Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Surreal....
Well been a long time on the update. As I write this I am sitting in a hotel in philadelphia waiting for 2 a.m. To roll around so that I can board a bus to go to new York City to head out to Zambi a grand 15 hour flight. Leave on a Tuesday arrive on a Thursday. The last 24 hours have been surreal. Said goodbye to friends and family. A process that was difficult for me. But today I definitely made some new ones. Poeple whom are amazing.
I am nervous and screw an excited. A weird mix of emotions. I hope tht I a can handle it and excell. I hope to hear from everyone. So please mail me or email!
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Invitation!
A 10 months journey has finally come to an end. I have officially received my invitation! i will be spending 27 months in the country of Zambia doing
Agriculture – Rural Aquaculture Program ! leaving July 16th.
All the stressing and all the worrying is has finally gone out the window. I know what I am doing for the next 27 months of my life. This has been a long and very frustrating journey. One that my friends and family have been supportive and great motivators to stay positive.
The packet of stuff that I need to do is extensive also! kinda bad timing with it since I have finals this week and I am leaving on a ten day river trip next week. Oh well, Everything has paid off. Now it is time to start buying gear and getting everything set up to leave!
I promise A bigger update later right now I should be studying for my Spanish final
The packet of stuff that I need to do is extensive also! kinda bad timing with it since I have finals this week and I am leaving on a ten day river trip next week. Oh well, Everything has paid off. Now it is time to start buying gear and getting everything set up to leave!
I promise A bigger update later right now I should be studying for my Spanish final
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Another update on placement
I received an email today from my placement officer today. In the email she thank me for the responses to the questions she asked. she also said that she will be looking at my file in the upcoming weeks determining if I qualify for a placement and don't expect a final decision for the next 2-3 weeks.
This is defiantly going to be difficult. I been waiting for roughly 9 months to find out where my life is going to take me. also in 4 weeks I be going on a 10 day rafting trip on the San Juan down in Utah. I will have no access to Internet or to phone. SO I hope that she gets hold of me sooner. This way I don't leave and she has no way of contacting me. Or worse they send my invitation and I cant open it till its too late!
my plan is to wait two weeks and email about my San Juan Trip. I don't want to do it to soon and seem pushy but I feel like she does need to know. hopefully my trip is not going to be an issue but their is no way I can back out or even want to back out.
I know a short update but I am trying to be better about it. If anyone has been in similar situation or has any advice I would be grateful. Thanks!
Jerry Riener
This is defiantly going to be difficult. I been waiting for roughly 9 months to find out where my life is going to take me. also in 4 weeks I be going on a 10 day rafting trip on the San Juan down in Utah. I will have no access to Internet or to phone. SO I hope that she gets hold of me sooner. This way I don't leave and she has no way of contacting me. Or worse they send my invitation and I cant open it till its too late!
my plan is to wait two weeks and email about my San Juan Trip. I don't want to do it to soon and seem pushy but I feel like she does need to know. hopefully my trip is not going to be an issue but their is no way I can back out or even want to back out.
I know a short update but I am trying to be better about it. If anyone has been in similar situation or has any advice I would be grateful. Thanks!
Jerry Riener
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Placement.. Another game of waiting
It has been a really long time since I have updated my blog and I apologize for that, but it does leave me a lot to talk about. So in my lost post I talk about how The medical clearance is a pain in the ass. One of the aspects that is briefly mentioned by others but not extensively is the price. Yes the peace corps does give you some reimbursement but not a whole lot. Overall it cost me close to about 350 dollars to do everything. I also have excellent insurance so I can see the price easily going up if i didn't have that. I was also fortanate enough to go to my campus dental hygienist training center and the student Health center which help me out a lot money wise. Really the actual process of getting the physical done or the dental exam done is not difficult. It is making sure that all that everything is filled out like it should be. IT can be quite stressful because you don't want to feel like a nuisance to the doctor or the dentist but you do have. you have to make sure everything has been filled out correctly. Here is a list of potential things that you might want to start gathering/keep in mind before you start your medical procedure so it is easier to complete.
