Ok, so I have been pretty lax on the French this week. In my defense, I am looking for a new place to live (have to be out of my apartment August 15), downsizing and packing my life away, and reading a TON of PC blogs.
I have found some really good ones. And I am much less scared of going to one of the Big 4. I mean, Niger and Mauritania do not sound like a walk in the park...they sound HARD, but doable. Senegal and Mali sound like peaches compared to Niger and Mauritania (exaggeration much??). I can do it. I'm not scared!
The night watchman at the building where I work is from Togo. Sometime I should find time to talk to him about West Africa.
Things are moving REALLY slowly with my potential TV show. I mean, it's nearly August already! I'll probably be getting my invitation in the mail in the next 3-5 weeks!!! I still don't know what to do...I don't want to decline the invite and then the show doesn't sell anyways and I'm stuck working in TV until like next Spring or something before they can find another assignment for me. Plus, now I'm kinda excited about the desert!
Also, I'm realizing how unrealistic my packing list is as of this moment. I keep adding shit to it every day as I read these blogs and see what PCVs are asking for, and what they wish they had. More than one blog has talked about a shower item going down the latrine hole during a bucket bath, which made me start thinking I should bring a basket of some kind. But then I read a blog where a girl talked about buying a plastic purple bucket in-country and thought, shit, I could find something that would serve that purpose in-country. So yeah, I definitely need to downsize the packing list.
I think as far as the skirts and pants go, I am only going to bring 2 or 3 and have more made in-country. It seems like most girls just wear "bohemian-style" skirts and T-shirts most of the time, so that is probably what I will plan on. Especially because the vast majority of blogs talk about the fact that PCVs in these countries lose A LOT of weight (one girl said 25 lbs. in 3 months)...so if you bring 8 pairs of pants, they might only fit you for 3 months and then you'd have to have others made, anyway.
I dunno, reading these blogs has been VERY helpful. Not only in my packing strategy, but in helping me know what to expect and shaping my outlook on the Big 4. To be brutally honest, when I realized it was probably going to be one of those 4, I seriously reconsidered doing it. After reading all these blogs, I'm up for the challenge.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
The French Classes Commence
Ok, so I just got Rosetta Stone French 1 and 2 in the mail. I installed it and have already started trying it out.
I have already learned stuff, seriously. And I've only done a couple of lessons. The lessons are easy, too, and repetitive, but not exactly, which makes it effective...it repeats the same words but in different contexts so you learn what that word means, not just what it means in that context.
Pretty cool software if you ask me.
I think I am going to require myself to work with it 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I am finding that my training in Spanish is helping a lot... I know I shouldn't worry that much about the French, since where I am will probably speak an African language in the end, and I'll only get to use my French in the capital, but hey...it's a requirement!
Now let's see how good my French is by the time I leave!
I have already learned stuff, seriously. And I've only done a couple of lessons. The lessons are easy, too, and repetitive, but not exactly, which makes it effective...it repeats the same words but in different contexts so you learn what that word means, not just what it means in that context.
Pretty cool software if you ask me.
I think I am going to require myself to work with it 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I am finding that my training in Spanish is helping a lot... I know I shouldn't worry that much about the French, since where I am will probably speak an African language in the end, and I'll only get to use my French in the capital, but hey...it's a requirement!
Now let's see how good my French is by the time I leave!
Thursday, July 10, 2008
"Stuff"
I wonder how most departing volunteers deal with all of their "stuff." A fair amount can probably leave whatever they have at their childhood home with their parents. I bet there are some moneybags who rent a storage unit the whole time they are gone. I bet some give everything they have to goodwill and take off.
My mom/stepdad are kind of nomads. She is probably going to leave her job sooner than later and move (I've heard murmurs of North Carolina, where my grandparents live). She will take some of my stuff, but as it is she lives in a 2-bedroom apartment. My dad/stepmom have a big house, but it is in Southern Illinois - more than halfway across the country.
From my count as of now, there are probably 45 file-sized boxes plus suitcases of clothes and some furniture (dresser, futon, shelves) that I am intending to keep. There is no way my mom would even store all this, let alone move it across the country.
