Last Step

So, from what I can tell:

I have been cleared medically and dentally.

I have no legal holds on my account.

The only check-box that needs to be checked is "placement"

I need to practice my French. Alot.

And I need to read all the books I've gotten about Africa and crop management, etc.

I have 85 days if all goes as it should.

And those last 15 days or so I won't be doing much studying.

So really, I have about 70 days.

No time at all!

St. Patty's Day miracle...almost

So I am now medically cleared.

Not yet dentally cleared.

I cannot imagine if this process was taking longer (like it does for most nominees).  Although, I suppose if I was nominated for a program leaving in September, my attitude would be a little more laissez-faire.  

I need to be practicing my French more. :S And I have ALOT of books on Africa, agriculture, etc that I need to power through.  

Theoretically, I only have 89 days before I leave for Mauritania.

Impatient

So I received an email saying, "Your Peace Corps application has been updated"!

I excitedly went to the website to see my status.  And all they have done is taken a hold off of my account.  A hold they put on my application while reviewing my medical evaluation.  

It doesn't say they've cleared my medical, it doesn't say they've even started to look at my dental.  

I know it was wildly optimistic of me to think I would hear back really quickly.  It sounds like I've already heard back more than most people (some applicants' applications don't even get updated to show their paperwork has been received until 2-3 weeks after it was sent).  But I would love to know before the end of March.  Rather than having to sit on pins and needles until the middle of April.  Or, even worse, the 1st of May!  Because if I don't get the invite by the 1st of May, I can't go to Mauritania.  :S

Medical is in...

Dr. Schauer cleaned/filled a couple spots of "yuck" (I'm told that's a technical dentistry term for decay) on one tooth on Thursday.  When I got back to Bozeman I drove up to campus to FedEx/Kinkos so I could send in the requisite forms from my doctors.  Where I found out that I not only had a prepaid envelope, but it was OVERNIGHT!!  

So yesterday I received an email update saying that my medical/dental files are under review! Yay!

Now, I'm told it takes 4-6 weeks to clear medical/dental evaluation.  BUT I've read multiple blogs where the applicant was cleared in a week.  So I'm holding out hope that I'll be cleared quickly.  

They say that the time taken to clear is partially dependent on potential departure date.  Since my potential departure date is 106 days away I would assume that they would process it quickly. (And, yes, I have a countdown on my calendar).

I have started getting ready to go.  Somewhat.

I packed up 3 boxes of clothes to go to GoodWill.  I am going to pack up clothes that I want to have when I come back.  And the clothes that I don't pack up into one of those categories right now will mostly be work clothes.  (Which will mostly be packed up for when I come back).  And I threw away a full garbage bag of clothes also.  It is rather surprising how many clothes a person has that have holes, stains, etc...  Going through the shoes will not be so easy!

I also packed up a box of books.  And my textbooks.  And most of my Christmasy stuff.

I think my "fun" project for preparing to go will be collecting pictures.  Aunt Kathy gave me a really neat square little album a few years ago for Christmas (um, I think it was 2003, so I haven't done anything with it for almost 6 years...Amanda would say a throw-back to my 'box-o-junk' methodology for storing sentimental bits).  But I think I can fit a bunch of pictures in there.  I'm mostly just curious now if I should glue them in, or use picture corners.  I'm leaning towards picture corners...But I might have to have Amanda help me...It might be a little too scrap-booky for me. :)

Needles!

So I had my medical exam today. It went surprisingly quickly. Though I got 3 shots (and this isn't even any special international-type stuff), had 6 vials of blood drawn, a TB test, and peed in a cup. Not to mention just the regular physical exam portion. But, it is over! Dr. Burton is going to hopefully have all the labwork back by Friday, so my whole medical chunk will be ready to go! I can't send off my dental information until after Dr. Schauer completes some work on the 26th. And I have my eye appointment on the 18th. *deep sigh of relief*

I just want to know for sure where and when I'm going. I want to be able to prepare without the inkling of dread that something won't work out. I want to start packing things and taking things to goodwill. I want to start buying things to prepare! 

But I know that is just wishful thinking.

In my PC interview, my interviewer asked me to describe a work situation where I worked with little or no direction. One of my examples was moving cows. So often when moving cows, you don't necessarily know exactly where you are, or where you are going. You may know the general direction, and you just try to keep the cows' noses pointed that way. A person just goes with the flow, makes sure nothing is left behind, and have faith that it will all be okay and everyone will wind up at the appropriate destination in one piece. (That is not verbatim what I said) My interviewer looked up and said, "That sounds exactly like the Peace Corps."

