Chapter 12: Same Bat Job, Different Bat Language

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Holy mother of all PC assignments Batman!

Now that I've had a chance to read through the mountain of paperwork and documents that came in the invite/welcome package, I have a pretty good idea of what they plan on having me do for the next 2 years.

So "Ray, what will you be doing in the Peace Corps?" you ask. Will I be teaching people the benefits of using a condom? Will I be in working on my beekeeping skills? Or maybe I will be spreading the most important American core value (capitalism), by training people on free market economics? If you are asking these questions, it means you already know a little bit about what the PC does... it also means you have skipped chapters 1-11 of this blog.

The job description they gave me sounds almost exactly like what I do now, except in Spanish, and in better weather! Here it is, straight from the horses (or PC welcome books) mouth:

Working For:
CONACYT - Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología

Project:
Institutional Strengthening Project

Staging:
September 20-21, 2006

Pre-Service Training:
September 22 - December 15, 2006

Service Date:
December 15, 2006 - December 12, 2008

Job Title:
Knowledge Management and Information Technology Specialist

Primary Duties:

1. Analyzing current information and knowledge management systems and procedures.
2. Identify gaps and needs in information systems support.
3. Identify opportunities to introduce software and systems that will give Centers and clients a competitive advantage.
4. Designing, testing and implementation of proposed knowledge management systems.
5. Organization of data for a research and development center to facilitate the
   transfers of information and technologies to researchers and clients.
6. Assisting centers with the procedures for protecting intellectual property, securing patents, and other legal protection for work results.
7. Helping to develop quality improvement systems and controls.
8. Debugging of software and systems.
9. Advising centers on equipment and infrastructure needed for systems and
   develop work processes to feed into the designed systems.
10. Provide training in specific platforms and software.
11. Provide advice to businesses on integrated IT and business information needs.
12. Helping develop instructional and informational materials as necessary.
13. Providing leadership to unit in meeting objectives.
14. Traveling to meet with industry and other center representative as necessary.
    

Now for the only bit of information in the welcome book that I was not at all happy to hear about.

"Work hours are usually from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM... typically 30 minute to 1 hour lunch breaks..."

That's almost as bad as the hours at the (now defunct) internet startup I worked in Silicon Valley... but without the one-in-a-million chance of ending up rich at the end of it.

The only thing that they don't tell me is exactly where I will be working. I realize this makes sense for other countries, because the final decision is made after the invitee/trainee makes it to the country. But Mexico is different. They knew exactly where I would be working before I was even cleared for Placement. Ah well, the guessing game will probably continue until December.

Don't forget to tune in next week to find out if our hero is finally able to close on his "Bat Cave" (condo).

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Chapter 11: I Would Like to Thank the Academy

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The following is an except from the speech I gave as the postman dropped off my invitation.

"Thank you, thank you... I would like to start of by thanking the Academy (Peace Corps) for giving me such an award (invitation). Thank you Hazel for nominating me for this position, and thanks to Suzanne and Sarah from the placement office. Regina from the Mexico office for approving my position. And my family and friends for supporting me through this process, I couldn't have done it without you.

But let's not forget all the little people who helped me get where I am today. The U.S. postal service workers for delivering my application, the internet technicians at Adelphia for allowing me to email questions around the world. Tel Mundo for playing hours of over acted tele-neuvela's so that I could get used to hearing Spanish. The Rosseta Stone language software for teaching me such useful phrases as "La mujer veijo esta pelo azule" (the old lady has blue hair). Bittorrent, for getting me the Rosseta Stone software at a big discount ;) . And last but not least all the people on Ebay who bought my worthless old junk for much more than I originally paid for it. Without all of your support this wouldn't have been possible.

You love me, your really really love me. Sniff... I promised myself I wouldn't cry... sniff...."

Needless to say the postman gave me a strange look and left very quickly after seeing this. I think it is safe to say that he will put a request for a different route after today. :/

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Chapter 10: First Bump In The Road To The PC (part 2)

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Again?

I called the title agency last night because I needed to schedule a time to sign the papers and finally sell my house. But to my surprise they tell me that we won't be able to close since the mortgage papers had not come through yet.

