Hi All,
Quick update; I've moved back to Missouri to spend time with the family before I leave with PC. May 8-15 my best friend and I are going to Jamaica for some R&R :)
This is just a test blog to see if I can link it to facebook.
j
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Accepted and Submitted
Invitation has been accepted, government passport, visas, resume and aspiration statement have been submitted! Now I guess I'll start trying to learn some Twi (one of the languages in Ghana; one of the two I'll be learning).
It's starting to sink in; I'm actually going to be living in Africa for 27 months...super exciting, super scary...I got a lot of crap to do before I can leave. It's been over a year since I decided to join the Peace Corps; it always seemed like some far off dream/exciting prospect. Now, I find moments where it hits me and almost takes my breath away: Dude, it's for real! It's not some idea or desire, it's actually gonna happen. Damn, I hope I'm good at it; I hope there's not a ton of spiders...at least not ones that jump; I wonder how many times I'll get malaria, you know how the mosquitos love me...maybe I won't be lazy anymore...I wonder if I can get my hair to dread...I haven't rode a bicycle in a long time...I hope they have decent beer...I can't wait to wear the crazy colored cloth...I'm gonna miss cheese.
Anyway, time is flying by. the number of lists I've made have increased exponentially: things to buy, things to sell, paperwork to do, people to visit, music to download...
Many people have asked why I want to join the Peace Corps; yes, I want to help people, yes, I want to live in a different country, yes, I want to be shocked into some kind of awakened state. But as a summary, below is a part of my aspiration statement that should sum it up pretty nicely:
E. After the Peace Corps, I hope to have a better understanding of myself and a better idea of where I should invest my energies. I have always had a dual personality: one part of me is very driven, loves challenges, and wants to succeed in a career, the other part of me wants to send positivity out into the world, live simple, and just know that I have done some good at the end of the day. I’m hoping that the experiences I have, the people I meet, and the skills I learn in the Peace Corps can help me bring these two sides of myself together.
I think this experience will give me the confidence to take the next step in my life whether it is a new career field or a life of service or travel. The final outcome of my Peace Corps experience is indefinite at this point, but I am excited to start this adventure and I know it will have a positive influence in my life and what I project into the world.
Thanks for listening to the rambelings.
j
It's starting to sink in; I'm actually going to be living in Africa for 27 months...super exciting, super scary...I got a lot of crap to do before I can leave. It's been over a year since I decided to join the Peace Corps; it always seemed like some far off dream/exciting prospect. Now, I find moments where it hits me and almost takes my breath away: Dude, it's for real! It's not some idea or desire, it's actually gonna happen. Damn, I hope I'm good at it; I hope there's not a ton of spiders...at least not ones that jump; I wonder how many times I'll get malaria, you know how the mosquitos love me...maybe I won't be lazy anymore...I wonder if I can get my hair to dread...I haven't rode a bicycle in a long time...I hope they have decent beer...I can't wait to wear the crazy colored cloth...I'm gonna miss cheese.
Anyway, time is flying by. the number of lists I've made have increased exponentially: things to buy, things to sell, paperwork to do, people to visit, music to download...
Many people have asked why I want to join the Peace Corps; yes, I want to help people, yes, I want to live in a different country, yes, I want to be shocked into some kind of awakened state. But as a summary, below is a part of my aspiration statement that should sum it up pretty nicely:
E. After the Peace Corps, I hope to have a better understanding of myself and a better idea of where I should invest my energies. I have always had a dual personality: one part of me is very driven, loves challenges, and wants to succeed in a career, the other part of me wants to send positivity out into the world, live simple, and just know that I have done some good at the end of the day. I’m hoping that the experiences I have, the people I meet, and the skills I learn in the Peace Corps can help me bring these two sides of myself together.
I think this experience will give me the confidence to take the next step in my life whether it is a new career field or a life of service or travel. The final outcome of my Peace Corps experience is indefinite at this point, but I am excited to start this adventure and I know it will have a positive influence in my life and what I project into the world.
Thanks for listening to the rambelings.
j
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Oh that beautiful blue package!
Yup, I have finally laid eyes on my invite...fingers, too! So the third time the Placement Office sent it out they sent it FedEx and I got it last night!! Fantastico!
I knew I was going to Ghana as a business volunteer, but now I have a few more dates which I'll post somewhere on the blog permanently. Staging June 1-2, Pre-Service Training June 3-August 12. Dates of service are August 12, 2010 to August 11, 2012. Which means I will close service on my 30th birthday! 30 was always kinda the age where I figured I should start acting like a grown up at least 70% of the time and become less selfish...maybe PC will help with that :)
Now I have to read my packet and call and accept the invite within 10 business days. I'll read the stuff by this weekend and accept next week; next is getting pics and paperwork filled out for my government passport; then do a resume tailored to my assignment and an aspiration statement to send to the Africa desk. Let's just say there's a sh*t ton of paperwork. On a good note, I wrote my will and got the paperwork for my power of attorney filled out this week. Now I need to sign them with 3 witnesses and have them notarized. Getting little things done makes the whole experience a little less overwhelming, even though I am constantly adding to my "To Do" list all the time. In the future I'll add a page for the to do list so invitees can compare and we can see if we're forgetting anything.
