Today was a long day. SA 25 had its host family farewell party, which involved at least six hours of cooking as well as other preparations, speechwriting, dance learning, costume making/dressing... Our group worked hard. The event went off with the usual hitches that I've come to associate with south africa (Too many people! Transportation is late! Not enough food! Everything takes longer than it should and starts late! Why is there six different groups doing the same dance to the same song?). But eventually everyone got fed, we went through the entire program and no fights escalated beyond some yelling. Like most south african events, it ended in a huge dance party, so I'm calling it a success.
Today was one of the last times our whole group will be together for awhile. 33 of us will swear in on thursday and then spread out across the limpopo, mpumalanga and kwazulunatal provinces. For three months, I will probably not see another member of my training group.
I love my training group. The 32 other members are incredibly fantastic individuals. Unfortunately, even after the 3 month lockdown period, many of my closest friends are going to be 6 to 15 hours away.
But although I'd love to live much closer to some of these fantastic people, that's not what peace corps is about. Its about changing communities, changing lives and integrating fully into my community, which is much harder to do when surrounded by other americans.
So when the vans come to take everyone away, I will be sad. I might even cry. But for my community and for myself, this is necessary for growth. And when it gets bad, I can chat with people using my blackberry, as well as planning trips with friends. Thank god for blacberries.
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
" You seem to get sick a lot"
That quote came from one of my peace corps medical officers, or pcmos for short. As of today, I can award myself with the dubious honor of being the sickest person in my training class. I have been down for the count with 3 different illnesses, as far as I know, the most times someone has been sick besides me is once. Or twice with the same illness both times.
1.5 weeks in, I woke up with angelina jolie sized lips. My lips kept on swelling up so it looked like I had gotten into a fight with a plastic surgeon. Then my eyes started swelling up as well, so I could barely open them. When a rash started to accompany this, I called the pcmo. The culprit was mangos. Turns out although even though I had eaten and enjoyed mangos in the states, nicaragua and vietnam, these south african mangos made my immune system go haywire
4 weeks in, one night I could sleep, my whole body was itchy. I woke uop to an angry red rash on my neck, chest and face. Aafter a four hour wait at the clinic, I was diagnosed with a photodermatitic reaction. Sun exposure had given me a rash. So I am now allergic to mangos and the sun. And I'm in africa. Great.
Then last night, after a day with a dull headache I wake up in the middle of the night shivering. I have a fever... And the only prescription is more cowbell! That or asprin. I sleep walk through most of today, with my temperature bouncing between 102 and 96 (I didn't even know it could go that low) until I finally call my pcmo who tells me its probably a virus and I just have to wait it out.
With all that, and the immense number of scrapes/ bugbites (so much that I have been asked what happened by a couple trainees), the common joke is that I'm allergic to south africa. And I have two more years here
My response is bring it on south africa.
But truthfully I can only say that because our pcmos/peace corps health care is fantastic. Rides/chaperones to the clinic, two fabulous medical professionals on call 24/7, meds delivered to my door!
So may the force and fabulous health care be with me!
1.5 weeks in, I woke up with angelina jolie sized lips. My lips kept on swelling up so it looked like I had gotten into a fight with a plastic surgeon. Then my eyes started swelling up as well, so I could barely open them. When a rash started to accompany this, I called the pcmo. The culprit was mangos. Turns out although even though I had eaten and enjoyed mangos in the states, nicaragua and vietnam, these south african mangos made my immune system go haywire
4 weeks in, one night I could sleep, my whole body was itchy. I woke uop to an angry red rash on my neck, chest and face. Aafter a four hour wait at the clinic, I was diagnosed with a photodermatitic reaction. Sun exposure had given me a rash. So I am now allergic to mangos and the sun. And I'm in africa. Great.
Then last night, after a day with a dull headache I wake up in the middle of the night shivering. I have a fever... And the only prescription is more cowbell! That or asprin. I sleep walk through most of today, with my temperature bouncing between 102 and 96 (I didn't even know it could go that low) until I finally call my pcmo who tells me its probably a virus and I just have to wait it out.
