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Sunday, February 24, 2008
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Peace Corps Invitation News
Wow, I’m so excited…my PO (Placement Officer) called from Washington today to discuss my invitation.
I had called off from work today, because I have the nasty flu virus that’s going around. My cell phone rang and woke me from a fever induced nap. I picked up the phone but I didn’t answer it, because I didn’t recognize the number. It rang again a few minutes later indicating I had a voice mail. I listened to the message and was very surprised to hear that it was my PO introducing herself, and requesting that I call her back in regards to my invitation. I jumped out of bed, completely forgetting about my sore throat and fever, and ran across my room to jot down her number. I had been very upset about having to stay home and use PTO for being ill, but if I had been at work, I would have missed her call. Anyway, I called her back and had to leave a message because she didn’t answer. About 10 agonizing minutes later, my phone rang again and it was my PO.
She started off by telling me that my nomination had changed. She said the Youth Development program I had been nominated for was not in operation anymore (Kenya maybe?). She said she found another program that she thought would be better suited to my educational\experience background. However, she said she needed to ask me a few questions first. She congratulated me on being medically cleared. She then asked me about any computer related college classes I had taken, and also asked my about my prior experience at teaching computer literacy classes to youth. She then said she would like to invite me to be a Resource Specialist in Africa teaching computer literacy under the School and Community Resource Project leaving July 2008. I told her I would love to do that. I asked her where in Africa, and she said that she couldn’t tell me over the phone. She said that I would be receiving the invitation packet in the mail in a few days, and I would have 10 days to accept or reject the invitation. She said the packet would offer further details on what my duties would entail as a Resource Specialist, and where I would be stationed.
This is wonderful news…I didn’t expect to hear anything for another 2-3 months! I’m also surprised that I was offered a completely different position than I was nominated for, and I’m now leaving about 2 moths earlier! I’m very happy with this position, because I’ll get to work with two things I enjoy: youth and computers!
I’ll post another update after I receive my invitation!
I had called off from work today, because I have the nasty flu virus that’s going around. My cell phone rang and woke me from a fever induced nap. I picked up the phone but I didn’t answer it, because I didn’t recognize the number. It rang again a few minutes later indicating I had a voice mail. I listened to the message and was very surprised to hear that it was my PO introducing herself, and requesting that I call her back in regards to my invitation. I jumped out of bed, completely forgetting about my sore throat and fever, and ran across my room to jot down her number. I had been very upset about having to stay home and use PTO for being ill, but if I had been at work, I would have missed her call. Anyway, I called her back and had to leave a message because she didn’t answer. About 10 agonizing minutes later, my phone rang again and it was my PO.
She started off by telling me that my nomination had changed. She said the Youth Development program I had been nominated for was not in operation anymore (Kenya maybe?). She said she found another program that she thought would be better suited to my educational\experience background. However, she said she needed to ask me a few questions first. She congratulated me on being medically cleared. She then asked me about any computer related college classes I had taken, and also asked my about my prior experience at teaching computer literacy classes to youth. She then said she would like to invite me to be a Resource Specialist in Africa teaching computer literacy under the School and Community Resource Project leaving July 2008. I told her I would love to do that. I asked her where in Africa, and she said that she couldn’t tell me over the phone. She said that I would be receiving the invitation packet in the mail in a few days, and I would have 10 days to accept or reject the invitation. She said the packet would offer further details on what my duties would entail as a Resource Specialist, and where I would be stationed.
This is wonderful news…I didn’t expect to hear anything for another 2-3 months! I’m also surprised that I was offered a completely different position than I was nominated for, and I’m now leaving about 2 moths earlier! I’m very happy with this position, because I’ll get to work with two things I enjoy: youth and computers!
I’ll post another update after I receive my invitation!
Monday, February 18, 2008
Peace Corps Application Timeline-February 2008
February 20th, 2008
I received the following email message today:
"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 found the following message:
"Congratulations! You have been invited to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Peace Corps sent you an invitation kit on February 19, 2008. Within 10 days of receiving your kit, please call us regarding your decision to accept or decline our invitation. If we do not hear from you within this period, the assignment may be offered to another applicant.
