"I, Kaitlin ***, am accepting my invitation to serve as an English Teacher Peace Corps Volunteer in Cambodia, departing July 20, 2010.
I hereby certify that I have read the Volunteer Assignment Description, Online Welcome Book, and Core Expectations and agree to abide by the policies therein."
Less than 50 words, signing away 27 months of my life. Yikes!
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Invitation
Here it is: Cambodia. Orientation July 20. Until September 30, 2012.
I didn't even squeal! I knew the invitation was coming, and from my very basic detective work I was about 90% sure beforehand that it would be Cambodia. Still, I just kept staring at that letter, and for some reason I could not stop laughing. Partly in relief, partly in nervous anticipation.
I had promised my folks they would be the first to know, (even though, technically, my sneaky roommate Matt knew even before I did because he peeked through the packet's address window and could just make out "Cambodia") so after getting home to find the packet at quarter to 6, I tried calling my parents while I made dinner before I was due at my friend Faith's play. No luck, but thankfully I was able to catch them on my way home. As I expected, they had lots of questions, including ones I had barely had a chance to think about: "When will you tell your work?" "Are you coming to visit before you leave?" "When are you moving out of your house?" "Will you be going to grad school right away when you finish?"
Needless to say, there's a lot to think about in the next 11 weeks and 5 days...
I didn't even squeal! I knew the invitation was coming, and from my very basic detective work I was about 90% sure beforehand that it would be Cambodia. Still, I just kept staring at that letter, and for some reason I could not stop laughing. Partly in relief, partly in nervous anticipation.
I had promised my folks they would be the first to know, (even though, technically, my sneaky roommate Matt knew even before I did because he peeked through the packet's address window and could just make out "Cambodia") so after getting home to find the packet at quarter to 6, I tried calling my parents while I made dinner before I was due at my friend Faith's play. No luck, but thankfully I was able to catch them on my way home. As I expected, they had lots of questions, including ones I had barely had a chance to think about: "When will you tell your work?" "Are you coming to visit before you leave?" "When are you moving out of your house?" "Will you be going to grad school right away when you finish?"
Needless to say, there's a lot to think about in the next 11 weeks and 5 days...
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
In which I utterly fail to stay calm
After yesterday's cryptic email, well, I was something of a lost cause at being patient and keeping sane. From what I've read, usually Invitations are sent the day of or the day after the PC placement people ask a question like that. Needless to say, I spent the rest of the afternoon checking in on my online profile to see if there had been any updates. I checked around the close of business and again before I went to bed. Of course I couldn't sleep. I was wide awake at 2am, imagining opening that coveted blue invitation packet...
Now, I knew that the "Application Status Update" emails always arrive at 5 or 6am, but I figured if the status wasn't changed at the end of business yesterday, there wouldn't be any updates. Apparently the system is updated overnight, though, because when I (all too calmly, had I known there was any possibility of something being there) opened gmail this morning, there it was - one more (final?) Application Status Update. When I logged in to the PC website, instead of the normal page, I was greeted by this gem:
My Application Status now looks like this:
That means the piece of paper telling me where I'm going to be spending the next 27 months of my life is officially in existence and on its way to me. Luckily, being in DC, it should arrive shortly. After 8 months, the wait is almost over!
Now, I knew that the "Application Status Update" emails always arrive at 5 or 6am, but I figured if the status wasn't changed at the end of business yesterday, there wouldn't be any updates. Apparently the system is updated overnight, though, because when I (all too calmly, had I known there was any possibility of something being there) opened gmail this morning, there it was - one more (final?) Application Status Update. When I logged in to the PC website, instead of the normal page, I was greeted by this gem:
My Application Status now looks like this:
That means the piece of paper telling me where I'm going to be spending the next 27 months of my life is officially in existence and on its way to me. Luckily, being in DC, it should arrive shortly. After 8 months, the wait is almost over!
Monday, April 26, 2010
All clear...and trying to stay calm
Well, I've decided it may be time to start (if perhaps not yet publicize) my Peace Corps blog. The musings of other current have prospective PC Volunteers, thanks to peacecorpsjournals.com, have been keeping me sane during the many months of waiting in this process. I'm not an official Peace Corps Volunteer yet and won't be for a while, but I've come a ways. In the months since I've officially declared myself an Applicant (I'll try to use caps here to signify the official PC designations), I've managed fairly well to keep it at the back of my mind, knowing it will still be a while. Now...well...now it seems like things are poised to happen. It could be another few weeks or few months, but now, I have to admit, I've got my hopes up. I'm doing this thing, and I'm bringing that world wide web along for the ride.
To get things up to speed, here is a general timeline of my application process thus far:
- August 15, 2009, 4am: For no apparent reason, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. I go for a run just as the sun is coming up. By the time I get home, I have decided that after years of thinking about it, I am finally going to start my Peace Corps application.
