This blog is intended to serve as a record of my experience as a Peace Corps volunteer. I'm sure it will host many anecdotes, musings, photos, and more. In a later post, before I ship out, (while I still have fast, reliable internet at my fingertips) I'll outline a little more about Cameroon, my position as a science teacher, and my packing list.
For now, let's talk a little about the application process and how I got here.
*Carry on Wayward Son starts up* (Holla to all the Supernatural fans)
March - June 2014: Here is where I really buckled down and got serious about pursuing the Peace Corps aka got my research on. I became very familiar with the Peace Corps website. I went to recruitment events and talked with recruiters over the phone and through emails (those pour souls). I sat in on webinars. I even completely changed what sector of the Peace Corps I was interested in. When I learned a little more about the new application and process, I decided to scrap my old application and start fresh.
September 2014: I finally finished the Motivation Statement I had been agonizing over and submitted my application by an "early bird" deadline. On the Assignment Selection Form I chose Education Anywhere assuming I would be placed in a science/biology teaching position, all of which were in Africa.
One week later: I get an email saying that I was being considered for Secondary Science Education in Cameroon. I was a little shell shocked. I hadn't looked into the Cameroon program because the leave date was May 25, much earlier than I anticipated. A few days later, I received the Interview Request email from Placement.
Mid-October: Interview with Placement. My interview lasted between 1.5-2 hours. It was fairly easygoing. The interviewer wasn't trying to stump me or make me pee my pants (I'd downed about a pot of coffee beforehand so my bladder issues were my own doing). Having googled "Peace Corps interview questions" ahead of time helped ease my nerves since I had an idea of the kinds of questions to expect.
Then, the waiting. And waiting. Add a little fretting over whether or not I answered the questions to the best of my ability. Stir in some self-doubt and voila!
November 18: The Big Day! After casually refreshing my email, my heart stopped when I saw a new email with the subject line, "Peace Corps - Invitation!" There was some shouting and hugs all around (I was at work when I received the news). Needless to say, the rest of my day was shot. I was floating around on cloud nine, more in the way than anything else.
I did take a couple of days to accept. I never had any intention of rejecting the offer. I just wanted to read the materials, to love/cry on my precious kitty, and to accept that this is really happening. I leave in May. I will be spending 27 months of my life in Cameroon, a place I've neither been nor paid much attention to until now if we're being completely honest. I'll be turning 27 when I return. My grandmother informed me that I would be an old maid schoolteacher. I'll make sure that title is on my business cards.
The aforementioned precious kitty
So where am I now? Working and living in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I've completed my paperwork. I'm good to go medically. Now, general preparations. Reading everything I can find about Cameroon. Practicing my French (I don't think my farm animal knowledge and my ability to sing "Old MacDonald" will cut it). And downloading ebook after ebook and countless podcasts to last me two years.
If I've kept your attention this long, bless your heart and welcome to the journey!
Cheers!
