I wish

So I wish that I would get that Medical Kit in the mail....it's Monday and I still haven't gotten it, nor has anything happened in my ToolKit to indicate that it may have sent (I dunno if they do that or not!) 

Medical Kit, oh Medical Kit, where art thou!?

Motivating Song

This ain't a song for the broken-hearted
No silent prayer for the faith-departed
I ain't gonna be just a face in the crowd
You're gonna hear my voice
When I shout it out loud

[Chorus:]
It's my life
It's now or never
I ain't gonna live forever
I just want to live while I'm alive
(It's my life)
My heart is like an open highway
Like Frankie said
I did it my way
I just wanna live while I'm alive
It's my life

This is for the ones who stood their ground
For Tommy and Gina who never backed down
Tomorrow's getting harder make no mistake
Luck ain't even lucky
Got to make your own breaks

Actually, this song is one of my favorites. Especially when I am driving. I like to turn the volume up so loud, belt out the song, all the while dancing like crazy. I can't explain how I get into it.

Once I really heard the words...while it is just a song, it really inspires me. Maybe that sounds corny, but it does. It really makes me want to go out any do things that I want to do, but probably would do. And it is funny, while I can play that song in my car on my iPod or on my laptop all I want, the only times I have ever heard it come onto the radio were the two times I was really thinking hard about something I wanted to do but wasn't sure if I could. The first was last fall about deciding to go to China. The second was about a month ago when I was contemplating applying to the Peace Corps.

What happens is that I will think about something, long and hard, what I really would love to do...but I always am unsure of it. I don't think I can do it, I wonder how I could go away, think about if I am strong enough to make it. Doubt doubt doubt. Both those times the song came on and as I'm belting it out in my car, I can just feel energy coursing through my body. As I sing the lyrics, I realize just how true they are.

I'm 23 and am at the perfect time in my life to go out on my own and experience these great things. When I'm 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 I don't want to look back and say "I didn't do it because I was scared" or "I didn't do it because of my boyfriend" (whom, mind you, I love very very much and have full intentions of coming back to).  While I'm young enough and at a perfect place in my life, I want to do these things. I need to do these things. Just like the song says, "It's my life/It's now or never/I ain't gonna live forever/I just want to live while I'm alive"

How can this song not inspire you. Try it, in your car, driving down the highway or 50+ areas....turn this song on, turn it up LOUD, and just have at it. It sends shivers through my spine and it pushes me just that extra little bit to remember, it's my life, and I want to make it a great one.

Letter & ToolKit

So this past week I have gotten my nomination letter and an e-mail from the Peace Corps about a toolkit update.  My letter came addressed to me but said "Dear Jamie" so I had to clear that up to make sure I had received the right letter and there wasn't a system problem. 

My Nomination Letter states my nomination number is:

168-08-044-L2         Youth Development

This translates to:

168: youth development program

08: year

044: quarter 4 of the program year

L: code for my PO

2: the second listing for my PO in this quarter 

So, you see the pictures of my updated ToolKit. Basically, it now only lists information about medical and legal. I don't even know if I am able to see the older part of the ToolKit! Hrmmm.

Oh well. Now my concern is that the part talking about the PC soon sending me my medical forms isn't checked. I NEED that to be checked because she said I should get it in about 7 days from Monday. So I made my doctors appointments for Weds/Thurs/Fri of next week. The first appointment being 9 days after it could have been mailed. So, are they saying they haven't mailed my medical kit yet? Or maybe it's one of those PC things where they mail it, but really, you don't get the ToolKit check-mark until you pretty much receive it.  Since my doctor appointment on Weds is at 8:30, I really need to receive it by Tuesday. Now, since the Weds appointment is the obgyn, and she only needs to answer a couple questions, I can easily drop it off later if it doesn't come in time. But I really prefer that it would.

Oh Peace Corps, how you run me in circles!

2008/09 Decisions

I have long said that I have a timeline to leave for the Peace Corps by the end of 2008 at least.  I have several reasons for this.

1. Excitement: My excitement for the Peace Corps makes me want to leave as soon as possible. Considering I still do not have a job, it makes me more available to leave whenever. I half hope I get medically cleared and they find a program for me sooner than August. Sometimes that happens. "We have an unexpected opening in a June program for working in ___ in ___ region. Would you be okay with changing your nomination to this or would you like to keep yours?" Heck yeah I'd like to change it! I prefer to leave as soon as I can in 2008, it's much sooner than 2009.
2. Wedding: My sister is getting married next June. June 20th. Since you are not to travel in your 3 months of training and first 3 months of volunteering (6 months total) and June is the 6th month, that means I need to leave in December 2008 or (preferably) earlier. I'm supposed to be the maid of honor, so I can't skip the wedding! (Luckily, when I explained that to my recruiter and that I wasn't trying to be picky, she understood and really helped me find this '08 nomination)
3. Impatient: Basically, I just don't want to wait until 2009.

However, I know that because I'm epileptic, my nomination-invitation is highly likely to change since there are only about a dozen countries out of about 74 that accept epileptics. Of course, they always go case by case and run it by the director who can make the ultimate decision about sending a seizure-beast like me to a non-epileptic country. (as for my seizure-beast status, I haven't had one in 5 years, but that doesn't mean a lot to the pc.) So, nominations can change anyway for anyone, but the fact I'm epileptic means that it's very very likely it will change! 

Knowing the likelihood of that and the fact that, according to my recruiter, most 2008 positions I'm qualified for are full, it has forced me to think about what to do if I am bumped from '08 noms-invites.  I think I've found several options.

1. Take the '09 Invite: Even if it is a 2009 invitation, it is an invitation! That means they want me to represent the Peace Corps in some area of the world. It means I get to learn a language, meet new people, live in another culture, and most importantly, make a difference in someone's life! Despite the wedding, how could I refuse it!?
2. Defer my Application: I have read that you are allowed to defer your PC application for up to 1 year without having to reapply. That means I could defer it until....let's see....at least March/April of '09 and then at that point I'd contact my recruiter, receive a new nomination for sometime in 2009 (hopefully after June! HAH) Problem with this being that it is so long that you never know what will come up and keep you from then joining like you want to.
3. Don't Join: The worst option is to just give up the idea of the Peace Corps. I don't like that option. I really believe this is something I want to and need to do. I have an insane urge to travel, especially to different cultures, and learn all about these cultures. Maybe I should have been a cultural anthropologist. I want to be able to really "BE" with another culture. This is something that I could give so much to someone and really give to the community all the while gaining skills. How could anyone NOT want to do this?!
4. Sweet Talking: (a) sweet talk the peace corps officials into letting me go to the wedding even if I were in the 6 month-no-travel restriction. (b) get injured so they'd medivac me to the states ;) haha jk...(c) try to sweet talk my sister into having a wedding in MY Peace Corps country. Hrm. Anyone think that is likely unless it is the Caribbean or Pacific? Haha.