What?!?!

This was the first I have heard of any more delays. Again, it happens one day before I am suppose to sell. So I called up Tom, my seller agent, and ask what is going on, he told me that he had just been told by Melodie,the buyers agent, that this new financing had also fallen through.

This Mortgage Broker messes up twice on the same house?!?!

So the buyer is now once again searching for finiancing and will instead pay me rent for the rest of the month. I was looking for a buyer for my house, not a tenent. Hopefully the third time will be the charm...

What could go wrong?

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Chapter 9: Los Interview Numero Dos

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Hola! It is now (6/6/06) unofficially official. As of September 22nd of this year, I will be living in Mexico.

Last night I spent over an hour on the phone talking with Regina Montano who is the HR contact in Mexico. She was very friendly and took the time to explain the PC Mexico program, which is, by all account very different from any other PC program in the world. We then spent about 20 minutes going through a questionaire to determine whether I was right for the program. The questions were pretty generic to most interviews I have been in, but focused a more on PC, and Mexico situations. Here were some of the questions to the best of my recollection.

• What are 4 good qualities about yourself?
  Response: You want me to limit it to only 4?
  
• What do you think you would contribute to PC Mexico?
  Response: Oh, I don't even know where to begin...
  
• If the PC offered you another job, would you prefer it over Mexico?
  Response: That depends, does the PC have openings for a beach bums in Tahiti?
  
• How well will you deal with living in a strange new land for the next few years?
  Response: I have dealt with living in America for the last 10 years... it doesn't get more strange than this.
  
• Will you fullfil your 2 year commitment?
  Response: I can't really commit to an answer right now, ask me again in a few years.
  
• What would you do a co-worker accused you of only being in Mexico to learn Spanish and party?
  Response: I would use my learned Spanish to invite him out for some drinks after work.
  
• What do you imagine your life in Mexico being like?
  Response: See question above.

In the end she asked me if I had any questions for her. I said no... but this morning it occured to me, I should have asked which city I would be spending the next 2 years of my life in. :/

Though the phone line between Cleveland and Queretaro kept breaking up, we made it through the interview. After we finished she told me that she thought I would be a good fit for their program, and that she would get the official paperwork started so that D.C. could send me my invitation.

So T-88 days till I escape from Cleveland....

DISCLAIMER: For those of you that sarcasm is lost on, and take things too literally ... I would not recommend actually using those answers in your interview. I will not be held liable for the results.

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Chapter 8: Email From Placement Officer

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So, I have heard nothing from the my PC placement office for the last 4 weeks. This is longest I have gone without some sort of correspondence from the PC since I started this process. Honestly I was getting a little restless. But this morning I get into work to find the following email.

Hi Ray,

Thank you for checking in, and congratulations on your medical clearance! I'm so glad to see that things are moving along with your application process.

I just wanted to let you know that our staff with Peace Corps in Mexico are interested in interviewing you, in order to confirm that your background and experience will be a match for their programs. This interview should last about half an hour, and will be by phone. Please be prepared to discuss your professional and educational background, as well as your interest and motivation for serving in Peace Corps - and specifically, in the Mexico program. My colleague, Suzanne Zoller, will be in touch with you to set up a time for your interview next week. Our staff in Mexico is interested in interviewing you as early as Monday, 6/5.

Many thanks!

Sarah Crites

What a great way to start the week!

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Chapter 7: First Bump In The Road To The PC.

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Three days till I close on my condo. What could go wrong? I have done all the paperwork, am moving out in 2 days to a unit with month-to-month lease, and the buyer is moving in the same day. What could possibly go wrong?

Last night I was at home packing, feeling good after a game of beach volleyball with Cleveland Plays when my phone rings. It is Melodie, the buyers agent. She called to let me know that the buyers finiancing just fell through and that he would not be able to close on time.

But he has been able to secure new financing, and the buyer would still like to move in on the scheduled date, and pay me rent until we close (which is now scheduled for 3 weeks from now). As long as nothing else happens, this is no big deal, and I am not out any money.

Should be ok... what could go wrong?

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