A Gift of Mobility

Me and my mom were watching the news the other day and we saw this amazing invention called the PET, Personal Energy Transportation. It was created for people with disabilities and sent all over the world. Here is the websites,

http://giftofmobility.org

http://www.thefigtree.org/dec04/PETcart.html

If you are wondering why I'm so interested in this, its because I found my passion for disabilities when I was very young. lets say kindergarden when I was diagnosed with a learning disability and dyslexia. Any ways thats the short version of that story, but in the Peace Corps all be teaching teachers how to work with their disabled students.        

Fellows Program Peace Corps

I found this fellows program that goes really good with my Rehabilitation degree, it makes me happy that I can find programs that I like. This one is awesome because its more of what I have wanted to go to school for. The Rehabilitation program at the U of A was so broad that it only allowed me to get a miner in special education. I know its crazy to say but I am exited to come back and hopefully get into the masters program of my dreams. I know I'm a planer, what can I say.



 
http://www.peacecorps.gov/learn/whyvol/eduben/univandprog/5247/

My resignation letter

I just wrote my resignation letter to UCPSA. Its kind of strange shutting down one life to move on and start a new one somewhere ells. UCP was was my longest job of 3 years and I had a lot of us and downs. I made some grate friends throughout the way. I am so lucky to have met the Reid and Hodge families. I really am going to miss my little guy Sean he mad my weekends. I am going to miss you all but I will keep you posted along the way. My last day at UCP is going to be January 22, 2013 and the beginning of my new job is January 24th. Bring it on!!!!!!!

Last instructions, staging event

To day was an amazing day one step closer to leaving for my 2 year 3 month adventure into the Peace Corps. A few weeks ago I got a hint that it was getting closer to my departure. Less than 5 weeks away might I add.  Instructions where coming my way. Well today was that day. Its time for me to call and confirm that I am really ready to make this last big step. I need to call the travel agency and get my ticket all set up. The Peace Corps also sent me a day schedule for my staging event the 24th and 25th of January in Miami FL. I think I am ready for this.

My first Schedule

Orientation and Pre-Service Training in St. Lucia

Orientation Accommodations
You will spend the first eight nights at the Pastoral Centre in Gros Islet, St. Lucia. On the weekend of your arrival you will be meeting with the Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO) for your medical interview and vaccinations. The official orientation program begins at 8:30 am on Monday, January 28th and lasts until Friday, February 1st, 2013.
At the Pastoral Centre, breakfast will be served daily from 6:30 am and dinner will be served at 6:30 pm nightly. A good night’s rest is recommended to ensure that you are prepared for the long training days.

Departure from Pastoral Centre
On Saturday, February 2nd, 2013, you will gather all your belongings and depart for the community of Babonneau (which is situated north east of St. Lucia) to begin your Pre-Service Training (PST). There you will be hosted by a homestay family while you engage in the PST.

Vaccinations and Medical History
All trainees will have a one-on-one meeting with the Peace Corps Medical Officer (PCMO). Vaccinations will be given as needed during Pre-Service Training. 

Pre-Service Training (PST)
On St. Lucia & on Island of Assignment
While in St. Lucia you will engage in a four-week Pre-Service Training (PST) program from Monday, February 4th to Friday March 3rd, 2013. At the end of this training program you will transfer to your island of assignment. PST will continue on your island of assignment for an additional three weeks, from Monday, March 6th to Friday March 25th, 2013.

Home stay During PST

During PST you will live with a family both on St. Lucia and on your island of assignment. Living with a family can be one of the most valuable aspects of training. The host family can be of great help in assisting in your community integration and enhancing your safety and security.

PST Goals and Objectives

The goal of PST is to prepare you for the first six months of your service. The emphasis during training is on both adapting your existing skills and experience to the Eastern Caribbean environment, as well and on developing new skills that will enable you to be safe and work more effectively at your site. During your two years of service other training opportunities will be offered to hone your skills.
The training objectives are focused on providing the opportunity for you to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes you will need to effectively communicate with your counterparts, adjust to the norms of a new culture and working environment, effectively accomplish your daily job requirements, integrate into your community, and ensure your own safety and security.