I remember when I left Ithaca College the summer of 2003, I managed to fit everything I wanted to bring home in my Volvo. His name was Lance. He was silver. I think he was only two years younger than I am! I didn't have him very long. But that isn't the point. Yeah, I had left some stuff (mostly old memorabilia) in my parents' house, but then we were all moving to California and I had to downsize. Unfortunately, they ended up buying space in a HUGE 18-wheeler and I did not have to get rid of much more than I left at IC...I remember putting boxes on that I really had no idea what was in them. Today I am sifting through that stuff asking myself if it's memorabilia worth saving or not...I mean...what would be cool in a scrapbook when I'm 80??
Anyway. Just saying...it's hard to downsize.
My mom/stepdad are kind of nomads. She is probably going to leave her job sooner than later and move (I've heard murmurs of North Carolina, where my grandparents live). She will take some of my stuff, but as it is she lives in a 2-bedroom apartment. My dad/stepmom have a big house, but it is in Southern Illinois - more than halfway across the country.
From my count as of now, there are probably 45 file-sized boxes plus suitcases of clothes and some furniture (dresser, futon, shelves) that I am intending to keep. There is no way my mom would even store all this, let alone move it across the country.
I remember when I left Ithaca College the summer of 2003, I managed to fit everything I wanted to bring home in my Volvo. His name was Lance. He was silver. I think he was only two years younger than I am! I didn't have him very long. But that isn't the point. Yeah, I had left some stuff (mostly old memorabilia) in my parents' house, but then we were all moving to California and I had to downsize. Unfortunately, they ended up buying space in a HUGE 18-wheeler and I did not have to get rid of much more than I left at IC...I remember putting boxes on that I really had no idea what was in them. Today I am sifting through that stuff asking myself if it's memorabilia worth saving or not...I mean...what would be cool in a scrapbook when I'm 80??
Anyway. Just saying...it's hard to downsize.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Reading Niger Blogs
Today I dedicated my downtime at work to reading PC journals from Niger, using www.peacecorpsjournals.com, which has journals by country.
The reason I am concentrating on Niger is because I know an RPCV named Jennifer who served in Niger in the 1990's and want to compare what she says with what I read.
I read that Niger is actually the 3rd most difficult post Peace Corps has. It is beat only by Mongolia (extreme cold) and Mauritania (extreme heat...also another of the 4 I might be headed to).
It's weird because when I read these journals, the people don't seem that nervous before they go. They're just like WAHOOO I'M OFF! I mean, they're nervous in the way that ANY PCV is nervous, but not in the way I am...I am not really worried about the things most PCVs worry about before they go, like missing their friends and family, television, different foodstuffs, learning the language, fitting in, things like that. For me, I am expecting all of that and it doesn't worry me.
I'm nervous about NIGER (or whichever of the Big 4 it ends up to be). I'm nervous about not being able to do my job because of the heat and illness PCVs seem to contract (in Niger there are 334 cases of diarrhea a year for every 100 volunteers). I'm nervous about not feeling healthy because all I eat is fried meat (although I have allayed this a bit...I bet if I learned how to can fruit and veggies I could do it in the cold season and still have some in the hot season...besides that it seems like when there is meat, there really isn't that much of it and your diet really is just rice and onions).
Yeah, mostly the whole thing boils down to my fear of heat and fear of not having access to enough fruits and vegetables. That's what it boils down to. I guess with reading these blogs, I am trying to lessen those fears, and to a degree I have (one girl says her typical breakfast is bread or oatmeal with peanut butter and raisins and for lunch she has rice and beans or macaroni with veggies or tomato sauce; another blog talked about the fact there is NO humidity, so it's not like you're drenched in sweat all day - it evaporates almost instantly).
Anyway. The Big 4 are seeming nice right now, as I just started working full time again today. I am reminded of why I wanted to join the PC in the first place.
The reason I am concentrating on Niger is because I know an RPCV named Jennifer who served in Niger in the 1990's and want to compare what she says with what I read.
I read that Niger is actually the 3rd most difficult post Peace Corps has. It is beat only by Mongolia (extreme cold) and Mauritania (extreme heat...also another of the 4 I might be headed to).
It's weird because when I read these journals, the people don't seem that nervous before they go. They're just like WAHOOO I'M OFF! I mean, they're nervous in the way that ANY PCV is nervous, but not in the way I am...I am not really worried about the things most PCVs worry about before they go, like missing their friends and family, television, different foodstuffs, learning the language, fitting in, things like that. For me, I am expecting all of that and it doesn't worry me.
