My invitation arrived Monday night, much sooner than I expected!
Over the weekend, I'd compiled a list of the countries I was hoping to get. Burkina Faso was at the top, followed by Ethiopia, Senegal, and Benin, all for various reasons. My dad had been making fun of me over Ethiopia: he says that in the 60's and 70's it was considered the worst place in the world.
So when I opened my packet, my first emotion was amusement. Because I was going to Ethiopia!
The packet is huge, and I've been going through it for almost a full day, but it seems like I've been doing research on Ethiopia for like a week.
I've definitely decided to accept the invitation. I still have mixed feelings, though, because Ethiopia is one of the least stable and safe countries in the Peace Corps. They keep pulling volunteers out because Ethiopia keeps getting into fights with the neighboring Eritrea. Plus, it's treatment of women is pretty poor, and a third of the population is Muslim.
It's a lot to think about, but after reading about the living conditions from current volunteers and realizing that because of budget constraints, there's no way I'd get a second invitation anyway, I decided that I should grab up this adventure and hope for the best. Luckily my mom can't google.
Something my dad may not realize: Ethiopia is still considered the poorest, dirtiest place on earth. At least by the people I know. The few times so far that I have announced my country, I've gotten looks saying, "Oh God, I'm so sorry," rather than "congratulations!" and people keep wincing or cringing instead of smiling.
Well anyway, I'm mostly excited and ready to sort of dive in! Current volunteers say to expect the worse and be pleasantly surprised, but I'm still going to hope to live in the highlands with moderate temperatures and at least a few hours a day/days a week of electricity.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Final Interview
The final interview went pretty much as I expected it to today. It took about 40 minutes in all, and my placement officer asked me questions about what I'd done to prepare for service, what I expected when I got there, etc. She also commented on something I mentioned in my interview last year in Chicago, which was crazy. She must have to go through so much information to make sure people are suitable!
In the end, she just said that it would take around 10 days for the invite to reach me. She said it would be for Africa in early June. I hope not too early, because I still want to go on vacation to Florida in June! But I'll leave whenever they want me to, of course.
The whole last five minutes of it, when she was talking about the invitation, I was just grinning and saying, "Uh huh, ok!"
I was really excited when I finished, and I sort of wanted someone to talk to about it, but Michelle wasn't answering her phone, so I texted Sara but she was in class. So I posted on the Future Volunteers Facebook group and they were all excited for me. That page has been such a help!
Going to Africa means I will be much less likely to have electricity and other amenities. I named this hardship as the thing I'm most worried about in my service, and my placement officer said that was normal, and that it would probably turn out to be the easiest thing to get used to.
I thought about leaving my computer and phone behind, and I actually felt a bubble of glee rise up in me! Then I thought about my ipod....
My ipod! I never thought about having to leave my ipod behind!
If I don't have electricity, it makes sense that I can't have things that have to charge. My camera, sure, I can just use it sparingly and charge it when I'm in the city. But my ipod! To not have music at my disposal...that's something I just hadn't considered before!
I just can't leave it behind. I won't. I'll hope for the best and charge it when I can...it has like 48 hours of battery life when it just plays music, so maybe if I use it sparingly I can get by with charging it once a month. Maybe it will just make listening to it all the sweeter.
I've thought about a lot of random things like this in the last few weeks, so maybe I'll start rambling about them while I wait for my invitation to arrive!
In the end, she just said that it would take around 10 days for the invite to reach me. She said it would be for Africa in early June. I hope not too early, because I still want to go on vacation to Florida in June! But I'll leave whenever they want me to, of course.
The whole last five minutes of it, when she was talking about the invitation, I was just grinning and saying, "Uh huh, ok!"
I was really excited when I finished, and I sort of wanted someone to talk to about it, but Michelle wasn't answering her phone, so I texted Sara but she was in class. So I posted on the Future Volunteers Facebook group and they were all excited for me. That page has been such a help!
Going to Africa means I will be much less likely to have electricity and other amenities. I named this hardship as the thing I'm most worried about in my service, and my placement officer said that was normal, and that it would probably turn out to be the easiest thing to get used to.
I thought about leaving my computer and phone behind, and I actually felt a bubble of glee rise up in me! Then I thought about my ipod....