PST Components

Following this orientation you will begin your on-island PST, which is made up of the following training components:

Technical: modules delivered according to assignment area (Youth Development, Special Education, etc).

Universal Technical: modules delivered to all trainees regardless of assignment area and focusing on various aspects of development work.

Health: modules to support you in maintaining your health during your service.


Safety and Security: modules to increase your awareness of safety issues and help you to
remain safe during your service.


Cross Cultural: modules to enable examination of the host culture and your ability to adjust
to it.


Language: modules will provide an introduction to Kweyol (offered in Dominica and St. Lucia
only).

 Training packages 

-Youth panels and practica to gain experience working with youth in the areas of literacy and Life Skills Development. 
-Shadow current Volunteers and network with community members involved in the area of your assignment. 
-Methodology and Assessment Criteria

-The training is based on adult, experiential, self-directed learning principles, such as:
Introducing you to the conditions for professional independence and “self-starter’” roles which are the norm for a Volunteer in the field.
-Decreasing your dependence on the training group and Peace Corps staff in order to increase self-confidence and personal motivation.
-Responding to your individual needs and learning styles.
-You are encouraged to share your own skills and experience with other trainees throughout the training. 
-The entire training experience is designed to encourage a collaborative approach to information sharing and skills exchange.
The training is competency-based and you will be regularly evaluated on your ability to acquire and demonstrate the technical, cultural, and personal health and safety skills needed to be a Volunteer. 
-Objective assessment and evaluation tools, as well as periodic opportunities for giving and receiving feedback

Interviews 
Twice during PST you will be interviewed by the Peace Corps representative (Associate Peace Corps Director) on your island and by other appropriate Peace Corps staff members. The interviews are intended to gauge your progress and to help determine your preparedness for Peace Corps service. Every effort will be made to support you in achieving the PST competencies by providing you with honest and relevant feedback so that you are clear about your skills and the opportunities for growth.

Schedule

Both in St. Lucia and on your island of assignment you will travel to the Peace Corps training hub for training. Sessions will be held from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (end times may vary due to bus schedules). This should allow sufficient time for those traveling an hour or more to be on time for sessions and be home before dark. Days will be scheduled for you to visit your worksite, engage in networking, participate in practica and youth panels, and many other training activities. You will be expected to participate in family and community activities on evenings and weekends.


Departure from St. Lucia

On Saturday, March 4th, 2013, you will gather your belongings and depart for your island of service. Trainees assigned to St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, and Dominica will travel by plane where they will be met by their on-island Peace Corps representative and Volunteers on island. 

Swearing-In Date
After successful completion of Pre-Service Training you will be invited to swear in as Peace Corps Volunteers . The swearing-in ceremonies will take place during the last week of training. There is a separate ceremony held on each island.
General Information

Phones 

US phone cards and cell phones do not work in the Eastern Caribbean so do not bring them. You can purchase local calling cards to call home or to make local calls. You may dial US-based, toll- free numbers (such as 800 numbers) but you will be charged the regular overseas rates. Staff and Peace Corps Volunteers have purchased “Magic Jack” in the US and use it to call the US for a small annual fee (approximately $19.95 USD). While most Volunteers have land lines at home, over 90% of Volunteers purchase cellular phones. 
Internet access is available at the Pastoral Centre and at some host families but we hope you will immerse yourself in this new experience using your free time to get to know the other trainees and the Peace Corps staff who will be supporting you during the next two years. Please try to manage the expectations of your friends and families (and your own) so that they expect limited communication from you during your first few weeks in Peace Corps/Eastern Caribbean.