1. immunization and vaccination records
2. It is going to take a couple visits. don't expect to Get everything done in one visit. (in my case the dentist office)
3. Yes blood work is required
4.Generally the doctors will not have a much better idea what Peace corps wants either.
I submitted all my medical stuff with relative ease. I had no problems with my medical clearance other then a few clerical issues. My Nurse was an amazing person was beyond helpful and quick in the responses to any questions that I had. I have now moved onto the next part of the process which is placement. I have had already recieved a email asking for a updated resume. This email in particular worried me simply for the fact they had a disclaimer in it about how budgets cuts are affecting the placement process. Hopefully this doesn't mean a delay because I have basically put my life on hold. I didn't apply for grad school, Nor Have I been looking for a job.
Anyways I finished updated resume that night and sent it off. The thing that does concern me is I felt like this whole last year I haven't been active in volunteering experience. With school, internship and my job I felt that i didn't have a lot of time too. At this point this is nothing I can do but hope. I received an email confirming that they received my update resume and have sent my files on to the next person in the process. It took about week before I received another email. From all my reading I was expecting an email requesting a time that I would be able to a final placement interview over the phone. To my surprise it has seemed that I will be just answering the questions through email. The questions were pretty generic. But for those who are curious what they asked I am leaving a complete list below.
Logistics
· Are you prepared to serve in a site where access to means of communication such as internet or cell phone service is limited or non-existent? Can you ride a bicycle and are you prepared to “commute” up to several kilometers round-trip per day by bicycle?
I answered all the questions and have sent it off. Again starts the whole process of waiting. I have been patient but this waiting around is getting nerve racking. Trying to plan my next couple months is all riding on this placement. I will promise to try and update more often now that school is winding down. But wish me luck!!
Jerry Riener
1. immunization and vaccination records
2. It is going to take a couple visits. don't expect to Get everything done in one visit. (in my case the dentist office)
3. Yes blood work is required
4.Generally the doctors will not have a much better idea what Peace corps wants either.
I submitted all my medical stuff with relative ease. I had no problems with my medical clearance other then a few clerical issues. My Nurse was an amazing person was beyond helpful and quick in the responses to any questions that I had. I have now moved onto the next part of the process which is placement. I have had already recieved a email asking for a updated resume. This email in particular worried me simply for the fact they had a disclaimer in it about how budgets cuts are affecting the placement process. Hopefully this doesn't mean a delay because I have basically put my life on hold. I didn't apply for grad school, Nor Have I been looking for a job.
Anyways I finished updated resume that night and sent it off. The thing that does concern me is I felt like this whole last year I haven't been active in volunteering experience. With school, internship and my job I felt that i didn't have a lot of time too. At this point this is nothing I can do but hope. I received an email confirming that they received my update resume and have sent my files on to the next person in the process. It took about week before I received another email. From all my reading I was expecting an email requesting a time that I would be able to a final placement interview over the phone. To my surprise it has seemed that I will be just answering the questions through email. The questions were pretty generic. But for those who are curious what they asked I am leaving a complete list below.
Logistics
1. What is your current earliest availability to depart for Peace Corps service (currently, environmental and agriculture applicants are being placed in programs departing in June and onward) in mm/dd/yyyy format?
2. Since you applied, have there been any changes to your legal status not previously reported to Peace Corps (such as name change, lawsuit, marriage/divorce, traffic citation, arrests, charges, convictions, new/additional financial obligations, etc.)?
3. Have there been any changes to your medical status that you have not yet communicated to our Office of Medical Services (OMS)? (A yes/no answer is sufficient as details are not necessary; however, if you are answering yes, please contact your pres-service nurse or the pre-service unit at pre-serviceunit@peacecorps.gov at your earliest convenience).
