Breaking Up With the Peace Corps or Choosing Between 2 Dreams

As you may have noticed, I haven't blogged a whole lot lately. Or maybe you haven't noticed because you actually saw a few of the posts I deleted shortly after posting them. For the last 10 days I've had something huge hanging over my head, and now that it is for the most part resolved, I'm ready to come clean about it.
If you've been reading this blog for long you know I have a tendency to share a lot of my bigger life issues on here, often because I have no one at home to talk to about it. Writing them out, even if just to share them with the ethernet, somehow makes me feel better. And there is a lot to be said for the catharsis that comes (for me) with just writing out your thoughts.
So where was that inherent trait these past few days? Why was I not writing out and sharing my feelings the way I usually do when faced with a huge decision? I don't have an answer for that, other than this time I just couldn't bring myself to do it. No, I'm not apologizing to you my awesome readers for not sharing. I'm explaining this to help convey just how huge this decision was for me, that it transcended usual activities and behaviors.
Last week, completely unexpected, the Peace Corps finally placed me. I have decided to not publicly share where. (If you want to know, I can tell you personally.) It was very, very unexpected. When things went south back in October with the PC (which at the time I blogged about but have since hidden for reasons I can also explain privately but not publicly) I had to decide if I was going to keep holding on and holding out for them, or start making new plans. Oddly enough, the PC themselves strongly encouraged me to move on and make new plans.
After a bit of soul searching- did I have any other big dreams or goals in life I wanted to pursue other than the PC?- I finally moved on. I have always wanted to be a "real writer," and decided to start looking for ways to pursue those goals. No one was more surprised than I still am that that path has worked out so well for me. I'm editing a daily website and loving that. I'm writing articles every day for a major publication that allows me to learn interesting new concepts every day. I never would have expected that writing about the stock market would be a dream opportunity for me, but I'm loving it. And, somewhere in the middle of all that, I found my creative side again (she had been missing for a very long time), and I've written 1.5 books in under a month. Not to mention, my political blog gets enough traffic that I made a few dollars a month off of it, and is a lot of fun for me to write (even if I never do get comments).
Suddenly my other lifelong passion and dream [to be a writer] is panning out. I've even mentioned it here several times on my blog about how I am happy again. After over 2 years of heartbreak, depression, and really struggling to find joy or regain my self-confidence after losing my job(s), I feel like I am on the right path and things are going well. In short, I'm happy again.

Stupor of Thought

Ocean waves after Hurricane Earl - taken at Virginia Beach

When I am confused or faced with a difficulty, I often find I express myself in terms of water. Raging water, calm water, rippling water, torrents of water, trickling brooks. When I need to reflect or retreat, I often navigate to a body of water and just stare out. Today my heart is navigating to this picture I took of the waves at Virginia Beach a few hours after Hurricane Earl. It depicts my feelings perfectly today. Raging waves, dark sky, and yet there's an elegance about it, and the worst is over. The storm will pass soon and peace will return.
Multiple times over the last few days I've attempted to sit down and write about what has been going on in my life, but each time I do I just sort of give up. I've often heard  or been taught that the answer to prayer can come in the form of a "stupor of thought." And I do believe this week I am experiencing it for the first time.
I have a very, very big decision I have to make. Without going into detail, it basically goes like this-
Option A- Exciting opportunity, lots of potential, possibly (most likely) be very happy, some risk involved.
Option B- Lose the chance to pursue Option A for a very long time, pursue current path of happiness, hope it stays a happy path knowing very well that it might not, accept my choices and not regret not taking A.
Really it is a decision of giving up Happy Plan A for Happy Plan B. Neither one is a bad option. In fact, both would make me wildly happy to pursue!

Peace Corps Update (I almost know where I might be going)

