So once I was nominated, I started a packing list and have added to it whenever I thought of something else that would be useful. After finding the wiki, I have added a ton more stuff to it that I hadn't even thought about (like an outdoor mosquito net tent and a Therm-a-Rest pad).
Yesterday I remembered about Space Bags, those bags that you can suck the air out of and everything gets all crazy compact and whatnot. I was actually thinking about it because I was considering how to store all my New Kids on the Block memorabilia (I'm talking blanket, sleeping bag, sheets, hahahahahha). I knew my mom would balk at having a pretty large box just storing that, but I could put all of it in one little space bag and it would be fine.
Then I remembered that I was worrying about bringing a pillow and whatnot to Africa, and how that would take up a lot of space for such a small item. The Space Bag will be perfect! It can compact down stuff like that that is light, but bulky. I do have to remember to stick to the 80 lb. rule (1 bag of 50 lbs. or less, 1 of 30 lbs.). You are also allowed a carry-on, but I wonder if that's like carrying on in the US where you could bring a duffel bag of stuff and then a backpack with stuff just for the plane ride...hmmm...THEN I thought...that's like 4 bags I would have to lug around and reconsidered the carry-on. The other thing I thought about was that if I used the vacuum-power Space Bags, I wouldn't be able to bring the same amount of stuff back. But THEN I thought...well I would be leaving the pillow and whatnot there...what a waste to bring back a crappy pillow when you could bring back an African tablecloth?
So anyway, my list has about 150 items on it. I kid you not. And this doesn't include multiples of the same thing...like if I'm bringing 6 tubes of toothpaste (it's prescription), I'm counting that as 1 item.
Now what I have to do is go back through and divide into categories. Like, absolutely must have, would be nice to have, and can have mailed to me later. I think I will take some advice I read and prepare a couple of boxes for my mom to send to me when training is ending. Probably the flat rate one. And pack it as full as I can of the non-essential stuff, like Easy Mac, the 6-12th tubes of toothpaste and deodorant, batteries, stuff like that.
I also created a mailing guidelines sheet to give to my family that includes where to send things, how to send things, to INSURE IT!, and what would be good to send. Things like popcorn kernels, batteries, magazines and whatnot. So I don't have to bring 2 years worth of anything, more like enough for the first 5 months, just to be safe. Everyone in my family, and some family friends, have been asking about sending me packages, so I'm giving them a pretty big list of stuff to choose from when sending me care packages. And if I REALLY need something I'll get ahold of my mom and have her send it.
I'm really trying to see myself in the desert. It occurs to me that I will probably be stationed near the river, as I am an agricultural volunteer, and those are in the more southern parts of the countries. But then again, maybe not.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
If I Had to Push Service
Ok, so I just spoke with the PC Placement Office and here is what I found out. I have until mid- to late-August to decide if I need to push my departure date, she said they are still dealing with July and August invites right now and haven't even moved on to October yet. She also said that my medical clearance is good for a year from when I was cleared, meaning it is good until next June. If I need to push my departure date, I would have to go through the nomination process again, meaning I would have to withdraw my application and then resubmit online and go through another interview to be nominated to a new program in the time frame I am looking for. I wouldn't have to do my exams or anything again, or any new clearances as they are all good for a year.
So, basically, if my show sells, I could push as far as next June and only have to resubmit my application (which would be a piece of cake, as I already have all my old application in a .pdf file). Then I would have to interview again, probably with the same recruiter as I believe your recruiter is assigned based on where you are applying from (like another recruiter is in charge of Arizona applicants, I think mine is in charge of LA County applicants). I'm sure I would be nominated again, though it could be for something completely different, like Information Technology in South America.
So basically that is what I learned. I'm glad she sounded like it would be no big deal and that I didn't have to start worrying about telling them until August, when I should have a better idea of what is going on. At least I hope I will!
So, basically, if my show sells, I could push as far as next June and only have to resubmit my application (which would be a piece of cake, as I already have all my old application in a .pdf file). Then I would have to interview again, probably with the same recruiter as I believe your recruiter is assigned based on where you are applying from (like another recruiter is in charge of Arizona applicants, I think mine is in charge of LA County applicants). I'm sure I would be nominated again, though it could be for something completely different, like Information Technology in South America.