The lessons of patience and faith are starting early.

I'm going to go now. My arms are a little sore from all the needles.

Why not?

So I figured I may as well post here again today. Not that I have anything PC related to relay.

But Joanna emailed me a cool website...and I found a couple of neat prayers/thoughts that I would like to share. Nice things to ponder/meditate on...

"If there is to be peace in the world, there must be peace in the nations.

If there is to be peace in the nations, there must be peace in the cities.

If there is to be peace in the cities, there must be peace between neighbors.

If there is to be peace between neighbors, there must be peace in the home.

If there is to be peace in the home, there must be peace in the heart."

--Lao Tse, 6th century Chinese philospher

"Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger. Give them, through our hands, this day their daily bread and by our understanding love, give peace and joy."

--Mother Teresa

Random info

So a couple of websites, for anyone curious:

www.peacecorps.gov

Really, they have anything and everything to answer, well, any question. If you click on "where to volunteers go" or "what do volunteers do" or "what's it like to volunteer" there are some really neat things to see and read.

www.peacecorpswiki.org

It is because of this website that I can say if I don't go to Mauritania in June, I could go to Mali or Niger in July. (Because Mali and Niger both have incoming volunteers in July and both have an Ag program) Returned volunteers and current volunteers have created and maintained this site with tons of information on it (including blogs of current volunteers, I've become slightly addicted to reading the ones from Mauritania).

All I can do now is think, study, plan. I cannot do much else. I don't want to get too prepared...everything could change in a heartbeat. I also can't do anything until I know for sure a) what country I'm going to and b) when I'm going.  Theoretically, I could wind up needing to get my wisdom teeth pulled and that could potentially delay my departure...which could push me into another program in another country.

Though if I wound up in Mali...I could go to Timbuktu! :)

The beginning

So I got the call from Elly, my PC recruiter, today.  The agriculture program in Mauritania says that my ag background is more than satisfactory.  Elly officially nominated me to the program today.  

The question I keep getting is, "So, what's next?"

And the answer is "Anything and everything".

While Elly is nominating me, she is *guessing* that the best fit is Mauritania.  And she is going to recommend the placement office go with that assignment.  However, the placement office could decide to place me elsewhere.  Even in a different program area entirely.  Or a different continent entirely.  And that is what they can decide AFTER I clear my medical/dental/eye exams.  Which I need to call to schedule (once I get the paperwork), and hopefully get labwork back as soon as humanly possible so that I can fax it all to the placement office.  At which point the placement office will formally invite me.

And, really, according to my research online....It sounds like most people get their invitation a full 6 months before departure.  And I will have been nominated for a whole whopping 4 ish months before I depart.  

So.

"Mauritania?", you ask?

Yes, I tried to play cool in my initial conversation with Elly.  I pretended I knew it was a real country, and where it was.  I'm not so sure she believed me.

It is in northwestern Africa, south of Morocco and north of Senegal. 5/6 of the country is Sahara Desert. It is *truly* one of the  least developed countries in the world (according to just about every website I saw...CIA, State Dept, etc). It's full name is the "Islamic Republic of Mauritania".  There is no diversity on this fact.  

There is minimal HIV/AIDS in Mauritania.  Starvation is not a large issue, disease and malnutrition is.  Women vote and have formed their own political party.  There is cell service.

It is not all sunshine and roses though (actually, a LOT of sand) ;)

It finally hit me last night.

It is highly likely that I won't see any of my family (or friends) for a full two years (actually 27 months).  I think what really hurts is knowing that I have to say good-bye to everyone.  If only my life in the U.S. could just fade away....I wouldn't miss it as readily.  I would gradually realize that it was gone, that I hadn't seen familiar faces in months.

But it is worth the temporary loss.

I will be making a difference.  I will be learning more about myself, the world, other cultures, agriculture... And I will be teaching strangers about myself, the world, other cultures, agriculture.  I have felt as though I am treading water the last few years.  And I am now able to change that.

And I have never been as excited as I was when Elly first called me with a potential nomination last wednesday.  Ask Esther!  I think she was worried I was going to hyperventilate.  

So I know I am doing the right thing.

I took my time, though, as usual.  I started my application September 2007!  

It has been long-awaited.  And now, I feel like June is coming much too quickly.