Basically, option (3) of not joining is not an option, and option (4) of sweet talking is probably not an option. Option (1) of just taking the invite and missing the wedding is still an option, and option (2) of deferring the application if I find out it's a Jan-June '09 invite.  To be honest, I sorta prefer option one. Take it and run with it! But at the same time....how could I ever do that to my little sister, not show up to her wedding when I am supposed to be the brides maid? 

See my major dilemma? That's why I have such a fear of a nomination change.

Stalking the Mailman

My dog and I have taken to stalking the mailman for my Medical Kit. 

Okay, so my dog had stalked the mailman since the beginning of time, and even more once she started standing at the mail slot and would repeatedly get hit in the face with incoming mail. You can't blame her, wouldn't you just be as loud and pissed about the mailman coming every day when it means you get hit in the face? Okay okay, the logical thing would be to not stand under the mail slot, thus avoiding being clobbered by mail...but for a dog, I don't think that registers.

Anyway, I have joined my dog in the stalking of the mailman. Every day around mail time (11-1) we sit on the edge of our seats and every noise coming from the front of the house makes us perk up in hopes its the mail man for her to bark at and for me to get my MedKit from. So far it's a no go. If I'm stalking the mailman now, just imagine how I'll stalk him when I know my invite is on the way!!!  

Ahhhh, at least I have a partner in stalking.

Ideas...2

Someone had found a list of Latin America programs leaving this year. Not so much a list, but gathered information from others who have their invites:

Costa Rica youth development (Feb 08)
Honduras youth devlopment (Feb 08)

Paraguay urban youth development (Feb 08)

El Salvador youth development (Feb/Mar 08)

Guatemala (April 08)
Nicaragua youth development (May 08)
Ecuador youth development (June 08)
Peru youth development (June 08)

So basically my thoughts are that the last 3 countries are for sure canceled out, there isn't enough time between those dates and August.  Guatemala is borderline, and the first 4, while less likely, are still totally possible.

However, I saw someone who has an invited for Belize on August 18, 2008.  Thus, that is my best guess, that it'll be Belize. Otherwise I guess Panama.

However, again, what I am beyond terrified about is that my nomination will change, or my invite will change from my nomination and will only be able to have a 2009 nomination. That scares me because if it's an '09 nomination I can't go to my sister's wedding. I'm debating if I will go if I get an '09 nomination. It is something I have to very much think about.

Ideas...

Another nominee for C/S America in August '08 e-mailed me. I'm excited. I looked at the unofficial list and only 3 for the region leave in august, and they were all business. So I have NO hint at where I could possibly expect! Although, she did mention she was business (I believe) and those Latin America countries leaving in August are Guatamala, Bolivia, and Panama. So maybe those?  I doubt Ecuador or Nicaragua just because I've heard of 2 other invites for those countries in the early summer, so most likely they wouldn't start two new programs so immediately after those.  Most likely I can cancel Ecuador and Nicaragua out *sigh* Also Suriname and Guyana since they don't speak Spanish.  So that's 4 I can most likely cancel out. 

9 other possibilities!

Excitement!

(I just hope my nomination doesn't change again!)

Nomination!!!!!!!

Okay, talk about insanely frayed nerves. Haha. No not because of what the nomination IS, I love the nomination (both of them--haha). Just read on and find out why my nerves are attacking me like its a warzone!

My recruiter, Hazel, called me and said she had two options for me to choose from for my nomination:

• Youth Development, Eastern Europe, March '09
• Community Service, French-speaking Sub-Saharan Africa, July '08

I hands down chose Africa! First, if I chose the Europe one, I wouldn't be able to go to my sister's wedding next June, that ended that right off the bat. But even if it'd been a better date for me, I prefer both Africa and Community over Europe and Youth.  So it was perfect.

Naturally, I got on the Yahoo Peace Corps 2 group and announced it in an insane fury of excitement--there had just been a post started about nominations that were mine. I posted my nomination and then read the others. Just as I vaguely remembered, one girl with a relatively similar nomination had hers changed after a couple weeks because those were already full. I thought oh great, now mine will, even without the epilepsy, but also thought--hers could be an entirely different program, you never know!

No more than 5 minutes after I read that, my phone rang. It was Hazel. She said she had to cancel my nomination because the post she had nominated me for was already closed. I didn't say I already knew this and wasn't surprised, but still was sorta grafghtruahegilahret. Anyway, she gave me 2 more options. One was the same African post leaving in March '09, the other was still that Europe one in March '09. I ehh and ahhhed and hrmmmmed at the options. If I choose one of them, I without a doubt would have to miss my sisters wedding.

I asked if there was anything earlier, at all, leaving before the end of the year. I explained I was happy with both those nominations, and that I wasn't trying to be picky, but that my sisters wedding was in June '09 and I was supposed to be the maid of honor.  If I left then I would miss it because of the 6-month no travel restriction, so I was really hoping to leave by the end of the year. LUCKILY, Thank goodness, Hazel understood and looked again, but said she didn't think there was anything left that I was qualified for. She found one, but it was for environmental engineering--something I am 100% unqualified for. We both agreed. Another I was also unqualified for. 

Then she found something. She said it required a Spanish 2 level, which I have. Then she said it also required at least a year of strong organizational and developmental skills. We both paused. That's where it got tricky, I'm sure if I thought I could eke something out that would most likely be bullshit. Apparently, that's what she was trying to do too, because she wanted me to fit this nomination. She looked at my stuff and says

"Oh! Watermelon Express! This day camp. I see what you did, but can you describe it to me?"
"Well, yeah, I was pretty much the head counselor under the two owners, so I helped them create and organize projects, field trips, schedules in general. Plus, you know, 50+ kids and keeping THEM organized is pretty hard. ....also, I don't know if this will count at all, but I'll throw it out, in college, in most group projects I tended to be the leader. Also, in my history seminars I would have to write a research paper that I had to completely organize, develop, and write on my own. Sometimes halfway through, the paper would completely change directions or you'd have to almost start over. It took a lot of work. Just a thought"
"Well, I think that constitutes strong organizational skills, I'm going to nominate you for this program."

