusted as well. Now, when they drink wine or beer, I drink juice or non-alcoholic cvas. I still catch a stray comment or two, but it’s no longer a source of stress for me. I’ve learned that integration can take many forms, and Peace Corps service is about finding the balance between integration and personal boundaries.
6. What challenges did you face while working on Community Development projects?
The primary challenge I’ve faced on COD projects has been myself. I let my worries about my language abilities, qualifications, and my ideas being rejected stop me from being proactive about projects. For the first 6 months of service, I convinced myself that if I just kept studying Romanian, I would finally feel confident enough to lead an activity or propose a new idea instead of just assisting with current ones.
The truth is that 20 months into service and I still don’t feel confident. I was waiting around for an aha moment that never happened. Even now, sometimes it takes me two days to work up the courage to present an idea to my counterparts. But asking myself “What’s the worst that could happen?” has helped. Also, accepting that embarrassment is normal and the world won’t end if I misspeak or make a mistake has eased some stress.
Additionally, my counterparts have always been supportive, patient, and communicative, so it helps to know that if they were upset with our collaboration, they would let me know.
7. Could you share some of the secondary projects you have been involved in?
Local folk group
I am a part of our local folk group that sings and dances at celebrations and festivals. My counterpart is the head of the group, so rehearsals often happen during working hours. It was just my luck that they saw me tapping my foot to the beat of one of their songs, and the next thing I knew, I was being invited to join. My very first performance with the group was a festival in a neighboring village, and I learned the day before that we would be singing in front of the President of Moldova, Ms. Maia Sandu. I was so nervous I forgot the words to our second song.
Weekly English club
During the school year, I hold a weekly English club in the local library, primarily made up of 1st-5th graders. This project was the first request my community made of me, so even though I’ve never taught English, I agreed.
I now have a 13-year-old volunteer who helps me run club sessions while practicing her English, public speaking, and leadership skills. I never thought I would be teaching a second language as a COD volunteer, but this club has been helpful in building a good reputation and expanding my interaction with the younger kids. To support the club activities after I’m gone, I received a free shipment of nearly 60 beginner English books from the US organization Darien Book Aid. Their generous donation is greatly appreciated by me and my community!
Local park renovation
Lastly, my counterpart and I wrote a grant to complete a renovation of the local park. Many benches and playground equipment were missing parts and there was no lighting making it difficult for the community to use the space especially in winter when the sun sets at 4:30pm. We were awarded the grant from The National Youth Council of Moldova who supported us in repairing equipment, installing lighting, and buying recreational materials for youth to play volleyball and basketball in the park.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to someone considering serving as an Community Development volunteer in Moldova?
- Connect with a PC recruiter, RPCVs, and/or current volunteers to help you decide if the culture and the work would fit your desires. You can request a recruiter on the PC website, and there might even be one in your area.
- Read blogs from current volunteers! We are super lucky to have three overlapping cohorts doing their service, so take advantage of that and see what it’s like to serve in Moldova. Substack is a popular platform that volunteers use.
- Read Jim’s blog! Two of my lovely fellow volunteers have already done interviews about their experiences as English Education and COD volunteers.
- Follow PC Moldova on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for day-in-the-life videos, language & culture tips, house tours, and more.
- Reflect on your why and your commitment to serving two years. Peace Corps service won’t always be a breeze, so it’ll be beneficial to have a strong sense of your goals.
- COD is the most varied out of the three sectors, so know that your greatest impact in service might not come from the skills you think. Be open to trying new things, even if you don’t feel qualified to do so, and remember to keep community priorities at the forefront.
9. How has the Peace Corps training helped you during your service?
PST does a good job of making volunteers reflect on their skills and how they could apply them in unconventional ways. The language training is also an invaluable foundation that you will need as service continues.
The real advantage of PST that I didn’t realize until another volunteer pointed it out to me later on is that it is the time when you have the most interaction with PC staff. Use that to your advantage and build good relationships because the staff is there to help you. I had a rough couple of months of service that I wouldn’t have gotten through if it had not been for staff support.
The network of fellow volunteers that I built during PST has also been super helpful in navigating service. I came into PST thinking that I would be a loner and not make lasting bonds, but the relationships I built during those ten weeks are now invaluable to me. No one else will understand the trials and tribulations of being a volunteer quite like other volunteers who are going through the same thing.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. Anything that you packed or didn’t pack that you’d like to tell future Moldova volunteers?
I took the packing list extremely seriously and only brought business casual, baggy clothing, shirts with sleeves, below-the-knee dresses, etc. I quickly realized that the list wasn’t exactly reflective of current Moldovan fashion. Bring fun and comfortable clothing! All business casual means you’ll have nothing to wear on weekends or vacations. Now I’m not saying to bring your short shorts, mini-skirts, or crop tops, but you don’t have to dress like a nun. No one will care if you wear a sleeveless shirt or mid-length shorts, especially in the heat of the summer.
