THE PEACE CORPS WELCOMES YOU TO 

NICARAGUA

A PEACE CORPS PUBLICATION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS

June 2015
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

2

Map of Nicaragua

This map is used with permission from the State Department.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

3

A WELCOME LETTER

I congratulate you on your nomination for an assignment to work as a Peace Corps Volunteer and 

welcome you to this unique country. Based on my experience here over the years I characterize Nicaragua 

as a casa abierta, an open home, where those willing to come and work with dedication and mutual 

respect will find acceptance, an exceptional experience, and lasting friendship.

Nicaragua is also often described as the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere. As such, you 

can be sure that Nicaraguans, especially those in the areas of need where we serve, face many challenges. 

La vida es dura. Life here for many is very hard. I ask you to take seriously this opportunity and your 

commitment to join them in the construction of a productive and healthy world for their families and 

communities.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nicaragua you will be a development professional working at the 

invitation of a Nicaraguan government ministry to work on a specific project addressing a national need 

of the Nicaraguan people. Your project has specific goals and objectives to provide technical assistance in 

the sector to which you have been assigned. You will work with Nicaraguan counterparts, community 

members, families, and youth all striving to achieve each of these goals for sustainable development.

You have been offered this invitation to serve based on the education and experience you already possess. 

Your knowledge will be enhanced by an intense pre-service training program designed to prepare you for 

Volunteer service. You will be provided outstanding training in practical Spanish, technical orientation 

for your project assignment, and cross-cultural orientation to assist you in the process of adapting your 

personal work and life styles to ensure your safety and effectiveness in Nicaragua. During the 12 weeks of 

training, you will be required to demonstrate your commitment and competence in language, technical, 

cross-cultural, and core skill areas in order to qualify for Peace Corps service and take the oath as a Peace 

Corps Volunteer. 

Throughout your years of service, you will be supported by the dedicated staff of Peace Corps/Nicaragua 

who will guide, support, and challenge you to maximize your service and provide meaningful 

contributions to the Nicaraguan people and their communities. There will be many challenges throughout 

your service, such as integrating into your host family and community, communicating meaningfully in 

Spanish, and finding local friends and a support system. You will be expected to become part of your 

community, spending most of your time, including your weekends, integrated into daily life and customs 

while living on a modest stipend. Upon completing service here, most Volunteers feel most strongly 

about the personal relationships and connections they have made, ones they will most likely remember 

and keep throughout the rest of their lives and careers.

Please carefully review this welcome book, your volunteer assignment description (VAD) and the Peace 

Corps Volunteer Handbook to learn more about Nicaragua, your assignment, and Peace Corps policies. I 

encourage you to reflect honestly on your willingness to commit to the highest standard of Peace Corps 

service. 

All of the Peace Corps/Nicaragua staff and I look forward to meeting you soon and working with you for 

the next two years. I served here as country director from 1997–2001 and am fortunate to have returned to 

rejoin our efforts and shared purpose to better the lives of the Nicaraguans who have invited us to their 

beautiful casa abierta.

Howard Lyon

Country Director
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

A WELCOME LETTER...............................................................................................................................3

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS..............................................................6

PEACE CORPS/NICARAGUA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS ................................................................7

History of the Peace Corps in Nicaragua ...................................................................................................7

Peace Corps Programming in Nicaragua....................................................................................................7

COUNTRY OVERVIEW: NICARAGUA AT A GLANCE........................................................................8

History........................................................................................................................................................8

Government................................................................................................................................................8

Economy.....................................................................................................................................................8

People and Culture .....................................................................................................................................9

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.....................................................................................10

General Information About Nicaragua.....................................................................................................10

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees...........................................................................11

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Nicaragua.............................................................................11

International Development Sites About Nicaragua..................................................................................11

Recommended Books...............................................................................................................................12

Books About Nicaragua ......................................................................................................................12

Books About the History of the Peace Corps......................................................................................12

Books on the Volunteer Experience....................................................................................................12

LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE.....................................................................13

Communications.......................................................................................................................................13

Housing and Site Location .......................................................................................................................14

Living Allowance and Money Management ............................................................................................15

Food and Diet...........................................................................................................................................15

Transportation ..........................................................................................................................................16

Geography and Climate............................................................................................................................16

Social Activities .......................................................................................................................................17

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior......................................................................................................17

Personal Safety.........................................................................................................................................18

Rewards and Frustrations.........................................................................................................................18

PEACE CORPS TRAINING......................................................................................................................20

Overview of Pre-Service Training ...........................................................................................................20

Technical Training ...................................................................................................................................21

Language Training ...................................................................................................................................21

Cross-Cultural Training............................................................................................................................22

Health Training ........................................................................................................................................22

Safety and Security Training....................................................................................................................22

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service ......................................................................................22

YOUR HEALTH CARE IN NICARAGUA ..............................................................................................23

Health Issues in Nicaragua.......................................................................................................................24

Helping You Stay Healthy .......................................................................................................................24

Maintaining Your Health..........................................................................................................................24

Women’s Health Information...................................................................................................................25

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit.................................................................................................................26

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist .................................................................................................26

SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DEPTH ....................................................................................................28

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk................................................................................................28

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime ..............................................................................................29

Support from Staff....................................................................................................................................30
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

5

Office of Victim Advocacy ......................................................................................................................30

Crime Data for Nicaragua ........................................................................................................................30

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERVIEW.........................................................................................33

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site ........................................................................................................33

Cross-Cultural Considerations .................................................................................................................34

What Might a Volunteer Face? ................................................................................................................34

Possible Gender Role Issues ...............................................................................................................34

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color..............................................................................................35

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) 

Volunteers...........................................................................................................................................38

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities.................................................................................39

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples................................................................................................39

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers............................................................................................41

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers.....................................................................................................42

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS.....................................................................................................44

WELCOME LETTERS FROM NICARAGUA VOLUNTEERS..............................................................47

PACKING LIST .........................................................................................................................................49

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST .............................................................................................................52

CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS ..............................................................................54
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

6

CORE EXPECTATIONS FOR PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS

In working toward fulfilling the Peace Corps mission of promoting world peace and friendship, as a 

trainee and Volunteer, you are expected to do the following:

1. Prepare your personal and professional life to make a commitment to serve abroad for a full term 

of 27 months

2. Commit to improving the quality of life of the people with whom you live and work and, in doing 

so, share your skills, adapt them, and learn new skills as needed

3. Serve where the Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship if necessary, and with 

the flexibility needed for effective service

4. Recognize that your successful and sustainable development work is based on the local trust and 

confidence you build by living in, and respectfully integrating yourself into, your host community 

and culture

5. Recognize that you are responsible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for your personal conduct and 

professional performance

6. Engage with host country partners in a spirit of cooperation, mutual learning, and respect

7. Work within the rules and regulations of the Peace Corps and the local and national laws of the 

country where you serve

8. Exercise judgment and personal responsibility to protect your health, safety, and well-being and 

that of others

9. Recognize that you will be perceived in your host country and community as a representative of 

the people, cultures, values, and traditions of the United States of America

10. Represent responsively the people, cultures, values, and traditions of your host country and 

community to people in the United States both during and following your service
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

7

PEACE CORPS/NICARAGUA HISTORY AND PROGRAMS

History of the Peace Corps in Nicaragua

The first Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Nicaragua in 1969. Between 1969–78, the program ranged in 

size from 75–125 Volunteers. Volunteers provided assistance in education, vocational training, rural 

nutrition, rural waterworks, agricultural extension, cooperatives, and municipal development. After the 

earthquake of 1972, efforts were dedicated to rebuilding the country’s infrastructure.

The Peace Corps program in Nicaragua was suspended in 1978 because of civil war. In 1982, the Peace 

Corps attempted to re-establish a program in Nicaragua but was unsuccessful because of the highly 

polarized political situation in the country. Four Volunteers from Peace Corps programs in other Spanishspeaking countries reinitiated the program in May 1991. The program has since grown to more than 140 

Volunteers working in four projects throughout Nicaragua. 

Peace Corps Programming in Nicaragua 

Peace Corps/Nicaragua now works in four primary project areas:

• Small business development (SBD): This project provides sustainable business and life skills 

to youth, including out-of-school youth, enhancing their capacity to create or gain 

employment and increasing income and economic opportunities in their communities. In 

1991, when the Peace Corps returned to Nicaragua, the first Volunteers were assigned to 

vocational training institutes. As a result, the SBD project was created. This project has since 

expanded and adapted to meet Nicaragua’s emerging needs and challenges with three main 

goals: 1) youth entrepreneurship skills training, 2) technical assistance and small business 

advising, and 3) capacity building and teacher training.

• Community health (HE): Working in partnership with the Ministry of Health (MINSA), 

Volunteers in this sector strive to improve the health and well-being of poor rural 

Nicaraguans.

• Environmental education (ENV): This project aims to change attitudes and promote positive 

behavior, at the community level, toward the sustainable use of natural resources.

• Teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL): The TEFL project focuses on improving the 

quality of English instruction in Nicaragua’s public secondary schools by introducing 

communicative and participatory methods and promoting language use in real-life situations.

All projects focus on helping Nicaraguans develop sustainable responses to local needs.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

8

COUNTRY OVERVIEW: NICARAGUA AT A GLANCE

History

Nicaragua probably derives its name from an indigenous chief, Nicarao, who ruled part of the area at the 

time of the Spanish Conquest. Christopher Columbus, in 1502, was the first European to touch 

Nicaraguan soil. Francisco Hernandez de Córdoba followed in 1524 and founded the principal colonial 

cities of Granada and León. Granada evolved into a stronghold of the aristocracy, and León became the 

political and intellectual capital. The rivalry between these cities persists to this day. For three centuries, 

Nicaragua was a province of the Captaincy General of Guatemala, as the Spanish called their territories 

south of Mexico. Independence from Spanish rule came in 1821 and, for a short period of time, Nicaragua

was a member of the Central American Federation, which included Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, 

and Costa Rica. In 1838, Nicaragua became an independent republic.

For the next 100 years, Nicaragua experienced periods of war and peace, including an attempted takeover 

by American William Walker in 1855. Walker was defeated and killed by an alliance of Central 

American nations. After another period of unrest in the early 1900s, Nicaragua’s president invited U.S. 

Marines to restore and maintain order in the country. In 1934, the government was taken over by General 

Anastasio Somoza García, initiating more than 40 years of family rule under a military dictatorship. In 

1972, downtown Managua was destroyed by an earthquake that killed tens of thousands. Managua was 

never completely rebuilt and has become a sprawling city without a center. In 1979, the Somoza regime 

was overthrown by a populist revolution, and was replaced by the Marxist Sandinista National Liberation 

Front (FSLN), which ruled until 1990. This period included a U.S. government-supported civil war 

against the Sandinista government. A 1989 accord permitted free elections in 1990, in which Violeta 

Barrios de Chamorro, known for her conciliatory nature, became president. Nicaragua has experienced 

relative peace since 1990, and the country has celebrated four successive free elections to date. 

Government

Nicaragua is an independent republic with a democratically elected president and a unicameral National 

Assembly with 92 seats. The assembly members (called deputies) are elected by proportional 

representation and serve five-year terms. Presidential elections are conducted every five years. The 

current president, Jose Daniel Ortega, leader of the leftist revolution that helped overthrow the Somoza 

regime in 1979, was elected in democratic elections in 2006. He is the fourth democratically elected 

president since the end of the first Sandinista regime in 1990. Nicaragua’s four significant political parties

are Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN), Partido Liberal Constitucionalista (PLC), Alianza 

Liberal Nicaragüense (ALN), and Movimiento de Renovación Sandinista (MRS). Democracy in 

Nicaragua is in its infancy as it strives to move beyond its tense and troubled past.

Economy

Agriculture is the cornerstone of the Nicaraguan economy. The principal crops are corn, beans, sorghum, 

and rice. Cotton, coffee, sugar, bananas, and tobacco are the principal export crops. Additional export 

products are beef and shrimp. In the early 1990s, Nicaragua experienced a very unstable economic 

situation, with hyperinflation, a large external debt, and high unemployment. During the past 15 years, the 

country has privatized many public institutions, but internal and external debt rates remain dangerously 

high. While Managua has grown and modernized, the poor rural and marginalized urban populations have 

experienced few economic gains. Droughts in 1996 and 1997, followed by Hurricane Mitch in 1998, 

caused tremendous economic hardship. The combination of unemployment and underemployment 

exceeds 50 percent. Nicaragua’s annual per capita gross national product is currently less than $500, 

making it one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

9

People and Culture

Nicaragua is the least densely populated of the Central American nations, with a population of 5.8 million 

(July 2014 estimate) and an average annual growth rate of 1.02 percent (2014 estimate). 

The majority of Nicaraguans can best be classified as mestizo, a mix in which neither the European nor 

the indigenous cultures predominate. On the geographically and politically isolated Caribbean coast there 

are six different ethnic cultures, including the mestizo population. The others are Creole, Miskito, 

Garífuna, Rama, and Mayagna. The Caribbean region is multiethnic, multilingual, and culturally diverse, 

but its residents only represent about 10 percent of the total population.

The official and predominant language in Nicaragua is Spanish. Along the Caribbean coast some Miskito, 

Mayagna, and Rama cultures have maintained their indigenous languages; Afro-Caribbeans speak English 

and Creole.

More than 90 percent of the population belongs to Christian denominations (approximately 73 percent of 

which identify themselves as Roman Catholics; 15 percent as belonging to various evangelical churches; 

and the remainder to other Christian-based faiths, such as Moravians, Mormons, etc.); 8.5 percent have no 

religious affiliation or are atheist. The traditional social structure of Nicaragua has been essentially 

colonial, with a small number of wealthy landowning families at the top and a broad peasant class at the 

bottom. Despite the country’s economic growth in the 1970s, the emergence of a middle class, and the 

decade of socialist rule, there are still stark inequalities in the distribution of wealth. The country’s 

educational system, a major avenue for economic and social mobility, recently replaced the traditions of 

classicism and intellectualism with vocational training. Thus, the lower class now has a somewhat better 

chance for economic advancement. Due to a literacy campaign between May 2007 and June 2009, the 

illiteracy rate has been reduced to 3.56 percent, according to government statistics in August 2009.

Nicaraguans are warm, generous, and friendly. Despite the tensions between the United States and 

Nicaraguan governments in the 1980s, Nicaraguans are open to receiving Peace Corps Volunteers in their 

communities and homes. Their hospitality is humbling. Nicaraguans are proud of their cultural heritage, 

as seen in typical dances, such as the Güegüense, and in the continued importance of poet Rubén Darío. 

Nicaraguans are also passionate about politics and are quick to share their thoughts on past or current 

events.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

10

RESOURCES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

Following is a list of websites for additional information about the Peace Corps and Nicaragua and to 

connect you to returned Volunteers and other invitees. Please keep in mind that although the Peace Corps 

tries to make sure all these links are active and current, the Peace Corps cannot guarantee it. If you do not 

have access to the Internet, visit your local library. Libraries offer free Internet usage and often let you 

print information to take home.

A note of caution: As you surf the Internet, be aware that you may find bulletin boards and chat rooms in 

which people are free to express opinions about the Peace Corps based on their own experiences, 

including comments by those who were unhappy with their choice to serve in the Peace Corps. These 

opinions are not those of the Peace Corps or the U.S. government, and please keep in mind that no two 

people experience their service in the same way.

