Something Rich and Strange

Well, it’s been a spell since this blog was updated. And while I’m not exactly (or even inexactly) being hounded to fill-in interested parties on what I’ve been up-to for the last few months, I do have a really, really good excuse (really). I’ve been kinda busy recently with work stuff. So here’s the back story.

For some time, as I may have droned on about, it has been my goal to transition my experience in non-profit management into international development. Easier said than done, I’ve learned. The catch (as in “Catch 22”) is that most international jobs require international experience. But how do you get international experience in the first place if you, well, can’t get a job without it? One way is to volunteer, which I did last year in Nepal, Jordan and India doing capacity building in communications and management with local NGOs.

In between, to keep bread on the table and Stuart Weitzman’s on my feet, I did some consulting. My latest gig was with Earth Day Network (yes, the folks responsible for the annual tribute to our planet, but who do so much more year-round). I had the opportunity to work on promoting what this wonderful organization's many partners are accomplishing worldwide, which is truly inspiring.

OK. Back to the international development thing. My wishlist was short and to the point:

1. Find an organization that was making a difference worldwide
2. Find an organization that was making a difference worldwide that wanted to hire me

Of course, it would be great if the organization was held in high regard in international circles, synomymous with service and helping people build better worlds for their communities, themselves and their children. Hmmm. How about the Peace Corps? Yes, that’s where I think I’ll go. And as luck, and a little hard work would have it, that is exactly where I’ve landed. I started today in a newly-created position responsible for doing internal (think inter-, intra- agency) communications for the Peace Corps’ stellar IT division. There’s not much more I can tell you right now since this was my first day going through NEO (no, I am not in the Matrix, but New Employee Orientation). However, it’s hard to go wrong working for an organization that's name begins with “Peace.”