Wow. My nerves were so frayed because I didn't think I was going to be able to find a program that left before the end of this year. I was just about to freak OUT! More than you know. I had expected a call for a nomination change, but GEEZ. Now I'm just terrified I'll get another call! *crazy*

My Official Nomination:

• Youth Development, Spanish-speaking Central/South America, mid-August 2008

Even My Dreams

Oy Vey.

The Peace Corps is even seeping into my dreams! I dreamt that I received my nomination, and it was weird. In my dream I was going crazy waiting for it, and finally it came. Not from a phone call from the recruiter, but someone slipped me a little piece of rolled up paper...and slipped it to me the way you'd imagine a drug deal going down. I think "what's this?" When I open it up it says:

You've have been assigned to agriculture in Shangri-La.

Oh well well now. At first I thought it was pretty cool, then in my dream, I for some reason came to the conclusion that I'd be working at a fish market in Shanghai.  I woke up only to realize how odd this was and that Shangri-La is a myth.

Needless to say, it's Sunday, so I won't be receiving my nomination today, but hopefully tomorrow. Hope you enjoyed my dream!

Toolkit Update

Exciting! I received an e-mail this morning from the Peace Corps notifying me that my ToolKit had been updated. Apparently, at least in my experience, the ToolKit update emails only send during the middle of the night! It was there at 6am when I was stuck awake, but not at 12am. :) I knew they had those forms, but it was still a little scary to not see them checked off. I guess soon I get to see the whole next part of the ToolKit open up when they nominate me and send out my MedKit!

*wonders if I should start making doctors appointments for, not this week, but the middle of next...* I say yes. (luckily my dad's a dentist and I can get in any damn time I want!)

And Its Over!

Thank goodness, the interview is over! There was a little trouble, but that's okay. It was scheduled to be at 10:30, but she never called. I first thought it was the "make them nervous" tactic, you know, call 15 or 20 minutes late, but when 11:30 came around I was just in panic mode! Was I supposed to call her!? Did she forget about me!? How much snow is Chicago getting!? Should I call her!? Finally, I went to print my rough answers out so I could get going with my day, but bring those with me just in case. Sure enough though, as soon as I started printing, she called me with apologies. Another interview had carried over, and she got caught up with doing the work for that person. Oh no worries.

So I think it went well. Naturally, I was much more comfortable with questions about how I would feel about food, gender roles, conforming, spanish knowledge, etc.  When it came to the more traditional questions about leadership and decisions and stuff--holy crap. I'm not big on those questions, and always have a hard time thinking of answers to those questions. But I did my best. Though, some of my answers may not have been the type of answer she was looking for. 

Anyway, it's over. She said she'll be calling me in the next few days with my nomination (or nomination options) So I'm really excited. How great would it be if she called me back today like "Here's your nomination for ____ in ____ leaving in June. Fill out your medical and we'll get your invite right to you when that's finished." HAH! I wish. Hopefully on Monday, Tuesday at the latest. I can't wait to find out where I "may" be going!

Ahhhhh all this talk and interviewing has made me hungry, starving in fact. It's 1:30, time for a late lunch!!!!!

Last Minute Things...

night before my interview, it's 11:30pm, so I have 11 hours left. Granted, a lot of that will be spent sleeping--don't want to be too tired to think straight! I plan on going to bed in a few, but am looking over my sketched out interview question answers.  I'm nervous...but EXCITED! *crosses my fingers it goes well* night!

Preparation!

Well, I'm at Panera, in a nice comfy chair.  There is a man sitting next to me (I was here first) who is in his 70s, reading the paper, but when I came back up to my chair I caught his eye so I smiled. But now he keeps staring at me. 

Since I ate lunch here, I decided to just keep working here since I didn't want to waste time driving over to Starbucks (who I think has much better coffee than here).  Apparently it was quite a feat for me to just get in here since I had to carry my heavy backpack. Normally, that's fine, but Monday I hurt my back working out (lame) and have had various degrees of muscle spasms for 3 days, so despite medicine, a massage, and heat pack, I can't get it to go away. So my back wasn't happy to have to carry that backpack.

Today, my goal is to finish going over answers to potential interview questions. Yes, my interview is tomorrow! At 10:30am, I'm a bit nervous, but mostly excited. She seemed really nice and comfortable to talk to during our first 2 minute long conversation, so that's good.  I hear that the recruiters really want to be able to nominate you, so really unless you fall flat on your face and then some, you should be fine.  

All the questions I have easy answers for are the ones specific to the Peace Corps (ie. about culture, comfort, food, religious preferences, family) and the ones I have no clue about are the standard interview questions I've already encountered.

• Describe a situation where you had to exhibit or use leadership skills.
• Discuss a situation in which you had to make a difficult decision and how people/you felt about it.
• How have you trained or lead people?
• Tell about a time you had to transfer your knowledge/skills to someone different from yourself. What did you learn about your interpersonal skills and the other person?
• Tell about a time when you worked in an unstructured or ambiguous situation. How did you approach the task at hand? What'd you learn about your strengths from that experience?
• What frustrates you and how do you deal with it?

Well, those are big questions! And I hear they want very detailed answers, very specific answers.  And those are the questions I just can't seem to overcome.

INTERVIEW!!!!!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY

HOW AMAZING! Just when I said nothing was happening and I was ancie, hehe, I get a call! It was "unknown number." I instantly thought it was either going to be great news from my recruiter at the PC, or bad news from the oral surgeons office to schedule my wisdoms to get removed. IT WAS MY RECRUITER!

It was just a quick phone call to let me know she has received all my information that she needs right now and that she'd like to schedule an interview. It is this Friday at 10:30 and should be about 40 minutes I think.  And I get to have a phone interview. That means that (1) I don't have to drive 8 miserable hours to Chicago, and (2) I can be in super comfy sweats if I want to be! Yay. Just what I was hoping for!!!

She was older than I thought she'd be, so I wonder if the interview will be one of the more formal ones as opposed to one of those that is like talking to a good friend about what you want to do. 

