"Dear Applicant, This email is to notify you that Peace Corps’ application process is changing in late summer. This will have an impact on your medical review as the changes to our application process involve a new process for medical clearance. If we do not receive your physical exam form with a postmark date no later than July 9, you will be required to complete a new online tool to evaluate your medical history when the new medical process begins. Additionally, you risk being delayed for departure with your nominated program if your physical exam form is not completed by the July 9 postmark deadline."Well. That's hilarious. I guess I'd better get on it, then! I've already mailed in my Dental Packet and have my last appointment for the physical portion today. I just need those darned Polio and TD boosters!

If you voted in the poll located on the lefthand side of the page, please go back and add your vote again, because I lost the original poll when I changed my blog around!

If you need help with your decision, check out this post!

"Ha sido adjudicada la plaza en <DESC_CENTRO> - Madrid - España a su solicitud 12_1AXC000042 del programa de Auxiliares de Conversación en España."

This basically means that I have officially been offered a spot in the ministry program. I have 7 days to decide whether or not I will defer Peace Corps for three months, or tell this program (as I have told BEDA), "no".

I will try to do the right thing for myself - it sucks being stuck in two places. I know I will make the right decision, though.

The Nominee Toolkit is an online application-checking interface that Peace Corps uses in order to communicate progress to its nominees.

Every time Peace Corps changes something or receives something from me, they update the information in the Nominee Toolkit. Everytime the toolkit updates, I get an e-mail at around 5AM the next morning, which always gives me a happy little surprise when I wake up.

Today's Toolkit reads like this (as it has since the end of March):

FORMS required to become an invitee

Medical/Dental Forms Peace Corps mailed you a Medical Kit on March 27, 2012. Be sure to schedule your medical appointments immediately so you can submit your medical forms as soon as possible. TIP: Some medical forms, reimbursement forms, and samples of correctly completed forms are available in the Download Center.

Physical ExamPeace Corps has not yet received the results of your physical exam. Please make the required medical appointments and submit your physical exam, along with any other required documentation, as soon as possible. (Note: Notification of receipt of dental information may precede notification of receipt of physical exam. Allow for a 2 to 3 day delay.)

Evaluations required to become an Invitee: Dental Peace Corps is currently reviewing your dental documentation.

Legal There are no legal holds on your account at this time.

Medical Peace Corps is currently reviewing your medical documentation.

Place There are no placement holds on your account at this time.

----

By the way, I just sent off my dental packet today and I am not even finished with my physical, so those last couple of circles are kinda wrong, lol. I believe they are just place-holders until they actually receive the information (which should be soon!).

Yes, I said it.

On recommendation from a fellow Peace Corps nominee and friend, I went to a dentist that is currently a Fellow with the International College of Dentists (USA), an organization that offers to complete the Peace Corps dental x-rays and diagnostic examinations at no cost.

The place was wonderfully chipper, and everyone seemed genuinely interested to hear my story about Peace Corps. In fact, the woman who worked on me has a son who is currently a volunteer completing his first year in Mongolia.

She gave me some "motherly advice", and talked a great deal about that 20/20 interview. She was pretty honest and told me she wasn't sure how she would feel if it was her daughter traveling abroad.

I think my mom'll be fine :)

The entire shabangabang took about 2 hours (partially because I went to the wrong address across town), but at the end of it all, I was good to go! No bruxism, no periodontitis, no gingivitis -- and most importantly for me -- NO CAVITIES!

Another dentist came over to sign the paperwork, and after, gave me advice about dentil floss:

"Just...buy a whole suitcase of it. And don't use it to fly kites!"

I laughed, partially because the joke was way too corny, but also because I was relieved nothing serious was going on with my mouth.

Now, all I need to do is complete my last battery of tests on May 21st and May 22nd, and I will have this devil-packet mailed!

Go, Diplo, go!

"Good Evening,

I am writing to inform you that you have been selected to take part as a Language & Culture Assistant in the BEDA Program with Escuelas Católicas Madrid and Universidad de Comillas in 2012/2013. Congratulations!

Further information will be communicated to you by email this week with dates for the course in September and details of your school and the hours."

Nice to see this, finally, even though I will not be participating in the program because of the Peace Corps.

...and man, does it feel good!

You see, I'm the type of girl that gets excited by discounts. I'll ring up my items in a Kroger U-Scan and clap my hands gleefully as the price lowers when I've swiped my Shoppers' Plus card. I'm a thrift store drifter ($2 pants? yes, please!). I'll wait for a new movie to come out in the Dollar Theater before I shell out the nine dollars Lennox wants from me.

Okay, I take that back. I'll spend good money on any Christopher Nolan flick, and on The Avengers. Which I am seeing. Again. You should see it, too. Actually, stop reading this post and go see The Avengers if you haven't already. I'll wait...

Are you back? Okay, good.

Anyway, as I said before, I like discounts. So, imagine my supreme happiness when, after completing the female exam portion of the Medical Packet at the local community health clinic, I was told they would also be able to complete all of my other labs (and test my titers) at no cost.

