The "Interview" and "Nomination" Post

Once again, my recruiter is the greatest, most efficient recruiter in all the land. Today I had my interview with Emily Whitfield from the Southeastern Regional Office. It was awesome! Those of you who are up for an interview with Peace Corps in the near future, don’t sweat it. Emily asked me a series of questions from a prescribed list which took forever! But during, she let me diverge into other subjects and even got off on wacky tangents herself. Emily was professional while remaining very approachable about intimate topics, including her own service with the Peace Corps in Honduras. We met in the café of Gorgas library so there were a lot of distractions, like seeing people I know and the whirring of the blenders. It was kind of hard to stay focused but the conversation was so interesting I had no trouble at all. I thought it would be a good idea to outline some of the harder questions she asked and my responses to them.

1) How will your boyfriend and you manage the separation?

Background on this one: I had already told her Bill and I have had to deal with things like facetime and skype before and while they are not replacements were face to face contact-when that is not available these mechanism work as well.

Bill and I plan to write lots of letters. I love letter writing it helps you really organize the thoughts and descriptions you want to share with others! Also, when internet access allows, we will use things like Skype and Facetime. Peace Corps also offers volunteers cell phones on which to text and call back home on. I believe that open and honest communication will be the keystone to successfully managing the separation. A problem I see on many PC blogs is that the two individuals aren’t experiencing the same things the other is and therefore; people become suspicious. It is only natural. What is important is to remember that you trust and love one another.

2) What will be the hardest part about being away from your family?

My family is my biggest fan. The hardest part I think will be being away from my little brother. I like to keep a constant check on what he’s up to. He’s graduating college soon and it will be hard to not be there for him during that milestone. Who knows? I might be able to conjure up a trip home for that. The thing is, my family is very lax about holidays. I have had to spend Thanksgivings and Christmas Eves away because I had to work. They just worked to make the time that I was home even more special.

3) How will you handle gender stigma in cultures?

This one was hard. I have been thinking about this for a very long time. Something I’m very passionate about is females having the confidence to go out and achieve what they want. But, something I’m also very passionate about is cultural respect. I had to get my recruiters help with this one after I told her that it would be overly difficult for me to do both at the same time. I was happy to hear that Peace Corps trains you for that type situation and moreover, has created special programs culturally designed to empower girls. Once again, I love my recruiter and this organization.

Leosotho is a constitutional monarchy in South Africa.

 So, after the interview Emily looked me in the eye and she said I’m recommending you for service. I said, “So fast!” She laughed and replied, “Oh don’t worry the rest of the process will drag by.” It will drag by but I’ve got a lot coming up over the next few months. A prospective New Orleans trip in April ( to celebrate a very big event for my boyfriend) and a trip to see my BFF Amy in Iowa. She said she’d call me later (btw, the call was because UA’s internet is a joke). Finally, at 8 o'clock, well not exactly but you get the drift, Emily called to let me know she was nominating me for service in Lesotho which is in South Africa. I would depart in October to work as a Primary school teacher and in HIV/AIDS outreach.

Now, a note about nomination: This could all change. It’s very highly likely it won’t, given this program is basically tailor made for me. Nevertheless, the important thing with the Peace Corps is to remain flexible. So, if a few months from now I tell you that I’m going to Peru to help with agriculture and leaving in January (very unlikely haha) don’t get mad! The Peace Corps is a journey and it is the waiting that will make you stronger for your service. You will get frustrated several times while turning in paper work and more paper work and then waiting for months on end, but you feel fulfilled all the while. I’m so excited about my nomination and about my service in the Peace Corps. I still can’t believe that I’m getting to live out my dream!

The "Peace Corps Description" Post

Over the past couple of months, I have poured over everyone’s Peace Corps blogs. I tried to imagine myself in their shoes, the steps I would take. Yesterday, I finally submitted my massive Peace Corps application. Today, I got the call for an interview…next week. Interviews usually take weeks to a month to schedule. Luckily, I got matched up with a great recruiter. I have never felt like things were right with my life like they are now. I am so excited to start this journey and anxious to see where I will end up. A lot of people (particularly my family) will have questions about why I’ve decided to join the PC. Hell, some people are scratching their heads and saying, “What is the Peace Corps?” This post is mostly for my family and close friends. So they will know what I’m doing and feel better about it. Although, I suspect nothing is really going to make y’all feel better about me being away in a third-world country for 2.5 years and I know that nothing will really help y’all understand but there’s no harm in trying.

