Background Post

So, to make sure we’re all on the same page I will begin from before the beginning.

About a year ago I began my Peace Corps application amongst the over 300 job applications I sent out after finishing grad school with a Masters in International Relations. In mid July I had an interview with a Peace Corps recruiter in LA. My original interest was to be sent to a French speaking African country to work on some form of development project. I had focused much of my studies on Africa (studied in Durban, South Africa for a semester in undergrad) and had a great interest in becoming fluent n French. The recruiter informed me that she wanted to place me with an NGO development program, which I thought would be perfect. However, she said that the only one that was open in the appropriate time line would be in Spanish speaking South America. She gave me the option of that position or a youth program in some other part of the world that would not have been French or Spanish speaking. I chose the South American program and she nominated me on the spot. She said that nothing was for sure so getting some sort of leadership experience would be good for my competitiveness. Then I had to sign a paper stating that I would commit a significant amount of time studying Spanish. She informed me that I would have to take the CLEP Spanish exam eventually to prove that I had acquired a working knowledge of Spanish.

Fast forward after taking many medical exams, getting legal clearance, working a 5 month stint as a union organizer etc… to March 2011. I received an e-mail asking me for an updated version of my resume. I sent the updated version and asked when I would be expected to take the CLEP Spanish exam. I received an e-mail back thanking me for the updated version of my resume, stating that I no longer had to take the CLEP exam and that I would hear from someone in the next 6-8 weeks with more info. Ok?...

Two or three weeks later I got a call from someone at the Peace Corps HQ in DC. She asked me several general questions about my interest and commitment. I replied by assuring her of my total commitment and desire to be a part of something bigger than myself and hopefully significantly improve the lives of those I interact with. She then informed me that the South America program had been canceled due to new federal spending cuts. She did however say that she would make it a priority to find me a new post. I said ok and asked her if this meant that I was guaranteed an “invitation to volunteer” (the official acceptance into the peace corps). She said “Anything that would change that would have to come from your end.”  I said “So I basically just have to avoid getting arrested and I’m good?” “Exactly.” She replied.   

About a week later I got a call on my cell when I was in the shower. I checked the voice mail at about 11 am. It was another woman from the Peace Corps who said she wanted to discuss a possible placement. However, she said that the only way for me to get this placement was for me to confirm with her before 5 pm eastern time (2pm my time). I called periodically at first and semi-frantically as it got closer to the end time. Then 5 min before 5pm eastern time I got a call on my cell, it was her.

This lady explained to me that there was a recent opening in an NGO development program and that it would be the only one for the next several months. She said that it was in a Portuguese speaking African Country. She said that I would be working with NGOs that are working to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS and helping them build their capacity. THIS WAS EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED! (well ok, not exactly, the whole Portuguese thing was sort of out of the blue) So I took up the offer even though I only had 6 weeks before I would leave, May 30^th. I got an E-mail telling me that I would be sent to Mozambique for the next 2 years.

Over the past few weeks I have been getting all my stuff together (including a bad ass new Swiss army knife and a hand crank radioflashlight) and stuffing basic conversational Portuguese into my head. It’s a good thing that Portuguese is very similar to Spanish. I basically just have to add a sh or oo sound to the end of every Spanish word. Right now my brother is visiting me and my parents in LA from NY. I am spending time with them before I take a plane to Phili in one week. I will be given a bunch of shots and some orientation in Phili with 29 other new Peace Corps Volunteers and then they will fly us out to Maputo, Mozambique for more orientation over a few days. Then we will be bused to a small village for a 10 week training. The 10 weeks training will focus on getting us to a working knowledge of Portuguese and getting us ready for the jobs we will be undertaking. Then the superiors will analyze my brain and decide which part of the country to send me to and to what specific project. This could be in a small village or a big city. I could have easy access to the internet or it could take me a five hour bus ride. I may have electricity or I may not. I just won’t know until the 10 month training is over.

So there you go. The next time I post I will be in Mozambique. I will try and post it myself or I will send a letter to a family member who will then post it.  

Wish me luck,

Jack

Ps: Over the next two years you always have a place to stay in an unknown location in Mozambique.

ETA back in USA : Mid September 2013.