In case anyone wants to see me before I leave this is my travel plans for the next six weeks, as you will see its extremely busy but hopefully I can see everyone before I go.
Wednesday, July 25. Last day at work (How sweet it is...). Only downside is this is also the day I will be selling my car. So long to the Mustang, my first car, kinda sad.
Thursday, July 26. Moving all my furniture back to Charlotte.
Friday, July 27. Flying to St Louis, Missouri
Saturday, July 28. Cardinals vs Brewers at Busch Stadium. This will be my last Cardinals game, also last sporting event, for 3 years.
Sunday, July 29. Driving to Memphis for a week. If anyone will be around Memphis let me know because we will be hitting up Tunica for some Gambling and also Beale Street for some country music and some "scenery".
Friday, August 3. Drive to Nashville, Tn for a family reunion and a chance to see the Grandparents one last time.
Tuesday, August 7. Flying to Moline, Il to visit my Mom. Hopefully finish buying all my supplies for this adventure.
Friday through Sunday, August 10-12. Hopefully going to University of Illinois to visit friends and check out the school my Dad is always raving about.
Saturday, August 17. Flying back to Charlotte, NC to visit friends and Dad.
Tuesday through Thursday, August 21-23. Hopefully one last throw down in good old Chapel Hill. That is if I can convince my parents to let me "borrow" the car. This is where the reality of not having a vehicle is setting in.
Monday, August 27. Let the Peace Corps Experience BEGIN!!!
So as you can see these next six weeks will be extremely busy but hopefully I can see everyone one last time before I leave.
Monday, July 16, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
I'm going to Nicaragua!!!
So after a six month long process of applying and medical clearances I received an invitation to serve the Peace Corps in Nicaragua!
This was quite a surprise, let me take a chance and inform you a little more about the application process...
First step is sending in an application; this includes a resume, two essay explaining why you want to join and then a very long survey about past experiences.
Second step is an interview; this is where you meet a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) and discuss if you have the skill set required to join. The RPCV then discusses possible programs you could serve in and finishes by nominating you (essentially recommending you for a program) to serve. I requested Latin America, however because of my lack of Spanish and the number of applicants that request Latin America this was not a possibility. I believe that the statistics show that over 2/3 of volunteers request to serve in Latin America. Anyways back to my nomination, I was invited to serve in the Pacific Islands in the Agribusiness field.
Third step is receiving Medical Clearance. This is a lengthy process including a dental checkup (five fillings later), medical checkup, vision checkup and months of waiting. Luckily the doctors said I was healthy enough to go, must have tricked them!
Final step is to receive an invitation (job offer). This is where my story gets interesting as I said above I was under the impression that I would be sent to the Pacific Islands. After reading four books on the pacific islands (let me note, this is more reading then I did during college), I received a call from a Placement Officer for Latin America. She informed me that the officer for the Pacific Islands was out of town for Fourth of July and she would see if she could process my information. She closed by asking if I had any Spanish training and asked me to fill out an extra form on my agricultural background. The next day I received an email saying that I would be receiving my invitation in the mail shortly, this was all the information I would receive until I would get the mailing. Now you would think that with the technology that we have today I would not have to wait for Fed Ex to deliver a package that would notify where I would spend the next 27 months of my life, however thats the way it goes, let the excitement build...
A week later I received my invitation to serve in Nicaragua! On Friday, July 13, 2007 I accepted my invitation to serve as a Agricultural Rural Development Extensionist. I will start my training near Esteli, Nicaragua on September 1, 2007 which will be followed by two years of services at a site to be named later on November 16, 2007.
The Peace Corps is an amazing experience, let me go through the process of what I will be doing over the next 27 months.
August 27-29. I will spend two days somewhere in the US (probably Washington D.C.) where I will meet all the other volunteers that are going to Nicaragua with me. This will probably be a group of around 20 and according to Peace Corps statistics will be roughly 60% female! During these two days we will receive more immunization we will need during our service and also finalize all paperwork for our service.
August 29 or September 1, 2007. I will start my Peace Corps journey by flying into Nicaragua.
