Many of the stories in Bringing It Home begin with a simple message from a reader.
Someone remembers a small habit of connection from their Peace Corps service. A greeting. A shared meal. Time spent listening. Then they begin to wonder what it might look like to carry that habit into life back home.
If you have a moment like that from your service, we would love to hear about it.
How the process works
You do not need to write a full essay.
Most contributors simply answer a few short questions. Our editors then shape those responses into a 300–400 word story.
We send the draft to you for review before anything is published. You can edit wording, add details, or remove anything you prefer. Nothing appears on the site without your approval.
If you would rather write the story yourself, that is also welcome.
A few tips
Focus on one habit, idea, or moment from your service.
Share as much detail as you can remember. Details help bring the story to life.
Do not worry about writing style. Just answer the questions in your own words.
The questions we ask
What is one habit, practice, or way of connecting that you remember clearly from your Peace Corps service?
Why did that practice matter in the community where you served? What did it create?
Do you see something missing in how people connect in the United States that this practice could help with?
Have you tried to bring this habit into your life back home? What happened — or what do you hope would happen?
If another RPCV wanted to try one small version of this practice this week, what would you suggest they do?
A paragraph or two for each question is perfectly fine.
A couple other things we include with each story
Photo
If you have a photo from your service that reflects connection, community, or daily life, feel free to include it. It does not need to match the story exactly.
Short bio
At the end of each story we include a short author bio. Most people include:
Name
Where and when they served
Peace Corps program or role
What they are doing now
Anything else they would like readers to know
Interested in sharing a story?
Send a note to:
We will reply and guide you through the process.
Many of the stories published here begin with a simple conversation.