4. Is your contact information (phone, email, current mailing address) that we have on file current (if not please make updates at anytime by logging onto My Toolkit)?
Expectations for Your Service
5. Part of preparing for Peace Corps service is developing realistic expectations of what life is like as a Volunteer, with specific attention to the common challenges Volunteers are likely to face. From what sources and/or experiences have you learned about the realities of life as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)?
6. What are the key lessons you have learned from these sources that will help you succeed as a PCV?
7. List the top 5 challenges that you expect to encounter as a PCV and discuss how you plan to deal with each.
8. Have you gained any additional agricultural and/or environmental experience since you sent in the updated resume?
Your Family & Friends
9. Since you first told your friends and family of your plans to apply for Peace Corps, has their level of support for your decision changed? As the time for a possible departure gets closer, how are they feeling about it?
10. Since you were interviewed have you become involved in a romantic relationship OR has there been any change in a previously reported romantic involvement?
Site Placement
11. Living with a host family is required during Pre-Service Training (PST) and sometimes for at least for the first 3 months at permanent site. In some sites, staying with a host family is required for the full term of service. What do you consider to be some of the challenges and some of the opportunities in living with a host family long-term?
12. “Sites” (the specific locations where PCVs live and work after Swearing-In) are determined by in-country staff during PST. The nature of sites varies widely both from one country to another and within the each country. In your application you acknowledged and accepted responsibility for meeting the “Core Expectations for Peace Corps Volunteers.” By the nature of where Peace Corps serves, most sites are in more rural, isolated areas. When considering potential site placement, keep in mind Expectation #3: “Serve where Peace Corps asks you to go, under conditions of hardship if necessary, and with the flexibility needed for effective service.” Regarding sites where you may be asked to serve:
· Are you prepared to serve in a site with limited or no “amenities” such as electricity, running water or indoor toilet?
· Are you prepared to serve in a site that is isolated and/or a significant distance from other PCVs?
I answered all the questions and have sent it off. Again starts the whole process of waiting. I have been patient but this waiting around is getting nerve racking. Trying to plan my next couple months is all riding on this placement. I will promise to try and update more often now that school is winding down. But wish me luck!!
Jerry Riener
Sunday, November 20, 2011
medical clearance=?
Last time that we talk I was beyond excited because I was nominated. Now that time has gone by. it has actually allowed me to do a little bit of reflection on the whole experience. How it feels to be nominated, the amount of work that is put in, how really just getting nominated is just the start. ( and here i am referring the medical clearance.)
Patience! On the peace corps website they tend to reference this a lot. You don't really understand the concept till you are knee deep in the process. I remember looking at the Peace Corps Wiki and thinking how does it take people so long to get stuff done? but now i totally understand! The medical clearance is really extensive. IT is a full physical. which yes includes the turn your head and cough aspect. I had to get a ton of blood work done and a urine sample. Do expect about 2-3 visits depending on the facility. The blood work and the TB test are the reason for this.
The dental exam is not as bad depending where you go. I went to the college dental hygiene school. They do it for cheap. Plus all the paper work that Peace corps wants, the students must fill it out anyways for their records. so they can just copy it. The peace corps wants a pretty detailed record so be prepared to take a long visit or a couple of visits. they want to check everything. depths of gum coverage, cavities, fillings, just about anything that is involved with your teeth is extensively reviewed. .
if you to be cleared by a eye doctor dont fret. all they want is your glasses measurements. it doesn't ask for a full eye exam. so if you have update glasses you just need the eye doctor to fill out the paper. also remember the peace corps wants you to have 2 pairs of glasses before you go. (something that i need to get.)
remember all of this depends on your age and also your health. My teeth and my health are really good so it made the process way easier. the Peace corps does give you some money for the whole process. not necessarily a lot but it does help a lot with the expense.
