I've been invited for MOROCCO! Woo. Leaving March of 2012, matter of fact.
As I'm sitting in my brother's apartment during Parents' Weekend, I think fondly of this same event a year ago. One year ago, I was on campus listening to a lecture from a Foreign Service/diplomat kind of guy. He'd spent years living and traveling around the world as a representative of the U.S., learning a few parts of many different languages-- his wife was the one with the knack, so to speak. He answered questions about how one route that will definitely get you started in the right directions is joining the Peace Corps. As I listened to the way his life had manifested and developed over the years, I found myself daydreaming of the possibilities.
What could the Peace Corps mean for me?
And then I took that question and threw it out, because no matter where I go or how or when I travel, I will always learn something. I can always benefit from the experience of meeting new people, because that is just who I am. I travel, and I meet people. And my name is Sam. It all fits together...
What it really means for me is that, in all likelihood, I will be the only American the people within my village have ever met-- with the possible exception of previous Peace Corps Volunteers. It's terrifying and exciting and frightening and wonderful all at once. How strong of an influence will this experience have on me? Will I have on them?
Am I going to be just another American traveling through, or will I be able to establish healthy habits and practices and maybe learn how to cook using a Tagine? (http://www.katherinemartinelli.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/tagine.jpg)
I'm not really worried about my safety-- more for my sanity, at staying in one place for so long..
I don't know how I feel about the whole thing at the moment. I know that I would have felt much more comfortable in Jordan because I know the dialect a little and have friends in the area, but--to quote the masterful hokey pokey-- that's what it's all about!!
Onward to Morocco, 6 months countdown.
On a side note: I've stopped reading books and started reading Peace Corps blogs. Yay.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Waiting (6/7 months to go)
Ah, yes. The infamous in-between time. The time when you've been nominated, are frantically scrambling to get any possible information about your medical help together, and almost forget a minor linchpin of the Peace Corps application:
What have you been doing since you've been nominated that should make us vote for you? I mean, invite you..
It is a critical period in the whole process, because prior to the nomination a large segment of the applicant population is finishing up university. What makes you, who has now graduated, a relevant applicant? What have you done that makes you a competitive character? Or, another way--what consideration should we give to you, a highly experienced/well-educated post-college person? What have you done to make you Worthwhile?
For some, it could be a few months. For me, it was almost a year from nomination to invitation. At my primary interview, they asked me what I predicted would go on over the following year. I told them, I probably will be attempting to get a job, move into a new community, volunteer some, and if education (it was either education or business) was the option, I'd go get an English Teaching license.
They said, good. Go do that. So I did, more or less...
At the moment, I'm back home after a year away teaching in an after-school program for children of low-income families.
Now, I'm about to start volunteering at the African Community Center that welcomes in new immigrants and settles them in/explains this INSANE culture; Nannying, that will turn into substitute teaching for middle/high school students in a week; practicing at an Arabic Language meetup group weekly; taking Capoeira twice a week; doing Yoga as often as possible--and maybe, when I have the time, salsa dancing.
Because I have these 6/7 months of free time, I decided to take up a few areas of study that have always interested me but I've never had the opportunity. Those are: American Sign Language (ASL) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Between the two of them, I'm being driven into the ground--but every day is exciting, and I definitely enjoy the study.
The schedule doesn't leave much room for error, but I'm the kind of person that has to keep busy. Every so often there's a bit of down time, and that's enough for me.
P.S. 5 DAYS!
And, for a feel good moment:
What have you been doing since you've been nominated that should make us vote for you? I mean, invite you..
It is a critical period in the whole process, because prior to the nomination a large segment of the applicant population is finishing up university. What makes you, who has now graduated, a relevant applicant? What have you done that makes you a competitive character? Or, another way--what consideration should we give to you, a highly experienced/well-educated post-college person? What have you done to make you Worthwhile?
For some, it could be a few months. For me, it was almost a year from nomination to invitation. At my primary interview, they asked me what I predicted would go on over the following year. I told them, I probably will be attempting to get a job, move into a new community, volunteer some, and if education (it was either education or business) was the option, I'd go get an English Teaching license.
They said, good. Go do that. So I did, more or less...
At the moment, I'm back home after a year away teaching in an after-school program for children of low-income families.
