Everyone has been asking when I leave for Honduras...which of course requires a pretty long answer. The past week has been filled with some highs and lows, but with regards to leaving for Honduras it's been low low low. On Friday of last week I received a phone call from Peace Corps informing me that due to violence and instability in the region, Peace Corps would not be sending any more volunteers to Honduras for 2012. After a quick google search I discovered that the prospective volunteers leaving for Guatemala and El Salvador were also affected by the decision. According to the New York Times, that's almost 105 volunteers that now need to be placed elsewhere. Sometimes I wish I had an e-mail of some of these other volunteers so that we could share our thoughts/frustrations, hopes for the future. That sound cheesy, but it would be nice to talk to some other people in the same boat. This week the New York Times reported that not only was Peace Corps not sending any more people to Honduras, it was evacuating the country altogether. Come January, all 168 volunteers that are currently serving there will have to come home.
This of course speaks volumes about the rampant violence that is plaguing Central America and Mexico. I'm not an expert on the issue, and I'm sure there's no easy answer to ending it, but it is a very sad situation. Especially for a region that can never seem to escape violence.
So I'm closing the book on Honduras. Since I received my placement letter in August I've been learning a lot about the country; its history, culture, and politics. But now I'm getting excited all over again, that nervous excitement that I had all summer, waiting for my country placement. On Tuesday the placement office for Peace Corps called. Her initial question was about my priorities; Am I most tied to: my regional placement? my {work} assignment? or my departure time period?
I assumed that saying 'all of the above' wouldn't be a proper answer. So I mentioned that I was hoping for a Latin American country where I could use my Spanish. She was very blunt [not in the rude way, but in a way one can appreciate] and told me that not only was Latin America the most requested region, but given all of the recent events, I should probably not plan on going there. Which is fine, I'm very flexible, just eager to leave! So number two priority: departure date. It looks like, however, all of the programs through March are filled. Meaning the soonest I will be leaving now would be April. The rest of the conversation was pretty standard 'we don't know too much yet, we'll be in contact' stuff the Peace Corps is good at. It looks like I won't really know anything until mid-January.
Only one program leaves in April (at the end of April I should point out): Uganda. So...assuming I'm not going there I'm probably going to be around for quite a while. Which leads to another problem. WHAT ON EARTH am I going to do with myself? Come February I'm effectively unemployed. And Peace Corps has my passport [what's the status on that?! I'd like to know]. So...I'm thinking I need to find something to occupy my time. I've created a list:
1. I'm aching to go on a roadtrip. A fun, long, friend filled road trip. Of course the likelihood of this happening is very small. But I'm holding out hope.
2. I have a friend who lives in New York and I've thought about going to visit him [again]. Of course he's busy and has an actual life, plus New York's expensive. So...not sure if that's going to happen.
3. Find a Job. Just until I leave. Of course...not sure if that's going to happen.
Okay I'm three into my list and realizing how ridiculously pessimistic I'm being. In all honesty I'm holding out a lot of hope too. I'm hoping that I find out my country [sooner rather than later] and find enough awesome things to do this spring to hold my attention.
Only time will tell. I'll keep you updated.
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Roadblocks
I found out on Friday I won't be going to Honduras in February.
A volunteer was injured {in some kind of violent incident}, and due to growing instability in the country the Peace Corps has decided to cancel the program for next year. Which is the second setback I've had during this whole process. I have very mixed feelings about all of this, number one being frustration. After the delay last year, finally receiving my invitation made it all seem like such a sure plan. Now things seem to be a little up in the air. Of course, I don't want to be in a situation that's deemed unsafe. It just goes to show how lucky we are in the United States (I'm not saying there isn't violent crime here, but it doesn't seem to dominate daily life like it does in many countries around the world).
At this point I don't know too much, the placement officer told me I should be getting a phone call on Monday or Tuesday to explore what my options are from here on out.