With all that, and the immense number of scrapes/ bugbites (so much that I have been asked what happened by a couple trainees), the common joke is that I'm allergic to south africa. And I have two more years here
My response is bring it on south africa.
But truthfully I can only say that because our pcmos/peace corps health care is fantastic. Rides/chaperones to the clinic, two fabulous medical professionals on call 24/7, meds delivered to my door!
So may the force and fabulous health care be with me!
Monday, March 5, 2012
Sanibonani! That is hello in zulu, the language I am now learning. I'm typing this from my newly acquired smartphonen so this is slow going. Its been about six weeks in south africa. I've lost about five pounds, developed allergies to both mangos and the sun, have met many fabulous people, both american and south african.
I'm on mý way to polokwane for a conference to meet my supervisor. I'm going to be working at goederede clinic in bundu, mpumalanga province. It's the same place as our training site, so I'm hitting the ground running, with tons of contacts I've made already and ideas for secondary projects coming at warp speed. -'m really happy. And excited about the next two years!
I'm on mý way to polokwane for a conference to meet my supervisor. I'm going to be working at goederede clinic in bundu, mpumalanga province. It's the same place as our training site, so I'm hitting the ground running, with tons of contacts I've made already and ideas for secondary projects coming at warp speed. -'m really happy. And excited about the next two years!
Monday, January 16, 2012
One Week To Go...
And I haven't started packing. Maybe tomorrow? I lost a bet to my dad recently and as penance I have to be completely packed at least 24 hours before I leave. However I did order a nifty swiss army knife, a camera and I think I have pretty much everything I will need. Hopefully.
Monday, January 2, 2012
Peace Corps Timeline
I found it helpful to look at others timelines when I was applying, so I'm going to post mine.
December 2010- Start seriously trying to think of post grad opportunities. By opportunities, I meant, anything that will involve me not living off my parents. After several hours of frustration, I stumble on to the Peace Corps website at about 3 am and start filling out the application. I do it in bits and pieces until March
March 8 2011- Peace Corps Recruiter gives talk on campus. I show up a half hour late (This is actually very unlike me, I show up ten minutes early to everything, but I had work scheduled for the first half hour). Talk to the Peace Corps Recruiter after, Annabel, and tell her that I'm pretty close to being done with my application. I finish the application later that night
March 8-15, Finish the Medical part of the application, line up three awesome people to do my recommendations (my boss, my favorite professor, one of my best friends) all of them who complete it within the week and fill out supplemental applications. Annabel calls/emails and schedules my interview March 29th, the day Spring Break starts
March 28th Find peacecorpswiki and see that all the questions that the interview will ask are posted. A smart person would spend that time preparing answers. I just spend that time freaking out, until a friend gives me some food and tells me to calm down. Decide to wing it.
March 29th. Interview Day. Show up in my suit, which was a good choice. Fill out secruity forms and give my fingerprints their and the interview lasts about an hour and a half. I don't remember much about what I said, except it was recorded, when I asked for my geographical preferences I told her 1. Pacific Islands 2. Africa, that I qualify for both business and health positions, and tell her that I took five years of elementary school spanish, four years of high school spanish and was an Amigos de Las Americas Volunteer. My thoughts after that were "Well, I guess I'm going to Central/South America" we end the interview and she says I'm a great candidate, its just been really competitive and very few slots, so she doesn't know if she can nominate right now. She tells me she will call the next week and give me a better timeline
April 3rd- She calls (I'm getting a manicure and run out of the salon I'm so excited) and tells me she can't nominate me now, but there are spots opening up in May and she will tell me more information then. Bummed, I spend the next two hours grumping to my parents, until the bad mood wears off
April 22nd- In graphic novel class, receive an email from Annabel asking if I am still interested and if I can adjust to a 5km commute to work. I reply "YES"
May 2nd: Wake up to an email telling me that I have been nominated! Central/South America Health Extension Volunteer leaving in January! I call my parents screaming (it was 7 am their time) I celebrate by skipping class and getting drunk later that night. Medical Kit is being sent to my house, I need to practice my spanish before I go
June: Graduate, move back in with parents, start internship, and start medical kit. After I think 8 appointments, maybe 10, four different medical professionals and thanking my parents for their amazing insurance which has me paying very little for all of this, it is over!