Now, I'm about to start volunteering at the African Community Center that welcomes in new immigrants and settles them in/explains this INSANE culture; Nannying, that will turn into substitute teaching for middle/high school students in a week; practicing at an Arabic Language meetup group weekly; taking Capoeira twice a week; doing Yoga as often as possible--and maybe, when I have the time, salsa dancing.
Because I have these 6/7 months of free time, I decided to take up a few areas of study that have always interested me but I've never had the opportunity. Those are: American Sign Language (ASL) and Emergency Medical Services (EMS). Between the two of them, I'm being driven into the ground--but every day is exciting, and I definitely enjoy the study.
The schedule doesn't leave much room for error, but I'm the kind of person that has to keep busy. Every so often there's a bit of down time, and that's enough for me.
P.S. 5 DAYS!
And, for a feel good moment:
Sunday, September 18, 2011
First entry
The Sam-tastic Voyage
Star Date 4635 (September 15, 2011)
Captain’s Log:
Hooray! I finally got accepted into the Peace Corps! It’s been a very long process; I started my application last summer! However, I even got my dream assignment: English Education/ Youth Development in the Middle East! I will be leaving in March 2012, which is about 6 months away. Although, it’s never too soon to start a blog! Especially when you’ve got a super-clever intro thought up by your super cool, ingenius, and devilishly-handsome friend who in no way has anything to do with writing this blog ;-).
<--That was the First Officer. Who is also a fellow Peace Corps applicant... and borrowed my computer. Hi! I’m Sam. If you know me, you know how FREAKED OUT I am at having received my assignment, finally. If not, you should after you are done with this. Since I’ve had a hard time finding information about how long people have taken in different parts of the application process, here’s my contribution to the data set: So it starts with an application, which is done online.
I started mine on 8/24/2009. Along with the application you also have to send in three personal references. I asked my references to write them in May 2010.
The last recommendation came in July 2010.
On August 10th I got confirmation that my application was received. Then after they review that, they request some more stuff through the mail, like fingerprints, so try not to lose any of your fingers at this point in the process. Then, interview time!
I had mine on October 16th. It went really well and I got what’s called a nomination on October 26th. This means one gets a tentative assignment including program, general geographic location, and departure date. Mine was for English Teaching, Central Asia, March 2011.
Then came my favorite part, the medical review! This is where they send you a giant packet of forms to fill out including medical and dental forms. I would recommend double and triple checking every form and procedure because this part of the process is where most delays occur. Also, DEFINITELY ask somebody with an MD after their name to fill out your forms--or at least, make sure one is in the building and can sign the paperwork for you.
While they received the majority of my medical paperwork by January 13, 2011, this is where I started to become a Problem Child. Most of my paperwork was signed by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are, while very capable people, apparently not enough legality for this whole process. I was living on my own at the time and trying to save money as much as possible. The Peace Corps gives a small medical refund, but not enough so I went to the nurses’ office at the local Community College (they don’t like me much. It was a learning experience for both them and me.). 26 pages of medical information later, they had it stamped, faxed and done. Unfortunately, the Peace Corps sent me information back saying I needed an MD to do this, that, and the other thing. Six months later-- July-- done.
After I was medically cleared on August 26th, I moved on to what’s called the placement and competitive review and they asked for an updated resume.
Since it was now past my original departure date, I got a new nomination on September 12th, this time for the Middle East, where I had wanted to go in the first place!
I had a final interview by phone yesterday morning (September 14th) and that afternoon I got an email telling me that I was accepted! I should be getting my invitation by mail in the next 6 days. Countdown starts now! (The invitation states whether I’ll be going to Jordan or Morocco. Yay!) In the final interview, we talked about lots of stuff. -What have you been doing since you were nominated over a year ago? [Next blog entry]
Conversations that occured during the final interview:
-Making sure that I, as the volunteer, understand what exactly I’m getting myself into
2 days off a month that accumulate; 3 days Use Them Or Lose Them days off a month as well!
-How does my family feel about what I’m doing
-Has anything changed in my medical/legal situations?
-Am I free March 2012 to leave?