I haven't updated y'all on the Peace Corps situation in a while. And I'm too lazy to look up what I said last about what's going on. Meh. You don't remember either, so I'll just jump in. And since I know I'm going to get new people over here from PC journals, I'll recap my situation.
I've been in the application process for about 16 months now.
First online app was filled out in July/August.
First recruiter interview was in September.
Nominated at interview for NGO Development/Business Development. At that time I was told it would be for North Africa, March 2011.
A legal issue (family member in the military) was cleared up by Thanksgiving.
Got medical paperwork just after Thanksgiving.
In January I found out March 2011 was impossible (and probably always was). Told to expect Sept 2011 instead, still North Africa (Morocco).
Finished medical in February. Was told to expect clearance in 3-6 weeks.
Medical clearance finally came through in late May/early June. (3 months!)
Didn't hear anything for 8 weeks.
Called to check in in July. Was told September wouldn't be happening because my program was cut. Wasn't given anything to really go on other than they would be calling me at any point to set up my final interview.
End of August- contacted them to let them know I was leaving the country for a month. They said again that I would be getting a call any day.
Late September- got the call! Supposedly final interview! Found out that there have been so many cutbacks and budget cuts, and more applicants than usual, that they are just delaying all sorts of people, and not to take it personally. Placement Officer tells me my profile is finally going out to 14 countries. It supposedly will take 2 weeks to find out which countries have accepted me. Essentially at this point it is explained that it isn't really a matter of being qualified. All of the candidates/nominees are qualified at this stage. There's just so many of them and so few positions that is more like a lottery, with preference to the longest waiting to get picked. I'm one of the longest waiting now.
2 weeks later I am told 12 countries did not pick me, but 1 country did. And we are waiting on the 14th country. I am not told what the 1 selecting country is, just the region. I'm a little surprised because it is in a region that has never been discussed before. Over that it is a region I have never even thought of or considered. And even more surprising is that there is one point early in the process where you can rank the regions by preference. This was my lowest ranked region. I was nominated for 2 programs (at least, that's what I thought, turns out my recruiter probably told me wrong) and this is for the program I was less interested in. I have some thinking to do.
2 weeks later again (today) my placement officer calls again. I knew there was a good chance I'd get my official invite or just get delayed again. And I was delayed one more week again. We're still waiting on that mysterious 14th country. There's no telling if that country will say yes or no.
So there you have it. In theory we'll know everything next week. But how many times have I said that this year??
Speaking with the PO today did make me feel much better about things. And I have had time to wrap my mind around the very unexpected idea of going to the one region and that program. I'm fine with it now. If that ends up being the official invitation, I'll be happy! Its definitely not what I pictured this whole time, but I'm coming around on it now. Oh, and if it does come through, it won't happen till May-June of 2012. (Which means from first application to actual departure will be just shy of 2 years.)
In the meantime, I'm still applying for full-time jobs. It is the smart and logical thing to do at this point. I've now seen and learned enough to realize that even once I get the official invitation that things could still fall apart. At my age and point in my career, the smarter move would be to get a job. And I'm not saying that I wouldn't drop the PC at this point for the right job. It all depends on the job and how things progress with the PC. Sure that's going to bring on some haterz. Go ahead, say what you will. This is my life and I have to do what I feel is best for me. And I just won't know what is best until I have more solid options and offers in front of me!
So all in all, this post gets the happy face picture because I'm actually happy with the developments today. I've been feeling really unsettled and uncomfortable with all things PC for the past month, and today I feel good again.

Peace Corps, Cambodia, and Moving on With My Life

Up on the Roof

I've just spent the better part of the past hour doing my laundry Cambodian-style. This involves buckets of soapy water, rinsing things out, moving them back and forth, squatting on the ground, killing your back, and then finally hanging them up on the line. The entire time I did this the sun was beating down on me, and the only happy thought I could come up with was that all that direct sun would help dry my clothes faster.

Naturally, now that I've pulled out my laptop, settled in on the rooftop terrace (also where the clothesline is) and started to relax, it is pouring rain. The kind of inexplicable rain where there are only 2 or 3 puffy clouds in the sky, the sun is still trying to burn me even though I'm sitting in the shade, and yet my clothes 10 feet away are getting drenched.

And yet, in spite of all this, right at this moment I'm living the dream. I'm sitting on a beautiful terrace in an exotic country, just me and my laptop. This is what we all dream about, isn't it? Blogging from foreign locales?

I'm both happy and sad to see my time in Cambodia come to an end so quickly. I've enjoyed the work I was given to do. And I am very grateful that Riverkids chose to work with my talents, rather than just stick me with the children. (There was a great deal of confusion when I first arrived. They thought I was here to teach English. When I had applied with Projects Abroad I made it abundantly clear I did NOT want to do that, hence the upsetting confusion those first few hours.) There would have been nothing wrong with caring for the children or teaching- and there are many volunteers here doing a great job of it. But there is something to be grateful and happy for knowing that you were able to use your best talents to help others. Did I imagine myself coming down here to write marketing plans for a shelter for sex workers? Nope. Pretty much the last thing I pictured! That wasn't what I had signed up for either, but I am very glad that is how things turned out.

I find that the real “trick” in traveling abroad, particularly when it comes to so-called intrepid travel, is to roll with the punches (deal with the traffic, roommates etc), accept things as they are (eat rice and then more rice), and make a difference when and where you can (and accept when you can't). But don't expect society and culture to change just for you.

It was good for me to get back into marketing again. For the few years all I have really known is that I wanted out of marketing as a career and into non-profit work via the Peace Corps. In other words, I wanted to make a difference, and stop marketing products I really didn't care about (ahem, cheap travel, dental x-ray machines, etc.) But being here has helped me see that I can use the talents I am the most familiar and best with to do the things I care the most about. And I think going forward that little lesson I have learned will be invaluable.

You see, I've been harboring a little secret for the past week. The Peace Corps and I may have be coming to an end in the next few weeks. This past week I was supposed to get the big final phone call telling me where I will be going. Instead, the phone call was a huge disappointment. More budget cuts, more program cuts, yada yada yada. I'm still accepted in the PC. But the program I was accepted for is shrinking rapidly. Optimistically, there is a small chance that within the next two weeks I will have that final placement, and have a departure date (which will happen no sooner than April). But? Realistically? Not going to happen. And if it doesn't happen by mid-October, they push me off again until February 2012, at which point ALL of my medical, dental, etc will have expired. I will have to re-do the entire freaking process, and then, in theory, they will not mess up my status again, and I will get a placement any time between June and Sept of next year. That is if they don't put a 3-6 month hold on my account again while re-clearing my medical.