This section of the Web site provides details about what happens after you have been sent your invitation. It also covers important safety, security, and travel information that will be addressed before you go overseas. You will still be able to check your application status, make updates to your contact information, gather resources about your assignment area and region, and download information to give to your family and friends. Of course, the information presented here is meant to complement any other materials you receive from the Peace Corps, not replace them. We will continue to communicate with you via email, postal mail, and telephone while you are an invitee."
February 19th, 2008
I received a call from my PO today, telling my that my nomination has changed, and my invitation is in the mail. See my invitation post for more details!
February 2, 2008
I received the following letter from the PC today dated 1/31/08:
Dear Ms. Sherry
You have been medically (not dentally) qualified for Pc service. Your application will now be considered by the Office of Placement, which matches the experience and skills of medically qualified applicants with the requirements of available assignments. They will notify you directly of their decision.
You will be notified separately of your dental qualification. Final clearance for a staging and/or departure cannot be given until your dental qualification is completed.
You are required to bring a three (3) month supply of all your current medications/s to country with you. PC will use generic equivalents whenever possible while you are in service. If you have any medication allergies, please wear a Med-alert bracelet at all time while you are in the PC service.
Remember that your medical/dental clearance is base on your current status. Please notify us immediately if you become ill, undergo surgery, add or change medication (including birth control pills or injections), undergo therapy/treatment, or develop any condition for which you seek medial assistance. Any significant change in your current health status may impact on your medical/dental clearance. Failure to disclose such information may seriously affect your health overseas, as well as your status as a PC Trainee/Volunteer.
I’ve already received dental clearance and I’m not taking any meds…so I’m good there.
Now I just have to wait patiently for an invitation!
I received the following email message today:
"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 found the following message:
"Congratulations! You have been invited to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Peace Corps sent you an invitation kit on February 19, 2008. Within 10 days of receiving your kit, please call us regarding your decision to accept or decline our invitation. If we do not hear from you within this period, the assignment may be offered to another applicant.
This section of the Web site provides details about what happens after you have been sent your invitation. It also covers important safety, security, and travel information that will be addressed before you go overseas. You will still be able to check your application status, make updates to your contact information, gather resources about your assignment area and region, and download information to give to your family and friends. Of course, the information presented here is meant to complement any other materials you receive from the Peace Corps, not replace them. We will continue to communicate with you via email, postal mail, and telephone while you are an invitee."
February 19th, 2008
I received a call from my PO today, telling my that my nomination has changed, and my invitation is in the mail. See my invitation post for more details!
February 2, 2008
I received the following letter from the PC today dated 1/31/08:
Dear Ms. Sherry
You have been medically (not dentally) qualified for Pc service. Your application will now be considered by the Office of Placement, which matches the experience and skills of medically qualified applicants with the requirements of available assignments. They will notify you directly of their decision.
You will be notified separately of your dental qualification. Final clearance for a staging and/or departure cannot be given until your dental qualification is completed.
You are required to bring a three (3) month supply of all your current medications/s to country with you. PC will use generic equivalents whenever possible while you are in service. If you have any medication allergies, please wear a Med-alert bracelet at all time while you are in the PC service.
Remember that your medical/dental clearance is base on your current status. Please notify us immediately if you become ill, undergo surgery, add or change medication (including birth control pills or injections), undergo therapy/treatment, or develop any condition for which you seek medial assistance. Any significant change in your current health status may impact on your medical/dental clearance. Failure to disclose such information may seriously affect your health overseas, as well as your status as a PC Trainee/Volunteer.
I’ve already received dental clearance and I’m not taking any meds…so I’m good there.
Now I just have to wait patiently for an invitation!
Friday, February 15, 2008
Naked Mole-Rats...Peace Corps Soup
This little animal really exists! It's called a Naked Mole-Rat, and it makes its home in Africa.
