In this interview, you’ll hear from Kethan Patel, a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in Armenia. Kethan shares what daily life looks like, the work being done, and how service has shaped their personal and professional growth. You’ll learn about housing, cultural differences, project work, language learning, and what it’s like to live and work in a new country. This interview offers a real look into Peace Corps service and what future volunteers can expect.
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
- Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
Volunteer Experience and Motivation
1. What do you do as a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in Armenia?
As a youth development volunteer, it is hard to fully encapsulate what an ordinary routine looks like, since ordinary is somewhat sparse at my site. I might be having my afternoon Armenian language tutoring, planting trees with the local municipality, and then conducting my regularly scheduled clubs. I could also be visiting a neighboring community to give a speech on civic activism and civic responsibility to over 200 students in partnership with another Armenian Youth Organization.
The beauty of youth work in Armenia is that it doesn’t have to be limited to the office, and if anything, I believe it shouldn’t be! To digress, I regularly plan, develop, and manage youth-centered clubs, activities, and events to further engage, empower, and develop local youths and youth workers.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Armenia?
I remember one night, I was searching on my laptop for jobs that involve helping others abroad. This was one of those nights where you are so engulfed in your search that you don’t notice the clock striking past midnight. Teaching and mentorship have always been a passion of mine, so when I landed on the Peace Corps website, I was truly curious to learn more. I can vividly remember watching as many videos on the website as I could and reading the descriptions of each sector’s responsibilities.
One thing that stood out was the inclusion of personal stories centered around hardships faced as a volunteer. There is, or at least was, an article about an individual who faced a strong bit of racism during their service. I recall reading it and seeing how the individual spoke about that experience without contempt or bitterness, but rather as someone who understood what they were going to face, what they had faced, and how to best navigate through it. I felt a sense of connection to this mindset, though our experiences may have differed tremendously at that moment.
Throughout further reflection, consideration, and a good night’s sleep, I was able to conclude that the Peace Corps was a challenge that I was ready to face. As for Armenia – Armenia chose me, and for that, I am forever grateful.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What is your housing like in Armenia?
As a volunteer, I would say that I am very privileged and grateful for such privileges. I am currently a year and 3/4ths of the way through my service, and I have chosen to stay with my host family throughout it all. I have a nice, big room (which is ironically larger than my one back home in Virginia), which has an extra-long bed provided for me by the PC Staff due to my height towering over the national average height of 5’7’’.
I have a large host family, which doesn’t always feel to be the case since everyone is either grown and works, or is a typical teenager who rarely is outside of their room if they don’t have to be. I have made the change to cook my own food, as it is a hobby of mine and I truly find a lot of joy in being able to eat what I cook; however, that has at times led me to feel less connected to my host family.
My community is considered to be a “town,” though it is very much rural with a few urban conveniences. Overall, my living situation is one to easily be content with, if you can bear the occasional scent of cigarette smoke throughout the house, as it is a common practice here in Armenia.
4. What moments or interactions stand out during your service?
What a difficult question to answer. I have an insurmountable amount of professional and personal memories that have stood out in my service. To me, this question highlights the beauty of being a Peace Corps volunteer. As you may see and read throughout your journey to becoming a volunteer, “your service is what you make it”. These words are more true than some wish to accept, though they hold a lot of weight in how I reflect on my story.
For example, last winter I had one person attend my club while there was snow piled up to the knees. Since then, I’ve experienced multiple instances when one participant comes, or even no participants show. Each time, I treat these experiences as turning points in my service. I think of that one wintery day and how that participant showed up for me. It’s my job to show up for them, to lead by example, and to always push my participants to see their progress and potential.
On that day, I realized that my outlook was no longer one-sided. Karlen, the participant, reminded me that even when the weather is bad and the snow is up to our knees, we can still get over the hills and show up. I’m very thankful to have had that experience and to have learned from it. Now, I take challenges like that, and I make the most of them. I re-strategize, become bold, and I persevere until I see new results.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Armenia?
I was thoroughly surprised to realize that the problems faced by youths in America coincide with those of youths here in Armenia. As I like to say, “it’s the same word, just a different font.” Additionally, I was surprised by the structure, or more lack of, in which people work and function here in Armenia. This sort of harmonious dysfunction is both part of Armenia’s charm as well as what leads to many challenges when it comes to leading development.
