The Application Process.. the long hard journey

I'm copying this from another blog that I kept because it is a good document about just how much work goes into trying to become a Peace Corps volunteer. The entire process took from December through July to go from application to invitation. It was long and stressful, but well worth it. Read and enjoy!

Oh my goodness. It's official, the application is finally in. After four years of talking about doing it, I finally did it. I applied to the Peace Corps. My hope is to be accepted and start in August or September 2008. The application was ridiculous 22 pages on part one and 10 pages on the medical part, but it's complete. Now I just have to wait for my 3 recommendations, my interview, and the remainder of my medical clearance stuff in the future. Problem is... I'm allergic to eggs. Yup... guess what vaccinnes are grown on... EGG PROTEIN... I'm kinda worried now, after all this application work that they might not accept me because of my allergy. If I can't get vaccinated, I definately can't go to Africa. Hrmmph.. I guess I'll just go with the flow.. if it's meant to be, it will be.
And if it's meant to be, that means 27 months of service in some remote region of the world. scary, isn't it? : ) We shall see... Wish me Luck!

Application Update:
December 22nd... Application online submitted, all recommendation providers are happy to give their word for me.

December 28th.... friendly email from the New England Regional Recruiter, my application is in and has been forwarded to the UNH rep... woot... and a packet's in the mail with more forms
December 29th.... Application Information Packet received in the mail. Included information on Primary Teacher Training Program and Health Education program, background check and fingerprint info, and my UNH recruiter's name... : )

January 11th.... 2 recommendations in....... FBI fingerprints, background check, skills addendum complete and turned in... one more recommendation left and then the interview!!!!! Oh, and I talked to headquarters... I found out I definately can't go to Africa because of my egg allergy, but all other countries are fine... I can deal with that! : ) happy Verina

January 15th... I just had my interview. Went in to drop off papers and left three hours later with my interview complete. Wow! this is all so very exciting... next step nomination. I hope I get one, and I hope it comes soon... ahhh I love it... Where oh where shall I end up?

January 17th.... Nominated Elementary Teacher Training... Pacific Islands September 2008!!!!!!!! Sweet! Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa, Kiribati, Micronesia, or Palau here I come

January 22th... Big hunkin Medical Paperwork receive... then a billion doctors, dentist, appointments where I was poked, prodded, and tested for everything under the sun

February 21st... FINALLY Finished ALL the paperwork and mailed in the medical stuff... now the wait is on Again!March 4th... still waiting... called the medical office today since they should have received my packet but havent... she said the mail had to go out to the mid-west first for decontamination processing... so that causes the delay.

March 6th... Dental Clearance... Yes, it's official, my teeth and mouth can serve for two years in the Peace Corps... the rest of my body hasn't been told yet, but my teeth got the A-OKaY! and Hooray, they received my medical packet.. finally.

March 25th.... I got a check from the Peace Corps for $12, to reimburse me for my eye exam....

March 26th... I got an email today from the Placement Office in DC! Woohoo, they have my file, but all it really said was you have to hurry up and wait untill you are medically cleared before I can be placed. It said to call the medical office for an update, so I did and I was told that nothing was missing from my kit and it was given to a nurse March 12th. Then she said if I don't hear anything in a month, call back. A MONTH!!! Are you kidding me?

April 24th... While on vacation in the Dominican Republic I get a status update.. your file is on hold while we complete your medical review.. called the office and found out they sent me two more papers for my scoliosis and an abnormal mole..which was actually normal

May 6th.. my doc should be faxing in the extra papers today by noon. Please let clearance happen after that! (they weren't lying about that Month thing)

June 12th... Finally Medical Clearance!!! I got full clearance, even with my egg allergy. Yay

July 11th.. Invited!!! Federated States of Micronesia and Palau for ESL teaching and community Development... leaving September 10th for staging

.....and the journey has just begun

I'm moving to Micronesia and Palau!!

Well... It's official. Last week I accepted my invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Federated States of Micronesia and Palau where I will be doing ESL Teaching and Community Development untill November 2010. After months and months of the application process, it's official, I'm really going in about a month and a half I'll be leaving on a jet plane to begin my life in the Peace Corps. I'm nervous, excited, scared, happy, and exstatic all in one. After years of thinking about doing it, and months of actually doing it, it was surreal to get the package in the mail. "You have been invited to serve in the Peace Corps" Wow! And after much thinking and debating as to whether or not it really was the right thing for me to do at this point in my life, I made the decision, I called my Placement Officer and I accepted. So here it begins. Hopefully this blog will serve as a way for me to share my story and experiences with friends, family, and anyone interested in knowing about what it's like to live and work as a Peace Corps volunteer in the western pacific islands.

Here is a map of my soon to be new home country for those of you who may not have heard of this country before.