I'm going to try and only use 2 websites to update my progress as a Peace Corps Volunteer: Facebook and Twitter. I figure I already have an established base of friends who visit my profile on these two websites regularly, so there really is no reason to create an external blog. Oh and this is a longer post, I apologize in advance for its length. Normally, they will not be this long.
So for everyone who doesn't know, I have wanted to join Peace Corps since I was in high school. My flame to serve in an international capacity was truly sparked when my high school German teacher, Frau Birgit Zimmermann, encouraged me to reach farther than my mind could imagine and challenged me to see a bigger picture of our world. From there, I became heavily involved with the Order of the Arrow. Their purpose of selflessly serving other people in leadership further amplified my inner-flame to put others before myself in an attempt to make our world a more complete and empathetic place.
In high school, I contemplated joining the Peace Corps as soon as I graduated. I'm not even kidding. I went to informational sessions and everything. Unfortunately, the recruiter at the information session told me that I needed at the very least a bachelors degree. So I went to ASU, learned a little there and there and finally applied in the summer between my junior year and senior year. To give you a little understanding of how long the application process was, here are the actual dates of my various submissions, interviews, clearances, et cetera:
So for everyone who doesn't know, I have wanted to join Peace Corps since I was in high school. My flame to serve in an international capacity was truly sparked when my high school German teacher, Frau Birgit Zimmermann, encouraged me to reach farther than my mind could imagine and challenged me to see a bigger picture of our world. From there, I became heavily involved with the Order of the Arrow. Their purpose of selflessly serving other people in leadership further amplified my inner-flame to put others before myself in an attempt to make our world a more complete and empathetic place.
In high school, I contemplated joining the Peace Corps as soon as I graduated. I'm not even kidding. I went to informational sessions and everything. Unfortunately, the recruiter at the information session told me that I needed at the very least a bachelors degree. So I went to ASU, learned a little there and there and finally applied in the summer between my junior year and senior year. To give you a little understanding of how long the application process was, here are the actual dates of my various submissions, interviews, clearances, et cetera:
- Started Application: 05/10/2008
- Submitted Application: 05/06/2009
- Interview Date: 06/11/2009
- Nomination: 08/05/2009
- Medical Clearance: 10/19/2009
- Legal Clearance: 10/21/2009
- Program Invitation: 04/12/2010
So all-in-all, it has taken me 6 years, a mandatory wisdom teeth extraction surgery, 10+ doctors appointments, a trip to Los Angeles and more paperwork than a single man could carry in order to fully commit to the Peace Corps. I am so proud and ecstatic that I have finally been called to serve.
I have been invited to serve as a "Resource Specialist" with the "Schools and Community Resource Project" Program in the Republic of South Africa. The first official event that I will be attending is the Pre-Service Training (often called 'Staging') in the United States from July 12-13, 2010. At Staging, I will finish off my paperwork, meet the rest of the Trainees who I will be serving with and learn a little more about my specific duties. At the conclusion of the Staging event, our group will depart to South Africa together. I will have Pre-Service Training in South Africa from July 14, 2010 until August 28, 2010. The in-country Pre-Service Training is designed to acclimate me to the culture, language and customs of the villages in which I will be serving. At the conclusion of the Pre-Service Training, I will be sworn in as an official Volunteer for the Peace Corps and will serve in a South African community from August 28, 2010 until August 27, 2012.
Although I will not know what city I will be residing in until I get to the Pre-Service Training, it is a pretty safe bet to assume that most of my service will be conducted in a remote, rural community of South Africa. As such, I am not sure how often I will have access to the internet but I will be updating my Facebook profile and my Twitter account as much as possible while I am overseas (events, updates and pictures). Below are the web addresses for both:
http://www.facebook.com/ch
http://www.twitter.com/cha
I hope to update both accounts as often as possible. Once I know what my permanent address will be, I will update my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Thank you everyone who has sacrificed so much to get me where I am today, I sincerely could not have done it without your love, discipline, passion, disapproval and support!
In Justice & Service,
Chad Wolver
I have been invited to serve as a "Resource Specialist" with the "Schools and Community Resource Project" Program in the Republic of South Africa. The first official event that I will be attending is the Pre-Service Training (often called 'Staging') in the United States from July 12-13, 2010. At Staging, I will finish off my paperwork, meet the rest of the Trainees who I will be serving with and learn a little more about my specific duties. At the conclusion of the Staging event, our group will depart to South Africa together. I will have Pre-Service Training in South Africa from July 14, 2010 until August 28, 2010. The in-country Pre-Service Training is designed to acclimate me to the culture, language and customs of the villages in which I will be serving. At the conclusion of the Pre-Service Training, I will be sworn in as an official Volunteer for the Peace Corps and will serve in a South African community from August 28, 2010 until August 27, 2012.
Although I will not know what city I will be residing in until I get to the Pre-Service Training, it is a pretty safe bet to assume that most of my service will be conducted in a remote, rural community of South Africa. As such, I am not sure how often I will have access to the internet but I will be updating my Facebook profile and my Twitter account as much as possible while I am overseas (events, updates and pictures). Below are the web addresses for both:
http://www.facebook.com/ch
http://www.twitter.com/cha
I hope to update both accounts as often as possible. Once I know what my permanent address will be, I will update my Facebook and Twitter accounts. Thank you everyone who has sacrificed so much to get me where I am today, I sincerely could not have done it without your love, discipline, passion, disapproval and support!
In Justice & Service,
Chad Wolver
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this posting are in no way intended to represent the views of the United States Peace Corps or the United States Government.
