oining the Peace Corp is an auspicious start to a career in the Foreign Service. Peace Corp volunteers perform charitable functions in developing countries under the auspices of the U.S. government. They primarily serve as auxiliary advisers or teachers. Most volunteers are average citizens just looking for a change of pace. Every volunteer receives a uniform. It's clean but far from avant-garde. You also receive a handbook. It's an authoritative manual for survival in your host country. The handbook contains some useful tips for staying out of trouble in a foreign country: 1. Always respect the authorities in your host country. 2. Don't authorize anyone to use your identification card. 3. When crossing a mountain pass in the winter, beware of avalanche conditions. 4. Be alert for possible attacks by terrorists trying to avenge a loss. 5. Make certain that anything valuable you buy is authentic. 6. Always authenticate large bills before accepting them. Some assignments are dangerous. You might be sent to a country with an autocrat for a ruler. You may need to work near an area where rebels are fighting to obtain autonomy. Some regions are already autonomous but are fighting to retain control. Most assignments are not dangerous. In my first assignment, I was sent to a small Latin American country to help build an automated water supply system. The only difficulty I had in that country was cooking for myself. It's too bad they haven't invented an automaton that can make breakfast in the morning. If you're available for at least a full year of service, you can apply to join the Peace Corp. Acceptance is not automatic. Perhaps at the end of your service, you will be able to write an autobiography of your adventures abroad.