The Invitation

March 11th - Events Leading up to Invitation

At 8:20 AM, I sent my answers for final review and by 9:32, I received an email notifying me that I had been qualified for service and that I would receive an invitation to serve via email that would detail the dates and country.

March 11th - Receiving My Invitation

By 3:20 PM, I received my official invitation:

"Dear Robert, 
Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to begin training in Namibia..."

If you could have looked at me through the web cam on my computer, I probably had a look on my face like a confused puppy, one ear perked up, one lower. I looked at the list I had written down (you can see it in the "Predicting Where I Might Go" entry) and found that Namibia received volunteers in 2011 in August. Going on the July departure date, I had narrowed down the places I thought they were considering sending me to: Cape Verde, Philippines, South Africa, and Zambia. I had read up on South Africa and Zambia - but Namibia hadn't been on my radar. What would it be like to live there for two years? I only knew the capital (Windhoek), its relative location (southwestern Africa), and I had heard of it being a country with resources like uranium, diamonds, and natural gas.

My mind went back to my interview. At one point, I was asked if I had an idea of where I would like to serve. I said: "I'd like to go somewhere that has intact cultural traditions, a warm climate, perhaps a bit away from everything...like the Pacific Islands, for example." (hint hint) Then my mind went to a friend I studied Arabic with at University of Alabama at Birmingham who lived in Namibia for six or more years. I called him, and this is what he told me:

Source of photo: Guide de Namibie 

Namibia is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world. It has a population of about 2.3 million in a country twice the size of California. The North is where 60-70% of the population lives. Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken language in the North with Khoisan languages and Afrikaans being spoken in the central and southern areas. He said he wouldn't call Namibia cosmopolitan, but is very welcoming/accepting of foreigners and there are fewer tourists than you would find in some other countries. Things can feel remote outside of major cities. Experiencing the vast expanse and open skies of Namibia will remind you what a tiny speck you are on the face of the Earth. The country has a considerable amount of money coming in from industry, which has been invested in good infrastructure which has in turn not been strained by a large population. Most villages have running water and electricity. Cellular service is expensive, because there is only one service provider. There is a special breed of horse - the Namib Desert Horse - from Namibia. Wherever you are, there are always things to do outdoors. Touristic highlights include the Skeleton Coast, Victoria Falls (technically not in Namibia, just past the Caprivi Strip), Sossusvlei, and Swakopmund. He said he couldn't recommend the country more highly, and that if he were offered a job in Namibia, he would accept it with no reservations whatsoever.

Linguistic map of Africa. Oshivambo would be an example of a Bantu language. KhoeKhoe would be an example of a Khoisan ("click") language. 

It became clear to me that this was a once-in-a-lifetime offer to experience something really different from anything I had imagined before. Two lessons from my past came up as I contemplated accepting the invitation: (1) the best things in life are unexpected and (2) a good sign that you're about to do something remarkable is an unsteady feeling of "What am I getting myself into?!" 

After a few hours of processing information from various sources, accepting my invitation was an easy decision to make. I can't wait to share what happens with you!

Click here for source of image for the Namibian Flag

Medical, Legal, Suitability, & Competitive Reviews

A note about Medical Pre-Clearance

If you have a complicated medical history, you are required to give PC certain information at this stage, but since I did not have any issues come up after answering the preliminary health questionnaire, I did not have any tasks at this stage of the application.

December 22nd - received background check forms and fingerprint kit

Find out about ID requirements for the county you live in. I needed a social security card, plus government-issed photo ID in order to get fingerprinted in the county I lived in, but a driver's license was sufficient in the neighboring county.

January 10th - mailed off background check forms and fingerprint kit

I was paranoid about getting the forms in late because I participated in a special course over the winter break, so I sent the forms Express Mail on the 10th after 4 pm on a Thursday and it arrived on Monday, January 14th, at the Peace Corps DC office.

January 30th - began teaching private ESL lessons

In my last communication with my recruiter, she mentioned that a way to make my competitive review go more quickly was to have more current experience in teaching ESL. I put a message out on Facebook, looking for a student, and an instructor at my university put me in touch with a man from Iran who recently moved here. We met M/W/F for 2 hours each session for the month of February.

March 7th - received request for graduation verification

An assessment specialist with the Peace Corps had questions about the nature of my degree and conferral date. She could see that I had taken a certain number of hours, but mistakenly thought I was getting an Associate's degree because she did not realize that I had transferred classes from previous studies at another university to satisfy requirements from my degree from my degree-awarding institution.

I answered the email as best I could myself, and CC'd the Office of the Registrar and a professor from whom I needed a grade to complete my transcript, and everything was taken care of by lunch time, March 8th.

March 8th - received Peace Corps placement questions

After the assessment specialist received a PDF of my graduation verification, she emailed me with questions she needed answers to in order to complete my final assessment. 

Here are the questions: 

(1)     Expectations – 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. What resources have you used to learn about the realities of life as a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV)? What are the key lessons you have learned from these sources that will help you succeed as a PCV?

