In this interview, you’ll hear from Daniel Petracek, a Peace Corps Education volunteer in Kenya. Daniel 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 Education volunteer in Kenya?
My primary job function is teaching high school math and physics in my rural school of about 450 students. Kenya is a unique Peace Corps program because the education sector is focused on STEM education. My background isn’t in education, but with my engineering background and our practicum training during Pre-Service Training (PST), I’ve gotten the hang of things, especially now that I am well into my second year.
The Kenyan education system has historically been heavily lecture-based and exam-driven with a focus on memorization of facts and ideas. It is only recently that the country is shifting its strategy and transitioning to a competency-based approach, where students are encouraged to practice critical thinking and develop other transferable skills. As American volunteers who have gone through an education system that more or less resembles this vision, we are working to be agents of change, not only bringing this new teaching style to students, but also collaborating with our Kenyan teacher colleagues to exchange best practices.
I teach about 18 lessons a week (2-5 a day), each lasting 40 minutes. My typical class size is about 50 students, which poses a number of challenges. The curriculum here is actually quite expansive; some units, particularly in physics, I never even learned myself, which means sometimes I have to plan ahead and teach myself first so that I can teach the material effectively.
That’s the more technical side of the job; it’s important and shouldn’t be neglected, but I think as you continue your journey as a PCV, you begin to realize that it may not actually be the part of your service that has the greatest impact. Getting involved with coaching or other extracurriculars is also quite rewarding.
2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Kenya?
I can share why I decided to join Peace Corps… when I applied, I chose the “serve where you’re needed most” route, so I guess I didn’t choose Kenya, but it chose me.
My broader Peace Corps curiosity materialized quite a few years back, in 2018, my junior year of college. Browsing our career fair in search of a summer internship, I stumbled upon the Peace Corps table and chatted with the recruiter for a bit. By my senior year, I was set on applying and serving as a PCV shortly after my graduation. I was accepted to serve as an education volunteer in Lesotho, beginning in the Fall of 2020.
However, you may remember there was a pandemic around that time. My service was indefinitely postponed, so I went ahead and found a job and started my career. After more than three years of working, something hit me, and I realized my Peace Corps dream may be tougher to pursue as more time passes. So, I reapplied, found myself accepted to Kenya this time around, and I have loved the experience.
My original reasons for wanting to be a Peace Corps volunteer had not changed. I was always interested in volunteer work, international travel, and better understanding the problems faced by people in other parts of the world. Peace Corps’ 27-month commitment was more intriguing to me than other shorter programs because I felt it would allow for a truly immersive cultural experience.
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
3. What is your housing like in Kenya?
Like every PCV in Kenya, I live in a rural area. My home is in a convenient location, only about a 10-minute walk away from the main paved road, and from there I can catch a matatu (public transportation van) to go where I need to go. Other PCV sites may be more “interior,” requiring them to walk an hour, or even more, to reach the main road.
I live on my host family’s fenced-in compound, but I have my own small home within the compound. I am fortunate that my home has electricity, unless there is an outage, and running water, unless we’re in the midst of a drought. My house is quite small, but it does have four small separate rooms: sitting room, kitchen, bedroom, and bathroom (with a cold shower head and Western-style toilet).
My host family is incredible, and they have made my time in Kenya really feel like I am at my second home. My host father and mother are well-respected elders in the community, involved with my school and the local church, so they’ve helped me a lot with my integration into the community. Their daughter-in-law and a few grandchildren also live on the compound, with their son coming to visit on the weekends.
For meals, I’ll usually prepare something simple for myself, like toast or eggs, for breakfast. Lunches during the week are provided by my school. This is often ugali—the staple food of Kenya—paired with some sukuma wiki (collard greens) and either eggs or small pieces of beef. Sometimes, it may also be rice and beans or chapati (flatbread tortilla) and ndengu (lentils). Then, for dinner, my host family is incredibly gracious, always welcoming me to eat with them in the evening, which is not typical for PCVs. I’ll eat with them maybe 4-5 nights a week, and then cook for myself the few other nights of the week.
4. What moments or interactions stand out during your service?
My host father is a retired teacher. He recently had two of his former 5th-grade students track him down, and they came to visit him at our home—32 years after he taught them—to tell him thank you. One of the students is now an engineer in Nairobi and the other is a doctor in the U.S. (who was back in Kenya for a couple of weeks). The doctor also brought his American wife and two kids along for the visit, so I enjoyed talking with them.