So if it doesn't happen in the next 2 weeks, I'm dropping out. There, I've said it. And it feels good to just say it. I've been in this process for over a year. I never felt right about applying for other jobs, or accepting a full-time position somewhere knowing that I'd be leaving in just a few months. That wouldn't be fair to the company or other qualified job-seekers. But after a year without steady income, I just can't put my life on hold for the Peace Corps anymore. I'm a little too old for this. Way too old actually. I have to get back to a real job, real income, and a real future. I don't know what I will do to achieve my future goals without the Peace Corps, but I do think this is the right thing.

I do still want to join the Peace Corps, and maybe it will still happen in a few years from now. It is all I have thought about for the past 18 months. But I'm an adult with adult decisions and responsibilities to make. And while my career options seem limited to “paper or plastic” in this economy, it is time to get back to working on my future.

Until then, I have 4 days left in Cambodia. And I'm going to make the most of them. You never know how long it will be before another opportunity like this comes up. 

Happy Dance! and Happy Peace Corps Update!

I very seriously considered posting a video of "It's Friday Night and I just got paid" instead of my traditional happy dance video posting. But yeah!!! I finally got paid! (only 90 days past due!)
Things are definitely looking up and I am feeling much better about a great many things. The window for my 3 month internship in Cambodia unfortunately has closed on me. But there is still a good chance I can go for 1 or 2 months soon. We shall see.
And... drum roll please... I hear very good things from the Peace Corps! Quite literally any day now I could get the phone call I have been waiting for all year!!
What do y'all think? Should I post my very own happy dance (of me dancing) when that day finally comes?!

Peace Corps, Houses, and Paychecks

Just when you think things couldn't get crazier...
Anyone who has ever thought that has clearly not lived a day of my life. Around here, we always expect the unexpected.
For instance- this morning my parents put an offer in on a house. 50% below the original asking price. We had every reason to expect that the bank would wait several days and then turn it down. Instead? The bank accepted on the same day.
After months and months and months of waiting for my Peace Corps medical approval- I got it today! I am "provisionally" qualified, which came as no surprise at all. I am medically qualified, but due to my food allergy, I am only qualified to go to certain countries. So "Little" and I had fun going over PeaceCorpsWiki.org (both the timeline and calculator, then looking certain countries to see if corn is listed as a dietary staple) (i'm horribly allergic to corn and can't go somewhere I can't avoid it), and picked out the countries we think I might get sent to. After narrowing the list down to the top 15 likely places, we made our choices on where we think it will be. "Little" picked Senegal, I picked South Africa, and my mother (who admitted she picked it because it looked safest) picked Thailand. The truth is, South Africa and Thailand are strong possibilities. Senegal? Not so much. But it could happen. Never say never, especially around here.
So the next step can go 2 ways. One is that a placement officer will call me and basically give me a job interview, then s/he will decide where to send me, and I'll find out 2-3 weeks later. Another possibility is that the PO will do the whole thing without calling me, and I won't know until I get the letter in the mail. The time frame for all of this is very up in the air. Getting that interview could happen within days, but may not happen for weeks. And as has happened with every step of this process, I will be calling them in 2-3 weeks to follow up if I haven't heard anything before then. Chances are still very good that I won't leave before October. And still then even stronger that I won't leave until January-March. There's just no guessing at this point.
So what happens next?
Well, assuming my client (now 65 days past due) really did mail me my payment last week, and everything works out financially, I have a few contingency plans.
1. If I never get paid (hey, its a possibility)- I stay here in my parents' nice new house, and then go straight into the PC whenever that may be.
2. If I do get paid, and the PC doesn't take me until 2012, I will go to Cambodia.
3. If I get paid, and the PC takes me before 2012, I will most likely not go to Cambodia. But there are a few scenarios where I might.
All in all, I'd say this was a good day (even if I didn't get paid still). "Little" and I had fun out at the lake with some friends. We had a great dinner, and a nice time with some family members.
And I do love it when big questions finally get answers!
I FINALLY PASSED THE MEDICAL EXAM!!

Unhappy Peace Corps Update

My personal Peace Corps timeline-
July 2010- began application process online
August 2010- actually submitted it (after finishing it I sat on it for a long time before submitting it, just to be sure this is what I wanted to do)
September 2010- Did fingerprinting, etc.
October 2010- Met recruiter, had in-person interview
November 2010- Nomination, received medical paperwork day before Thanksgiving.
January-February 2011- did the medical stuff. Took forever.
February 12, 2011- Submitted medical
April 2011- Checked in, was told I would hear back on my medical within 2-3 weeks.
June 10, 2011- Checked in again about my medical after 7 weeks with no contact. Was told previous person incorrectly told me I was about to get reviewed. Was told I would be reviewed by end of June.
June 12, 2011- Received the following email -

The Placement Office is the office responsible for the final evaluation of applicants for suitability and competitiveness and the final selection of applicants for specific programs.   Evaluation and selection are typically done after applicants have received medical and legal clearances.  At this time, we understand you are still in the medical process, however, we are contacting you to provide you with information regarding your current status.