Remember my recent post about the dreaded medical packet and the battery of tests (and horrific upfront costs) that awaited me? Well, as I was explaining this, a Nurse Practioner took my medical packet, looked through the list of required labs, and decided that because of my income, the clinic could complete all the labs for me on the spot.

And by all, I mean all of the labs. And by on the spot, I mean they actually drew my blood today, even though I didn't have an appointment. Yes, they had to take blood from both arms because my left arm vein was acting all uppity and wouldn't work for them, but other than that (kinda painful) hiccup, it went as smooth as a baby's bottom.

I was half in shock when they signed me up to get my Varicella titers, and even moreso when they did a TB test and scoured through the PC Medical Packet to make sure they weren't missing anything. That packet passed through so many hands, it was like they were looking at photos of a newborn.

The Peace Corps medical packet must be formalized by a Medical Doctor ("which, like, makes no sense", one NP whispered to the other), they scheduled my varicella and general health exam in 2 weeks (when the Doc is available). Still, I'll take having to wait two extra weeks in exchange for getting this medical packet completed virtually without having to touch my pocketbook.

My lesson has been learned: seek out a local health clinic if you are like me and have little to no insurance.

If you live in my area, here is a link to the community health center I used. Here is another link to the County Health Department where I am getting my (extremely cheap) immunizations!

Good luck and may the Peace Corps Gods show you the mercy they have granted me!

Maybe this godforsaken medical packet will be defeated after all, thanks to another FPCV in my area who decided to call up all the local labs and list their prices.

I am so stoked that I just might be able to afford all these labs without having to get a second job (she says, dripping with sarcasm).

Through Lab Corps' Lab Access Program (for poor folk like moi) , my prices look something like this:

Complete blood count (CBC) = $19 Hep B surface antigen = $42Hep B surface antibody = $43Hep C serology = $47G6PD = $105Urinalysis = $17Totaling $273 + a $10 lab fee = $283

What's even better is that I just received a message in my inbox about free Hep C tests, and my job offers free Hep B vaccinations ( I wrote a letter to PC OMS asking if this could take the place of the antibody/antigen surface tests) so my final tally might look something like this:

Complete blood count (CBC) = $19 Hep B surface antigen = $0Hep B surface antibody = $0Hep C serology = $0G6PD = $105 (whyyyyyyyyy is this so expensive?!) Urinalysis = $17Totaling $141 + a $10 lab fee = $151

Even with these discounts, I still cannot believe Peace Corps only reimburses something like $160 of these costs, because I still have to get my immunizations:

1. Polio = $26

2. TD = $20

3. and unless I can prove my immunization, Varicella= $168 (each shot is $84 freaking dollars!!!)

Totalling: $214 + $14 nurses fee and $5 dollar out of county fee = $233

All of this means, at the end of the day, I will have paid a whopping $348 for lab and immunization fees, $30 for my physical examination, and $30 or so for my TB skin test, of which Peace Corps will reimburse $160.

Thank Allah I found a County Public Health Office that was willing to throw me a bone.

It's hard to be a volunteer, y'all! Let's hope I can set up a finance plan to get through all this (or maybe ask my mother to take out a 2nd mortgage, lol), because I have yet to get started on Dental...

I just registered for June 8th! I am extremely excited to begin this process again. I cannot believe it has been a year already! I guess it's time to dust of the old books and get to studying! With one month until "go" time, I've get to get in gear!

I have been nominated to be a Health Extension volunteer in Central/South America with a departure date of February, 2013. Within Peace Corps, there are 14 countries in the Central/South America region where volunteers may be placed.

Central America:

Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama

South America:

Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname

Luckily, because I know my volunteer sector and regional nomination, I can narrow down those countries by using the Placement Calculator located in Peace Corps Wiki.

My sleuthing has given me this data:

Central America:



South America:

However, by cross-referencing my tentative departure date of February, 2013 with the staging dates from 2011 and 2012 using the Peace Corps Wiki timeline, I can narrow down my odds to these countries:

Ecuador (32% of volunteers in South America ended up here last year)

Paraguay (18% of volunteers in South America ended up here last year)

Peru (36% of volunteers in South America ended up here last year BUT I see no past staging dates in February)

Honduras also looks possible, however the 2012 February staging date has been cancelled because Peace Corps paused its volunteer operations there to figure out the security situation (it has done the same with El Salvador and Guatemala).

So, where would YOU like to go? Me? I'd prefer Paraguay (or Ecuador) :)

A RPCV who had served in both Fiji and Botswana (he actually became a volunteer in his 50's) interviewed me. It was quite funny, because he pulled out this grey little tape recorder and asked me to speak into it.

"I can't type fast enough for this," he said, and we laughed together.

There was a poster on the wall with the Peace Corps Core Expectations listed, and he literally went down the list, asking me questions about each one, and how I might manage my life abroad.

The exact questions he asked me can actually be found here. He didn't really deviate at all.

After the interview (which lasted around an hour), he went over my qualifications and asked me to speak more about my Spanish and French level, as well as my community development and TEFL skills.

After that, he gave me some information to send to my parents and it was all done!

My interview was roughly an hour and a half long and we laughed throughout. It was pretty relaxed overall.

I received my medical packet on April 7th.