So awesome! Long post, but you know...
j
I knew I was going to Ghana as a business volunteer, but now I have a few more dates which I'll post somewhere on the blog permanently. Staging June 1-2, Pre-Service Training June 3-August 12. Dates of service are August 12, 2010 to August 11, 2012. Which means I will close service on my 30th birthday! 30 was always kinda the age where I figured I should start acting like a grown up at least 70% of the time and become less selfish...maybe PC will help with that :)
Now I have to read my packet and call and accept the invite within 10 business days. I'll read the stuff by this weekend and accept next week; next is getting pics and paperwork filled out for my government passport; then do a resume tailored to my assignment and an aspiration statement to send to the Africa desk. Let's just say there's a sh*t ton of paperwork. On a good note, I wrote my will and got the paperwork for my power of attorney filled out this week. Now I need to sign them with 3 witnesses and have them notarized. Getting little things done makes the whole experience a little less overwhelming, even though I am constantly adding to my "To Do" list all the time. In the future I'll add a page for the to do list so invitees can compare and we can see if we're forgetting anything.
So awesome! Long post, but you know...
j
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Something I Can't Wait For
One thing that has me soooo excited about Ghana is the drumming. It's so beautiful and rythmic. Here's a taste :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnFXVXcIC3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrromeO3zm8&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OnFXVXcIC3Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrromeO3zm8&feature=related
Sooooo...umm...
Well, still haven't got the invite yet :( The PC office did receive my first invitation (sent Dec 23) back ...undeliverable because they didn't put my apartment number on it (FO' REAL? Do they know what they're doing to me?)
On a different note, on January 15 the PC medical office sent me stuff for updated dental info since my check up will be over a year old before I leave...I received this on Jan 19. WTF???? How can PC medical mail get here in 3 days and PC placement mail take weeks??? Grrrrrr.
Anyway, the dental stuff did say that I was slated for Staging on June 2nd for Ghana...yip yip!! Country has been confirmed!!! But that elusive invite is still floatin around somewhere...
j
On a different note, on January 15 the PC medical office sent me stuff for updated dental info since my check up will be over a year old before I leave...I received this on Jan 19. WTF???? How can PC medical mail get here in 3 days and PC placement mail take weeks??? Grrrrrr.
Anyway, the dental stuff did say that I was slated for Staging on June 2nd for Ghana...yip yip!! Country has been confirmed!!! But that elusive invite is still floatin around somewhere...
j
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Ummmm...sooo....
Still have not received my invitation package, so I called the placement office yesterday (the 11th) to let them know that I still haven't received it (they sent it on the 23rd). They sent out a new one this morning, so hopefully I will get it in the next week or so. After a year of waiting, the last two weeks have been especially cruel and I've been especially annoying. I call my apartment ladies everyday, "Did I get a package? Did I, did I?"...bless their hearts.
Come on Fedex!!!
j
Come on Fedex!!!
j
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Invite in the mail
Hi Guys,
This is my first blog post. On Chrismtas Eve my application status was updated to say the invite to West Africa, departing June 1st, was in the mail! From wiki, it looks like I will be going to Ghana!! I'll update once I get the invitation packet.
As a background to my timeline, I interviewed in January 2009, was nominated as a business advising volunteer to a non-Spanish speaking Latin American country leaving February 2010. Medically/dentally cleared in September 2009, updated resume sent in October 2009. At the end of November I was notified (because I called) that I was no longer eligible for my nomination because they added a language requirement. BOO!!!
The week of Christmas I followed up again with the Placement Office and they said I'd be going to Africa instead; excellent!!
So...has anyone else gotten an invite for June 1st? It'd be great to meet some of the people who'll be sharing this adventure.
Cheers,
Jeanna
This is my first blog post. On Chrismtas Eve my application status was updated to say the invite to West Africa, departing June 1st, was in the mail! From wiki, it looks like I will be going to Ghana!! I'll update once I get the invitation packet.
As a background to my timeline, I interviewed in January 2009, was nominated as a business advising volunteer to a non-Spanish speaking Latin American country leaving February 2010. Medically/dentally cleared in September 2009, updated resume sent in October 2009. At the end of November I was notified (because I called) that I was no longer eligible for my nomination because they added a language requirement. BOO!!!
The week of Christmas I followed up again with the Placement Office and they said I'd be going to Africa instead; excellent!!
So...has anyone else gotten an invite for June 1st? It'd be great to meet some of the people who'll be sharing this adventure.
Cheers,
Jeanna
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