One of the most useful resources throughout the months leading up to my departure to Cameroon has been the blogs written by other Peace Corps volunteers. I thought I'd chime in with my own Peace Corps Timeline with hope that maybe I can help future volunteers know what to expect with regard to the application and invitation process. Besides, all the cool kids are doing it!
September 20, 2012: Began filling out the online application.
October 14, 2012: Application submitted. (I could have finished it a lot sooner, but schoolwork and finals slowed me down a bit). Health History Form received and completed.
November 13, 2012: My three references were contacted with forms to submit within ten days.
November 30, 2012: Interview via webcam, which failed and turned into an interview over the phone. Officially nominated during the interview for the sector of of Environment: Agroforestry and Permanent Farming Systems, to depart in September!!! (Although my recruiter didn't tell me what country I was nominated for, I used my sneaky internet skills and found out that it would most likely be Cameroon, based on the program details and departure date.)
December 2012: Fingerprints taken at Marblehead Police Department and mailed for legal clearance.
February 11, 2013: Legally cleared!
April 24, 2013: Placement skills questionnaire received via email.
April 29, 2013: Updated resume and placement skills questionnaire submitted.
May 3, 2013: Officially invited to serve as an Environment Education Agent in Cameroon!
May 4, 2013: Invitation accepted (without hesitation!)
May 13, 2013: Updated resume (in PC format) and Aspiration Statement submitted.
May-June 2013: A couple dozen online tasks completed. Doctors appointments galore. Eyes checked, blood drawn, teeth poked and prodded. (Tasks due on July 13th).
June 7, 2013: Application for no-fee passport and visa mailed.
July 9, 2013: Received final medical and dental clearance.
September 11, 2013: Staging begins.
September 13, 2013: Arrival in Cameroon!!!
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Twiddling my thumbs
After being home for two weeks, I still find myself saying "asante sana" to anyone who does something nice for me (I get a lot of strange looks from cashiers). Adjusting to home life wasn't too difficult, although I still feel like people should be driving on the left side of the road. Actually, driving itself has been pretty hard to get used to again! Cars...eek! The temperature is also taking me time to get used to. It was 80ºF yesterday and everyone kept mentioning how beautiful the weather was, but I still had a sweatshirt on! So I guess it's been a bit of an adjustment, but nothing too difficult.
Anyways, now that I'm preparing for my next adventures, I guess it's about time to turn this regular ol' travel blog into a fancypants Peace Corps blog!
In the past two weeks, I've accomplished a whole lot of nothing except for fulfilling basic preparatory tasks for the Peace Corps. I spent the first week scrambling to submit my application for a "no fee" passport and visa, and the second week was spent doing all sorts of medical stuff. I even managed to take a mini trip to Baltimore and Washington DC in between!
This medical stuff though...whew! I've had appointments galore! Pediatrician (because I guess I'm still a child), regular person doctor, optometrist, and dentist. Today I had six tubes of blood drawn for all the various labs that I need done! I feel like such a science experiment. Maybe they'll discover that I have some sort of super genes or something, or magical blood. That would make it worth it.
I've also begun gear shopping. I'm now the proud owner of a Kindle Paperwhite, on which I downloaded 92 free books! Mostly classics... by the time I come back from Cameroon I'm going to be so well-read and edumacated! I also got myself a nice new pair of hiking boots! (Or shall I say, my dear mommy got me a nice new pair of hiking boots). Mount Cameroon ain't no Kilimanjaro, but I'll settle. :)
So now what? I have about three months left to cram in as much fun as possible. I can already check Baltimore and DC off the list. So far I've planned trips to Montreal, NYC, New Jersey (for my brother's wedding!!!) and Alaska. I'm not really sure what I'll be doing in between all of these trips, but I'm sure that whatever it is, there will be plenty of ice cream!
Anyways, now that I'm preparing for my next adventures, I guess it's about time to turn this regular ol' travel blog into a fancypants Peace Corps blog!
In the past two weeks, I've accomplished a whole lot of nothing except for fulfilling basic preparatory tasks for the Peace Corps. I spent the first week scrambling to submit my application for a "no fee" passport and visa, and the second week was spent doing all sorts of medical stuff. I even managed to take a mini trip to Baltimore and Washington DC in between!
This medical stuff though...whew! I've had appointments galore! Pediatrician (because I guess I'm still a child), regular person doctor, optometrist, and dentist. Today I had six tubes of blood drawn for all the various labs that I need done! I feel like such a science experiment. Maybe they'll discover that I have some sort of super genes or something, or magical blood. That would make it worth it.
I've also begun gear shopping. I'm now the proud owner of a Kindle Paperwhite, on which I downloaded 92 free books! Mostly classics... by the time I come back from Cameroon I'm going to be so well-read and edumacated! I also got myself a nice new pair of hiking boots! (Or shall I say, my dear mommy got me a nice new pair of hiking boots). Mount Cameroon ain't no Kilimanjaro, but I'll settle. :)
So now what? I have about three months left to cram in as much fun as possible. I can already check Baltimore and DC off the list. So far I've planned trips to Montreal, NYC, New Jersey (for my brother's wedding!!!) and Alaska. I'm not really sure what I'll be doing in between all of these trips, but I'm sure that whatever it is, there will be plenty of ice cream!
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