A volunteer was injured {in some kind of violent incident}, and due to growing instability in the country the Peace Corps has decided to cancel the program for next year. Which is the second setback I've had during this whole process. I have very mixed feelings about all of this, number one being frustration. After the delay last year, finally receiving my invitation made it all seem like such a sure plan. Now things seem to be a little up in the air. Of course, I don't want to be in a situation that's deemed unsafe. It just goes to show how lucky we are in the United States (I'm not saying there isn't violent crime here, but it doesn't seem to dominate daily life like it does in many countries around the world).
At this point I don't know too much, the placement officer told me I should be getting a phone call on Monday or Tuesday to explore what my options are from here on out.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Applying for the Peace Corps: Part Two
Isn't it funny? The little things you seem to remember. I remember the night my placement officer called to tell me I had been nominated for the Peace Corps. It was a significant step in the process because I finally felt like I could begin telling my family and friends about my [tentative] post-graduation plans.
I was in my kitchen in the midst of making spaghetti a la carbonara (because I'm cool like that, it was actually a staple in my college diet). Now, anyone who's anyone knows that the final step in making carbonara, while not difficult, requires a lot of care and attention. After rendering the fat from the pancetta and cooking the noodles, you create a mixture of egg, cream, black pepper, and parmesan cheese. Noodles go into the fry pan and mixed with the rendered fat and the cooked pork. Finally, you add the egg/cheese mixture and stir the sh*t out of it. Ideally it will become a creamy cheesy mixture. If you f*cked up it will become scrambled eggs with noodles (which I can only assume is disgusting). So back to my story, noodles were cooked, fat was rendered, when--RING RING. No that's not quite right. I believe I had an Amy Winehouse ringtone. So she starting singing and even though I'm terrible at multitasking, I answered the phone. My placement officer Janice was on the other line, and started off with some small talk. Straining the noodles. Wiping the fog off of my glasses. 'So I just wanted to tell you that I've decided to nominate you and we can move on with the process. The pancetta pops and a piece of grease hits me on the hand, 'SH*T!' doesn't sound like a proper response to what she's saying so I ignore the pain. 'Given some of your past experiences, I've decided to place you as a health extension volunteer to work in either Central or South America.' Sigh, or maybe it was quick intake of breath. Its one of those sounds you make when you're excited, only to later ask 'What the hell was that sound?!' 'I thought you might be excited, I know that's where you were hoping to go!' Pouring the mixture into pan and stirring my heart out. Some just fell onto the floor, but doing two things at once is hard enough, I'll wipe it later. 'Now I know you were hoping to leave next summer, but this program will have you leaving next September.' Ten months from now, I can live with that. 'Do you have any questions?' I made a lot of carbonara, would you like some? 'Great well congratulations and you have my phone number!' At this point I was completely ignoring my delicious italian treat and running around my living room like a buffoon doing, what I can only imagine was, an incredibly awkward dance. I wanted to call someone, but of course nobody was answering their phones!
It was a good night. The next part is the hardest. The waiting.
Towards Christmas time I received a lovely, thick packet from the PC office with all kinds of medical/dental forms that I was to have filled out ASAP. Now, normally I would have all of Christmas break to get this done, but seeing as I was out of the country for most of January, I had a small, five day period in which I had to get my entire medical review done. For anyone who wants to know what the medical review is like, I would say: all-encompassing. I was poked in every orifice (that's actually not a joke, it was kind of gross). I got every vaccine scientists could think of. [I pride myself on being well-vaccinated. And no Michelle Bachman, the vaccines haven't made me mentally retarded] I had gallons of blood taken (okay that one is a joke, but it seemed like a lot!)
