Showing posts with label general peace corps. Show all posts
Showing posts with label general peace corps. Show all posts

Transitioning back!

(written 14July2011)
As you can see from my other post- lots of new things have happened! It's really exciting, because it makes me feel like I have a new beginning. Everyone was so sweet to me on my return (naturally), and it's really good to be back. Everything about the weather right now, and the way my house smells, is exactly the way it was when I moved in last fall. I'm in the same place and same time. All the villagers are doing pretty much the same thing. But the way I view everything is different. It's an interesting, almost eerie feeling, because if you blink, it could seem like no time has passed at all.

The hardest thing about being back is going from being so busy to not. I've spent the last couple weeks in Penelan and Bassila, just quietly running errands, watching movies, and finding little jobs for myself. Before I went to America, I was at In-Services for Peace Corps for like a month and a half. I've gotten really used to seeing my friends, and having things to fill my day. I've had to sort of remind myself what village life is like, and it's been a bigger readjustment then I thought.

Matt got his job as boss of one of the workstations (in Kandi) so it's very odd to talk with him on the phone now. He's usually eating good food, hanging out with volunteers, and watching MythBusters on DVD (or some such wonderfulness). Shannon's been in Ghana all this week with her boyfriend who is visiting from America, and Heather's in England visiting her boyfriend there. All this has been pretty weird too, just cause I've gone from being surrounded by people to what just feels like.... stillness. But in a way it's been really good. I've been taking my time to refocus, and I'm really looking forward to doing some real work the next couple months. Coming up at the end of July, I'll be a counselor in a week-long Boy's Camp in Manigri (which is near Bassila). I've known about it since March, so I'm glad it's finally here, I think it's gonna be a lot of fun! And it'll be my first chance to get back in the swing of things (aka projects).

So for the last week- with lots of time on my hands- I've taken a piece of advice from the mind of great philosopher Morgan Spurlock, who shows us that just about anything can be done for 30 days. I've put together a list of things I'm always meaning to do:
work out
sketch
floss before bed
go outside and do something!
And I'm gonna do these things, every day, for 30 days. And see what sticks! So far, it's been a lot of fun. The part I'm most excited about is exercising, which I haven't regularly done since the last session of my college yoga/pilates class in December of 2007. I think I actually like crunches! (for now.)

No pain, no gain! Try something you've been putting off, just for thirty days- you might be surprised!

I love you all, and miss you dearly. I hope you all are having wonderful weeks, and I'll try to make my next update come a little swifter!
xoxo

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philly! (continued) and general revelations.

My dearests. First off, THANK YOU all so much for your beautiful comments and emails, I am reading each one of them and will try to get back to you each in the next couple days when I have some down time. This is gonna be a super quick post.
I am flying out of JFK tomorrow evening, and am super excited to get my rear in gear. Tonight after training I had a lobster dinner with a group of my new friends at some historic pub that we just ran across. We ate dinner in "George Washington's favorite room" and I had Thomas Jefferson's ale made with his own secret recipe. We have a per diem of $140 that we need to blow by 3:00 tomorrow, so after our fancy dinner we went to what is apparently the oldest ice cream parlor...in America? It's called the Franklin Fountain. Delicious. Just got home, it's 11:30 at night, and getting ready to get some yellow fever shots tomorrow morning.

I just want you all to know, how tragically sad I am that you're not experiencing this all with me. Because honestly, even after not even being in my country yet, this has been one of the most kick-ass days of all time. I am having so much fun, making friends at like an extreme rate, laughing my butt off, and having an all around blast. It's so nice to finally be around people who are all in the same position as you. The staff are all so wonderful and understanding. And pretty much everyone is interesting and awesome. Go figure. SO. Join the Peace Corps!!! All your dreams will come true!!
Next post from AFRICA!
love.

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tah-dah!

So…friends…LOTS OF NEWS! Okay really only a little. I have gotten my placement to… (drumroll) Benin! What? Where is Benin? Well it’s just over with all those New Hampshire-y looking places on the west coast of Africa, just south of Niger and west of Nigeria. I will be a “Rural Community Health Advisor”, which means dealing with infant mortality, maternal and child health education, nutrition, HIV/AIDS, other various kinds of disease prevention (malaria, diarrhea).