Local Currency/Money matters
The currency on all the islands in the Eastern Caribbean is the Eastern Caribbean dollar. The exchange rate is about EC$2.7 to the US dollar. ATMs can be found on all the islands. Funds can be withdrawn directly from your US or local bank account

Becoming real

The last 6 month has been crazy, anticipating where I would be going and then once I found out I was going to Grenada the count down began. Everything changed different emotions starting running through me. Its very overwhelming when you know that your hole world is going to change for 2 years and wondering what your going to come back to and how you will have changed as a person. I am happy to say that I am scared but I am also very exited I have been waiting for this opportunity for a very long the. I know that I am scared now but once I get their everything will fall into place. I feel strong that I can be placed into a new place with new people and accomplish what I set out to do and was assigned to do. Its coming up so fast but I am thankful that I get to spend the holidays with my loved ones and friends before I go. I am excepting this challenge with an open mind, body and sol. I think this is going to be a good change in my life.

Peace Corps Discounts

I would recommend calling to check to see if the store you like does offer the discount, just to be on the safe side.

http://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/resources/member-deals/discounts/

http://www.apple.com/r/store/government/

My Staging event

I'm so exited that my Staging event is going to be in Miami. I will get to meet up with 25 other Peace Corps volunteers before we are all sent to are host countries for training. I am going to be in St. Lucia (Babonneau ) for training on language (if necessary), cross-cultural, technical, safety and security, and health components. Its all coming so fast but I am getting exited. 

I can bring a 100lb plus some, heres how!!!!

Here is an email I got on how many pounds I can check and carry on. This makes me happy, and feel a bit like a chester lol.

Allie,

Thanks for the e-mail.  I hope you had a great Thanksgiving, too!

My understanding is that this is only for the checked baggage.  For additional luggage information, please reference American Airline’s website (as you will be traveling via AA from Miami to St. Lucia).

Cheers,

American Airlines Carry On

https://www.aa.com/i18n/travelInformation/baggage/carryOnAllowance.jsp

How to comment on my posts

First you need to have a gmail account. Then when you click on comments or no comments it might ask you to create a google/blogger profile. Just follow the prompts that it gives you. Then when you go to comment again all you will have to enter your log in and your password and it will let you post a comment. I am sorry for the inconvenience everyone. I know that my blog sight is not easy to use but it is a good way for me to keep all of my posts together in one place and in order.

Thank you everyone for commenting

Love Allie

*Something Special*

I thought of something that could make remembering my Peace Corps experience more exiting when I look back to the Us. I was thinking that if everyone who is important to me or cares about me could send me a journal here in the US before I go or while I am their, and write something in it or just put their names. It would make going back and reading my day to day journals more exiting. I don't know it might sound stupid but I think that knowing that someone special to me sent me a unique journal would make me feel like people are still thinking about me even though I am not their. What do you all think?

Home Town News Letter

1.     Personal information of interest?: I recently graduated from the University of Arizona and received my bachelors of science in rehabilitation for special needs. From my start at Pima Community College to my graduation from the U of A I received both my associates and bachelors in 3 ½ years. My final semester at the U of A was finished in just 2 months so I could go on a mission trip to Africa and assist a doctor who was there to help educate some of the local doctors. While in Africa I was lucky enough to visit the Usa river area in Tanzania and go on a couple safaris. I love playing sports including volleyball, football and more recently soccer. I hope while in Grenada to find some friendly people who enjoy playing some of these sports as well.

2.     What motivated you or attracted you to the Peace Corps?: I’ve always wanted to educate people in other countries. I felt that with my degree joining the Peace Corps would help me do just that. Hopefully with this time I will be able to positively impact peoples lives, as I am sure they will do the same for me.

3.     What have been some factors that affected your decision to become a Volunteer?: My time in Africa really opened my eyes to the need of better special education globally. That was the moment that I really knew that volunteering for the Peace Corps was the right decision. My family has supported and encouraged me during this entire process, which has really helped as well.