Well, I better get cracking on my interview questions--that is trying to figure out those things like leadership skills and whatever. EXCITING! Plus she seemed super nice.

*crosses my finger for a nomination*

Timeline Thus Far:

February 28, 2008--Sent Personal Application and Health Review Application in.

March 5, 2008--Two of Three recommendations are submitted.

March 6, 2008--Receive a letter from my recruiter that includes my Toolkit information!

March 7, 2008--Third recommendation submitted.

March 10, 2008--Legal Kit is received in the mail.

March 11, 2008--Go downtown to the Police Station to be fingerprinted.

March 14, 2008--Rush to the post office to send my legal kit back to my recruiter, Hazel, in Chicago.

March 18, 2008--My recruiter at 4:15 to let me know she had received my packet and everything was in order. We set up a phone interview for this Friday, the 21st, at 10:30.

It's been 20 days, just under 3 weeks, and I'm up for my interview! SWEET! Let's keep this ball rolling!

...So Soon?

Contrary to the title, I disappointedly don't mean that I have already had an interview/been medically cleared/invited.  Wouldn't that have been great!?  No, I just got back from a check up from my dad's office (he's a dentist) and he decided that it is time my wisdom teeth come out. Sad! I was rather attached to them, pain and all. Since they are so deep, he's sending me to an oral surgeon--who he says is the best in town and he wouldn't have work done on himself by anyone else. That's good to know. But I was hoping to have more time with my wisdom teeth, I knew I'd have to have them out for the PC, but I was hoping for more time! Note my dreaded anticipation and serious avoidance of acknowledging the fact that they have to come out. Le sigh.

Also, why haven't we gotten any mail in 3-4 days? Not even junk. That scares me since 1/2 of what I look for with the PC may come through the mail! "Dear Mailman, although I love you very much, where the crap is my mail? Love, Jenna"

Getting Ancie!

OY VEY! I sent my legal kit off on Friday. Naturally, I was hoping for a Toolkit update today, but in reality, it probably won't be for a few days, maybe even a week. Yesterday (SUNDAY) I woke up to an email saying my Toolkit had been updated, so excited that "wow! the government organizations really get mail fast! and on a sunday!" ...don't ask... So quickly I log onto the Toolkit, only to find that it was referring to the reference update that it had done much earlier in the week. Way to get hopes up and squashed. Oh well, I shall prevail! But I'm still sitting here practically twitching waiting to hear from my recruiter about the interview.

Speaking of the interview, I'm sorta worried even though I've heard how it can be like a "conversation b/w old friends." Well, in interview situations (or the like) I tend to get really* nervous and really* jumble my words and really* keep talking when I should shut up.  Silly me. I just build so much hype around interviews and meetings that then I get nervous and all twitchy and sweaty (gross huh).  Plus, I'm nervous about the fact that I don't really have leadership experience or leadership in an unstructured setting or know how I deal with confrontations (okay I do but just don't have examples) or make difficult decisions!!!!! How can I answer those questions if I don't have answers? Surely I must, but wtf are they?

Timeline

I know we all say that we will go anywhere, do anything, at anytime.  But I do hope to be somewhat on a timeframe here.  See, my sister is getting married, probably June 20, '09.  As you know, you can't travel during training or the first 3 months, for a grand total of 6 months.  June is the 6th month.  So I'm really hoping I leave December or before so that I am able to travel back for her wedding!!! I hate to leave so early in volunteering, but the fact is, how can I miss my sisters wedding!? And I can't ask her to reschedule just for me. You know? I don't think it's very selfish to want this, but I hope I can relay this to the PC that I want to leave by the end of the year.  Ideally like September or October so I have at least 3-4 extra months under my belt. Of course, you can't officially pick your time, but you can preference the time frame. Anyone have any idea how likely it is I will get nominated and invited for that time frame?  Does anyone know how  filled those programs in that time are?

And We're Off!

I received my IU transcript today! I didn't get it until 3:30 and I was on a big time schedule to get to the doctors office by 4:30.  Naturally, when I rushed to the closest post office I think "phew there are only 2 people in front of me." Bah. Each of them had like 20 envelopes to be mailed off!!!! So I had to wait forever and some. But it's official, my legal packet, skills worksheet, and transcripts are off to the Chicago recruiting office.

As for that doctor's visit, it was for a shot. My two younger sisters (16 & 21) both have had it. The youngest said it hurt a whole lot, like the worst shot.  The other had it yesterday, and absolutely freaked out because she said it hurt so bad. She said it burned her and then her arm was numb-ish and hurt so bad she couldn't even lift it, she accidentally bumped into the wall and yelped out in pain. I don't know what their issue is, but I have concluded they are pansies. It didn't hurt in the very least, not even the needle.  I was trying to see if I missed something, so I even smacked the area with my hand--no pain.

Moral of the story? I'm awesome and my sisters are pansies.

Can't wait to hear from my recruiter, better finish working on devising rough answers for the interview questions.

Nearly There

I should receive my IU transcript in the mail tomorrow, meaning I should be able to send my legal packet off tomorrow! Yay! I still have to finish my skills worksheets, which are pathetic, but I'm trying my best and they should be done tonight.  After I send that off, within a few days I should hear from my recruiter, Hazel, about setting up an interview!

It's really become my opinion that if you sign up for the PC, you'll ultimately get accepted and your invitation unless (a) you drop out of the application process, or (b) you don't medically clear. Thoughts?

Skills? What Skills?

In my packet, there were 3 job area descriptions and a skill worksheet for each. I was hoping the skill worksheets would be more like "have you ever" "list skills that would fit this" ...something? Obviously, they make it as such to really get you to think about who you are and what you have done so that they can best place you.  But this is the thing....I can think of a single skill to put in. "What? Everyone has skills, you just aren't thinking hard enough." Yep, everyone does, and I do too, but since I haven't had hardly any work/volunteer experience, I don't have specific examples.  I know that I am a motivator, sympathetic, an organizer, driven, good with children, blah blah, but I don't have specific examples! The only one thing I could think of to put down would be working at a day camp--but that was for children 4-8 yrs, and the PC seems to request examples for 10-25 yrs.

