Double Update!

December 27, 2008

Happy Holidays!

I have had such a fantastic holiday and I have been wanting to update my blog, but couldn't steal a moment. Sometime last week, I did the typical impatient thing nominees do, and I called OMS. Now both my surprise and delight, someone answered the line right away. To my dismay the news was that they have not received my medical packet yet and that I should call back at the beginning of the year since everyone was on their way out the door to leave for vacation.

The result, total panic, convinced that my packet had gotten lost in the mail. I was in such a hurry to get my packet off, I didn't make copies of all of my forms. Word to the wise, don't skip this step!

However, in light of holiday miracles, I return home today and I check my email. An update from Peace Corps! Sweet, I already know the news, they have indeed received my medical packet...but I just want to see it with my own eyes. I log onto my toolkit...looking to see where they have said "packet received"... MORE than just my packet being received... I AM DENTALLY CLEARED! Praise the Lord!

That is so awesome for SO.MANY.REASONS. I can't even express. I was so worried about all things dental its not even funny. Now I just have to pay off my dental bill and I'm even steven :o) But that is SUCH a hump to get over and so soon! I wasn't expecting any dental/medical clearance until March or so.

*(over analytical moment)*
Now, I can't help but think...are they moving super quick on my application?
Am I going to be a candidate for an earlier assignment?
Should I/Would I go sooner? (even though I have debt that I gotta pay off)
What if its Spanish speaking!? That's totally what I want!
Did my calling help speed this thing along?
Cause if it was then that would be some more advice to nominees, stay on OMS...
*(moment over)*

Well what does '09 look like for me?
Getting my house in order.

Getting another part time gig, maybe two...
Ideally work around the clock...
The more I work,
the sooner debt is paid off,
The sooner I'm a free agent to leave up outta here and start my Peace Corps Adventure!

Happy New YEAR!!!!

***Post realizations***
1) My Dental Clearance Update came on Christmas Day...awww
2) I cannot take an assignment that leaves before June because I'm under contract with my dance school and I personally would not want to leave before our recital.

After the first week in June '09 I'm fair game...
2009 in going to be an interesting one indeed....

Not so patient

December 21, 2008

I just have to confess that I was trying to play it off, like I don't care when I hear from the Peace Corps crew updated my medical packet status....but I have been checking my email pretty consistently hoping for an email about updating my toolkit. Right now I haven't even gotten word that they received my packet. Arg. I'm sure that's the price you pay when you send it so close to the holidays and are not predicted to leave until fall '09. So I'm not sweating it, but since I just checked my email on a Sunday with hope in my heart... I realized I'm not as patient about this as I thought I would be....Happy Holidays!

Aaaand they're off....

December 12, 2008

I have have been waiting to post this since I got my nomination to the Peace Corps...

I turned in my medical packet!

Praise GOD!

Now then, I was in a rush when I was putting all the papers in the main envelope (mistake) but I had everything together for months and months, so I think I got everything.

I went to the doctor briiiight and early and she signed my final papers...turns out when I got home later today my Saint Louis Dr. Had filled out and sent the same papers. I am going to just hold onto them in case the OMS crew in DC needs my STL Doctor's signature as well. There was oooonnneee other spot that I saw that my Dr. should have initialed in three place but instead he just signed at the bottom...hopefully that doesn't come up either. I just so badly wanted to have all those documents out of my possession!

Now I just have to wait. I anticipated being on pins and needles once I sent off my medical packet, but the reality is I could use the time. I need to get another part time gig so I can pay off my credit card debt and if I'm reaally good start a "traveling around my region" savings account as well. I hear when you have a stash of dough it makes it easier to travel about on your vacations.

Again, I was nominated for August '09...I'm pretty sure I wouldn't leave sooner than that, but I am willing to leave later in the year...

So for the next 9 months I need to, focus on getting a gig..so that I can be paying down my credit card (just one!), working on my Spanish (oooops, haven't looked at not one word...), get a couple of business plans thats that I want to have in order before I leave...and that's really it!

So my updates may be few and far between from this point on... Hopefully all the news that is coming is good news!