I received this photo in an email today from Megan, one of my email buddies at work. I was very surprised to see the photo, because I just finished reading a book (Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village) that mentions a meal that I believe may have included this little creature. The book was written by a former PCV, Sarah Erdman. In the book she writes about being given a bowl of soup that contained the head of what looked like a rat, with very large buck teeth…still intact. I believe this little creature may have been the main ingredient in Sarah's soup! (You should read this book if you haven't...it's great!). I have to say that I don’t think these little creatures look very appetizing, but I could be wrong...maybe they taste like chicken!
If you are interested, you can find mole-rat info at: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2002/3/nakedmolerats.cfm
*Native Africans have long known of the existence of naked mole-rats, which they call sand puppies. *Naked mole-rats are limited to the horn of Africa, including parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
I received this photo in an email today from Megan, one of my email buddies at work. I was very surprised to see the photo, because I just finished reading a book (Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village) that mentions a meal that I believe may have included this little creature. The book was written by a former PCV, Sarah Erdman. In the book she writes about being given a bowl of soup that contained the head of what looked like a rat, with very large buck teeth…still intact. I believe this little creature may have been the main ingredient in Sarah's soup! (You should read this book if you haven't...it's great!). I have to say that I don’t think these little creatures look very appetizing, but I could be wrong...maybe they taste like chicken!
If you are interested, you can find mole-rat info at: http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/ZooGoer/2002/3/nakedmolerats.cfm
*Native Africans have long known of the existence of naked mole-rats, which they call sand puppies. *Naked mole-rats are limited to the horn of Africa, including parts of Somalia, Ethiopia, and Kenya.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Sherry Goes to Africa....
So, I think I’ve narrowed down where I might be going in Africa. According to some websites I’ve looked at, the following countries are Anglophone (English speaking) countries in Africa:
South Africa
Lesotho
Swaziland
Namibia
Botswana
Madagascar
Malawi
Zambia
Tanzania
Kenya
Uganda
Gambia
Ghana
Cameroon
South Africa
Lesotho
Swaziland
Namibia
Botswana
Madagascar
Malawi
Zambia
Tanzania
Kenya
Uganda
Gambia
Ghana
Cameroon
Peace Corps Program Number & Nomination Letter
With the help of my buddies on the PC yahoo group I belong to, I think I’ve figured out what my nomination program number stands for. However, before I get to the code, I thought I would paste a copy of my nomination letter here from November 2007:
Dear Sherry, November 02, 2007
I am pleased to nominate you for the following Peace Corps assignment:
Program Name: Youth Development
Program Number: 164-08-044-D2
A nomination is a recommendation that your application be given further consideration. I am sending your file to the Placement Unit at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC, where several important screenings take place and where assignment matches for qualified prospective Volunteers are finalized.
You continue to play a crucial role in these matters. Getting your documents to Peace Corps in a timely manner is what keeps your file moving forward. Without all requested documentation (medical or legal), your file cannot be processed and you may lose the opportunity to serve in the timeframe and location that we have discussed.
As we discussed in your interview, medical screening begins at this time. The Office of Medical Services (OMS) will contact you regarding medical and dental examinations. Please schedule your exams as soon as you receive the OMS forms and instructions and promptly submit all requested information. If you have questions about the medical and dental information you receive, a Customer Service Representative in OMS is available to you.
Once you have been medically qualified and have met the legal criteria, your Placement Officer will match you to an assignment based on the academic, technical and/or language requirements of the host country and any special accommodation needs you may have. At that point, you will be sent an invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
An invitation is your official offer from Peace Corps. We recommend you not make any major commitments or changes, such as moving out of your residence or leaving your job, until you receive and accept an invitation.
I am happy to nominate you for Peace Corps service and will continue to be available to you. Best of luck in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer!
