| Peace Corps? |
[Jul. 10th, 2009|03:13 pm] |
So I spoke with a recruiter today, and it's clear I could probably join the peace corps and teach and even go for a Masters degree WHILE doing Peace Corps. It's clearly a huge commitment, and it's obviously not guaranteed that I would be sent where I want to be, but looking at the pros and cons, it seems reasonable:
Pro's:
-Can do a Master's Degree via their Educational partnerships with various institution.
-Loan Deferment ( this could also be a negative as I would like to pay DOWN my loan, but it has a real plus if I am overseas).
-Allows you inside access to Gov't positions and NGO jobs
-Is valued by others
-$6,000 when you finish
Cons:
-Is stipendiary
- Little input on where I am sent ( they take skillset into consideration sometimes more than Geographic Preference).
-2 years is longer then I have been overseas before.
-Often work away from other PCV's, only seeing them at trainings.
That's my pro/con list so far.. I will probably apply and go to an info session in August. The whole process takes about a year, so I would work and generate income in the meantime, and obviously if someone huge came up, or I got a big offer, that could trump doing Peace Corps, but the way this economy is right now, that seems unlikely. Right now it's A CHOICE, but not yet the only option.. a lot can change in a year's time. |
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| Glad someone sent me this.. |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|10:29 pm] |
It took me a while to fully understand this quote, and I'm not a Buddhist, but I can relate to the underlying message:
See demons as demons: that is the danger.
Know that they are powerless: that is the way.
Understand them for what they are: that is deliverance.
Recognize them as your mother and father: that is their end.
Realize that they are the creations of the mind: they become its glory.
When these truths are known, all is liberation.
Milarepa |
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| The Mysterious Case of Benjamin Macbook.. |
[Jul. 7th, 2009|09:26 pm] |
So.. inexplicably, my power issue came back this morning, causing my Macbook to flick on and off like it was something out of Poltergeist II. Called some call center, got some Indian guy, who finally told me after endless minutes listening to Hindi music while on hold, that my Applecare WOULD be honored and that if I sent in my receipt from the now defunct COMPUSA, my computer would be registered. We'll see if the Mac repair guys can fix the problem, since the battery is fine and it's not a hard drive issue.
Ugh.. not what I needed this week. |
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| I don't like "lulls" in the week.. |
[Jun. 18th, 2009|09:58 am] |
Earlier this week, Peggy emailed me to tell me that our proposal idea to ask CONNSACS for funding was not going to work because apparently CONNSACS didn't see the value in replacing the current victim tracking software that the Rape Crisis center was using, only looking at improving it. To me this doesn't make too much sense. They can either spend all this money hiring someone to reprogram the software to have a better layout but do basically the same thing, or we can get this new and innovative software that basically makes the old stuff obsolete because of all it's features. So, if CONNSACS doesn't want to jump on this, I told Peggy it's more their loss then ours. There are tons of small human services based funders who would be interested in funding the ALICE software ( Which was created by a father whose daughter was brutally raped and now used by large police departments across the country). I KNOW we can get this grant, so I am pushing Peggy hard not to throw in the towel just because CONNSACS isn't interested.
Why would a easy to use and comprehensive victim services tracking software be a BAD thing??
As the Southwest commercial says " It is SO on!" |
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| Decisions, Decisions.. |
[Jun. 3rd, 2009|01:56 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  contemplative | ] |
| [ | music |
| | the sound of lawnmowers | ] |
So it looks like things are changing a bit for the good. While I am still having issues getting recommended on Linkedin ( some folks are just not comfortable putting their names on an online recommendation) I DO have an "interview" for a PT Grantwriter position with a org that preserves historic lighthouses. In talking with Casey, the head of their CT headquarters, they sound thrilled and eager to have me on their staff, which I would fit into because most of them are barely 30 at youngest and around 45 at oldest.
I also have been getting advice from some HR professionals via Linkedin that it is next to impossible to compete for a job out of state unless you walk on water in a career sense or are looking to get into a field that has SEVERE staffing shortages ( There are a fair amount of us grantwriters out there!).
So, taking their advice, here is what I am thinking:
1. Get going with Beacon Preservation writing grants, saving a small part of what I am paid to go to savings. Attempt to stay with them through to my Birthday in September, putting out feelers in August and maybe making a networking trip down to Chapel Hill again. Look at Kenya again as a possible option, contacting Musyoki.
2. Build up my Linkedin account and try and get references from Eve and from staff at Beacon Preservation and anyone I volunteer for in Milford. The more praise, the better. Continue adding to my portfolio and networking with NC contacts.
3.Set a goal for a January 2010 move at the latest, October at the earliest depending on responsiveness to my trip.
