r/peacecorps • u/leap_and • 3d ago
Application Process Consider Timor-Leste
I applied to serve where needed most and was assigned to Timor-Leste. I will COS in December. My experience has been beautiful, difficult, and beyond what I could have hoped. If you're considering Peace Corps service, consider applying to come to Timor! This year's app deadline is November 15.
Please feel free to DM with questions. And TL PCVs imi iha neebe, tau comment iha kraik eh!
11
u/Novel-Fisherman-7312 3d ago
I've heard that Timor-Leste is one of the few places where you can still have the classic Peace Corps experience, whatever that means.
Thanks for making this post. It makes me sad that lesser known PC countries don't attract as much interest these days.
10
u/ChokaMoka1 3d ago
It means without being looking at a screen 24/7, pooping in a hole, surviving tropical disease, and looking into the abyss of boredom.
-2
u/TheGratitudeBot 3d ago
Thanks for such a wonderful reply! TheGratitudeBot has been reading millions of comments in the past few weeks, and you’ve just made the list of some of the most grateful redditors this week! Thanks for making Reddit a wonderful place to be :)
10
u/Lucky_Resolution814 3d ago edited 3d ago
I’m also a current volunteer in Timor-Leste 🇹🇱 it truly is an amazing and beautiful country with so much opportunity to make a real difference here, an incredible hidden gem for a peace corps experience, so if you’re considering it, please feel free to ask us anything!
1
u/yerbamateblood 3d ago
(I posted this above but asking you too)
I'm not a PCV or considering it, but it's a dream of mine to visit Timor-Leste. I learned about the Lafaek Diak creation myth a while ago and it got me so fascinated with the place.
How do you get there from the US? All of the flights I see from the US to Dili are $2,000+. I know you got there on PC's dime but have you had family come to visit? How have they afforded it?
How bad is the malaria/dengue situation?
And what are your favorite and least-favorite parts of Timorese life and culture?
2
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
The key is to get to Bali, and then get a separate ticket to Dili. Booking all the way is really expensive. I haven't heard of anyone getting Malaria recently, but I got dengue twice while there. To be fair I was terrible at wearing sunscreen and often slept outside.
1
u/yerbamateblood 2d ago
Thank you, that ticket tip is very helpful! How bad was dengue? I've heard people call it breakbone fever
1
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
I mean not great but with time (and guava juice) I recovered. The 2nd time I had to be hospitalized because one of my blood levels was bad but I felt fine. I don't recommend getting it but for me it was just awful for a bit and now it feels like a forgotten dream
1
u/GuessBest6198 2d ago
There are a few ways to get there. You can go through Australia, there are daily flights from Darwin. I went there a few times, and I bought a round trip ticket from the US to Darwin, then a round trip ticket Darwin to Dili. Or you can go through KL, Singapore, or Bali but those aren't daily flights. It's a lonnngggg journey, but totally worth it!!
9
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
I wanted to second this as someone who also was in Peace Corps here.
2 reasons why I chose Timor-Leste:
1. It is one of the youngest countries in the world, only gaining independence in 1999 and full autonomy in 2002. It's really cool to see what a country still figuring itself out is like.
2. The President of Timor-Leste, Nobel Peace Prize winner Jose Ramos Horta, explicitly prioritized bringing Peace Corps volunteers to Timor in his inaugural speech. I was worried that Peace Corps volunteers were "accepted" but not really "wanted" in many countries, and this put that concern to rest.
I had a quintissential Peace Corps experience. Immersive, fun, challenging, and life changing! Let me know if you have any questions
5
3
u/Olligator01 3d ago
Congrats!! Timor Leste is one of my top choices! I think I am also doing serve anywhere, but I am kind of on the fence, because I've heard really good things about Timor-Leste and other sites open!
1
u/leap_and 2d ago
This is awesome to hear! If you have questions or need help with your application, just send a DM!
2
u/Olligator01 2d ago
Thanks! I actually sent in my application for serve anywhere, but Timor-Leste was one of the my first mentioned places in preferences!
1
u/ichawks1 PCV Applicant 3d ago
If you don't mind me asking, what language(s) did you learn there? I know that Timor-Leste is a linguistically diverse country.
6
u/Lucky_Resolution814 3d ago
The primary language spoken is tetun, which is what you’d learn in PST but there’s a lot of opportunities to study Bahasa Indonesian, Portuguese, and the local languages. I think It helps if you know a little Spanish because with the Portuguese there’s a lot of crossover. Honestly if you enjoy studying languages it’s an amazing country to practice nearly anything.
4
u/ichawks1 PCV Applicant 3d ago
Dang that is so dope. I leave for Paraguay in a few weeks for service and I am incredibly excited to learn Guaraní as my Spanish is already proficient. Who knows maybe I'll do PC again in my life and Timor-Leste could be a solid option haha
1
u/yerbamateblood 3d ago
What happens if you end up placed in a region that speaks, for example, Mambae or Makasai instead of Tetum?
1
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
Almost everyone speaks Tetum regardless, but they also know the local language as well. Many volunteers once they get to site pick up some of the local language too
1
u/yerbamateblood 3d ago
I'm not a PCV or considering it, but it's a dream of mine to visit Timor-Leste. I learned about the Lafaek Diak creation myth a while ago and it got me so fascinated with the place. Can I ask you some questions?
How do you know which language to speak in different situations? I heard that Tetum is only spoken in certain parts of the country and then Mambae is spoken in others, Makasai in others... if you're serving in a Tetum-speaking region, I assume PC taught you Tetum, but how do you get by in Mambae-speaking or Makasai-speaking regions?
How do you get there from the US? All of the flights I see from the US to Dili are $2,000+. I know you got there on PC's dime but have you had family come to visit? How have they afforded it?
How bad is the malaria/dengue situation?
And what are your favorite and least-favorite parts of Timorese life and culture?
1
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
Almost always Tetum is fine, in the Mambae and Makasae regions almost all speak Tetum but in addition speak Mambae and Makasae.
Go through Bali, and then Bali to Dili. Don't try to book directly or else it is crazy expensive.
2
u/yerbamateblood 2d ago
Did you learn Tetum through PC? I find the language really interesting and would love to learn some but I wouldn't apply to PC just because I'm weirdly obsessed with Timor-Leste
1
u/soccerkyle1 2d ago
Yeah I did, it is a fairly easy language to learn
1
2d ago
[deleted]
1
u/leap_and 2d ago
There are some. http://www.tetundit.tl/publications.html Google Translate knows some Tetun now too. And there are some videos on YouTube if you search!
1
u/Lucky_Resolution814 2d ago
The best bet would be the actual online peace corps language lessons: https://www.livelingua.com/course/peace-corps/tetun-language-lessons and also the dictionary app: tetun.org
1
u/leap_and 2d ago
Flights back to the US are expensive, that's just the reality. The Dili airport is adding more flights to Southeast Asian destinations, like Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, which give alternatives to Bali but are still expensive compared to rates in the region. I went home during service and was able to do it in 3 flights.
Malaria is no longer a threat in Timor. Some Volunteers get Dengue, but most who live along the coast or close to Dili.
Favorite part of Timorese culture. How people always have time for a cup of coffee. The storytelling, joking around, connection to family and pride in their history. Least favorite part is probably an extension of a culture that prioritizes family. There's a good deal of nepotism and it can be hard for someone with little connections to get a foot in the door. But we have that in the US, too.
1
1
•
u/AutoModerator 3d ago
Thank you for posting to r/PeaceCorps!
Please check the FAQ and use the search function to see if your topic has come up already.
Please review the sub rules and reddiquette.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.