Support!

Today is a big day for the PC.....important! Even if you don't know why, keep for fingers crossed and keep hope, today is a big day!

I'll be thinking happy thought and sending good vibes out all day!

Do the same!

Excitement!

Brittany just got her invitation today! Well, of course she's still waiting for the packet to come in the mail, but her PO emailed her she was invited!!! I'm so excited, so you can just vaguely imagine the excitement she's feeling!

The funny thing is that a few days ago, I said "Brittany, the reason the reason you haven't gotten it yet is because your PO is planning to invite you the day I get my letter!"

Today, I got my letter.

Today, Brittany got invited.

Awesome!

Goals

So right now, I'm planning to reapply in August. Looking at everything right now, IF they let me get a nomination, I don't plan on it being until next summer or later (tho my availability date will be 1-10-09). In the mean time, I will either (a) stay here for an extra amount of time, or (b) apply to one of 2 programs to work with youth/orphanages/tefl in Africa for several months during the application process. I hope PC works out, otherwise, I dunno where I am? Maybe here longer.

Doing what I can to get more & more experience. Obviously, I'm here so that's big experience. Might get 2 more small TEFL certificates (Youth & Business) using the same company I did last time. Starting Tuesday, I'll be volunteering with an organization who helps sick children. Looking for other things too. Maybe 1st Aid/CPR?

PC PSA

Sara posted a Peace Corps public service announcement on her blog, and it made me remember a coulple of the ones that I particularly like. And also, just because I like to copy her I thought I'd show them!

Support

Cool Barak Support the PC vid someone made

Woa--Flashback!

I was going through my old application tonight (did you know you could still access it as long as it is still active? yep!) And there was one thing that definitely struck me as a "what on earth was I thinking" moment! Haha! No no no, I didn't lie, cheat, or elaborate. Absolutely not! It was about my preferences! Haha!

Under Job Preferences, I cited in order: Education, Health, & Business.

Now, Education and Health I've always been interested in, but...BUSINESS!? Please understand that business is the bane of my existance, so why on earth would I have marked that!? Who knows! That just seems like insanity to me. 

If I had to do it again, I'd mark, in order: Education, Community (which Youth falls under), & Health.

Neat Stamp

Found this neat stamp online--pretty cool, eh?

Peace Corps = Important = HELP!

I came across this article by a FSU professor. I thought at first I'd skim it quickly over, but found myself reading it--very captivated. He talks about the importance for Peace Corps, the number of volunteers, and how many countries desperately need more volunteers--or just flat out need volunteers.

Rebuilding the Peace Corps

Enjoy it! Makes a lot of good points!

Budget Sponsors!

Check that out! My Twitterific popped up with this Tweet at the top! How cool! 

Considering I'm out of country and uber busy, I haven't had a chance to write my congressman, but I plan to on Sunday night--the second I get off work!

If you haven't done so, or have not heard, please write your congressman/woman asking him or her to suppose the Budget Increase bill. 

To see how, please read the blog entry, directly below this

Budget Help?

Supposedly there has been a bill submitted to congress for consideration that will increase the budget and size of the Peace Corps over the next 3 fiscal years.

Hrmmmm very interesting! Go Obama! Of course, Congress still has to hack it apart part :-/ Hopefully not to death. Hopefully it gets at least some sort of increase.

I'll get back to you later with the link, yah

UPDATE: I was send an email by Rajeev Goyal with MorePeaceCorps. It addressed this very bill that I spoke of. You can find the bill at The Library of Congress

Futhermore, his e-mail (I cam crediting Rajeev Goyal and M.P.C. with it, I am simply pasting it in here) said this:

On February 13, 2009, RPCV Congressman Sam Farr (CA-D) introduced the Peace Corps Expansion Act 2009 (House Bill 1066) in the House of Representatives, with 40 co-sponsors. The ambition of the bill and the number of co-sponsors sent a shock wave through Congress. *We have to rally to support HR 1066.* Click here to read the full text.

The Act, which cites growing numbers of applications to Peace Corps, calls for $450 million in FY 2010 to support and expand the Peace Corps. This is a $120 million increase over the FY 2009 budget, followed by $600 million for FY 2011, and $750 million in FY 2012.

To ensure that this legislation is passed, each of us must 1) support Congressman Farr’s initiative and 2) reach out to our members of Congress to grow the number of co-sponsors. Members of Congress should get in touch with RPCV staffer Marc Hanson (marc.hanson@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Farr’s office to have their names added.
Here's what you can do to take action: Check and see if your Congressman/woman is already a co-sponsor. It your Member is already a co-sponsor, send a supportive message by calling the toll-free number for the Capitol switchboard (877 851-6437) and asking to be connected to your representative's office. Leave this message:

For Members who are already co-sponsors.

"I believe the Peace Corps is underfunded at a time when demand for service has never been higher. Thank you for becoming a co-sponsor of House Bill 1066, the Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2009. I hope that you will reach out to other Members and invite them to co-sponsor this important bill.

