Yo Quiero Tacos, Missing the Foods! &What Is PC Training?

Hello world, 

I feel that I’m lagging on writing my blog and concentrating on my vlogs. Well yes, they’re more fun to make. I dont think I've talked about anything on training. So you'll get a few showers of that, plus a few thunderstorms here and there.

Training mainly consists of training a Peace Corps Volunteer for their actual site. During training, we dont have serious community projects yet.
It consists of classes for: community engagement, community relationships, health related issues, tips on handling projects, section information (mine is MAC, Manejo Ambiental Comunitario), community management techniques, AND for like almost 50% of the times, language training.
Language training is not necessarily just learning the spanish language, it is also learning about Peruvian culture, working with a few community projects, stranger conversations, and aid on our section small projects.

If you've done your research on Peace Corps, it is composed of different sections. Check out this link to find out more. We Peru 22, have only: MAC (Manejo Ambiental Comunitario), WASH (Water, Sanitation, & Hygiene), and Health. I am MAC, waddup!
We have three basic goals: to plant trees, to manage trash in the community, and implement environmental education. There are also some people that will be working with SERNANP (Servicio Nacional de Areas Naturales Protegidas). I was told I would be working with them because of my previous NPS (National Park Service) experience, & THAT is Great!

When we first arrived, we were given a 10-week schedule of our training. I'll take a picture a page later so you can see an example. Some days go pretty boring, others days go pretty fast. To this point, it has a good speed, and excited for future activities to come.

Now let the title be named in the body! Yo quiero tacos, I AM missing the foods from north america!
Yo quiero tortillas, yo quiero frijoles fritos, yo quiero tamales de Mexico, yo quiero hamburgesas, yo quiero posole, PERO Peru solo me da arroz blanco con una pierna de pollo. Well, it's a typical plate, so I understand. But having too much of something, kills the uniqueness.
Anyway, Mexico is still pretty on top food wise. No country will ever beat that. Then U.S. & then Peru. No offense Peru, maybe I'll fall in love with your food more deep into service.

So maybe you're wondering what I do when I'm done with training (from 8am to 5pm). Yes that time.
Wellz, I likez to do what I love. Sure, that includes chilling with friends, socializing. But I'm not the best in that field. Still, we have a few trips to the bars every week.
When I'm at home, I will be talking to my family. Playing with my host little sister for, a lot. She's 7. Other times I get in my room and just love my computer time. Making videos, surfing the lovely internet (I got lucky, I live in an internet cafe), watching movies/shows, etc.
I have my active side, but it get lazy sometimes. So I mix it with hiking. I've gone up the hills besides our community and hike up, instead of running around town. It'll get me ready for future hikes when I go to Ancash (a mountainous department(state)). Sometimes we stay late at the center, for me mainly because of playing volleyball and/or foosball. That's pretty much it so far. 

Well that's for catching up. Check out the vlogs for some visuals.

Vlog 1

Vlog 2

Vlog 3

and check out my flickr page for some stills here. 

Peace Corps Staging at Washington DC

Hello world,

As of right now I’m not sure how I’m going to organize my blogs. Either chronologically, maybe like a journal (sounds too much). Or monthly, sounds typical and fitting. But who knows. I’m also not a fan of writing, poetry, or grammar. I will be posting a video about staging. 

I’ll be talking about staging mostly chronologically. 

Once upon a time…

After Carlos saying goodbye to many of his friends and family members, it was hard to believe how this trip would be very different from the rest, a big change in time. But Carlos wanted to give it a try, no regrets. The story begins…

After spending A LOT of money, I tried fitting the limits in luggage (2 50lbs suitcases, the duffel bag, and a carry-on). 

I bought: a new sleeping bag, a 65L backpacking pack, a tent, a pair of chacos, 2 flashlights, working gloves, toiletries, business casual clothes, game cards, duct tape, new socks, new underwear, among others. If you want specifics, Google that, other blogs have exact counts. 

Well, so it begins with more goodbyes. On September 10^th we drive up to Houston Intercontinental to sleep there overnight. Early September 11^th I check in the two bags, and head inside to the terminal for United Airlines. The Internship movie came up, I really wanted to see it but my eyes were just taped up during the flight. 

As I arrive there, I see Brad and Brittany, so we all carpool to Capitol Skyline Hotel. Right away, I change in the bathroom to business casual and get in line for check-in. 

We 55 volunteers get a passport to use on the way to Peru, we get a $120 credit card, and an itinerary. We’re all tired. The informationals were from 1pm to 7pm with a few breaks. After that I hanged out with my “long-time-no-see” cousin Fernando. We walked all the way to the White House in my chacos, damn they hurt. 

