A Day in the Life of a Peace Corps Education Volunteer 📚🇱🇸

When I was a prospective volunteer, all I kept asking was: “What does a day in the life actually look like?” No one ever gave me a straight answer.

So here you go. A little on the boring side, but very real and very informative.

6:15 AM – Wake Up☀️

I grab my toothpaste, cup, toothbrush, towel, and soap, then head outside to the water tank. I wash my face and brush my teeth before heading back inside.

6:30 AM – Morning Prep🫖

I fill my kettle, light my stove, and set it on the eye for my daily coffee or tea (depending on the vibe).

In Lesotho, we use pit latrines. Since it’s pitch black at night, going outside isn’t always ideal unless you have what my students call “serious business.” Otherwise, a pee bucket is part of life here. After bathing in my wash basin, that water gets dumped in there, too. So I take my bucket, walk to the latrine, empty it, and head back to turn off the stove.

6:40 AM – Get Ready🎤

I get dressed, fix my hair, and naturally… have a full concert. Singing, dancing, and sometimes recording videos to send to my family.

Broadway, I’m on the way.

7:10 AM – Breakfast🍳

Breakfast rotates: eggs, a fried hot dog, leftovers, or porridge made with hot water from the kettle, always paired with green tea (honey + ginger) or a cappuccino (instant packets holding me down).

I pack a snack or two and clean up.

7:30 AM – Pack & Go🎒

I gather my teaching materials and head out at exactly 7:42 AM, because my school is a 3-minute walk away.

7:45–8:15 AM – Assembly 👩🏽‍🎓👨🏽‍🎓

The students present what they’ve learned.

8:30–11:50 AM – Teaching👩🏽‍🏫

I teach numeracy, English, and life skills for Grades 4, 5, 6, and/or 7.

11:50 AM–2:00 PM – Lunch Break🥘

A much-needed pause in the day.

2:00–3:30 PM – Afternoon👩🏽‍🏫

More lessons… or, if it’s Thursday, computer literacy club!

Then it’s home time.

4:00–5:00 PM – Sesotho Lessons🇱🇸

I have tutoring with my Mosotho mom!

5:05 PM – Dinner + Wind Down📚

I cook, eat, and then indulge in a mix of:

TikTok, Instagram, reading on my Kindle, and talking to my mom (my favorite part).

7:30 PM – Night Routine🧹

It’s dark, so I start preparing for the next day, lesson planning, bathing, and cleaning up.

9:30 PM – Sleepy Time🛌

Lately, I’ve been trying to add more movement, running, hiking, something. Right now, it’s mostly calf raises, crunches before bed, and the occasional run or shop stop.

But honestly? Most weekdays are school and home.

And I think that’s the biggest lesson:

Life is what you make it. (#HannahMontana)

If you want more, you make time for more. Your day becomes whatever you decide it will be here!