If your Member is not yet a co-sponsor, use the same toll free number asking to be connected to your representative’s office. Leave this message:

For Members who are not yet co-sponsors.

"I believe the Peace Corps is underfunded at a time when demand for service has never been higher. Please consider becoming a co-sponsor of House Bill 1066, the Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2009. Contact Congressman Farr to become a co-sponsor and support the Campaign to increase the size of the Peace Corps.”

Please note this is a House action only!

For more information, call Rajeev Goyal – 917-438-4626 or email him at rgoyal@mrss.com.

And don't forget, look up the bill! Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2009

Heh!

Totally swiped from a PCV's blog, but it was just TOO CUTE!!! The PCV is in Ethiopia so it especially....fit for her.  But really, how funny/cute is this cartoon?

Its A Shame

The Peace Corps is a great organization, truly. I'm convinced of that and my mind won't change. The 3 goals are:

Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

When it gets down to the "nitty gritty" it is about helping people. The volunteers work their hardest to learn about the people and their culture, language, and all else....with that knowledge, they then work as hard as they can to work FOR the people, make sustainable changes/projects, and possibly, most importantly, get to know the people and become friends/family. As important as the work is, the relationships made are just as important--you will remember them, and they will remember you, possibly more than the work. Even if they can't remember what exactly the project what that allowed their community to gain running water, they will remember the face of the person they came to love. And that goes for the volunteer too.

That said, I know the Peace Corps doesn't really have a choice in some things going on right now. Budget Cuts are out of their control, and they have to find a way to do their best during the time, find ways to make the Peace Corps succeed in its best possible way. And I commend their efforts. I don't blame them by any means, I know they want to see people serve, make a difference....get us through the application process.

It is just sad that they have to turn people away or ask them to reapply due to various factors (reactivating, not qualified enough--which often just months ago would have been qualified, or other unknown reasons). While I know they'd love to see these people through, they just don't have a choice. But its sad that people committed to helping, learning, and working as hard as they can in an entirely new place are being turned away. I'm sure the PC realizes that too.

People everywhere are scrambling to get more experience, or even get more experience while reapplying, just to ensure that they will be qualified enough to receive an invitation--they hope.

We all hope the situation improves, and I'm sure it will, we all just wonder when!

That said, any recruiters, APOs, POs reading this and want to help me out trying to figure out when I'm allowed to reapply? I'm just dying to, but was told I have to wait a year. *sigh* Frustrating, but hey, more experience right? That's the positive thing, more experience.

P.S. I was so proud to see the PC in the inauguration parade--really so amazing

Holy Crap Peru 12!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Peru 12, I just want to fly down to Peru and thank you for making my day! Hahaha! I can't even explain how much I laughed to this, SO freaking hilarious!

Peace Corps Inauguration Parade

Jon tipped me off to this article about the Peace Corps marching in the Inauguration Parade...words can't do the article justice, so just please read it! Amazing.

Kennedy's Kids Then, Obama's Kids Now

Peace Corps Inauguration Parade Pictures

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all! I hope you have a wonderful Christmas, happy new years, and that your invite comes today!

(P.S. I thought I shoudl tell you all this group is called "Straight No Chaser" and is from my alma mater Indiana University!)

PC Push

Jon showed me this link about pushing to better the PC and increase funding/vols/locations....very interesting. Initially came from change.gov

Bumpity Bump

Hit a little bump in the road, but hey, you know what? That's life. The bump came, and I'm going to do everything in my power to smooth that bump out and work around it. Just nice and easy. Luckily, I have support every direction I look, except that bump of course. The support is great, and I appreciate it, lets me know that I'll be able to get over or around this bump. I'm stressed, off the charts really. But in the end, it will have been just a little bump in the road. I can see past that bump, now I just have to figure out how to get around it.

Update: still very stressed out by this. can't really figure any of it out tho I'm trying like hell

Getting Close

Nearing the end of November, I'm starting to really actively thing about reactivating my application. I just can't decide on the right time. If I could do it now, I would in a heartbeat, but the nominations for when I can leave aren't open yet. I was suggested to reactivate in March, but I would *love* to do it in January, the first week of January, before I leave.

In the mean time, I think I am going to send my recruiter an updated resume and update on a couple volunteer things I've done, as well as a brief statement about be overflowing excitement and barely contained patience to reactivate my application! I'll do that tomorrow I think, I don't like e-mailing at night when I'm on the verge of getting tired and could potentially get wordy or miswrite stuff or not check my grammar/spelling. 

But that is a start, that email I'm sending will be a start to let her know I'm very excitedly on my way to reactivating my application!

Update: aaaaap I did it I did it! I got it proofread by awesome Sara before I sent it, and Sara and Brittany both helped with resume updates. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so nervously excited!!!

Update: immediate out of office reply! my recruiter is out of office until December 1st...only a week, but noooooooo! I was hoping for a quick, positive reply. That's okay though, I will wait it out. Its a week, I'm patient, I can do it.

Life is Calling

I totally think they should contact Peace Corps about them using this video for an ad--listen to the lyrics. Not only do they have great voices, but the lyrics match....amazing

Tell Barack