Recent events, specifically the federal budget resolution for this fiscal year as well as projected budget realities for next year, have had a significant impact on current Peace Corps’ operating plans. A result has been significant reductions in the number of Peace Corps Volunteer assignments to be filled for the remainder of 2011.  As a result of these adjustments, if/when you successfully complete the Peace Corps medical qualification evaluation and final application review, there is a strong likelihood you will not be placed in a program until January-March of 2012. 

Recognizing the challenge this may pose to you, we want to ask what you would like to do at this stage of the process.  The first option is to evaluate your application with a target placement date of January – March 2012.   If you choose this option, we would conduct an initial screening of your application for suitability and competitiveness and let you know the next steps within three months of the date of this letter.  Please keep in mind, any potential invitation would not happen for several months and is pending successful completion of the medical process and a suitability review.  If you choose this option, please continue to seek further opportunities to make your application more competitive.  Also note, if you are selected for service, a Placement Officer will work to match you with an opening, taking into account your skills, availability, necessary medical support needs, and the needs of our host countries.  If this option does not work for you, we can withdraw your application from consideration. 

We understand that you may need some time to consider these options but ask that you respond to this email by July 1^st, indicating your interest in remaining active for consideration or indicating your desire to withdraw. 

As of today- absolutely no clue what I am going to do next. 

Give up and withdraw?

Stick with it and make the best of the next 8 months? 

Tell PC I am sticking with it, but proceed as if I hadn't? 

Peace Corps Update #5,560

I got asked a lot during my visit to Utah what is going on with the Peace Corps. The answer is- I'm still waiting!
I turned in my medical papers back in February. In theory it takes them 8-12 weeks to review them. Tomorrow will be the 12 week mark. I checked in with them a few weeks ago and was told I would be reviewed soon. (But I've learned that that really doesn't mean anything.)
My situation has changed a little bit and I won't be able to leave now until late September or early October. (More on what that is about on Tuesday!) Which means I won't be going to Morocco. So I went and put in my information into the Peace Corps Calculator and Timeline (two very useful but unofficial tools for figuring out where you might go), and the results are above.
I'm not actually positive that I can go to either Burkina Faso or Kenya. My corn allergy prevents me from going to a good number of countries. They won't send me to a place where corn is a staple I may not be able to avoid. Corn is available in both countries, but I'm not sure if it is avoidable or not. And actually, Guinea shouldn't be on the list at all. Oops.
My family has several strong ties to Samoa, and would love to see me sent there. I think I would be happy in any of those countries, so I don't have a preference really!
I'm just ready for the ball to start rolling! I'm tired of all the sitting and waiting! Let's all cross our fingers for my medical to get approved this week!

Daydreaming about the Peace Corps

I turned in my Peace Corps medical application 8 weeks ago, and since then I have done my very best to not think about the PC. Considering the prior 7 months to this I have thought non-stop about the Peace Corps, this was a major effort for me. But I may dare say that there were even a few days in the past few weeks where I didn't think about PC at all.
My medical packet is turned in, and it is all out of my hands now. I have 3 very small medical issues which may require a great deal of follow up medical work to get me cleared. Two of which, rumor has it, they often ask someone to wait a full year to prove their health, and then have him/her reapply. I've made up my mind that if asked to do additional medical work to get cleared, I will do it. However, if I am asked to wait a year, I will most likely not continue to pursue this course. At my age, and considering I've already spent a year not doing anything useful really, I just don't think it would be prudent.
For the past few months I have befriended some of the current volunteers in Morocco (which, as you may recall, is where I expect to get sent- no guarantees though!). The newest batch of recruits left for MOR about 5 weeks ago, and I have heard little from them since. However, today they must have all found internet access at once! Facebook had plenty of updates and new pictures to reignite my thoughts and daydreams about the PC.
There's just a few more days or weeks to endure before I find out if I passed the medical portion. I checked in with them on Thursday and was assured my packet would be getting reviewed in the next 2-3, maybe 4 weeks. And then, finally, hopefully, "in-shallah," my future will be a little less hazy!
As I weigh my future options, nothing holds a candle to the Peace Corps. This is the option I want more than anything else. I know there are some who are questioning why I would want to go live in a less-developed country for two years for no pay. To them all I can say is, why wouldn't I want to go serve and help others and live another culture for two years? It's just who I am. I would much rather work in a hot, dusty, desert country teaching business skills than working in a cubicle, staring at a screen all day. Make a difference? Work for the man? Yeah, I know which option I'd rather take. (But I'm not so blind as to not understand the importance of maybe having to do the other one.)
I hereby give myself permission to start daydreaming about the Peace Corps again. I know it means that if I get rejected it will break my heart. But it also means I'll be thrilled that much more if I get in. I vote for thrills and happiness!

Peace Corps Update

Did you know this week marks the 50th Anniversary of the Peace Corps?
I thought it was about time I give y'all the update. Which is to say, there is no update. My medical and dental kits have been turned in. I've passed the dental exam. And it takes roughly 7-12 weeks to get the medical cleared. I'm expecting a response no sooner than May 1.
Until then there just isn't much to report. I'm watching the political events of North Africa unfold with a great deal of interest. The expectation is that all will be fine in Morocco, but a lot can happen in six months.
I've started to remember that while all signs indicate I will be going to Morocco, that nothing is guaranteed. When Placement finally reviews my dossier they could decide to send me to outer Mongolia. And oh how I wish I was joking.
So there you have it. No news is good news!

