2017
2018
2019
January
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Submitted my application on January 1, 2017 (yes, this was the app deadline)
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Completed and submitted the online Health History Form (30-day deadline), the Assignment Selection Form for the posts I was interested in, and the Soft Skills Questionnaire
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Jan 24: Emailed by the Volunteer Placement Specialist to schedule an interview specifically for the Food Security Extension Agent position in Benin
February
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Feb 7-10: Interviewed and was selected to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer!
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The paperwork began
- ​Includes but not limited to the Medical Applicant Portal (MAP), New Member Portal, LearningSpace, and legal paperwork in the mail
- TIP: Read this email entirely, keep them on file and start the paperwork ASAP!
March
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Medical and dental tasks made available in the MAP
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Notified that legal paperwork was received
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Completed task in New Member Portal, including passport paperwork (start early!)
April
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Worked on medical/dental paperwork
May
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Submit all medical paperwork (phew!)​
June
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Got legal clearance (woo!)
July
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Received an email with resources to read through to prepare for a Skype conference call with other volunteers and coordinators
August
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Skype conference call with the Benin team!
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Booked flight to Peace Corps staging with Sato Travel Company
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Started creating a packing list
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Got medical clearance (woo!)
September
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Packing packing packing
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Lots of see-you-laters to family and friends (and quite a few tears)
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Pre-staging and departure!
September - December
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Pre-Service Training (PST): Three-month intensive training including language acquisition, cross-cultural lessons and technical training
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December 14th: Officially Sworn-In as a volunteer!!
December 2017 - March 2018
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First three months at site, also called "On-the-Job Training II"
March
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Technical Training II: Two-week training that further builds on project development and technical skills based on our sector
April
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IST/Cross-Sector Training: One-week training that allows us to learn about initiatives and projects in other Peace Corps Benin sectors. (For me, that was health and education.)
June
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First Volunteer Report Form (VRF) due. This is a comprehensive report on the projects that we're implementing at site and during our service.
September
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Mid-Service Training Conference (MST): Celebrating and reflecting on one year in Benin with all sectors of cohort 30.
December/January 2019
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Submit second VRF
June
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Receive information from staff to prepare for our Close of Service (COS) Conference in August
August
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Close of Service Conference: A four-day conference to prepare for and celebrate the end of our service as a cohort! This included information on medical tasks in the last months, administrative to-do's, how to talk about our experience in interviews and resumes, tackling job and grad school searching, departure date selection as well as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer panel and celebrations in a fancy hotel with our fellow volunteers.
October
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Submit final VRF
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Submit a Post Book outlining experiences, projects, individuals, tips, etc. of our respective posts to Peace Corps Benin staff that will act as a guide for future volunteers who serve in our communities
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Wrapping up final projects and preparing for departure
November
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Wrapping up projects and preparing for departure (empty out home, return PC property, etc.)
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Saying goodbyes (so many tears)
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Spend a week in the capital tackling the COS To-Do List
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Medical, administrative, meeting with the Country Director, etc.​
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November 28th: Officially COS-ed and became a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV). Where did the time go?​