For Community, they want you to just list everything you've done "Name of Organization/Type of Organization/Dates of Involvement/# of Sessions/Hours per Session/Responsibilities"  That's all they ask for, and well, literally there is nothing there. The only thing like that I've done is Habitat for Humanity, but that was over 5 years ago, so I don't think they want that information.

For Health Extension, they ask for semester units for certain courses or course areas (ie. bio, health, medicine, etc). I at least have biology--even if it was just 1 semester. They they ask for experiences within the last 10 years that deal with health. My question is that I am about to start volunteering for the AIDS Foundation and Red Cross, and will be taking a CPR/First Aid class in April--so can I put that down as "will be"?

Youth Development asks to list a youth organization you've worked/volunteered for with youth b/w 10 and 25. Then it asks multiple questions about the organizations and your duties. I thought for sure I had youth experience, but mine is with kids 4-8. I'm sure I'll put that down since I can't think of anything else, but *sigh*

Who knew skills were so hard to come by!? I'm just lacking because I wanted to concentrate in school!

About the Peace Corps

To me, the Peace Corps is something I've pretty much always known about. Maybe not really strong specifics, but I knew that you went to a developing country for 2 years to volunteer.  That's at least the founding principles.  But it surprises me how many people don't really know anything about the Peace Corps.  I've been getting some questions that just seem so outrageously obvious to me, but it's possible that our generation has grown up hearing more about the Peace Corps and being exposed to more things than previous generations.

The best place for the information is at www.peacecorps.gov though information can certainly be found on various sites and offer different views or condensed information.  But in general, here is the rundown of the more needed information:

Background Info

• more than 190,000 americans have served/volunteered in 139 host countries
• 3 goals are: (1) helping the people of interested countries meet their need for trained men/women, (2) helping promote a better understanding of americans on part of the people served, (3) helping promote a better understanding of other people on the part of americans
• applications are on a rolling basis, and while the application length of time could be as short as 3 months, it is usually more like 6-12 months
• the process is: complete online application/essays/3 recommendations, receive legal kit in mail, interview with recruiter, receive dental/medical kit in mail, wait and wait for it to be cleared, then be invited. Not as easy as sounds.

Where and What?

• regions volunteers go: Caribbean, Central America & Mexico, South America, North Africa & Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe & Central Asia, Asia, & Pacific Islands
  
• you can't choose where you serve, but you can vocalize a preference, but no guarantee, if you want Ecuador, you could be in Peru or even Morocco or Mongolia! Depends where they need you.
  
• volunteers serve 27 months overseas--3 months of training, and 24 months of volunteering
• volunteers are usually in their community alone, but close enough to visit other volunteers on weekends
  
• Volunteer Work Areas: education, health & HIV/AIDS, business, environment, youth, agriculture, youth outreach, community development
  

Etc.

• knowledge of a foreign language isn't required, but certainly helps, and all locations learn a language during training
  
• there is no age limit in the PC, though you must be 18, the oldest volunteer was like 86
  
• volunteers are given an allowance so they can live at the approximate level of the locals; they are also provided medical & dental care, transportation to and from service, approx $6,000 and 18 month of health insurance upon returning to the states
  
• certain medical conditions are accepted, some aren't, the list is here

Fingerprinted!

Well, I just finished getting fingerprinted, and my hands are crazy dry now.  It was semi awkward due to the way they have to roll your fingers, especially the left hand.  (Also, odd because I know my ex had been in that room before getting printed for being absolutely psycho--good thing I'd broken up with him years earlier).  Anyway, it was a simple and easy process; I just hope the fingerprints are clear enough, I've never seen *real* fingerprints like this before. I'm sure they are fine, she said she's done this for years.  The ink is SUPER waxy, but they have some heavy duty insane bar of green soap to scrub it off with, and sure enough, it worked really well!

The lady was extremely nice.  She asked all sorts of questions about the Peace Corps.  It actually surprised me what she didn't know about it! But once she found out, she said she was really proud of what I was doing and that it was very honorable and wished me luck for the rest of the process and what I would encounter abroad.  That really made me happy to know that people support me, even if it is someone I will probably never see again who doesn't know me.  It really sort of boosted my drive and confidence back up. She may have done the work for my fingerprints, but I'm really thankful to her!

• I just ordered my official transcripts from IU offline, they should be here in 3-4 days.  
  
• I have been fingerprinted
  
• I filled out my Romantic Involvement worksheet
• Put a sticky not on the Vegetarian worksheet saying I'm actually not a Veggi
• Filled out my background check form
• Am completely and utterly stumped at to what skills I may have in order to fill out the 3 skill worksheets.

At least the waiting for my transcripts will give me time to think about my skills...*stumped*

Mail Call!

I received a packet in the mail from Peace Corps today! I was sitting on the couch and heard a slight thump, and just knew that's what it was...then I heard my sister's dog start to chew something up and sure enough she was trying to eat the corner of my packet. Typical. Anyway, this is what it included:

• Letter from my recruiter describing what the packet was and what needed to be done
• 3 assignment sheets detailing what they think they may place me in: community services, health extension, and youth development
• 3 skill work sheets, one for each area of assignment sheets they sent
• Applicant checklist...highlighed the reference part, though I don't know why because all 3 are submitted
• Romantic Involvement and Vegetarian Worksheet (not a vegetarian though)
• Privacy Act Statement w/ background check questionaire
• 2 Fingerprint forms
• PC Drug/Alcohol Policies info sheet

As for the assignment sheets, I was ever so slightly disappointed, I was hoping for one to be education.  However, there may be a reason for that, I don't have an education degree, but it is possible that with this TEFL certificate this could change.  Right now, I think I prefer Health Extension; when I read about Youth Development it surprisingly didn't interest me as much as I thought it would.

As for the skills worksheet--well crap, I dunno what I'm going to put in those! I don't have hardly any volunteer or practical experience in anything! I guess I'll be able to put down the TEFL and First Aid thing tho

The Romantic Involvement worksheet, I knew it was coming, not a surprise, and it looks fairly straight forward.  However, I have no earthly idea why I have a vegetarian sheet, I LOVE MEAT! the sheet says I indicated I was a vegetarian in my application, although I just went entirely through my application and couldn't find that question anywhere, so maybe it's just a formality.

Tomorrow I'll go to the police station to get printed.  PC needs my college transcripts, it will be quicker for me just to drive to Btown and get them, although I can just as easily have them sent here.  I don't know if they need my "transcripts" from my schooling last fall in China, if they do, those would be in China, and I don't even have a certificate from that, they never gave me mine when I left!