Inshallah

In Arabic there is a very popular phrase, "Inshallah." It means "God willing." It is used far more in Arabic, than the expression "God willing" is used in English. Your kid is about to climb a dangerous tall ladder? You don't yell for him to come down. You just mutter, "Inshallah, he will make it down alive." Inshallah is used for everything.
Today I turned in my Peace Corps medical papers. Inshallah, everything was turned in correctly. According to the PC, only 15% of applicants get it right the first time and have no follow ups.
Inshallah, I will be one of them.
But the doctor who signed off on my paperwork today didn't give me much hope that I would be. In fact, he made me feel like a defective check engine light.
Yes, a check engine light.
My car has a defective check engine light. For no real reason it pops on if you drive the car for more than three straight hours at a high speed. (Like I did today.) And then if you take it through a car wash, hit just the right bump, or just wait it out for 1-2 days, the light magically disappears again. Obviously, there is something actually wrong with the car that the light does this. But the car runs fine. It runs great actually! Its in good shape, gets 30 mpg, and other than a few wear and tear items (like brakes this week), has had no repairs in its 123,000 mile lifetime.
But there's that pesky little light that causes confusion and questions. Darn that little light.
As I finished up my medical paperwork today the doctor caught something strange. He noticed that some old supporting paperwork from a lab in Utah mentioned I am allergic to iodine. And sure, I am allergic to iodine. Its just not something that I ever think about or remember. But there it was on the paperwork in big, bold letters. No getting around it.
I'm not just allergic to iodine. I'm badly, deathly allergic to iodine. But who cares, right? Its iodine! It's not like people have daily run ins with iodine!
Except for people who live in less developed countries, and use iodine to purify their water supplies. People like PC volunteers!
It had never remotely occurred to me that this might happen. The only time I have ever had a problem with the iodine was when it was injected into me for a CT scan. And trust me, that was a bad, bad experience. But then, they had just put a deadly chemical in a vein headed straight for my heart - on purpose!
So now I have been wracking my brains. In all the times I have been camping or hiking, have I ever used my iodine pills?! I know I have purchased them a dozen times. But I have no memory of ever actually using them. I've been googling things to find out if my kind of reaction/allergy to iodine contrast could keep me out. The doctor fears that it might.
It is true I had a few years where I was very sick and dealing with poor medical care. Inshallah, I've made several changes and took control since then. I'm very healthy and strong now. I've never been healthier. I'm competitively healthy!
And yet, I feel like I have a defective check engine light, raising concerns and alarms that there is something broken inside, and no one will want me.
I have no Plan B. I don't know what I will do if I get rejected at this stage.
But one thing is for sure. I will smash the hell out of that check engine light.

Silver Lining

Today was part 5,373 of my PC physical. And we are still far from over. 2 more doctor visits, a buttload of paperwork, and another drive back to Richmond, at least, and then it will be over. I hope.
I've been on a very strict diet ever since Dec 26. I've been consistently losing weight. Today I got weighed at the hospital as part of my physical again. I was 10 lbs less today than I was 2 weeks ago when I was originally weighed for my physical! (Total weight loss is 18 lbs.) And on top of that, I had another weight loss related surprise.
I've always had the lowest blood pressure ever. We're talking 90/60 was on the high end for me. But after I gained the nasty 30 lbs I've been trying to shake for 4 years, my blood pressure skyrocketed right up into the completely normal range (110/60). It was no big deal. It was in the completely healthy normal range. But I knew. I knew it was high for me, and it was because of those nasty evil 30 lbs.
Today's surprise? 90/60 on the BP again. I was very happy to see that!
And the doctor wants me to write something up to add to my paperwork (MORE PAPERWORK) on how my weight loss is due to dieting and how I have been doing it. Otherwise, she's afraid it will get noticed by the powers that be, and I'll get sent for more testing to see if I'm sickly and losing weight.

This one time? More paperwork is a good thing.

I'll do some before and after pictures, and give you more info on the diet in a few more weeks. I really want to make my goal first, and then share!

More Peace Corps stuff

Anyone else in love with these little xtra normal videos? They crack me up, regardless of the subject matter. Of course, this video managed to strike a chord with me for obvious reasons!

(If you haven't seen the xtra normal video on "quantitative easing" yet, you are missing out. My favorite part is "the ben bernanke" and his beard.)

Knowing that I am going to Morocco has really helped ease my more neurotic side. I know it may all change, but it is really nice to have a plan, even if it isn't a solid one. I decided to tempt fate this week. And by that, I mean I decided to risk jinxing myself. I went out and bought a French textbook and an Arabic textbook. I'm going to attempt to be fluent in French before I leave, and at least be able to read Arabic and speak a tourist level of it. Of course, by doing this, they will change my placement and send me to Nicaragua or Thailand.

I can see that I am getting a ton of traffic referred to me from the PC Journal site. Hello and welcome friends! I'm curious, did anyone else attempt to learn any Arabic before going to Morocco?

Let's get physical!

