We found out 2 days ago that we are expected to be in Nogales, Mexico, on October 26th. That is less than 7 weeks from now. I had a little bout of extreme stress after Anthony called me with the news; I think I was vibrating for several hours. The idea of moving in 7 weeks time to yet another foreign country is a bit overwhelming. In fact, for that span of time, I was just like Cameron from Ferris Bueller's Day Off - basically, if you stuck a lump of coal up my butt, in two weeks you'd have a diamond.
There is a lot happening between now and then, with me traveling to the U.S., with Bob's sister Lisa visiting for a week in mid-October, with our pending trip to Huaraz...All this AND a packout, too!
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
A note about the federal job application process
As many of you know, I graduated in May with my master's degree and have been writing federal government applications like crazy ever since. What you may not know is how difficult it is to get into federal service. Generally, just one of these applications takes me several days to complete, if not longer, depending on how clear I am on what they are asking of me and how long it takes to get some of the materials together. An average application requires that you respond in essay form to a series of vague "Knowledge, Skills and Abilities" statements (or KSAs), plus respond to an online self-assessment, and submit anything from your resume, to your last SF-50 form, to your transcript, to references, to a 70-page pre-employment background investigation report (and yes, I'm serious - SEVENTY PAGES).
What is funny about this is that most Americans believe that this will be the last time that I work so hard. Getting into federal government service is the hard part, they say. After that, it's a piece of cake. Or, as one former (high school) schoolmate pointed out in reference to a friend's website promoting citizen involvement in government, "...we hire lazy government workers to execute everything, give them 25 paid vacation weeks a year, 30 sick days, every holiday and 2 hour lunch breaks. These are our true american workers." (While government employment does offer a superior benefits package in relation to most private service jobs, this statement simply isn't true and, if I were going to be very honest, I find it offensive. There certainly ARE those government employees who are doing nothing but breathing oxygen and taking up space - just like in private industry, I might add - most government employees work very hard to do what needs doing to support their agency's mission. But I digress; this is fodder for a completely different conversation.)
When I used to work for the State Department in my early 20's, I didn't realize how good I had it in terms of job security, pay, and ease of movement throughout the government. I also didn't realize how easy it was for me to get hired at that time. All I could focus on was how miserable I was - miserable with my home life, miserable with my professional life, just all around, all consuming misery (it was as un-awesome as you can get for living in New York City). So I did what I had to do at the time and quit (which involves a really "interesting" story about a supervisor who found out I was considering leaving and then unleashed his fury about women being allowed to become special agents all over my unexpecting ass).
Now that I'm in my fifth month of job applications (and rejections), I realize how easily everything seemed to work out for me back then. Although I don't regret what I did at the time, leaving federal service is not always the brightest move. Sometimes you gotta take life with all the lumps - in time, things will get better.
So I'm still applying. Some days it is difficult, either because the process takes so long or because I've received yet another rejection letter, but most of the time I remind myself to perservere. They can't leave me high and dry forever, right?
The other thing that I have to keep reminding myself is that I have to take advantage of this period in my life and not just go after whatever shiny object throws itself into my path. With this upcoming move to Mexico, I have been searching the "internets" for potential jobs in the Nogales area and I've found a few that I could do well, but then I remind myself that this isn't what I want out of life. I am not happy with unemployment, but I am blessed with a comfortable situation that doesn't yet require that I work (although Anthony, a.k.a. my comfortable situation, is tired of my unemployment as well). So I try to remain focused: Keep your eyes on the prize, Ryan. Eyes on the prize.
Since many of you have been asking, I thought I would tell you where I have been looking. I am trying to get a job that still has me focused on international affairs, so most of the positions are associated to that. Most positions I've applied to have been with the State Department and USAID, but I have also sent applications to nonprofits like Vital Voices, think tanks like the Brookings Institution, other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, and I continue to look at job postings at universities for something interesting since I really enjoyed the community of a college campus when I last worked at one. That being said, I do have a top three:
1) GAO Professional Development Program - this is a two year entry-level analyst position with the Government Accountability Office. You do 3 rotations during the 2 years, have a mentor, receive training, and have all the benefits of a normal employee. After the 2 years, if you haven't killed anyone or done lines of coke off your boss's stomach at the annual Christmas party, then you can go permanent. Right now, I'm waiting on the job announcement to come out - last year, it arrived in November, but hey, it could come out this month. Who knows? This is the federal government we're talking about here and I am told that this announcement depends on funding from Congress...
