Thursday, January 31, 2008

Peace Corps Application Timeline-January 2008

January 31, 2008

GREAT NEWS!!!

So I checked me email today, and received the following message from the PC:
"Peace Corps has updated your Application Status account. Log in to http://www.peacecorps.gov/mytoolkit to see the latest information. "

So, of course I logged on and saw:
"Medical: Complete. Peace Corps has completed your medical review. There are no medical holds on your account at this time."

Wahoo!! I've been medically cleared for service. Now I just have to wait patiently for an invitation!! The invitation process usually takes around 1-2 months. I’ll find out where I’ll be going in Africa when I receive the invitation.

However, being excited and not patient, I decided to email my recruiter and ask him the following:

Hi Ken, I just wanted to let you know that I've been cleared medically!! Wahoo!! Do you know if I have any restrictions with my medical clearance? Do you know when I might recieve an invitation? Do you know if I've been nominated for a French speaking country in Sub-Saharan Africa?

And, he responded:

Hi Sherry, Congratulations on clearing medical. The placement office will be contacting you about the particular program. Your file is now in D.C. and I’m out of the loop. Let me know where you end up.
So, hopefully I'll hear something soon!!

January 30, 2008
I received an email this morning from the medical office Pre-Service Assistant stating they had received my fax. So, I’m praying that the PC has all they need now to clear me for service. Keep your fingers crossed!!

January 29, 2008
I faxed the page that needed to signature to my Dr’s office to be signed and faxed back. However, when I called to check on it at noon, I was told it might not get done that day. Having little patience, I decided to drive to the office on my lunch break to see if I could get things rolling a little faster. I spoke to the physicians nurse, and she told me I would be waiting a long time because the Doctor was really busy. I told her that it was really important that I get the paperwork signed, because I wouldn’t be medically cleared with the PC until the paperwork was signed and returned to the PC Washington Medical Office. Then, for added encouragement, I told her I would send her a souvenir from Africa for her trouble. She smiled real big, and said that a picture of Africa would be enough, and she would see what she could do to hurry the Doctor along. By the time I got back to work, she had already faxed me my medical paperwork with the required signature. So, without delay, I faxed it the paperwork to my PC nurse. I also emailed the medical office to make sure they received my fax.

January 28, 2008
I got a letter from my PC nurse today (1/28) that had been mailed on 1/23/08. . The letter stated the PC needs a Physician’s signature on my medical paperwork. My medical paperwork was signed by a physician’s assistant, and then the medical office staff stamped my medical paperwork with a stamp of the physician’s signature. I thought the PC would be ok with the stamp, but apparently not.

January 24th, 2008
Wow...some news at last!!! I got an email today that said, "Peace Corps has updated your Application Status account. Log in to http://www.peacecorps.gov/mytoolkit to see the latest information. " When I logged on, I received the message below: "A hold has been placed on your file. This may mean simply that your file is under review. See below for further information." "Medical HOLD: All nominees have a medical hold while they are under review. No further action from you is required, unless the Office of Medical Services contacts you to request additional information." So, what does all that mean you may ask. Well, it means that the PC is finally reviewing my medical packet!!! I believe there may be about a 2-5 day timeframe before I find out if I've been medically cleared, not cleared, or if the PC needs more medical info to make their decision. Keep your fingers crossed!

Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Peace Corps Motivation Statement Essay

So, I failed to post the Motivation Statement Essay when I posted the Cross Cultural Essay. These two essays are required as part of the initial PC application process. So, without further delay, here is my Motivation Statement Essay.

Motivation Statement Essay Directions
Peace Corps service presents major physical, emotional, and intellectual challenges. You have provided information on how you qualify for Peace Corps service elsewhere in the application. In the space below, please provide a statement (between 250-500 words) that includes: 1) Your reasons for wanting to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer; and 2) How these reasons are related to your past experiences and life goals.


Motivation Statement

The Peace Corp’s Mission Statement
1. Helping the people of interested countries in meeting
their need for trained men and women.
2. Helping promote a better understanding of Americans
on the part of the peoples served.
3. Helping promote a better understanding of
other peoples on the part of Americans.

The Peace Corp’s mission statement may be “simple”, but Peace Corps volunteers have enhanced the lives of countless people worldwide since 1961. I believe wholeheartedly in the Peace Corp’s mission, and would like to volunteer for this phenomenal organization. I believe that through the Peace Corps, I can make a positive contribution to the world’s humanity. I would also like to have the chance to challenge myself mentally, emotionally, and physically, and I think volunteering with the Peace Corps will make that possible.

While growing up, my family taught me the value of an education, and with hard work and determination I was privileged enough to obtain a college education. I would like to have a chance to apply what I learned in college and what I have learned from volunteering and work related activities, to contribute to the world community. I know that I might not be able to change the world, but I would like to contribute my talents as needed. I believe that volunteering with the Peace Corps will enable me to do just that.

I majored in Anthropology, Folk Studies, and Social Work in college, which allowed me to study various world cultures. However, reading about culture\people from a textbook, is much different than face to face interaction. Whereas a textbook can explain how something might taste or smell, it’s not tangible. Experience goes far beyond the pages of textbook. Volunteering with the Peace Corps will enable me to have the one on one interaction that was not available in the classroom.

I know that being away from friends and family for over two years will be difficult emotionally. I know that I may face many complex challenges, which includes the possibility of learning a new language. However difficult the challenges might be, I know that serving for the Peace Corps will change my life forever, and I’m ready for that challenge.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Peace Corps Nominee Toolkit Learning Resources

A section of the PC Nominee Toolkit includes Learning Recources to help you prepare for PC service:

"It may be a while before you depart for your country of service, but that doesn't mean that you can't start preparing right now! In the coming months, Peace Corps will be adding a series of online training activities to My Toolkit that will help you help yourself get ready for your Volunteer experience. Two new activities are now available to you. The first delves into the different ways in which you can learn new languages. The second explores the various roles that Volunteers can play in different situations. You will also note that we have added a new online journal that will help you reflect on the new things you are learning about Peace Corps as you move through the activities."

So, I decided to share some of the activites here. The 1st activity is about Nelson Mandela and language. I have posted the questions below along with my answers:

Nelson Mandela & Language Learning:
"If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." – Nelson Mandela, from an interview with Fikile Bam

What elements of Nelson's story do you find inspiring?
I find it inspiring that Nelson Mandela was able to use every resource was available to him, to help other people in any way that he could. I also find it inspiring that although he could afford to hire a translator, he choose instead learn the language for himself.

What is the value in learning a foreign language?
You are able to communicate with others more effectively that can't speak your language. Although you could hire or find an interpreter, communication is more effective when you are able to communicate face to face with another person, instead of having someone in the middle. There are many ideas, words, etc that can be lost in translation, and it’s very difficult to translate body language. It would be very difficult to have a conversation with someone with a wall in the middle even if you did speak the same language, because you wouldn’t be able to read body language.
I also believe that if you are trying to help another group of people learn a new trade, learn more effective farming methods, etc, you will achieve better success if you learn their language. The local people will have more respect for you because they will realize that you cared enough to take the time to learn their language. If you are living on their soil, in their villages, eating their food, you should also learn their language.

How do you feel about learning and using a foreign language as a Peace Corps Volunteer?
I think it's wonderful; I've always wanted to learn a foreign language. I think learning the local language will enable me to reach my Peace Corps objective of helping other people improve their health, food production, etc.