people, places and things

In November 2012, I moved 2.5 hours north and moved in with family in order to save money and so I could develop my relationship with my family. I also took on two jobs. One is working full time at Mercy Hospital, and the other is a part timeposition with the YMCA serving on staff as their Teen Impact Facilitator. The hospital offers full time benefits (which will come in handy once I start my PC medical requirements). The Y offers youth development experience (and a free Y membership!). These two jobs will help me develop skills needed in the PC (not to mention become very competitive for final placement).

As far as where I'd like to serve, I know that anyplace I am invited would offer me a life-changing opportunity, but I do have a special place in my heart for Central/South America, where I am originally nominated for. It sounds selfish for me to say that I don't want to work with Youth Development in Africa or Secondary Education in Asia, but so much of my heart is already invested in the Central/South America region that it just fits me.

I did some soul searching, realizing a couple of things. I had to remember my motivation: loving people. I got away from my foundation of wanting to “be with the people and help the people.” It seemed selfish to forfeit an opportunity with the Peace Corps simply because I wanted to remain with what was comfortable. Isn't that what challenges in life are all about? I could always pursue Spanish-related opportunities later in life, but I would always look back on this time and regret not serving.

... to be continued

Hurry up and wait

Fast forward to May 2012, I have 104 hours of ESL English instruction and my status is reactivated. June 11th, 2012, I am robbed at gunpoint at the bank that I work at. The next day, June 12th, I receive an email stating that I am officially nominated for a June 2013 departure to serve as an English teacher in Central/South America. I am also encouraged to get 30 hours of youth development and to be patient in the next steps. June, July, and August were agonizingly slow. If I was leaving in April, we had to get started! The Peace Corps application process has an awesome built in lesson about patience. I was stressed out to the max... I used my brain during the day, but at night it still ran like a plugged in microwave.. using energy to power the clock. But I couldn't do anything until August 2012 when the next application system is released. IN the meanwhile, I work on my TESOL (Teaching English as a Second Language) certification. August comes, I fill out the new health questionnaire. Nothing major.. only minor seasonal allergies.

 

 

I'm still looking for ways to get plugged into 30 hrs of youth develop experience, but nothing seems to be popping up. I do get some leads to volunteer at the YMCA, but after two months of not hearing anything or receiving answers my left messages, I figure that's shot down.

 

 

Because I was nominated practically a year before my departure date (was nominated in June to leave the next June 2013) my medical papers and any contact from a placement officer would not come until I got a lot closer to my departure date of June 2013. Late October I was "medically pre-qualified" which pretty much means all the basic info about my medical history (no problems/concerns) was not of caution to the PC. I still have to do the doctor stuff once I am officially invited, but that is to come later. Early December I was contacted by a placement officer that requested updated resumes and skill sheets I did all of that. A second placement officer contacted me mid December asking some questions like "Have you told your family? What do they think?" and also asked if I had any reservations about living without electricity (no), running water (maybe), or specific climates (COLD PLEASE!).

 

... to be continued

The air literally smelled like bananas

I remember filling out my application, really having to think deep down inside why I wanted to do this.... I learned a lot about myself in the experience. In the essays I had to write, I had to point out things in my life I had accomplished. In an essay entitled "The air literally smelled like bananas," I recapped my study abroad experience and how I was able to overcome adversity of a new culture. I was starting to get excited... that this could really become a reality. It was August, 2011 before I heard anything back. I received and sent back completed fingerprint cards and background check information. October, 2011 came and I was scheduled an interview with a recruiter. I even got out my iron (had to dust it off) to iron my blouse for the interview.. I was so nervous! I'm great at talking, but not always so great and making sense when I speak. Factor in major nerves, I'm surprised my recruiter didn't need a translator.

At the end, it was noted that I really needed to gain some experience in teaching. I was told that English teaching positions in Central/South America (my preferred region) were amongst the most popular, therefore volunteers had to be competitive in their skills to be chosen. I needed on the field training but how was I supposed to do that when I had two jobs? What my recruiter said next would become a newly adopted life motto, “If it matters to you, you will find a way.” Harsh. Reality gut check. By the way, be careful what you complain about... because the next day, I found an “impossibly difficult and non-existent in my schedule” position teaching ESL English. And it worked with my schedules... bonus.

I worked on my volunteer hours, but I was getting ancy about my progression. I wouldn't get the 30 hours by December, 2011 (only 3 weeks from my recruiter requesting this), my lease was ending... and I couldn't get a full time job if I was leaving in a few months for PC. I decided to push back my start date to April 2013. At this point, my application is put on pending mode until I am have acquired 30 hours of ESL instruction and am ready to continue in the application progress.

 

... to be continued

In the beginning...

For the past year and a half, I have been keeping a journal about my Peace Corps application process.  Reading through others' blogs, I kept stumbling on questions I couldn't find answers to. I decided I would answer my own by keeping track of my journey. What this blog will do is give insight to MY specific progress (as it was influenced by a number of factors) through the Peace Corps application process and volunteer experience. Also of note, that the contents of this website are mine personally and do not reflect any position of the U.S. government, Peru, or the Peace Corps. 

 

I welcome you to the beginning of my journey. Check back often for the story's continuation... I have so much to share!

_________________________________

 

I guess I had always wanted to do something meaningful with my life... dont we all? But I really felt that in the bottom of my soul I was meant for something more... something bigger (put that on a Hallmark card). In college, Peace Corps (PC) had been mentioned to me by a good friend. Here I was, May 2010, about to graduate with a bachelor's in Spanish. I knew I wanted to live abroad, I just didn't know how I would do it. “Why not do the PC?” he said. I automaticaly dismissed that notion... and I didn't even have a good excuse. My excuse was that I knew nothing about the Peace Corps, so it couldn't possibly fit into my plans for my life.

 

But the PC kept coming back in my life... but I didn't have time to entertain that idea. I had to focus on moving 1100 miles across the country. In March of 2011, I moved from Louisiana to Michigan. I transferred locations in my job and ended up picking up a second to supplement. Living on my own for the first time, I started to freak out... was this my life? Two jobs, stuck in a small town? I didn't want to work to live.. this wasn't my scene. Needless to say, I had to stick with it... at least for a while. PC popped up again, and this time I peeked at its benefits (student loan deferrment, a foundation for a career, etc). For the first time, PC seemed less of a last resort but more of a special opportunity. Talking to friends, I became disheartened. "You know that's really hard to get into... What skills do you have?" They honestly believed I couldn't do it. And to be honest, I wans't quite sure either, but I had to try.

 

I decided that I didnt have to be complacent in where I was at.. but why the heck not strive for something considered out of my league? I would spend the rest of my life wondering what if?  On July 1^st, 2011, I submitted my Peace Corps volunteer application. My available start date: April, 2012.

 

....to be continued