July 13th- Send in full packet
July 21st- Dental Clearance! No wisdom teeth extraction necessary! YATTA!
July 22nd- While in the airport at 6 am going to milwaukee, I getConfirmation that they had received my medical packet (received after dental clearance...all right)
August 22nd- Receive a letter that tells me I am one of the 85% of applicants that didn't fill the forms out correctly the first time. A couple days, a polio vaccine, a new ferritin test (stored iron), and explanations on both my low ferritin levels as well as how I'm not going to be a vegetarian in the peace corps, I finish the medical packet. Again
September 19th- In the airport, this time at the more human time of 8 am, I receive the email that peace corps has updated my application status, and I shall receive a letter in the mail with the determination soon. Spend the next two days freaking out worrying that I didn't qualify
September 21st- receive an email from placement telling me that, among other things, I had passed medical clearance. Another YATTA! The biggest hurdle for peace corps has officially been conquered! The actual letter comes the next day. Placement asks for an updated resume and official transcript, which I send as well as a quick thing saying that I've been using the rosetta stone program to improve my spanish. Placement emails me back saying that a placement specialist will contact me shortly.
September 29th- Contact from Placement! We schedule a final phone interview for the next day
September 30th- Final phone interview. Get asked if I would be able to deal with long distances riding my bike and no electricity and no plumbing. I reply yes. She then tells me that she is going to invite me to Sub Saharan Africa program leaving in Mid to late January. She is unable to send the final invitation then, because they haven't gotten the final numbers on the program, but will be letting me know in about a week. I give her the go ahead
And then I start freaking out. Call all my friends, goober, parents. I had been pretty set on Central/South America and it was a blow to have that taken away. I also was worried about being able to stay in touch with people. But after a couple hours and ice cream, I feel a lot better, and feel excited about Africa. Check with peace corps wiki and it looks like its down to two countries, Zambia and South Africa. From placement specialists questions, it seems like its going to be Zambia.
October 7th- Invitation is in the mail! Spend the next week leaving early from work to check if the invitation is here. Doesn't come. Leave town to visit friends
October 14th- Drinking the girliest cocktail of my life (pepto bismol pink with whipped cream) with my best friend, I get a call from my dad. He opens the envelope...and its South Africa! Leaving January 23rd I scream, drink more, and spend the rest of the trip in a daze!
My timeline was pretty short compared to many others. I was very lucky.
December 2010- Start seriously trying to think of post grad opportunities. By opportunities, I meant, anything that will involve me not living off my parents. After several hours of frustration, I stumble on to the Peace Corps website at about 3 am and start filling out the application. I do it in bits and pieces until March
March 8 2011- Peace Corps Recruiter gives talk on campus. I show up a half hour late (This is actually very unlike me, I show up ten minutes early to everything, but I had work scheduled for the first half hour). Talk to the Peace Corps Recruiter after, Annabel, and tell her that I'm pretty close to being done with my application. I finish the application later that night
March 8-15, Finish the Medical part of the application, line up three awesome people to do my recommendations (my boss, my favorite professor, one of my best friends) all of them who complete it within the week and fill out supplemental applications. Annabel calls/emails and schedules my interview March 29th, the day Spring Break starts
March 28th Find peacecorpswiki and see that all the questions that the interview will ask are posted. A smart person would spend that time preparing answers. I just spend that time freaking out, until a friend gives me some food and tells me to calm down. Decide to wing it.