4.     Has family, friends, or returned Peace Corps Volunteers influenced your decision to join the Peace Corps? If so, how?: As stated above my family and friends have been extremely supportive of my decision to join. They have helped me with all the appointments needed, gathering necessary supplies and equipment and offered words of encouragement the whole way through.

5.     1) Ridgecrest, California 2) Florida 3) Weiser, Idaho 4) Tucson, Arizona 5)

6.     What are your career goals once you complete your Peace Corps service?: When I come back I plan to apply to the rehabilitation masters program at the U of A and possibly get my PhD. I hope to continue helping individuals with special needs or families of people with special needs here in the states and possibly rejoin the Peace Corps later in life.

How I am doing my packing

So it used to be that you could only take 80lbs including your carry on but now its 100lbs. I am not shire if that includes my cary on or not, so I will have to email my placement desk in the Eastern Caribbean. People think that I am crazy because I have already started pack and I don't leave for another 3 months, but I want to be organized and have everything that I need. I am going to post my packing list when I get it all complete so that way you can see what 100lbs comes out to be. Also when I was looking for a packing list online I could not find one that was a former Peace Corps volunteers so I am hoping that this might help someone latter down the road.

Step 1- look at all of the packing lists provided to you by the Peace Corps, They are spread out all over the place.

Step 2- look online for travel site tips. You can find lists put together for where you are going specifically.

Step3- Go through what you already have and check them off the list.

Step 4- Make a list of what you still need.

Step 5- Set everything you already have aside.

Step 6- I would start gathering small things that you need to get when your at the store. Also Amazon has a lot of the same things for cheeper. You can get a 2 month Free trial of their prime. That means 2 day free shipping. But check things that are not prime as well because some times its cheeper to pay $1.00 shipping compared to their fees. Students get prime for 6 months just an fyi. Also some places such as Mac give discounts for people going into the Peace Corps, you just need your welcome letter. So that is something you can check into if you are dying to save money here and there. The Peace Corps is not all that cheep with the medical stuff and packing list.

step 7-  One you know what you absolutely need to get you can do one big shopping trip.

Step 8- find your suitcases that your going to be using and fill them with the things you have gathered. Check their waight!!!! This way you have some idea if you have way to much or your on track.

step 9- When you are ready to leave for your assignment I would right a list of everything that you have packed and compare it to what you needed to bring that way if you are missing anything you will know.

People think I am crazy because I plan to much but it helps me do everything correctly. So what if I packed 3 months before I have to leave. I am ready for what ever happens next.

Addresses

Sending packages. Family members often like to send care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend, however, that costly items be sent through the mail. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may use the following addresses to send letters and/or packages via international expedited mail (example: DHL) to your family member:

PCV Name

U.S. Peace Corps (Grenada) P.O. Box 766
Upper Lucas Street
St. George's
Grenada, West Indies


PCV Name
U.S. Peace Corps (St. Lucia)
P O Box 123
Gablewoods Mall, Sunny Acres Castries
St. Lucia, West Indies 

It seams like time is flying by at a slow pace, I know that sounds like a contradiction but it seams like I am running out of time to complete everything that needs to be done before I leave for Granada in January. This week I am starting my todo list and checking things off. I looked at my packing list for the Caribbean's and compared it to the cloths I already have. I have quite a bit of shopping to do!!!!!! Cloths and other bathroom stuff. We are getting my car registration done this week and shopping :) I am so exited but I am also starting to stress and over think. Its such an exiting time in my life second AA just 4 class away and Peace Corps :) Thank you for all of the love and support from everyone. My packing list coming soon.

I finished my aspiration statement

ASPIRATION STATEMENT

Alexandrea (Allie) Armstrong

Eastern Caribbean

January 24, 2013

I have high expectations for myself working as a special education teacher. I want to help educate teachers, society, and other students about what causes disabilities and how we can develop ways for the disabled to live comfortably with their disabilities. I want to create new ways for teachers to work with different people so each one is receiving the best education possible.  To adjust to the new culture I am going to be very observant, watch how people teach and work with each individual. I will also ask various questions to help in my understanding of how things are done. I am then going to create multiple new techniques that teachers can use to benefit their students needs. I also am going to work one on one with the students who have disabilities so I know where their skill levels, and needs are.

