Nearing the finish line, but I'm not there yet

Mailed out my medical packet today, after nearly 3.5 months of sitting on it. I couldn't believe how intensely nervous I was just dropping the envelope in the mailbox, but it's done. Now I wait.

This is me, being Awesome with a capital A

What's that, Sarah? After 2.5 years of thinking and planning, and a year of writing, you've finally finished the rough draft of Dangerous People? And with only one more signature, you'll be able to mail out your Peace Corps packet this week? And you're cutting all your hair off and will look absolutely bitchin'? And you're leaving Pittsburgh and your internship on Sunday, never to return? Can it be true?

Yes. All true, my friends, all true.

UNBELIEVABLE!

I'M NOMINATED FOR A PROGRAM! They sure do move fast.

Where: Central/South America
What: Agriculture Extension
When: Departing January/February 2008

Perfect. Exactly where/what/when I want. This is so exciting! I almost wish it wasn't such a long time until I leave. But I keep telling myself that I need that time in the fall with my family, and if I don't get it I'll regret it. So January it is!

Bwahaha!

Suddenly this random hope of mine is becoming a reality

My interview went fantastically! She showed up half an hour late and because of this I think she was eager to be friendly and open, and I nailed the questions. We talked for about an hour, and I am happy that I studied the questions beforehand, they were exactly what I thought they would be. I made sure to be extra enthusiastic and I know she made note of it. She said that I should get a call from the head recruiter in New York in a week or less with my nomination!

Right now, my top choices are:
Latin America/Carribean (aka Spanish speaking country)
Water Sanitation first choice, aka bringing clean water to a village, building wells and latrines, and teaching about sanitation and health
Agriculture second choice, creating sustainable crops and teaching about new ways to plant and harvest
(Both are exciting because I can work with my hands in a more structured environment than Community Development, my third choice.)
Leaving at the beginning of next year, probably early February.

This is really happening; I am really going to join the Peace Corps. Let's see what I get!

It's that time of the year again

I am very quietly freaking out inside, between all of the work and emotional stuff and graduation in less than two weeks, and OH YEAH, my interview on Wednesday. BIGGEST INTERVIEW OF MY LIFE. Freaking out, just a little bit.

I just want to grab onto the recruiter and plead, pleaaasssseeeeeee let me into the Peace Corps, I'll do great, I promisseeeeee! However, I think that might make the wrong impression.

Oh, and I'm writing this in class, and my laptop battery is so shot that it only lasts about twenty minutes. I have so much work to do I'm drowning in it. One huge paper down, two to go, two projects to go, one thirty page portfolio to go. Sigh.

I wish I had a shoulder to rest my head against. Comfortable. Uncomplicated. Hopeful.

What a way to run a business, spare me these unending trials!

I finally submitted my fingerprints, background check info, transcripts, and recommendation list to the Peace Corps. NOW they will finally call me for the oh-so-important interview. Once that is over I can finally respond with some measure of confidence when someone asks, "Where will you be going?" or "Is it certain that you'll be accepted?" Then I can get started on the new mountain of paperwork they will send me, as well as the overly-detailed, expensive medical check-ups.

I just want to keep a record of this whole process, as a point of reference. I'm curious as to how long everything will take. It's already been over two months since I started.

Some part of my brain still thinks I'm crazy. There are times I agree with it.

FOR THE WIN!

I APPLIED FOR THE PEACE CORPS! I DID IT I DID IT I DID IT!

I should hear from the recruiter in 3-4 weeks. AHHH!