Yesterday I went to Richmond to the Veterans Admin Medical Center. They are kind enough to do the Peace Corps physicals for free for applicants. I really had a wonderful experience there and I just want to share what a good experience that was.
First, the coordinator handling getting me in to see half a dozen different doctors is a total sweetheart. I arrived 30 minutes late yesterday, due to the obnoxious weather we have around here (and a faulty GPS unit). When I arrived the first thing she said was, "I saw that bad weather, and that you were late, and sent up a little prayer to God to deliver you safely to us. I thank Him you made it to us." I love the South for the people who so openly say things like that.
Second, the doctor that did my physical told me I would be her last PC applicant she could work with. The hospital is too busy, and they just can't do freebies anymore. She said they told her to turn me away, but she put her foot down and insisted. She supports the PC and anyone who wants to make the world a better place. So if she has to sacrifice her lunch hours to squeeze in PC applicants, she'll do it. How great is she?
Third, my nurse was also amazing. I have been on a diet for 2.5 weeks now. I practically ran to jump on the scale to get my weight. She said she had never seen a woman do that before, so I told her why. She gave me a high 5 "girl to girl, up high!" Later she told me how she's lost 60 lbs, after seeing her husband, "go back to sit with God, because he loved his sugar too much." Again, I love Southern Christians!
Fourth, the poor medical student in the blood lab that got stuck with me. I shouldn't say stuck. I'm the one who was used as a human pincushion! Even when I'm not dieting, and I have had plenty of water and a good meal, my veins like to play hide and seek. I'm not the easiest "stick" in the world. In fact, looking at my elbows right now, I see no faint blue veins under the skin. Nothing. And then I get stuck with a med student who is in the last few minutes of his one and only phlebotomy rotation. I think he genuinely felt bad. He had to stick me 4 times before anything showed. And then they robbed me of 10 vials of blood! 10!! That's just mean. Between that and the TB skin test, I'm a little tired of needles right now.
But the truly awesome part was the med student. I could tell from him name and his faint accent he wasn't US born. He saw on my paperwork I was a PC applicant (and very obviously not the usual type of VA hospital patient). I asked where he is from and he said, "Ghana. It was a PC volunteer that helped me get my education and go to college. I owe a lot to the Peace Corps!" I thought that was really great. It gave me the extra boost to survive 4 pricks and 10 vials.

(Now I just have to get my dental appointment, eye appointment, gyn appointment, urology, and get 4 different doctors from around the country to send me paperwork from 10-15 years ago, and we are done with this!)

Camels, Haiti, Singles, and Me

The past 48 hours have been busy, emotional, and did I say busy yet? for me. Between writing articles for Meridian Magazine, the Examiner, recruiting for Phase 3, driving to Charlottesville and Richmond, visiting relatives, getting a physical, the anniversary of the Haiti quake, and finding out what my official Peace Corps nomination is for, I am exhausted today! Can I just stay in bed and read for a few hours?
Have I mentioned lately how much I love my Nook?
This week I wrote two fairly emotional pieces for Meridian Magazine. The first was on Seven Ways to Better Serve the Singles (in the LDS Church). This was one of the hardest pieces I have ever written. I had to dig up a lot of bad memories and ask myself what went wrong in those situations in order to write it. And then I had to go back through multiple times and remove any trace of personal emotion from the story. The result? I have written nearly 100 pieces for Meridian over the past 10 years. This was my third headline article for them. And it received nearly 70 comments (I normally only get 5-10 per story). I think overall I made a good point and that the piece was well received.
The second piece I wrote was a personal retrospective on Haiti one year later. (Also a headline story- 2 in the same week!) Again, very emotional for me to share my thoughts on Haiti like that.
And then with the writing all over, it was time to drive to Richmond for my Peace Corps physical. Literally 2 hours before I was about to leave I got an unexpected email! I found out my official Peace Corps nomination! Absolutely ALL things are subject to change!!! And I do mean all things. (We are still waiting on legal clearance for me, which I believe means that I could be nominated in some other areas still. But as of right now this is what I am nominated for. I'm calling it a really great Plan B, with this possibility of a great Plan A in the future. But I'm thrilled for Plan B.)
The nomination?
North Africa/Middle East- Business Advisory!
Which looks something like this-

Can you see that? It gives me 100% change of going to Morocco!
However! Allow me to point this out as well-
If we change it to "Worldwide" and Business Advising, about 35 countries come up. If we change it to "Africa" and Business Advising, about 17 countries come up. But since I do have a region and a sector, and it is pretty specific, I think it is time to break out my Arabic and French books, and start brushing up on my language skills.
The country and assignment were a huge shock to me. But the bigger shock was finding out I will be leaving in September. I was under the impression that I was cleared as early as June. I don't know if it is September because that is when this specific program starts. Or if it is because I'm delayed in the paperwork process. Which could very well mean that once my legal and medical comes through that my nomination would change, and the date would change as well.
Again, nothing is official or actionable. But it sure does feel good to have such a great option in front of me! I can be very very happy with Morocco! CAMELS!