A: Identify three professional attributes that you plan to use during your Peace Corps service and how these will help meet your aspirations and commitment to service.

I am going to use skills that I have gained from my work experience, volunteering and education to fulfill my personal goals and the assignment given to me. My bachelor’s degree was in rehabilitation for special needs. I absorbed information on a variety of disabilities and how to work with each individual in a school setting.  I am going to create fun ways to keep each individual students engaged in their academics to better their future. I have worked for United Cerebral Palsy for a little over two years as an in-home care provider for people with all kinds of disabilities.  I worked with people and children with physical and cognitive disabilities. I did everything from Bathing, feeding, clothing to giving medications.  I also have done some volunteer work at a camp that works with adults with disabilities were I took care of a camper twenty-four hours a day for four days. I am currently finalizing my Associates degree in art, which has given me many creative ideas on how to use art as a teaching tool. I additionally participated on an art comity, and spent two summers teaching art to children in a summer program.  I love learning about new things, about people and helping them stay happy and healthy.

 

B: Briefly identify two strategies for working effectively with host country partners to meet expressed needs.

My first strategy is to do a lot of research on the culture, society and the current state of the people with disabilities. I want to be prepared so that I am respectful at all times. My second strategy is to be very observant and ask a lot of questions form my teachers and host family as I go along. It is critical that I fit in with the people and provide a positive influence for the children, teachers and town’s people.

C: Your strategy for adapting to a new culture with respect to your own cultural background.

One of the reasons I joined the Peace Corps was to experience other cultures, bring back with me a part of those cultures, and share my experiences with the people that I meet. I believe each individual creates their own culture. Being able to experience other cultures will allow me to expand and improve upon my own. I fully expect to have to do things outside of my comfort zone, but that’s the part of the experience that I’m looking forward to.   I have spent some time out of the country, and traveled to Africa on a medical support mission last year, so I have experience adapting the other cultures. 

D: The skills and knowledge you hope to gain during pre-service training to best serve your future community and project.

I'm hoping to learn about the needs of the community in regards to people with special needs and what they already know about people with special needs. Learning this will allow me to come up with a project that will best help the community, the people with special needs and the family of people with special needs. One of the skills that I hope to develop is a better understanding of how to approach families of people with special needs, how to help them develop skills in living with the member or members of their family with special needs and better the futures of these family members.

E: How you think Peace Corps service will influence your personal and professional aspirations after your service ends.

This opportunity will help me develop personal and professional goals in special education from both perspectives. I believe it will help me become a better advocate of special needs awareness locally as well as globally. Continuing and helping develop special needs programs in another country will help me better understand the need in my community for such programs. This will be a life changing experience that I will never forget and one that I can continue to draw from for the rest of my life.

I finally got my answer

It is the most amazing and overwhelming feeling in the world when you finally receive conformation that you have been awarded a place in the Peace Corps. I have been invited to serve from January 24th, 2013 to March 29th, 2015. I am going to be working in community development as a special education teacher in the Eastern Caribbean. It has always been a dream of mine to educate people in different countries about disabilities. Now I have a few things to do before I can go. I have to write my aspiration  statement, organize my resume, apply for my visa and sign up for my passport. Wow no pressure to get everything done in four months. Also I need to call and make sheer that my medical, dental and vision will still be up to date by the time I have to leave. Wish me luck.

It says they picked a place for me to go :) Idk where yet :(

Today I talked to my official placement officer for the peace corps and I should be herring from them in the next 1-3 weeks. Finally some good news :)

The beginning

This is the beginning of my blog, I hope it helps me stay in touch wherever I go in life.