Hello, everyone!

1. Name or Nick Name: Lauren

2. Education (show your school pride, list major/s and minor/s) Where are you at in the process? I've got a BS in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Tennessee Technological University, and I am currently finishing my MS in Biology at Eastern Kentucky University. I haven't started the application process yet, just gathering . information and trying to psych myself up to apply (I've wanted to apply for years, but other stuff has always intervened). EDIT: Actually, I'm working on getting the application finished. Just have to write the essays and really think hard about exactly where I want to go and do.

3. Where are you going to serve/are you serving/want to serve: I'm definitely willing to go pretty much anywhere they want to send me, but I'm leaning towards the Pacific Islands or Africa. But that changes pretty often!

4. When are you leaving/did you leave: As I haven't even started the application process yet, no time soon, but I would like to go in the next year or so, after I get my thesis finished. I've noticed that some people have said that certain programs have certain travel dates. Does anyone know where I could find those online?

5. What are you going to be doing/are you doing/want to do: I'm wanting to focus on wildlife management, ecology, or environmental stuff, but who knows? I'll do whatever they assign to me.

I am going to Kenya this summer and my travel brocure suggested I not wear tank tops etc but it's hot there! So wow do women in their early 20's tend to dress in Kenya?

x-posted to peacecorpsfolks

I'm sure this has been posted before, but I couldnt find it, so i'm going to ask again

I have HPV, the warts, and my gyno marked it on my form. I marked on the health status review form that i had had an abnormal pap in the past, but I havent; i mistook gynecological issues (i have hpv and also had a yeast infection and a bacterial infection) to constitute an abnormal pap. I contacted my screening nurse and asked what i should do b.c they sent me forms about abnormal paps in my medical packet and she said to just have my gyno mark on the forms that i had never had an abnormal pap. However, my gyno wrote that i had vulvular condyloma.

I use this cream stuff on them and they are starting to go away, but is this going to count against me? I still havent gotten my physical exam, its on jan. 8, so hopefully it will go away by then (my gyno just filled out the abnormal pap form, but i scheduled an exam at my school's health center). But in any case, it's now in my medical forms and the p.c will see it. I know hpv is really common (someone just told me that practically everyone gets it at some point) and i dont think that it will be such a burden that i wont be able to do work overseas, but will the p.c. think differently?

any advice/help you all can give me is greatly appreciated!!

My name is Kristen, I'm 20.
I'm currently a Junior at Edinboro University going for a degree in Fine Arts, with a concentration in painting. Then I want to get a Masters in Art therapy.

Ever since high school, I've wanted to join an overseas long-term volunteer organization. I talked to my pastor while I was back in high school when I was on the verge of having to choose between going to school for art, going directly into volunteer service, or redirecting my degree to better accommodate a life of volunteer service overseas. He told me that my art abilities were God given and that I should pursue them and I would discover later what to do with my degree. I didn't think about long-term volunteer work for a long time again until now.

I have no idea where or if an Art degree would place me anywhere with the Peace Corps, but in the past three years I've been in college, I've taken a huge interest in psychology, which is why I'm pursuing Art therapy. I also have much experience with scouting, both Girl Scouts (I'm a Gold award recipient) and the Boy Scouts (my dad's been a leader/scout master for at least 18 years or more and my brother is an Eagle Scout) so I'm not a stranger to volunteering or helping out with or planning activities. I've always had a passion for helping anyone. I know that the Peace Corps would be a huge decision, and a big commitment, but I think that it is a commitment I'd be willing to make in the future.

Anyway, I have many questions about how I should direct my education now, how I can mentally prepare myself, and what I can do now to learn more about the Peace Corps.

Usually when I go somewhere exciting, I bring presents back for my family. I'm COSing shortly (in about 2.5 weeks- eep!), and while I don't find my country of service very exciting after 2 years, it's possible that my relatives might. What do you think? Did you give your relatives presents?

On the left hand side of "Peace Corps Wiki" is a list of country-specific items, such as packing lists, training, and FAQs to name a few.

Clicking on "Diversity Issues" leads to a list of possible issues volunteers may face depending on diversity and cross-cultural differences. Included in that list is a page specific to Female Volunteers:

"Possible Issues for Female Volunteers by Country"

It lists every country that Peace Corps is currently serving with the link going directly to country-specific information of what female volunteers may face in that particular country. You are welcome to edit / expand upon it; no user-log-in is required.

For Health and Safety concerns:
The Health of the Volunteer
The Safety of the Volunteer

Hope that helps.

(x-posted in many communities, sorry!)

Hi everyone,

Check out the Fund Peace Corps letter writing campaign below. Let your representatives know how the budget crisis is affecting volunteers on the ground!

Sunaree
RPCV(L) Mongolia 2005-08
---------------------

Fund Peace Corps

What: A congressional letter writing campaign for individuals who care about Peace Corps to highlight the impact of the current budget crisis on volunteers' abilities to serve the goals of the organization.

When: December 1, 2008 – December 15, 2008

Who: Current PCVs, RPCVs, and friends/family of the Peace Corps

How: Go to http://www.ploofle.com/petition/ and use the "contact my representative" link. Add in a personal story to illustrate how this shortfall is affecting you and send your message. Then pass the link and your story on to your friends, family, Facebook/MySpace, and/or blog. Submit e-mails between December 1 – December 15!

Why: To help unite the voice of the current PCV community and inform decision makers in Congress of the significant impact current budget conditions are having on Peace Corps' ability to fulfill its mission in aiding underserved communities around the world.

Ok, so have an invitation question. I was nominated to be a primary teacher trainer in central/south America leaving in Feb. I was medically cleared about 1.5 weeks ago. I was told that it usually takes 4 weeks for the placement officer to review things. I am currently a teacher and my district requires 60 days notice in my contract when I resign or they can hold me (which they are known to do). My recruiter told me to inform my placement officer of this situation and I did. I have emailed her numerous times during the medical clearance processes. Now that I am getting really close to that 60 day mark and I have not heard anything, Im starting to freak out! Knowing that my placement officer knows my situation, is it likely that I might be invited for a later departure date? Or will they invite me with just the 6 week notice anyway? I don’t want to go ahead and give my employer notice and find out that Im now not leaving until summer!?! I know this is a waiting game, but if anyone has any advice or anything to help me chill out… I would greatly appreciate it!!! ThanksJ

I'm looking for PCVs in Argentina, preferably near Corrientes Capital. Anybody? I'm working on a grant proposal for a project I would like to do in Corrientes this summer, and I am hoping volunteers that are already there would be able to help me with a few ideas that are hard for me to iron out from a different hemisphere. Thanks for any help!

# Name or Nick Name: Izzy Hedges-Goettl

# Education (show your school pride, list major/s and minor/s): Started at Case Western Reserve University, going to finish at Wagner College on Staten Island with a BA in Psychology this Spring 2009

# Where are you at in the process? Completed my interview I got my nomination now looking at the medical packet of doom.

# Where are you going to serve/are you serving/want to serve: Asia

# When are you leaving/did you leave: They are looking at August 2009

# What are you going to be doing/are you doing/want to do: TEFL

Well it is nice to see things moving, it seems a little daunting I wish I could just get in, it would be very comforting. But I am excited to do as well as I have.