Quiz: How Long Have You Been a PCV?

1.) You call a meeting. And I mean you really call a meeting. You put up signs, place an announcement with the town loudspeakers and go door-to-door to spread the word. But when the time comes, no one shows up. You:

• a.) Slump your shoulders in disappointment and defeat, but convince yourself to stay resolute and plot out to succeed the next time. You'll probably cry later.
• b.) Feel bummed but decide to talk to a few community members to help encourage participation.
• c.) Shrug and head back to your room to watch How I Met Your Mother.

2.) You meet someone for the first time, and they immediately call attention to how fat you are (something you've been a little sensitive about). You:

• a.) Shoot them death glares and vow to go on a diet.
• b.) Smile but secretly want to snap at them for being the 62nd person to say that to you this week.
• c.) Laugh and pat your belly. Whatever, man. You are what you are.

3.) You are visiting a family in your village, and they give you a heaping plate of rice, noodles and questionable-looking meat. You:

• a.) Smile politely and will yourself to eat as much as you can while suppressing your gag reflex.
• b.) Thank the host graciously and polish off the plate with some difficulty.
• c.) Compliment the host profusely, eat as much as you want (and not a grain of rice more), and then excuse yourself for a "very important meeting" – still emphasizing how delicious the meal is as you walk out the door.

4.) You and the mayor agreed to meet at 8 a.m. You confirmed and re-confirmed, but he never shows. You:

• a.) Stay at the meeting place for 2.5 hours, feeling more depressed by every minute.
• b.) Stay at the meeting place for 1.5 hours, all the while plotting his death.
• c.) Stay at the meeting place for 45 minutes – just enough to finish the book you brought with you.

5.) You're eating lunch and find a hair in the rice. You:

• a.) Lose your appetite and say you're full.
• b.) Eat around it.
• c.) Pull the hair out and finish eating.

RESULTS*:

If you answered with mostly A's: You're likely fresh off the boat. I'd say 0-5 months in site (max). Life is new and exciting. You are still doe-eyed and enthusiastic about pretty much everything, and you're terrified of a making cultural faux pas. Outgoing and sedulous, "no" is not a word you use often. But you're still learning, and two years can seem pretty long.

If you answered with mostly B's: You're a seasoned idealist. In site for 6-11 months, sure you've learned a few hard lessons. People are usually late and feed you too much, but you've got it pretty much under control. You're still enthusiastic and eager to please. You are learning to recognize your limits.

If you answered with mostly C's: You're jaded – you know, in a good way. You've been in site for 1 year + and know what you need to survive. You don't need stupid quizzes like this. You've got it under control.


*No promises that this will be in any way accurate.