Good news: I'm healthy. Bad news: Insurance covered none of what I got done. Good news: I have parents who love me...and paid to make sure I'm healthy :)
After being cleared the waiting game continued. All spring. 'Ian where are you going in the Peace Corps?!' Still don't know. All summer. 'Ian where are you going in the Peace Corps?!' Still don't know. About mid-July I received a letter in the mail, but it wasn't the letter I was hoping for. Due to budget cuts, my program, set to leave in September, had been canceled. To say I was upset would be an understatement. I was also a little depressed having realized this was the basket in which I had placed all of my eggs. There was a possibility that I would get to leave with the next health extension team in February, but I would be competing against the people nominated to leave then, as well as the comrades I was to leave with in September. In order to stay competitive I would have to complete so many hours in different volunteer sectors and do some résumé polishing. It was going to be a lot of work, and I didn't really have the time. Luckily I had gotten a job at the Boys and Girls club for the summer and was able to acquire quite a bit of hours of 'health-teaching experience.'
Well, the work seemed to pay off, and at the end of my [depressing] summer, I received the invitation kit [and country name] I wanted so badly. Honduras.
So it's set. I'm leaving February 22nd to serve as a Health volunteer (working with HIV/AIDS) for 27 months! The process was long and tedious, and the waiting was HARD, but it has paid off. I am excited for the adventure that awaits and eager to get on the road. Plane. Eager to get on the plan.
I was in my kitchen in the midst of making spaghetti a la carbonara (because I'm cool like that, it was actually a staple in my college diet). Now, anyone who's anyone knows that the final step in making carbonara, while not difficult, requires a lot of care and attention. After rendering the fat from the pancetta and cooking the noodles, you create a mixture of egg, cream, black pepper, and parmesan cheese. Noodles go into the fry pan and mixed with the rendered fat and the cooked pork. Finally, you add the egg/cheese mixture and stir the sh*t out of it. Ideally it will become a creamy cheesy mixture. If you f*cked up it will become scrambled eggs with noodles (which I can only assume is disgusting). So back to my story, noodles were cooked, fat was rendered, when--RING RING. No that's not quite right. I believe I had an Amy Winehouse ringtone. So she starting singing and even though I'm terrible at multitasking, I answered the phone. My placement officer Janice was on the other line, and started off with some small talk. Straining the noodles. Wiping the fog off of my glasses. 'So I just wanted to tell you that I've decided to nominate you and we can move on with the process. The pancetta pops and a piece of grease hits me on the hand, 'SH*T!' doesn't sound like a proper response to what she's saying so I ignore the pain. 'Given some of your past experiences, I've decided to place you as a health extension volunteer to work in either Central or South America.' Sigh, or maybe it was quick intake of breath. Its one of those sounds you make when you're excited, only to later ask 'What the hell was that sound?!' 'I thought you might be excited, I know that's where you were hoping to go!' Pouring the mixture into pan and stirring my heart out. Some just fell onto the floor, but doing two things at once is hard enough, I'll wipe it later. 'Now I know you were hoping to leave next summer, but this program will have you leaving next September.' Ten months from now, I can live with that. 'Do you have any questions?' I made a lot of carbonara, would you like some? 'Great well congratulations and you have my phone number!' At this point I was completely ignoring my delicious italian treat and running around my living room like a buffoon doing, what I can only imagine was, an incredibly awkward dance. I wanted to call someone, but of course nobody was answering their phones!
It was a good night. The next part is the hardest. The waiting.
Towards Christmas time I received a lovely, thick packet from the PC office with all kinds of medical/dental forms that I was to have filled out ASAP. Now, normally I would have all of Christmas break to get this done, but seeing as I was out of the country for most of January, I had a small, five day period in which I had to get my entire medical review done. For anyone who wants to know what the medical review is like, I would say: all-encompassing. I was poked in every orifice (that's actually not a joke, it was kind of gross). I got every vaccine scientists could think of. [I pride myself on being well-vaccinated. And no Michelle Bachman, the vaccines haven't made me mentally retarded] I had gallons of blood taken (okay that one is a joke, but it seemed like a lot!)