Getting over myself

For the past few days I have been in one helluva bad mood. Stressed, frustrated, angry, and yelling at the moon, bad mood. Tonight I decided to get over myself by reading Peace Corps blogs. Reading these blogs, about volunteers, trainees, and other applicants helps me stay focused on what really matters. It got me to thinking, I don't think I have shared with the cyber-world (or my personal, private world) why it is I want to join the PC, and where I want life to lead me after that.
In the past few years I have learned a lot, some of it first hand, about having and meeting human basic needs. This has become a passion of mine, and something I can't let go of. When I was younger I was far more concerned about individual's rights (for instance, anything Constitutional). But I find myself less passionate about rights, and more concerned about basic needs. As you look at the world stage, you will notice that is the countries and locales that have trouble meeting their own basic needs that tend to have the most volatile societies and political systems. It is my personal opinion that helping individuals reach their basic essential needs (clean water, basic health and sanitation, education, and housing) needs to come first. Rights can come second.
And so I go forth into the unknown world of volunteerism, looking to help others achieve their basic essentials.
Then what? Where will I go when I get back from the PC in Fall 2013?
I'm hoping to Oxford. I will get a fellowship (which requires service in the States for a few months) after my PC service is over, plus some grant money as well. If all goes well, and the timing plays out just right, I'll go straight to Oxford to get my MBA in social entrepreneurship.
By the time I'm done with the PC, my fellowship, and then Oxford, I'll be just short of my 40th birthday. (Yes, fellow PC applicants reading this, I'm a few years older than most of you!) And so, my goal for my 40th birthday is to be well on my way to setting up my own teen shelter/orphanage in a third world or developing country.
I have read a great deal about the children in orphanages, in various countries, and what happens to them after a certain age. They are kicked out to become street children, or sent to live in mental institutions, without much hope of a life. I'd like to target this age group, and create something along the lines of a teen shelter or group home (still an orphanage of sorts), that is self-sustaining, and serves as an educational institution. What I'm describing here is incredibly vague, compared to what I have in my mind. You'll just have to trust I have a much bigger plan in mind.
I believe that regardless of the program I enter in the PC, and regardless of what country I am sent to, I will gain a great deal of insight and knowledge that will help me achieve this goal. As will the education I will gain through the Skoll Center at Oxford.
Thinking about basic, essential needs, and how there are so many people in this world who do not have access to them, anchors me back down. When I start to get frustrated about the little things that are not going right in my life, I read the PC volunteer stories and remember just how much more I have than others.

Peace Corps Application Status Update

Things are still plugging along over here. I'm still trying to get all of my medical work done for my PC application. I was warned this is the most time consuming part, and they didn't lie. Oh how I wish all it took was one phone call to a doctor's office, and a quick physical. But oh no! That is so not how this works. Especially not in my case.
Allow me to elaborate!
A few months ago I filled out a 200 question form about my health background. It asked everything you could possibly imagine about your medical history. Even if you think you are the picture of perfect health they would have found something on you in this form.
Then in my in-person interview, they asked a lot of the questions all over again and documented it again. And now, anything I may have said yes to on that form I have to get checked out. Have you ever had pink eye? Sore joints? Headaches? Liver problems? Brain tumors? A freckle on your left big toe?
The basic version of this is I have to get a full physical, blood work, x-rays, dental check, eye exam, and lady exam. The long version of this is that I have to get appointments with a dentist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, lady doctor, general practitioner, and get copies of any vaccine I have ever had. (And trust me, I got a LOT before going to Haiti.) And chances are the GP is going to request I see a neurologist to comment on my vertigo. And if ANY tiny thing pops up in all of this, I have to get treated, cured, and re-visited.
But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Obviously, perfect health is important before joining the PC. But here's the good and bad part. I don't have health insurance. (I haven't been to a doctor in years.) So I have opted to take advantage of the PC offer to use the Veteran's Administration hospitals and doctors. So far my experience has gone like this-
Look up nearest hospital. It is 3 miles away. Call them.
They reject me because "they are too busy to handle PC applicants." I have to call some other VA hospital.
I call the Richmond VA, approximately 3 hours away.
1st call- get stuck on hold for an hour with registration, finally give up and enter my phone number in their queue system, to be called back when they reach me in line.
3 days later realize they never called me back, and call again.
Get through immediately to an operator who has no clue what to do with me. Get bounced and bounced till I find right person. She knows everything. She says she will set up my appointments, and for me to call back in 3 days when the doctors are back in their offices.
3 days later I call back. I lost her personal extension, and get stuck in the registration queue again. On hold for 20 minutes I give up, enter a call back number and wait.
1 hour later I call again, get an operator, and explain my situation. 10 minutes later I'm finally connected. I have the right woman, but she has forgotten to set up my appointments. She transfers me to her supervisor. Supervisor tells me they will set everything up, and for me to call back tomorrow. She takes my email address.
Few hours later the other lady emails me to say they need all of this information on me before they can set anything up. She sets up a time for me to call her to set up my appointments.
I call and give her the info. She tells me to call back in 2 days to find out when my appointments will be.
They had mentioned a few times how the "lady clinic" (their word, not mine) is currently closed and hard to get into. So I suggested that since I live several hours away and that I have to get a TB skin test, which will require me to drive back to Richmond just for them to look at my arm and say all is well, that maybe half of my appointments could be on that second day. That way I could have 2 possible days of getting into the clinic, and not have to start my appointments at the crack of dawn, after having driven 4 hours.
I swear to you they nearly nominated me for a Noble Prize for such thinking. Apparently this was some pretty genius, out of the box stuff for them.
So my appointment to find out when my appointment is is tomorrow afternoon. Wish me luck. We are now a mere 3 weeks into this process, and I still don't actually have an appointment set up!
In the meantime, since the PC strongly recommends volunteers not wear contact lenses, and instead to wear glasses, I am trying to slowly move myself over into glasses again. I haven't worn glasses full time... ever?