March 29th. Interview Day. Show up in my suit, which was a good choice. Fill out secruity forms and give my fingerprints their and the interview lasts about an hour and a half. I don't remember much about what I said, except it was recorded, when I asked for my geographical preferences I told her 1. Pacific Islands 2. Africa, that I qualify for both business and health positions, and tell her that I took five years of elementary school spanish, four years of high school spanish and was an Amigos de Las Americas Volunteer. My thoughts after that were "Well, I guess I'm going to Central/South America" we end the interview and she says I'm a great candidate, its just been really competitive and very few slots, so she doesn't know if she can nominate right now. She tells me she will call the next week and give me a better timeline
April 3rd- She calls (I'm getting a manicure and run out of the salon I'm so excited) and tells me she can't nominate me now, but there are spots opening up in May and she will tell me more information then. Bummed, I spend the next two hours grumping to my parents, until the bad mood wears off
April 22nd- In graphic novel class, receive an email from Annabel asking if I am still interested and if I can adjust to a 5km commute to work. I reply "YES"
May 2nd: Wake up to an email telling me that I have been nominated! Central/South America Health Extension Volunteer leaving in January! I call my parents screaming (it was 7 am their time) I celebrate by skipping class and getting drunk later that night. Medical Kit is being sent to my house, I need to practice my spanish before I go
June: Graduate, move back in with parents, start internship, and start medical kit. After I think 8 appointments, maybe 10, four different medical professionals and thanking my parents for their amazing insurance which has me paying very little for all of this, it is over!
July 13th- Send in full packet
July 21st- Dental Clearance! No wisdom teeth extraction necessary! YATTA!
July 22nd- While in the airport at 6 am going to milwaukee, I getConfirmation that they had received my medical packet (received after dental clearance...all right)
August 22nd- Receive a letter that tells me I am one of the 85% of applicants that didn't fill the forms out correctly the first time. A couple days, a polio vaccine, a new ferritin test (stored iron), and explanations on both my low ferritin levels as well as how I'm not going to be a vegetarian in the peace corps, I finish the medical packet. Again
September 19th- In the airport, this time at the more human time of 8 am, I receive the email that peace corps has updated my application status, and I shall receive a letter in the mail with the determination soon. Spend the next two days freaking out worrying that I didn't qualify
September 21st- receive an email from placement telling me that, among other things, I had passed medical clearance. Another YATTA! The biggest hurdle for peace corps has officially been conquered! The actual letter comes the next day. Placement asks for an updated resume and official transcript, which I send as well as a quick thing saying that I've been using the rosetta stone program to improve my spanish. Placement emails me back saying that a placement specialist will contact me shortly.
September 29th- Contact from Placement! We schedule a final phone interview for the next day
September 30th- Final phone interview. Get asked if I would be able to deal with long distances riding my bike and no electricity and no plumbing. I reply yes. She then tells me that she is going to invite me to Sub Saharan Africa program leaving in Mid to late January. She is unable to send the final invitation then, because they haven't gotten the final numbers on the program, but will be letting me know in about a week. I give her the go ahead
And then I start freaking out. Call all my friends, goober, parents. I had been pretty set on Central/South America and it was a blow to have that taken away. I also was worried about being able to stay in touch with people. But after a couple hours and ice cream, I feel a lot better, and feel excited about Africa. Check with peace corps wiki and it looks like its down to two countries, Zambia and South Africa. From placement specialists questions, it seems like its going to be Zambia.
October 7th- Invitation is in the mail! Spend the next week leaving early from work to check if the invitation is here. Doesn't come. Leave town to visit friends
October 14th- Drinking the girliest cocktail of my life (pepto bismol pink with whipped cream) with my best friend, I get a call from my dad. He opens the envelope...and its South Africa! Leaving January 23rd I scream, drink more, and spend the rest of the trip in a daze!
My timeline was pretty short compared to many others. I was very lucky.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
I was told by my mother today to update my blog. She meant while I was actually in South Africa, but its 2:15 a.m., I have to get up in about six hours to start the long drive back home (not that I'm driving, more like the long stare into space back home) and I can't sleep, so why not?
It's about 4 weeks until I board the plane to South Africa and its finally starting to hit me. Vietnam was my big Peace Corps marker, and now that its over, it seems that there is nothing big left before I leave. Truth is, I'm in the middle of a family reunion, going to D.C. next weekend and hopefully visits from the Goober and Mads on the horizon (crosses fingers), so my schedule is jammed to the gills.