September 12^th we head to Reagan airport again to wait for our next flight, YES, Houston Intercontinental. Whoop, back to h-town. No big deal though. Then to our next 7 hour flight to Lima. We arrive, go through customs, then get on two buses. Takes us like 1.5 hrs to get to some nunnery place. Stayed there two nights. September 13 we had more informationals there: intro to Spanish, Peru culture, get syllabus, get a big nice medical kit, get our picture taken (I smiled, hopefully I wasn’t the only one), and we got 40 soles (~$7). Our family also gets 27 soles per day. 

September 14 we head up to the Center at Chaclacayo, where we’ll be doing training at. In the morning current PVCs give us an overview of life in training with a family. At noon we head up to see our family. Really excited. It was funny and joyful just seeing everyone leave with a Peruvian “mom” or “dad.” 

Well I’m getting ahead of myself. That’s going more into training. I’ll tell yall about my family on the next blog.

CLICK BELOW FOR THE VISUALS

Peace Corps Peru - Staging

Trying to Upload my videos with Peru Internet, No Hope...

The internet is reallllllly slow, it freezes up my pages

Peace Corps Timeline -

ⓟⓔⓡⓤ ➋➋

I started contemplating about the Peace Corps early in college. Through the years, I’ve heard some people wanted to do it. One friend told me he would, but then decided to not stay in another country for 27 months.
I have personal pros and cons for this decision I made-
Pros: 
-I mostly hear great stories and read great journals about life as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
-I would be applying in the Environmental Section, where I would gain experience to strengthen my resume.
-It is a great spontaneous thing to do in life, different cultural lifestyle.
-I’ll get to eat wonderful food from other places
-I’ll get to visit great nature sceneries that you only see in pictures
Cons: 
-My parents are pretty old, so I worry something might happen to them.
-I could’ve done 2 years of seasonal jobs in the US
-Two years is a LONG time. I’ve said it to myself, it is literally starting another life. That’s why I did it right after College, because I would still need to start another life, the job/love stage.

Stats: 
Time it took to finish starting application-                                                53 days

Time it took to receive legal clearance-                                                    129 days 

Time it took to receive an invitation with country and job positions-          212 days

Time it took to receive medical clearance after submitting everything-        11 days

Time it took from application to staging date-                                          374 days
(September 4, 2012 – September 12, 2013)

The general PC process should be the same, except for field of work, country, and your health. That should change type of vaccinations (prices), duration, among others.

Enjoy!

Starting Application Tabs
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Application Tabs
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August 29- Took initiative by emailing PC for information.

September 4- Received email from recruiter Curt Baker saying he will be at ACE day and giving a PC presentation, both at Texas A&M, my school. Mentioned me the Masters International option.
I wanted a break from studying, I didnt want to take the GRE just yet, and I am still not sure what to get a Master's in, so I did not decide to look into it.
September 4- Emailed Curt back saying I’ve started my application online, and about going to his presentation.
September 14- Emailed me back with meeting me on ACE Day
September 19- Went to ACE Day and talked to Curt

October 5- Submitted my first updated resume
October 7- Emailed past supervisors for references
October 8- Supervisors emailed me saying, yes, they would serve as my references
October 27- Submitted the application (included: essays, 3 references, etc.)
October 27- Medical Applicant Portal Registration
October 27- Submitted the History Health Form
October 30- Official email from Curt about receiving the application, to contact my references within 10 days of the email. Small info paragraphs in four points:
Updating application information
Iinterview
Medical information
Independent research.

November- Following-Up with references
November 19- Emailed me to interview December 6th at 2:30 pm and attached a pdf with cross cultural topics to be ready for the interview

December 6- Took interview on the phone. I told him I did not have a car, with his office in Dallas. Interview lasted 1.5 hrs. A lot was from cultural and lifestyle changes, which I was pretty flexible in. There was also some questions with situations that I have never experienced before. So you would just have to share a similar experience, and answer something you would do if his question became realistic.
December 11-Nominated by Curt for Sector: Environment
Tentative, Departure Month: September 2013
December- Went to Death Valley geology course trip (2 weeks)

January 2- Sent fingerprints
January 3- Went to Big Bend friend trip (4 days)
January 10- Legally cleared
January 29- Emailed Curt to follow up on the nomination, and reminding my flexibility and qualifications.
January 29- Emailed me back saying to check my applicant portal and medical portal for status updates.

