Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
paperwork oh my
After reading through my welcome handbook and volunteer description, I whole-heartedly decided to accept my invitation for service in the United States Peace Corps.
It is crazy to think that three years ago this was just an idea.... and now it's actually happening!
On the downside..... this paperwork they ask invites to fill out for VISA/ Passports is kinda ridiculous and in my hectic and stress filled last weeks of undergraduate study.... government papers are the last things I want to deal with. I think I got it taken care of, but they should really think about explaining some of that stuff better.
To Do list (academic/PC):
Begin/ finish aspiration statement
Contact Student loan lender
Financial Aid exit interview
French dissertation
Send out Visa/Passport applications
For anyone who is interested or looking to see what kind of stuff to put on their PC resumes, I'll post mine below:
Crystal Marie Kazik
Cameroon
September 2011
EXPERIENCE
2010-2011 AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, WI
Volunteer and Prevention Intern- 130 hours
Understanding and learning to communicate basic HIV/AIDS and STD information
Facilitating prevention groups in correctional & Alcohol and Drug treatment facilities
Understanding the social, political, biological, and economic factors that play into an individual’s risk of transmitting or contracting HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis ABC, STD’s
Learning to facilitate pre- & post- HIV test counseling, client risk assessment, and running clean needle exchange programs
Maintaining a positive and supportive attitude towards individuals who may be suffering from effects of this epidemic
[July, August 2009] Nicaragua Study Abroad Program
Lived in a poverty stricken/ rural community for one week
Taught parasite education and handed out parasite medication to residents (in Spanish)
Helped school children with homework
Interacted with the community by teaching American customs/ games (UNO, Phase 10), teaching children English (informally), dancing/ singing, and helping the families cook and clean
DEGREE
[2007-2011] University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire; Eau Claire, WI
Bachelor of the Arts in Women’s Studies
Double concentration in French and Sociology
Graduated Cum Laude
TRAINING/ EDUCATION
[2011] HIV Foundations 1 Training hours- 8
[2011] Dismantling Racism workshop hours- 16
[2011] Safe Space LGBTQ awareness training hours- 1
Conservation of the Environment credits- 3
Human Sexual Biology credits- 3
Environmental and Public Health credits- 3
Traveler’s Health & Wellness credits- 1
Feminist Economics credits- 6
Computer Competencies:
High level of skill in Microsoft Office applications
Trained in using the following programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Final Cut Express (Macintosh)
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Bachelor of the Arts in French (liberal arts)
Intermediate and conversational to professional written and oral skill
[2007] Visited France: lived with host family and toured country- 1 week
PERSONAL HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Digital photography
Music & Dance
Politics/ Social movements
Gardening (floral & vegetable)
Feminist pedagogy
Reading
It is crazy to think that three years ago this was just an idea.... and now it's actually happening!
On the downside..... this paperwork they ask invites to fill out for VISA/ Passports is kinda ridiculous and in my hectic and stress filled last weeks of undergraduate study.... government papers are the last things I want to deal with. I think I got it taken care of, but they should really think about explaining some of that stuff better.
To Do list (academic/PC):
Begin/ finish aspiration statement
Contact Student loan lender
Financial Aid exit interview
French dissertation
Send out Visa/Passport applications
For anyone who is interested or looking to see what kind of stuff to put on their PC resumes, I'll post mine below:
Crystal Marie Kazik
Cameroon
September 2011
EXPERIENCE
2010-2011 AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin- Eau Claire, WI
Volunteer and Prevention Intern- 130 hours
Understanding and learning to communicate basic HIV/AIDS and STD information
Facilitating prevention groups in correctional & Alcohol and Drug treatment facilities
Understanding the social, political, biological, and economic factors that play into an individual’s risk of transmitting or contracting HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis ABC, STD’s
Learning to facilitate pre- & post- HIV test counseling, client risk assessment, and running clean needle exchange programs
Maintaining a positive and supportive attitude towards individuals who may be suffering from effects of this epidemic
[July, August 2009] Nicaragua Study Abroad Program
Lived in a poverty stricken/ rural community for one week
Taught parasite education and handed out parasite medication to residents (in Spanish)
Helped school children with homework
Interacted with the community by teaching American customs/ games (UNO, Phase 10), teaching children English (informally), dancing/ singing, and helping the families cook and clean
DEGREE
[2007-2011] University of Wisconsin- Eau Claire; Eau Claire, WI
Bachelor of the Arts in Women’s Studies
Double concentration in French and Sociology
Graduated Cum Laude
TRAINING/ EDUCATION
[2011] HIV Foundations 1 Training hours- 8
[2011] Dismantling Racism workshop hours- 16
[2011] Safe Space LGBTQ awareness training hours- 1
Conservation of the Environment credits- 3
Human Sexual Biology credits- 3
Environmental and Public Health credits- 3
Traveler’s Health & Wellness credits- 1
Feminist Economics credits- 6
Computer Competencies:
High level of skill in Microsoft Office applications
Trained in using the following programs: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Final Cut Express (Macintosh)
FOREIGN LANGUAGES
Bachelor of the Arts in French (liberal arts)
Intermediate and conversational to professional written and oral skill
[2007] Visited France: lived with host family and toured country- 1 week
PERSONAL HOBBIES/INTERESTS
Digital photography
Music & Dance
Politics/ Social movements
Gardening (floral & vegetable)
Feminist pedagogy
Reading
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Bienvenue a.....
