Two weeks ago was WAIST – the West Africa Invitational Softball Tournament, which was basically 4 nights and 3 days of non-stop chaos. This led directly into my Close of Service Conference (COS conf) where I experienced the first panic attack I’ve ever had. We met all of these incredible people during a career panel, who work for the UN, and WHO etc. – all things I would love to do – but as they spoke, it became more and more clear how unqualified I am to ever do their jobs. Then I started thinking about any type of job I’d want once returning state-side and I freaked out a bit more because there is nothing (currently) that separates me from 10,000 other returned PCVs (RPCVs) who are applying for similar jobs, and I started seeing myself going home in May and having to settle for something I didn’t want to do for years just to begin paying off my student loans.… cue minor panic attack. Shout-out to Chris Brown for sitting next to me and fielding the spazness.
After the last career-panel discussion, my country director and boss, Chris, came up to me and we started chatting about how I’ve enjoyed my second year here so much more than my first due to the fact that I enjoy being around the energy and motivation of all of the current volunteers. He continued the conversation with, “Well, why don’t you extend?” And I explained (as I had already to a few people in the PC office that had already asked me about extension positions, or working as a 3rd year volunteer) that I would never consider extending unless there was: 1) a very specific job for me to do and one that only Amanda Wybolt could do – as in, not something they’re looking for any extender to fill, and 2) something that would help me career-wise in the long run. This led to Chris telling me about a new malaria prevention program that is going to run via PC Senegal: teams of volunteers from 25 countries across Africa will be coming to Senegal for trainings on malaria prevention techniques based off of the model used by PCVs in Senegal. This program will be the first of its kind in Peace Corps history. “Do you want to be involved?” he asked.
Without thinking, my initial response was “No!” When Chris and I had this conversation, mentally (though I had no idea what I was doing post-PC) I was already heading state-side for at least a bit. So the idea of staying here for year? Not so appealing. Indeed, a total 180 of where I was going.
And then I realized I was being a bit childish and irrational. So, I agreed to have a meeting on Friday with the people already involved in the initiative (total of 5 including myself and Chris). I left the meeting with a 30 second verbal blurb of how Chris saw me being involved and with all of the existing documents on the project to read over. Over the weekend, I called 17 people – PCVs in country, friends and family from home – and the more I listened to myself describe the pros and the cons of the position to people over the phone, the more lucid my situation became. This would be a huge opportunity – I could really gain a lot by working with this initiative. By this past Sunday, the idea of taking the job was pretty much a no-brainer.
Skipping the details of the meeting and getting straight to the point – I took the job! So what exactly will I be doing? Strictly speaking, I am not allowed to tell you all too much because the program will not be officially announced in the end of April to coincide with the 50 year anniversary of the swearing-in of the first Peace Corps Volunteers, but, basically: I will be the communications coordinator for volunteer efforts in the 25 countries working through this initiative, involved in organizing and creating training manuals for PCVs across all sectors of the participating countries (including Senegal), and in charge of media bits for all of the above through social media and regular interweb information sharing. I will also be working with multi-national NGOs and country organizations that will be partnering with Peace Corps on this initiative… in every country involved. … AHH! Exciting… The other answer is “Who knows!” because I’m writing my job description as things go along and I have a feeling that this will be one of those things that as the initiative takes shape, my job will become into something totally different as we are seeing it now. Who knows where this initiative will be in 6 months? Right now there are 5 of us involved, apparently by 6 months there will be 30+. That could (should) change things. So boom, another cool thing about the job: growing with an organization.
Beyond working for an amazing program that is truly going to do good work all across Africa (and save lives! Progress is good!), there are two other points that made me decide to stay here: (1) that this position is really catered to my strengths and interests (communications, training facilitation, media work), and to have that at 24 years old, especially working on something that is this big of an initiative with this much responsibility – I realize is pretty rare; (2) that by staying in Dakar for a year, I can really put myself in a much more competitive place (career-wise) than I am right now. Especially as far as getting an international job is concerned. I can take this next year to learn actually learn French (something I was never able to do in my Mandinka village), and make contacts outside of the Peace Corps world and among the international ExPat community that exists in Dakar.
Other details:
You may be thinking, “A year?! Do you get to come home at all?” Yes, I get a bit over 6 weeks, which I will probably take July to mid-August. I have been off of American soil for exactly two years as of February 28, 2011, so email me if you want to enjoy the first few days of “WTH is that?! I want some Mexican food.”
What about the extension? Where will I be living? I will be living in Dakar with my friend Renée starting in about two months – ahh! That means I can dress like a real person, can still bike around (and maybe get hit by cars like I used to do in Boston), and will be working in the PC office and have my own spiny chair. Yes! Renee and I will also be speaking only in French on M/W/F, and are officially extending an open invitation to any visitors, as long as you come bearing gifts in the form of food, live performance, or pretty things.
What about the Fodé Bayo? And Nacho?? I know, I know. In true PC style, they need me in Dakar working on this ASAP, but I still have the garden/fencing project (of which the funding still has not appeared in my bank account), so as soon as that rolls through and rolls out, I’ll be up here. I think that’ll be about two months… just enough time to enjoy mango and cashew apple season, yes!
Funny, this time last week I was still unsure about taking the position or not. Now I’m planning what I will be doing this time next year – in Senegal. Of all the people. Who would have thought. Life is funny sometimes.