General Information About Nicaragua

State.gov

The Department of State’s website issues background notes periodically about countries around the 

world. Find Nicaragua and learn more about its social and political history. You can also go to the site’s 

international travel section to check on conditions that may affect your safety.

Gpo.gov/libraries/public/

The U.S. Government Publishing Office publishes country studies intermittently.

lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/cshome.html

The Library of Congress provides historical and sociological data on numerous countries.

http://unstats.un.org/unsd/pocketbook/World_Statistics_Pocketbook_2013_edition.pdf

United Nations resource book with 2013 statistical country data

Data.un.org

United Nations site with links to data from U.N. member countries

Wikipedia.org

Search for Nicaragua to find encyclopedia-type information. Note: As Wikipedia content is usergenerated, information may be biased and/or not verified.

Worldbank.org

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the 

developing world. It is a development bank that provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance, and 

knowledge-sharing services to developing countries to reduce poverty. This site contains a lot of 

information and resources regarding development.

Data.worldbank.org/country

Provides information on development indicators on countries, including population, gender, financial, and 

education, and climate change statistics.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

11

Connect With Returned Volunteers and Other Invitees

RPCV.org

This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made up of returned Volunteers. On this site you 

can find links to all the Web pages of the “Friends of” groups for most countries of service, comprised of 

former Volunteers who served in those countries. There are also regional groups that frequently get 

together for social events and local volunteer activities. 

PeaceCorpsWorldwide.org

This site, hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers, is a monthly online publication of essays and 

Volunteer accounts of their Peace Corps service.

Online Articles/Current News Sites About Nicaragua

UN.org/News/

The United Nations news service provides coverage of its member states and information about the 

international peacekeeping organization’s actions and positions.

VOAnews.com

Voice of America, the U.S. government’s multimedia broadcaster, features coverage of news around the 

world.

International Development Sites About Nicaragua

http://managua.usembassy.gov/

This is the site of the U.S. Embassy in Nicaragua.

http://nicaragua.usaid.gov/

This is the U.S. Agency for International Development’s official Nicaragua website and provides valuable 

information on development trends in-country.

www.worldbank.org

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the 

developing world. It is a development bank that provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance, and 

knowledge-sharing services to developing countries to reduce poverty. This site contains a lot of 

information and resources regarding Nicaragua and development.

www.oas.org

The Organization of the American States’ website contains information about development priorities, 

democracy, and other issues that are key in the Americas.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

12

Recommended Books

Books About Nicaragua

1. Berman, Joshua, and Randy Wood. “Moon Handbooks Nicaragua” (by returned Nicaragua

Volunteers). Emeryville, CA: Avalon Travel Publishing, 2002.

2. De La Selva, Salomon. “Tropical Town and Other Poems.” Houston: Arte Público Press, 1999.

3. Glenn, Garvin. “Everybody Had His Own Gringo: The CIA and the Contras.” United Kingdom: 

Brasseys, 1992.

4. Gould, Jeffrey L. “To Die in This Way: Nicaraguan Indians and the Myth of the Mestizaje 1880–

1965.” Durham, NC: Duke University Press, 1998.

5. Kinzer, Stephen. “Blood of Brothers: Life and War in Nicaragua.” NY: Anchor Books, 1992.

6. MacAulay, Neill. “The Sandino Affair.” Wacahoota Press, 1998.

7. Merrill, Tim L. “Nicaragua: A Country Study.” Washington, DC: Government Printing Office, 

1999.

8. Miranda, Roger. “The Civil War in Nicaragua: Inside the Sandinistas.” Somerset, NJ: Transaction 

Publishers, 1993.

9. Norsworthy, Kent. “Nicaragua: A Country Guide.” Silver City, NM: Interhemispheric Resource 

Center, 1990.

10. Pezzullo, Lawrence. “At the Fall of Somoza.” Pittsburgh: University of Pittsburgh Press, 1994.

11. Plunkett, Hazel. “Nicaragua: A Guide to the People, Politics and Culture.” Northampton, MA: 

Interlink Publishing, 1999.

Books About the History of the Peace Corps

1. Hoffman, Elizabeth Cobbs. “All You Need is Love: The Peace Corps and the Spirit of the 

1960s.” Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 2000.

2. Rice, Gerald T. “The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace Corps.” Notre Dame, IN: University of 

Notre Dame Press, 1985.

3. Stossel, Scott. “Sarge: The Life and Times of Sargent Shriver.” Washington, DC: Smithsonian 

Institution Press, 2004.

4. Meisler, Stanley. “When the World Calls: The Inside Story of the Peace Corps and its First 50 

Years.” Boston: Beacon Press, 2011.

Books on the Volunteer Experience

1. Dirlam, Sharon. “Beyond Siberia: Two Years in a Forgotten Place.” Santa Barbara, CA: McSeas 

Books, 2004.

2. Casebolt, Marjorie DeMoss. “Margarita: A Guatemalan Peace Corps Experience.” Gig Harbor, 

WA: Red Apple Publishing, 2000.

3. Erdman, Sarah. “Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village.” New 

York City: Picador, 2003.

4. Hessler, Peter. “River Town: Two Years on the Yangtze.” New York City: Perennial, 2001.

5. Kennedy, Geraldine ed. “From the Center of the Earth: Stories out of the Peace Corps.” Santa 

Monica, CA: Clover Park Press, 1991.

6. Thomsen, Moritz. “Living Poor: A Peace Corps Chronicle.” Seattle: University of Washington 

Press, 1997 (reprint).
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

13

LIVING CONDITIONS AND VOLUNTEER LIFESTYLE 

Communications

Mail

Relative to service in most developing countries, mail between the United States and Nicaragua is 

dependable. Airmail takes about two weeks; surface mail can take months. Packages sometimes 

mysteriously disappear in transit, and sometimes they are opened and the contents stolen. It is best if 

packages do not exceed 2 pounds. Padded envelopes work well. Dissuade family and friends from 

sending money, airline tickets, or other valuables to you through the mail. Sensitive items should be sent 

via an expedited—and insured—courier service such as DHL or UPS, but consider that some items are 

not allowed by DHL or UPS, such as liquids, credit cards, and money. You can consult with in-country 

staff on how to do this, if necessary.

It is usually not worth the effort to have large packages sent from the United States. Volunteers are 

responsible for paying customs fees on larger items, which may exceed the value of the items sent. 

Retrieving a package often means an entire day’s travel to Managua. There are modern supermarkets and 

other well-stocked stores in the capital that should supply all your needs, although luxury or gourmet 

items can be very costly. 

Your address during training in Nicaragua will be as follows:

“Your Name,” PCT

Voluntario del Cuerpo de Paz

Apartado Postal 3256

Managua, Nicaragua

Central America

Once your site has been identified, you will be responsible for sending the address to family and friends if 

you decide to have your mail delivered directly there.

Telephones

International phone service to and from Nicaragua is good relative to service in other developing 

countries. Claro and Movistar, the two main Nicaraguan telephone companies, have offices in most 

municipal centers and in all cities. International telephone calls can be very expensive; however, you can 

go to public call centers that provide international phone service, while Internet cafes throughout the 

country offer good communication services at more reasonable rates. For telephone communication to the 

States, most Volunteers use these centers and Internet cafes or have family and friends call them on their 

local cellphone or at a land line. 

Many of the families who host Volunteers during training have telephones in their homes. If not, there is 

public phone access in all of the training communities. Nicaragua also has a fairly extensive and growing 

cellular phone service. All Peace Corps staff members have cellphones, as do the majority of Volunteers 

throughout the country. Peace Corps/Nicaragua is currently using a family plan that allows for free 

unlimited calls and text messages among staff and Volunteers. Other calls outside of the Peace Corps plan 

can be made through the purchase of prepaid minutes. Cellphone service is available in all departmental 

capitals, but because of mountainous terrain and scattered populations, service may not reach the more 

remote areas. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

14

Differences in technology make many U.S. cellphones usually incompatible with the Nicaraguan system; 

therefore, it is best to purchase a cellphone in-country and with knowledge of which services are available 

in a given project site. Most Volunteers purchase inexpensive cellphones costing $20–$40. 

Where cellphone service is unavailable, local communication methods are sufficiently reliable for 

Volunteers and are compatible with the Peace Corps’ view that Volunteers should live modestly at the 

level of their local community members.

Computer, Internet, and Email Access

Local Internet providers exist in the capital, in nearly all major cities, and are extending to many smaller 

towns. As a result, cities and towns throughout the country have Internet cafes that offer access to the 

public by the hour for a small fee. Connectivity charges in some towns may be higher than in cities if they 

do not have a local server and have to make long distance calls to connect. Many of the Internet cafes 

have Skype and Gmail chat/phone call capabilities. 

Most Volunteers have regular (daily, weekly, or monthly) access to email. For most Volunteers, email is 

the primary form of communication with friends and family in the States. Additionally, the Peace Corps 

office in Managua has four computers with Internet access for Volunteers to use.

Housing and Site Location

Housing options and site locations vary greatly depending upon your project. Business Volunteers tend to 

live in towns and cities ranging from 1,000 to 100,000 residents. TEFL Volunteers live in small- to 

medium-sized towns in both rural and urban areas. The location of health and environment assignments 

varies from medium-sized cities to remote rural communities. 

Most (but not all) Volunteer homes have electricity and most have running water or wells. However, both 

electric and water service may be intermittent. Volunteers in very rural sites may have to haul water to 

their homes from communal pumps for their daily water supply. A few homes have telephones, and 

access to cable television is on the rise thanks to improved local services. Your volunteer assignment 

description provides more details about potential housing and site realities for your project.

Because of the importance of community integration and for your own safety and security, you are 

required to live with a host family for the duration of your Volunteer service. Couples are also required to 

live with host families. Program staff will identify a family, usually a local community leader or someone 

well-known by your project counterparts, with whom you will live initially. Later, you may change 

families, pending housing approvals, should you so desire for the duration of your service. The experience 

of sharing day-to-day life with a Nicaraguan family will hasten your cultural adaptation and will help you 

appreciate Nicaraguan culture. Your personal safety will also be enhanced when the community sees you 

as a part of a local family. As this housing policy is a mandatory and non-negotiable requirement, it is 

important to think about this commitment and your ability to be flexible enough to live with a family in 

basic conditions, with limited privacy. Housing can consist of small wooden, adobe, or cement block 

structures; some may have personal or community wells and others intermittent running water. During the 

dry season (November to April), there are often water shortages, so Volunteers may have to collect and 

save water for use. Many houses have outhouses and private outdoor shower facilities. 

When you are sworn in as a Volunteer, you will be required to submit a site locator form that will enable 

Peace Corps to locate and communicate with you throughout your service and that must be updated every 

time you move after your house has been approved. Peace Corps staff will periodically visit you at your 

site to provide personal, professional, and medical support and guidance.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

15

Living Allowance and Money Management

As a Volunteer in Nicaragua, you will receive three types of allowances. The first is a one-time settling in 

allowance to assist you with expenses related to moving to your site following training as you transition 

into your new home. The second is a monthly living allowance to cover your basic living expenses, such 

as rent, utilities, food, household supplies, clothing, local travel, recreation, and entertainment. The living 

allowance is reviewed once a year through a market survey to ensure that it is adequate. The amount of 

the allowance varies based on the cost of living in different regions of the country, and is paid in local 

currency. It is deposited once a month into a Nicaraguan bank account that you will maintain. You are 

likely to find that you receive more remuneration than your Nicaraguan counterparts. 

You will also receive a vacation allowance of $24 per month, deposited in a local bank account in local 

currency, which can be used when taking annual leave. Finally, if the Peace Corps asks you to travel for 

either programmatic, medical, or other reasons, you will be reimbursed for hotel, transportation, and 

meals up to an established amount (as determined by Peace Corps/Nicaragua) and upon submission of a 

brief expense report. 

Most Volunteers find they can live comfortably within the monthly living allowance, although some bring 

money from home to help pay for out-of-country vacation travel. Volunteers are responsible for managing 

their own resources. The Peace Corps expects Volunteers to maintain a lifestyle similar to that of the 

people with whom they live and work.

To obtain cash (in Córdoba’s or U.S. dollars), a variety of ATM machines are available in Managua and 

in all department capitals throughout the country. Traveler’s checks are increasingly less convenient, and 

can only be cashed for a fee at a few banks in the capital. U.S. dollars are accepted at most businesses in 

Managua and other major cities, but must be free of marks and tears. Credit cards are accepted in many 

establishments in Managua and in some major cities throughout the country; they are useful for vacations 

and travel.

Trainees and Volunteers are responsible for the safety and replacement of their own property and personal 

documents. 

Food and Diet

The staples of the Nicaraguan diet are beans, rice, eggs, dairy products, meats, and foods made with corn 

(e.g., tortillas, nacatamales, and pinolillo, a popular beverage made with ground corn and cocoa). A wide 

variety of fruits and vegetables are grown locally, from cabbages and carrots to pineapples and papayas. 

Their availability varies by the season and access to markets. As a result of the endemic poverty in 

Nicaragua, most Nicaraguans’ daily diet consists of gallo pinto, a mixture of red beans and rice fried in 

vegetable oil, which might be accompanied by corn tortillas, cabbage salad, a small amount of red meat or 

chicken, or locally made salty cheese. Most dairy products are made in a traditional fashion in rural 

settings and, thus, are not pasteurized.

The food generally is not spicy, and many Volunteers find that Nicaraguans use too much oil, salt, and 

sugar for their tastes. Many Volunteers enjoy frescos—a concoction of freshly squeezed fruit and 

vegetable juices mixed with water and sugar that come in many distinct flavors. In coastal areas, 

Volunteers find fresh fish and occasionally even lobster or shrimp. Beef, pork, and chicken are widely 

available throughout the country, but cuts of red meat differ greatly from those found in the United States. 

It is difficult to find meats that meet U.S. standards for flavor and quality.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

16

It is possible to maintain a vegetarian diet in Nicaragua. However, there is greater variety and availability 

of certain food items in Managua than in outlying areas. It is important to note that Nicaragua is a beefproducing country, and some Nicaraguans, particularly in rural areas, will not understand vegetarianism. 

As a vegetarian, you will need to develop a culturally sensitive approach to declining meat products.

Since you will be living with a Nicaraguan family during training and for the duration of your service, 

you will be immediately exposed to Nicaraguan eating habits and methods of food preparation. Host 

families receive information regarding any special dietary concerns. Although the families are generally 

quite accommodating, you should be prepared to have less control over your diet while living with a host 

family.

Some Volunteers cook for themselves to have more control over their diets. Volunteers who cook enjoy 

exploring new ways to use the local foods available, and often share these recipes with their Nicaraguan 

friends and family. There is even a recipe book written by Volunteers. 

Transportation

Most Volunteers travel in Nicaragua on commercial public buses; a very small number of sites are 

accessible by ferry or panga (passenger only) boats. For the vast majority of Volunteers, traveling to and 

from their site entails a ride in an old school bus, which may be overcrowded and slow, though schedules 

are set and buses typically depart at scheduled times. At more rural sites, Volunteers may be required to 

travel in converted flatbed trucks, as the rough terrain makes bus passage impossible. Volunteers are not 

permitted to own, drive, or ride on motorcycles or to own or drive other motorized vehicles at any time 

during their service. Violation of these policies may be grounds for termination of service.

