PEACE CORPS IN THE 21 ST CENTURY: A RHETORICAL ANALYSIS

61And of course, your family is welcome to visit you during your stay overseas. Ifan emergency occurs in your immediate family, you will be given leave to travelto the site of the emergency, at government expense, and to remain there for twoweeks. 117This is a significantly different message than the one sent to younger volunteers. Theyounger volunteers are encouraged to use their vacation time traveling abroad anddiscouraged from traveling home. For the older volunteer who may have children andgrandchildren, the Peace Corps focuses on visiting family and having them visit thevolunteer.At the same time, the site appeals to adventure and exploration in the recruitmentrhetoric geared toward the older applicants. However, the rhetorical element ofadventure is slightly different for older Americans. It is the adventure of a changinglifestyle and respect for the elderly that appeal to the older American. The web sitestates, “[y]ou will be in an environment in which life is measured by your achievements,not your earning power. You will find that you and your work are appreciated, whichrenews vigor and vitality. You will have the adventure of creating a new life foryourself.” 118This rhetorical approach relies on the benefits of service, which mayrevitalize the volunteer. For older applicants, feeling useful is a selling point. Thiscompletely flips the 1960s notion of “service” on its head, emphasizing the service of selfover the service of others.