Monday, November 10, 2008
Strap on your seatbelts, boys and girls, we are now entering Purgatory
Oh my God, this waiting is killing me. I can't believe I might have another month of this. Please, God, let the invitation happen, and let it happen soon. I don't think I can take much more.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Thursday, November 6, 2008
One step at a time (da da da, da da da)
My blood tests finally came back and they are NORMAL! And being faxed to the Peace Corps right now. I will call later to make sure they went through, but oh baby, we are back in business!
One sigh of relief before I hold my breath again, waiting to be medically cleared. I am so close to my dreams. Please, please, let this happen for me.
One sigh of relief before I hold my breath again, waiting to be medically cleared. I am so close to my dreams. Please, please, let this happen for me.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
PC Timeline so far
Rough Peace Corps Timeline:
Jan 20: Made decision to join
Jan 23(?): Began application
Feb 26: Turned in application
March 31: Submitted legal info
April 16: Interview, nomination, accepted nomination
April 30(?): received medical packet
July 16: Mail out medical packet
Aug 27: Found out I was medically deferred for 6 months, and additional info was needed. Deferral turned out to be six months from date it was discovered, which was in May, so it ends November 1.
Early/Mid September: Doctor's appointments and faxing additional info
Nov 1: Is a Saturday, so must wait until...
Nov 3: Blood drawn! If normal hold is over and we are back in business!
Dec 21: Must have invitation by this date for departure in Feb, if indeed I can be placed in my original nomination group. *holds breath*
Jan 20: Made decision to join
Jan 23(?): Began application
Feb 26: Turned in application
March 31: Submitted legal info
April 16: Interview, nomination, accepted nomination
April 30(?): received medical packet
July 16: Mail out medical packet
Aug 27: Found out I was medically deferred for 6 months, and additional info was needed. Deferral turned out to be six months from date it was discovered, which was in May, so it ends November 1.
Early/Mid September: Doctor's appointments and faxing additional info
Nov 1: Is a Saturday, so must wait until...
Nov 3: Blood drawn! If normal hold is over and we are back in business!
Dec 21: Must have invitation by this date for departure in Feb, if indeed I can be placed in my original nomination group. *holds breath*
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Peace Corps Update
I'm dentally cleared, which is good but not thrilling. In 8 days I can get blood drawn, and if that is normal then my medical hold is over. I found out that I must be invited by December 21 to make my program, so I will definitely know by then, hopefully earlier. My resume is looking kick-ass, except for the fact that I was just fired from my job for no damn reason at all. I need to find a job that will hire me for about two months...looks like it's back to minimum wage for me.
And after that interlude, I think I'll go back to wallowing in my depression. Goodnight.
And after that interlude, I think I'll go back to wallowing in my depression. Goodnight.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Nothing in life is certain; or, everything happens for a reason
So.
I received my Peace Corps letter in the mail today. It seems that my mild thyroiditis is cause to defer me for six months before they will even look at my medical paperwork, which means that I'll miss my original departure date. I'm going to get more blood work tomorrow and if that goes well I'm going to get my doctor to help me fight this, get them to change their minds or at the very least lessen it from six months to two or three months. However...
Even if that goes well, even if I get medically cleared, there is no guarantee that I will get in. I've been so sure that I would definitely get it, but right now they are facing a record number of applicants and huge budget cuts. Lots of people who are at the end of process, medically cleared and waiting for their invitations, are being dropped from the program for not having enough experience and leadership skills. The idea that after all of this work, seven months of hard work, I could not get in, is unimaginable. And I realized that I don't have a plan.
I have no plan other than the Peace Corps. If I don't get in, I'm lost, with a waitressing job and a college degree that means nothing in the real world. So I've decided that I'm going to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in the area for more experience, and apply for grad school in the fall. My senior seminar teacher, who also teaches at Goucher, one of my top choice grad schools, said that she can see no reason why I wouldn't get into the program, especially with her backing. And I'll apply to a bunch of others as well. That way, if I don't get into the Peace Corps, I'll go into grad school next year (if I get into that!) So that's my plan. Write a portfolio, get some recs, and then apply.
If this happens, if I go to grad school and not the Peace corps, then I don't think I'll ever join the PC. I mean, maybe after grad school, but this is the perfect time in my life to do this. After grad school I'll hopefully have the experience to get a job I want, and I won't want to waste the connections I'll make by going away for two years. So it's seems to be now...or never.
Also, if I focus on the silver lining, then if I have to put off the PC, or don't get in at all, it will give me the ability to finish revising Dangerous People and find an agent. So maybe I'll get published sooner. So that's...something.
Everything happens for a reason. I have to believe this.
What's my reason? Where's the reason in all this?
I received my Peace Corps letter in the mail today. It seems that my mild thyroiditis is cause to defer me for six months before they will even look at my medical paperwork, which means that I'll miss my original departure date. I'm going to get more blood work tomorrow and if that goes well I'm going to get my doctor to help me fight this, get them to change their minds or at the very least lessen it from six months to two or three months. However...
Even if that goes well, even if I get medically cleared, there is no guarantee that I will get in. I've been so sure that I would definitely get it, but right now they are facing a record number of applicants and huge budget cuts. Lots of people who are at the end of process, medically cleared and waiting for their invitations, are being dropped from the program for not having enough experience and leadership skills. The idea that after all of this work, seven months of hard work, I could not get in, is unimaginable. And I realized that I don't have a plan.
I have no plan other than the Peace Corps. If I don't get in, I'm lost, with a waitressing job and a college degree that means nothing in the real world. So I've decided that I'm going to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity in the area for more experience, and apply for grad school in the fall. My senior seminar teacher, who also teaches at Goucher, one of my top choice grad schools, said that she can see no reason why I wouldn't get into the program, especially with her backing. And I'll apply to a bunch of others as well. That way, if I don't get into the Peace Corps, I'll go into grad school next year (if I get into that!) So that's my plan. Write a portfolio, get some recs, and then apply.
If this happens, if I go to grad school and not the Peace corps, then I don't think I'll ever join the PC. I mean, maybe after grad school, but this is the perfect time in my life to do this. After grad school I'll hopefully have the experience to get a job I want, and I won't want to waste the connections I'll make by going away for two years. So it's seems to be now...or never.
Also, if I focus on the silver lining, then if I have to put off the PC, or don't get in at all, it will give me the ability to finish revising Dangerous People and find an agent. So maybe I'll get published sooner. So that's...something.
Everything happens for a reason. I have to believe this.
What's my reason? Where's the reason in all this?
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Oh, the nerves
"A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail."
This is what my Peace Corps toolkit said this morning. At first I freaked out (Good or bad? Good or bad?) but then I saw that it still said "There are no placement holds on your account on this time." So I think that perhaps they need more information and the letter will detail what they need. But why not say that on the website? THEY ARE TRICKSY LIKE THAT.
I will be quietly freaking out until I get that damn letter in the mail.
This is what my Peace Corps toolkit said this morning. At first I freaked out (Good or bad? Good or bad?) but then I saw that it still said "There are no placement holds on your account on this time." So I think that perhaps they need more information and the letter will detail what they need. But why not say that on the website? THEY ARE TRICKSY LIKE THAT.
I will be quietly freaking out until I get that damn letter in the mail.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