So basically that is what I learned. I'm glad she sounded like it would be no big deal and that I didn't have to start worrying about telling them until August, when I should have a better idea of what is going on. At least I hope I will!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Where I Might Be Going
Ok, so after doing some research on peacecorpswiki.org, I have narrowed down what countries I may be going to to 4: Mali, Mauritania, Niger or Senegal. These are the only French-speaking countries with agricultural programs, so it has to be one of those four unless the country I am going to is starting a new program this fall.
These countries are actually IN the Southern Sahara Desert...I don't think I can live in the desert. I also don't think I can eat meat all the time, and some of those countries say it is difficult to find fruit and vegetables...
All this now makes me very nervous.
These countries are actually IN the Southern Sahara Desert...I don't think I can live in the desert. I also don't think I can eat meat all the time, and some of those countries say it is difficult to find fruit and vegetables...
All this now makes me very nervous.
Wiki Love!
Today I found the most awesome Peace Corps reference EVER! It is www.peacecorpswiki.org. The best thing about it is the various packing lists for each country PC serves. They are lists made by current and returned volunteers about what they recommend and don't recommend...best resource I have found yet!
I've been reading all the West Africa ones, and it's been very helpful, especially for questions like "do I bring my laptop and my digital camera?" Much better resource than most RPCVs I know, as most of them served ten years ago or longer. Great info!
I've been reading all the West Africa ones, and it's been very helpful, especially for questions like "do I bring my laptop and my digital camera?" Much better resource than most RPCVs I know, as most of them served ten years ago or longer. Great info!
Quick(ish?) Application Timeline
November 2007: I decided to apply and started my application. More on this later.
January 2008: I found an essay in my closet from 10th grade that said one of my long-term goals was to serve in the Peace Corps. I said that specifically. Weird, because I remember always thinking I wanted to do something like this but don't remember ever voicing it.
April 2008: I completed my application and was fairly immediately contacted by my recruiter. She wanted me to attend an info session, so I did. Then I had my interview. At the end of the interview, my recruiter said she thought I would be a great volunteer and nominated me as an agricultural (cuz I can grow vegetables!) volunteer in French-speaking, Sub-Saharan Africa, departing October 2008. She told me I would need to take the equivalent of a college semester of French. As of now, mid-June, I have yet to learn any French. I plan to start by July 1, use a private tutor (hello craigslist!), free iTunes lessons and a beginning French book to meet this qualification. Also, I did all my medical exams as my insurance ran out May 1, 2008...man, not being a college student anymore is a real inconvenience! (I graduated June 1, 2007.)
May 14, 2008: Peace Corps Washington received my medical forms (according to the USPS), though they did not admit they had received them until June 9, making me insanely paranoid they had lost it.
June 2 - 22, 2008: I made the rounds to visit family as I did not think I would have time to do any visiting between July 1 and when I am scheduled to leave in October. I start working full-time again July 1, and that job ends at the end of September. During that time, it would clearly be impossible to take 3 weeks off to visit the fam. I hit Carbondale, IL, where my dad, stepmom, 3-year-old half-brother, 5-week-old half-sister, and Aunt Sue (mom's side) live. I then proceeded to Advance (near Winston-Salem), NC to see my grandparents on my mom's side, who I hadn't seen in at least 2 years if not longer (I think it was longer). I then headed to Orleans, Cape Cod, MA (where I am right now) to visit my Aunt Linda (mom's side). From here I go to NYC where I will see my cousin Maggie (Sue's daughter) before cruising back to LA. I'm missing Mema (dad's mom), Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Greg, Cousin Neil and Uncle Bruce in Little Rock, AR. Also skipping cousin Evan in Phoenix (expecting a baby next month) and cousin Clay in San Francisco (may find time for a weekend in that heavenly town). I have seen all of those people much more recently than the others, so they should have had their fill ;). My sister Caitlin and nephew Austin will be visiting LA this summer, so I'll see them then.
June 18, 2008: I received a letter in the mail stating that I have been medically cleared. I had to call and have my roommate open and read it for me as I am out of town visiting my family and got INSANELY paranoid when the text on my online toolkit did not match what was said on another applicant's toolkit after her clearance. Still have yet to send in my dental forms, as I have two crowns waiting to be permanently cemented. Might have my dentist send the stuff in anyways.