- August 15, 2009, 6pm: I open an online Peace Corps application account. I contact my three references to ask for recommendations.
- September 10, 2009: I submit my online application in full, having confirmed that my recommendations have been submitted.
- September 16, 2009: I send in the supplementary loan information form requested when I completed my application.
- Late September, 2009: I get a call from my Peace Corps recruiter scheduling an interview for October 9.
- October 9, 2009, 8:45am: As I am leaving for work, I get a call from my recruiter saying she is sick and needs to cancel my interview. We reschedule for the following week.
- October 14, 2009: I again get a call from my recruiter saying she is still sick and will need to reschedule my interview again. She is traveling in the next weeks, but through email, we fix a new interview date of November 3.
- November 3, 2009: I interview at the Peace Corps regional office in Rosslyn, Virginia. Since I have completed all of my materials, I am nominated at the end of my interview to an English Teaching program in Eastern Europe/Central Asia leaving in August, 2010. This assignment is subject to change, and from what I've read, does change about 40-50% of the time.
- November 4, 2009: I complete the vegetarian questionnaire required from the information I provided during my interview.
- November 9, 2009: I receive my medical and dental paperwork.
- January 7, 2010: I start volunteering as an ESL teacher to strengthen my application to the Peace Corps Education program.
- January 22, 2010: After a busy holiday season and traveling to three different conference for work, I have finally had all of my appointments and completed my medical packet. I copy everything twice and fearfully hand over the packet to the post office.
- February 2, 2010: I receive an "Application Status Update" email (other PC applicants will know them well) - my paperwork has been received.
- February 5, 2010: Another "Application Status Update" - I have both dental and legal clearance. I only need medical clearance before I am officially considered for a placement with the Peace Corps.
- February 17, 2010: I email my recruiter to ask who I should contact about updating my application with information about my volunteer work. I am already anxious to get this show on the road. *le sigh*
- March 31, 2010: I receive an email response from my recruiter telling me to be in touch with the Education Desk.
- April 1, 2010: I email the Education Desk supplementary information to add to my application materials.
- April 5, 2010: The Education Desk sends me a form to complete about my volunteer work. I complete and return the form the same day.
- April 7, 2010: Two months since my last one, another "Application Status Update" email. I have a hold on my medical account.
- April 8, 2010: I receive a letter requesting another results from a new lab test to replace the results I had submitted.
- April 15, 2010: My doctor's office faxes the new lab results from that week to the Peace Corps. I call my medical assistant to confirm receipt.
- April 17, 2010: Another "Application Status Update" email. I'm visiting with my parents when I get the email and tell them to cross their fingers while it takes about 2 minutes for my applicant toolkit to load on the hotel internet, but it's there, a new check mark - Medical Clearance! I jump up and down on the bed and may slightly squeal like a little girl. At this point, it has been 7 months since I submitted my application and almost 3 since I submitted my medical forms. Now I am cleared for moving to the placement office, who will be able to assign me to an actual Volunteer position. At this point my toolkit looks like this:
- April 19, 2010: I submit my updated resume to the Education Desk, as requested in an email following my medical clearance.
- April 20, 2010: I attend an event at the Peace Corps headquarters for future PC Volunteers. There are probably 25 Invitees (people who have gotten an official assignment) there, along with 40-50 Nominees (including myself - people who have gotten through the application process but don't yet have an assignment). About 8 people are called to the front and receive special delivery Invitations, that famed thick blue packet that is the official communication telling you your country of service and assignment. Jealousy oozes from all the Nominees in attendance. I can't sleep that night. After months of waiting, assuming only more waiting was in store, trying to be patient, and of course fielding the ubiquitous "Have you heard anything yet? Do you know where you are going?" questions, things are finally happening. I could be receiving my own Invitation anytime in the next few weeks or moths.
That brings me to today, April 26, 2010. I receive an email from my Volunteer Placement and Assessment Specialist asking if I would be willing to consider a placement in Asia and if I am still available to leave in July or August. From what I have read, the "Would you be willing to consider serving in ___?" question seems to very closely precedes an Invitation, and usually means it will be an Invitation to a place other than the initial Nomination. I reply 10 minutes later trying to temper my excitement, but my reply is essentially YEEEEEESSSSS!!!!! I run to my coworker's desk and jump up and down, trying to repress my little-girl squealing.
So maybe things are finally happening. Maybe it will be a few more weeks or a few more months. Maybe I'll get an Invitation tomorrow. From what I've read at the Peace Corps Wiki, the site where other anxious applicants like me share their statuses, Asia in July or August would probably mean one of two countries, but I know better than to get ahead of myself when it comes to the Peace Corps.
That said, I'll be sure to share if there should come another reason for me to be squealing like a little girl.
To get things up to speed, here is a general timeline of my application process thus far:
- August 15, 2009, 4am: For no apparent reason, I wake up in the middle of the night and can't fall back to sleep. I go for a run just as the sun is coming up. By the time I get home, I have decided that after years of thinking about it, I am finally going to start my Peace Corps application.