I'm supposed to get this all back to them by March 27th, which shouldn't be hard at all. I'll have to call the recruiter about those China transcripts, veggi worksheet, and asking about education possibilities.

Post Hope

The more I look at this TEFL course, the more I think I want to be places as an English teacher.  Last fall, I spent 6 weeks in Beijing learning Chinese.  My class had 9 people in it, which was considered large, but 4 of us girls got really close.  We always wondered to each other "why are we singing songs about a one eyed tiger with no tail? why are we playing this butterfly fly game?"

Seriously, we played this game called "butterfly fly" I think it had something to do with counting, I forget, and whoever was singing the phrase would have to "fly" (aka flap their arms) and the people next to them did the same with their closest arm. We seriously thought she was crazy for making us do this.

But now I see that they actually teach you to do stuff like this! Now,  I'm sorta giggling over it and loving it! I think I'm going to relearn the butterfly fly game and take it to the PC with me, as well as write out a bunch of little kid songs and make copies, and download it to my ipod so they can hear--and make them sing, just like I had too!

Wow, the world really does go 'round

Stressing!

Is it natural for PC applicants to have massive moments of stress and doubt about the PC? I haven't vocalized any to my family/friends...But like "oh SHIT. can I actually do this?" I'm sure it's a hiccup everyone goes though, but naturally it freaks me out!

Yet, even freaked out I can't wait for the next step

Medical Worries

Well, I haven't even been interviewed, but I'm already thinking about the medical packet! I've read all about the holds and mass amount of doctor visits, sometimes follow-ups, the sometimes difficult-to-find polio vaccination, things found that people didn't even know about, needed surgeries or yanking of wisdom teeth (luckily my dad's a dentist!), missing blood tests, yada yada.

Dental wise, I'm fine, anything would be minor and that would just be wisdom teeth. My dad's a dentist so most likely I could get in whatever day I wanted.  The office girls like me and could squeeze me in ;)

Optometrist is fine--they usually have spots open in the afternoon, besides I already have 2 pairs of glasses (I just need to update the prescriptions, been meaning to for a month), and I just had an appointment a month ago, so I doubt nothing new would come up.

Gynecologist--piece of cake.

Neurologist--piece of cake, maybe a little time on the forms, but whatever. I don't think I'll have a hold either because it's been 5 years since a seizure.

Pulminologist--easy, I love that guy and I wish he were a general doctor, he'll get it out asap, and he LOVES traveling abroad so I know he'll complete it correctly and do his best to do so in my favor--everything I saw him for last summer was finally, after 4 months, chalked up to my tonsils that have since been removed, and everything has been a-okay ever since! Not even any more inhalers for the "so-called-asthma" (I knew it wasn't!) Can I marry Dr. Chavez!? Haha

General Doctor--Fear strikes my heart.  First, it is really hard to get into his office, even when I had a minor emergency, they tried to put me off a few days until I yelled at them.  He also is weird. I can see him not caring about the appointment and delaying on the blood tests. Tho I did just think of something. I have a history of the most RANDOM medical problems popping up at the most unwanted times, and that is scaring the shit out of me. Making me want to eat perfect, exercise, and take vitamins right now. However, I just realized, that usually he doesn't believe me, one time he even said "bad luck"...so...that could play in my favor in this sense...right? right?  It'll just be a problem getting the forms filled out....

Role Ideas....

Well, everyone, Sunday it was a nice warm 73 degrees with an ever so slight breeze. I was in a tshirt and sandals.....today it is 30 degrees and snowing (we are supposed to get a half foot by tomorrow). I am wearing sweatpants, long sleeve shirt, and a coat--a coat inside.

Anyway, the 4 things I would most like to do if I am accepted to Peace Corps would be one of the following:

• TEFL Education--Teach conversational English, English as a foreign language, or content-based English in middle and high schools.
• Youth Outreach--Volunteers work with at-risk youth ages 10 to 25, helping communities develop programs to assist young people
• Health Education--Volunteers teach public health in classrooms and model methodologies and subjects for primary and secondary school teachers.
• HIV/AIDS--HIV/AIDS Volunteers provide hope and meaningful assistance to people affected by HIV/AIDS.

The nice thing about TEFL and Health is that I can take it upon myself to create some type of youth program, so technically, I can still do that as a side thing (that fucker outside just parked way too close to my car--I'm at Starbucks). Though I'm not sure how much I have going for any of those. I'm a history major! Though I am signed up for the CPR/First Aid/Bloodborn Pathogens class at the Red Cross and plan on volunteering at either the Red Cross or AIDS Foundation when I finish that, and am currently taking an online TEFL certificate course. I tried to look for somewhere to volunteer with youth or tutoring, but all the places require a one year commitment which I'm not certain I can give--I hope to keep this ball rolling and leave this fall or winter--I know it's a long shot.

Anyway, I was thinking about what I would take with me to help with those positions:

• colored pencils and crayons
• On Writing Well and Elements of Style, two grammar books
• some type of flash cards or signs about words, health, etc
• possibly a "student" health kit--one that can be used to show things
• world map, country map
• baby doll for playing booboo with? haha

I dunno, when I was thinking about it, it definitely seemed like more, but I guess this early in the process those ideas are pretty good. I'm sure I'll have more once I get invited and have a real assignment :-D Hah, I haven't even interviewed.

Toolkit!

I received a letter in the mail today that gave my my username and password for my ToolKit!
How exciting! It makes me feel a little more official and like now I'm *really* in their system.
Good feeling! I can't wait for the next thing to come!

Gearing Up

While I'm in relative Peace Corps limbo, I've been trying to keep busy through things that will help me in the Peace Corps or that I need to prepare. I want to try to do things to show them that I am ready for and want to do what I want to do in the PC: health, education, or youth.

Today I signed up at the Red Cross for a class. I initially wanted to take the CPR/First Aid class on March 15th, but it was full, and since I don't IMMEADIATELY need it, I didn't press on the issue. I found out that another class I had thought about was still open, so I signed up for that, even tho it's a 2 day class instead of 1. Adult, Infant, & Child CPR/AED, First Aid, and Blood Born Pathogens. This is April 23 from 8am-5pm, and April 24 from 8am-12pm. This is the best choice in my opinion, better than what I previously wanted which did not include the BBP's. I choose the other one because it was 1 days and the soonest. However, that's okay, because I will have plenty of time in waiting, and it's only a month and a half away. Good deal.