Most Volunteers get around their site and visit nearby communities on foot or use locally available 

transportation methods. Some Volunteers find that travel by bicycle is the most practical way to get 

around and purchase a bicycle with their settling-in allowance. Though bicycles bought locally are not of 

the same quality as those available in the United States, they are more than sufficient for Volunteer 

transportation needs. If you choose to ride a bike, helmet use is mandatory. Noncompliance with the 

Peace Corps mandatory helmet use policy can be grounds for administrative separation.

In very few instances, Volunteers own or rent horses to travel from home to isolated communities and 

farms. You should familiarize yourself with your site and consult your program manager regarding 

appropriate methods of transportation.

Geography and Climate

Nicaragua is the largest of the five Central American republics, with a land area of almost 50,000 square 

miles (slightly smaller than New York). Known as the land of lakes and volcanoes, Nicaragua has a 

diverse environment, including highlands, lowlands, tropical forests, lakes, and two oceans. Lake 

Nicaragua is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world and contains such aquatic oddities as 

freshwater sharks. Nicaragua’s location and diverse geography make it a beautiful and resource-rich 

country, yet it is also vulnerable to many natural disasters, including earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, 

floods, droughts, and hurricanes. This vulnerability has increased as a result of deforestation and 

construction in unsafe areas.

Nicaragua can be divided into four geographic areas: the coastal area between the lakes and the Pacific 

Ocean; the Great Rift, a low depression in which Lake Managua and Lake Nicaragua lie; the central 

highlands to the north and east of the rift; and the Caribbean coast lowlands, which account for more than 

40 percent of the land area but only 10 percent of the population. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

17

The climate varies with the region, but Nicaragua generally is hot and tropical, with a very short cool 

season. The Northern region, including Estelí, Jinotega, Matagalpa, and Nueva Segovia, is mountainous 

with a noticeably cooler climate than the rest of Nicaragua. The eastern third of the country, composed of 

the eastern slopes of the central highlands and the Caribbean lowlands, has a wet, tropical climate, with 

little or no dry or cool season. The climate of the central highlands is variable because of its ridge and 

valley topography, but generally it is an area of moderate temperatures and year-round rainfall. The 

hottest regions of Nicaragua include Leon, Chinandega, and Managua. These Pacific regions experience a 

distinct tropical wet season (May through November) and tropical dry season (December through April). 

Social Activities

Social activities will vary depending on where you are located and the size of your site. Nicaraguans are 

generally kind and open, with celebrations of all types being common. You are encouraged to become a 

part of your community and participate in family celebrations, local dances, and folkloric activities as 

long as they occur in safe environments. The U.S. Marines are credited with popularizing baseball in 

Nicaragua in the early 1900s, and it is now the national sport. Most communities have baseball teams and 

weekend games. Soccer is also wildly popular and volleyball, too, continues to grow in popularity 

throughout the country among both men and women.

You will be expected to fully integrate into your community. This means you will spend the vast majority 

of your time in your Peace Corps site, including weekends and most of your free time. Volunteers 

occasionally visit nearby Volunteers or go to a regional center to watch a movie, use the Internet, have a 

special meal, buy supplies, or just relax in a place with air conditioning. Volunteers are discouraged from 

spending leisure time in Managua because of the expense and security concerns. Peace Corps/Nicaragua 

maintains strict policies regarding trips away from site.

Professionalism, Dress, and Behavior

A Volunteer assignment is a professional position. Although you may work in an informal setting, you 

will be expected to act and dress professionally. Almost all Volunteers spend some of their time working 

in local schools and are seen as community leaders and mentors. More specific information on dress 

codes and teachers’ roles is available in your volunteer assignment description. You will receive an 

orientation to appropriate behavior and cultural sensitivity during pre-service training. As a Volunteer, 

you will have the status of an invited guest and must be sensitive to the habits, tastes, and taboos of your 

Nicaraguan hosts. Your effectiveness as a development worker, satisfaction as a Volunteer, and safety as 

a foreigner living in a community will all be enhanced by professional behavior. Behavior that 

jeopardizes the Peace Corps mission in Nicaragua or your personal safety cannot be tolerated by the 

Peace Corps and could lead to administrative separation—a decision on the part of the Peace Corps to 

terminate your service. The Volunteer Handbook provides more information on the grounds for 

administrative separation.

Nicaraguans consider personal appearance an important individual characteristic. Proper dress can help 

establish your credibility as a professional, and it reflects your respect for the local customs and 

expectations of the people with whom you live and work. Inappropriate dress, like inappropriate behavior, 

is something that can set Volunteers apart from their communities. The best guideline is to dress as your 

Nicaraguan colleagues do. Nicaraguans dress business casual: neat, clean, and ironed. You should bring 

casual professional attire for all venues when you are working. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

18

Appropriate attire may include cotton pants (nice khakis are acceptable), nice cotton shirts and/or blouses 

(not T-shirts), and cotton skirts or dresses for women (not mini length). Neat blue jeans (dark and not 

bleached out) are acceptable and used by a number of professionals, including teachers, in spite of the hot 

temperatures. Neither shorts nor faded T-shirts are appropriate for Volunteers in the workplace. Dresses 

or shirts that are tight or spaghetti-strap tank tops are also not appropriate work attire. Comfortable 

walking shoes or sandals are suitable; however, Nicaraguans view outdoor sandals as inappropriate for 

the work environment. Shorts and tennis shoes are acceptable sportswear, but are inappropriate for work.

During training, you will be expected to observe the same clothing guidelines. Shirts and shoes must be 

worn at all times. Visible body piercings (other than earrings for women) and long hair on men are not 

generally accepted in professional settings. Wearing facial piercings may make it more difficult to 

integrate into your community. Earrings and ponytails are not permitted for male Volunteers during 

service. All PCVs should keep their hair neat and clean throughout service. Keep in mind that conforming 

to local norms is a small sacrifice for the great adventure and lasting friendships that await you.

Personal Safety

More detailed information about the Peace Corps’ approach to safety is contained in the Safety and 

Security section, but it is an important issue and cannot be overemphasized. As stated in the Volunteer 

Handbook, becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer entails certain safety risks. Living and traveling in an 

unfamiliar environment (oftentimes alone), having a limited understanding of local language and culture, 

and being perceived as well-off are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Many Volunteers 

experience varying degrees of unwanted attention and harassment. Petty thefts and burglaries are not 

uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most Nicaragua Volunteers 

complete their two years of service without incident. The Peace Corps has established procedures and 

policies designed to help reduce the risks and enhance your safety and security. These procedures and 

policies, in addition to safety training, will be provided once you arrive in Nicaragua. Using these tools, 

one can be empowered to take responsibility for his or her safety and well-being.

Each staff member at the Peace Corps is committed to providing Volunteers with the support they need to 

successfully meet the challenges they will face to have a safe, healthy, and productive service. Volunteers 

and families are encouraged to look at safety and security information on the Peace Corps website at 

peacecorps.gov/safety.

Information on these pages gives messages on Volunteer health and safety. There is a section titled Safety 

and Security in Depth. Among topics addressed are the risks of serving as a Volunteer, posts’ safety 

support systems, and emergency planning and communications.

Rewards and Frustrations

Being a Volunteer in Nicaragua can be both highly rewarding and terribly frustrating. This is one reason 

why serving in the Peace Corps is often called “the toughest job you’ll ever love.” A trainee often arrives 

with idealistic notions of wanting to save the forest, find new ways to increase food production to 

decrease hunger and malnutrition, or develop new local products that will make a community prosperous. 

But then frustrations often arise over the difficulty of getting things accomplished, the lack of support 

from local counterparts, and the obstacles of poverty and poor education.

You might struggle to perfect the language, adapt to certain Nicaraguan customs, or find sufficient 

financial resources. The family or church just down the street from your house might play loud music 

every night, or the rooster next door might begin crowing each morning at 2 a.m. You are certain to miss 

your family and friends back home.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

19

But over time, your initial idealism is likely to be replaced by a sense of practicality. Saving the forest 

becomes planting a few trees to protect a watershed. Feeding a nation becomes feeding a family. 

Revolutionizing a business becomes helping a business run better. This isn’t so much a loss of idealism 

but, rather, a realization that development comes from small but significant steps taken in partnership 

with your community.

To be successful as a Volunteer, you will need to be flexible, resourceful, and patient. You will be given a 

high degree of responsibility and independence in your work—perhaps more than in any other job you 

have had or will have. You will often find yourself in situations that require an ability to motivate 

yourself and others with little guidance from supervisors. You will learn to take joy from the little things: 

the smiles and laughter of children walking to school, the welcome sound of rain on a zinc roof, the 

sparkle in a child’s eyes when he realizes that saving a tree means saving a bird, the comfort in a mother’s 

face when her baby is healthy and well-nourished, the satisfaction of a business owner when she is able to 

pay her debts and save money.

When you complete your service in Nicaragua, you will leave knowing that you have not only overcome 

frustrations and obstacles, but also made lasting friendships and helped people build better lives for 

themselves and their families. If you are committed to integrating into your community and working hard, 

you will be a successful Volunteer.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

20

PEACE CORPS TRAINING

Overview of Pre-Service Training

The Peace Corps uses a competency-based training approach throughout the continuum of learning, 

supporting you from arrival in Nicaragua to your departure. Pre-service training (PST) is the first event 

within this continuum of learning and ensures that you are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and 

attitudes to effectively perform your job. Pre-service training is conducted in Nicaragua by Peace Corps 

staff, most of whom are locally hired trainers. Peace Corps staff measure achievement of learning and 

determine if you have successfully achieved competencies, including language standards, for swearing-in 

as a Peace Corps Volunteer. 

Peace Corps training incorporates widely accepted principles of adult learning and is structured around 

the experiential learning cycle. Successful training results in competence in various technical, linguistic, 

cross-cultural, health, and safety and security areas.

Integrating into the community is one of the core competencies you will strive to achieve both in PST and 

during the first several months of service. Successful sustainable development work is based on the 

relationships you build by respectfully integrating into the host country community and culture. 

You will be prepared for this through a homestay experience, which often requires trainees to live with 

host families during PST. Integration into the community fosters language and cross-cultural learning and 

ensures your health, safety, and security.

Upon your arrival in Nicaragua, you will participate in a three-day orientation that will provide you with 

basic, pertinent information on living in Nicaragua. You will find out about Peace Corps administrative 

issues as they pertain to Peace Corps training. Additionally, you will learn what the Peace Corps expects 

from you during pre-service training and what you can expect from the Peace Corps. You will have the 

opportunity to speak with current Volunteers in your project and ask staff members questions about any 

initial medical concerns. After this orientation, you will begin living with a host family, spending 

Saturday night and Sunday with them before beginning pre-service training on Monday morning.

Training will consist of several components, including Spanish language, technical skills, and the core 

curriculum, which consists of cross-cultural awareness, the role of Volunteers in development, and health 

and safety issues. You will attend Spanish classes and carry out technical and cross-cultural tasks in your 

community Monday through Friday. Usually on Wednesday and Friday afternoons and some Saturdays, 

the entire training group will come together for more formal training sessions. During training, you will 

be evaluated regularly on your ability to acquire and demonstrate the language, technical, core, and safety 

competencies needed to be a Volunteer.

You will live with your host family for the entire 12-week training period. Two or three other trainees 

will live in the same community with different families, and you will study Spanish and carry out 

individual technical tasks together. Even though the entire training group will be spread out among four 

or five communities, Peace Corps staff members will be present on a daily basis. The training director and 

other Peace Corps staff will make frequent trips to each community to ensure that training objectives are 

being met, and provide guidance in the process.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

21

Note to couples: Peace Corps/Nicaragua encourages married couples to participate in our program; 

couples have found service in Nicaragua to be very rewarding. More specific advantages and challenges 

to serving as couples are mentioned later in this book. However, if you are considering service in 

Nicaragua, it is important to note that you will each live with a different host family during the 12-week 

pre-service training period and will most likely also be living in separate, but neighboring, communities. 

This will better enable each of you to develop your language and technical skills, and to share in the rich 

cross-cultural experience of spending time with your own host family and community. The success in the 

training program will be due in large part to a couple’s willingness to put their individual learning 

objectives first, realizing that each person will need time and personal space to meet the challenges ahead 

and to fully engage in the training activities. Couples have plenty of opportunities to see one another 

during the week at plenary sessions and can spend weekends together during the pre-service training 

period. Please contact your placement officer or the country desk unit for more specific information. 

Technical Training

Technical training will prepare you to work in Nicaragua by building on the skills you already have and 

helping you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs of the country. The Peace Corps 

staff, Nicaragua experts, and current Volunteers will conduct the training program. Training places great 

emphasis on learning how to transfer the skills you have to the community in which you will serve as a 

Volunteer. 

Technical training will include sessions on the general economic and political environment in Nicaragua

and strategies for working within such a framework. You will review your project’s goals and objectives 

and will meet with the Nicaragua agencies and organizations that invited the Peace Corps to assist them. 

You will be supported and evaluated throughout training to build the confidence and skills you need to 

undertake your project activities, report your progress, and serve as a productive member of your 

community.

Language Training

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills are key to personal and professional 

satisfaction during your service. These skills are critical to your job performance, they help you integrate 

into your community, and they can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings. Therefore, 

language training is at the heart of the training program. You must successfully meet minimum language 

requirements to complete training and become a Volunteer. Nicaraguan language instructors teach formal 

language classes five days a week in small groups of three to four people.

Your language training will incorporate a community-based approach. In addition to classroom time, you 

will be given assignments to work on outside of the classroom and with your host family. The goal is to 

get you to a point of basic social communication skills so you can practice and develop language skills 

further once you are at your site. The minimum level of Spanish proficiency to swear in at the end of PST 

is Intermediate-Mid on the ACTFL scale (more detailed information will be provided at the Orientation 

Retreat). If you are a novice Spanish speaker, you are urged to begin conversational Spanish classes as 

soon as possible, so you have some preparation before arrival. Prior to being sworn in as a Volunteer, you 

will work on strategies to continue language studies during your service.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

22

Cross-Cultural Training

Cross-cultural training will provide opportunities for you to reflect on your own cultural values and how 

they influence your behavior in Nicaragua. You will also discuss the questions you have about the 

behaviors and practices you observe in Nicaragua, exploring the underlying reasons for these behaviors 

and practices. 

Cross-cultural and community development training will help you improve your communication skills 

and understand your role as a facilitator of development. Training will cover topics such as the concept of 

time, power and hierarchy, gender roles, communication styles, and the concept of self and relationships. 

Because adjusting to a new culture can be very challenging, you will participate in resiliency training 

which provides a framework and tools to help with adjustment issues. 

The host family experience provides a unique context for cross-cultural learning, and is designed to ease 

your transition to life at your site. Families go through an orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to 

explain the purpose of PST and to assist them in helping you adapt to living in Nicaragua. Many 

Volunteers form strong and lasting friendships with their host families.

Health Training

During pre-service training, you will be trained in health prevention, basic first aid, and basic treatment of 

medical illnesses found in Nicaragua. You will be expected to practice preventive health and to take 

responsibility for your own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are required to attend all 

medical sessions. Health education topics will cover nutrition, food and water preparation, emotional 

health, alcohol awareness, prevention of HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), common

illnesses, domestic and intimate partner violence, emergencies, and medical policies in Nicaragua.