2) State Department Foreign Service Officer - for the nth year running, I have taken the Foreign Service Written Exam for the Public Diplomacy cone. I scored well enough to be invited to take the Oral Assessment, which is why I head to the U.S. later this month. If I pass that, my name goes on a list, where it stays until I get hired or until 18 months pass, whichever comes sooner. If the 18 months pass and I am not hired, I get to go through the whole process again. Good times. If I actually get hired, then HOLY CRAP and HALLELUJAH!
3) USAID Foreign Service - I applied to the policy and programs AND democracy and governance officer positions. This is similar to the State Department's FS program, only with a limited choice of countries of assignment (i.e. if it's not the third world, I won't be there). I have no idea when I will hear back from them. An interesting note is that a few weeks ago, I received an email in regards to my policy and program application, which I believe I sent in April. They wrote to inform me that their application review system had been revamped and they would now (finally) get to reviewing those applications. That is exactly the kind of information I could have used, oh, I don't know, FIVE MONTHS AGO.
So, that is pretty much where things stand for me. Still pushing to be a fed, still nothing definite. Yay uncertainty!
What is funny about this is that most Americans believe that this will be the last time that I work so hard. Getting into federal government service is the hard part, they say. After that, it's a piece of cake. Or, as one former (high school) schoolmate pointed out in reference to a friend's website promoting citizen involvement in government, "...we hire lazy government workers to execute everything, give them 25 paid vacation weeks a year, 30 sick days, every holiday and 2 hour lunch breaks. These are our true american workers." (While government employment does offer a superior benefits package in relation to most private service jobs, this statement simply isn't true and, if I were going to be very honest, I find it offensive. There certainly ARE those government employees who are doing nothing but breathing oxygen and taking up space - just like in private industry, I might add - most government employees work very hard to do what needs doing to support their agency's mission. But I digress; this is fodder for a completely different conversation.)
When I used to work for the State Department in my early 20's, I didn't realize how good I had it in terms of job security, pay, and ease of movement throughout the government. I also didn't realize how easy it was for me to get hired at that time. All I could focus on was how miserable I was - miserable with my home life, miserable with my professional life, just all around, all consuming misery (it was as un-awesome as you can get for living in New York City). So I did what I had to do at the time and quit (which involves a really "interesting" story about a supervisor who found out I was considering leaving and then unleashed his fury about women being allowed to become special agents all over my unexpecting ass).
Now that I'm in my fifth month of job applications (and rejections), I realize how easily everything seemed to work out for me back then. Although I don't regret what I did at the time, leaving federal service is not always the brightest move. Sometimes you gotta take life with all the lumps - in time, things will get better.
So I'm still applying. Some days it is difficult, either because the process takes so long or because I've received yet another rejection letter, but most of the time I remind myself to perservere. They can't leave me high and dry forever, right?
The other thing that I have to keep reminding myself is that I have to take advantage of this period in my life and not just go after whatever shiny object throws itself into my path. With this upcoming move to Mexico, I have been searching the "internets" for potential jobs in the Nogales area and I've found a few that I could do well, but then I remind myself that this isn't what I want out of life. I am not happy with unemployment, but I am blessed with a comfortable situation that doesn't yet require that I work (although Anthony, a.k.a. my comfortable situation, is tired of my unemployment as well). So I try to remain focused: Keep your eyes on the prize, Ryan. Eyes on the prize.
Since many of you have been asking, I thought I would tell you where I have been looking. I am trying to get a job that still has me focused on international affairs, so most of the positions are associated to that. Most positions I've applied to have been with the State Department and USAID, but I have also sent applications to nonprofits like Vital Voices, think tanks like the Brookings Institution, other federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, and I continue to look at job postings at universities for something interesting since I really enjoyed the community of a college campus when I last worked at one. That being said, I do have a top three:
1) GAO Professional Development Program - this is a two year entry-level analyst position with the Government Accountability Office. You do 3 rotations during the 2 years, have a mentor, receive training, and have all the benefits of a normal employee. After the 2 years, if you haven't killed anyone or done lines of coke off your boss's stomach at the annual Christmas party, then you can go permanent. Right now, I'm waiting on the job announcement to come out - last year, it arrived in November, but hey, it could come out this month. Who knows? This is the federal government we're talking about here and I am told that this announcement depends on funding from Congress...