Next, I signed up for a TEFL online certificate course, that should be followed by another class specifically gearing that knowledge towards teaching youth. That will be really good towards any education work I may be involved in during the Peace Corps. Don't you love how I talk about it as if I'm already invited? Aye. All I do anymore is think about the Peace Corps and can't wait to get back to my computer to blog or check on statuses or search the message boards it seems like. So I got my first lesson in e-mail today, I am going to start that in 5 minutes.

Also, I have looked over the interview questions that people have offered up as examples from their own interviews. I've been trying to prepare answers to some of the questions that are always the hardest, Describe a time you had a leadership position, Describe a time when you had to make a difficult decision and how you and others dealt with it. Well hell, aw I don't know those answers!!!

Personal Essays

I'm happy to quickly report that all is well on the recommendation front. Everything was figured out, and 2/3 recommendations have been submitted. My 3rd recommendor has an above and beyond reason to be taking a while though. Totally okay with that!

When applying to the Peace Corps, at the very end you are smacked with "Please write 2 personal essays and upload them with your current resume." That's when you are all "well shit." I mean, who likes writing that kind of essay? I like writing, but not that kind, where I have to prove myself.  Anyway, I did it, I'm not sure how they are, but I liked them when I finished and submitted them.

Cultural Experience: Peace Corps Volunteers must be open to ideas and cultures different from their own and may need to modify their appearance or behavior appropriately.  Give an example of a significant experience that illustrates your ability to adapt in an unfamiliar environment.  Please highlight the skills you used and the perspectives you gained.  You may draw from experiences in your work, school, or community in the US or abroad.

At 9pm on October 14, 2007, I arrived at the Beijing, China airport. There I was, a girl knowing next to no Chinese stuck in an airport without any money. My ride finally arrived; she was beginning to learn English, and tried with all her might to tell me about the school, where I’d be living, and her background.

Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at the dormitory I would be staying at that required a 100-kuai deposit. I had no RMB with me since it had been too late to get it at the airport. I was told that I could stay there that night, but would have to find money in the morning to pay the man in order to get my key. After unpacking a few things, I went to bed early that night. The next morning, I woke up to a sudden, stark realization: I was in Beijing, yes, but where in Beijing was I. It was dark when I arrived the night before, I had been tired, and if the girl had told me where I was and where in relation to school it was, I had no memory of it (nevertheless any geographic idea).

Over a month later, I found myself in a taxi speaking to the driver on my way home—by now I considered Beijing home, and my hometown “back in Indiana.” With the rush hour traffic, we had an hour to talk and we spoke about school, shopping, families, and our countries. We started in Chinese, but at one point he began inserting English phrases to which I continued to respond to in Chinese. When we came to a word that we didn’t know, the driver and I would try to describe it in both languages until the other understood. In Beijing, it was said that if you could talk to a taxi driver, you knew you were truly making progress.

I began my six weeks in Beijing poor, lost, and unable to communicate. I ended my six weeks in Beijing knowing I had progressed to a level that allowed me to be confident in communicating with the locals. Six weeks in another country showed me that I had the ability to communicate in another language and in a culture with norms and values different from my own. I gained the ability to live and navigate in a foreign city. Living in Beijing for six short weeks proved to myself that I am a citizen, not only of the United States, but also a citizen of the world.

Motivation: Peace Corps service presents major physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges. You have provided information on how you qualify for Peace Corps service elsewhere in the application. In the space below, please provide a statement that includes: 1) Your reasons for wanting to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer; and
2) How these reasons are related to your past experiences and life goals.

I can tell you right now that I am not one who has a long record of work and volunteering experience. I come from a family where I was sheltered; I did not need to work, and never had to worry about my future. But with these privileges came an intense wonder of what else was out there. College was the first place I was truly exposed to a multicultural environment and able to venture into the world.

I studied Chinese History and International Studies in an attempt to find out more about the world, and in particular, East Asia. Through classes, I was able to travel abroad to learn about education and business systems of East Asia. Finally, I was able to scratch the surface of other cultures, but it did not stop there, it only created a travel bug and even more desire to spend time abroad. After graduation, I did just that: spent 6-weeks studying Chinese in Beijing, China.

Each time I traveled, I learned a little more about the peoples and cultures of the countries. Each time I traveled, I traveled for myself. My experiences in Asia were amazing, but each time I was undeniably separated from the local population. I was the foreigner, the student, the tourist, and the consumer. As satisfied as I was with my experiences, I left with the need to get to know people on a more personal level and become part of the wheels of the community. All my life, I was most interested in learning about anything around the world that was different and rich with character. Now, I want to give myself back to that world and make a difference no matter where, no matter how big or small.

The cultures of the world fascinate me, and I have only seen the beginning of what is out there. My career goal is to go back to school before entering the international study career field. I love the world I have discovered, and in the future, hope to bring that experience to students who have the same urge to see the world. The Peace Corps will bring me even more knowledge and experience of the world that I can pass to those students. I may not have a lot of volunteer experience, but I have all the heart and drive in the world to discover another culture while giving everything I can to the community. All that I have not done in the past gives me even more reason and desire to give and learn now.

So that's what I wrote. I hope it did me some good! I think I was thinking about these essays too much, putting too much emphasis on them, yada yada. I just hope they were okay.

Befuddled...

Well, I sent the people an e-mail yesterday as a polite "hint hint" to tell them to get on the ball and start writing. I checked, and everyone has since started.  But then I received an e-mail from my professor who is replacing my volunteer supervisor recommendation.  She said she tried to do the recommendation 2 different offered ways but kept getting stuck. So I called, and asked, but it seems to me that unless something is wrong with the site on her end, there should be no problem. I e-mailed her back the info the girl on the other end had relayed to me, so I hope there shouldn't be a problem from there on out.  

I thought for a second that maybe...the person I am having write my employer recommendation may have accidentally chosen "teacher" on the form instead of "employer" which could that possibly cancel out my professors option to choose teacher? I don't know. It could be possible because she was a former teacher/tutor, but when I spoke with her, I told he I wanted her to write a recommendation about my employment with her. So I hope that didn't happen.