This was a reminder of just how much of an impact I could potentially have on my students here in Kenya. I may or may not have the chance to reconnect with any of them in the future, but this moment inspired me and reinvigorated me to do my very best to mentor them and help them succeed.
Surprises and Challenges
5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Kenya?
I think the list of “things that surprised me” is relatively short, mainly because I really made a concerted effort before Peace Corps to not have any expectations. I really didn’t know what to anticipate, and I figured that any expectations would be more likely to lead to disappointment than anything positive.
That being said, having never been to Africa before, I did find it hard to shake an image of a dry, hot, and grassless environment. Now, there are definitely regions like this in Africa, and even in parts of Kenya, but the region where all PCVs are stationed is in the western part of Kenya; it is quite green. It can be dry and dusty during the dry season, but during the rainy seasons, which can last several months at a time, it rains nearly every day in the afternoon/evening. For the temperature, it is usually a constant moderate-warm, hardly ever above 90⁰F, but often in the 80s.
6. What challenges have you faced in your Education work, and how did you respond?
The challenges in the education system here are plentiful: students being sent home on occasion for not paying school fees (used by the school to provide lunches and pay some teachers’ salaries), students being pushed up to the next grade level without demonstrating readiness, large class sizes, gaps in foundational learning, students not understanding English (the language of instruction), general absenteeism for both students and teachers, lack of family support for students’ education, students having one or no parents… the list goes on.
Coming into service, I think many of us optimistic Education PCVs were looking forward to making that big, transformative change/impact. Most of the challenges listed above, however, are quite systemic—they can’t be solved at a local level, no matter how committed you are as a volunteer. It may take some time to fully comprehend this reality.
Of course, that doesn’t mean PCVs are useless. You find ways to mitigate the negative effects of those challenges listed above, and that can change the trajectory of one student’s life or even several dozen. But I think it is common to have a time when you have to recalibrate your expectations and the way you define success in your service. I think it’s good to have a “shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars” approach.
7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?
Aside from my teaching responsibilities, I worked with my counterpart to apply for and implement a Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) grant that renovated a vacant classroom into a modern science lab.
I also collaborated with the PCV nearest me to organize a joint “Career Day” event for the students at our schools. We recruited a dozen working professionals from around the area to come and speak to students about their various fields of work to inspire and motivate the young learners in planning for their future.
My other involvement has included serving as a “class teacher” (like a homeroom teacher), coaching volleyball, starting and coaching a chess team, and launching and leading a coding club. It is in these capacities that I am able to meaningfully interact with students and share with them some lessons that they can carry with them throughout their lives.
Advice and Support
8. What advice would you give to future Education volunteers in Kenya?
For Education volunteers specifically, it can be easy to get bogged down by the content of what you teach and focus too much on the material. Sometimes, what most of the students in your class need is just a teacher who makes learning exciting and fun and makes them want to come to school that day, so try not to lose sight of that.
Also, try not to get too discouraged if you make some mistakes when teaching or if you feel ineffective in your role. That will only make you less effective. Identify your pillars of support, whether it be PC staff, fellow PCVs, family or friends, and lean on them during the tough times.
There will be days when your personal morale takes a big hit, maybe from a failed lesson in the classroom or from a cultural clash at the market that left you feeling disrespected. But, for each of those rough days, you are likely to have a day when you break down a barrier with your students, or you meet someone with an unlikely connection to home, and you can’t help but smile as you walk home that evening.
9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?
Language training was certainly the most helpful and practical aspect of our training. I never thought I was capable of learning another language so easily (although, still, it was not “easy”). We were paired with our great language teachers to learn Swahili, working in groups of 3-5 trainees to a teacher. By the end of PST, I felt confident being able to navigate everyday situations and conversations.
The technical training sessions that taught us how to be a teacher were also useful. The most helpful part of this education training was working with a partner school and actually planning and teaching several lessons to a real class. Getting practice in the classroom was key. It’s not going to be perfect the first time you teach a lesson, or the second or even the third time, but you gain confidence the more actual teaching you do.
My advice
If some training sessions seem unnecessary or not applicable, it’s still good to try and stay engaged. You never know when a piece of training might come in handy during your service. PST is also a great time to build relationships with fellow trainees (and PC staff). You will be together frequently during this time, but as soon as you swear-in as a volunteer, you don’t see these people so often, so take advantage of the time you have with them.
Practical Tips and Language Learning
10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?
I was a bit surprised that you can get just about anything you need in country. It’s just that traveling to the city and spending your living allowance on some of these items can cause inconveniences. This opportunity to go to the city for certain items may also not be available to you during PST, so you should bring with you whatever you think you might need for those first three months. Also, the quality of some items is not as good in country.
