Live Like a PCV Challenge

You’ve been challenged!

Can you hack it and “Live Like a Peace Corps Volunteer” for a week? At Peace Corps we are celebrating our 50th anniversary!

The Challenge: Kenyan Rules

For one week you are asked to give up some of the everyday conveniences we do without. The levels are arranged from more common to less common living conditions of PCVs in Kenya while also taking into account the difficulty of completing the challenge in the US. So while none of us here have a car it ranks quite high in the challenge as it is much more difficult to do without one in the states. Kenya is known for it's beautiful safaris in which you can spot the “The Big Five” animals, for which we’ve named our levels.

Lion-Difficulty Level I.

(choose two)

• You can’t use any microwave

• No checks, no debit cards or credit cards, cash only all week.

• No washing machine or dish washers - plus you must attempt laundry by hand once. (let’s be honest you probably have enough clothes to easily go a week without washing)

Leopard-Difficulty Level II.

(choose two plus one item from Level I.)

• No television (this includes Hulu and Adult Swim online, they are not available outside the US)--You can listen to the radio and read local newspapers

• Baths or showers allowed only every other day. (you can wash yourself at the sink with a rag each day)

• No fast food, no restaurants (this includes coffee places, bars, and delivery)

• Internet only every other day (you can use the internet for your job but your on the honor system here)

Elephant-Difficulty Level III.

(choose two plus one item from Level II or two items from Level I)

• You can use your toilet but you must manually fill the tank or do a bucket flush. (turn off the water to the toilet)

• Lack of temperature control. No heater or air conditioner in your car.

• You can only use one burner on your stove and no oven.

Buffalo-Difficulty Level IV.

(choose two plus one item from Level III, or two items from Level II, or three items from Level I)

• Reduced living space. You may only use your living room, bathroom and kitchen.

• Bathe only once this week. (You may wash yourself with a rag at the sink each day)

• No driving. You can use public transport, bicycle, and walking.

• Internet one day this week. (Again, you can use it for your work only.)

Rhino-Difficulty Level V.

(choose one item from each Level)

• No running water from your house, you must go fetch it from somewhere else. (a neighbors house is fine)

• No English for the entire week. (You can speak English at work only.)

• You can’t use any toilet in your house, you must go somewhere else or improvise

• No refrigerator

When you’ve successfully completed your Challenge cheek out our “Show Support” page at LiveLikeaPCV.org for gear to let others know of your triumph and help us spread the word

This document is to accompany another if you did not receive that other document which outlines the general nature of this Challenge please visit LiveLikeaPCV.org