Dear Ms. Wilke,
I am pleased to nominate you for the following Peace Corps assignment tentatively scheduled to depart in June of 2011:.....
And the winner (for the moment) is...Sub-Saharan Africa doing Health Extension. The additional details that I received from my recruiter is that the community specifically wants someone with Spanish language skills, experience working with community populations in crisis, sexual assault survivors/women's groups, and HIV/AIDS volunteer experience. I meet all of these criteria with the exception of the work with HIV/AIDS prevention.
I am pretty darn excited. I am trying not to get to fixed on what country this could be but based on the location, date of departure, and the Spanish language either PC is reopening a former location, opening a new one, or it is Cameroon...
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Update in the form of Word Vomit...
I am playing the waiting game...which has surprisingly been ok. The bulk of my waiting since I had my face to face interview has coincided with some pretty major life events and so I have had very little time to dwell on Peace Corps.
After my interview 3 weeks ago the recruiter said that we still had a few questions we needed to go over that the 1 hour slot she had had for me in Minneapolis didn't allow us to get to. She said she would be in touch within a week to set up a follow up interview. I followed up with her instead at the two week mark after my interview and we have a phone interview set up for later this week. I am nervous but not for any of the reasons I thought I would be.
To be perfectly honest, I do not remember any of my first interview. I can't remember what questions were asked, what I asked my recruiter, what we still had left to go over, how it went etc. This makes me nervous because I feel like it will be impossible to simply pick up and keep going naturally. Instead I am likely to repeat myself...ask questions I have already asked, etc. which I feel is bad form in an interview.
I do however, feel like I have yet again evaluated my desire for Peace Corps and have a more concrete understanding of how I would react if one of those unlikely "what if" situations came up in real life. For example what if someone you loved passed away during service...what if someone you love ends up in the hospital...what if someone you love really needs you.
The day before my face to face interview my surrogate mother, closest friend, and mentor (not to mention personal reference for the Peace Corps) was in a major car accident along with her children who I took care of for 10 years. The kids are ok but my friend suffered a traumatic brain injury on top of numerous broken bones and injuries. The past 3 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions as we simply play a game of wait and see...wait and see if she will wake up...wait and see if she will recognize us when she does...wait and see if she can talk...wait and see if the person we all know and love is still in there...
Its a roller coaster of trying to maintain hope, moments of realism, and mourning the loss of someone who is still in fact alive. Needless to say Peace Corps has dropped on my list of metal priorities at the moment...yet at the same time it has made me really think about what if this had happened a year from now as I would potentially be starting service.
I still feel the same way that I felt a month ago that I should not rule out Peace Corps just because something could happen...however, I also recognize now that something really could. Or that my friend and her family may still need my support a year from now.
These are all things I am carrying with me as I prep for my phone interview and I don't even really know how to fully process them or begin to be able to articulate the fact that I am still very interested in, excited about, and committed to the Peace Corps process...when that may not be the tone that comes across because I can not help but think about my friend when I think about Peace Corps. Its a byproduct of knowing that she is the person who knows the most about my desire to join Peace Corps and knowing that the reference letter she wrote is one of the last things she did prior to her accident.
And that is my word vomit update for the day...
After my interview 3 weeks ago the recruiter said that we still had a few questions we needed to go over that the 1 hour slot she had had for me in Minneapolis didn't allow us to get to. She said she would be in touch within a week to set up a follow up interview. I followed up with her instead at the two week mark after my interview and we have a phone interview set up for later this week. I am nervous but not for any of the reasons I thought I would be.
To be perfectly honest, I do not remember any of my first interview. I can't remember what questions were asked, what I asked my recruiter, what we still had left to go over, how it went etc. This makes me nervous because I feel like it will be impossible to simply pick up and keep going naturally. Instead I am likely to repeat myself...ask questions I have already asked, etc. which I feel is bad form in an interview.
I do however, feel like I have yet again evaluated my desire for Peace Corps and have a more concrete understanding of how I would react if one of those unlikely "what if" situations came up in real life. For example what if someone you loved passed away during service...what if someone you love ends up in the hospital...what if someone you love really needs you.
The day before my face to face interview my surrogate mother, closest friend, and mentor (not to mention personal reference for the Peace Corps) was in a major car accident along with her children who I took care of for 10 years. The kids are ok but my friend suffered a traumatic brain injury on top of numerous broken bones and injuries. The past 3 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions as we simply play a game of wait and see...wait and see if she will wake up...wait and see if she will recognize us when she does...wait and see if she can talk...wait and see if the person we all know and love is still in there...
Its a roller coaster of trying to maintain hope, moments of realism, and mourning the loss of someone who is still in fact alive. Needless to say Peace Corps has dropped on my list of metal priorities at the moment...yet at the same time it has made me really think about what if this had happened a year from now as I would potentially be starting service.
