Chapter 6: Medically Cleared

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It took just over 9 weeks for me to get from the stage of "starting to fill out my application" to get "medically cleared". With all the 1 year application horror stories I have been reading about, I really didn't expect to get this far, this soon. But the waiting is not over yet... not by a long shot.

I emailed my recruiter (Hazel) the other day to find out who my PO was. She responded within a few days, and let me know that I would be working with Sarah. In a move that made me feel like a cyber-stalker, I did a quick search through the yahoo newsgroup, and discovered much to my dismay, that Sarah is natoriously bad at replying to email. Oh well, I sent her one anyway, and have yet to hear back.

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Chapter 5: Under Qualified For Mexico?

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I never thought that there would be a IT position in the PC that I may be under qualified for. Most of the IT projects I have heard about involve basic computer maintenance and education, and the most complicated ones are setting up databases and writing some simple software. No problem. I can do that in my sleep. But get a load of this excerpt from a PC newsletter describing the current volunteers serving in Mexico.

"The median age of our PCVs in Mexico is 45, with an average work experience of 15 to 20 years. Most have either MAs or PhDs. " - RPCV Newsletter 2006

I am 26, with barely ten years of experience (if you count college). And definitely no Masters or PhD (even though Prof. Ray does have a nice ring to it).

So basically what it comes down to is a numbers game. While I may not be middle aged with two decades of work experience behind me, honestly, how many people can I be competing with for these positions? A person with a B.S. in Engineering and extensive software development experience definitely is not the typical PC applicant.

On the flipside, going to Mexico would almost feel like a cheating. I will probably have a nice apartment with electricity, running water, air-conditioning and even DSL internet. I will also not be sent out, and make close friendships with a group of people my age.

Well, I guess I've decided to roll with it. They warn you when you apply to the PC, that it will probably not be like you expect. So if I get sent to Mexico, fine, if I don't make this program and get sent somewhere else, also fine. I'll leave this one up to the roll of the dice. Isn't that what doing something as "crazy" as the Peace Corps is all about? :)

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Chapter 4: The Mystery Of The "K" Solved?

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I think I may have finally solved the mystery of the "K" in my nomination code. I was surfing around the web, and found somebody who was nomintated for exactly the same program I was.

143-06-044-K8/b

The only difference was, he was actually told what everything stood for. So now I know, I am nomitated to go to Mexico in September! So, "K=Mexico"... now why didn't I think of that?

This is really exciting. This program was only started two years ago (2004), and is the only one of it's kind in the PC. The Peace Corps webpage describes the Mexico program as follows:

Technical Research and Development

"Volunteers will work with research and development staffs in basic and applied research related to technological challenges facing Mexico's manufacturing and agro-industrial sectors. These activities will promote the technological development of small and medium-sized Mexican companies seeking to improve production processes and product quality and to create jobs at the local level.

The Mexico/Peace Corps program is a unique partnership that provides the first opportunity for the Peace Corps to recruit highly specialized, technically-trained and experienced Volunteers to work side-by-side with their highly skilled and specialized Mexican counterparts. " - www.peacecorps.gov

Hmmm, so they think I am "highly skilled"? Hahaha...

Anyways, as most of you know, if I could choose any region to go with the PC it would be Central/Latin America. It is the only region they offer that has the two things I am looking for in my PC experience. They speak one of the big world languages (Spanish, French, Russian, Chinese, and English), and have warm weather! As an added bonus, after this, when I visit California, and everybody assumes I speak Spanish... I actually will!

So now, at least I have an idea! But from what I hear, there is a 50% chance this will change. No use getting my hopes up... :/

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