All this placement stuff has happened very quickly within the last month-ish. I expected to be leaving after summer, perhaps September, however the bulk of Africa programs are leaving in June and July and I sort of had to just jump on the train. So I am leaving MUCH sooner than I expected, and it’s been sort of a shock. I will be leaving July 14th, and from the 14th to 15th I will be in a TBD American “staging area” getting the basic Peace Corps run-down. From July 16th to September 17th, I will be in Benin’s capital of Porto Novo doing my intensive language training and various technical and job trainings. I.e. what parasites will kill you, and how to organize HIV educational presentations. While in Porto Novo I’ll be staying with a host family. From there I will go to my mystery job site for my actual stay, and more training? (I think.) They decide where to send you based on how you do during the in-country pre-service training. And I will theoretically be at my mystery site from Sep 17, 2010 till Sep 17, 2012. Just in time for the Peace Corps 50th anniversary in 2011! (There better be a party.)

So I’ve been reading TONS of paperwork about Benin and my assignment and putting together my packing list. This weekend I’m going to REI to get some hot weather gear. (I will be dressing like a nun. Hopefully a stylish one. Goodbye shoulders and knees, hello heat related hives.) Benin is between two tropical climate countries. The northern area is dry and savanna-like, and the south is more forest-y. There are lots of thunderstorms depending on the season, and the temperatures get pretty up there. It sounds like there are plenty of mangos and tomatoes, so I think I’ll live. And according to what I’ve read from other PCV’s, my odds of having electricity are actually pretty good (although internet will surely be a different story.) I’m gonna be riding around on a mountain bike, traveling via motorcycle taxi, and basically frying out my brain to absorb as much French and technical health training I can consume.
And do you know what else? Djimon Hounsou is from Benin! Yeah, that guy! Y’all should totally read about Benin if you’re interested, it sounds fascinating! (and P.S. dem-o-crat-ic, yay!)
 
So, basically everything is a frenzy right now, and I’m sure it will continue to be so for the next couple months. I’m trying to brush up on my French, and have gotten lots of language CDs. My sister Mel has been speaking to me in French at home, and went to the library to get me Toy Story 2 and Emperor’s New Groove in French, which I’ll probably watch this weekend.

I am just incredibly sad about leaving my job, although I realize it’s one of those inevitabilities. My co-workers at the Alzheimer’s Activity Center are family. As I said to ya’ll in my note, it has been such a privilege to learn from you. You inspire me and show me what it truly means to serve and put your whole life and heart into it. I hope you all know how much I respect and love you, and appreciate so greatly all you’ve taught me.

To the rest of my beloved friends- same for you! I am absolutely in denial about how terribly sad it will be for me (and you I hope) for these couple years. I really think it won’t seem that long, but goodbyes of any kind always suck, don’t they? Your support has meant the world to me, and it what has pushed me on the path to success. I am eternally grateful and hold you all in my hearts everyday, wherever I am.

I hope in future posts, that I will have lots of pictures, and it won’t be such a slog to read, I’m sorry they get so long! I feel very awkward about this whole blogging thing- and I don’t think I sound like myself when things are written down. So please imagine me using a funny voice or something. And feel free to forward this to whoever you want, I have gotten more blog address requests than I can keep up with.

Holy cow, P.S.! Voodoo is like one of the most popular religions! That’s gonna rock for-sheezy!
P.P.S. Elephants? Fingers crossed!

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what's been happening the last two years....

My dearest friends!
So as my Peace Corps placement grows closer, I wanted to let everyone know what's been going on. I AM expecting to leave within the year (although that can always change), and am currently being reviewed by a very nice lady who is deciding where to send me. Updates will obviously follow. I am actually very nervous to be sending this information out. I find it easier/prefer not to talk about this stuff because my status has been constantly changing, and once I bring it up again I'm worried it'll jinx the whole process.

I'm sure many of you assume I decided not to join the Peace Corps because of the incredible amount of time that has passed since I brought it up last. However, I have in fact (this entire time) been in the diligent process of getting myself medically cleared.
At this point, you must be thinking, "What the heck Shelly?? That was like two years ago!! You be a stubbon fool!"

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Here is a HELLA LONG, though abbreviated, recap: (really I don't expect many of you to read this- but it's here if you're curious- just skip to the end if you'd like!)