As of today, May 1st, nothing has been completed. I just cannot afford it right now.

Of course I am frustrated, but there is light at the end of this medical packet tunnel.

I have my dental examination and my physical examination next week.

Hopefully the VA hospital will take care of my labs up in my hometown.

Updates on all the will be posted as they come in...sometime I wish I ate ice cream -- I am pretty sure I'd feel much more relaxed and less stressed out about all this after eating a bowl of chocolate chip cookie dough ;)

"Hello, Future Diplomat, we have your shot records. Would you like us to fax them today?"

I was at work, but I almost burst into song and dance. I am on cloud nine, because not only do they have my MMR, they have my Polio listed on the same sheet. I would hate to have to pay MORE money to prove I have the antibodies.

On top of that, I have my appointments with a low-cost clinic in two weeks. I am very excited to get all the poking and prodding over with.

I hope, once I get my Varicella records back, I can have this packet shipped of by June.

Here's to hoping!

Yatta! Two days ago I received a permission letter from Peace Corps OMS stating that I could use said letter to get to a VA or Military Hospital to have my tests taken care of for free.

Still, I will only use this as a last resort. I feel that going to the low-cost clinic is my best bet. I can also get my HIV test done for free at the local AIDS Resource Center and fandangle some low-cost immunizations.

I finally got a return call about my MMR immunizations. It seems that because I am soooo old (I'm 27), they have to look in the archives to get my childhood files. I think I might be able to go the University route and see if they have my immunization records, but we shall see how that turns out.

Tick-tock, though. Time seems to be going so slow for me as far as medical stuff is concerned, but I know that will pick up come May. I've got my clinic test scheduled and my dental exam three days after that. I will feel adequately poked and prodded after that week, I suppose. I might have to put in for some time-off from work ;)

Stay tuned!

APRIL, 2012 Peace Corps Costs Tally

PHYSICAL: $30LABWORK: Estimated $200IMMUNIZATIONS: Estimated $200DENTAL: $0TOTAL: $430

...and what makes that total so sad is that my insurance is shit. That's right. Caca. It doesn't cover dental. It doesn't cover lab tests. It doesn't cover immunizations. It doesn't cover anything "not medically necessary", and it certainly doesn't cover a lot having to do with *ehem* women's health.

Have insurance that covers these things is critical, especially when you're a Peace Corps Nominee looking through page after page of required tests and physical listed in the medical packet.

So, what's a girl with minimum insurance to do? Get on some free stuff!

Luckily, the USA International College of Dentists has an agreement that states its Fellows will give all Peace Corps nominees their X-rays and initial check-ups for free, which is a lifesaver for me. As someone with pretty decent teeth, I hope I have no $2,000 surprises.

I've also become a member of my low-cost clinic. I was nervous that it would take me a while to get an appointment, after reading horror stories of some Peace Corps nominees having to wait 4 months for an appointment, but I was able to snag a spot 3 days before my Dental Examination, this upcoming May 10th.

The low-cost clinic only charges based on income. I was instructed to bring at least $30 and my last 30-days worth of pay stubs. The highest the clinic will charge me for any of my services (including physicals and some bloodwork) is $75. Nice.

Immunizations are the hardest for me, because for some reason my mom cannot find my childhood records. We moved a while back, and I have been trying to hunt down all my doctors to get this stuff, but I have been luck to find really cheap boosters and everything in neighboring counties.

My LAST resort has been to call OMS to get more information about how to get my exams done at the VA Hospital, but my calls have yet to be returned. I don't want to risk it and wait, so I think I am just going to bite into some of these costs and let Peace Corps reimburse me later.

Thank goodness I have a sister that is willing to help me out *wink, wink if you're reading this, lol*

And, we're off!  



I've finally finished my resume and registered for the June 2012 FSOT on the Consular Track. This year, I completely changed the way I appraoched the resume. Last year, I did not take it seriously. I wasn't as effective in displaying my history of work, and I had just moved back to the United States from Japan so most of my job descriptions read something like: "taught English to schoolage kids" (and even this blurb is better than what I wrote last year, lol).    Yes, this is how I imagine my life to be

as a Consular-coned FSO. Needless to say, I sat down and ferociously attacked the resume portion, and firmly believe I put my best foot forward. Not to mention the fact that I actually listed my certifications (which I did not do last year, for some silly reason).  I also took the "please explain the skills, knowledge and abilities you may have gained during this time" very seriously, as well, and listed any SKAs gained in all of my jobs -- even if it was something like "gained ability to work quickly and efficiently in crisis situations. "

Anyway, I am getting ready to head into my "study-bunker", as I am shooting for >180 on the multiple choice and >10 on the essay; I really want my scores to stand out.

I am way too excited about all this, by the way -- can you tell?

Yes, no sooner had I lamented in my last post about my lack of a medical packet did it arrive that very same afternoon. My initial glee turne to dismay as I flipped through page after page of tests, scans, x-ryas, immunizations and required OBGYN visits that would be expected of me.

Well, damn, Peace Corps. Y you so hard to get into?