It is amazing how Peace corps is still consuming a good chunk of my live. the majority of my thoughts and actions are oriented to peace corps. All I am asking for Christmas is gear or money so I can go buy what I need. All my research for classes are oriented to information that i believe that I will need or wil find usefull on my trip. In a way this does worry me. When I am done where will my energy go? where will my focus go to? I know its a couple years away but still makes me think.
As July gets closer and closer the reality of Peace corps is slowly sinking in. it is a good thing, but it does make some decisions in my everyday life different. I find myself not really branching out of my social group. I want to spend my time with them. I have no desire to go out and meet new people like I used to. My time I feel, is better spent with people who are my friends. I also am noticing that i am enjoying the little things more. Things such as showers, books, warm weather.
I easily can go in-depth more on this stuff but i feel that if you really want to know you tell me.
f there is anyone that wants more information lust leave a comment and i will respond to it. hopefully i can answer anyone questions.
Patience! On the peace corps website they tend to reference this a lot. You don't really understand the concept till you are knee deep in the process. I remember looking at the Peace Corps Wiki and thinking how does it take people so long to get stuff done? but now i totally understand! The medical clearance is really extensive. IT is a full physical. which yes includes the turn your head and cough aspect. I had to get a ton of blood work done and a urine sample. Do expect about 2-3 visits depending on the facility. The blood work and the TB test are the reason for this.
The dental exam is not as bad depending where you go. I went to the college dental hygiene school. They do it for cheap. Plus all the paper work that Peace corps wants, the students must fill it out anyways for their records. so they can just copy it. The peace corps wants a pretty detailed record so be prepared to take a long visit or a couple of visits. they want to check everything. depths of gum coverage, cavities, fillings, just about anything that is involved with your teeth is extensively reviewed. .
if you to be cleared by a eye doctor dont fret. all they want is your glasses measurements. it doesn't ask for a full eye exam. so if you have update glasses you just need the eye doctor to fill out the paper. also remember the peace corps wants you to have 2 pairs of glasses before you go. (something that i need to get.)
remember all of this depends on your age and also your health. My teeth and my health are really good so it made the process way easier. the Peace corps does give you some money for the whole process. not necessarily a lot but it does help a lot with the expense.
It is amazing how Peace corps is still consuming a good chunk of my live. the majority of my thoughts and actions are oriented to peace corps. All I am asking for Christmas is gear or money so I can go buy what I need. All my research for classes are oriented to information that i believe that I will need or wil find usefull on my trip. In a way this does worry me. When I am done where will my energy go? where will my focus go to? I know its a couple years away but still makes me think.
As July gets closer and closer the reality of Peace corps is slowly sinking in. it is a good thing, but it does make some decisions in my everyday life different. I find myself not really branching out of my social group. I want to spend my time with them. I have no desire to go out and meet new people like I used to. My time I feel, is better spent with people who are my friends. I also am noticing that i am enjoying the little things more. Things such as showers, books, warm weather.
I easily can go in-depth more on this stuff but i feel that if you really want to know you tell me.
f there is anyone that wants more information lust leave a comment and i will respond to it. hopefully i can answer anyone questions.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
The sweet success of Nomination!
Well folks it is official, I have been nominated! you have no idea the level of excitement I have experienced that last couple weeks since I have heard this words. When my recruiter said those words I feel a rush of emotions, happiness anxiety and bewilderment, all in one swift moment. The happiness comes obviously from the joy of being nominated. The anxiety comes from knowing that this was a huge step and the strange emotion ,bewilderment came from what i was nominated for.
I was nominated for... Fish farming! I was completely bewildered by this. I have no experience in such a field so why was i nominated for it ? I was nominated for this because I have some horticulture experience. I told them that i don't have any experience in this field! They were not concerned at all because they figure it is something i could pick up pretty fast.