February 5- Submitted my cover letter
February 18- Emailed him saying- I’ve been checking my portal. That map has no tasks for me. I questioned him the process from what I’ve been reading. That after interview, there is the medical process.
February 19- Emailed me back saying- if there’s no tasks at map, then play the waiting game.
February 27- Received an email saying I’m considered for Peace Corps Mexico for agriculture and environmental programs the Ministry of Environment and National Resources. The lady asked for a filled questionnaire and an updated resume focusing on Natural Resource Management/Environmental Conservation/Sustainable Agriculture/Water Conservation/GIS Systems.

April 2- Sent a follow-up email for Peace Corps Mexico
April 3- Received an email saying I did not get in PCMexico. They said that program usually requires 10-15 years of professional experience for their specialist programs. I was weirded out with that, they said they would not send me to the country where I have finally, but on the call we had she said it was an exception and that I was competing with like 30 people. I was kind of sure I wouldn’t make it anyway. Also that email said they found an alternate assignment for me…then the next email follows.
April 3- Received invitation to Peru, have 7 days to accept invitation.

Invitation in pdf form, not in paper (like what uTube shows)
(click to enlarge)

April 5- Receive a confirmation email right after I accept my invitation.
April 5- Received an email from MAP to check dental and immunization tasks.
April 5- Received my most important email that contained the “Next Steps” which included 10 points.
     Resume and aspiration statement
     New volunteer portal
     Passport and visa
     Final medical clearance
     Legal eligibility
     Final transcript
     Contact information
     Staging details
     Pre-departure reading
     Point of contact
April 16- Received a MAP email saying tasks are posted
April 19- Submitted aspiration statement and resume to Peru PC
April 15- Received my Varicella shot at my university clinic
April 22- Gallons of blood were taken out for physical testing on:
     Complete Blood Count/Diff($20),
     Basic Metabolic Profile($35),
     Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase($56),
     Hepatitis B Surface Antigen($29),
     Hepatitis C Virus Antibody($60),
     HIV-1/2 Antibody($36), and
     Urine Chemistry/Urine Microscopic/Urinalysis($15)
April 23- Got my shots at my university clinic for:
     Yellow Fever Vaccine($106),
     Injectable Polio Vaccine($45),
     Tuberculum PPD($15),
     Tetanus/Diphtheria Tdap Vaccine (Adacel) Pertussis, Diph($51)

May 1- Dental examination, clean up, and x-rays:
     Comp oral eval-new/eslab pat($80)
     Vertical bitewings-7 to 8 films($89)
     Panoramic film($102)
     Prophylaxis-adult($82)
May 2- Received email from Peru PC on confirmation in receiving my aspiration statement and resume
May 6- Finally received access to the other portal, the PC New Volunteer Portal on the email saying onboard/staging process started today.

New Volunteer Portal - First two tabs
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New Volunteer Portal - Third and Fifth tabs
(click to enlarge)

May 11- Graduated from Texas A&M University at College Station with a BS in Wildlife Ecology & Conservation
May 14- Received email with account to access Peace Corps LearningSpace
May 20- Flew to my SCA Intership at San Juan National Historic Site
May 25- Finally got an eye exam in Pearle Vision, Plaza Las Americas, Puerto Rico    
     Intermediate EXAM w/o DFE REGULAR($49)
     PV Optomap Screening($39)

June 5- Went to get my passport pictures (3) for my Passport/Visa
June 6- Finally ordered glasses at Santurce Walmart
     SV SeikoLens($85)
     SV SeikoLens($85)
     Optical Frame($84)
June 7- Finally sent my Passport/Visa application, was really nervous about getting something wrong or missing to attach something.
June 14- Received reminder about my medical process, that I have 30 days to complete it.
June 16- Finally submitted ALL of my medical documents, getting eye glasses was a pain with my internship, timewise.

Medical Applicant Portal (MAP) - All required examinations
(click to enlarge)

June 17- Submitted my transcript.
June 23- Resubmitted an updated resume.
June 25- Received MAP email with one more task to do. They needed all of my dental x-rays, so I emailed the Eye Center I went.
June 26- Submitted those dental x-rays and received the MAP confirmation email.
June 27- Medically Cleared and got a MAP message saying I would need 2 pairs of glasses.
July 10- Received reminder to complete everything in New Volunteer Portal (had it already done) and complete the orientation at Peace Corps Learning (hadn’t done it).
July 11- Started this Timeline post, took me many hours.
July 20- Finished my two courses on PC Learning.

PC LearningSpace - eLearning site for the 2 pre-departure PC courses
(click to enlarge)

August 13- Finished my internship at San Juan National Historic Site.
Aug/Sept- Enjoying the free month with friends and family.

September 12- Departure to Staging at DC
September 13- Departure to Lima, Peru. Training starts

Let the adventure BEGIN!