Anyway, I scoured through advice pages on Facebook, and I figured I'd best go apply to a local clinic downtown in order to get in and get cheap immunizations and checkups. I have health "coverage", but it is very difficult to use for the things Peace Corps wants me to test.

In other news, I signed up to be the Spanish interpreter for some comunity nutrition and cooking classes, I've stuck the nail in the coffin on my Spain plans and I'm currently scheduling meetings with my state school to get some prereqs for Fall entry.

Every day is another adventure to me when it comes to Peace Corps and LifeInGeneral™, but I'm taking it in stride.

That said, I am getting even more prepared for my second go at the Foreign Service Officer Test. I'm hoping to improve on my score (168-something last time) and get a near-perfect on that essay. Wish me suerte!

I was just talking with a friend via g-chat (ehem, I mean, working) when I realized I'd like to just go ahead and jump into the Peace Corps. I'm not going to defer my nomination, I'm going to go ahead and cross Spain off my 5-year plan.

Which means...I must now look for a forreal job from September to February. Wish me luck!

Also -- totally did not apply for the OMS position (AGAIN)...I really am just an FSO-kinda girl!

In other news...I am still waiting on my medical packet!

Waiting for my sister to come pick me up from work after a very long day, I took a moment to relax on my favorite bench in front of my building and snap some photos of the wonderful blossomings I've encountered. I must have looked very happy, because whenever someone saw me, they smiled widely and stopped to say, "hello" (which they never do). I blame it on the flowers...

I am still very happy about my Peace Corps nomination to Central or South America with a Health Extension. I am awaiting the Medical Packet anxiously, and I hope to be able to get some major discounts on the bloodwork.

As fas as Spain is concerned, I am getting closer to receiving my nomination. I can't wait! I thought about not going, but a couple of e-friends talked me down from that ledge. I've decided I may just have my recruitment offier suspend my nomination for three months so that my placement date may coincide with my contract end date in Spain. It's still in the works, but I'll update when I know.

Finally, I am still studying for the FSOT. I am excited to take the exam again and I am hopefully going to be able to write some practice essays. I have also decided to apply for an OMS position as well...but the deadline is approaching extremely fast for this one...I better get on it!

Well, that's it for now. Spring and the approaching Summer are brightening my spirits!

I'm not stressed out anymore because I just got my PEACE CORPS NOMINATION!!!!!!!

"Dear Future Diplo: I am pleased to nominate you for the following

Peace Corps assignment: Health Extension in Central South America."

Kinda sad it's not Africa but TOTALLY LOVING the "Health Extension" part of the equation!

WOOT!! :)

Estres. Stress. Le Stress (not really French, but whatever). It doesn't happen very often in my life, but the gnawing, evil little stress monster has found a way to creep his creepy little self into my life.

No, I'm not a big stress ball, but I've got so much on my plate I can barely think right now.

Between waiting on an announcement from BEDA, the Auxiliar program, the Peace Corps, writing my FSOT resume, 30-minute FSOT essay prep sessions, my re-ignited desire to apply for the OMS position, returning from deployment, orientations, presentations, and the Trayvon Martin case...I need a time-out. Preferably in a yurt somewhere in the plains. But not near any tornados, because I know someone will pull up my name and give me a call...

Sigh. This too shall pass...right? :)

Writing in from Crittenden, KY.

Joining a team and being on assignment in a disaster area is a little like the first day of school; you know, when you are thrown in with a bunch of wide-eyed strangers, hoping you make it out alive at the end of the day...

As I help more people affected by these tornados, I realize how lucky I am, and how fortunate I am to have secondary resources and family that will always step up and help me out.

I am not a sentimental person, but after seeing a photo what used to be someone's home, I thanked my lucky stars that I was nowhere near this area when it was hit.

Though assignments are frustrating, you can only hope to help as many people as possible and tell their stories to the rest of the world.

So, without further ado, here are 10 Things I've Noticed About Being On Assignment:

10. It's not always cots and cold showers (we stayed at Hyatt Cincinnatti the first night, lol)

11. People are really, really, REALLY nice when they hear you're helping out

8. No matter how long you've worked in your field, you will make mistakes!

7. Don't get spoiled by the Hyatt...it's only one night, and your next hotel might not be so snazzy (see: Dry Ridge, Kentucky. note: 30 minutes spent plunging broken toilet).

6. If you are young, prepared to have your judgement questioned

5. People will get angry at you

4. Most people are gracious and surprised

3. You will gain a team and a life time of experience

2. People really do need you

1. You will want to go on assignment again, and again, and again, and again and...

Well, that's it for now -- we're about to open up the operation and I can't be lolly-gagging on the net!

See ya!

Ps. -- Only 3 more months until FSOT 2012!!

Congratulations to February, 2012 FSOT Cohort passers, and good luck next time to those of you who did not make the cut!

Don't worry - with practice comes success!

Also, to my June, 2011 Cohort buddies, are you ready?! I can't wait to begin the process again! I'm ready to pass the test AND the QEP this time ;)

See you in June (and October and Janury, and on the register, lol)

...but people really have no idea what I am up to!

When I say I am joining Peace Corps, they think I'm leaving Spain behind. When I get all excited about Spain, they ask me why I've decided not to join Peace Corps. And when I talk of Graduate School and the Foreign Service...let's just say people are very unsure about my future plans.