Safety and Security Training

During the safety and security training sessions, you will learn how to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your 

risks at home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn appropriate, effective strategies for 

coping with unwanted attention, how to identify safety risks in-country and about Peace Corps’ 

emergency response and support systems.

Additional Trainings During Volunteer Service

The Peace Corps’ training system provides Volunteers with continual opportunities to examine their 

commitment to Peace Corps service while increasing their technical and cross-cultural skills. During 

service, there are usually three training events. The titles and objectives for those trainings are as follows: 

• In-service training: Provides an opportunity for Volunteers to upgrade their technical, language, 

and project development skills while sharing their experiences and reaffirming their commitment 

after having served for three to six months.

• Mid-service training (done in conjunction with technical sector in-service): Assists Volunteers 

in reviewing their first year, reassessing their personal and project objectives, and planning for 

their second year of service.

• Close-of-service conference: Prepares Volunteers for their future after Peace Corps service and 

reviews their respective projects and personal experiences. 

The number, length, and design of these trainings are adapted to country-specific needs and conditions. 

The key to the training system is that training events are integrated and interrelated, from the predeparture orientation through the end of your service, and are planned, implemented, and evaluated 

cooperatively by the training staff, Peace Corps staff, and Volunteers.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

23
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

24

YOUR HEALTH CARE IN NICARAGUA

The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the good health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace 

Corps medical programs emphasize the preventive, rather than the curative, approach to disease. The 

Peace Corps in Nicaragua maintains a clinic with a full-time medical officer who takes care of 

Volunteers’ primary health-care needs, including evaluation and treatment of most medical conditions. 

Additional medical services are also available in Nicaragua at local hospitals. If you become seriously ill 

and cannot receive the care you need in Nicaragua, you will be transported to a Peace Corps-approved 

regional medical facility. If the Office of Health Services (OHS) determines that the care is not optimal 

for your condition at the regional facility, you will be transported to the United States. 

Health Issues in Nicaragua

The most common health problems among Volunteers and the Nicaraguan population in general, which 

also occur in the United States, are upper respiratory infections and diarrhea. These problems may be 

more frequent or compounded by life in Nicaragua because certain environmental and cultural factors in 

the country raise the risk or exacerbate the severity of illnesses and injuries. Some gastrointestinal 

problems can be avoided by boiling drinking water and thoroughly washing fruits and vegetables before 

eating them.

Two additional major health concerns are malaria and dengue fever. Because malaria is endemic here, the 

Peace Corps requires all Volunteers to take anti-malarial medication. The anti-malarial medications 

currently approved by headquarters and used by Volunteers are chloroquine phosphate on a weekly basis 

or doxycycline daily; most Volunteers have no problems taking them. It is crucial that all Volunteers 

strictly follow medical office guidelines to prevent mosquito bites, in addition to taking anti-malarial 

prophylaxis, which will also help to prevent dengue fever. You will also be vaccinated against hepatitis A 

and B, tetanus/diphtheria, polio, typhoid, measles, mumps, rubella, rabies, H1N1, and seasonal influenza 

as part of the Peace Corps’ preventive health program.

Helping You Stay Healthy

The Peace Corps will provide you with all the necessary inoculations, medications, and information to 

stay healthy. Upon your arrival in Nicaragua, you will receive a country-specific medical handbook. By 

the end of training, you will receive a medical kit with supplies to take care of mild illnesses and first aid 

needs. The contents of the kit are listed later in this section. 

During pre-service training, you will have access to basic medical supplies through the medical officer. 

However, during this time, you will be responsible for your own supply of prescription drugs and any 

other specific medical supplies you require, as the Peace Corps will not order these items during training. 

Please bring a three-month supply of any prescription drugs you use, since they may not be available here 

and it may take several months for shipments to arrive.

You will have physicals at mid-service and at the end of your service. If you develop a serious medical 

problem during your service, the medical officer in Nicaragua will consult with the Office of Health 

Services in Washington, D.C., or a regional medical officer. If it is determined that your condition cannot 

be treated in Nicaragua, you may be sent out of the country for further evaluation and care.

Maintaining Your Health

As a Volunteer, you must accept considerable responsibility for your own health. Proper precautions will 

significantly reduce your risk of serious illness or injury. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

25

The adage “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” becomes extremely important in areas 

where diagnostic and treatment facilities are not up to the standards of the United States. The most 

important of your responsibilities in Nicaragua is to take the following preventive measures:

Parasitic infections come from eating contaminated food or drinking contaminated water. During training, 

you will learn how to properly wash and prepare foods and how to boil your drinking water. You will also 

receive training on how to recognize symptoms and what immediate actions to take if such symptoms 

occur.

Many illnesses that afflict Volunteers worldwide are entirely preventable if proper food and water 

precautions are taken. These illnesses include food poisoning, parasitic infections, hepatitis A, dysentery, 

Guinea worms, tapeworms, and typhoid fever. Your medical officer will discuss specific standards for 

water and food preparation in Nicaragua during pre-service training.

Abstinence is the most effective way to prevent infection with HIV and other STIs. You are taking risks if 

you choose to be sexually active. To lessen risk, use a condom every time you have sex. Whether your 

partner is a host country citizen, a fellow Volunteer, or anyone else, do not assume this person is free of 

HIV/AIDS or other STIs. You will receive more information from the medical officer about this 

important issue.

Volunteers are expected to adhere to an effective means of birth control to prevent an unplanned 

pregnancy. Your medical officer can help you decide on the most appropriate method to suit your 

individual needs. Contraceptive methods are available without charge from the medical officer. If you are 

taking a specific contraceptive, you should bring a three-month supply since they may not be available in 

Nicaragua and may take several months to order. Also, your current brand of contraceptive may be 

changed to an equivalent or similar medication by the medical officer, if your brand is difficult to obtain 

in-country.

It is critical to your health that you promptly report to the medical office or other designated facility for 

scheduled immunizations, and that you let the medical officer know immediately of significant illnesses 

and injuries.

Women’s Health Information

If feminine hygiene products are not available for you to purchase on the local market, the Peace Corps 

medical officer in Nicaragua will provide them. If you require a specific product, please bring a threemonth supply with you. Many female Volunteers take menstrual cups (The Diva Cup, The Keeper, The 

Moon Cup, etc.) to avoid potential problems with availability or disposal of feminine hygiene products.

Pregnancy is treated in the same manner as other Volunteer health conditions that require medical 

attention. The Peace Corps is responsible for determining the medical risk and the availability of 

appropriate medical care if the Volunteer chooses to remain in-country. Given the circumstances under 

which Volunteers live and work in Peace Corps countries, it is rare that the Peace Corps’ medical 

standards for continued service during pregnancy can be met. 

The Peace Corps follows the 2012 U.S. Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for screening PAP 

smears, which recommend women aged 21–29 receive screening PAPs every three years and women 

aged 30–65 receive screening PAPs every five years. As such, most Volunteers will not receive a PAP 

during their service, but can use Peace Corps supplied health insurance after service to have an exam. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

26

Your Peace Corps Medical Kit

The Peace Corps medical officer will provide you with a kit containing basic items to prevent and treat 

illnesses that may occur during service. Kit items can be periodically restocked at the medical office.

Medical Kit Contents

First Aid Handbook

Ace bandages

Acetaminophen (Tylenol)

Adhesive tape

Antacid tablets 

Anti-diarrheal (Imodium)

Antibiotic ointment 

Antifungal cream

Antihistamine

Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner 

Band-Aids

Bismuth Subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol)

Butterfly closures

Calagel anti-itch gel 

Condoms 

Cough lozenges 

Decongestant

Dental floss

Gloves

Hydrocortisone cream

Ibuprofen 

Insect repellent 

Iodine tablets (for water purification)

Lip balm 

Oral rehydration salts

Scissors 

Sore throat lozenges

Sterile eye drops

Sterile gauze pads 

Sunscreen 

Thermometer (Temp-a-dots)

Tweezers

Before You Leave: A Medical Checklist

If there has been any change in your health—physical, mental, or dental—since you submitted your 

examination reports to the Peace Corps, you must immediately notify the Office of Health Services 

(OHS). Failure to disclose new illnesses, injuries, allergies, or pregnancy can endanger your health and 

may jeopardize your eligibility to serve. 

If your dentist or Peace Corps dental consultant has recommended that you undergo dental treatment or 

repair, you must complete that work and make sure your dentist sends requested confirmation reports or 

X-rays to the Office of Health Services.

If you wish to avoid having duplicate vaccinations, bring a copy of your immunization record to your predeparture orientation. If you purchase any immunizations prior to Peace Corps service that are not listed 

as requirement in your Medical Applicant Portal, the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for the cost. The 

Peace Corps will provide all the immunizations necessary for your overseas assignment. Volunteers must 

be willing to get all required vaccinations unless there is a documented medical contraindication. Failure 

to accept required vaccination is grounds for administrative separation from the Peace Corps. You do not 

need to begin taking malaria medication prior to departure.

Bring a three-month supply of any prescription or over-the-counter medication you use on a regular basis, 

including birth control pills. Although the Peace Corps cannot reimburse you for this three-month supply, 

it will order refills during your service. While awaiting shipment—which can take several months—you 

will be dependent on your own medication supply. The Peace Corps will not pay for herbal or 

nonprescribed medications, such as St. John’s wort, glucosamine, selenium, or antioxidant supplements. 

Medications supplied may be generic or equivalent to your current medications. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

27

You are encouraged to bring copies of medical prescriptions signed by your physician. This is not a 

requirement, but they might come in handy if you are questioned in transit about carrying a three-month 

supply of prescription drugs.

If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs (of the current prescription) with you. If a pair breaks, the Peace 

Corps will replace them, using the information your doctor in the United States provided on the 

eyeglasses form during your examination. The Peace Corps Office of Health Services strongly 

discourages Volunteers from wearing contact lenses while overseas unless there is a true medical 

indication documented by your ophthalmologist. Contact lenses, particularly extended use soft contacts, 

are associated with a variety of eye infections and other inflammatory problems. One of the most serious 

of these problems is infectious keratitis which can lead to severe cornea damage which could result in 

permanent blindness requiring corneal transplantation. These risks of permanent eye damage are 

exacerbated in the Peace Corps environment where the Volunteer’s ability to properly clean the lenses is 

compromised due to limited access to sterile water as well as decreased effectiveness of cleaning 

solutions due to prolonged storage in unsatisfactory conditions. In addition, when bacterial eye infections 

occur, assessment and treatment within hours by a competent ophthalmologist is indicated. This is 

virtually impossible in the Peace Corps setting. If you feel that you simply must be able to use your 

contacts occasionally, please consider using single use, daily disposable lenses which do not require 

cleaning.

If you are eligible for Medicare, are over 50 years of age, or have a health condition that may restrict your 

future participation in health-care plans, you may wish to consult an insurance specialist about unique 

coverage needs before your departure. The Peace Corps will provide all necessary health care from the 

time you leave for your pre-departure orientation until you complete your service. When you finish, you 

will be entitled to the post-service health-care benefits described in the Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook. 

You may wish to consider keeping an existing health plan in effect during your service if you think age or 

pre-existing conditions might prevent you from re-enrolling in your current plan when you return home.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

28

SAFETY AND SECURITY IN DEPTH 

Ensuring the safety and security of Volunteers is Peace Corps’ highest priority. Serving as a Volunteer 

overseas entails certain safety and security risks. Living and traveling in an unfamiliar environment, a

limited understanding of the local language and culture, and the perception of being a wealthy American 

are some of the factors that can put a Volunteer at risk. Property theft and burglaries are not uncommon. 

Incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur, although most Volunteers complete their two years of 

service without a serious safety and security incident. Together, the Peace Corps and Volunteers can 

reduce risk, but cannot truly eliminate all risk.

Beyond knowing that the Peace Corps approaches safety and security as a partnership with you, it might 

be helpful to see how this partnership works. The Peace Corps has policies, procedures, and training in 

place to promote your safety. The Peace Corps depends on you to follow those policies and to put into 

practice what you have learned. An example of how this works in practice—in this case to help manage 

the risk and impact of burglary—follows:

• The Peace Corps assesses the security environment where you will live and work.

• The Peace Corps inspects the house where you will live according to established security criteria.

• The Peace Corps ensures you are welcomed by host country counterparts or other community 

leaders in your new community.

• The Peace Corps responds to security concerns that you raise.

• You lock your doors and windows.

• You adopt a lifestyle appropriate to the community where you live.

• You get to know your neighbors.

• You decide if purchasing personal articles insurance is appropriate for you.

• You don’t change residences before being authorized by the Peace Corps.

• You communicate your concerns to Peace Corps staff.

This welcome book contains sections on Living Conditions and Volunteer Lifestyle, Peace Corps 

Training, Your Health Care, and Safety and Security, all of which include important safety and security 

information to help you understand this partnership. The Peace Corps makes every effort to give 

Volunteers the training and tools they need to function in the safest way possible and prepare for the 

unexpected, teaching you to identify, reduce, and manage the risks you may encounter.

Factors that Contribute to Volunteer Risk 

There are several factors that can heighten a Volunteer’s risk, many of which are within the Volunteer’s 

control. By far the most common crime that Volunteers experience is theft. Thefts often occur when 

Volunteers are away from their sites, in crowded locations (such as markets or on public transportation), 

and when leaving items unattended.

Before you depart for Nicaragua there are several measures you can take to reduce your risk: 

• Leave valuable objects in the United States, particularly those that are irreplaceable or have 

sentimental value

• Leave copies of important documents and account numbers with someone you trust in the States

• Purchase a hidden money pouch or “dummy” wallet as a decoy

• Purchase personal articles insurance

After you arrive in Nicaragua, you will receive more detailed information about common crimes, factors 

that contribute to Volunteer risk, and local strategies to reduce that risk. For example, Volunteers in 

Nicaragua learn to do the following:
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

29

• Choose safe routes and times for travel, and travel with someone trusted by the community 

whenever possible

• Make sure one’s personal appearance is respectful of local customs

• Avoid high-crime areas

• Know the local language to get help in an emergency

• Make friends with local people who are respected in the community 

• Be careful and conscientious about using electronics (phones, cameras, laptops, iPods, etc.) in 

public or leaving them unattended

• Limit alcohol consumption

As you can see from this list, you must be willing to work hard and adapt your lifestyle to minimize the 

potential for being a target for crime. As with anywhere in the world, crime occurs in Nicaragua. You can 

reduce the risks by avoiding situations that place you at risk and by taking precautions. Crime at the 

village or town level is less frequent than in the large cities; people know each other and generally are less 

likely to steal from their neighbors. Tourist attractions in large towns are favorite worksites for 

pickpockets.

While whistles and verbal harassment based on race or gender may be fairly common on the street, this 

behavior may be reduced if you abide by local cultural norms, dress conservatively, and respond 

according to the training you will receive.

Staying Safe: Don’t Be a Target for Crime

Because many Volunteer sites are in rural, isolated settings, you must be prepared to take on a large 

degree of responsibility for your own safety. To reduce the likelihood that you will become a victim of 

crime, you can take steps to make yourself less of a target such as ensuring your home is secure and 

developing relationships in your community. While the factors that contribute to your risk in Nicaragua

may be different, in many ways you can do what you would do if you moved to a new city anywhere: Be 

cautious, check things out, ask questions, learn about your neighborhood, know where the more risky 

locations are, use common sense, and be aware. You can reduce your vulnerability to crime by integrating 

into your community, learning the local language, acting responsibly, and abiding by Peace Corps 

policies and procedures. Serving safely and effectively in Nicaragua will require that you accept some 

restrictions on your current lifestyle.

