Pack.It.Up Adventures: Pictures

Under Development!

(You may see some new things appearing here... Be patient. It is difficult to learn HTML coding without internet access...)

All of my pictures are uploaded to my Picasa Account. You can click the logo below to go there now...

Or you can click one of the pictures below to be taken to that Album


Pre-Service Training	The First 6 Months	The Computer Lab Project

The Middle Ages

Sending Me Mail

While I am in Rwanda, you can (and should!) send me letters or packages! Here is the address:

Shawn Grund
Peace Corps Volunteer
BP: 661
Huye, Rwanda

Wish List:
-Photos of family and friends
-Local Newspapers
-Candies (Starburst, skittles, snickers, the usual...)
-bouncy balls (can never have enough...)
-Books (at this point, I'll read just about anything, and all books I have when I finish will be given to my school's Library)
-Digital Media (videos of family/friend event, music, movies, up to you!)
-Any other comfort items!!!

There may be significant delay in getting mail in and out of Rwanda. If you need to convey a message quickly, please email me at grun0177@gmail. I cannot guarantee how often I will be able to check my email, but hopefully more frequent than the mail post.

When sending packages, it helps to write 'air mail' on the outside of the box, write in a red pen, and put bible verses on the outside. this should help get all the contents to me. Also, include a list of all contents so I do know if anything went missing at customs. I would avoid carriers like FedEx, DHL, or UPS because they have to hand-delivery items in Rwanda. The USPS is a better option.

Peace Corps Timeline

November 4th: Submitted application online

November 5th: Submitted Health Survey online

November 7th: Received email from recruiter requesting additional information

November 8th: Received NAC forms and fingerprint cards in mail

November 16th: Mailed all form back to Chicago

November 23rd: Call from Nicole (recruiter), not yet received mailed forms.

November 24th: Notified that my forms arrived in Chicago on November 19th via my Toolkit.

December 8th: Nicole called to let me know everything is in. Phone interview scheduled for December 10th.

December 10th: Interview

December 15th: Received word that I had received a nomination. Called Nicole back the next morning to learn I may be teaching math in Africa startting in October 2010.

April 19th: Finally finished all medical and dental forms. Posting to OMS in the morning.

April 28th: Received Dental clearance.

July 18th: Received request from OMS nurse for additional immunization charts. Had a lovely chat with a receptionist at my childhood hospital while she dug through the "1980's" file.

August 12th: Received an email from the Education Desk at the Placement office. "As you know," it started. "your file has been transferred to the Placement office since you have been medically cleared." As a matter of fact, I did not know. But I do now.

August 14th: Received letter informing me that I had indeed cleared medical.

August 16th: Received request for final transcript and up-to-date volunteer and other relevant experiences. Email the necessary documentation.

September 8th: Received word that I had been extended an invitation and too look for a packet today. Unfortunately, the packet went to Duluth instead of the Twin Cities.

September 10th: Forwarded Invitation Packet finally makes its way to me in the Twin Cities. The verdict: my nomination held. I will be teaching Math in Rwanda starting on October 19th, 2010.

September 13th: Officially accepted Peace Corps Invitation. I am now a confirmed member of the program!

September 17th: Posted Passport documents, formatted resume and started aspiration statement. Start packing? Maybe in October...

October 19th: Left Minneapolis for Philadelphia. Here for staging and then departing for Rwanda on the 20th.

October 21st: Landed in Kigali, Rwanda and started Pre-Service Training.

January 3rd, 2011: Sworn-in as a Peace Corps Volunteer at the Ambassador's Residence.

January 4th, 2011: 'Installed' in my permanent site in the Southern Province, Nyaruguru District, in a village called Cyahinda.

June 19th, 2011: Cyahinda just installed electricity. Look out, World!

Status: Officially a Peace Corps Volunteer, serving until December 2012.

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