2) State Department Foreign Service Officer - for the nth year running, I have taken the Foreign Service Written Exam for the Public Diplomacy cone. I scored well enough to be invited to take the Oral Assessment, which is why I head to the U.S. later this month. If I pass that, my name goes on a list, where it stays until I get hired or until 18 months pass, whichever comes sooner. If the 18 months pass and I am not hired, I get to go through the whole process again. Good times. If I actually get hired, then HOLY CRAP and HALLELUJAH!
3) USAID Foreign Service - I applied to the policy and programs AND democracy and governance officer positions. This is similar to the State Department's FS program, only with a limited choice of countries of assignment (i.e. if it's not the third world, I won't be there). I have no idea when I will hear back from them. An interesting note is that a few weeks ago, I received an email in regards to my policy and program application, which I believe I sent in April. They wrote to inform me that their application review system had been revamped and they would now (finally) get to reviewing those applications. That is exactly the kind of information I could have used, oh, I don't know, FIVE MONTHS AGO.
So, that is pretty much where things stand for me. Still pushing to be a fed, still nothing definite. Yay uncertainty!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
As Andrew would say, "Ole!"
Yesterday Anthony received a handshake on his bid for Nogales, Mexico, which basically means that, unless he runs over an assignment panel member's dog with a lawn mower, we're going to Mexico! What we don't know right now is when. The gentleman who is currently assigned to Nogales decided to retire without completing his full assignment so the slot is open now. Anthony and I could be leaving Peru anywhere from this month to next July (although we're pretty sure we'll be in Mexico before next July).
Right now we're waiting to see when the Lima office can get a replacement in for Anthony's current assignment. Essentially, that will determine when we pack out and ship off to Mexico.
Of course, Anthony gets 20 days of home leave before going to Nogales, so we will likely see as many of our friends and family as we can before adopting a Tex-Mex lifestyle.
This is a really positive turn of events for Anthony because the Nogales slot is a RSO (Regional Security Officer) position, i.e. Anthony will be the head of the office. So he'll be getting good experience AND drinking Stone IPA at the end of every day (he already called to Stone brewery to insure that Stone distributes in Nogales, Arizona, a 10 minute drive over the border).
The nice thing for me is that we'll be really close to the U.S. Right over the border is the Coronado National Forest; we'll be less than an hour from Tucson; and it only takes about 7 hours to drive to the Stone Brewery (I'm thinking Sunday brunch at least once a month). Apparently, there is even skiing in Southern Arizona! So we've got a lot to look forward to...
And of course, if I so choose, I can also work in the U.S. while Anthony holds down the fort in Mexico. It'll be kind of fun to live in one country and commute to another every day for work.
Right now we're waiting to see when the Lima office can get a replacement in for Anthony's current assignment. Essentially, that will determine when we pack out and ship off to Mexico.
Of course, Anthony gets 20 days of home leave before going to Nogales, so we will likely see as many of our friends and family as we can before adopting a Tex-Mex lifestyle.
This is a really positive turn of events for Anthony because the Nogales slot is a RSO (Regional Security Officer) position, i.e. Anthony will be the head of the office. So he'll be getting good experience AND drinking Stone IPA at the end of every day (he already called to Stone brewery to insure that Stone distributes in Nogales, Arizona, a 10 minute drive over the border).
The nice thing for me is that we'll be really close to the U.S. Right over the border is the Coronado National Forest; we'll be less than an hour from Tucson; and it only takes about 7 hours to drive to the Stone Brewery (I'm thinking Sunday brunch at least once a month). Apparently, there is even skiing in Southern Arizona! So we've got a lot to look forward to...
And of course, if I so choose, I can also work in the U.S. while Anthony holds down the fort in Mexico. It'll be kind of fun to live in one country and commute to another every day for work.
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
From then til now
Andrew, Mel, Estee and Martha left about a week and a half ago, leaving me with an empty house and a half a pan of lasagna (don't worry, kids, Anthony inhaled it). We really didn't have a lot of time together, as the majority of their vacation was spent (sick) in Puno and (recovering) in Cuzco. They did get to try a restaurant Anthony and I had never tried before, sample some cocktails at Astrid and Gaston, go dancing on Pizza Street (looking for someone to love you for your Greencard-giving abilities? Then go to Pizza Street), and visit Ethnic Peru for an alpaca clothing fashion show, traditional dancing, horses, and shopping (there were even a couple of truly frightened alpacas that you could chase around their pen).