Volunteers have reported being robbed of purses, watches, wallets, cellphones, and other personal 

possessions while riding on crowded buses or walking in urban areas at night or early morning. Most 

petty thieves want only your belongings, and Volunteers are always encouraged to give up personal items 

should they encounter a thief. Do not bring to Nicaragua any item that you are not willing to lose or to 

carry items you would not be willing to give up.

Some Volunteers have had their houses broken into and personal items stolen. This typically happens 

when Volunteers leave their sites. Part of the Volunteer settling-in allowance is dedicated to home 

security items, such as good locks and bars for doors and windows. A Peace Corps staff member will visit 

your home to inspect your housing conditions and make recommendations to maximize home security. 

You will receive more information on how to prevent petty theft and burglary during training, and you 

will receive routine visits to your site from the safety and security coordinator as needed.

Alcohol abuse occurs at a higher rate in Nicaragua than in the United States, so you should avoid areas 

where there is heavy drinking, especially at night. As a professional, you are expected to adhere to high 

standards of behavior at all times. If you choose to drink, you must drink responsibly. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

30

Alcohol use by Volunteers is a common factor in incidents involving their safety. During training, you 

will learn how to recognize alcohol abuse and learn strategies to be responsible. Irresponsible behavior 

related to alcohol use is grounds for administrative separation from the Peace Corps.

Statistically speaking, the risk of sexual assault in Nicaragua isn’t substantially higher than in the U.S. 

Most sexual assaults in Nicaragua occur as a result of domestic violence. Very few Peace Corps 

Volunteers have been sexually assaulted in Nicaragua. Women serving in Nicaragua should know that 

some men may see them as sexual objects, that friendships with men are not culturally the norm, and that 

they need to maintain a constant awareness of the threat of sexual assaults. “Come-ons” made by men to 

women as they walk by are common and can be especially offensive to American women. You will 

receive information during training on how to minimize your risks of sexual assault and harassment 

throughout your service.

While whistles and exclamations may be fairly common on the street, this behavior can be reduced if you 

dress conservatively, abide by local cultural norms, and respond according to the training you will 

receive. 

Support from Staff

If a trainee or Volunteer is the victim of a safety and security incident, Peace Corps staff is prepared to 

provide support. All Peace Corps posts have procedures in place to respond to incidents of crime 

committed against Volunteers. The first priority for all posts in the aftermath of an incident is to ensure 

the Volunteer is safe and receiving medical treatment as needed. After assuring the safety of the 

Volunteer, Peace Corps staff response may include reassessing the Volunteer’s worksite and housing 

arrangements and making any adjustments, as needed. In some cases, the nature of the incident may 

necessitate a site or housing transfer. Peace Corps staff will also support and assist Volunteers who 

choose to make a formal complaint with local law enforcement. It is very important that a Volunteer 

reports an incident when it occurs. The reasons for this include obtaining medical care and emotional 

support, enabling Peace Corps staff to assess the situation to determine if there is an ongoing safety and 

security concern, protecting peer Volunteers and preserving the right to file a complaint. Should a 

Volunteer decide later in the process to file a complaint with law enforcement, this option may be 

compromised if evidence was not preserved at the time of the incident. 

Office of Victim Advocacy

The Office of Victim Advocacy (OVA) is a resource to Volunteers who are victims of crime, including 

sexual assault and stalking. Victim advocates are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help 

Volunteers understand their emotional, medical, and legal options so they may make informed decisions 

to meet their specific needs. The OVA provides a compassionate, coordinated, and supportive response to 

Volunteers who wish to access Peace Corps support services.

Contact information for the Office of Victim Advocacy

Direct phone number: 202.692.1753

Toll-free: 855.855.1961 ext. 1753

Duty phone: 202.409.2704 (available 24/7, call or text)

Email: victimadvocate@peacecorps.gov

Crime Data for Nicaragua

Crime data and statistics for Nicaragua, which are updated yearly, are available at the following link: 

http://www.peacecorps.gov/countrydata/nicaragua

Please take the time to review this important information.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

31

Few Peace Corps Volunteers are victims of serious crimes. Crimes that do occur abroad are investigated 

and prosecuted by local jurisdictional authorities. If you are the victim of a crime, you will decide if you 

wish to file a complaint with law enforcement, who will then determine whether to prosecute. If you 

decide to file a complaint, the Peace Corps will help through the process. The Peace Corps staff will 

ensure you are fully informed of your options and understand how the local legal process works. Further, 

the Peace Corps will help you exercise your rights to the fullest extent possible under the laws of your 

host country.

The Peace Corps will train you on how to respond if you are the victim of a serious crime, including how 

to get to a safe location quickly and contact your Peace Corps office. It’s important that you notify the 

Peace Corps as soon as you can so Peace Corps staff can provide assistance.

Volunteer Safety Support in Nicaragua

The Peace Corps’ approach to safety is a five-pronged plan to help you stay safe during your service. The 

plan includes information sharing, Volunteer training, site selection criteria, a detailed emergency action 

plan, and protocols for addressing safety and security incidents. Nicaragua’s in-country safety program is 

outlined below.

The Peace Corps/Nicaragua office will keep you informed of any issues that may impact Volunteer safety 

through information sharing. Regular updates will be provided in Volunteer newsletters and in 

memorandums from the country director. In the event of a critical situation or emergency, you will be 

contacted through the emergency communication network. An important component of the capacity of 

Peace Corps to keep you informed is your buy-in to the partnership concept with the Peace Corps staff. It 

is expected that you will do your part to ensure that Peace Corps staff members are kept apprised of your 

movements in-country so they are able to inform you.

Volunteer training will include sessions on specific safety and security issues in Nicaragua. This training 

will prepare you to adopt a culturally appropriate lifestyle and exercise judgment that promotes safety and 

reduces risk in your home, at work, and while traveling. Safety training is offered throughout service and 

is integrated into the language, cross-cultural aspects, health, and other components of training. You will 

be expected to successfully complete all training competencies in a variety of areas, including safety and 

security, as a condition of service.

Certain site selection criteria are used to determine safe housing for Volunteers before their arrival. The 

Peace Corps staff works closely with host communities and counterpart agencies to help prepare them for 

a Volunteer’s arrival and to establish expectations of their respective roles in supporting the Volunteer. 

Each site is inspected before the Volunteer’s arrival to ensure placement in appropriate, safe, and secure 

housing and worksites. Site selection is based, in part, on any relevant site history; access to medical, 

banking, postal, and other essential services; availability of communications, transportation, and markets; 

different housing options and living arrangements; and other Volunteer support needs.

You will also learn about Peace Corps/Nicaragua’s detailed emergency action plan, which is 

implemented in the event of civil or political unrest or a natural disaster. When you arrive at your site, 

you will complete and submit a site locator form with your address, contact information, and a map to 

your house. If there is a security threat, you will gather with other Volunteers in Nicaragua at 

predetermined locations until the situation is resolved or the Peace Corps decides to evacuate.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

32

Finally, in order for the Peace Corps to be fully responsive to the needs of Volunteers, it is imperative that 

Volunteers immediately report any safety and security incidents to the Peace Corps office. The Peace 

Corps has established protocols for addressing safety and security incidents in a timely and 

appropriate manner, and it collects and evaluates safety and security data to track trends and develop 

strategies to minimize risks to current and future Volunteers.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

33

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION OVERVIEW

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship and to improve people’s lives in the 

communities where Volunteers serve. Instituting policies and practices to support a diverse and inclusive 

work and Volunteer environment is essential to achieving this mission.

Through inclusive recruitment and retention of staff and Volunteers, the Peace Corps seeks to reflect the 

rich diversity of the United States and bring diverse perspectives and solutions to development issues. 

Additionally, ensuring diversity among staff and Volunteers enriches interpersonal relations and 

communications for the staff work environment, the Volunteer experience, and the communities in which 

Volunteers serve. 

The Peace Corps defines diversity as a “collection of individual attributes that together help agencies 

pursue organizational objectives efficiently and effectively. These include, but are not limited to, 

characteristics such as national origin, language, race, color, disability, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, 

sexual orientation, gender identity, socioeconomic status, veteran status, and family structures. Diversity 

also encompasses differences among people concerning where they are from and where they have lived 

and their differences of thought and life experiences.”

We define inclusion as a “culture that connects each [staff member and Volunteer] to the organization; 

encourages collaboration, flexibility, and fairness; and leverages diversity throughout the organization so 

that all individuals are able to participate and contribute to their full potential.” The Peace Corps promotes 

inclusion throughout the lifecycle of Volunteers and staff. When staff and Volunteers are able to share 

their rich diversity in an inclusive work environment, the Peace Corps mission is better fulfilled. More

information about diversity and inclusion can be found in the Volunteer Handbook.

An inclusive agency is one that seeks input from everyone in an effort to find the best ideas and strategies 

possible to execute its objectives. When input is solicited, heard, and considered from a rich multitude of 

individuals the best course of action usually emerges. The Peace Corps seeks to improve its operations 

and effectiveness by ensuring that all voices and ideas are heard and that all Volunteers and staff feel 

welcome and appreciated. When each person’s voice is heard, the agency is stronger and the impact of 

Volunteers is strengthened.

Diversity and Inclusion at Your Site

Once Volunteers arrive at their sites, diversity and inclusion principles remain the same but take on a 

different shape, in which your host community may share a common culture and you—the Volunteer—

are the outsider. You may be in the minority, if not the sole American like you, at your site. You will 

begin to notice diversity in perspectives, ethnicity, age, depth of conversation, and degree of support you 

may receive. For example, elders, youth, and middle-aged individuals all have unique points of views on 

topics you may discuss, from perspectives on work, new projects, and social engagements to the way 

community issues are addressed.

Peace Corps staff in Nicaragua recognize the additional adjustment issues that come with living and 

working in new environments and will provide support and guidance to Volunteers. During pre-service 

training, a session will be held to discuss diversity and inclusion and how you can serve as an ally for 

your peers, honoring diversity, seeking inclusion, challenging prejudice and exclusion, exploring your 

own biases, and learning mechanisms to cope with these adjustment issues. The Peace Corps looks 

forward to having Volunteers from varied backgrounds that include a variety of races, ethnic groups, 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

34

ages, religions, sexual orientations and gender identities. The agency expects you to work collaboratively 

to create an inclusive environment that transcends differences and finds common ground.

Cross-Cultural Considerations

Outside of Nicaragua’s capital, residents of rural communities might have had little direct exposure to 

other cultures, races, religions, and lifestyles. What people view as typical U.S. behavior or norms may be 

a misconception, such as the belief that all Americans are rich and have blond hair and blue eyes. The 

people of Nicaragua are known for their generous hospitality to foreigners; however, members of the 

community where you will live may display a range of reactions to cultural differences that you present. 

As a Volunteer and representative of the United States, you are responsible not only for sharing the 

diversity of U.S. culture (to include your individual culture and the culture of other Americans) with your 

host country national counterparts, but also for learning from the diversity of your host country. An 

important aspect of this cultural exchange will be to demonstrate inclusiveness within your community in 

a sensitive manner. Additionally, you will share the responsibility of learning about the diversity of your 

fellow Peace Corps Volunteers and exploring how best to respect differences while serving as supportive 

allies as you go through this challenging new experience. 

To ease the transition and adapt to life in your host country, you may need to make some temporary, yet 

fundamental, compromises in how you present yourself as an American and as an individual. For 

example, female trainees and Volunteers may not be able to exercise the independence they have in the 

United States; male Volunteers may be expected to not perform chores or other tasks ascribed to women; 

political discussions need to be handled with great care; and some of your personal beliefs may best 

remain undisclosed. You will need to develop techniques and personal strategies for coping with these 

and other limitations. The Peace Corps staff will lead a diversity, inclusion, and sensitivity discussion 

during pre-service training and will be on call to provide support. This training covers how to adapt 

personal choices and behavior to be respectful of the host country culture, which can have a direct impact 

on how Volunteers are viewed and treated by their new communities. The Peace Corps emphasizes 

professional behavior and cross-cultural sensitivity among volunteers and within their communities to

help integrate and be successful during service. 

An ideal way to view the pursuit of cross-cultural adaptation and/or cultural integration is to recognize 

that everything done in your host country has both a specific reason for why it is done and an expected 

outcome. Trust that your host country counterparts are acting with positive intentions and work to 

mutually seek understanding and commonality. Language differences may add a communication barrier 

and lead to misunderstandings. Listen more than you speak and seek clarity. Remember that having the 

ability to laugh at yourself and at life’s little surprises goes a long way—laughter is universal.

What Might a Volunteer Face?

Possible Gender Role Issues

Gender is a set of socially constructed roles, responsibilities, behaviors, and opportunities. Gender differs 

from sex, which refers specifically to biological and physiological characteristics of males and females. 

Gender roles and expectations are learned, change over time, and vary within and among cultures. 

Volunteers are trained in gender awareness as they approach their work in the host country. Gender roles 

in the United States may differ greatly from those in your country of service. It is important to absorb and 

to attempt to understand the cultural nuances of gender where you are. For example, in many cultures 

males are held in higher regard than females and females may manage the households. In some places, 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

35

females are encouraged to attend school, while in other countries females are discouraged from engaging 

in such activities and instead work inside or outside of the home.

During the pre-service training, trainees receive an introduction to gender awareness in their country of 

service, and examine their own thinking about gender roles and how this thinking has impacted them. 

They then learn how to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender 

roles in their host country and to understand how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and 

males may or may not do. During their 27 months of service, Volunteers will further engage in gender 

trainings to understand better how their gender identity impacts who they are as females or males in the 

host country and how this perception influences their work and relationships.

They then learn how to analyze development projects using a gender lens to better understand gender 

roles in their host country and to understand how these gender roles can benefit or limit what females and 

males may or may not do. During their 27 months of service, Volunteers will further engage in gender 

trainings to understand better how their gender identity impacts who they are as females or males in the 

host country and how this perception influences their work and relationships.

Nicaragua has a prevalent culture of machismo, and traditional women’s roles are sometimes 

undervalued. While there have been quite a few female leaders in Nicaragua over the years, including 

former President Violeta Chamorro, most women still find their primary role in society to be in the home. 

There is a high dropout rate among girls in secondary school, a very high incidence of teenage pregnancy, 

and a high rate of negligent paternity, all of which reinforce the highly defined gender roles. Peace 

Corps/Nicaragua has a very active gender and development committee that works with Volunteers and 

Nicaraguans alike to raise consciousness and support culturally appropriate activities that address issues 

of gender inequality among girls, boys, women, and men in the field.

Female Volunteers may find that being a single woman living alone is considered odd. They may receive 

more inappropriate and unwanted attention from men than they are accustomed to receiving. They may 

have to work harder than male Volunteers to gain the respect of Nicaraguan colleagues in the workplace 

or they may experience resentment from Nicaraguan women for their male-like position of authority in 

the community. Female Volunteers need to be aware of gender roles in Nicaragua and practice discretion 

in public to avoid developing an undesirable reputation in their communities (e.g., wear conservative 

clothing and refrain from smoking in public, drinking in bars, or even dancing with men).