- August 15, 2009, 6pm: I open an online Peace Corps application account. I contact my three references to ask for recommendations.
- September 10, 2009: I submit my online application in full, having confirmed that my recommendations have been submitted.
- September 16, 2009: I send in the supplementary loan information form requested when I completed my application.
- Late September, 2009: I get a call from my Peace Corps recruiter scheduling an interview for October 9.
- October 9, 2009, 8:45am: As I am leaving for work, I get a call from my recruiter saying she is sick and needs to cancel my interview. We reschedule for the following week.
- October 14, 2009: I again get a call from my recruiter saying she is still sick and will need to reschedule my interview again. She is traveling in the next weeks, but through email, we fix a new interview date of November 3.
- November 3, 2009: I interview at the Peace Corps regional office in Rosslyn, Virginia. Since I have completed all of my materials, I am nominated at the end of my interview to an English Teaching program in Eastern Europe/Central Asia leaving in August, 2010. This assignment is subject to change, and from what I've read, does change about 40-50% of the time.
- November 4, 2009: I complete the vegetarian questionnaire required from the information I provided during my interview.
- November 9, 2009: I receive my medical and dental paperwork.
- January 7, 2010: I start volunteering as an ESL teacher to strengthen my application to the Peace Corps Education program.
- January 22, 2010: After a busy holiday season and traveling to three different conference for work, I have finally had all of my appointments and completed my medical packet. I copy everything twice and fearfully hand over the packet to the post office.
- February 2, 2010: I receive an "Application Status Update" email (other PC applicants will know them well) - my paperwork has been received.
- February 5, 2010: Another "Application Status Update" - I have both dental and legal clearance. I only need medical clearance before I am officially considered for a placement with the Peace Corps.
- February 17, 2010: I email my recruiter to ask who I should contact about updating my application with information about my volunteer work. I am already anxious to get this show on the road. *le sigh*
- March 31, 2010: I receive an email response from my recruiter telling me to be in touch with the Education Desk.
- April 1, 2010: I email the Education Desk supplementary information to add to my application materials.
- April 5, 2010: The Education Desk sends me a form to complete about my volunteer work. I complete and return the form the same day.
- April 7, 2010: Two months since my last one, another "Application Status Update" email. I have a hold on my medical account.
- April 8, 2010: I receive a letter requesting another results from a new lab test to replace the results I had submitted.
- April 15, 2010: My doctor's office faxes the new lab results from that week to the Peace Corps. I call my medical assistant to confirm receipt.
- April 17, 2010: Another "Application Status Update" email. I'm visiting with my parents when I get the email and tell them to cross their fingers while it takes about 2 minutes for my applicant toolkit to load on the hotel internet, but it's there, a new check mark - Medical Clearance! I jump up and down on the bed and may slightly squeal like a little girl. At this point, it has been 7 months since I submitted my application and almost 3 since I submitted my medical forms. Now I am cleared for moving to the placement office, who will be able to assign me to an actual Volunteer position. At this point my toolkit looks like this:
- April 19, 2010: I submit my updated resume to the Education Desk, as requested in an email following my medical clearance.
- April 20, 2010: I attend an event at the Peace Corps headquarters for future PC Volunteers. There are probably 25 Invitees (people who have gotten an official assignment) there, along with 40-50 Nominees (including myself - people who have gotten through the application process but don't yet have an assignment). About 8 people are called to the front and receive special delivery Invitations, that famed thick blue packet that is the official communication telling you your country of service and assignment. Jealousy oozes from all the Nominees in attendance. I can't sleep that night. After months of waiting, assuming only more waiting was in store, trying to be patient, and of course fielding the ubiquitous "Have you heard anything yet? Do you know where you are going?" questions, things are finally happening. I could be receiving my own Invitation anytime in the next few weeks or moths.
That brings me to today, April 26, 2010. I receive an email from my Volunteer Placement and Assessment Specialist asking if I would be willing to consider a placement in Asia and if I am still available to leave in July or August. From what I have read, the "Would you be willing to consider serving in ___?" question seems to very closely precedes an Invitation, and usually means it will be an Invitation to a place other than the initial Nomination. I reply 10 minutes later trying to temper my excitement, but my reply is essentially YEEEEEESSSSS!!!!! I run to my coworker's desk and jump up and down, trying to repress my little-girl squealing.
So maybe things are finally happening. Maybe it will be a few more weeks or a few more months. Maybe I'll get an Invitation tomorrow. From what I've read at the Peace Corps Wiki, the site where other anxious applicants like me share their statuses, Asia in July or August would probably mean one of two countries, but I know better than to get ahead of myself when it comes to the Peace Corps.
That said, I'll be sure to share if there should come another reason for me to be squealing like a little girl.
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