It must be noted that, despite what I've said about Pizza Street, I managed to dance with the only other American in the room besides ourselves. Clearly, my unattraction to Peruvians is manifesting itself.
And if it weren't for this headache I've got, blocking all my thoughts, I would write more about our cab ride out to Astrid and Gaston - I'm sure it's the first time my friends have been able to fit 5 people into a cab before. Even cabbies in NYC don't allow that.
I would also tell you about the fact that the bar refused to sell us water because they had "run out." Or the story of how NONE of us wanted to get up in time for the bus ride to Ethnic Peru at 8:45AM so I made things a little easier by trekking out to Dunkies and getting supplies.
But that will all have to be implied, as I am in no shape for recounting stories at the moment.
In other news, it appears that we may be heading to Nogales, Mexico, for Anthony's next assignment. There are still some hurdles to cross, but some things are going our way so it continues to look like a positive and potential future. Watch this space for updates.
It must be noted that, despite what I've said about Pizza Street, I managed to dance with the only other American in the room besides ourselves. Clearly, my unattraction to Peruvians is manifesting itself.
And if it weren't for this headache I've got, blocking all my thoughts, I would write more about our cab ride out to Astrid and Gaston - I'm sure it's the first time my friends have been able to fit 5 people into a cab before. Even cabbies in NYC don't allow that.
I would also tell you about the fact that the bar refused to sell us water because they had "run out." Or the story of how NONE of us wanted to get up in time for the bus ride to Ethnic Peru at 8:45AM so I made things a little easier by trekking out to Dunkies and getting supplies.
But that will all have to be implied, as I am in no shape for recounting stories at the moment.
In other news, it appears that we may be heading to Nogales, Mexico, for Anthony's next assignment. There are still some hurdles to cross, but some things are going our way so it continues to look like a positive and potential future. Watch this space for updates.
Now I'm off to down a bottle of Advil and a bottle of Gatorade.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
How to annoy me
While driving my taxi, hit a sheep.
At least, that would annoy me if you were my taxi driver. As it is, Andrew, Mel, Martha and Estee are chaulking it up to yet another exciting Peruvian experience. And they'll be hosting a lamb kebob barbeque later this evening...
At least, that would annoy me if you were my taxi driver. As it is, Andrew, Mel, Martha and Estee are chaulking it up to yet another exciting Peruvian experience. And they'll be hosting a lamb kebob barbeque later this evening...
Sunday, August 9, 2009
UPenn in da' house
Mel, Estee, Martha and Andrew arrived in Lima 4 days ago. So far the highlights include:
- Getting hit by a bus on the way home from the grocery store, with Mel, Martha and Estee in the car. A Peruvian woman even got off the bus to tell me that it was my fault; my response was, "And who the hell are you?" Of course, the bus driver refused to wait for the police to show up and took off. So my friends probably experienced their first hit and run, here in a lovely little alternate universe I like to call Lima. (P.S. The accident? So totally not my fault. Just ask my ladies. Oh, and there wasn't much damage - just a little paint transfer and my license plate got bent a bit.)
- Estee and Andrew suffered through major altitude sickness upon arriving in Puno.
- Estee's altitude sickness quickly worsens after a day on Lake Titicaca and she is diagnosed with developing pneumonia and pulmonary edema.
- Estee sees a new doctor and is diagnosed with bronchitis. She takes oxygen from a tank every hour for a night before her oxygen levels reach normalcy.
- Andrew continues to complain about not seeing an alpaca yet (other than the alpaca steaks listed on every menu he sees).
I am sure things can only get better from here. Of course, I already booked an alpaca farm tour for next Saturday so at least Andrew will leave Peru a happy man.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
July is for Peace Corps Volunteers
I know that we are now in August, but somehow I failed to blog during the rest of July because I was spending so much time with the Peace Corps, from the Pacasmayo International Marathon, to the Peru-9 BBQ Anthony and I hosted, to the close-of-service parties I crashed, to Ali's Christmas in July party, and to Ali's close-of-service impromptu party.