Volunteer Comment:

“I find that my biggest challenge in the Peace Corps is neither the loneliness nor the language, but 

the fact that I am a woman. Daily, I am harassed by men for merely walking down the street—

even though I am dressed conservatively. As a feminist from the States, where gender equality is 

a generally accepted concept, I struggle within this machista culture.” 

Possible Issues for Volunteers of Color 

Volunteers of color sometimes, but not always, have a different Peace Corps experience than white 

Volunteers. Because of limited exposure, some foreign nationals will expect to see U.S. citizens who are 

white. Cultures of the world do not typically envision the States as a place of rich diversity with various 

culturally acceptable perspectives, personalities, and characteristics. Thus, a Volunteer of color may be 

questioned as about their U.S. citizenship.

In places where American stereotypes and/or caste system dynamics influence perception, Volunteers of 

color should be mindful of the reasons for these views without creating contentious environments. All too 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

36

often, host country nationals are simply unaware of the diversity of the United States and require 

additional information and dialogue. Direct interactions with someone new or something different can 

take time to get used to, but those who take the time tend to be better off. 

Although host country nationals may assert that the United States is made up of predominately one race, 

we know that is not true. If a member of your community knows of compatriots living in the United 

States or of notable U.S. citizens of color, you can build on this knowledge as a point of reference for 

discussing diversity within the States.

For Volunteers of color, the range of responses to their skin color may vary from the extremely kind to 

the very insensitive. In African and Latin American countries, host country nationals may say “welcome 

home” to African Americans or Hispanic Americans. Sometimes Volunteers expect to be “welcomed 

home” but are disappointed when they are not. More commonly, if a Volunteer is mistaken for a hostcountry national citizen, he or she is expected to behave as a male or female in that culture behaves, and 

to speak the local language fluently. Host country nationals are sometimes frustrated when the Volunteer 

does not speak the local language with ease. Conversely, some in the same country may call you a “sell 

out” because they feel the United States has not done enough to help with social issues. These instances 

can be turned into teachable moments for the Volunteer and the host country national, in which the 

Volunteer can ask questions surrounding perception and collaborate with respect to issues and projects at 

hand, while engaging in cross-cultural exchanges. All Volunteers, to include white Volunteers and those 

of color, should be mindful of the issues of race that are embedded in U.S. culture and within the culture 

in your country of service. These issues may significantly affect how Volunteers interact with fellow 

Volunteers and host country nationals. Being open and inclusive to everyone will improve your 

experience in interacting with fellow Volunteers and members of your host community.

In Nicaragua, skin color can be the most common way people identify one another. Terms such as 

moreno (colored person), negro (black), chele (white), and Chino (Asian) are considered by many to be 

socially acceptable. Therefore, Volunteers may face constant verbal and nonverbal reminders that their 

skin color is different from that of the majority. Nicaragua has a large Afro-Caribbean population along 

its east coast, so African-American Volunteers are often confused with people from those communities or 

believed to be from Cuba. Negative stereotypes sometimes exist as well. After an initial settling-in period 

at their sites, however, most African-American Volunteers have very positive experiences living and 

working throughout Nicaragua.

Hispanic Volunteers also face challenges. At first they are often thought to be Nicaraguans or Central 

Americans. Even when host country nationals realize Hispanic Volunteers are neither, they commonly 

have difficulty believing Hispanics are “real” Americans. It may also be hard for community members to 

accept that a Hispanic Volunteer is not a native Spanish speaker. However, most Hispanic Volunteers find 

they are welcome and readily accepted in Nicaragua.

Asian-American Volunteers may be associated with characters in the martial arts movies that play 

repeatedly in urban areas of Nicaragua. Females may be viewed according to the mystique with which 

Asian women are often portrayed on television or in movies. Asian-American Volunteers may encounter 

stereotypes that also exist in the United States—such as the view that all Asians are extremely intelligent, 

good business people, and wealthy. Volunteers who are not of Chinese descent may be frustrated when 

Nicaraguans do not consider them Americans or associate them with a different ethnic background. For 

example, Korean-American Volunteers may be labeled as Chinese. For the most part, however, 

Nicaraguans are curious about, and interested in, the heritage of Asian Americans and welcome them into 

their homes and communities.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

37

Volunteer Comments:

“The reality of Nicaragua is that color defines everyone. If you’re not chele, then you’re moreno. 

And if not moreno, than you’re probably either super-chele or negro. Being half Mexican and 

having darker skin than the majority of my classmates and neighbors in the U.S., being classified 

as the white guy took some getting used to. I had, of course, already become accustomed to 

sarcastic cultural remarks made by my closest friends in the States as a way to egg me on, but had 

never experienced such an unabashed comfort in labeling complete strangers by skin tone. I 

began to notice, however, that even Nicaraguans toting blond hair, blue eyes, and skin as pale as a 

Scandinavian’s would holler our shared chele mantra to get my attention. Choosing to not 

initially overreact to something that would be considered nothing less than gross racism in the 

States, I was able to slowly realize that skin tone in Nicaragua acts as the same arbitrary physical 

identifier as eye color and hair length. My advice is to try not to take offense to whatever physical 

label your community gives you. Almost undoubtedly, no one understands that you could take 

offense.”

“It’s funny because coming from Puerto Rico and mastering the Spanish language (given it’s my 

native language), there were people who often told me, ‘Your Spanish is pretty good for a 

gringa.’ Even as a Latina, at first they saw me as an extranjera (foreigner). They thought I was 

too chele (white) to be Puerto Rican. Given my language knowledge, I was able to establish good 

relationships, integrate into the community, and quickly get to work. Yet, I wouldn’t dare state 

that my language skills are by any means more rooted or my work any better than those whose 

initial Spanish was not as strong as mine. It is what you put in that gives fruit to your experience 

here, not your level of Spanish.”

“Being an Asian-American Volunteer in Nicaragua can have its challenges at times. Coming from 

a politically correct environment, it can be difficult to accept that any ‘Asian-looking’ person will 

be labeled as chino no matter what ethnic background he or she is from. In my site, I am, of 

course, known as la chinita. Even people with whom I have confianza (trust) still call me la 

chinita when speaking in reference to me. I have also encountered people who try to imitate the 

Chinese language, and people automatically assume that I know karate. However, these are things 

that I have learned to cope with and live around. Overall, in my experience, I find that people are 

genuinely curious. They look at me and they see someone different and they want to know more 

about me. Yes, they have their preconceived notions, but then I have a chance to confront those 

stereotypes. As an Asian-American Volunteer, I have an opportunity to teach people about the 

diversity of the U.S. and of Asia as well.”

“Being a Mexican-American Volunteer has been both a positive and a negative experience. 

People think I’m a host country national when they first look at me, but as soon as I speak, my 

Mexican accent gives me away. It has been a positive experience in that it has allowed me to 

connect immediately with Nicaraguans. However, no one believes me when I say that I am an 

American. They think Americans are blue-eyed and blond, and I’m definitely not. Also, at times, 

people naturally assume that since I’m Latino like they are, I should know all the rules about how 

to cook rice and beans, how to act at fiestas, or the rules of dating. I don’t. I’m an American, and 

my culture—a blend of American and Latino cultures—and ways of thinking are very different. 

This puts me at odds sometimes with host country nationals.”
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

38

“I can’t tell you how many times I have been called ‘negro.’ It is my badge of identity here. 

Forget about being a Peace Corps Volunteer or being from the United States—the sole thing 

people refer to is my color. 

This perplexed me in the beginning, considering we are in a country where there are people of 

color everywhere. Everyone’s a shade of brown here, so why is my color so important for the 

people of my community that they refer to me as ‘the Negro’? But I also have to be costeño or 

cubano. At first, this was very flattering because it kind of signified that I had some connection to 

Nicaragua. Little did I know that such distinctions carried some unwanted, negative 

repercussions.”

“I am Lebanese American, but in Nicaragua I am often mistaken for Hispanic. When people ask 

me if I am Latina and I say, ‘No, my family is from Lebanon,’ I usually get a blank, confused 

look. Sometimes I think they just don’t believe me. People here have had very little contact or 

experience with the diverse people, cultures, religions, and history of the Arab nations. From the 

news, they get the perspective that all Arabic people wear turbans and are terrorists. We have 

been able to talk more about these issues, so maybe, just maybe, some of the stereotypes and 

preconceived ideas about Arabic nations have been changed or even broadened.”

Possible Issues for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Questioning/Queer, Ally (LGBTQA) 

Volunteers

For LGBTQ Volunteers: Given Nicaragua’s traditional values, sexual orientation and non-conforming 

gender identities might not be discussed openly. In some cases, the LGBTQ community may be 

stigmatized. Mindful of the cultural norms and country-specific laws, the decision to serve openly is left 

to each individual Peace Corps Volunteer. Many LGBTQ Volunteers have chosen to be discreet about 

their sexual orientation and/or gender identity within their host communities. Some LGBTQ Volunteers 

have chosen to come out to community members, with a result of positive and negative reactions, while 

some have come out only to select Peace Corps staff and Volunteers. Dealing with questions about 

boyfriends, girlfriends, marriage, and children may, at times, be stressful for LGBTQ Volunteers. You 

may find that Nicaragua is a less open and inclusive environment than you have previously experienced. 

Please know, however, that Peace Corps is supportive of you and Peace Corps staff welcomes dialogue 

about how to ensure your success as an LGBTQA Volunteer. More information about serving as an 

LGBTQ Volunteer is available at the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Peace Corps Alumni 

website at lgbrpcv.org. Additionally, the Peace Corps’ LGBTQ employee resource group, Spectrum, can 

be reached at spectrum@peacecorps.gov.

For Ally Volunteers: Peace Corps staff intends to create open, inclusive, and accepting environments. As 

an agency, the Peace Corps encourages Volunteers to serve as allies to their LGBTQ colleagues in order 

to create a safe environment.

Many LGBTQ Volunteers have served successfully in Nicaragua and have very fond memories of their 

community and service. LGBTQA support groups may be available in your country of service, providing 

a network to support the needs of the Peace Corps LGBTQA community. Peace Corps staff will work 

with Volunteers to provide them with locally informed perspectives.

To fit into the conservative Nicaraguan culture, most Volunteers find that there are things about 

themselves that they choose not to share with their neighbors. Most LGBTQ Volunteers find that it is 

more comfortable and convenient for them to be discreet about their sexual orientation with the people in 

their community because Nicaraguans generally view gay or lesbian relationships as morally wrong. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

39

Given the prejudices in the country the LGBTQ community, being out at one’s site could jeopardize one’s 

professional image and effectiveness. 

All Volunteers face the challenges of being collaborative in their Nicaraguan communities in their own 

way. Inquiring about one’s love life is part of Nicaraguan small talk, so LGBTQ Volunteers may find 

navigating these conversations particularly challenging. Some create imaginary girlfriends or boyfriends, 

while others try to skirt the issue the best they can. Some Volunteers feel isolated from the identity they 

may have had in the States, or from other Volunteers for whom the particular challenges that LGBTQ 

Volunteers face may be difficult to understand. Despite the challenges, many develop meaningful 

relationships with people at their sites, make wonderful Peace Corps friends, and have a satisfying 

service. Currently, there is a support group for gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and queer Volunteers 

organized by Volunteers and supported by Peace Corps/Nicaragua. 

Volunteer Comment:

“As a pansexual woman, I face disbelief, prejudice, and discrimination in the States as well as 

here. However, as in the U.S., I have been able to be selective about to whom I reveal my sexual 

orientation. I have not come out to anybody in my rural site nor did I during training. Though this 

is never an easy thing to hide about oneself, preparing to be silent about it before service made it 

much easier to execute once here. Many other personal aspects have had to be molded or 

temporarily stopped to better fit my current situation, and I continually tell myself that all of these 

things will re-emerge after this experience. I have adapted my personality to survive as best as I 

can, and I know that it is worth it. There are other Volunteers to support me when I need it, and 

Peace Corps/Nicaragua is committed to making the office a welcoming and safe place for 

everyone. Each Volunteer will have a different experience, in more ways than one, and a 

beautiful, memorable service is possible for all of us.”

Possible Issues for Volunteers with Disabilities

As part of the medical clearance process, the Peace Corps Office of Health Services determined you were 

physically and emotionally capable, with or without additional medical support, to perform a full tour of 

Volunteer service in Nicaragua without a significant risk of harm to yourself or interruption of service. 

The Peace Corps/Nicaragua staff will work with disabled Volunteers to support them in training, housing, 

jobsites, or other areas to enable them to serve safely and effectively. 

As a Volunteer in Nicaragua, you may find that you face a special set of challenges. In Nicaragua, as in 

other parts of the world, some people hold prejudicial attitudes about individuals with special needs 

and/or requiring accommodations and may discriminate against them. In addition, there is little of the 

infrastructure to accommodate special needs that one may see in the United States.

Possible Issues for Volunteer Couples

Before committing to Peace Corps service, couples should consider how different degrees of enthusiasm 

about Peace Corps service, adaptation to the physical and cultural environment, and homesickness will 

affect their lives. It can be helpful to recognize that your reactions to these issues will change throughout 

your service, and you may not always feel the same as your partner. You and your partner will have 

different jobs, different schedules, and difference societal pressures. One partner may learn the language 

faster than the other or have a more satisfying assignment. This can create competition and put different 

kinds of stress on each person. Anticipating how these pressures will affect you and your partner 

differently throughout your service can help you remain a source of support for each other. Making 

friends with other Volunteers is a critical part of fitting into the larger volunteer culture and can also be a 

good way to expand your support network. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

40

While couples will live together during their service, they may live in separate towns during their preservice training. This is a stressful time for most Volunteers, and it can be helpful to discuss in advance 

how you will deal with this potential separation. 

Your partner can be an important source of stability but can also add stress to your training experience. 

You may feel torn between traveling to visit your partner and focusing on your training, your host family, 

and friends you have made at your training site.

Couples often face pressure from host country nationals to change their roles to conform better with 

traditional Nicaragua relationships. Nicaraguan men and women alike will often not understand American 

relationship dynamics and may be outwardly critical of relationships that do not adhere to traditional 

gender roles. It is also helpful to think about how pressures to conform to Nicaraguan culture can be 

challenging to men and women in very different ways. Considering how your partner is being affected 

and discussing what, if any, aspects of your relationship should be changed can help reduce stress for you 

both.

In Nicaragua, marriage is an interesting amalgamation of religious, legal, and societal constructs. Many 

couples in Nicaragua may have been married in a church, but never legally married, nor do they 

necessarily live together. There are other couples that may be legally married, but never held a ceremony 

or religious recognition of their marriage. Probably most common are couples that live together and have 

families together, but are never officially married either religiously or legally. This unique aspect of 

Nicaraguan marital culture has other implications for Volunteer couples, married, non-married, same-sex, 

and even single. As mentioned above, different-sex couples whether married legally or not will generally 

be considered a marital pair. Similarly, since same-sex marriage is neither recognized nor common in 

Nicaragua, married same-sex couples may find it difficult to explain their marriage to Nicaraguans. Single

Volunteers who have dated or are in a relationship may be considered to have been married and/or 

seeking marriage. An additional aspect of Nicaraguan marital culture is the prevalence of extramarital 

affairs, and its effect on Volunteer couples. Many PCV couples report additional strain on their 

relationship from the expectation or solicitation of extramarital affairs.

