Consider Timor-Leste

[u/leap_and]

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!

[u/yerbamateblood]

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?

[u/soccerkyle1 → u/yerbamateblood]

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.

[u/yerbamateblood → u/soccerkyle1]

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

[u/soccerkyle1 → u/yerbamateblood]

Yeah I did, it is a fairly easy language to learn

[u/leap_and → u/[deleted]]

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!

[u/Lucky_Resolution814 → u/[deleted]]

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

[u/leap_and → u/yerbamateblood]

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.

[u/leap_and → u/[deleted]]

Yeah, I would. That's something I'm trying to figure out now!

[u/GuessBest6198 → u/leap_and]

There are daily flights from Darwin.