Snowed in...sort of

It snowed/iced/rained all day today, so as usual I sat indoors and didn't do much of anything. It may sound strange to say, but it's been rough not working these past few months. I'm an active person, and I like to feel like I have a purpose, and slowly getting my Peace Corps affairs in order and going to the gym are not enough to keep me from feeling damn, damn depressed sometimes.

It's under four weeks until my parents drive me to DC, and my emotions change daily. Some days I am so scared/nostalgic that I just want to huddle under my covers and hug my mommy and my puppy. I've realized that reading Peace Corps themed books (Living Poor, Nine Hills) is not a good idea at these times, as they are a bit terrifying, so I catch up on blogs instead, whose stories seem so much more loveable. Other days I am so ready to get out of here I feel like I'm jumping out of my skin, and four weeks seem too long.

I found out (unofficially) where I am going for training! Cayambe, a town in the mountains, specifically the highest mountain in Ecuador and the only place on the Equator where there is snow. We won't be up there, but apparently it can get down to 40 degrees and there is no heat. Nice.

I did my mock packing today, cramming the 80% of stuff I have ready to pack into my bags. First of all, thank God my brother had an old hiking backpack lying around, because the one Chuck gave me does not smell nice at all. (Sorry Chuck!) My second bag needs to be bigger, so in the end I think I'll be lugging the hiking backpack and one of my dad's Coast Guard sea bags, plus a military backpack as a carry on. Don't ask me how on earth I mean to transport all of it...I'll work on my upper body strength.

Despite my packing struggles, I still believe that I've packed less than most. I'm really paring down what to bring, so that my fully stuffed hiking bag weighs less than 30 pounds. Whew.

Time is moving oh so slowly and at the speed of light. I really feel like no one can understand what I'm going through unless they've gone through it themselves. I admire Gill so much for trekking off to France for a year when she was only fifteen. I admire those in the military who are sent overseas, for they are so much stronger than I am and what they are going into is so much scarier. But if you've never packed your little bags to move away from everything you love to a faraway country...then this feeling is just incomprehensible. I wake up every day and tell myself, "Sarah, you're moving to Ecuador." I still don't quite believe it.

DRUMROLL PLEASE

And now, ladies and gentlemen, the moment I've been waiting for...

I will spending the next two years of my life is a South American, Colorado-sized country that has the Andes mountains, the jungle, the ocean, and a set of amazing islands. You may of heard of them: The Galapagos. Yes, people, I give you....

ECUADOR! (And the crowd goes wild!)

My first choice! Sustainable Ag, staging February 24-25 before I head to Ecuador to train until May 8, when I move to my final village and my service starts. I am a Peace Corps invitee!

And suddenly life has meaning again!

Guess who got a call from their placement officer today? I'm slated to leave in February, for Sustainable Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. Not sure what country yet. I was in Burlington Coat Factory with my mom, and when I saw that 202 area code I nearly screamed. I went outside to take it, and when I ran back in my mom was waiting anxiously and I yelled "I'm joining the Peace Corps!"

It's like standing at the edge of a cliff: exciting, refreshing, terrifying. Now I wait to get my invitation and see where I am going. I'm guessing El Salvador, but it could be Ecuador, or a lesser possibility, Paraguay. Wherever I go, there I shall be.

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.

Do the boogie woogie dow chica dow

I'M MEDICALLY CLEARED!

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.

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*