(2)     Challenges – What are the top 3 challenges do you foresee as a Volunteer and what are some strategies you think you might use to overcome these challenges?

(3)     English Education Programs – You are being considered for a placement in the Education sector. Please briefly list your teaching/tutoring experience. (For example: Sept. 2012- Dec. 2012 (2 h/w);  Adult ESL Tutor; 11 students; Cleveland Park Public Library; Houston, TX).

(4)     Teaching – What are your strengths as a teacher and what do you enjoy most about teaching?

(5)     Physical Challenges – Do you know how to swim?__ Do you know how to ride a bicycle?___Are you able to walk for up to 2 hours at a time over rough terrain?___

(6)     Legal Status -  Since you applied, have there been any changes to your Legal Status not previously reported to Peace Corps? (For example, name change? lawsuit? marriage/divorce?, traffic citation over $200 or involving drugs/alcohol?, other charges?, new/additional financial obligations? Other?) ____

March 11th - emailed answers to questions back to Peace Corps

For Question 1, I talked about videos I had watched on YouTube, Peace Corps Volunteer blogs, stories I read on the Peace Corps RSS feed, and questions I had asked RPCV's (returned Peace Corps Volunteers).

For Question 2, I listed (1) overcoming cultural differences, (2) being away from family, and (3) being without the conveniences of home.

For Question 4, part one, I included among my strengths the fact that I had studied in a wide variety of educational settings, studied foreign languages basically my entire life, am familiar with a wide range of methodologies for teaching that I had learned during my studies and integrated into my teaching methods, and am particularly skilled in pronouncing and teaching pronunciation in foreign languages.

For Question 4, part two, I stressed my desire to help others achieve their dreams, and drew attention to the fact that my degree in sustainable living would help me create meaningful secondary projects in my host community. 

The Nomination

December 14th - A few last questions and nomination letter

In the evening on the 13th, I received an email from my recruiter informing me of her intention to call me the next day. 

The call lasted about 30 minutes. She asked me more about my reasons for wanting to serve, and was curious about the absence of any recent volunteer experience on my application. I explained that I was attracted to situations that require you to grow as a person and develop new skills to adapt, and that I didn't have more volunteer experience not because I wasn't interested in giving back to my community or because I didn't see the value in it, but because it was necessary for me to support myself financially, and working to support myself had take up most of my time before I went back to college. I also mentioned that I didn't want to commit to doing volunteer work unless I could really dedicate myself to it, so I never did.

A piece of advice she gave me was to get a job or volunteer in ESL or otherwise in the education field because it would give me an edge when it came to the competitive review part of my application. 

She mentioned that she was considering me for a post in a country with a hot climate, and asked how I felt about it (that was exactly what I wanted). Then, she brought up my language experience, and said that even though I was fluent in Spanish and French, that the country she was considering nominating me for didn't speak either. She also asked me how I felt about living in a permanent home-stay situation, and I said it wouldn't be my ideal, because that was the truth, but also expressed that I was open to it, and it definitely wouldn't be a deal-breaker for me. 

Let's face it, no assignment is going to be 100% your ideal situation, but from the sound of it, I won't be going to a country in Latin America (I want to go somewhere that will be totally "new" to me), and the climate will be hot, so I count my blessings as they reveal themselves and plan to just make the best of whichever situation I end up in. I am really trusting the Universe on this one! 

We spoke around 11am, and by 4:39pm, I received an email informing me of my nomination. 

This is what the nomination letter looks like:

Dear Robert Abreu,

I am pleased to nominate you to the following Peace Corps assignment:

Sector: Education
Tentative Departure Month: July

A nomination is a recommendation that an applicant move to the next stage of consideration; the medical, legal, suitability, and competitive reviews. You should expect to receive further requests for information during these reviews. If the Office of Medical Services (OMS) needs you to submit more information, instructions will be sent via your medical portal. It is important to respond to any requests quickly and completely. We cannot move forward with the review process unless all requested information is in your file.

In addition, you will receive a legal kit in the mail containing forms necessary to conduct a background check. Please follow all directions and promptly submit these materials. If you do not receive the legal kit within the next 3 weeks please contact the Midwest Regional Office.

If you are medically pre-screened and legally cleared, your application will be evaluated by a Peace Corps Placement Specialist for suitability and competitiveness. You may be contacted at this point for additional information including an update on the status or completion of any previously requested volunteer experience or language coursework. Please note you are responsible for informing the Placement Legal Office if there are any changes to your legal status.

If you are selected for service, a Placement Specialist will work to match you with an opening, taking into account your skills, availability, necessary medical accommodations, and the needs of our host countries. If this match is made, you will receive an invitation to serve in a specific country as well as a job description. Please keep in mind that the program to which you were initially nominated may not be the program to which you are ultimately invited.

Upon invitation, you will be asked to apply for a Peace Corps passport which is specific to our agency. You may use either a current U.S. passport or a copy of your birth certificate to apply for this passport. A delay in submitting your Peace Corps passport application may prevent you from departing for service; therefore, it is advisable to have one of these documents ready for submission.

