Volunteering can be expensive!

26 June 2006

Hey All,
Well, my medical kit arrived and as I waded through the myriad forms and associated paperwork, I realized that yes indeed, the PC is a gov't organization! I began making phone calls to schedule all my appointments.





" Rachel at her birthday extravaganza"

Big time kudos to Hawthorne Vision Center for my vision stuff, I was in and out in 10 minutes! Other than that, it's been, well.....Interesting and costing me a bit of scratch. $75 for an eval from my marriage counselor, $175 at the dentist (hopefully I won't need any extra work done) and heaven only knows what else is coming down the pike. Well, in for a penny, in for a pound. I'm not going to let a few $$ get in the way of this adventure!!
It's been so f---ing hot here (102 F today). Brought back some serious Persian Gulf memories. My apartment was 94 F last night at 8:30 PM. Time to grab "Speedy the wonder Beagle" and head to the coast for a couple of days.
I spoke to my best bud Kate the other day. Lost touch with her for a few years and decieded to track her down. She is the best ever!! Within minutes we were back in the swing and I ran through a whole cell phone battery. Good times!
I'll throw up a picture from my friend Rachel's birthday last week. Cheap beer and karaoke....excellent. I sang "Big Bottom" All hail Spinal Tap! All for now.
All the best,
John

School's Out!

Hey all,
Well before I knew it, my backpack was getting lighter and lighter and the school year came to a close last Thursday. I worked on student evaluations over the weekend and have confrences tomorrow and then it's adios for the summer! This year was particularly draining for the entire staff. I've always noticed that those who bitch about teachers getting the summer off have absolutely no clue how mentally and emotionally exhausting our work is. They just see the schedule. I mean, its not like we're doing anything important (insert heavy sarcasim here)

Things with the PC (Peace Corps) are progressing so I thought I'd give a timeline below to show the process so far:

April 4th--I found out that they did not find a match for my Fulbright Teacher Exchange. I was accepted but there are always more US applicants than overseas slots. I knew it was a longshot so I wasn't too bummed.

April 10th-- I began to investigate the PC seriously after talking with my friend Greg, a RPCV (returned PC volunteer). Over the next week I do hours of research and alot of meditation on the subject. I speak with my boss about it and she thinks its a great idea. Becky's always so supportive. She's the best boss I've ever had and I've had quite a few!

Apirl--21st--After sending in my application and some extra forms regarding my divorce (I guess they want to know if I'm fleeing the country :) I get a phone intervew for the 27th

April 27th-- I have a phone interview and it goes pretty well. My recruiter was (and is) extremely helpful. One of the more amusing things about this process is the classic answer, "Well, that depends..." to many of my questions. Because the PC sends vols to many different countries with many different climates, cultures, and infrastructures, there is really no standard answer for life in country. It's like a bunch of christmas presents under the tree, you have to wait and see, but you know it'll be exciting.

May 9th--I have my second interview and we discuss regions and jobs. I choose teaching in Eastern Europe/Central Asia. My recruiter says she will nominate me for a position. Hooray!

May 12th--I recieve word that I can't be nominated for a June 2007 departure until June 2006. That means I'm in a holding pattern for awhile. No matter, school's quite maddening at this time, so it keeps me occupied and busy.

June 3rd--I recieve word that I have been nominated for a position in EE (Eastern Europe). Think any country that ends in "-ia" plus Moldova or Ukraine. Now it's the long haul of medical and dental clearance. I'm not sure why some complain about the application process. While there are alot of hoops and paperwork, so far it has been pretty painless. Maybe it's cause I was in the military and was doing "hurry up and wait" when some other prospective volunteers were riding tricycles.

June 15th--My medical kit has been sent to me. When it arrives, I have to make lots of appointments to get (in Arlo Guthrie's words) " get injected, inspected, detected, infected, neglected and selected." I just had a physical last year so I think everything's good. We'll see.

That brings us up to now so I'll upload this puppy and keep you posted.
All the Best,
John

A little about me

Hi all,
Thought I would try to get a picture up and give a little background on my life. I've been in Portland for 7 years and, after going through a divorce I didn't want, decieded to rediscover the world through the PC. I've always enjoyed travel and adventure and I really felt a nagging feeling to get "back out there". While I love my job and Portland, I really feel the need to change the lenses of my "world view glasses". The permanence I once felt in Portland has ebbed and I realize that there is nothing tying me here. So off I go!
I grew up in Ohio, joined the Navy out of highschool just to spite my parents (teenagers make the best decisions don't they?), and floated around the watery part of the world for 5 years. I saw the good (Cannes, Barcelona), the bad (Persian Gulf), and the ugly (abject poverty in Somalia and Djibouti).
After the PG, I'd decieded I'd had enough of that corporation, so I went to the Washington DC area where I worked in saloons, drank alot and had a general good time. But domesticity comes to us all and I married in 1995. Life was good and I was happy. After a move to Portland in 1999 things went up and down but just when I was becoming established in the BEST SCHOOL IN PORTLAND (my opinion), my wife wanted to end our marriage. Regardless of all the thought I have put into this subject, the best I can come up with is that some things just "are". Learn what you can and move on...life's too short.
The picture (if it uploaded properly) is of me in the middle, and my best friends Sam and Dorsey. Sam was best man at my wedding and out of the many friendships I have had in my life, Sam's been the best regardless of distance or relationships. Anyway more to follow soon.
All the Best,
John

First Go 'round

Hey all,
My name is John and I've applied to the peace corps. I've been poking around the web and have found that this is a very popular technology. Figured I'd give it a try...although I'm a bit of a luddite when it comes to this stuff, so bear with me. If there are any other PCV's or RPCV's who should come across this, advice is welcome. Random comments are also welcome. I'm sure that during this long process I will ramble and, given the current administration, rant a bit. All for now, got to get up @ 5:00 AM so I can be awake for the England-Paraguy match. World Cup rules!....just wish it ruled @ noon.

All the Best,
John