And as I prepare myself for 10 days of awesomeness with Andrew, Estee, Mel and Martha, who arrive in Lima tonight, here are a few photos commemorating July:
This first picture is of Ali and her fellow Peru 9ers, at least those who came to the Pacasmayo International Marathon and broke away from the pack during the contestant parade. (From l-r: Jah, Ali, Danielle, Javier, Bron, Angie, Bailey, Ari, Elena, Cassandra, Karrie, Alex, Vishal and Greg.) Oddly enough, since I clearly took all the pictures on my camera, there are no pictures of me - oh, pictures were taken, but Peru 9 is holding them for ransom, I think.
This picture is most of the group of Peace Corps volunteers that were at our BBQ in Lima a few days after the marathon. Anthony FINALLY bought a BBQ just before the 4th of July holiday, after being talked into hosting a barbecue for the bodyguards. You should see those pictures - a complete and total sausage fest! (from l-r: Frank, Cassandra, Wes, Danielle, Anthony, Vishal, Ali, and my fat ass.)
So, Ali was closing her Peace Corps service at the end of July and I wanted to do something to celebrate. I basically told her she would be having a pre-despedida. She corrected me and said we would be having a Christmas in July party, and that Anthony would be cooking her another sausage-stuffed turkey. Moreover, we would be watching Elf on a continuous loop throughout the day.Most of her wishes came true, but the pirated copy of Elf we bought when Amazon failed us (the DVD arrived the first business day after the party) stalled halfway through and we had to make due with Christmas music instead. But it was a cheerful day with the Dan Band and the Christmas tree Ali built us out of fern and red carnations.
Ali also made sure to rip through all our Christmas decorations and really fancy up the place. Here we are, like a bunch of dingbats, hanging out by the rockin' tree. (from l-r: Andy, Al, Kara, Anthony, Sarah, Kartik, me, and Ali, lying in wait for Santa - "I know him!")
A few short days after Christmas in July, I joined a good number of Peru 9ers as they traipsed through Lima, most of them for their close-of-service medcal exams. Here you are witnessing Jake as he gives Ali her "medication." (I conveniently am not posting the pictures of Ali's tequila bottle appendage as her fellow Peace Corps volunteers sucked and/or swallowed.)
This would be a clearly sober group of Peace Corps volunteers as they transport Vishal to the nearest bar. (from l-r: Jeanette's head, Jake, Ali, Wes, and Javier, with Vishal on top, manfully smoking his cigarette at 10' or so.)
On Ali's actual last day of service (Christmas in July was planned to take advantage of a weekend in which most of her Lima friends would actually be in town, i.e. we had to avoid the week of Fiestas Patrias, Peru's independence days which fell right before Ali's last day as a PCV), Ali decided she wanted to have a quiet game night at our house. So me, Anthony, Tania, and Joey gathered around the coffee table for some vodka cocktails and a few rounds of Scattegories and Apples to Apples.Somehow Ali decides that she wants one last drink at a bar in Barranco and I decide that it's my duty as her friend to go out on this one night that is so important to her. I proceed to get very, very, obscenely trashed, but at least I looked presentable before we went to the bar.
The very next day, Ali left me for a month of craziness in Colombia and Chile.
Without Ali as our constant visitor (in July, we had our own version of Three's Company going on), Anthony and I didn't know what to do with ourselves so we took a one-day mini-vacation to Paracas, a 3-hour's drive South of Lima. Strangely, we were still in the desert. And we went to La Reserva, an ecological safe-haven which is, again, the desert - only this time, it's protected desert. Which meant that the girls had to remain in the car.
Grace didn't understand the rules and actually forced open the window, jumped out of the car, and came running to find us. We asked the Peruvian taxi drivers standing next to the car why they didn't stop her, and their excuse was, "Es pitbull." Yup, our Gracie, the most terrifying animal on earth.She was so happy to have figured out how to get to us all by herself, she strutted back to the car with the biggest shit-eating grin on her face.
Finally, despite being in a barren landscape, which was seemingly empty of all wildlife except a few birds (and I say this disparagingly, since disruption of the wildlife is what is cited in the brochure as the reason for why pets cannot leave the car inside the Reserva), there were some beautiful views - of the ocean. This last shot is of a rock formation they call La Catedral, which used to have an arch to the left that made it appear more like an actual cathedral. However, the arch clearly gave in to the ravages of time.And that, my friends, was July.
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