Finally, it is important to note that while there are certainly additional stresses and factors that Volunteer 

couples will have to face throughout their service, Volunteer couples also benefit from being in a loving 

relationship and sharing their experience together. They often serve as each other’s support system, 

coach, motivator, and sounding board. They are there to help each other with cultural adaptation, 

community integration, and each other’s professional goals. Volunteer couples are also likely to be treated 

with more respect by community members because marriage is held in high regard as a respectable 

responsibility and commitment. It is also common for other Volunteers to look to couples for advice and 

support.

Volunteer Comments:

“As a married couple living in a large city, our experience has been wonderful, but not without 

problems. My wife had trouble exercising freely, such as jogging, because of unwanted 

comments and attention on the streets. As a result, the lack of exercise created a lot of pent-up 

energy and compounded the stress that she was already feeling from adapting to a new 

environment and culture. This negative energy was directed toward the person closest to her—her 

husband. We needed to recognize the problem and remedy the predicament through our own selfawareness and situational management; then we searched for other outlets of stress relief. My 

wife does, however, still run regularly. The cultural adaptation process, we have learned, can be 

accelerated by having someone with you to recognize, share, and assist with each other’s personal 

dilemmas.”
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

41

“Concerning traditional Nicaraguan gender roles, my husband has chosen to lead by example and 

doesn’t drink despite the social pressure and he has never hesitated to help with the dishes. 

His explanation was: ‘It’s true, we come from different cultures; please allow me the courtesy of 

continuing one of my cultural aspects.’ He found that Nicaraguans do understand that there are 

cultural differences between us and are often open to varying roles and perspectives. In fact, we 

usually take the opportunity to display the differences in a positive and generally humorous way.”

“For us, living apart during training was not difficult because we had host families who were 

extremely welcoming and we were able to visit each other often enough. We did sometimes stress 

about our host families having a second person to feed, but this was resolved through thoughtful 

communication. We feel we benefited greatly from having not just one, but two fabulous host 

families.”

“The key to a successful Peace Corps journey as a married couple, especially in a more stressful 

environment, is to pay close attention to each other, be supportive, offer outlets to vent but do not 

direct that frustration toward each other (this can be a tricky process), and utilize the strengths of 

the couple while developing the weaknesses. When we first arrived to our site, a piece of advice 

from another married couple was to be able to express to your partner that, ‘I am not mad at you, 

I am mad at our current situation,’ which could refer to anything from unwanted comments in the 

street to a lack of water. Good luck with your service.”

“Something that I can’t attest to yet, but can only assume I’ll appreciate later, is that when we get 

home, we will have someone to listen to our stories over and over again—each other! In all 

seriousness, it will be nice to have someone who shared the experience and can relate to some of 

our emotions, experiences, thoughts, etc.”

“I find that not changing our habits within our relationship has actually helped us with one of the 

goals of Peace Corps: sharing our culture with the host culture. We don’t hide the fact that my 

husband does housework and that certainly opens up interesting conversations with some people! 

We do get asked a lot why we don’t have children yet, especially since we are both 30ish. We just 

explain that we got married shortly before coming to the Peace Corps and that there is plenty of 

time still to have kids: We try to show that we can have careers and a family! And yes, there are 

also challenges to serving together, although I, for the most part, find it all really wonderful! You 

need to be prepared to spend a lot of time together, even if you work on separate projects! 

Learning to accept your partner’s ups and downs and the fact that they aren’t necessarily at the 

same time as your own is very important.”

Possible Religious Issues for Volunteers

Nicaragua is a predominantly Roman Catholic country with a large evangelical presence, but an influx of 

Protestants, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, and other Christian denominations is changing the 

religious makeup of the country. Non-Christian groups are practically nonexistent, however, which can be 

a challenge for practicing Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, and other groups. Most Nicaraguans are curious 

about and tolerant of other religions, but there is little education about the history, beliefs, and practices of 

other faiths.

Volunteer Comments:

“During Peace Corps training, your host family may invite you to religious functions, such as 

baptisms, Masses, and holidays. I recommend attending these events in order to gain trust and to 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

42

learn about Nicaraguans’ religious beliefs. If attending these functions conflicts with your 

personally held beliefs, it is important to maintain cultural sensitivity and find a polite way to 

decline the invitations. 

One of the Peace Corps’ goals is to share America’s culture, and our varied religious backgrounds 

are an important component of diversity in the United States. Sharing your own religious or 

spiritual beliefs with Nicaraguans will help them gain a better understanding of who you are, but 

you must also stress that our work here is nonreligious in nature. Within the Volunteer network, 

you may find individuals of the same faith with whom to celebrate holidays or form a support 

group. I have also found it constructive and enjoyable to invite Volunteers outside my religion to 

participate in religious holidays. Whatever your background, Nicaragua offers a rich social 

experience that is deeply interwoven with religious faith. As Volunteers, we have a wonderful 

opportunity to learn about Nicaraguan culture, which in turn helps us learn more about 

ourselves.”

Possible Issues for 50+ Volunteers

Older Volunteers may find their age an asset in Nicaragua. They will often have access to individuals and 

insights that are not available to younger Volunteers. On the other hand, they will be in a distinct minority 

within the Volunteer population and could find themselves feeling isolated, looked up to, or ignored. 

Older Volunteers are often accustomed to a greater degree of independence and freedom of movement 

than the Peace Corps’ program focus and safety and security practices allow. Pre-service training can be 

particularly stressful for older trainees, whose lifelong learning styles and habits may or may not lend 

themselves to the techniques used. A 50+ individual may be the only older person in a group of 

Volunteers and initially may not feel part of the group. Younger Volunteers may look to an older 

Volunteer for advice and support; some find this to be an enjoyable experience, while others choose not to 

fill this role. Some 50+ Volunteers may find it difficult to adapt to a lack of structure and clarity in their 

role after having worked for many years in a very structured and demanding job.

More than younger Volunteers, older Volunteers may have challenges in maintaining lifelong friendships 

and dealing with financial matters from afar. They may want to consider assigning power of attorney to 

someone in the States.

Respect comes with age in Nicaragua. Younger Volunteers may have to work harder than their older 

colleagues to be accepted as professionals. 

During training, older Volunteers may experience frustration in having most of their time and activities 

scheduled for them. It may be difficult to adjust to living with a host family where you have to adapt to 

the family’s way of doing things. Also, adjustment to the learning environment, which includes intensive 

hands-on training, doing research, interviews, and homework, may prove unexpectedly challenging. 

Another issue for some 50+ individuals in training is the feeling of being left out of the social activities, 

or not having the same interests as trainees in their 20s. At the same time, the life experiences that seniors 

bring with them to the training process can enrich others and provide a secure base to deal with the 

challenges that the cultural adaptation process brings.

Volunteer Comments:

“As an older Volunteer you may discover that much of the technical knowledge that you have 

accumulated over the years has little relevance to this place and time. You came here to give of 

yourself, but you are likely to discover that you are learning more and receiving more from the 

locals than you are able to give them in return. It can be a humbling experience that requires you 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

43

to adapt and change. If you are open to accepting how much you don’t know, you can find 

yourself being reinvigorated. 

You will be pushed outside of your ‘comfort zone’ on many occasions, but you will feel good 

about yourself every time you make it through another challenge. I like to think of my Peace 

Corps experience as a re-tooling of myself for taking on whatever may come my way in the 

future. The past was pretty good, but I still want to have a future. For better or worse, the Peace 

Corps experience offers no choice except to break the old routine and ways of thinking.”

“My experiences as a senior (more experienced) Peace Corps Volunteer have been very positive. 

Being the oldest Volunteer in my group, I was a bit nervous about how to fit in; I was the age of 

most of their parents or even older. But my nervousness disappeared as soon as I got to know my 

fellow Volunteers. Age just did not seem to be an issue. We were all in the Peace Corps for 

various reasons, and we all supported each other. We were able to learn from each other and 

share different life experiences. I have established friendships that will last and last. This whole 

experience has changed my life for the better, and I will treasure my years in the Peace Corps 

forever and ever!”

“I have not had significant problems as a senior Volunteer. The most difficult part was returning 

to a classroom atmosphere during training. Most of the other Volunteers are 20 years younger 

than me, but I have had their support and friendship throughout my service. Also, at times my age 

is an advantage. In Nicaragua, I am treated with respect because of my age, and the other 

Volunteers are always looking out for me. I was apprehensive about joining the Peace Corps at 

my age, but it has been one of the best decisions of my life.”
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

44

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How much luggage am I allowed to bring to Nicaragua?

Most airlines have baggage size and weight limits and assess charges for transport of baggage that 

exceeds those limits. The Peace Corps has its own size and weight limits and will not pay the cost of 

transport for baggage that exceeds these limits. The Peace Corps’ allowance is two checked pieces of 

luggage with combined dimensions of both pieces not to exceed 107 inches (length + width + height) and 

a carry-on bag with dimensions of no more than 45 inches. Checked baggage should not exceed 100 

pounds total with a maximum weight of 50 pounds for any one bag.

Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to take pets, weapons, explosives, radio transmitters (shortwave 

radios are permitted), automobiles, or motorcycles to their overseas assignments. Do not pack flammable 

materials or liquids such as lighter fluid, cleaning solvents, hair spray, or aerosol containers. This is an 

important safety precaution.

What is the electric current in Nicaragua?

It is 110 volts—the same as in the United States. You might want to bring a two-pronged adapter for 

three-pronged grounded plugs. These are also available in-country.

How much money should I bring?

Volunteers are expected to live at the same level as the people in their community. You will be given a 

settling-in allowance and a monthly living allowance, which should cover your expenses. Volunteers 

often wish to bring additional money for vacation travel to other countries. Credit/debit cards are the 

preferred method since you can take out money when necessary. Traveler’s checks can be difficult to cash

in Nicaragua. If you choose to bring extra money, bring the amount that will suit your own travel plans 

and needs. 

When can I take vacation and have people visit me?

Each Volunteer accrues two vacation days per month of service (excluding training). Leave may not be 

taken during training, the first three months of service, or the last three months of service, except in 

conjunction with an authorized emergency leave. Family and friends are welcome to visit you after preservice training and the first three months of service as long as their stay does not interfere with your 

work. Extended stays at your site are not encouraged and may require permission from your country 

director. The Peace Corps is not able to provide your visitors with visa, medical, or travel assistance. 

Will my belongings be covered by insurance?

The Peace Corps does not provide insurance coverage for personal effects; Volunteers are ultimately 

responsible for the safekeeping of their personal belongings. However, you can purchase personal 

property insurance before you leave (contact your insurance company for information). Volunteers should 

not ship or take valuable items overseas. Jewelry, watches, radios, cameras, electronics, and expensive 

appliances are subject to loss, theft, and breakage, and, in many places, satisfactory maintenance and 

repair services are not available. 

Do I need an international driver’s license?

Volunteers in Nicaragua do not need an international driver’s license because they are prohibited from 

operating privately owned motorized vehicles. Most urban travel is by bus or taxi. Rural travel ranges 

from buses and minibuses to trucks, bicycles, and lots of walking. 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

45

On very rare occasions, a Volunteer may be asked to drive a sponsor’s vehicle, but this can occur only 

with prior written permission from the country director. Should this occur, the Volunteer may obtain a 

local driver’s license. A U.S. driver’s license will facilitate the process, so bring it with you just in case.

What should I bring as gifts for Nicaragua friends and my host family?

This is not a requirement. A token of friendship is sufficient. Some gift suggestions include knickknacks 

for the house; pictures, books, or calendars of American scenes; souvenirs from your area; hard candies 

that will not melt or spoil; or photos to give away.

Where will my site assignment be when I finish training and how isolated will I be?

Peace Corps trainees are not assigned to individual sites until after they have completed pre-service 

training. This gives Peace Corps staff the opportunity to assess each trainee’s technical and language 

skills prior to assigning sites, in addition to finalizing site selections with their ministry counterparts. If 

feasible, you may have the opportunity to provide input on your site preferences, including geographical 

location, distance from other Volunteers, and living conditions. However, keep in mind that many factors 

influence the site selection process and that the Peace Corps cannot guarantee placement where you 

would ideally like to be. Most Volunteers live in small to medium-sized towns and are frequently within 

one hour from another Volunteer. Some sites require a day’s travel to reach the Peace Corps/Nicaragua 

post. 

How can my family contact me in an emergency?

The Peace Corps Counseling and Outreach Unit provides assistance in handling emergencies affecting 

trainees and Volunteers or their families. Before leaving the United States, instruct your family to notify 

the Counseling and Outreach Unit immediately if an emergency arises, such as a serious illness or death 

of a family member. The Counseling and Outreach Unit can be reached at 855.855.1961, select option 1, 

ext. 1470. After business hours, on weekends, and on holidays, the COU duty officer can be reached at 

the same number. For non-emergency questions, your family can contact your country desk staff through 

the main Peace Corps number: 855.855.1961. 

How easy is it to call home from Nicaragua? 

The main Nicaraguan telephone company, Claro, has offices in most towns and in all cities. To make 

international calls, many Volunteers visit Internet cafes in order to use Skype or Gmail services, which 

are more economical. Many training host families have telephones in their homes. If not, there is public 

phone access in all the training communities. There are two cellphone companies, Claro and Movistar, 

and it is free to receive calls in Nicaragua via cellphone, and affordable to make calls to the U.S.

Should I bring a cellphone with me?

Cellphone coverage in the country is fairly broad and cellphones are affordable. Differences in 

technology make many U.S. cellphones incompatible with the Nicaraguan cellular system (which utilizes 

a GSM network); however, phones in which you can insert a SIM card are usually compatible, but only if 

they are capable of being unlocked. In most cases it is recommended that you purchase one locally from 

one of the many providers, as an expensive smartphone from home can make you a target for theft.

Will there be email and Internet access? Should I bring my computer?

Most Volunteers choose to bring a personal laptop computer and find it helps them greatly in their work. 

This is an individual choice. A personal computer can be difficult and expensive to maintain given the 

dust, heat, and humidity. Like other expensive items, a laptop can make you a target for crime, and it is 

recommended that you take out personal articles insurance to cover a potential loss. Volunteers have 

access to computers at the Peace Corps office, at local Internet cafes, and sometimes through their host 

agencies.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

46

While some Volunteers find that having a laptop is helpful on a number of different levels, it is difficult to 

know what will be appropriate for your specific circumstances until you get here. Some Volunteers 

suggest waiting until you are settled into your community. In these instances, a family member or friend 

could bring you a laptop when visiting.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

47

WELCOME LETTERS FROM NICARAGUA VOLUNTEERS

Hello Prospective Volunteers!

Welcome to the start of an incredible journey. A journey that at this point in time may seem uncertain and 

daunting, but as you will see in the upcoming months, a journey that is well worth it. 

There is so much waiting for you here and you will experience amazing things. Lagoons and volcanoes 

appear out of the blue as you drive upon the highway. New and exotic fruits with astonishing colors will 

fall off trees as you walk to school. During hot days, there will be a constant stream of sweat running 

down your face while you sit in rocking chairs with your Nicaraguan friends, laughing about just how hot 

it is, and wondering when the rains will come. And when the rains finally come, you will celebrate with 

your community and dance in the streets. Roosters and fireworks will become a natural alarm clock. Rice 

and beans, with a hot cup of coffee and a tortilla with cuajada cheese, will be a meal you start to crave. 