Peace Corps

This totally excites me! Just a fun little video to keep up the Peace Corps motivation!

It's a spy thing, you wouldn't understand!

And we're off!
Did anyone else just hear a starting gun go off?
No sooner did I get the nomination yesterday, then today I've already got critical paperwork coming my way for the Peace Corps. One item, it turns out, is more important than I had expected it to be. I'm hoping I get a phone call tomorrow telling me it really isn't a big deal after all. But when you see the words "to determine your legal eligibility" on something related to matters of (I kid you not) national security, suddenly things seem more important. Thankfully, it does sound like we'll be able to get a decision made on this issue really quickly. I'd hate to find out 5 months from now that I can't go. I'd rather get rejected sooner than later.

[REDACTED]
It's a spy thing, you wouldn't understand!

The Peace Corps and what happens next (and how)

This is my happy face.
This is what I looked like today as I left my interview with the Peace Corps. (except this picture was not taken today. It was taken about 8 weeks ago after I left a different interview. And I was wearing a black shirt today. And my hair has changed colors since then. But still, it's mostly what I looked like today!)
Have I mentioned that there are 15,000 applicants to the Peace Corps annually, but there are only 4,000 spots? Well, as of today, I am one of the lucky 4,000!
Please join me in the Dance of Joy!



Thank you. I hope it was as good for you as it was for me.

Now, before you get too excited with me, here's the rest of the story.
No, I do not know where I will be going. And I won't know until May at the earliest!
I have officially been "nominated" into the Peace Corps. I now have to pass a medical review (which shouldn't be a problem, as I am an adult in reasonably good health). And an FBI background check (again, shouldn't be a problem). And there's some other little paperwork issues that may come up since I have 2 close family members that work in intelligence/security. Again, I just have to do paperwork and go through a review to prove that everything will be fine (in other words, I don't come from a family of spies).
And then I also have to do some placement testing to make sure I have the right skills for the areas I have been nominated in. What are those areas? I'm so glad you asked. Let me explain! Most people go into the PC right out of, or even during, college, and therefore don't go in with a lot of specialized skills. These volunteers end up teaching english or math in schools around the world. They make up 40% of the PC. The other 60% enter with specialized skill sets- knowledge of engineering, medical issues, farming, etc. In my case, I know business and computers. So I have been nominated for business development (which was also my first choice), computers/IT, and medical (health/sanitation).
What does this all mean? It means that I will get tested (in the form of more paperwork) to make sure that I have the necessary skills for the different countries (to prove what kind of computer skills I have). And then, when the time comes (in about March/April) country leaders can look at the list of available applicants and say, "Hey, we need someone who can set up and run an internet cafe here! We'll take her!" And then, around early May, I will get a letter "inviting" me to do that job.
Here are some other little things I can tell you-
First, all things are subject to change.
Depending on medical tests (and how long it takes to schedule appointments), May may be a pipe dream.
You can play along (daydream) with me and narrow down the list of possible countries by looking at the PC wiki calculator and the PC wiki timeline. Basically you select "worldwide," as a possible location, and then select my nomination areas (business development). It tells you which countries have that program and what likelihood there is of going there. You then compare it to the wiki timeline and figure out which countries will most likely have openings around or after June 1, 2011.
Which if we all did it the same should bring up Ukraine, but then you compare it to the timeline, and you will see they depart in March, and maybe Sept. So unlikely for me.
Oh now, one more thing to throw in. I won't be going to any country where corn is a major dietary staple. (I'm deathly allergic.) So as my dad puts it, "No Taco Land for you." We can rule out pretty much most of South America as a destination.
Then, there is one more fun step. There are little buttons next to the countries on the calculator. Click the countries that are ruled out (both for corn and departure dates), and they disappear from the list, adjusting the percent automatically. If I am doing it right it looks like this in the end-

Kenya is now at 27% and Togo is at 23%. And Mongolia is scaring the beejeezus out of me at 19%. (Mongolia is cold! I am very afraid of the cold. Bring on hot countries! I like the hot!)

And now just for fun- my other possible nomination areas-

Information Technology-

 

(Tanzania, by the way, is high on my list of places I'd love to go- Mt Kilimanjaro!!)

And as you can see on this list, Uganda is a REALLY strong possibility!

So as you can see the wiki calculator and timeline are fun, but not really practical. If anything, they are just good for ruling a lot of places out. (For instance, it doesn't look like there is any chance of me going to the South Pacific, which is a bit of a bummer.)

So there you have it, I'm in, but I have no idea where to!

And in case you were wondering, YES, I can have visitors!