So, this is basically my 3 to 5-year plan:

1. June 2012; Take Foreign Service Officer Test 2nd time (and hopefully pass again, lol)

2. July 2012; Submit PNQs to QEP

3. September 2012; Begin Assistanship in Spain and hopefully get invited to Foreign Service Oral Assessment, too!

4. January 2013; pass Oral Assessment (hopefully) pass language test, gain clearance and get put on register

5. June 2013, END Spanish Assistantship and ENTER Peace Corps; Peace Corps Volunteers and Foreign Service Officer candidates on register are allowed to defer their time on the register for the entire time they are in the Peace Corps.

6. June/July/August/2013-2015; PEACE CORPS

6. Sometime in 2015; Maintain high enough rank on register to enter the Foreign Service and become a diplomat!!!!!

-OR-

7. If I don't get invited to Orals/pass Orals/gain clearance, or if I fall off the register; enter Josef Korbel School of International Studies @ UDenver or some UK school (and begin FSO process for the 3rd time, lol)

I hope that makes it clear for everyone else trying to figure me out!

So...my interview is tomorrow moring at 10:30AM. I'm not nervous at all, rather quite excited. I just hope we can get to know each other and that I don't talk too much!

Wish me luck ;) and expect a recap after!

ETA: The BEDA Interview went really well, and I am pretty sure I snagged a spot in the program. I guess I'm going to Spain, after all! ;)

"Dear Future Diplomat: We have reviewed your application materials and would like to move forward in inviting you to interview with [Peace Corps Recruiter] at [State School]".

Sweeeet! :)

Dear Future Diplomat,

Please excuse the short notice...

You have been selected for a Skype interview for a position in the BEDA Program 2012 on Wednesday, 22nd February at 6:40pm (Spanish Time).

I am so excited. Wish me luck!

One of my recent Peace Corps essays mentioned Whitney Houston, and how little kids in Southern Chile would shout her name at me as I walked down the street. Little Chilean kids, sometimes not much older than 10, knew who she was. What a legacy she had.

I leave you with my favorite performance by Whitney. I was just a child when she sang it, but it rocked my world. In fact, me and my sister play her version every 4th of July.

(Some) Friends and Family's Reactions to Me...

...moving to Chile (July, 2002; age 17):

"Be safe!"

"Have fun!"

"Call us often!"

"I'm so jealous!"

"You're going to be a world citizen!"

...moving to Germany (March, 2004; age 19):

"Have fun!"

"Isn't it good to be young?"

"You're going to learn so much!"

"Aren't you...scared to be in Eastern Europe?"

"Be safe!"

...moving (back) to Chile (Jan, 2005; age 20):

"Is that where your boyfriends are?"

"Bring back more Pisco!"

"Keep traveling!"

"You're like, fluent now, right?"

"You're going to live in Chile forever!"

...moving to Mexico (Aug, 2006; age 21):

"Oooh, you're going to meet so many cute guys!"

"I've always wanted to go there!"

"You're so smart -- keep your Spanish strong!"

"You young people are so carefree!"

"Have fun!"

...moving to Japan (Aug, 2008; age 23):

"Make that money, girl!"

"How long is the flight?"

"Can I come with you?"

"Bring me back some sushi!"

"Good career move -- get some experience before joining the American job market!"

...applying to the NALC Program in Spain (Nov, 2011; Age 27):

"Is that really a good idea?"

"You can't travel forever"

"You're such a world traveler!"

"What about a boyfriend?"

"You've got until you're 35 to settle down and get a family"

...submitting my application to the Peace Corps (Jan, 2012; age 27):

"Awkward silence"

"You can't travel forever"

"When are you going to settle down?"

"What about a career?"

"I knew it!" (This one made me smile)

--

Only 10 years later, and peoples' reactions to my travels have changed so very much. Is it my age? Are folks worried about me? Hmm. Just a little bit of food for thought.

...beep, beep, beep! Peace Corps application is almost done. Amazing how it's taken me 5 years to get to this point! Wish me luck!

There has been much contention on Facebook, the forums, and in many other online arenas regarding the lack of pay for auxiliares (namely in Andalucia, La Rioja, and Catalunya), so much so that many people who were excited to head for Spain are now rethinking their plans.

Though I am still excited for Spain, I decided I needed a Plan B.

Much to my suprise, a random Facebook link gave me that option!

There is another program in Spain, very similar to the Ministry program, that has caught my interest. It's called the BEDA Language and Culture Assistant Program. The acronym stands for Bilingual English Development and Assessment, and is located in Madrid (and some parts of Andalucia).

What attracted me to this program was it's location, the attention paid to its own mission, and the opportunity the program affords auxiliares to take on more hours (and make more than 700e/month).

I only applied last week, and hours (between 24 and 16) come on a first-come, first-served basis. I hope that I can get something smack dab in the middle (20 hours gets me 866 euros, which is nothing to scoff at, lol).

The application process is a bit different from the Minstry program, in that you actually have to describe your history with Spanish, teaching, and your foreign travel. You must also sit for an interview, done via Skype. That should be interesting!