You may not know this now, but you are about to meet some of your best friends. Other Volunteers, site 

mates, and staff will become your family and you will go through this experience together. You will soon 

learn that you can talk to these people about anything. Nicaraguans will become your second family as 

well. You will work, laugh, and sometimes cry with them. They will open up their homes and will share 

their lives with you. You will walk through your site, waving and saying adios to just about every person 

passing by. The people here are some of the most genuinely kind people that you will meet. 

A popular phrase in Nicaragua is el futuro es dudoso, the future is unknown. You probably have questions 

and doubts about your upcoming experience in the Peace Corps, questions that will be answered once you 

arrive and start to experience this country through your own eyes. However, you will start to realize that 

everything is already here, waiting for you. 

You are about to start to an incredible country in a country filled with laughter, joy, color, and sometimes 

a touch of absurdity. Don’t be afraid to take chances, try new things, and live life to the fullest. 

Nicaraguans embrace this type of attitude. Bienvenidos!

—Katherine Wzorek

TEFL 2013-15

¡Bienvenidos a Nicaragua! You are in no doubt in for the ride of your life. If you are anything like I was 

when I received my assignment, you are looking over every communication and trying to imagine what 

the next 27 months have in store for you. You might be feeling anxious about leaving your family and 

friends, questioning your qualifications for your project assignment, nervous about living in a new 

culture, and learning to speak Spanish, but all of these things are normal and you can take comfort in 

knowing that the 1,600 plus Peace Corps/Nicaragua Volunteers who came before you felt the same way. 

Rest assured that as a Volunteer you will be trained and supported by a dedicated staff who have helped 

us to earn recognition as one of the strongest Peace Corps programs in the Inter-America and the Pacific 

region. 

Your first few months in Nicaragua will be a grueling test of your commitment to being a Volunteer. You 

will face three months of training that will ultimately prepare you for the two years to come. 

You will be asked to integrate yourself into this beautiful culture as your body begins to feel the effects of 

a change in diet, climate, and sleeping patterns, and you will be rewarded with lasting friendships with the 

people you share this experience with, and a new home away from home with your host family. Then, 
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

48

you’ll be asked to do it all over again, this time alone in a place you’ve probably never heard of before. 

But you’ll be ready.

Every Peace Corps service is different, there will be ups, and there will be downs, but you are not in it 

alone: Your fellow Volunteers will be there to commiserate with you when you are down, and they will 

also be there with you to celebrate your successes. Regardless of where you are in your service you will 

probably climb volcanoes, eat exotic fruits you’ve never heard of before, swim in the powerful waves of 

the Pacific and the crystal clear calm of the Caribbean, and explore coffee country. You will also live and 

work in a community of the most humble and generous people you’ll ever meet. 

The Peace Corps is more than just the development work you’ll be doing; it’s also about sharing who you 

are with Nicaragua. 

Live in every moment. Take advantage of every experience. Don’t take yourself too seriously.

—Chris Ortiz y Pino

Agriculture and Food Security, 2012–15 

Dear Prospective Volunteer,

Welcome to the Peace Corps/Nicaragua family! We are so glad you have. Get ready for the most 

incredible 27-month learning experience of your life. Whether you are fresh out of college or coming in 

after a try at other things, you are sure to benefit personally and professionally from your service.

My first bit of advice to you is to erase all expectations that you may currently have. Each sector, site, and 

counterpart is unique, so it is best to create your expectations as you go. Secondly, take things one day at 

a time, especially during training. Your days will be filled with language classes, training sessions, 

community integration initiatives, and hanging out with your host family. Keeping a positive attitude 

while embracing the chaos will help you through it all! Your time here will feel as if it is flying by and at 

the same time you will discover there is “más tiempo que vida” (more time than life). The highs and lows 

you experience will be the basis for some unforgettable stories; document them in your personal journal, 

your blog, or whatever medium may be best for you. In the future you will appreciate using them to 

reminisce on your Peace Corps journey.

As a small business development Volunteer, I dedicate most of my time to working in the schools; 

however, I still have plenty of time to work with community business owners and pursue other projects 

that interest me. That is the beauty of this job: You have the flexibility to make it your own and to create 

projects that benefit your community while fulfilling your passion at the same time. There is no such 

thing as a “typical day,” as things here occur spontaneously and are often subject to change.

Pack lightly, but remember to include the essentials that will keep you sane throughout your service: 

earplugs, to block out the early-morning crow of your neighbor’s rooster; a hard drive loaded with music, 

movies, exercise videos, books, and photos; a yoga mat or resistance bands to satisfy your physical fitness 

needs; and light, loose-fitting clothing (because the sun here is hot!).

Welcome on board! We look forward to seeing you soon!

Bienvenido/a a la tierra de lagos y volcanes! 

—Tracy Skluzacek

Small Business Development, 2013–15
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

49

PACKING LIST

This list has been compiled by Volunteers serving in Nicaragua and is based on their experience. Use it as 

an informal guide in making your own list, bearing in mind that each experience is individual. There is no 

perfect list! You obviously cannot bring everything on the list, so consider those items that make the most 

sense to you personally and professionally. You can always have things sent to you later. As you decide 

what to bring, keep in mind that you have a 100-pound weight limit on baggage. And remember, you can 

get almost everything you need in Nicaragua.

The items under the Kitchen, Electronics, and Other Suggestions categories are more optional. 

You can buy a lot of what you need in Nicaragua, but some items are either difficult to come across in 

rural areas or are expensive (when compared to the States and in relation to Volunteer salary). Also, mail 

to Nicaragua is generally reliable. Many Volunteers have items sent to them once they are in-country. 

Although packages can be expensive, they do generally arrive with their contents intact. To send 

packages, use the U.S. Postal Service.

FYI: Many great brands offer discounts for Peace Corps Volunteers. Make sure to ask if a discount 

applies when you are buying new items. You may have to provide a copy of your acceptance letter.

General Clothing 

Keep in mind: Clothing stores are accessible in Nicaragua and many Volunteers buy used U.S. clothing in

thrift shops. High-quality personal items, such as underwear and socks, tend to be more difficult to find.

Clothes are generally washed with cold water on a concrete washboard and are hung to dry. Cottons and

linens are breathable, which is good for the hot weather, but stretch and wear out quickly; also consider

bringing some clothes made of fabrics that tend to hold their shape better and last longer (i.e., nylon,

spandex, and polyester blends). Some Volunteers found that purchasing a lot of outdoor camping clothing

was unnecessary and made them stand out because the local people do not wear similar attire, but that

buying a good pair of shoes was well worth the investment.

• Two pairs of dress pants

• Two to four pairs of casual pants (including jeans, which in Nicaragua can be worn in the

professional setting as well)

• Two to three dresses and/or skirts for women

• Two or three long-sleeved shirts or blouses

• Several short-sleeved shirts or blouses (polos are recommended by male Volunteers)

• Several T-shirts and tank tops for casual wear

• Lightweight jacket or cotton sweater for breezy days

• Fleece sweatshirt or insulated jacket (for mountainous, cooler areas)

• One nice outfit for special occasions, especially the swearing-in ceremony (sport coat or dress

shirt and tie for men; nice dress or skirt for women)

• Casual evening clothes (for going out in the cities)

• Rain gear: lightweight raincoat (with hood), poncho, and/or durable umbrella

• Swimsuit

• Three to four pairs of shorts/capris

• Exercise wear (e.g., sports bras [hard to find locally] and bicycle shorts) as some larger cities

have gyms or aerobic classes

• Good supply of socks (those with a cotton-polyester blend last longer and dry quicker)

• A three- to four-week supply of underwear (cotton is best)
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

50

• Three to four good bras for female Volunteers (items of comparable quality to U.S. brands can be

expensive)

• Sleepwear

• Lightweight robe

• Belt

• Hat or cap for sun protection

Shoes

• One or two pairs of shoes for professional wear (nicer sandals or comfortable closed-toed shoes

that you would be able to walk long distances in if needed)

• One or two pairs of tennis or running shoes

• One pair of sport sandals for casual wear

• Flip-flops or other shoes for the shower (also available locally)

• Hiking boots (if you are a serious hiker and plan to do some intense excursions, but many

Volunteers have found that the extra bulk is a burden and that they are not necessary for most

outdoor activities)

Personal Hygiene and Toiletry Items

• Small (travel size) supply of toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, soap (and dish), sunscreen, etc., to

use upon arrival and to refill for short trips that you might make. You will be able to find these

items, even American brand names, readily available and affordable

• Any makeup that you might want to use (small availability in-country and expensive)

• Contact solution (if you choose to wear contact lenses; solution is not provided by Peace Corps

and difficult to find)

• A three- to six-month supply of tampons (the local selection is limited and more expensive than

in the United States; many female Volunteers have tampons sent to them in packages from home;

pads are readily available in-country) OR, as an alternative to tampons, some female Volunteers

suggest investing in a reusable menstrual cup

• Any special products that you use (i.e., special brand of deodorant, hair products, face wash, razor

blades etc.) The Peace Corps/Nicaragua medical office provides your medication, as well as

sunscreen, insect repellent, vitamins, Band-Aids, condoms, and you can replace most of what is

provided for you in the medical kit you will receive once in-country. Do not over pack on these

items.

Kitchen

• Special spices/seasoning that you enjoy using at home that are difficult to find in Nicaragua (e.g.,

taco seasoning, garlic pepper, lemon pepper, Italian seasoning)

• Recipes

• Vegetable peeler

• Garlic press

• Mess kit (useful when cooking on your own before buying a whole dishware/cookware set)

• Plastic storage containers

• Measuring cups/spoons

• One good kitchen knife (difficult to find)

Electronics

All electronics are very expensive in Nicaragua. Volunteers suggest bringing these from home. You might

want to consider getting personal property insurance if your electronics are especially valuable
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

51

• Laptop or netbook (Internet access is available throughout Nicaragua and Volunteers find

personal laptops helpful in writing work reports, other work related letters/grants/budget

proposals, and for communication purposes)

• Portable DVD player

• Digital camera

• USB, thumb/flash drive

• MP3 player or small radio

• Speakers

• Surge protector

• Most Volunteers purchase inexpensive cellphones after several weeks in-country (the system is

set up to pay-as-you-go and you are able to make calls to the U.S. as well as in-country)

Miscellaneous

• Inexpensive battery-powered watch and/or travel alarm clock

• A set of sheets (double-size flat sheets will fit any bed)

• Two lightweight bath towels and washcloths (quick-dry towels can be found at most outdoor gear

stores)

• Camping knife and/or utility tool

• Sewing kit

• Plastic bags (for keeping things dry and/or free of dust)

• Bandanas or handkerchiefs

• Earplugs (very difficult to find in-country)

• Posters for decorating your home (and mounting material, i.e., tacks)

• One or two pairs of sunglasses

• Large duffel bag or hiking backpack for traveling

• Tote bag or daypack for traveling to school or around town

• Gardening gloves and tools

• Sturdy water bottle

• Workout materials (such as a jump rope or resistance bands)

• Headlamp and/or good flashlight

• Extra batteries

• Pictures of family and friends to share with members of your community (they also come in

handy when you are trying to practice your Spanish and talk about home)

• Small amount of school supplies (markers, glue, scissors, stickers, etc.) to use in schools and with

youth and community groups

• Games (cards, travel board games, etc.)

• Sports equipment (an American football, Frisbee, baseball glove, cleats, basketball shoes, etc.)

• Yoga mat

• French press

• Plug converter (two prongs to three)

• Extension cord

The Peace Corps Office has a fully stocked library full of many resource books, as well as novels and 

other reading material. Instead of packing a lot books initially (which can be heavy and bulky), consider 

bringing one or two and then having more sent to you or using/trading those in the Peace Corps office. 

The Peace Corps will also give you a lot of Spanish language resources—dictionaries, grammar books, 

etc.—as well as technical resource manuals for your specific project.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

52

PRE-DEPARTURE CHECKLIST

The following list consists of suggestions for you to consider as you prepare to live outside the United 

States for two years. Not all items will be relevant to everyone, and the list is not comprehensive.

Family

• Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Counseling and Outreach Unit at any time if 

there is a critical illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone number: 855.855.1961

ext. 1470).

• Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to family and friends.

Passport/Travel

• Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork for the Peace Corps passport and visas.

• Verify that your luggage meets the size and weight limits for international travel.

• Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after your service ends. (Your Peace Corps 

passport will expire three months after you finish your service, so if you plan to travel longer, you 

will need a regular passport.)

Medical/Health

• Complete any needed dental and medical work.

• If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.

• Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all medications (including birth control pills) you are 

currently taking.

Insurance

• Make arrangements to maintain life insurance coverage.

• Arrange to maintain supplemental health coverage while you are away. (Even though the Peace 

Corps is responsible for your health care during Peace Corps service overseas, it is advisable for 

people who have pre-existing conditions to arrange for the continuation of their supplemental 

health coverage. If there is a lapse in coverage, it is often difficult and expensive to be reinstated.)

• Arrange to continue Medicare coverage (if applicable).

Personal Papers

• Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.

Voting

• Register to vote in the state of your home of record. (Many state universities consider voting and 

payment of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)

• Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you overseas.

• Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you overseas. 

Personal Effects

• Purchase personal property insurance to extend from the time you leave your home for service 

overseas until the time you complete your service and return to the United States.

Financial Management

• Keep a bank account in your name in the United States. 

• Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or loan service. (Information about loan 

deferment is at peacecorps.gov/loans.

• Execute a power of attorney for the management of your property and business.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

53

• Arrange for deductions from your readjustment allowance to pay alimony, child support, and 

other debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial Operations at 855.855.1961 ext. 1770.

• Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks, and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with 

an attorney or other caretaker.
PEACE CORPS | NICARAGUA WELCOME BOOK | JUNE 2015

54

CONTACTING PEACE CORPS HEADQUARTERS

This list of numbers will help connect you with the appropriate office at Peace Corps headquarters to 

answer various questions. You can use the toll-free number and extension or dial directly using the local 

numbers provided. Be sure to leave the toll-free number and extensions with your family so they can 

contact you in the event of an emergency.

Peace Corps headquarters toll-free number: 855.855.1961, press 1, then extension number (see below)

Peace Corps mailing address: Peace Corps

Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters

1111 20th Street NW

Washington, DC 20526

For Questions About Staff Toll-free extension Direct/Local

Responding to an invitation Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Country information Benjamin Rance ext. 2611 202.692.2522

Desk Officer brance@peacecorps.gov

Plane tickets, passports, visas, or other travel matters

CWT SATO Travel ext. 1170 202.692.1170

Legal clearance: Office of Placement ext. 1840 202.692.1840

Medical clearance and forms processing (includes dental)

Screening Nurse ext. 1500 202.692.1500

Medical reimbursements (handled by a subcontractor) 800.544.1802

Loan deferments, taxes, financial operations ext. 1770 202.692.1770

Readjustment allowance withdrawals, power of attorney, staging (pre-departure orientation), and

reporting instructions

Office of Staging ext. 1865 202.692.1865

Note: You will receive comprehensive information (hotel and flight arrangements) three to five weeks 

prior to departure. This information is not available sooner. 

Family emergencies (to get information to a Volunteer overseas) 24 hours

Counseling and Outreach Unit ext. 1470 202.692.1470

Office of Victim Advocacy ext. 1753 202.692.1753

24 hours (call or text) 202.409.2704