I still feel the same way that I felt a month ago that I should not rule out Peace Corps just because something could happen...however, I also recognize now that something really could. Or that my friend and her family may still need my support a year from now.
These are all things I am carrying with me as I prep for my phone interview and I don't even really know how to fully process them or begin to be able to articulate the fact that I am still very interested in, excited about, and committed to the Peace Corps process...when that may not be the tone that comes across because I can not help but think about my friend when I think about Peace Corps. Its a byproduct of knowing that she is the person who knows the most about my desire to join Peace Corps and knowing that the reference letter she wrote is one of the last things she did prior to her accident.
And that is my word vomit update for the day...
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Interview
I have been invited to do a face to face interview when my recruiter is in my area of the Midwest in 2 weeks. Anyone have any advice?
Friday, June 25, 2010
Fingerprinting...
This was much easier than I was expecting. The hardest part was finding the cheapest place to do it at. If you are in the town of a PC regional office they will do it for free...unfortunately I am not. The first place I checked out was the Minneapolis Police Dept. However, they charge $15 per card and since we have 2 cards I felt that was a bit ridiculous. After some searching, my word of advice to anyone at this stage and in a similar predicament would be to check out if a large university near you has a police or security station. The University of Minnesota Police Department charged half of what the city police department would have.
Next step mailing everything back and hopefully being invited for an interview. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Next step mailing everything back and hopefully being invited for an interview. Keep your fingers crossed for me.
Some Light (?) Reading.
My mother firmly believes in doing your research. She also believes that in order to do your research you have to find sources that agree with your point of view (Peace Corps is a valuable resource and though difficult is worth it) and ones that disagree with your point of view. In order to follow through on this I went on a bit of an amazon shopping spree and bought several books, the first of which arrived today.
I ordered and received "Nine Hills to Nambonkaha", "Peace Corps: The toughest job they will ever mismanage", "Peace Corps: What to know before you go", and "To touch the world: The peace corps experience." I will keep everyone posted on whether or not I find these to be a valuable resource or not.
Does anyone have any other suggestions of books that would be good or interesting to read?
A
I ordered and received "Nine Hills to Nambonkaha", "Peace Corps: The toughest job they will ever mismanage", "Peace Corps: What to know before you go", and "To touch the world: The peace corps experience." I will keep everyone posted on whether or not I find these to be a valuable resource or not.
Does anyone have any other suggestions of books that would be good or interesting to read?
A
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Who Am I?
Good question...but seriously, here are some fun facts about me that may explain my interest in the Peace Corps...or maybe not.
I will graduate in May 2011 with a Master's of Education and hope to eventually work on a college or university campus. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor's of Science in Gender & Women's Studies and Afro-American Studies. I have lived my entire life in the Midwest and while I think I would like to live in this area again I also want to live in other parts of the US at some point.
I have a plethora of hobbies that seem rather random and eclectic. I have been on two paleontology (digging up dinosaurs) digs, an archeology (digging up human civ) dig, and I enjoy spelunking (traipsing around in caves). Porcupines are my favorite animal after participating for 6 years in a wildlife conservation project on them. I really like biking but dislike running (but I do it anyway).
I speak fairly broken Spanish but can understand pretty much anything and on my last trip to Central America I did manage to have an hour long conversation about Maya archeology entirely in Spanish. I can also give a pretty darn good tour of a Geology Museum in Spanish. This means that I have a vocabulary in Spanish that seems impressive but that is not always helpful for day to day things.
That is all I can think of for now.
Peace,
A
I will graduate in May 2011 with a Master's of Education and hope to eventually work on a college or university campus. My undergraduate degree was a Bachelor's of Science in Gender & Women's Studies and Afro-American Studies. I have lived my entire life in the Midwest and while I think I would like to live in this area again I also want to live in other parts of the US at some point.
I have a plethora of hobbies that seem rather random and eclectic. I have been on two paleontology (digging up dinosaurs) digs, an archeology (digging up human civ) dig, and I enjoy spelunking (traipsing around in caves). Porcupines are my favorite animal after participating for 6 years in a wildlife conservation project on them. I really like biking but dislike running (but I do it anyway).
I speak fairly broken Spanish but can understand pretty much anything and on my last trip to Central America I did manage to have an hour long conversation about Maya archeology entirely in Spanish. I can also give a pretty darn good tour of a Geology Museum in Spanish. This means that I have a vocabulary in Spanish that seems impressive but that is not always helpful for day to day things.
That is all I can think of for now.
Peace,
A
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Peace Corps Update
Originally posted on June 21, 2010 on fallinpoetry.blogspot.com
I have officially been assigned a recruiter! I got an email from her this morning that included additional information and to let me know that I could direct any questions I have to her. It also included several attachments: 3 additional forms for me to fill out if they apply to me (luckily only one did) and 3 descriptions of possible assignments I may be qualified for. Drumroll... I may be qualified to work as a University English Teacher, in Youth and Community Development, or in Health Extension.