It seems that most people are suggesting waiting it out and then moving when I have some overhead and some key contacts down south. Thoughts?
3. |
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| Linkedin.. |
[Jun. 2nd, 2009|12:53 pm] |
I just joined linked in and am wondering if anyone could give me some tips on using it? I have joined some groups and am slowly adding connections. I should have my 2 recommendations to complete my profile soon.
I'm having conflicts as to whether or not to attempt to add people I know, but who are not in my career interest area. I have added a few, but I'd rather add people in my "sector" so to speak. I also am not sure how and when to ask contacts to forward my profile to their contacts. I am waiting for my recommendations first, but I am curious about whether or not it's a wise idea for an entry level person to be forwarded to someone who is upper management level and may be looking more for mid-level professionals.
Ugh.. this is confusing.. Help! |
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| Ok.. so this is shameless but.. |
[May. 29th, 2009|05:37 pm] |
If you haven't hopped on the Swagbucks bandwagon:
http://swagbucks.com/refer/Osmun79
If you sign up you earn digital "bucks" to redeem for stuff from giftcards to game consoles. Every time you earn a point, I earn a point. I don't want to become addicted to it so I just want enough to get a Sbux giftcard or something ( it's 130 Swagbucks). |
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| Do it anyway.. |
[May. 25th, 2009|11:16 pm] |
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
-Mother Theresa |
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| Why I like William Stafford poems.. |
[May. 17th, 2009|08:12 pm] |
"For those my friends who want me to know,
to discover and combine: all my best thoughts
I roll up and let fall carelessly. It is
better than no one follow even the pattern
I look onto the back of my hand, for many
visions I haven't dared follow may
gather and combine in a flash. Away off.
in a space in the sky, I let the sky look
at me, and I look back and do not say anything"
-From Visions |
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| I don't get lacrosse.. |
[May. 16th, 2009|02:53 pm] |
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Today I had to "chauffeur" the son of a family friend around to a lacrosse game and then a birthday party. Mind you this was not brutal battle lacrosse, but little kids hitting each other with netted sticks in the ribs lacrosse, complete with shouts of " Wrong way Connor! WRONG WA-THAT'S A BOYYYY" and the occasional crying 10 year old. In the end, the team of said son lost badly to a older team with some more stocky 10 year olds who weren't 3 feet tall. Needless to say, I don't really get lacrosse.. there's some sticks, 2 nets, play stops all the time only to restart again, and the attacker has to pass to 3 folks in midfield before taking a shot on goal. No wonder the game takes so long.. I wish I had brought a book to read, but seeing kids knock each other down is kinda funny. |
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| *Poof* |
[May. 1st, 2009|06:51 pm] |
Ok..
So.. I applied and got rejected for the NC job, all in the same day.. what the hell??
So.. Um, Yeahhhhhhhhhh..
Jesse WILL NOT be going to NC anytime soon.
No word yet on any of the two Kenya positions, so please keep your fingers crossed! |
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| Well.. THAT explains things.. |
[Apr. 27th, 2009|09:44 am] |
| [ | mood |
| |  annoyed | ] |
So, in discussing things in a Triad discussion forum, I was told two things that sort of shocked me:
NC has the 5th highest unemployment rate in the nation at 10.5% ( Hence why there are no jobs and those that are open are more guarded then Fort Knox). Raleigh-Durham area is at 8.5. Connecticut is lower but the only jobs people are advertising are sales and machinist/IT support.
One certain company that works there, who I was interested in, is apparently so bad to work for that I got warnings stating " After the way they screwed over a few people I know, I wouldn't even consider them" and " Shady hiring practices". I say "apparently" because only 2 people have verified this.
So.. I figure I need to look elsewhere, not only in Kenya, but also in CT, and maybe even places I haven't thought of, like out west, or more to the south ( Virginia? Kentucky? Texas? Atlanta?). I need to start rethinking a few things, because clearly NC is basically a comatose market right now. |
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| Grad schools? |
[Apr. 22nd, 2009|03:24 pm] |
I am looking for online degree programs in Foreign Policy or International Relations that are not a scam, as well as fast-track ( 1-2 year max) streamlined regular grad programs that are more policy based then Economics based ( There are a boatload of rigourous Economics theory programs but only a handful of Policy and Globalization focused ones. It's even rarer to find one that would allow me to just do a focused study on African policy.
University of New Haven appears to allow for a Independent Study as part of it's 12 credit Cert.. But I need to call them and see who it's geared towards. I would not mind doing an independent study on how the refugee camps in Kenya ( Kakuma Camp, Dodoma, etc) are run and how overcrowding is an issue, with a solutions based focus on internal permanent status vs repatriation ( or, in plain English, creating citizens rather then refugees with no real legal status).
Thoughts? |
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