If you'd like to have more information, here is a link to the BEDA Program's .pdf FAQ document!

Work has been killer this week -- thank goodness it's almost over!

On a high note, I trained at the state EMA building these past few days. It was pretty cool!

Our exit examinations were in the DOC, so we got to sit at the desks of all the "important people". We all thought it was funny to look up at the wooden namecards and pretend we were those people; some folks got really cool seats, like "governor" and "director of homeland security", but when I realized where I was sitting, I could only shake my head: I'd somehow managed to sit in the "youth coordinator" seat.

Sigh. As if I don't seem young enough :) !

PS - Please ignore the structure and grammar of this post, haha. I'm too sleepy to write clearly! ;)

Spent the better half of the afternoon watching NOVA's entire "The Fabric of the Cosmos" series. I just have to say, the universe(s???) is so utterly, awesomely, gorgeously, beautifully AMAZING.

I just got one of my best friends on board for Spain...as well as my younger sister and her boyfriend. Besides my twin, that makes 3 new folks. Will I have a whole crew riding with me to Spain? Maybe, but only if the program is still running come September...

(fingers crossed).

I've become vegetarian again. A vegetarian who ferociously consumes fish. Who...wouldn't shy away from eating that "please enjoy and appreciate our culture" meat-infused dish (that somehow is always dripping with blood).

I surmise neither buying nor cooking meat makes me something, right? Let's just say I wouldn't go out of my way to grab a burger from the fast food chain down the block.

My mother would be semi-proud, though she eats fish now; meat (any type of meat) used to be FORBIDDEN. No, it wasn't haram. It just wasn't done in our home.

I must chuckle, because my younger self would be astonished. Future Me? Eating meat? NEVER!

Times do change ;)

A pretty uneventful New Year's Eve came and went for me...it was pretty relaxed compared to year's past in Tokyo, Korea and Cleveland...but it was still very fulfilling.

Have a happy winter season and a prosperous New Year!

I've been admitida in the North American Language and Culture Program for a couple of weeks now, but this is the first time it actually feels real. I have a laundry list of things I need to get done, but the most important things on my list are getting my passport renewed and getting my BCI (thank goodness Chicago does not require all the buereacratic nonsense of Miami or New York).

One thing I am dreading is my international police certification. I have to get one for countries I have lived in for six months or more in the past five years...unfortunately for me, this means I do have to jump through some logistical hoops. I need to get a police certificate of good record from the consulate in Tokyo, have that verified at the Spanish consulate in Tokyo, and then get that sent back to Chicago with my visa application.

Sigh. Luckily my friends back in Tokyo can help...hopefully!

I just hope this doesn't turn into a bureaucratic nightmare!

There are two tiers on the paternal side of my family, consisting of the "younger" and the "older" cousins. 13 years separate the youngest/oldest of the cousins.

Unfortunately for me, I reside in the elder group. That means my Christmases consisted of overalls, bookmarks, gift cards and "practical" stuff.

Now that the grandparents and uncles and aunts have gotten used to "gift-giving" to children, my younger cousins have hit the jackpot: tell me again why ten and thirteen-year-olds need iPads, iPhones, video games, light sabers AND gift cards?

Am I jealous? Yeah...but, watever ;)

Hope your holiday season has been as interesting as mine!

Eve Richer, a filmmaker and assistant in Spain, put together this short video in order to illustrate, in small part, how the Spanish economic dowturn has hit language assistants in Catalunya.

Around 100 assistants have not been paid, so many decided to protest what they believe is an extremely unfair situation.

If you are planning to participate in the program this upcoming year, I would definitely watch the video just to put a face to what's going on in Catalunya:

http://vimeo.com/34014213

I didn't know if I had the heart to comment on it, but I must, if only to make it real in my mind:

Around 100 auxiliares in Catalunya have not been paid their wages for three months.

First, they were told they would be paid around November 15th, then December 1st, then before December 10th. Now their pay has been pushed back again to December 31st.

Many of the auxiliares do not believe they will be paid on December 31st.

And then there is this article. If you can't read Spanish or Catala, the most important part of this article (discussing the debt the general Spanish governemnt owes to Catalunya):

"Homs ha avançat que aquest impagament tindrà com a conseqüència “problemes de tresoreria molt greus”. De fet, el portaveu del Govern ja ha apuntat que una de les repercussions podria ser el retard del pagament de les nòmines dels funcionaris."

Homs has announced that non-payment will result in "serious cash flow problems." In fact, the government spokesman has said that the repercussions could delay payment of the salaries of civil servants.

Though auxiliares are not considered "civil servants", if Barcelona can't pay its civil servants, how can they afford to suppliment the stipend of the auxiliares?

Ridiculous.

I was just admitida officially to the program yesterday, and I am more than a little nervous about the possibility that I may not be paid for my work next year (will there even be a next year?). I so want to go to Spain, but at the risk of being even poorer than I am now? No, gracias.

I feel bad for the auxiliares currently in Spain, though. What a low way to be treated. How could they be strung along like that? The facebook messages, between the "I don't have any food" and "I only have 3 euros in my account" comments, are just upsetting.