I was also told that a packet including the forms for my formal background check, finger print cards, and additional forms was on its way in the mail and that I should return all paper and electronic forms by July 2nd.
I have officially been assigned a recruiter! I got an email from her this morning that included additional information and to let me know that I could direct any questions I have to her. It also included several attachments: 3 additional forms for me to fill out if they apply to me (luckily only one did) and 3 descriptions of possible assignments I may be qualified for. Drumroll... I may be qualified to work as a University English Teacher, in Youth and Community Development, or in Health Extension.
I was also told that a packet including the forms for my formal background check, finger print cards, and additional forms was on its way in the mail and that I should return all paper and electronic forms by July 2nd.
It's Official
Originally posted on June 15, 2010 on fallinpoetry.blogspot.com
I was definitely having some second thoughts for a while about whether or not I really wanted to apply to the Peace Corps at this point in my life. I have had the vast majority of my application done for close to two months and only had a few sentences left to finish on my essays, but for some reason I just kept putting it off. I recently realized that there is no ideal time to join the Peace Corps. You will always be leaving someone behind. You will always miss your family and friends. There is always the potential that you will miss a friend's wedding, a sibling's graduation, a birth, a death...the list goes on and on. Eventually you have to hit a point where you decide to apply anyway. For me that point was a week ago.
It only took me a day to finish both of my essays and this time I really thought critically about why the Peace Corps, why now. I think that my essays are stronger for it. I sent out requests for my letters of recommendation and 2 of my 3 letters have already been returned. I ordered transcripts from Madison and Iowa State and mailed them to the Chicago office. I also completed the 100 question initial health screening survey. Then I hit submit. It is done. The process is started.
Total time invested to date= 19 hours
Total cost so far = $25 for transcripts from Madison and Iowa State
I was definitely having some second thoughts for a while about whether or not I really wanted to apply to the Peace Corps at this point in my life. I have had the vast majority of my application done for close to two months and only had a few sentences left to finish on my essays, but for some reason I just kept putting it off. I recently realized that there is no ideal time to join the Peace Corps. You will always be leaving someone behind. You will always miss your family and friends. There is always the potential that you will miss a friend's wedding, a sibling's graduation, a birth, a death...the list goes on and on. Eventually you have to hit a point where you decide to apply anyway. For me that point was a week ago.
It only took me a day to finish both of my essays and this time I really thought critically about why the Peace Corps, why now. I think that my essays are stronger for it. I sent out requests for my letters of recommendation and 2 of my 3 letters have already been returned. I ordered transcripts from Madison and Iowa State and mailed them to the Chicago office. I also completed the 100 question initial health screening survey. Then I hit submit. It is done. The process is started.
Total time invested to date= 19 hours
Total cost so far = $25 for transcripts from Madison and Iowa State
Following Through on an Idea from 7 Years ago
Originally posted March 15, 2010 on fallinpoetry.blogspot.com
I have wanted to do the peace corps for years. I have started the application process several times and have always let myself be dissuaded from it. Education was more important, traveling was too dangerous, 2 years was a very long time...these arguments worked because I had not done my research and really did not know why I wanted to join the peace corps, other than that it might fulfill my desire to do something.
I think that I am a master at not doing something because I allow myself to be talked out of it and then years later (after never really stopping thinking about it) I actually follow through. For almost all of these things it only served to delay the inevitable or put the event off until I could better articulate why I wanted to do the particular activity. Examples include my tattoo-wanted it for 4 years before I finally got it, my nose piercing-wanted for 3 years before I finally got it, study abroad-put off applying to because I was afraid to not graduate in 4 years but ended up doing during a summer, and Peace Corps-have wanted to do since Junior year of High School.
This time I am not going to dissuade myself before doing my research and actually finding out more about the program, process, and without fully exploring and articulating why I am interested in a 27 month stint in another country. I began filling out the application last Friday and already have about 5 hours invested into this process. I will keep you all posted.
I have wanted to do the peace corps for years. I have started the application process several times and have always let myself be dissuaded from it. Education was more important, traveling was too dangerous, 2 years was a very long time...these arguments worked because I had not done my research and really did not know why I wanted to join the peace corps, other than that it might fulfill my desire to do something.
I think that I am a master at not doing something because I allow myself to be talked out of it and then years later (after never really stopping thinking about it) I actually follow through. For almost all of these things it only served to delay the inevitable or put the event off until I could better articulate why I wanted to do the particular activity. Examples include my tattoo-wanted it for 4 years before I finally got it, my nose piercing-wanted for 3 years before I finally got it, study abroad-put off applying to because I was afraid to not graduate in 4 years but ended up doing during a summer, and Peace Corps-have wanted to do since Junior year of High School.
This time I am not going to dissuade myself before doing my research and actually finding out more about the program, process, and without fully exploring and articulating why I am interested in a 27 month stint in another country. I began filling out the application last Friday and already have about 5 hours invested into this process. I will keep you all posted.
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