CAMEROON!
I am so happy about receiving placement in Cameroon. I will be a Community Health Educator in Cameroon, Africa leaving September 15th! I was feeling very anxious about location and I was hoping for Cameroon, so I'm feeling pretty content at the moment.
Does anyone out there have any advice on all of this paperwork we must fill out, I feel like there is so much to do and we only have 10 days! :/
I am so happy about receiving placement in Cameroon. I will be a Community Health Educator in Cameroon, Africa leaving September 15th! I was feeling very anxious about location and I was hoping for Cameroon, so I'm feeling pretty content at the moment.
Does anyone out there have any advice on all of this paperwork we must fill out, I feel like there is so much to do and we only have 10 days! :/
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
gLee
I received an email mid-day on Monday from Brian, the placement specialist I had talked with the week before. After checking my email in the morning.... imagine my surprise upon receiving an email around 3pm. I thought was unusual since most communication/updates with PC seems to happen during the morning- like 5 in the morning TOOLKIT updates! The following is his email:
"Dear Crystal,
It was nice speaking with you last week. After checking program availability I've decided to invite you to a health program departing in mid/late-July for Africa (after your 15-July-2011 availability date). More detailed information will arrive in the mail shortly. After reading through your invitation materials, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Otherwise, please follow the detailed instructions in your invitation packet on how to accept your invitation.
Best,
Brian"
He later went on to say that the program would be leaving in Mid-September actually.... which is even better. I will be able to relax/rest, recuperate, enjoy being graduated, say goodbye to everyone/thing, pack/buy stuff! Leaving in September will help me transition into my life in the Peace Corps. Instead of going to campus for class, I'll be walking from a village into a classroom.... I almost can't wrap my head around this. An invitation to Morocco sounded quite enticing (Staging- around September 9th) but I'm thinking my invitation will be: Rwanda, Cameroon, Botswana, or Togo.
Fingers crossed for a good placement.... I don't want to hope too much for one over another, I know that wherever I go I will feel lost and confused and yet.... hopeful and somewhat accomplished. Now I will manically check the mailbox every day!
"Dear Crystal,
It was nice speaking with you last week. After checking program availability I've decided to invite you to a health program departing in mid/late-July for Africa (after your 15-July-2011 availability date). More detailed information will arrive in the mail shortly. After reading through your invitation materials, please contact me if you have any questions or concerns. Otherwise, please follow the detailed instructions in your invitation packet on how to accept your invitation.
Best,
Brian"
He later went on to say that the program would be leaving in Mid-September actually.... which is even better. I will be able to relax/rest, recuperate, enjoy being graduated, say goodbye to everyone/thing, pack/buy stuff! Leaving in September will help me transition into my life in the Peace Corps. Instead of going to campus for class, I'll be walking from a village into a classroom.... I almost can't wrap my head around this. An invitation to Morocco sounded quite enticing (Staging- around September 9th) but I'm thinking my invitation will be: Rwanda, Cameroon, Botswana, or Togo.
Fingers crossed for a good placement.... I don't want to hope too much for one over another, I know that wherever I go I will feel lost and confused and yet.... hopeful and somewhat accomplished. Now I will manically check the mailbox every day!
Sunday, April 3, 2011
news, news, news!
So woke up Friday morning with two missed calls: I'm sorry to my roommate for missing your call the night before :) but the other was from a 202 area code! Ahh! Voicemail. Yup, it was the Peace Corps Placement Office calling to set up a time to talk about a few things. After a little game of phone tag, finally got to talk to him. Instead of setting up the interview for another time we decided to do it just then! Ahh nerve-wracking, my heart was beating so fast but I was so excited and nervous. So much I wanted to say and get through to him.... so I hope my speedy talking and nervous giggles didn't give him the wrong idea :) I think it went quite well, so well that he said he would qualify me for service, just that he would look around for programs to fit my availability to depart (I would like to leave in July-onward.... and July is when my nomination is for). He knew of a program in June that would suit me, but I need a month to get everything in line after graduation, moving back home, packing/ buying stuff!
I hope to hear back from them soon, it would be great to finally find out where I'm going and that there is a place for me! :)
I hope to hear back from them soon, it would be great to finally find out where I'm going and that there is a place for me! :)
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