Good news: I'm healthy. Bad news: Insurance covered none of what I got done. Good news: I have parents who love me...and paid to make sure I'm healthy :)
After being cleared the waiting game continued. All spring. 'Ian where are you going in the Peace Corps?!' Still don't know. All summer. 'Ian where are you going in the Peace Corps?!' Still don't know. About mid-July I received a letter in the mail, but it wasn't the letter I was hoping for. Due to budget cuts, my program, set to leave in September, had been canceled. To say I was upset would be an understatement. I was also a little depressed having realized this was the basket in which I had placed all of my eggs. There was a possibility that I would get to leave with the next health extension team in February, but I would be competing against the people nominated to leave then, as well as the comrades I was to leave with in September. In order to stay competitive I would have to complete so many hours in different volunteer sectors and do some résumé polishing. It was going to be a lot of work, and I didn't really have the time. Luckily I had gotten a job at the Boys and Girls club for the summer and was able to acquire quite a bit of hours of 'health-teaching experience.'
Well, the work seemed to pay off, and at the end of my [depressing] summer, I received the invitation kit [and country name] I wanted so badly. Honduras.
So it's set. I'm leaving February 22nd to serve as a Health volunteer (working with HIV/AIDS) for 27 months! The process was long and tedious, and the waiting was HARD, but it has paid off. I am excited for the adventure that awaits and eager to get on the road. Plane. Eager to get on the plan.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Applying for the Peace Corps: Part One
Since I applied for the Peace Corps I've been getting a lot of questions. Most often I get asked where I'll be going, which for the better part of a year, I really had no idea. I guaranteed people they would know as soon as I did. [I held true, posting my position/country on facebook about three seconds after tearing open the envelope. Speaking of the envelope, the whole invitation package was wrapped up in what is quite possibly the most well sealed piece of mail I've ever received. Which seems like a cruel joke. I digress] Most people seem to think I'm only going to be gone a few months. 'Well, yes. 27 months.' Cue wide open shocked expression.
Them: Will you be able to come home? Me: Well...I do get vacation time, but I'm hoping to instead meet my family somewhere in Central America for Christmas. Them: What are you going to do when you come back? Me: I have two years to decide! Right? Them: Will there be translators? Me: Nope. Hoping this Spanish degree is worth something. Them: Is it safe? Me: Um...well yes and no. I've been reading a lot about Honduras (an obsessive amount) and I won't lie. There are nerves. And it's upsetting that a country and a people have to exist in that kind of turmoil. But, from what I hear and read, the Peace Corps puts its volunteers' safety as a top priority. And its not good to live life doing only the 'safe' things.
Them: Why did you decide to join?
Me: ...
This is one of those questions where there never seems to be a simply concise [elevator] answer. The truth is that this has been on my mind for a long time, even back in high school. Of course what did I know back then. Throughout college I would attend the info meetings, signup for emails, and read the literature Peace Corps sent to me [did I sign a list? How did they find me?!]. But in the back of my mind those books were always under the grad school ones. Because that's just what you do after college, right? At least, that's what all of my friends are doing.
CUT TO: INT. COLLEGE APARTMENT LIVING ROOM. SUMMERTIME
I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go to grad school right away. I might get some flak for saying this, but I didn't see the value in going from school to school. For me at least, I want to get out of the classroom and learn on location, which really, is the best way to learn. (I'm thinking a blog post on this topic is soon to come)
So with that in mind, I opened up my laptop, googled the Peace Corps, and filled out the online application. All in one fell swoop. Actually the application is incredibly time consuming and took me a few weeks. It's a good primer to the application process as whole, which is...[trying to think of an adequate word but failing]. Long. About mid October the application was finished and submitted, and then I had only to wait. Soon after I received a phone call from my local placement officer, who just so happened to be coming to town the next week! We scheduled an interview, and quick google search revealed [in advance] some of the questions I could expect. Once I got to the interview I was [pleasantly?] surprised at how we went through the list verbatim. I left the interview feeling good, and excited for what was to come...