What the hell is that?
The Peace Corps (hereafter referred to as PC) was established by President John F. Kennedy in 1960. Kennedy wanted to challenge young people to engage with the world in ways contrary to war and defense. He encouraged youth to go in peace to the far corners of the globe. PC has 215,000 active members in 65 countries (so I won’t be alone for the ride). This year the organization celebrated its 50^th anniversary of changing lives this year. PC volunteers travel to several different regions of the world: Europe, Asia, South America Africa… the list goes on. PC operates in several sectors like education and community development without infringing on the cultural rights of the country they are helping.
And just what are you going to be doing?
Well, over the next few months I am engaging in the application process. My application has been turned in and I have an interview with a recruiter next week but there is still a long road. After the interview, the recruiter has the opportunity to nominate me to PC. Given basic information, I will receive an official nomination close to the interview. The initial nomination is very vague and suggests a possible sector and region with a tentative date. So don’t get angry if for the next few months I don’t exactly what I’m doing. Unlike a normal job, PC requires extensive medical, dental, and background clearance. After all, they invest a lot of money and time in the hopes your service will be successful.

Every PCVs story is different. Depending upon where you are stationed and what you are expected to do. Volunteers can be in the same country but have totally different experiences.

Often, you will be subject to dysentery and wild diseases; the nearest doctor might be miles away. You have to be able to endure past it. After I receive medical clearance (which will constitute a series of some serious medical testing) I will enter placement. Placement is where the PC headquarters in DC weighs the information given to them by the application, interview, and medical clearances. They will place you in a region where you will flourish as a volunteer given these factors. It could be a couple of months or it could be half a year. This is PC limbo. After placement you are given the specifics of your service. You are home free and can see the end of the tunnel (or I guess the beginning). During this time, I have read that volunteers should enjoy the company of family and friends as much as possible. Eat a ton of food you think you’ll miss. Enjoy your bed. Staging comes soon. Then you fly off to your new home!

So, do they like pay you and stuff?
Well, essentially PC is a volunteer position but it is also a job. In fact, many have said it’s “the toughest job you’ll ever love”. You are paid a stipend, enough to live at the level of the region you are serving and a little bit extra for traveling but that’s about it. After all, it’s a government job! Upon return, you are appropriated a readjustment allowance of $7,000 to get a new apartment and whatever else you might need to do.

You know, some of those people in other countries they have diseases and like to kill.
Ok, this one seems a bit far out there but I have gotten statements like this. All I can say is that PC vaccinates the hell out of you before service. If it is a possibility to get, you will receive a vaccination for it. But, I will get sick ,probably pretty bad sick, during the first couple of months of service. That has nothing to with the people but more to do with the environment. We also have a security officer on site and most volunteers have to live with a host family. As long as you pay attention during training, keep a good head on your shoulders, and practice safety, you will minimize your possibility of attack. But the second you turn your brain off, you invite bad people into a profitable situation for them. It’s just like when you visit NOLA, don’t run off by yourself for any reason.

Why do you want to do this?
Gosh, there are so many responses when you tell someone that you are applying to be a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer). Most people smile and then go about finishing peeing or whatever it was they were doing when I decided to tell them my life’s story (hah). Some people like to relay their personal feelings on foreign policy because after all they’ve been diplomats for the United States government for all their lives, at least you would think. Throughout the application, they ask you to reiterate why you want to be a PCV, for good reason too. You have to be motivated to get through the crappy days. PC wants to see that this is your ambition for the next two years of your life. By the way, two years-that’s nothing when you’re finally doing what you’ve been put on this Earth to do. My intentions are not to change the world by joining the PC. I know that my service will not make civil wars stop. I know my service won’t stop the senseless inequality of people based on race and sex. But, I will change one child’s life. For one year of some kid’s life, he will have happy memories of coming to school and coloring or playing hopscotch. Every kid deserves that. I would also like to empower young women. When I was younger, I went to a program called Girl Power. It seems really cheesy and looking back it was but I came away from that program with an insatiable urge to never let anyone put me down because I have boobs. Those are just a couple of my goals and as the blog progresses the others will come to surface. 

 

What about law school? And your family? And Bill? And Hemingway? And your friends? And oh, I don’t know your life?!
The thing is, I love all of the people in and around my life. I have surrounded myself with strong people who only want the best for themselves and consequently me. Bill is super supportive of the entire situation. He knows he is working on his own goals right now. Two years is nothing when you’re planning on spending your whole lives together. Law school can wait. I am taking my LSAT on Feb. 8 and again in June. When I come back from service, if law school is still what I want to do, it will be there. I will be a stronger candidate than I ever was before with PC on my side. Or perhaps, some experiences as a PCV will change my ideas and I will want to do something else. PC offers excellent career opportunities to RPCVs. And this is my life.

 

This is what I have wanted to do ever since I was a senior in high school. I want to accumulate life experiences, not just dust in a cubicle. There’s plenty of time for me to become part of the machine if need be but right now nothing warrants my signing over my life for a suit. The Peace Corps is my perfect fit. So I need good vibes on Monday as I take my first real step in the process of becoming a Peace Corps volunteer. I will keep everyone updated with my progress. If you have any questions or concerns (and you are a close family/friend who deserves my attention) please feel free to comment below or ask me whenever!

Btw... if you have any more questions about the Peace Corps or are interested in joining yourself here's a link: link.