Sigh. Part of me just hopes they pack up the program in Catalunya and push everyone that applied to Catalunya down to their second choice. Mine is Madrid.

Fingers are definitely crossed that everything works out...but if it doesn't, I suppose graduate school is in the stars ;)

I couldn't manage any pics.

Turns out my friend took us to the wrong restaurant, haha. So sad. Anyway, the food was great. I hadn't had fufu since I was a little kid -- and it's a mouthful as I remembered it, lol. Goat meat in peanut soup was also delicious, as was the rice and chicken. I ended up pretty satisfied, and we all had to sit and wait a bit for the food to digest before we finally left.

Good eatin' times!

Going out to eat at a local West African restaurant in t-minus one hour. I am so excited! I haven't had West African food since Thanksgiving (well, the African American version of West African food) --- can't wait for the deliciousness!

Pics and deets to come later.

I spent all day yesterday preparing for my organization's chili cook-off today. I must say, our committee did an excellent job. We had ten fabulous entries, tons of prizes, a trivia session and a raffle.

And, might I add, I won for "Best Vegetarian Chili", though it's not as cool as you might think: I was the only one who made a vegetarian dish. Ha.

Behold our prizes and decorations...all either handmade, donated or purchased with a snazzy company card.

(source of image)

Deciding what is racist, and what is not racist isn't as hard as one might think. In the case of blackface in Spain, all you need to do is ask yourself these two simple questions and the answer to "is it racist?" will become glaringly apparent.

Simply ask yourself:

1. Have I ever, ever in my life seen a Black man or woman who had naturally pitch black skin, hair always cropped in a wooly afro, and bright red lips...all at once?

2. Is it just a coincidence that all the powerful nations of the world (from Europe to North America down to Latin America) created this image of "the jolly/helper Black person" at the exact same time?

If you can answer "no", to these questions, then blackface in Spain is racist. If you can't, then I call bullshit on your critical thinking skills.

You know what would be really exceptional? If these people actually took off all that red lipstick and black paint, and INVITED African and Middle Eastern people who actually live in Spain to participate in these Christmas parades and celebrations.

I have yet to see a person of Middle Eastern/African decent even have the chance to represent himself as a mago.

And for those of you who honestly believe this is for the most part innocent, and "just another inherent Spanish celebration", please research the history of blackface in Europe (no, not in the United States, Europe). Don't forget to read the part where early costumes did not call for these people to wear wooly wigs and bright red lips, that these were added traditions that coincided with the end of the slave trade and the begining of *gasp* the popular blackface caricature.

This is why you can see this same blackface image represented over and over again all over the world.

Black people don't look like this.

Be keen, my auxiliares in Spain. Examine your surroundings. Ask for or read the opinions of Arab/Afro-Spaniards (no, they won't all agree) about blackface in their country and how it makes them feel.

Really listen to their words, and learn from them.

Yep. This has happened to me on more than one occasion.

The man fixing my kebab has a slight smile on his face. He turns to his friend, saying something in rushed Farsi. He looks back at me, slapping a bit of sauce over the meat.

“So, tell me,” he says, “how can I get a black girlfriend?”

He says it so matter-of-fact. It doesn’t really even sound that much like a question. Is this his way of asking me out? I look past his face over to his friend, who gives me a small shrug.

I don’t hesitate, as much stop a moment to contemplate my current situation. I’m not really too shocked. More annoyed. He’s trying to be nice, I can tell, but it hasn’t worked well. Is it a compliment? Or am I just an easy target? A black girl in Seoul? I must be desperate or something, right?

He’s waiting for an answer now.

“Well,” I say, “you can go to Africa.”

He looks a bit shocked, now. I hadn’t meant for it to sound so snide, but as the words come out, I realize I’ve offended him.

“Yeah,” he says, sheepishly,”that sounds like a good suggestion.”

He hands me the kebab and I turn to look for my new friends. Had they seen this exchange? Am I now a pariah? I mean, I did just tell a man to “go to Africa”, that’s gotta count against me in some way, right?

The lone male of the group is outside, having already eaten his kebab. He leans against the wall, people-watching and probably thinking more about his next beer than my personal woes. Next to him is a tiny girl, bobbed-hair and killer shoes. She is standing in the street, kebab in one hand, bottle of beer in the other. She’s got on a frilly little skirt, and each time the wind blows, it flutters about her.

The last girl is leaning against the wall behind me, nonchalant. Typical East Coast style, long hair parted to the side, over her shoulder. She reminds me of the girls from my own neighborhood. Relaxed and reflective.

No one’s really noticed how standoffish I’ve been…and no one really cares. They’re a live and let live type of group. Chill.

I smile to myself. Chill. I think I’m going to like this.

I love Chile. I consider the country to be my second home. When I was seventeen, I lived there for six months as an exchange student. Though not my first time abroad (what's up, Canada?!), it was the first time I was without my family and friends. When I arrived in Chile, I didn't know what to expect...but after six months of living in an entirely different culture (and not without lots of ups and downs), I felt I gained a second family, an entire group of friends, and another home.