Jan 2008- I apply. There is drama over getting recommendations. Two people back out. I bake cookies for Dr. Shears after she writes me a rec in one day.
March 2008- I interview in L.A. for my nomination. Am accepted within 3 hours!! Me and Katie Rose buy champagne and I cut social psychology. Wonderful day!! My nomination intends me to leave November 2008 for Sub-Saharan Africa (doing HIV work) pending medical clearance.
June 2008- Get my physical, lab tests, eye exam, pap, dental xrays, vaccinations, am I missing something? Buy second pair of glasses. Everything is complete except for my psych work-up, which I need filled out by Stanford Hospital, where I was treated for ADHD in high-school. My physical can't be submitted until my psych work-up is done. So I submit paperwork to medical records at Stanford.
July 2008- Come back from NYC with Katie Rose and my Stanford paperwork was sent to the wrong department. Refile.
August 2008 to November 2008- Bi-weekly phone calls to Stanford's medical records department.
November 2008- Get the call that my paperwork is done. Drive to hospital. Discover that that the contact I have been speaking on the phone with twice a week for the last three months in fact did not fill out any paperwork at all, but simply made a photocopy of my file. If I want my paperwork actually filled out I need to go to another department. Refile.
December 2008- Have a new contact. Sandra.
December 2008 to May 2009- Have run-around about every two weeks with Sandra. She writes notes to the doctor who's responsible for my file. Three times he looses the paperwork and I re-fax it. She doesn't really have any power, but is pretty helpful at least in spirit.
May 2009- Driving in the car with Kate Fitch. Get a phone call from the actual doctor that is actually filling out my forms. Says he'll have it faxed within the week. He is a big liar.
May 2009 to August 2009- Hear nothing. Doctor's voicemail is always full. Leave notes with Sandra. My grandpa suggest an ad-litem, which I had never heard of. They are patient advocates that work within the hospital to prevent lawsuits. I call. Am forwarded to supervisor. Make Stanford contact #4.
October 2009- Doctor seems to feel the pressure. Calls again to set up a phone appointment with me so we can do the paperwork together. (After I fax him another copy of the paperwork.) Gives me his cell phone number!! Yay!! Bails on appointment and is unreachable. I contact ad-litem again.
November 2009- Contact ad-litem a third time. Doctor calls. Doctor does paperwork!!! Doctor faxes paperwork!!!! Doctor does not fax all of paperwork..
December 2009- My Peace Corps application expires in January. I freak out. Call Sandra and leave desperate messages. Doctor finishes paperwork!!! I run back to the doctor that did my physical (because the pysch paperwork was required for my physical to be complete). Need to schedule second physical because everything's expired.
January 2010- Get new physical. Get new labs. Get new pap. Get more vaccinations. EVERYTHING IS COMPLETE!!!! I have lunch with Tori Wilhelmsen at Falafel Drive-In and then go to the post office and overnight that shit! I am exhausted and terribly nervous that I'm too late and my application is expired.
February 2010- Get a letter that my dental x-rays are expired. Get new ones! (expensive!!!) I am officially dentally cleared!!!!
March 2010- Need to go back to my physician and get another round of paperwork done. Go to Planned Parenthood and switch my birth control to a brand supported by the Peace Corps. Fax three batches of paperwork to Peace Corps headquarters. I am officially medically cleared!!
April 2010- Get an email from my new Peace Corps lady. She needs an updated resume so she can place me, since my old nomination is two years old. I fax one over. She writes me back and thanks me.
And here we are today!

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I haven't been excited about leaving for such a long time. It seemed like something that was just not going to happen. And to be honest, it's something that could still not happen. But I needed to see it through to the end. If my application had expired last year it would have been done with. If I had been medically unqualified it would be done with. And I think I would have been okay with that in the end.
But as long as there was any possibility for me to go, every bone in my body simply required that I pursue it. I did not and do not have a choice in the matter. And that is why I've continued to work on this for so long (beyond reason, in my own opinion).
Something has changed for me since I realized a real placement could be coming my way in the next month or so. I can't stop thinking about it. I've been assuming the worst for so long, and now that all my work is paying off, not only am I very much proud of myself, but I'm allowing myself to really feel the anticipation. So I very much look forward to finally being able to tell you all that I really truly am going, when, where, and for what!

All the love in the world. And hopefully much more to follow.

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