My ipod! I never thought about having to leave my ipod behind!
If I don't have electricity, it makes sense that I can't have things that have to charge. My camera, sure, I can just use it sparingly and charge it when I'm in the city. But my ipod! To not have music at my disposal...that's something I just hadn't considered before!
I just can't leave it behind. I won't. I'll hope for the best and charge it when I can...it has like 48 hours of battery life when it just plays music, so maybe if I use it sparingly I can get by with charging it once a month. Maybe it will just make listening to it all the sweeter.
I've thought about a lot of random things like this in the last few weeks, so maybe I'll start rambling about them while I wait for my invitation to arrive!
Placement Officer
So after I sent in my availability information last week, I received an email back saying that my Placement Officer would call me Wednesday at 2pm for the final interview. She all stated that she would be interviewing me for a position in Africa leaving in June.
My original nomination was Asia in June. For a moment I was disappointed because I'd spent the last nine months or so researching and preparing for two years in China or Mongolia. But then I realized that going to Africa meant using my French, it meant going to a place where people don't often vacation, and I got excited again after about 30 seconds.
Africa is a very different experience from Asia. Africa is completely unfamiliar to me, and I am much less likely to have electricity or running water.
Overall, I'm more nervous about it than I was with an Asia nomination, but I'm just as ready to get going! My interview is in about 3 hours and I've been researching possible sites and questions she may ask me. It seems that this interview will be much easier than the one I had in Chicago last year. I hope she gives me info about my placement or at least whether or not I'll be invited!
My original nomination was Asia in June. For a moment I was disappointed because I'd spent the last nine months or so researching and preparing for two years in China or Mongolia. But then I realized that going to Africa meant using my French, it meant going to a place where people don't often vacation, and I got excited again after about 30 seconds.
Africa is a very different experience from Asia. Africa is completely unfamiliar to me, and I am much less likely to have electricity or running water.
Overall, I'm more nervous about it than I was with an Asia nomination, but I'm just as ready to get going! My interview is in about 3 hours and I've been researching possible sites and questions she may ask me. It seems that this interview will be much easier than the one I had in Chicago last year. I hope she gives me info about my placement or at least whether or not I'll be invited!
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Finally!
I got an email from a placement officer today, and THANK GOD I'm still in the June-July section. So there's a chance I'll still be going to China, but really REALLY I'll go pretty much anywhere.
So I answered a few basic questions about ideas about placement and availability for a phone interview. Hopefully we'll set that up for next week.
A lot of nominees have said that they find out that they're invited, and sometimes where they're going, at the end of the phone interview. I hope that happens with me.
So I answered a few basic questions about ideas about placement and availability for a phone interview. Hopefully we'll set that up for next week.
A lot of nominees have said that they find out that they're invited, and sometimes where they're going, at the end of the phone interview. I hope that happens with me.
Friday, March 9, 2012
J'attends et j'attends
On February 22nd, I received an email from the Skills Assessment desk confirming receipt of my final resume. So it took them like five days to open the email, but at least I know they're keeping in touch with me. Their email restated the fact that I should not contact them unless I have a question, and should instead wait patiently for an email from a Placement Officer.
Which I'm still awaiting.
I don't have internet at my house right now, so everyday I find a way to check my email, and everyday I'm disappointed. Then I get on facebook in the "Future PCV" page and all these people are so happy and talking about their POs and invitations. I'm so insanely jealous!
Plus, many programs have been cut or pushed back due to budget cuts and a large influx of applicants. I'd hate to have to wait until August or September to leave, but it seems pretty likely at this point. However, I really won't know until a PO contacts me!!!
It's frustrating. I just want some progress, something to work on!
Which I'm still awaiting.
I don't have internet at my house right now, so everyday I find a way to check my email, and everyday I'm disappointed. Then I get on facebook in the "Future PCV" page and all these people are so happy and talking about their POs and invitations. I'm so insanely jealous!
Plus, many programs have been cut or pushed back due to budget cuts and a large influx of applicants. I'd hate to have to wait until August or September to leave, but it seems pretty likely at this point. However, I really won't know until a PO contacts me!!!
It's frustrating. I just want some progress, something to work on!
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