Some things that proved most useful to me:
- Two portable chargers: These give my phone about four full charges… very useful if power is out for several days
- Earbuds: ones in-country may not be quality
- Kindle: for digital reading
- Flashlight
- *Extra pack of new socks: Save for opening when you are 1 year into service… most of my original socks started to get holes after a year
- *At least 2 pairs of shoes (3 recommended) that can be used for work and everyday wear. Switch to a new pair as needed… shoes in-country are typically lower quality
* If you have plans to take leave and travel back to the U.S. or plans for friends/family to visit, you can refresh your shoes/socks supply that way
There isn’t much I regret bringing. I brought a jar of peanut butter that I would have been fine without because peanut butter can be purchased in the city, but it was nice to have stashed during PST when I depended on my PST host family for all of my food. I also brought a lot of clothes. I could’ve purchased more here, but because I brought plenty, I haven’t needed to so much, and my large rotation means they have lasted for two years.
11. How has language learning been for you in Kenya?
I didn’t practice any Swahili before coming to Kenya. It was a bit intimidating being around other PCVs who had gotten a head start, but within about one week, I think things evened out. The quality of language training we receive significantly outweighs what most people can get out of Duolingo practice. That being said, if you have some time on your hands and want to learn some before service, by all means go for it.
PST is when you have the most intensive language training. Then, after swearing-in, it’s up to you to keep up your studying and practice. Digital flash cards on my phone and a small language notebook that I carried around with me to jot down new vocabulary were useful learning tools.
Social Identity
12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?
I don’t exactly blend in as a white American living in a rural Kenyan village. It’s impossible not to stand out, and it’s something you have to at least try getting used to, even if you never become fully comfortable with it. There are definitely days when I do miss having anonymity.
PCVs like myself are commonly called “mzungu,” which essentially means “white person.” People from far away may shout it at you to get your attention. It can grow annoying, mostly because it feels impersonal. However, it can also be used as a measure of progress. There were many people in my community who referred to me as “mzungu” when I first arrived, and while some still do call me that, I have noticed how many have converted to using my name or calling me “mwalimu” (teacher), which is a really good feeling.
While standing out as a white American and being treated differently than everyone else usually isn’t enjoyable, it isn’t always negative. Sometimes, you may be assumed to have some credentials or qualifications that you don’t actually have.
For example, I may be invited to speak to a group of youth just because I am a white American… do I have experience doing this? Not really. But I can use that opportunity to build relationships with more of the community and expand the impact of my work as a PCV. That part of my identity may allow me into some spaces that I may not normally find myself in. Very young children also tend to gravitate to you (or, in rare cases, cry when they see you).
13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?
People asking me for money is a frequent occurrence. Asking for money is actually not uncommon among Kenyans themselves, as it is a more acceptable social practice than it is in the U.S. But I definitely do get requests simply because of my skin color. If the situation allows, I will usually try to use that moment to briefly explain my role and purpose as a Peace Corps volunteer and maybe even try to add context to stereotypes about how white doesn’t always equate to rich.
The general unwanted attention is the other major challenge, especially for an introvert like myself. People shouting at me, on rare occasions maybe even trying to follow me or grab me if they want me to board their vehicle. If I am trying to get somewhere, I may offer a friendly greeting, but I’ll keep on moving to where I need to go.
14. What advice do you have for volunteers who share your identity?
Disliking all of the attention can be normal, but you can’t let it make you too afraid to ever step outside again (although some days you may have that exact feeling). Try to find ways to cope with that challenge and find a support system to help you through it. Peace Corps has resources available to PCVs to support them with such challenges.
Impact of Media and Final Thoughts
15. If you share content online, how has that shaped your service?
My blog, for which I write biweekly updates, has been my way of fulfilling Peace Corps goal #3: to help promote a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans. I think it has been really beneficial for my friends and family and whoever else reads it to help them see what life is like in Kenya.
Writing a blog has also served as a kind of reflective journal. It has made me really consider the various aspects of life here and how they are different from what I’m used to, and it’s also pushed me to think about how I feel about those differences.
Daniel in Kenya
Take a look at what Daniel has learned and experienced during his Peace Corps service in Kenya! Click HERE!
16. What final advice or thoughts would you share with future volunteers?
As best you can, go into it with an eager and positive attitude and keep an open mind. Hopefully, you are in it for the right reasons—if you are, it will be a very rewarding experience!
Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Daniel, 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 Kenya Government.