Them: Will you be able to come home? Me: Well...I do get vacation time, but I'm hoping to instead meet my family somewhere in Central America for Christmas. Them: What are you going to do when you come back? Me: I have two years to decide! Right? Them: Will there be translators? Me: Nope. Hoping this Spanish degree is worth something. Them: Is it safe? Me: Um...well yes and no. I've been reading a lot about Honduras (an obsessive amount) and I won't lie. There are nerves. And it's upsetting that a country and a people have to exist in that kind of turmoil. But, from what I hear and read, the Peace Corps puts its volunteers' safety as a top priority. And its not good to live life doing only the 'safe' things.
Them: Why did you decide to join?
Me: ...
This is one of those questions where there never seems to be a simply concise [elevator] answer. The truth is that this has been on my mind for a long time, even back in high school. Of course what did I know back then. Throughout college I would attend the info meetings, signup for emails, and read the literature Peace Corps sent to me [did I sign a list? How did they find me?!]. But in the back of my mind those books were always under the grad school ones. Because that's just what you do after college, right? At least, that's what all of my friends are doing.
CUT TO: INT. COLLEGE APARTMENT LIVING ROOM. SUMMERTIME
I wasn't entirely sure I wanted to go to grad school right away. I might get some flak for saying this, but I didn't see the value in going from school to school. For me at least, I want to get out of the classroom and learn on location, which really, is the best way to learn. (I'm thinking a blog post on this topic is soon to come)
So with that in mind, I opened up my laptop, googled the Peace Corps, and filled out the online application. All in one fell swoop. Actually the application is incredibly time consuming and took me a few weeks. It's a good primer to the application process as whole, which is...[trying to think of an adequate word but failing]. Long. About mid October the application was finished and submitted, and then I had only to wait. Soon after I received a phone call from my local placement officer, who just so happened to be coming to town the next week! We scheduled an interview, and quick google search revealed [in advance] some of the questions I could expect. Once I got to the interview I was [pleasantly?] surprised at how we went through the list verbatim. I left the interview feeling good, and excited for what was to come...
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Well...here it goes
This certainly isn't the first blog I've ever started, but I'm hoping it proves to be more successful than some of my [pitiful] past attempts. I have this problem sometimes where I start things and lose excitement shortly after. or maybe i assume that nobody cares.
I actually have a reason for writing one this time. I'm leaving soon to join the Peace Corps, and I'm hoping that this will provide the perfect outlet for me to chronicle my time abroad, as well as letting my family and friends in on what's going on in my life.
'You're joining the Peace Corps Ian?' let me guess, you've thought of it too. I hear that a lot, and to be honest one of the biggest motivators for me to send in my application [and eventually accept my invitation] was reading the blogs of current PCVs. I'm hoping that this can provide the same insight to someone, somewhere, considering the adventure. I'm always open, honest, and 100% sarcastic which cancels out the honesty. Basically I'm hoping for some good stories :)
The process of applying and getting ready to leave has been a long one (I still have until mid-February before I ship out!) but has taught me a lot about patience. It's also helped an über-planning control freak learn to go with the flow [which i must admit is has been hard, but i best get used to it now because i can only imagine what my time in the peace corps will be like!]
There's so much more I want to write about but I'm tired and will consider this small, late night contribution to be a sufficient start.
I actually have a reason for writing one this time. I'm leaving soon to join the Peace Corps, and I'm hoping that this will provide the perfect outlet for me to chronicle my time abroad, as well as letting my family and friends in on what's going on in my life.
'You're joining the Peace Corps Ian?' let me guess, you've thought of it too. I hear that a lot, and to be honest one of the biggest motivators for me to send in my application [and eventually accept my invitation] was reading the blogs of current PCVs. I'm hoping that this can provide the same insight to someone, somewhere, considering the adventure. I'm always open, honest, and 100% sarcastic which cancels out the honesty. Basically I'm hoping for some good stories :)
The process of applying and getting ready to leave has been a long one (I still have until mid-February before I ship out!) but has taught me a lot about patience. It's also helped an über-planning control freak learn to go with the flow [which i must admit is has been hard, but i best get used to it now because i can only imagine what my time in the peace corps will be like!]
There's so much more I want to write about but I'm tired and will consider this small, late night contribution to be a sufficient start.
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