I'm nervous about NIGER (or whichever of the Big 4 it ends up to be). I'm nervous about not being able to do my job because of the heat and illness PCVs seem to contract (in Niger there are 334 cases of diarrhea a year for every 100 volunteers). I'm nervous about not feeling healthy because all I eat is fried meat (although I have allayed this a bit...I bet if I learned how to can fruit and veggies I could do it in the cold season and still have some in the hot season...besides that it seems like when there is meat, there really isn't that much of it and your diet really is just rice and onions).
Yeah, mostly the whole thing boils down to my fear of heat and fear of not having access to enough fruits and vegetables. That's what it boils down to. I guess with reading these blogs, I am trying to lessen those fears, and to a degree I have (one girl says her typical breakfast is bread or oatmeal with peanut butter and raisins and for lunch she has rice and beans or macaroni with veggies or tomato sauce; another blog talked about the fact there is NO humidity, so it's not like you're drenched in sweat all day - it evaporates almost instantly).
Anyway. The Big 4 are seeming nice right now, as I just started working full time again today. I am reminded of why I wanted to join the PC in the first place.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Niger vs. Costa Rica
Ok, so I just went through and read the Living Conditions section for Costa Rica. After reviewing Niger's section today, and Mali and Mauritania and Senegal over the last few days, I began to wonder if any other countries actually were any better, as far as the living conditions and heat go...
Well, Costa Rica sounds friggin' amazing. You have a phone, electricity, running cold water. The climate is basically like Southern California (60 - 90F), probably more humid as there is a lot of rain in the rainy season. One drawback is that you live with a host family the entire time. It says it's easy to remain a vegetarian, as rice & beans is the staple meal. You can wear tank tops. Internet access is nearly everywhere.
Compared with where I am probably going, where there will be no running water, no electricity, POSSIBLY cell phone coverage, 120F, hardly any rain, the staple diet is fried meat and a starch, internet is only in large cities, and you can't wear tank tops.
I would be happy if there was some fruit and vegetables and I could wear tank tops...really that's all I want.
Well, Costa Rica sounds friggin' amazing. You have a phone, electricity, running cold water. The climate is basically like Southern California (60 - 90F), probably more humid as there is a lot of rain in the rainy season. One drawback is that you live with a host family the entire time. It says it's easy to remain a vegetarian, as rice & beans is the staple meal. You can wear tank tops. Internet access is nearly everywhere.
Compared with where I am probably going, where there will be no running water, no electricity, POSSIBLY cell phone coverage, 120F, hardly any rain, the staple diet is fried meat and a starch, internet is only in large cities, and you can't wear tank tops.
I would be happy if there was some fruit and vegetables and I could wear tank tops...really that's all I want.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
120F
I feel like I really need to experience 120F before I go. Here in LA, it got to around 110F right before I came back from my trip and everyone was DYING...It seems like from what I'm reading it would only be THAT hot 2-3 months out of the year...but GOOD GOD...that would be 2-3 months where I'd be doing next to nothing and my weight would be melting off of me due to loss of appetite.
How hot is it in Death Valley? That's kinda close.
How hot is it in Death Valley? That's kinda close.
Peace Corps Medical Kit
For a long time I have wondered what exactly is included in the PC Medical Kit. One RPCV told me "it has like 1000 condoms, and you'll never use anything else in it!"
And I was like... ....ok.
Here is what it actually contains (according to peacecorpswiki.org, Niger page - other countries' lists were slightly different):
Basically what I am hoping is that when you get all your stuff once you've accepted your invitation, they really tell you specifically what they are going to provide and what they aren't. Because if you really need something when you get there that you thought you'd have (like multivitamins, not on this list), it could take months for your family to get it to you...bummer!
And I was like... ....ok.