The Region I was nominated to was Sub Saharan Africa, leaving in July. Looking at Peace Corps wiki I was able to determine the two countries I will most likely go to. Those include Zambia, and Madagascar. I am thinking most likely Zambia because their latest emphasis is growing the fish production. You have no idea how excited i am for this!
Following the few weeks since the nomination I been pouring over anything I can pull up on Zambia. Made me realize I defiantly need to get some camping gear. SO... if you have any you don't want let me know and i might take it off your hands for you! The reason for this is that almost no one has electricity or running water. I will be living in a mud hut. Oh and I am suppose to average about 40KM of biking a day!! that about 25 miles roughly for those who don't know metric. I need to start getting in bike shape I guess.
Now the nomination has happen it seems to put everything in prospective. I am way more focus in school then I every had in the past, Doing a better job at controlling my money, It has given me something to Focus on. I have a goal in the future that I can chase down.
Strangely enough my professors don't seemed that happy that I am leaving. They say its a good experience but i have the feeling that they believe I shouldn't break up my education like this. I can see their point but i need a break bad. I need to get out and see the world, experience life a little. I know that i am young and not everyone has the same opportunities as I have so I need to seize them. This will give me an insight that not very many people will have.
Got my packet for the medical Clearance. Just looking at it makes me think its going to be a pain in the ass. I feel bad because i have to put it off at least a week because of midterms in school. I don't have any time to do a lot of running around. Or on this blog technically. lol If anyone has questions comments or advice It be greatly appreciated!
The picture below is one of the main attractions of Zambia! its called Victoria Falls!!!!! I might have the chance to see them in Person!!!
I was nominated for... Fish farming! I was completely bewildered by this. I have no experience in such a field so why was i nominated for it ? I was nominated for this because I have some horticulture experience. I told them that i don't have any experience in this field! They were not concerned at all because they figure it is something i could pick up pretty fast.
The Region I was nominated to was Sub Saharan Africa, leaving in July. Looking at Peace Corps wiki I was able to determine the two countries I will most likely go to. Those include Zambia, and Madagascar. I am thinking most likely Zambia because their latest emphasis is growing the fish production. You have no idea how excited i am for this!
Following the few weeks since the nomination I been pouring over anything I can pull up on Zambia. Made me realize I defiantly need to get some camping gear. SO... if you have any you don't want let me know and i might take it off your hands for you! The reason for this is that almost no one has electricity or running water. I will be living in a mud hut. Oh and I am suppose to average about 40KM of biking a day!! that about 25 miles roughly for those who don't know metric. I need to start getting in bike shape I guess.
Now the nomination has happen it seems to put everything in prospective. I am way more focus in school then I every had in the past, Doing a better job at controlling my money, It has given me something to Focus on. I have a goal in the future that I can chase down.
Strangely enough my professors don't seemed that happy that I am leaving. They say its a good experience but i have the feeling that they believe I shouldn't break up my education like this. I can see their point but i need a break bad. I need to get out and see the world, experience life a little. I know that i am young and not everyone has the same opportunities as I have so I need to seize them. This will give me an insight that not very many people will have.
Got my packet for the medical Clearance. Just looking at it makes me think its going to be a pain in the ass. I feel bad because i have to put it off at least a week because of midterms in school. I don't have any time to do a lot of running around. Or on this blog technically. lol If anyone has questions comments or advice It be greatly appreciated!
The picture below is one of the main attractions of Zambia! its called Victoria Falls!!!!! I might have the chance to see them in Person!!!