Sincerely,
Ken
Recruitment Representative
Volunteer, Morocco 1997-1999
Now, let’s get back to what the program number stands for:
164-08-044-D2
164--Youth Development
08—2008
044—Quarter 4 (July-September)
D—My Placement Officer Code
2—The 2nd listing for my PO for Quarter 4
Now, don’t you feel enlightened? I thought figuring out my code, would help me figure out where I would be going in Africa, but it didn’t!
Dear Sherry, November 02, 2007
I am pleased to nominate you for the following Peace Corps assignment:
Program Name: Youth Development
Program Number: 164-08-044-D2
A nomination is a recommendation that your application be given further consideration. I am sending your file to the Placement Unit at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington, DC, where several important screenings take place and where assignment matches for qualified prospective Volunteers are finalized.
You continue to play a crucial role in these matters. Getting your documents to Peace Corps in a timely manner is what keeps your file moving forward. Without all requested documentation (medical or legal), your file cannot be processed and you may lose the opportunity to serve in the timeframe and location that we have discussed.
As we discussed in your interview, medical screening begins at this time. The Office of Medical Services (OMS) will contact you regarding medical and dental examinations. Please schedule your exams as soon as you receive the OMS forms and instructions and promptly submit all requested information. If you have questions about the medical and dental information you receive, a Customer Service Representative in OMS is available to you.
Once you have been medically qualified and have met the legal criteria, your Placement Officer will match you to an assignment based on the academic, technical and/or language requirements of the host country and any special accommodation needs you may have. At that point, you will be sent an invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
An invitation is your official offer from Peace Corps. We recommend you not make any major commitments or changes, such as moving out of your residence or leaving your job, until you receive and accept an invitation.
I am happy to nominate you for Peace Corps service and will continue to be available to you. Best of luck in becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer!
Sincerely,
Ken
Recruitment Representative
Volunteer, Morocco 1997-1999
Now, let’s get back to what the program number stands for:
164-08-044-D2
164--Youth Development
08—2008
044—Quarter 4 (July-September)
D—My Placement Officer Code
2—The 2nd listing for my PO for Quarter 4
Now, don’t you feel enlightened? I thought figuring out my code, would help me figure out where I would be going in Africa, but it didn’t!
Friday, February 1, 2008
More Peace Corps News....
More News....
I posted a message on a PC yahoo message board asking how I could find out who my PO is. I received the following message from a PC campus recruiter:
"When you were nominated did you receive a sheet called “key points to remember’ or something similar? It should have had your placement officer’s name and number/email. There has been a bunch of new placement officers recently so you might have a new placement officer. The number for the Africa placement office is 1-800-424-8580 Option 2, ext. 1850 though I would try to wait a few days at the least for them to follow up with you, though I know you are probably bursting to hear some news."
So, of course I called the Africa placement office. The guy who answered the phone wouldn’t tell me who my PO is, but said he would answer any questions I might have. So, I asked him if I was going to a French speaking region in Africa. He said that I was going to an English\Tribal speaking region in Africa. He also said it might be several months before I receive an invitation since I don’t leave until Sept.
So, at least I know that I’m going to an English\Tribal speaking region in Africa...that helps to narrow things down some.
I posted a message on a PC yahoo message board asking how I could find out who my PO is. I received the following message from a PC campus recruiter:
"When you were nominated did you receive a sheet called “key points to remember’ or something similar? It should have had your placement officer’s name and number/email. There has been a bunch of new placement officers recently so you might have a new placement officer. The number for the Africa placement office is 1-800-424-8580 Option 2, ext. 1850 though I would try to wait a few days at the least for them to follow up with you, though I know you are probably bursting to hear some news."
So, of course I called the Africa placement office. The guy who answered the phone wouldn’t tell me who my PO is, but said he would answer any questions I might have. So, I asked him if I was going to a French speaking region in Africa. He said that I was going to an English\Tribal speaking region in Africa. He also said it might be several months before I receive an invitation since I don’t leave until Sept.
So, at least I know that I’m going to an English\Tribal speaking region in Africa...that helps to narrow things down some.
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