Here is what it actually contains (according to peacecorpswiki.org, Niger page - other countries' lists were slightly different):
Medical Kit Contents
Ace bandages
Acetaminophen 325 mg (Tylenol)
Adhesive tape
American Red Cross First Aid & Safety Handbook
Antacid tablets (Tums)
Antibiotic ointment (Bacitracin/Neomycin/Polymycin B)
Antiseptic antimicrobial skin cleaner (Hibiclens)
Band-Aids
Butterfly closures
Cepacol lozenges
Chlorine dropper bottle
Clomtimazole 1% antifungal cream
Condoms
Cough lozenges
Dental floss
DiGel tablets
Diphenhydramine HCL 25 mg (Benadryl)
Hydrocortisone cream 1%
Ibuprofen 400 mg
Insect repellent
Lip balm
Malaria kit
Stool sample kit
Oral rehydration salts
Oral thermometer (Fahrenheit)
Pseudoephedrine HCL (Sudafed)
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Tweezers
White petroleum jelly
Zinc oxide
Basically what I am hoping is that when you get all your stuff once you've accepted your invitation, they really tell you specifically what they are going to provide and what they aren't. Because if you really need something when you get there that you thought you'd have (like multivitamins, not on this list), it could take months for your family to get it to you...bummer!
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Dr. Bronner's Soap
Ok, so I bought a quart of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap at REI mid-May. I have been using it as my body wash every day since then. Originally I tried squirting it out of the big bottle into a big cup each time, and then diluting it with water and pouring it over myself. This seemed to use up the soap pretty quickly. Then I went on a 3-week vacation, brought only a 3 oz. container of it and just used a small amount on my hands each shower. The 3 oz. container lasted about 4.5 weeks! And, obviously, I am clean!
I did the math and what it says is that if I bring 1 quart (32 oz.) with me, which I was planning to, it will last me about 10 MONTHS!
This is great news! They sell Dr. B's in smaller containers, as well, so my family can ship me small containers throughout service with care packages, and I should be ale to use Dr. B's the whole time. I don't know why I'm worried about soap. I guess because I don't like using bar soap, and I don't use washcloths or loofahs or sponges (I used to until I read they were rife with bacteria and it was best to just use your hands, so I do). And it's nice to be able to use a natural soap.
Once I run out of shampoo, I am going to try to use the Dr. B's on my hair, too...because I also wonder about shampoo...I am going to cut my hair pretty short before I go. As it is, I only wash my hair every 4 days or so. I worry about it using up too much of the soap. So that's my next experiment. Once my face wash runs out, I'm going to experiment on my face, too. Imagine only having to use one soap/product to cleanse your entire body, head to foot? That would be convenient. Plus, it's 100% natural! I learned about Dr. B's when I was a kid because it's what we used to bathe in the river. I've heard of people who use NOTHING BUT Dr. B's for EVERYTHING - laundry, dishes, cleaner, mouthwash, toothpaste, EVERYTHING!
I guess I'm concerned about soap because my recruiter told me that I would only be able to find "products for white skin" in the major cities and that they'd be 3x as expensive. And being cheap and hating to be uncomfortable, I'm trying to work out a potential solution, even in the worst of circumstances. I like to be self-sufficient.
I did the math and what it says is that if I bring 1 quart (32 oz.) with me, which I was planning to, it will last me about 10 MONTHS!
This is great news! They sell Dr. B's in smaller containers, as well, so my family can ship me small containers throughout service with care packages, and I should be ale to use Dr. B's the whole time. I don't know why I'm worried about soap. I guess because I don't like using bar soap, and I don't use washcloths or loofahs or sponges (I used to until I read they were rife with bacteria and it was best to just use your hands, so I do). And it's nice to be able to use a natural soap.
Once I run out of shampoo, I am going to try to use the Dr. B's on my hair, too...because I also wonder about shampoo...I am going to cut my hair pretty short before I go. As it is, I only wash my hair every 4 days or so. I worry about it using up too much of the soap. So that's my next experiment. Once my face wash runs out, I'm going to experiment on my face, too. Imagine only having to use one soap/product to cleanse your entire body, head to foot? That would be convenient. Plus, it's 100% natural! I learned about Dr. B's when I was a kid because it's what we used to bathe in the river. I've heard of people who use NOTHING BUT Dr. B's for EVERYTHING - laundry, dishes, cleaner, mouthwash, toothpaste, EVERYTHING!
I guess I'm concerned about soap because my recruiter told me that I would only be able to find "products for white skin" in the major cities and that they'd be 3x as expensive. And being cheap and hating to be uncomfortable, I'm trying to work out a potential solution, even in the worst of circumstances. I like to be self-sufficient.
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Packing List
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.
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.
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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