Progress, hope, and comfort all in one week about the Peace Corps.
I have a specific contact in placement =) She sent me an email last Friday requesting an updated resume, transcript, and proof that I've been actively learning Spanish. She also informed me that they are unsure whether or not the program I had been nominated to would be cut or not; they are still evaluating programs for final cuts. She asked if I would still want to be considered for placement after january 2012 if in fact my program is cut. So at least I know where I stand right now.... progress...
So I responded (and of course sent her the wrong resume, it wouldn't be me if that didn't happen) and told her that it really didn't matter when, I am still completely committed to this process...but I did mention that I would want to leave between June and August 2012 since any job I would get....or if I continued teaching, I would want to service students for the entire year and not just half of it. I haven't heard back from her about that so perhaps I will just leave in August as originally planned =) hope....
The other amazing Peace Corps event that happened this week was the Black RPCV/PCV/prospective PCV happy hour in D.C. I am sooooo thankful I went. I met a lot of people who enjoyed their experiences, stayed through COS and even one who extended their service. Many of them served in the Caribbean, Latin or South America, so it was great to hear their perspective. It was a wonderful opportunity to network....in my time there, I was promised letters and soap when I leave, offered Rosetta Stone, convinced someone to consider becoming a special education teacher (because we rock!) and connected with someone who is going to come to my school and do an HIV/AIDS presentation..... awesome!
But more than that, I received some comfort.... I am not alone. It is definitely important to create a circle to share what I may or may not experience as a volunteer and to have someone else who has been throughout understand my unique perspective. I also realized how important it was for me to be an ambassador, more people who look like me and come from where I'm from should venture to explore the world through traveling and serving internationally. I am hoping that this blog can be a vessel that provides insight into my experiences and encourages my friends and family to consider serving as well.
Well back to enjoying a wonderful weekend (in the middle of nowhere) with my lovely sisters in Christ as we grow closer to God, rest, and strengthen our connection. Enjoy your Memorial day weekend everyone!!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Random Updates and Things of that Nature
This is going to be an all inclusive update since I do not have that much PC news to tell but I feel like I should not abandon my blog =)
My last post referred to my patience in waiting to hear from placement. (And some of my friends just didn't want to hear about Peace Corps anymore). But for valid reasons-they want me to enjoy the time I have left here. Anyways right after that post....a lot of people started posting about the budget cuts, and invitations being delayed or cancelled....
So while I am still being patient, I wanted to make sure that I had a back up plan. But as much as I wanted to apply for education positions or research opportunities, my heart really wasn't in it. This is truly the season in my life where I feel most prepared and ready to serve in the Peace Corps. If I couldn't serve in the Peace Corps right now, I would love to continue teaching and coordinating the college access program I brought to my school, its probably the only thing that will do. But returning to my current job would be an issue because I had already informed my school that I would not be returning. I implemented a successful college access program and I wanted to ensure that it would remain successful even in my absence (but so much for following directions and actually waiting until I had an invitation to make life changing decisions).
Anyways, I'm thankful because my principal asked me to keep her updated on the PC process in case something goes wrong with it and the chancellor of my school district emailed me personally to ask me to continue serving as a teacher. Needless to say, I'm humbled and honored because my students are wonderful and they have made me so proud over the past 2 years.
So I'm sure everyone was waiting for the little bit of this post that was related to PC, anyways, my college access program had an awards ceremony and I won Educator of the Year for my region. I had informed PC CYD office that I would inform them if I won so I sent an email in this morning. I got an email back like ten minutes later congratulating me on my accomplishment, and informing me that it would be added to my file and they would contact me as soon as they had "more potential programmatic information".
So while I'm thankful that they are still considering me for my potential departure of August 2011 (I think), potential programmatic information scares me. It is vague, but also makes it very clear that my potential nomination is on the chopping block. Even so, I'll continue to wait and be patient. Besides, I need to make sure that all of my seniors have chosen a place to go to school, I need to finish studying for my final exam and prep for my meeting with my advisor, and I need to actually follow my friends' advice and spend a lot of time with them =)
My last post referred to my patience in waiting to hear from placement. (And some of my friends just didn't want to hear about Peace Corps anymore). But for valid reasons-they want me to enjoy the time I have left here. Anyways right after that post....a lot of people started posting about the budget cuts, and invitations being delayed or cancelled....
So while I am still being patient, I wanted to make sure that I had a back up plan. But as much as I wanted to apply for education positions or research opportunities, my heart really wasn't in it. This is truly the season in my life where I feel most prepared and ready to serve in the Peace Corps. If I couldn't serve in the Peace Corps right now, I would love to continue teaching and coordinating the college access program I brought to my school, its probably the only thing that will do. But returning to my current job would be an issue because I had already informed my school that I would not be returning. I implemented a successful college access program and I wanted to ensure that it would remain successful even in my absence (but so much for following directions and actually waiting until I had an invitation to make life changing decisions).
Anyways, I'm thankful because my principal asked me to keep her updated on the PC process in case something goes wrong with it and the chancellor of my school district emailed me personally to ask me to continue serving as a teacher. Needless to say, I'm humbled and honored because my students are wonderful and they have made me so proud over the past 2 years.
So I'm sure everyone was waiting for the little bit of this post that was related to PC, anyways, my college access program had an awards ceremony and I won Educator of the Year for my region. I had informed PC CYD office that I would inform them if I won so I sent an email in this morning. I got an email back like ten minutes later congratulating me on my accomplishment, and informing me that it would be added to my file and they would contact me as soon as they had "more potential programmatic information".
So while I'm thankful that they are still considering me for my potential departure of August 2011 (I think), potential programmatic information scares me. It is vague, but also makes it very clear that my potential nomination is on the chopping block. Even so, I'll continue to wait and be patient. Besides, I need to make sure that all of my seniors have chosen a place to go to school, I need to finish studying for my final exam and prep for my meeting with my advisor, and I need to actually follow my friends' advice and spend a lot of time with them =)
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