Peace Corps Timeline

September 8, 2008
Sent off online application!

September 9, 2008
Received an email from recruitment Coordinator acknowledging reciept of my application. Email also includes documents about: Student Loans, Financial Obligations (eeeek!), Relationship status (n/a..as of today..), Vegetarian Doc (I try not to eat meat in the US, but else where I will), HPV Shot Doc, General Medical Info Doc. In the email I'm instructed to have all applicable documents completed in approx two weeks. That is the soonest I would be granted and interview. Also, have my letters of recommendation in as soon as possible because no interview can be granted before all three of your letters or rec are in.

This is pretty exciting. I printed off the documents and I'll read over them when I go home.

September 10, 2008-
Received a phone call from my local recruiter.
Called her back and we scheduled an interview for September 24th.
This based off of the condition that I have my references in before that time.
No reference, no interview.

I was also given a list of things to bring to the interview, that I need to start working ASAP.

-University/College Transcripts (unofficial is fine)
-Copies of any certification (such as CPR, teaching credential etc...)
-Any of the forms that relate to me from the initial email (as listed above)
- (the one I dread the MOST) A statement about your outstanding debt...(bank loan and association debts) They need a letter stating how I plan on making payments while I'm away... or that it will be paid in full before departure (hmmm maybe I can just commit to that?), If someone is going to assume responsibility, I need to have a notarized lettter from that person stating just that....

For real in real life where my stress about the debts are coming from IS that I intend on having those debts paid before departure...So if they can take me on my word then, that's fantastic. Maybe check back and six month or so...see where I am on that... I think that's fair.

So I guess I won't be buyin a MacBook after all...

September 11, 2008
Totally and completely bought a MacBook today!

That's hilarious. The only reason why I thought it was worth writing because I clearly stated...just yesterday? (is that right?) That I won't be buying one... I mean I said "I guess". I clearly guessed wrong.

A couple of things happened. First of all, my Dad gave me the okay and thought the deal I was getting was a good one. Second of all I went to a talk on Life Coaching and was VERY interested and it seemed like having a computer would make life easier when pursuing this career. Plus, I want one. I think this computer is the very last "thing" I'm really going to buy.

From this point on my goal is to get rid of, not acquire things.

Now this is all pre-interview even. Lets see if the Peace Corp group and I think that I am even a potential match for volunteering at this time!

September 12, 2008

Faxed in a request to receive my transcript and received it 30 min later

Contacted my references to make sure they received their reference form from Peace Corps.

September 22, 2008

My interview was scheduled for this wednesday the 24th @ 11:00. Due to a lunch meeting for work I had to rescedule for 8:00 in the morning so now its even earlier! I'm getting nervous!

The status of my 3 references is:

1 submitted
1 started
1 not started

So I am keeping hope alive that all references will be in before my interview. If the references are not complete. I will have to change my reschedule my interview...(again yeeps)

I'm most nervous about having all the paperwork that they are requesting...especially all of my financial responsibilites... I'm going to through all that right now actually...

September 24, 2008

What a day, what a day, what a day!
So first of all... all of my references came in. Just like I knew they would. Tori, my super nice, super cool, hardcore seriously about Peace Corp recruiter saw me even though the last she checked all of my references last night they weren't in. They were in by this morning, so that's all that matters :)

It was really great meeting Tori in person. The interview is very structured. I believe she said there are three parts to it...like..Why do you want to volunteer, questions ...about things you are absolutely opposed to (like climate, regions, practices...etc), and I think explaining more about what one would be getting into as a volunteer.

They have to forward all of your information to D.C. So she is filling out the questions on a laptop to send to D.C... so as I spoke she typed. That could have been nerve racking or distracting, but that took me back to my membership days with Detla...those who have been through such a process know what I'm talking about....

At the end of the interview (approx 2 hours I would say) I was actually nominated! But before that one thing that was intersting to me... although I have been taking some very informal Spanish lessons here and there, it didn't really count as a language because it wasn't from an accredited institution. However, the option is that I can go take a test at language center, and if I test at the intermediate level...then it could be considered. I am planning on signing up for a 10 week course coming up...so I think I just might take the test if I feel confident in my skills..

Anyway, back to the fun stuff...she read off a couple of possible places in Asia, North Africa and LAtin America...after a discussion (Which doesn't normally happen), it seemed like Belize was a good fit. In Belize they speak majority English amd that is why I would be able to function there.

Since I did not have a full time job ever working with at risk youth, I was more qualified for teaching. I LOVE youth programming, and while it has not been my day job, I'm always involved some how some way with youth development. After giving her some examples of my volunteer work, she was willing to push for me to be able to be nominated for a youth development program.

Oh and August 2009 was the date that was thrown out there for departure. Soooooo I guess I need to start wrapping my head around that...

I feel nervous...
Do I start telling everyone?
Or keep it in the spiritual realm right now...
If I DO start spreading the word...when?
Clearly if someone happened upon this blog...all the info is here...
but I tried to google it and nothing comes up.. so its locked away safe in cyber space for now...

The only thing that keep me from going is not getting either medically or legally cleared.

I had a condo and I hope the complications with that don't keep me from going on the legal tip.
All my financial debts I really want to pay off..even if that means getting a second job so that's that on my legal concerns...
Medically... I should be cool, I have like a tooth that might have to be pulled, but other than discovering something that I never knew I had (heaven forbid!) I should be straight. It's just a matter of going and getting EVERYTHING checked out. I hear this process is not cheap either...

Also, Everyone says that getting medically cleared takes forever. If I wait to spread the word then... it maybe really late...you know, to inform your loved ones that you are going to be up and outtie for dos anos (see? I'm totaly bilingual!)

So I guess I will inform loved ones...just that I am going through the application process...and who knows what will come of it... Cause... for real..who knows...

Belize huh?.....Belize....(cue: dreamy harp music as image becomes wavy....)

September 25, 2008
So I have gotten both a letter in the mail, and an email that instructed me to go to my online Tookit...

It's making it seem more real already...

Let's see, since I'm so nervous about the medical and legal clearing, I was reading all about it, just to ease my mind...

Yeah not so much...

Shots, shots and more shots....sigh... If you're leaving the country...then yes you need shots... I KNOW, but just thinking about it made me squimish. I have a thing about needles. Get over it right? Sigh...so yeah there is a laundry list of shots to take.

Also, I could see from the dental thing that I'm definitely going to have to get a wisdom tooth pulled...and who knows what else...

I suppose a couple of things are happening here...
a) its becoming more real already
b) When you are getting multiple shots, you are no longer in "we'll just see what happens..." mode...

Gasping reality, grasping reality...sigh...

Next step... waiting for my medical packet in the mail so the fun can begin!

September 29, 2008

So, just checked my email and I already have a Legal hold on my account!
Argh, its okay though, I was so anxious to stress out about something, lol, so here is my something. I want to "take action" somehow, but I think it's just under closer review, there is nothing I can do about it now. Luckily it's a year in advance lol so I guess I have to figure it out.

Also, my online toolkit says that my Medical packet was mailed out on September 26th, so I will hopefully recieve it this week.