An invitation is your official offer from Peace Corps. We recommend that 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.

Congratulations on moving to the next stage of consideration for Peace Corps service.

Sincerely,

XXXX XXXXXXXXX

Regional Recruiter

The Interview

November 9th - Contacted to set up an interview

My new recruiter from the Midwest office contacted me to set up an interview. Because my school was in a small town in Iowa with no Peace Corps office of its own, I had the option of interviewing over the phone, or going to Iowa City to meet with University of Iowa's Peace Corps representative. I chose to go to Iowa City and received instructions to contact my interviewer.

November 16th - Interview time and date selected

After my interviewer selected the time and date, I scoured the Internet for indications of what might be asked at the interview and I found the list of questions at the Peace Corps Wiki (not affiliated with Peace Corps). In a journal, I wrote down each of the questions, leaving spaces in between. For the next week and half, I went through it and wrote/reviewed key words that I had written down for each question, but did not write out answers. The night before the interview, I asked one of my smartest friends to conduct a "mock interview" with me and give me feedback on my answers.

November 29th - Date of interview

The woman who conducted my interview was a returned volunteer who served in Botswana. The questions asked were identical to the ones I found on Peace Corps Wiki, except for the one I found to be the most difficult. On the Wiki, it is listed as, "Tell me about a time when you had trouble following a rule." The question I was asked at the interview was, "Describe a time you had trouble following a rule you disagreed with." I decided that there were three ways to answer this question: 1.) I had trouble following a rule, but I went along with it anyway, 2.) I had trouble following a rule, so I didn't, but then learned from the experience, or 3.) I had trouble following a rule, so I didn't follow it, but did so in a way that didn't compromise the "spirit" of the rule. I decided to go with answer format 2, and chose a time that I disobeyed my parents' wishes, but then realized that I should have followed their advice and why.

In retrospect, the one thing I could have done to be more prepared would have been to think of a joke, or something that would have made my interviewer laugh, because one of the expectations that was emphasized to me early in the interview was the "importance of having a sense of humor". No pressure, or anything...

Over the course of the interview, I made two very happy discoveries: 1.) I will not necessarily have to cut my hair; it depends on where I go, and 2.) All volunteers have a "primary" assignment, which is like your job title, but volunteers are encouraged/required to have secondary projects as well. She said a typical secondary project would be beekeeping, community agriculture, and the like. I was very happy to hear this!!

The First Step

September 28th - I submit my application

I missed the first deadline to apply in 2012, but by a stroke of luck/fate, the deadline was extended due to the implementation of a new system for applying. I completed the entire application in about 5 hours. In order to do so, I needed to scan my college transcripts, high school diploma, and other certifications to upload into the "portal". I also needed the financial statements from my university, old tax forms, and my employment history. Additionally, I found a list of all my university coursework helpful, but not necessary. 

The bulk of the time I spent on the application was spent answering questions regarding my experience in the areas that the Peace Corps operates overseas. I was as detailed as possible, thinking of every  shred of relevant experience I had in the following categories: Agriculture, Appropriate Technologies, Environment, Business and Information and Communication Technology, Education, Health, and Youth Work Community Development. 

October 10th - Peace Corps contacts me over some clarifying points

I received an email requesting additional information regarding why I had substituted a college professor for a volunteer supervisor reference, questions about the state in which I was residing, as well as clarification about a family member who works in intelligence for the US government.

For the substitution, I simply explained that after high school (the last time I had volunteer experience), I had been engaged in going to school and working to be able to travel, which left little time to be able to do volunteer activities. I also explained my reason for choosing the professor I chose as a substitute for a volunteer supervisor. I chose a professor who teaches courses in appropriate technologies to emphasize my technical skills. I mentioned that since he was a published author, that I also felt that he would be able to convey an accurate image of the kind of person I am. 

I always use my permanent address in Alabama for all official correspondence, so initially, my application was sent to the Southeast office. But since I was finishing my university studies in Iowa at the time I applied, PC said I had to use my Iowa address, and go through the Midwest office. 

As it happens, only fathers/mothers/children count as "family members" engaged in intelligence activities, so that was no barrier to my application. 

I also took the opportunity to correct my birth date, because the system Peace Corps set up is not 100% Mac-compatible, and when I entered my birth date, it was reformatted without me noticing. This was corrected without any issue, but I did end up having to correct it again on a few other (online) documents with PC. 

October 24th - Peace Corps contacts my references

It was almost a month after I send in my application that Peace Corps sent out requests for references. For my professional references, I tapped one of my college professors, as well as the director for the ESL work study job I had while in school. For my personal reference, I asked a close friend with a diplomatic background. 

I briefly discussed with each of them the aspects that I was wanting to emphasize. I chose the ESL director because I wanted to emphasize my effectiveness in working with and transferring knowledge to people from different backgrounds. I chose a professor whose classes revolved around appropriate technologies to emphasize my technical skills. And the personal reference was to emphasize how I would be able to present a positive image of the United States to people overseas.