Aspiring

So when you think you're all done with the application process, the Peace Corps makes you write aspiration statements for your trip. These are given to your country office so that can get to know you better. Of course, everyone you talk to warns you about having too many expectations because you will just be disappointed. So I'm not sure if this is some cruel trick by the Peace Corps to get your hopes up only to have them crushed later. More likely, it's them trying to get you focused on what you are going to have to do and just have you think about what it will be like when you get to your assignment. My answers to their questions are below. Enjoy.

A. I am a very loyal person who is committed to serving whatever organization that I am currently involved with. I believe that every task should be taken seriously and that every person should be treated with respect. Although I know very little about the cultural nuances in Kazakhstan, I expect that I will be able to transfer these professional attributes to the work I do for my host organization during my Peace Corps service.

I have been told that if I enter the Peace Corps with any expectations, then I will probably be disappointed and frustrated. Despite this, I do have a number of aspirations I would like to fulfill. I want to learn more about the world, other cultures, and the people that are out there whom I would otherwise never get a chance to meet. I want to find a way to internalize those experiences so I can grow as a person. I want to learn a new language (or possibly two). I want to improve the world, even if that is only through the small interactions I have with my host family, friends, and coworkers that I encounter in Kazakhstan.

B. When working with my host country partners, I will emphasize relationships, communication, and respect. I know that when I begin my work, I will probably have trouble fully communicating, possibly feel overwhelmed, and wonder how I can be of most service to my organization. During this time, it will be as important for me to get to know the organization and my coworkers as it is to accomplish my initial tasks. I will seek to understand what the organization does and build relationships during my initial time there. I know these will pay off in the future. In addition to this, I will emphasize communication with my organization. I will attempt to keep an open dialogue with my supervisors so I am always aware of what their expectations for me are. I will also practice professionalism in my attire, attitude, and behavior. I know that as an outsider, people will be more apt to make quick judgments about me, especially if they have already been exposed to stereotypes. Therefore, I will always be conscious of what message my words and deeds are sending to others and respect my workplace and coworkers.

C. From my experiences traveling abroad to Ecuador and Peru, I have learned that a good sense of humor is important to adapting to a new culture. By that, I mean that being able to laugh at myself rather than get frustrated is crucial. In my experiences, most people are excited to show someone their culture if that person is truly interested in learning about it. I find new cultures extremely exciting, and I enthusiastically throw myself into it into them to the degree that I feel will be accepted by those around me. During my Peace Corps service, I will stay positive, show interest, keep an open mind, and enjoy the new experiences and culture I am exposed to.

D. During pre-service training, I hope to learn job skills, the language I will need, and any important cultural differences that will be needed at my work place. Because I know so little about my actual placement now, I do not know what skills I will need to learn during my pre-service training. Right now, I just hope to learn enough about Kazakhstan to adjust and feel comfortable with life there. During my initial months, I plan on applying myself to the material that we are given so I can become an effective volunteer once I move to my site. I also hope to build relationships with the other volunteers that I will use for psychic and professional support during my service.

E. I do not have any specific plans on what I will do when I am done with my Peace Corps service. Broadly, I want to enter the field of international development on some level. However, I am not sure with what organization, in what region, or in what manner. I know that I will gain experience in this field during my service, and I will use this experience to evaluate whether or not a career in development work is something I will continue to pursue. I hope to use the skills that I develop during my service in my future career. However, I expect that the Peace Corps will affect me in ways I cannot even imagine, and in light of this, planning my future aspirations before I even begin my experiences may be a little premature.

Supervision Terminated!

Last Friday, I finally had my court date to see if my supervision would be terminated early. As usual, I was nervous even the day before that I would somehow miss it. Maybe I had written down the wrong day or time. Maybe my alarm wouldn't go off. Maybe I would just wake up Friday and forget about having it, until it was too late. All irrational fears, but ones that honestly crossed my mind. I mention them because Friday morning did come, and I did wake up on time. And I did get ready early just to make sure I was at the courthouse in time. But when I walked outside, my car was gone! I quickly remembered that I had left it at Sara's the night before because I had driven over there and then carpooled when we went out. So after a quick walk to get my car, I was ready.

I still got to the courthouse super early. Early enough to realize I should have some form of documents to show I am actually applying for the Peace Corps. So I printed out some old emails and made my way to my court room. I was finally called up at 10:30 or so, and I was nervous. I tried to not be, but so much depended on this. The judge expressed concern that I was just applying for the Peace Corps in order to get out of my supervision, but he believed me when I told him I was serious. (This made me think about how serious I have been. I applied for the Peace Corps in Fall 2006. I am here in Illinois because of the Peace Corps. Its almost comical to me for someone to question my Peace Corps intentions, but he really didn't have a way to know all of that.) So finally, the judge agreed to terminate my supervision. I walked out of the room and skipped to the elevator. I emailed my documents to the Peace Corps, and I'm still waiting to hear back, but that should be it. Kazakhstan seems real again.