June 24, 2008: PC Placement office tells me I have until mid- to late-August to tell them if I need to push dates of service.
July 18, 2008: I mailed in my dental forms.
July 26, 2008: I was dentally cleared. Which is actually kind of shocking.
August 28, 2008: I officially find out I was not invited to my nominated program (mostly due to the fact that apparently neither I nor my recruiter were clear enough in my file on my experience, and they had never received the Skill Addendum from me, which I had called several times to ask if they were waiting for anything from me and they said no, so the point is to BE THOROUGH). I was re-nominated to an Ag departure in December, but for a VERY small Ag program so I'm not holding my breath for that one either. If I don't make it into that one, we are looking at February or later. In an effort to make myself a more competitive candidate, I signed up for 5 environmental/agricultural volunteer opportunities with LA Works in the next six weeks or so and plan to start practicing speaking French.
October 14, 2008: My PO calls to tell me she has decided to invite me to the December program! I spend two days waiting anxiously for my invite packet.
October 16, 2008: My invitation packet arrives and the country is Guinea, West Africa! I feel sick to my stomach and my brain start going in fifty directions at once.
October 21, 2008: I call the Africa Placement Office and accept my invitation. I am officially going to Guinea, December 1!
January 2008: I found an essay in my closet from 10th grade that said one of my long-term goals was to serve in the Peace Corps. I said that specifically. Weird, because I remember always thinking I wanted to do something like this but don't remember ever voicing it.
April 2008: I completed my application and was fairly immediately contacted by my recruiter. She wanted me to attend an info session, so I did. Then I had my interview. At the end of the interview, my recruiter said she thought I would be a great volunteer and nominated me as an agricultural (cuz I can grow vegetables!) volunteer in French-speaking, Sub-Saharan Africa, departing October 2008. She told me I would need to take the equivalent of a college semester of French. As of now, mid-June, I have yet to learn any French. I plan to start by July 1, use a private tutor (hello craigslist!), free iTunes lessons and a beginning French book to meet this qualification. Also, I did all my medical exams as my insurance ran out May 1, 2008...man, not being a college student anymore is a real inconvenience! (I graduated June 1, 2007.)
May 14, 2008: Peace Corps Washington received my medical forms (according to the USPS), though they did not admit they had received them until June 9, making me insanely paranoid they had lost it.
June 2 - 22, 2008: I made the rounds to visit family as I did not think I would have time to do any visiting between July 1 and when I am scheduled to leave in October. I start working full-time again July 1, and that job ends at the end of September. During that time, it would clearly be impossible to take 3 weeks off to visit the fam. I hit Carbondale, IL, where my dad, stepmom, 3-year-old half-brother, 5-week-old half-sister, and Aunt Sue (mom's side) live. I then proceeded to Advance (near Winston-Salem), NC to see my grandparents on my mom's side, who I hadn't seen in at least 2 years if not longer (I think it was longer). I then headed to Orleans, Cape Cod, MA (where I am right now) to visit my Aunt Linda (mom's side). From here I go to NYC where I will see my cousin Maggie (Sue's daughter) before cruising back to LA. I'm missing Mema (dad's mom), Aunt Carolyn and Uncle Greg, Cousin Neil and Uncle Bruce in Little Rock, AR. Also skipping cousin Evan in Phoenix (expecting a baby next month) and cousin Clay in San Francisco (may find time for a weekend in that heavenly town). I have seen all of those people much more recently than the others, so they should have had their fill ;). My sister Caitlin and nephew Austin will be visiting LA this summer, so I'll see them then.
June 18, 2008: I received a letter in the mail stating that I have been medically cleared. I had to call and have my roommate open and read it for me as I am out of town visiting my family and got INSANELY paranoid when the text on my online toolkit did not match what was said on another applicant's toolkit after her clearance. Still have yet to send in my dental forms, as I have two crowns waiting to be permanently cemented. Might have my dentist send the stuff in anyways.
June 24, 2008: PC Placement office tells me I have until mid- to late-August to tell them if I need to push dates of service.
July 18, 2008: I mailed in my dental forms.
July 26, 2008: I was dentally cleared. Which is actually kind of shocking.