September 1-November 16, 2007. I will be stationed in a small community near Esteli, Nicaragua where I will focus on learning three things; Spanish, Cultural Training and Job Training. From the reading I have done it looks like I will be in a group of around four other volunteers for Spanish learning, I should have about 10 other volunteers in my job training courses and then all 20 volunteers will come together for cultural training. During the cultural training we will all receive safety training and more of those dreaded immunizations. During this time I will also visit current volunteers and will put our training to use for a couple days helping and shadowing the volunteer.
Around November 16, 2007. On this day we will be sworn in for the first time as Peace Corps Volunteer, until now we have been a Peace Corps Trainee. At this time I will also find out where in Nicaragua I will be serving my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
November 16, 2007. I will pickup and move one last time as I will be assigned several projects and also a Community where I will live.
Well, I hope this gives you a quick glance of what my life will be like in the next 27 months. I will definitely follow up the next six weeks before I leave with posts explaining more about Nicaragua and also a better idea of what I will be doing.
This was quite a surprise, let me take a chance and inform you a little more about the application process...
First step is sending in an application; this includes a resume, two essay explaining why you want to join and then a very long survey about past experiences.
Second step is an interview; this is where you meet a RPCV (Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) and discuss if you have the skill set required to join. The RPCV then discusses possible programs you could serve in and finishes by nominating you (essentially recommending you for a program) to serve. I requested Latin America, however because of my lack of Spanish and the number of applicants that request Latin America this was not a possibility. I believe that the statistics show that over 2/3 of volunteers request to serve in Latin America. Anyways back to my nomination, I was invited to serve in the Pacific Islands in the Agribusiness field.
Third step is receiving Medical Clearance. This is a lengthy process including a dental checkup (five fillings later), medical checkup, vision checkup and months of waiting. Luckily the doctors said I was healthy enough to go, must have tricked them!
Final step is to receive an invitation (job offer). This is where my story gets interesting as I said above I was under the impression that I would be sent to the Pacific Islands. After reading four books on the pacific islands (let me note, this is more reading then I did during college), I received a call from a Placement Officer for Latin America. She informed me that the officer for the Pacific Islands was out of town for Fourth of July and she would see if she could process my information. She closed by asking if I had any Spanish training and asked me to fill out an extra form on my agricultural background. The next day I received an email saying that I would be receiving my invitation in the mail shortly, this was all the information I would receive until I would get the mailing. Now you would think that with the technology that we have today I would not have to wait for Fed Ex to deliver a package that would notify where I would spend the next 27 months of my life, however thats the way it goes, let the excitement build...
A week later I received my invitation to serve in Nicaragua! On Friday, July 13, 2007 I accepted my invitation to serve as a Agricultural Rural Development Extensionist. I will start my training near Esteli, Nicaragua on September 1, 2007 which will be followed by two years of services at a site to be named later on November 16, 2007.
The Peace Corps is an amazing experience, let me go through the process of what I will be doing over the next 27 months.
August 27-29. I will spend two days somewhere in the US (probably Washington D.C.) where I will meet all the other volunteers that are going to Nicaragua with me. This will probably be a group of around 20 and according to Peace Corps statistics will be roughly 60% female! During these two days we will receive more immunization we will need during our service and also finalize all paperwork for our service.
August 29 or September 1, 2007. I will start my Peace Corps journey by flying into Nicaragua.
September 1-November 16, 2007. I will be stationed in a small community near Esteli, Nicaragua where I will focus on learning three things; Spanish, Cultural Training and Job Training. From the reading I have done it looks like I will be in a group of around four other volunteers for Spanish learning, I should have about 10 other volunteers in my job training courses and then all 20 volunteers will come together for cultural training. During the cultural training we will all receive safety training and more of those dreaded immunizations. During this time I will also visit current volunteers and will put our training to use for a couple days helping and shadowing the volunteer.
Around November 16, 2007. On this day we will be sworn in for the first time as Peace Corps Volunteer, until now we have been a Peace Corps Trainee. At this time I will also find out where in Nicaragua I will be serving my time as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
November 16, 2007. I will pickup and move one last time as I will be assigned several projects and also a Community where I will live.
Well, I hope this gives you a quick glance of what my life will be like in the next 27 months. I will definitely follow up the next six weeks before I leave with posts explaining more about Nicaragua and also a better idea of what I will be doing.
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