A friend of mine asked me a few days before the interview, "how does your mom feel about the Peace Corps?" I was shocked to realized, as I was preparing a reply, that I didn't know. I proceeded to ask my mom, of course, and she told me that, not only was she jealous of my potential experience, but she supported me and thought it was something that would be an asset to my life. I mention this all, because if it hadn't been for my lovely, lovely dearest friend, I would not have been able to tell the interviewers Honestly that my family supported me. So, thanks Mindy. And, thanks Mom.
A note:
In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera (My Arabic teacher gave me that name). And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".
On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..
Star Date 4635 (September 15, 2011)
Captain’s Log:
Hooray! I finally got accepted into the Peace Corps! It’s been a very long process; I started my application last summer! However, I even got my dream assignment: English Education/ Youth Development in the Middle East! I will be leaving in March 2012, which is about 6 months away. Although, it’s never too soon to start a blog! Especially when you’ve got a super-clever intro thought up by your super cool, ingenius, and devilishly-handsome friend who in no way has anything to do with writing this blog ;-).
<--That was the First Officer. Who is also a fellow Peace Corps applicant... and borrowed my computer. Hi! I’m Sam. If you know me, you know how FREAKED OUT I am at having received my assignment, finally. If not, you should after you are done with this. Since I’ve had a hard time finding information about how long people have taken in different parts of the application process, here’s my contribution to the data set: So it starts with an application, which is done online.
I started mine on 8/24/2009. Along with the application you also have to send in three personal references. I asked my references to write them in May 2010.
The last recommendation came in July 2010.
On August 10th I got confirmation that my application was received. Then after they review that, they request some more stuff through the mail, like fingerprints, so try not to lose any of your fingers at this point in the process. Then, interview time!
I had mine on October 16th. It went really well and I got what’s called a nomination on October 26th. This means one gets a tentative assignment including program, general geographic location, and departure date. Mine was for English Teaching, Central Asia, March 2011.
Then came my favorite part, the medical review! This is where they send you a giant packet of forms to fill out including medical and dental forms. I would recommend double and triple checking every form and procedure because this part of the process is where most delays occur. Also, DEFINITELY ask somebody with an MD after their name to fill out your forms--or at least, make sure one is in the building and can sign the paperwork for you.
While they received the majority of my medical paperwork by January 13, 2011, this is where I started to become a Problem Child. Most of my paperwork was signed by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are, while very capable people, apparently not enough legality for this whole process. I was living on my own at the time and trying to save money as much as possible. The Peace Corps gives a small medical refund, but not enough so I went to the nurses’ office at the local Community College (they don’t like me much. It was a learning experience for both them and me.). 26 pages of medical information later, they had it stamped, faxed and done. Unfortunately, the Peace Corps sent me information back saying I needed an MD to do this, that, and the other thing. Six months later-- July-- done.
After I was medically cleared on August 26th, I moved on to what’s called the placement and competitive review and they asked for an updated resume.
Since it was now past my original departure date, I got a new nomination on September 12th, this time for the Middle East, where I had wanted to go in the first place!
I had a final interview by phone yesterday morning (September 14th) and that afternoon I got an email telling me that I was accepted! I should be getting my invitation by mail in the next 6 days. Countdown starts now! (The invitation states whether I’ll be going to Jordan or Morocco. Yay!) In the final interview, we talked about lots of stuff. -What have you been doing since you were nominated over a year ago? [Next blog entry]
Conversations that occured during the final interview:
-Making sure that I, as the volunteer, understand what exactly I’m getting myself into
2 days off a month that accumulate; 3 days Use Them Or Lose Them days off a month as well!
-How does my family feel about what I’m doing
-Has anything changed in my medical/legal situations?
-Am I free March 2012 to leave?
A friend of mine asked me a few days before the interview, "how does your mom feel about the Peace Corps?" I was shocked to realized, as I was preparing a reply, that I didn't know. I proceeded to ask my mom, of course, and she told me that, not only was she jealous of my potential experience, but she supported me and thought it was something that would be an asset to my life. I mention this all, because if it hadn't been for my lovely, lovely dearest friend, I would not have been able to tell the interviewers Honestly that my family supported me. So, thanks Mindy. And, thanks Mom.
A note:
In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera (My Arabic teacher gave me that name). And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".
On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)