And in terms of shoes, I brought good-quality work loafers and exercise shoes, but didn’t put much thought into sandals, casual sneakers, or winter boots. I walk much more here, so my shoes have worn down much faster. Good quality shoes are hard to find and more expensive than in the US, so keep that in mind.
Things I did pack that have been helpful was a good winter coat, a 2-in-1 all weather jacket, good quality headphones, my kindle, and specialty hair and face products that I can’t find here. I also brought gifts for my PST and permanent host families (magnets, specialty nuts from a local factory, and dish towels with the outline of the state of Georgia). At the time, the reception of my gifts was pretty lukewarm, so I was unsure if they were needed. It was over a year into service when a host mom confessed that gifts, in fact, were appreciated and not getting one was a memory that families held onto for a while!
11. How has learning the language been?
I learned Romanian along with the majority of my cohort, while one volunteer learned Russian. Russian is very useful here as most of the population over 40 is fluent and Russian words are frequently used in the Moldovan dialect. I don’t think not knowing any Romanian or Russian beforehand puts volunteers at a disadvantage, though. I didn’t try to learn the language before staging, and my language now is at a similar level to the rest of my cohort. What’s more important than pre-work is post-work after PST.
Continuing to study or do tutoring throughout your service will immensely help your integration, communication, and ability to work. Most of the language exposure I had during PST was with host families and PC staff who were used to speaking slowly, hearing an American accent, and communicating nonverbally or with a simpler structure. Entering service was completely different as I encountered many people who couldn’t understand my accent (nor I with theirs), didn’t know how to slow down their speech or phrase things alternatively so that I could understand. PST creates a basic foundation, but to truly acquire the language, it requires a commitment to continuous learning.
Social Identity during Service
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
During PST, I was a little worried that I would receive a lot of unwanted attention at site because I’m a black woman. At home, I’m much less tolerant of people touching my hair, or telling me to wear an afro instead of straightening it, or using the N word. I’ve taken a more informative stance than normal, knowing that I’m interacting with many people who have never met a person of color and are using media as their basis of information. I have the unique opportunity to show the diversity of the US and the diversity within black Americans.
13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?
One challenge I’ve faced being black was the disbelief that I, my parents, my grandparents, and my great-grandparents are all from America and not Africa. To be fair, most people easily accept my origins, and only a few troublemakers have given me grief. But even this is more of a nuisance than an actual challenge. It’s something that’s been easy to brush off as ignorance, not malice.
Another challenge has been finding black hair products or stylists. If I run out of products or break combs, I’m unable to find a suitable replacement and have to get things shipped or go without. During the summers, I prefer having braided hair to deal with the heat & humidity, and I’ve traveled to both the capital and the neighboring country of Romania to find a stylist. So if you’re a black woman interested in coming here, bring enough hair products and practice styles you can do on your own hair so that you won’t need to travel!
As a woman, gender roles are stricter here than in the US. Women aren’t recommended to hang out at bars or go on long walks/runs by themselves. Young women are chastened away from labor or heavy lifting because we might ruin our chance to have kids. Questions about your relationship status, your ability to cook, your weight, and more are fair game even for strangers. Marriage dynamics also tend to reflect these strict gender roles, which may be uncomfortable for volunteers living with host families. Despite all of this, my counterparts may have certain standards for themselves, but have been very open to hearing my differing viewpoints.
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
14. What final advice would you share with future volunteers?
- Volunteer placements tend to be in clusters, meaning most volunteers are within 1 hour of each other.
- Don’t stress too much if you have tattoos or tame piercings. If you’re not willing to cover or take them out, many volunteers have smoothed things over with host families and counterparts by having conversations about the importance of these additions to their bodies. But if you don’t want to deal with questions, it’s better to take piercings out.
- The monthly stipend is plenty to cover your expenses so long as you’re mindful of how often you eat out and spend weekends out of site. Budgeting is your friend!
- You can find American staples like peanut butter and bacon in stores like Kaufland and Nr. 1, which are mostly located in the capital and larger cities.
- Bring your own exercise equipment, such as resistance bands, if you use them. They’re easy to pack, more expensive in Moldova, and an okay alternative to weights.
- Reputation does matter. Going to local bars, indifferent of your gender, might be viewed negatively. Be sure to ask your counterparts about certain places at site before you make them your hangout.
What are you waiting for? Opportunities like this don’t come often. If you have a passion for service and an adventurous spirit like Ashli’s, apply to the Peace Corps today. Expand your horizons, push your limits, and create positive impact as a volunteer. You never know how serving as a Peace Corps volunteer could change your life.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Moldova Government.