6. What challenges have you faced in your Youth Development work, and how did you respond?
Challenges I’ve faced:
- Lack of consistent participation – I have tried many different approaches, and continue to pursue new ideas to gain more success. Successful remedies I’ve found are meeting the youths where they are (both physically and metaphorically), focusing on word of mouth and relationship building (host families are a huge asset and the store clerks I visit regularly have become assets too), social media marketing, and pursuing my own personal interests as a way to meet and connect with new community members (ex. Going to the gym, riding my bike in my community, consistently going for walks)
- Youths having differing levels of interest/ attention spans – I have found that giving my participants more active roles/ leadership opportunities has increased engagement, helped them build a sense of ownership, and led them to scale projects on their own. Additionally, I have focused my plans to include opportunities for collaboration throughout the lessons so I can receive feedback and make adjustments in real time.
- The weather – my site is historically known as the “Siberia of Armenia”, which tends to lead to a slowdown of activity in my community during the wintery months. As a personal remedy, I have since readjusted my expectations and adjusted what I can to maximize on good weather and the opportunities that come with it.
7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?
I have worked closely throughout my service with the municipality, where I have aided them in organizing and facilitating their community events. Additionally, I have had the pleasure of working with organizations like Erasmus+, European Youth Parliament, Children of Armenia Fund, DVV International, and Project One Armenia in differing capacities, from serving as a delegate to co-creating and teaching lessons.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to future Youth Development volunteers in Armenia?
Don’t come with expectations. Be grateful. Most importantly, be patient. If you want to be a PCV, remember that volunteering means freely offering your time and skills to help others. Sometimes we do the work no one else wants to do, but we volunteered for it. Pick your battles and advocate for yourself and things you think can make change despite hearing “no”. Finally, make the most out of your experience.
9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
I think there are differing views for a lot of the trainings, but I’d suggest focusing on language, understanding the underlying meanings and concepts, and building connections, because they might just be the main thing that gets you through those hard times at your site. Language training helps you crawl/ walk communicatively speaking. A lot of the cultural and safety trainings might be somewhat common sense, but might come in handy when you least expect it. Technical trainings might leave you feeling confused or underprepared, but utilize the resources you’re given and the core principles of community development, and your service will thank you.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
I’m an overpacker myself, so I’d say bring it all! Just remember, you will have a good bit more when you go back or move to whatever is after your service. Be aware that Armenians eat shoes for breakfast and wash out colors in clothes for dessert. Also, everything is air-dried outside. You will be judged hard as a guy for wearing colors outside of black, blue, and white (or really anything not dark in nature) in a large number of communities (if not judged, they’ll definitely look at you and treat you like a foreigner). Women are usually advised to dress modestly.
11. How has language learning been for you in Armenia?
Language is a continuous struggle, but I’ve found that having to know the language and speak it to do my job properly really helps. I didn’t do Armenian tutoring after PST up until last month, just because I was plateauing and my language skills were borderline regressing. What really helps is getting comfortable with specific verbs and phrases you utilize on a regular basis and then continuing to build slowly from there. Movies, music, games, etc., are all good media to focus on leisurely.
Social Identity
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
I understand that Indians in this country are usually seen as second-class citizens, though not many people will openly say it. As an American with Indian heritage in Armenia, I have faced prejudice due to the color of my skin. I’ve also had moments of earned respect right after. There is a large sense of unknown bigotry that I have grown accustomed to and treat as an opportunity to share more about myself as an individual, rather than what I look like. I know when to choose my battles and when to take precautions for my own safety, and I think this has led to me being more cognizant and mindful of how I carry myself and treat others at all times.
13. What advice do you have for volunteers who share your identity?
I don’t wish for any others to relate to my identity in the sense that I hope for everyone to come to this country with their own fresh eyes and an open mind. Everyone’s identity is unique to them. Be mindful of patterns, and try to adapt accordingly.
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
14. If you share content online, how has that shaped your service?
I promote my work on my Instagram, and I feel like it has led to my Instagram looking a lot more like someone hacked it to post youth activity propaganda in a foreign language to people I used to go to high school with. Being active in media, with host country nationals as part of my audience, puts my profile under a different level of scrutiny, so I’m habitually more mindful of what I post.
15. What final advice would you share with future volunteers?
Go for it! Whatever it is, go for it and believe it’ll work out because it always does.
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Kethan, you can live abroad, work with communities, and grow in ways you didn’t expect. Apply to the Peace Corps and take the next step.
The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or Armenia Government.