And because of court, I had to cut my mullet. But I'll write about that later.

good news

So I spoke with student legal services at ISU, and I received good news. He was optimistic that I should be able to get my supervision terminated early. He said that people have to do this for the military, and he thought since I already paid my fine, I should be okay. He wrote up a motion for me to file and I have a new court day for April11 at 10am. So I have about three weeks to wait.

What happens now depends on the Peace Corps. I might not get to go to Kazakhstan because they may not want to wait until April to fill that spot. Or they may hold it for until then. I need to talk to my placement officer, and I'll probably do that around Wednesday. Even if I don't get Kazakhstan, I think there'd be a good shot of me leaving in August-October if I can get this cleared up in April. Although, I really want the assignment I've been given, especially now that I'm having to go through this stuff to get it. Russian would be great to learn and the work sounds like just what I wanted. Plus, I already order Nomad off the internet (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0374089/)

pause

Quick update. I talked to Paul. He was very nice and calm and thorough. So props to him. I am currently in PC trouble. I need to either get my court supervision reduced or be prepared to wait until September when the PC will reopen my file. I would guess that would mean placement between January and March. And anyone that can do simple math would see that would see that would be about 4-6 months delayed. But the Peace Corps isn't going anywhere, and right now neither am I. If I can get this sorted out in the next couple weeks, I might still qualify for Kazakhstan.

1. Meet with lawyer about finding how to get my supervision reduced.
2. Try to get supervision reduced.
3. If yes, awesome!
4. If no, wait.Maybe try to save up some cash and visit Latin America.

Pulled Away

Kazakhstan! Look, I even learned how to spell it. But I might not be going there. Here's the story.... I found out my placement last Monday while I was on spring break. I was raking leaves in Altanta when my mom called to tell me I was going to "K - a- z- a ..." She spelled it out instead of saying it. I was estatic. First, it was definitely central Asia. Second, I knew nothing about the place. Third, I was doing NGO development work. I immediately called some friends between my piles of leaves. But I was nervous to tell everyone. I wanted that packet in my hand personally before I told the world. I didn't want to mess it up. Maybe I had misheard what my mom had said. I don't know. I was going to wait.

So the packet finally came yesterday (Monday). It was in my hands. It was official. It was wonderful. Like any eager volunteer, I rushed to read all of the documents. And then in my handbook, I got to the section on legal status. "Have you been arrested for, charged or cited with, or convicted of any offense by a civilian or military court or tribunal?" Why yes, I have. I received a ticket for railroad trespassing in January and I went to court two weeks ago. I received a $150 fine and six months supervision. Supervision just means if I don't do anything wrong in six months, this goes off my record. It does not show up. So I'm not too worried, since this is not alcohol/drug related or something dealing with honesty. But it then my Peace Corps dreams come crashing down. He hints that this supervision is considered probation by the PC. I have to send him a narrative of what happened and my court documents. That was yesterday afternoon. I didn't hear anything back from him. Then when I wake up at 7:30 this morning, there is a legal hold on my file.

I can think of three possible scenarios, but honestly, I won't even outline them, because they are three possible scenarios and only one of them is correct. I have this bad habit of imagining how things will turn out before they do, even when I can't change them. Its not like I'm planning for three outcomes that are equally possible. In reality, there is one possible scenario. And planning for various ones only fuels my anxiety. So now I'm just waiting for the return phone call this morning.

In the mail

So I got an email this morning saying my toolkit was updated. I have been invited. I just don't know where. Now I'm just waiting on the mail. And spring break is three days away. And then I leave for Georgia for a week. Luckily my roommate Meg will be in town if it comes, but having it read over the phone will not be as cool as tearing open the packet myself. But it will be wonderfully ironic to get an Eastern European assignment while on my Atlanta spring break trip. And life sure does love irony. :/ A little nervous, overall excited. :)

So close to knowing

I received this email today from my DC contact:

Yes, I did receive your transcript. Your file is currently being reviewed by Placement Officer Patrick Carey. Patrick is a PO in the Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Asia region of the Placement Office. It will take him about 2-3 weeks to do a complete review of you file and determine if there is a program that matches your skills. If you don’t hear from Patrick by mid-March, you may contact him and ask for a status update.

So my fate is now in the hands of Patick. I'm excited to finally know and that I pegged the knowing some time in March. I am nervous that he is the officer for Eastern Europe though, because I do not want to go there. I know it's a different place and all, but honestly, I think the culture is more similar to the US than in a place like Thailand or Turkmenistan. Those are both still possibilities actually. I am thinking about turning down my offer if its in Eastern Europe, but I probably won't. That's not really my style. Make the most out of where you go. I wonder if I'll end up in Moldova with Brady. (Brady is a guy I went to K-12 with and actually 13-16, but I never really saw him much in college.) I won't be in Africa though. A little disappointing, but okay if I end up in Asia, which is where I wanted to go the most overall. I really think it would be ironic to find out I ended up in Eastern Europe while I am on spring break in Atlanta though. And it'll probably happen that way.