Dental Packet Complete

December 9, 2008

Sweet, just came from the dentist and I got my paperwork completed (for free mind you!). The x-rays she gave me are not of the "panorex" variety which Peace Corps requested, but my dentist said that what she gave me will work. At this point I just want to send my stuff off and if there is a small tiny problem that I need to follow up on, I will. I just don't want these piles of papers here half completed. I also spoke with the OMS office this morning about who can sign my OBGYN papers (did it need to be my old doctor or new one?). Since I received the paperwork I need from my home city with all of my history, I can just take that into my OB's office and have her sign off on everything. So I need to follow up, but I believe her office said I can come in on Friday between 7 AM and 2 PM...however, its gonna cost me 40 bucks! Suckers! It's okay, hopefully that is the.last.dime. I spend on getting medically cleared and now I can just pay everything off!

If all goes according to plan I will be able to send my paperwork off no later than December 15th! Yay! Then it will be the holidays so I know my packet is just gonna sit AND again, I'm not due to leave until Fall '09 so I don't think they will be in a big hurry. However, it will be another milestone completed in this year long process. I can't wait!

The Sky's The Limit

December 3, 2008

Just have to repost to undo my energetically negative post from yesterday. My life is not in crisis by any means. I am currently uncertain and feeling a bit unstable about the future, but that is when life is exciting! The sky's the limit and I can do anything through God who strengthens me. Also, when you are put to the test, you get so see how resilient you are... So here we go. Am I going to bow down and let the waves of depression and helplessness sweep over me..or am I going to just keep it movin onward and upward? Yep, onward and upward, thinking of solutions not dwellin on small minor obstacles that are sure to arise. Surely, when I am given the opportunity serve in the Peace Corps I am going to really see what life crisis are... Not to mention I am definitely going to be faced with challenging and trying times. This is just a practice. Life for me is good at all times and I'm truly thankful for that. Now then, gotta go and get on the grizzly grind for reals!

Life Crisis in 5,4,3,2....

December 2, 2008

Aaaand alright... While I definitely do not want this to be a personal blog about my life... I am def about to have a life crisis...however, it related to Peace Corps so it works!

So after getting laid off in October I scored a fun gig teaching dance. Since my schedule opened up I was able to perform in a couple of shows in November and I've continued teaching dance... Now, I was looking for part-time work, and thought I had found it...but really they aren't giving out hours except for during the holidays (when, like, no one wants 'em)... So I currently a responsible for paying rent and Home Owner Association fees for my condo that has now been sold for a low low price of nothing gained to me...

If I don't pay the HOA on time every month that is going to be big issues for me. My rent...eh, who needs it. So I was thinking... since my income is unpredictable I don't want to have a lot of financial obligations. I had the idea of moving in with my friend who let me stay with her once before. Stay with? Crash, squat...would be more accurate terms to use...for two people stayin in a one bed room.

But why not? If I am seriously planning on joining the Peace Corps then I should be getting rid of stuff anyway right? Saving money and paying off debt, right? They say in the Peace Corps you can kiss your privacy goodbye...so I'll just be getting used to that as live on my friends couch... See can't be too good or glamourous for the P.C....

Sigh, I just have to decide am I really wanting to give up my room and so soon. To be fair to my roommate I would want to give her at least 60 days notice (if I can hang on that long...) So that would put me at living with my friend from March to August (if my nomination stays the same).

The chances of me leaving early are slim.. I have to stay in LA until June because the kids I teach have a recital..honestly if I really got invited somewhere that left earlier I would try to work it out with the owner of the company I work for. I also would like to spend a few weeks back in my home city...and maybe get the chance to visit a few friends... I mean I will be gone for 2 years!

Another component in the uncertainty of my life that is Peace Corps... I really have been encouraged to hold out for a Spanish speaking country...so it was suggested to decline if I don't get one (like Belize where I was told I am being nominated for)... but if I'm hangin on by a thread with my living sitch... I think I'll get an invite and jump on the chance.

I would like a Spanish speaking country...but I can a) still study spanish while I'm away b) take spanish when I return to the states. It's really not that big of deal.

Right now, I still have to get my medical stuff off (I know for shame)... In the next two weeks I have appointments to get final x-rays, medical history and signatures, so the goal to get my medical information off before the end of the year is looking good.

So first item of business is to talk to my roomie and see if she feels screwed...cause if she does I'm going to need to re-evaluate... if she's down..then its gonna be about putting items on craigslist to sell... and wrapping my head around a) being all the more serious about Peace Corps b) camping out in my gracious friends living room...or even more...apartment hopping (yeah I have a lot of nice friends...

Updates to come... I'm interested to see what next year is going to look like with this new development...