Because I had such an awesome high school experience, I decided to come back for university. I was three years older, more confident and had "big plans". Though still living with a host family, it was in an apartment in a swanky neighborhood and several other young people in my program lived nearby. It was so on.

I was young and carefree. I really didn't pay attention to my surrounding and just "went with the flow" many times. When I look back on my attitude at the time, I sometimes wonder how I managed to get robbed only once...

"Look at the meter!"

I'm sitting in the backseat of the taxi, squished between someone's leg and someone's back. I think there's a girl on my lap, but I'm not sure. We've definitely overcrowded this small cab, but the taxista doesn't seem to mind. The more stops we go to, the more money he gets.

But now we're looking at the meter. Didn't it just say 4,000 pesos? Why is it now 6,000 pesos? We haven't been parked here for that long. How's the meter going up like that?

But we're happy, and we've been drinking, and no one really cares about the meter because we've just had so much fun at insert-name bar and we feel really lucky to be in our big group of friends.

J and C hop out of the taxi and slip me some cash for their portion of the fare.

I can move now, I'm unsquished. The taxista is friendly, driving around. He's practicing his English. Some rock-ish band is playing on the radio, and I fake like I know the words. Am I even singing in Spanish?

We make another stop, and soon it's just me and T., who lives a couple blocks from me. We pull up to his apartment, and he jumps out quickly.

"It's March," He says, "why's it getting so cold?"

I laugh, partly because I'm tipsy, but mostly because I love how gringos always forget the seasons are the other way 'round down here. I'm prepared. Six months living in Temuco trained me.

We both look over at the meter, and somehow it's at 9,000 pesos. The meter just read 6,000 pesos a few minutes ago -- it should only be 8,000 pesos at most!

"That's weird," I say. But we shrug and he waves goodbye, and now I'm alone.

Since I live on the Andes side of town, past the metro, past the bus stop, I'm always the last one to get dropped off.

The taxista is laughing loudly, and another rock band is playing on the radio. I'm so sleepy, a mix of the alcohol and the late night carrette.

Just a few more blocks and I'll be in my bed.

We arrive at my apartment. And then I look at the meter. 11,000 pesos. What in the-? Either his meter is broken or something is up.

But I don't say anything because, again, I'm tired, tipsy and just wanting to crawl into bed.

"Can you pull in the light?"

He's parked off under some trees. It's so dark I can barely see. He moves the car, but only a little. There's this bizarre half-cast shadow across everything. But at least I can see my purse.

I pull out a clean, crisp 10,000 peso banknote and a 1,000 peso banknote.

"Gracias."

The taxista takes the money. There's some shuffling as I reach for the door, then -

"Señorita! Wait-!"

He's smiling, and he starts laughing. He's handing my money back to me, still smiling broadly, friendly. He's holding two 1,000 bills. He winks at me, as if to say "oopsie, look what ya did!"

Realizing my mistake, I laugh and like a complete fool, I reach back into my purse for a second 10,000 bill. I hand it to him.

My hand is on the door, but then...

"Señorita!"

The taxista is smiling again, and he's trying to give me that same wink, but something is wrong. He's holding up two 1,000 bills. Again.

My heart sinks down and settles really low into my stomach as I realize what's happening. I may have just come from partying, but I know, I know I handed him the correct bills. Like an idiot, I start trying to reason with him to give me my money back. I'm pulling out all my ace cards, my "I'm not a rich gringa!" rationalizations.

And this pendejo has the nerve, the nerve to get pissed at me. He really just wants all my money. It's disgusting.

I make a mistake. I pull out my phone and start dialing the number for the police. I tell him I'm calling the cops.

And he freaks out. And he starts driving away. And I'm still inside the taxi.

I just go into stealth mode. I don't even remember if I say anything, but I open the door and roll out, Laura Croft style. I must look like a madwoman, tumbling out a moving vehicle...maybe even some passersby thinkI'm hammered. But there was no way I am going to stay in some irate man's taxi.

In an instant, I'm on the phone and T. says he's on his way. He keeps asking if I'm okay -- and I am. I have my purse and I'm close to my house. But I've just been robbed, taken on a tiny joy-ride, and I feel like crap. I'm not tipsy anymore.

Weeks later, the story of me literally rolling in the deep is the talk of our group. We chalk it up to just "another night in the life of a gringa", but I can't help thinking on it. I know it wasn't about me in particular but, really? What the fuck did that taxista really know about me?

He probably pulled up to my Las Condes apartment and said, "Wow, this chick is just begging to get robbed". What he probably didn't realize (or even give a shit about) was the fact that I maxed out my credit card to come to Chile, that I paid a host family to house me in their apartment, and that I painstakingly counted every dime to make sure I could afford to eat day-to-day, because my Chilean family was only required to feed me dinner (and if you've ever lived in South America, you realize that lunch, not dinner, is the biggest and most expensive meal of the day).

It's the first and last time I've ever been robbed in this way, but the experience doesn't shake my love for Chile.

Yet, nearly 7 years later, I still find myself thinking back on that taxista, and I wonder how he spent that money. Sometimes I find myself asking him, "was it really worth it?"

Maybe it was, but I doubt it.