27 Month Cycle

Month	Issues	Behavior/Reaction	Intervention
1	Depart States Disorientation Health Self-consciousness	Anxiety Loneliness Feeling Incompetent Nervous about Personal Changes Over 2 Years	Group Building / "Encounters" Social Events Establish Routines Maintain Link Home Develop Interests, Hobbies and New Habits
2	Too Much Structure Too Routine Group Constancy Fatigue Impending Affectation Language	Withdrawal Anxiety Restlessness Easy Irritation Low Tolerance Level	Explore Independence Visit City Areas Make Plans for First 3 Months Visit New Site Establish Relationships & Familiarity with Mongolian and Peace Corps Staff Gather Skills for Immediate Use
3 - 6	Assignment Separation/Solitude Uncertainty of Role	Fright Frustration with Self Loneliness Weight / Health Changes Homesickness Uselessness	Develop In-Country Correspondence Host Mongolian Visitors Visit Peers / Friends Establish Support Links with NGOs and IGOs Technical Research for Future Use Language Study Establish Schedule, Routine, Sense of "Home" Hobbies To Do in Public Simple Projects: Trees, Personal Garden
7 - 10	Slow Work Progress Language Plateaus Cross Cultural Frustration/Shock	Comparison to Others Over Zealousness Homesickness Uncertainties about Adaptation Abilities Intolerance with Host Culture	Reunions Cards / Letters Home to Forgotten Relationships Talk with Friends about Slow Starts & Failures Simple Projects: Cooking, Personal Crafts, Meetings, Garden for Self Consolidate Friendships Use Language for Stories Refer to This Sheet / Culture Shock Sheets
11 - 15	Mid-Service Crisis Doubt of Program, Role, Self, Govt Various Failures Over Time Reflection: Disillusionment, Confusion Resolving Frustrations with Victories New Trainees Arrive Holiday Time	Impatience with Self and Program System Blame on Program Constant Complaining Lethargy Haughtiness with New Trainees via Super Identification with Image and Dress	Holiday Planning/Mini-Vacation Review Work Plan Set New Goals Plan Vacation One Year Anniversary Celebration Develop New Recreation Options Write Long Lost Acquaintances Explore Better Relations with GVO & NGO Folks Return to Language Study and Practice
16 - 20	Increased/More Defined Work Pace Project Work Awareness of Time Constraints Realization of Own Limitations Consideration of "Post PC"	Hyperactivity or Apathy Procrastination Self-Recrimination Resignation Disappointment Downgrade Achievements Over Identification in Behavior	Visit New Volunteers Physical Activity, "Get In Shape" Focus on Relationships in the Town Re-Examine Goals and Time Frame Apply for GREs and Write Grad Schools Explore Work Possibilities in Neighboring Towns
21 - 23	Prepare for Close of Service: Work and Follow Up Depression about Perceived Lack of Accomplishments Anticipated Separation Demanding Work Pace Consideration of Extension and Post PC Options Acknowledged Chance of Unmet Goals	Monument Building Withdrawal into Work Details Panic Procrastination Frustration with Self Moodiness	Vacation/Travel Review Work Plans and Assess Feasibility Plan "Closing Out" and Follow Up Work with Counterparts, Gov't, Town Groups on Planning for Departure Collaboration with 1st Year PCVs Consider Post-PC Planning First Draft of Resume 4 Month Personal Calendar Give Quality Time to Colleagues and Personal Friendships
23 - 27	Trauma of Departure Concerns about Social Re-Entry Bridging Mongolian with U.S./Former Identity Re-Definition of Career Closer or Re-Definition of Mongolian Relationships	Fright Confusion Alienation Anxiety Panic Giddiness Impatience Obsession with Planning and Scheduling	Check on Trends U.S. Popular Culture Amongst Trainees Do Self-Analysis (factors of self-growth, work accomplishments, consolidate self-confidence) Work on Self-Image Shop for Art and Crafts Write Friends Make Social Plans Post-PC Travel Plans Transfer Work Skills and Area-Specific Knowledge to Trainees Arrange for Gifts to Host Family

This was taken directly from Critical Periods in the Life of a Peace Corps Volunteer written by Senegal PCVs. Please note that this list was made specifically with only the more challenging aspects of Peace Corps. All Volunteers have wonderful experiences in Peace Corps, but they are generally consistent across all months and the creators of this list only included the challenges so that other Volunteers could see that those aspects of Peace Corps are shared amongst all Volunteer experiences.