Technologies

I guess these are the only three technologies I would be taking with me to Kenya -- my new Macbook Pro (yeah I got a Macbook), my Nikon camera and several card games...

I will learn more about the wireless pager access in Kenya.  Erikson advised me to buy a cheap phone, that the hearies folk use, and use text.  I will find out more later.  But I will be canceling my good faithful Blackberry by October 1, 2012.

Preparations

Note: Now we are caught up with my journal, and at this point and on, it will be “current” to the date of the post.

I have to complete passport and visa paperwork.  Went out to have my passport photos taken.  I already have my current passport but there is a different version (“no-fee passport”) that I am required to have.

Fortunately, Peace Corps covers all the costs.

I also will need to have Yellow Fever vaccine shot, which I scheduled for August 1, 2012.

I am working on yet another resume (the version that are more current and more relevant for the country desk) and aspirations document (to introduce myself to the country).

There are several other paperwork and tasks I will need to do.

I will defer packing and stuff to September, but I did buy like 5 or 6 different playing cards (Uno, Phase 10, etc.) ha.

There are quite a bit of reading materials included in the invitation packet that I will need to read and re-read.

Now that we are all caught up with the timeline, I promise I will try to start putting in vlogs and more photographs.

Acceptance

Note: This post is for June 24, 2012.

After some soul searching, discussions with my family and close friends, I decided that it is going to be a wonderful adventure for me.

Some of us, including myself, will have hard time dealing with my absence for such a long time, but we all know, at the end, we will say “wow time sure did fly past us so fast”.

So I submitted the official Peace Corps acceptance statement:

I, Jay Krieger, am accepting my invitation to serve as a Mathematics Teacher Peace Corps Volunteer in Kenya, departing October 1, 2012. 

I hereby certify that I have read the Volunteer Assignment Description, Online Welcome Book, Core Expectations, and Pre-departure Safety and Security Information included in the invitation packet and agree to abide by the policies therein.

Wish me well. Thank you all for your support and encouragement.

Invitation Packet

Note: This post is for June 18, 2012

My daughter Amanda paged me stating that my invitation packet arrived via UPS.  She was willing to hand-deliver it to me at Camp Willard, bless her heart.

In it, there were my assignment information, along with yet bunch of forms and tasks that I have to do, jeez.  When will it ever end?

In any case, it stated that I will be going to Kenya with a departure date of October 1, 2012.  I will be actually flying into Kenya on the 3rd after staging somewhere.  My training will be October 3, 2012 through December 14, 2012.  My service will run from December 15, 2012 through December 14 2014.
I must respond with my acceptance or denial within 7 days.

My heart went MIA.  This is for real.  My mind almost ceased to function.  I started to talk with my family and close friends.  I got mixed messages from them as reality hit them.  So I decided not to do anything until I finish my work with Camp Willard.

Program Identified!

Note: This post is for June 13, 2012

The placement office emailed me stating that they found a placement for me.  But the information was very cryptic.  They simply said:

“I wanted to let you know that I have identified a program for you and have issued you an invitation.  Relevant details such as country name, job description, and departure date will be within the invitation kit; it will arrive via UPS typically within 10 business days and to the address we have on file.  Once you've received your invitation packet and have had an opportunity to review its contents, feel free to contact me if you have any questions. 

I can offer the general information that your invitation is for an early October departure to Sub-Saharan Africa for a math teaching position in a deaf education program.”

So, it’ll be in Africa after all.  I have no idea which country.  I was working at Camp Willard, so of course it rattled my head all day and night.