“…I would say to treasure those around you because as long as time may feel, it is never long enough.”

Olivia shares how a simple survey question about biking distance turns into a quiet test of identity.

“As I boarded the plane, I half expected someone to come running up to intercept me and send me back home to Chicago. And yet, 24 hours later, I was getting lei’d in the Thailand airport.“

Noah shares how coexistence with his host family led to a deeper understanding of Thai culture.

Khorey shares his PST experience and the many surprises that follow.

A broken toe can become a humbling, humorous reminder that imperfection isn’t a setback, but an inseparable, meaningful part of the journey.

Maggie recently arrived at her permanent site placement in Chiang Mai, a northern province in Thailand. She’ll be there for the next two years, which gives her plenty of time to write about her new host family, the kids at her school, and the Buddhist monk who sells coffee out of a van.

Well, this does not at all capture the scenery.

Before arriving to PST, it’s easy to imagine what life in a completely new place will feel like. Difference seems to define everything—the way people speak, eat, and move through daily life. But expectation is one thing—living it is another.

"So far, I can tell you I have learned that growth doesn’t only come from being alone but it can also come from being deeply connected to the people around you."

Join Seón as he takes a dive into a playlist of all his favorite songs from his time in the Peace Corps and what that music meant to him during service.

Grace Richardson kicks off our Group 137 PST Article Series with a piece on language learning with her host mom.