Geez, get one thing going and encounter all the new problems. :(

Where Are My Recommendations?

How much time would you typically give someone to write your recommendations? The Peace Corps requires 3, of course, and I notified them and sent the online e-mail exactly a week ago. Only one person has started, but she had a very good reason for not having finished yet.  However, the other two haven't even started or even emailed me back saying they got the information and will do it soon. 

Today, I sent out an e-mail reminding them of the recommendations, the process, and that I was looking forward to seeing the recommendations go through soon. No one responded! No one sent me an e-mail like "I'll get to it asap" or "thanks for the reminder," and I looked online, and no one started or finished them. I'm really getting sort of aggravated, because I took a lot of time on my application, choose them very specifically, and so far I haven't gotten anything back! The Peace Corps application process is already such a long, drawn out process that I don't want these recommendations to slow me down at all. 

Argh! Maybe I'm just expecting them too soon? Maybe it's not really slowing anything down? I just want them to do the recommendations so it's over with and I can look for the next step!! Aggravating.

If....

Today, I woke up immediately having a lot of "what if" and "what would" questions. Nothing bad, just typical questions you'd have in this situation.

What if...

...I get accepted?

...I don't get accepted?

...I cannot get medically cleared?

...my recommendors don't hurry up?

...I do poorly on the interview?

...I forgot about something in my application?

What would...

...I do with my cat?

...I miss the most?

...I be eating?

...I be speaking?

...I do when I got back?

...happen while I was gone?

...I do if someone lost my cat!?

Oh Bother

It seems like all I can think about since a few days before applying to the Peace Corps is the Peace Corps. First I kept thinking "should I really do it!?" and then I applied, late one night, and woke up the next morning thinking "shoot, I hope it wasn't a late night fling that I regret later today" (luckily it wasn't).  Now it's the application process I can't stop thinking about. Is my application really submitted? When will I get a letter? When will the interview be? How fast can I get through this long process? Why haven't people finished my recommendations!? Also, when I'm not thinking questions like that, I'm constantly thinking: do I have enough volunteer experience? Can I get more quick enough? Will they want to nominate and then invite me? If I get invited, I wonder where they will send me. What will I be doing? What language(s) will I learn? What will I be eating? Will I have to dress differently? What will I have to pack? What will I forget to pack? Where is the nearest REI? Will I be able to make it in a different country? My sisters wedding!? What will I miss the most? Who will send me mail?

Thinking nonstop!

Helpful PC Book!

Through reading PCV (peace corps volunteer) blog, Following My Heart, I found out about a book that answers many questions that anyone thinking about the Peace Corps would naturally have.  Immeadiately interested, I went and searched my local Barnes and Borders. Neither had it. So I ordered it off Amazon--your best bet. I got it the next day.

So You Want To Join The Peace Corps

It answers questions ranging from application processes, medical kit issues, what happens if you get pregnant, packing, malaria, early termination, staging, training, housing, water and electricity, bikes, etc.  Definitely a good read for all you applying or thinking about applying--even for those who are lucky enough to have already gotten the invite!

Greetings!

I have found so many Peace Corps blogs online, and nearly all I have found were on blogspot.  Now, I have my own website, but for some reason, blogspot being so popular with the PC, I couldn't help but get my own! Hah! I've only just started my application process for the Peace Corps, but I wanted to make sure to document it for me and everyone else who is thinking about the Peace Corps or beginning the process. I know lots of blogs certainly answered my questions and gave me ideas.  

I was first introduced to Peace Corps in high school, Mr. Seigert had one of the lower school teachers come talk to us about it during Sociology--she had been a PCV in Thailand, I can't remember what she did there.  I thought it was really freaking cool, but also thought it sounded so hippie and like so much work (don't those two contrast?) Oh well, a handful of years later as college was coming to a close, I started thinking about options after graduation.  Work abroad? Peace Corps? Grad school? Job? Teach for America?  I did apply for TA, but without enough experience, I got rejected (how lame!).  The same time I was applying for TA, I tossed around the idea of Peace Corps. I was then (and still am) an international/travel fanatic and wanted to do things for* people.  At the time I dismissed the idea thinking it might be too much for me, besides, I had a long term boyfriend.

Yet, over the next 2 years, it was always in my mind, and every time I'd think of it, a new idea or question about the Peace Corps would come to mind. I found myself asking:

Why have I been holding back? Well, I'm doubting myself, and a boy. I love the boy, but that reason is stupid, I can't live for another person. But as for doubting myself, why am I doubting!? I love travel and learning about cultures, I would love to teach or work with youth, even volunteer in health in the Peace Corps. I don't have much work or volunteer experience, but that's something to easily change.

As soon as I got over the "boy" reason, I was able to do more with my life. For example, I spent over a month studying in China last fall. I'd always wanted to study abroad, but always held back because of him. I finally told myself that it was something we could both figure out how to deal with, and we both did. I loved China.  Still, it took me a long time to come to the realization that, yes, I wanted to apply to the Peace Corps, and if lucky enough, be accepted and join. 

Only recently did I figure this out, but now it seems clear that it was always the answer, I was just scared.  And not even scared of something of substance....like getting malaria....or being mauled by a lion! Hah! Silly fears: me and my boy. Bleh. I got over it.

This is my timeline thus far:

• February 26th, 2008: complete the Volunteer Application & Health Status Review Application.
• February 27th, 2008: notified 3 people that I was hoping they could provide the required recommendations for me. Later in the day, when I heard back, I then added them to the recommendation list.
• February 28th, 2008: receive an e-mail thanking me for my application, in the next 2 weeks I should be notified of an interview, and should be receiving a letter in the mail about the online Toolkit.

What I am in the process of doing:

• submitting an application to the local Red Cross for a March 15th class to certify me for "Adult, Infant, and Child CPR/AED and First Aid
• find out how to volunteer at the Red Cross or the AIDS Resource Group
• signing up for an online class for TEFL + Young Learners through ITTT
• looking for a good Youth Organization to volunteer for (many require at least a years commitment, which I unfortunately cannot make since I'm not sure about the PC timeline)
• tomorrow will harass all 3 recommendors to SUBMIT MY RECOMMENDATION! :)

Well, I'm waiting, anxiously. I guess I could start to prepare some answers to interview questions. I have found some sample questions online from people who have completed their interviews.  I'm hoping for something soon!