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Unique situation calls for?
well people i been slacking on the updates but i figure I better do one since quite frankly there is a lot of stuff that has happened.
last update i told everyone that I drove up to seatttle to do my interview for Peace corps. The interviewer liked me and said she was going to nominate me. long story short, the quarter came around and with the recent amount of budget cuts and stuff i wasnt nominated to a region. This throw me for a loop becasue I had everything plan to leave next summer. I called my recruiter and she told me not to worry becuase it was kinda unusual but wait till next quarter.
she did mention that their was a slim possibilty that i would make the national pool. this pool is basically the alloted applicants that didnt get filled by the region were placed in a pool that any region can nominate someone too. I didnt think I had a chance in that so I figure i be waiting till the next quarter. she told me she would let me know either way if i got into that or not. but she was going on vacation so it might be a week or two. I figure all right not a big deal
then last night at 3:00 am I recieved an email saying I had a change to my peace corp status. I went online this morning and it says that i been nominated and it happened the day before! at first i got super excited but then i had to calm myself down. I never recieved a phone call or email saying i been confirmed, and to top it off my recruiter is off on vacation!
so of course i did the only thing that i know to do. and that is too research. I read peace corps wiki and Peace corps website. according to everything i have read when it says you been moved on (accoridng to your Tool kit) to the next level and it next step is medical clearance it means that you have been nominated. so i guess that means i been nomiated to a region! I been trying to keep my hopes downd becuase I havent been informed by anyone about anything.
so i am bascially sitting in limbo wondering what the hell should i do? should i call or should i wait it out? I am thinking i might wait it out and see if i get contacted or not. Either way i would like to know.
On another note my internship for school been going great. They do keep us busy as hell though. I been busy researching different degrees offered in differerent sociology departments. To be honest if i know right when i left high school i was going into sociology i would have not gone to Idaho State. Regional their is some way better options.
Along with regional schools I have to research national schools and international schools. It is really interesting comparing ISU to other schools. As far as i can gleam it sounds like ISU is trying to be more competitive and add some different options in terms of degrees. I think we need to! a degree in sociology with emphaisis in community or rural studies looks way better then just plain sociology.
well I will let you know when I hear anything about my situation. I am so anxious to know if i have been nominated or not! either way i will let you guys know.
last update i told everyone that I drove up to seatttle to do my interview for Peace corps. The interviewer liked me and said she was going to nominate me. long story short, the quarter came around and with the recent amount of budget cuts and stuff i wasnt nominated to a region. This throw me for a loop becasue I had everything plan to leave next summer. I called my recruiter and she told me not to worry becuase it was kinda unusual but wait till next quarter.
she did mention that their was a slim possibilty that i would make the national pool. this pool is basically the alloted applicants that didnt get filled by the region were placed in a pool that any region can nominate someone too. I didnt think I had a chance in that so I figure i be waiting till the next quarter. she told me she would let me know either way if i got into that or not. but she was going on vacation so it might be a week or two. I figure all right not a big deal
then last night at 3:00 am I recieved an email saying I had a change to my peace corp status. I went online this morning and it says that i been nominated and it happened the day before! at first i got super excited but then i had to calm myself down. I never recieved a phone call or email saying i been confirmed, and to top it off my recruiter is off on vacation!
so of course i did the only thing that i know to do. and that is too research. I read peace corps wiki and Peace corps website. according to everything i have read when it says you been moved on (accoridng to your Tool kit) to the next level and it next step is medical clearance it means that you have been nominated. so i guess that means i been nomiated to a region! I been trying to keep my hopes downd becuase I havent been informed by anyone about anything.
so i am bascially sitting in limbo wondering what the hell should i do? should i call or should i wait it out? I am thinking i might wait it out and see if i get contacted or not. Either way i would like to know.
On another note my internship for school been going great. They do keep us busy as hell though. I been busy researching different degrees offered in differerent sociology departments. To be honest if i know right when i left high school i was going into sociology i would have not gone to Idaho State. Regional their is some way better options.
Along with regional schools I have to research national schools and international schools. It is really interesting comparing ISU to other schools. As far as i can gleam it sounds like ISU is trying to be more competitive and add some different options in terms of degrees. I think we need to! a degree in sociology with emphaisis in community or rural studies looks way better then just plain sociology.
well I will let you know when I hear anything about my situation. I am so anxious to know if i have been nominated or not! either way i will let you guys know.
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