August 28, 2008: I officially find out I was not invited to my nominated program (mostly due to the fact that apparently neither I nor my recruiter were clear enough in my file on my experience, and they had never received the Skill Addendum from me, which I had called several times to ask if they were waiting for anything from me and they said no, so the point is to BE THOROUGH). I was re-nominated to an Ag departure in December, but for a VERY small Ag program so I'm not holding my breath for that one either. If I don't make it into that one, we are looking at February or later. In an effort to make myself a more competitive candidate, I signed up for 5 environmental/agricultural volunteer opportunities with LA Works in the next six weeks or so and plan to start practicing speaking French.
October 14, 2008: My PO calls to tell me she has decided to invite me to the December program! I spend two days waiting anxiously for my invite packet.
October 16, 2008: My invitation packet arrives and the country is Guinea, West Africa! I feel sick to my stomach and my brain start going in fifty directions at once.
October 21, 2008: I call the Africa Placement Office and accept my invitation. I am officially going to Guinea, December 1!
Dilemma
So here is my dilemma...I work in television. I don't want to, I WANT to work in film, but let's face it, those jobs are hard to get. That aside, I work for an Executive Producer and together we developed a reality show that William Morris Agency (one of the biggest talent agencies in the world) likes and wants to take around town. They also hooked us up with a great showrunner (the guy who does The Mole, for any of you who watch that). Anyway. With all that clout behind it, it has a good chance of selling. If it sells, we want to shoot for 3 weeks in October 2008. Coincidentally, that is exactly when I am supposed to be leaving. So I have a conundrum...leave on time, or stay and make a CHUNK OF CHANGE doing the show and leave AFTER that...as of yet the show hasn't sold, so I'm still on track to peace out in October. But if it DOES sell, I could potentially make what is to me A LOT of money, which would be nice to have once I complete service so I can spend 3 months on the Eurorail and 2 months on Amtrak, seeing the world. Thoughts on this?
My Peace Corps Blog
Well, I have been inspired by other PCV blogs, so I decided to start my own public blog for all to see. This will be about my experience in the Peace Corps.
I decided to apply in November 2007. I didn't complete my application until April 2008. Hey man, these things take time. I attended an info session with a recruiter at Loyola Marymount University in April, where I was sorely reminded that I am no longer a college student (little tear).
I have to say....it is convenient as all get-out that I live in LA, as we have a PC Regional Office in El Segundo, which is a good 25 min. drive on a traffic-free freeway, but way better than people in non-regional office areas that don't get to nearly as many events.
In addition to my info session, I also attended Peace Corps: Then and Now with the Deputy Director, the most valuable thing I learned was that most PCVs have cell phones... I also attended the Nominee Dinner, where I met other volunteers headed to Africa. One RPCV, Holly, actually held an African dinner at her place in Santa Monica and invited all Africa nominees and fellow Africa RPCVs living in the LA area, and that was also very informative.
I also had dinner one night at a Pan-African restaurant in LA called "Ngoma" on Wilshire. It was GREAT! My friends loved it and we drank them out of their African beer.
Anyway, here I will chronicle my PC experience from my application to nomination to clearances to invitation to departure and service...I hope potential volunteers will find this useful!
I decided to apply in November 2007. I didn't complete my application until April 2008. Hey man, these things take time. I attended an info session with a recruiter at Loyola Marymount University in April, where I was sorely reminded that I am no longer a college student (little tear).
I have to say....it is convenient as all get-out that I live in LA, as we have a PC Regional Office in El Segundo, which is a good 25 min. drive on a traffic-free freeway, but way better than people in non-regional office areas that don't get to nearly as many events.
In addition to my info session, I also attended Peace Corps: Then and Now with the Deputy Director, the most valuable thing I learned was that most PCVs have cell phones... I also attended the Nominee Dinner, where I met other volunteers headed to Africa. One RPCV, Holly, actually held an African dinner at her place in Santa Monica and invited all Africa nominees and fellow Africa RPCVs living in the LA area, and that was also very informative.
I also had dinner one night at a Pan-African restaurant in LA called "Ngoma" on Wilshire. It was GREAT! My friends loved it and we drank them out of their African beer.
Anyway, here I will chronicle my PC experience from my application to nomination to clearances to invitation to departure and service...I hope potential volunteers will find this useful!
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