Right now, I'm feeling scared. I know this is a public blog and will probably be read by several people, and that I shouldn't talk about this stuff...but I'm scared. I'm really scared. One day in Vietnam I was in a terrible mood. After, thinking about it, I compiled a list of legitimate reasons why I was in a bad mood, realized I could do nothing about any of them...and then just waited for it to pass. And about two hours later, it did. This fear? It will pass, and I'll get some more information or have a great conversation with a friend and I'll be excited again.
It's about 4 weeks until I board the plane to South Africa and its finally starting to hit me. Vietnam was my big Peace Corps marker, and now that its over, it seems that there is nothing big left before I leave. Truth is, I'm in the middle of a family reunion, going to D.C. next weekend and hopefully visits from the Goober and Mads on the horizon (crosses fingers), so my schedule is jammed to the gills.
Right now, I'm feeling scared. I know this is a public blog and will probably be read by several people, and that I shouldn't talk about this stuff...but I'm scared. I'm really scared. One day in Vietnam I was in a terrible mood. After, thinking about it, I compiled a list of legitimate reasons why I was in a bad mood, realized I could do nothing about any of them...and then just waited for it to pass. And about two hours later, it did. This fear? It will pass, and I'll get some more information or have a great conversation with a friend and I'll be excited again.
Sunday, December 18, 2011
Day about 10 of 14 in South East Asia. Last full day in Vietnam. Tomorrow we head to Cambodia for a couple days, back home and then LA for a family trip.
By the end of this month, I will have spent approximately four days in my own bed. However, considering I'm leaving for South Africa in about a month (holyshitcrikesfuckshitack), I better get used to this.
I've learned through this month of intense travel
1. I'm a city kid
2. I love my friends. I miss them already. And I have the best friends in the world
3. Eat the weird fruit. It tastes fantastic
4. A kindle makes everything better.
5. I need more sleep than the average person
6. My family is also the best thing ever.
Also found out today that programs to El Salvador and Honduras that were supposed to leave in January and February were canceled due to security reasons. I breathed a sigh of relief because I was originally nominated to serve in Central/South America, meaning that I could have been going to one of these two countries. And sympathy for those volunteers. Peace Corps takes a lot of work and time and money and effort to just go through the application process, at least six months and several hundred dollars and multitude of patience from family and friends. To go through all of this and just get it yanked out at the last minute, after you've gotten the invitation...well that must be awful. If someone told me "You aren't going to South Africa anymore...you have to wait a few days to see if we can place you, and we'll try our best, but we have a lot of backlog and all of the other people in your program we also have to place" to say I would be upset would be putting it mildly
I hope I'm not tempting fate and I don't get an email tomorrow saying South Africa program is canceled (knock on wood)
By the end of this month, I will have spent approximately four days in my own bed. However, considering I'm leaving for South Africa in about a month (holyshitcrikesfuckshitack), I better get used to this.
I've learned through this month of intense travel
1. I'm a city kid
2. I love my friends. I miss them already. And I have the best friends in the world
3. Eat the weird fruit. It tastes fantastic
4. A kindle makes everything better.
5. I need more sleep than the average person
6. My family is also the best thing ever.
Also found out today that programs to El Salvador and Honduras that were supposed to leave in January and February were canceled due to security reasons. I breathed a sigh of relief because I was originally nominated to serve in Central/South America, meaning that I could have been going to one of these two countries. And sympathy for those volunteers. Peace Corps takes a lot of work and time and money and effort to just go through the application process, at least six months and several hundred dollars and multitude of patience from family and friends. To go through all of this and just get it yanked out at the last minute, after you've gotten the invitation...well that must be awful. If someone told me "You aren't going to South Africa anymore...you have to wait a few days to see if we can place you, and we'll try our best, but we have a lot of backlog and all of the other people in your program we also have to place" to say I would be upset would be putting it mildly
I hope I'm not tempting fate and I don't get an email tomorrow saying South Africa program is canceled (knock on wood)
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