Saturday, May 31, 2008

Helpful PC Book!

When deciding whether to join the Peace Corps or not, I ran across a really helpful book that I wanted to share: So You Want To Join The Peace Corps

It answers questions ranging from application processes, medical kit issues, what happens if you get pregnant, packing, malaria, early termination, staging, training, housing, water and electricity, bikes, etc.

Definitely a good read for all you applying or thinking about applying--even for those who are lucky enough to have already gotten the invite -- and parents!

Stole this from Jenna's blog - I'm ashamed to admit that as an English major I forgot to give her credit. Please forgive me!

Friday, May 30, 2008

Peace Corps Timeline

May 30, 2008 -- Submit personal & health application

May 30, 2008 -- First recommendation completed

June 2, 2008 -- Added 4th recommendation; Second recommendation completed; Application received by Denver recruiting office

June 3, 2008 -- Confirmed that my massive amount of student loans can be deferred during PC service! YAY!

June 5, 2008 -- Received legal forms in mail

June 6, 2008 -- Submitted requests for K-State, JCCC, and KU transcripts; fingerprinted; NAC forms completed

June 9, 2008 -- Spoke with recruiter and was notified that interview will most likely be in late July; got toolkit username and password

June 10, 2008 -- KU transcript in: 1 down, 2 to go

June 11, 2008 -- K-State transcript in: 2 down, 1 to go

June 13, 2008 -- JCCC transcript in: 3 in, 0 to go; waiting on third recommendation before I mail back legal packet.

June 14, 2008 -- Received toolkit name and password in the mail.

June 20, 2008 -- Third recommendation completed; mailed legal packet to recruiter

June 27, 2008 -- Got a voice mail from my recruiter that my packet arrived and am setting up an (in person!) interview for the end of July.

June 30, 2008 -- Interview scheduled!!! July 28!!

July 28, 2008 -- Interview with recruiter :)

July 28, 2008 -- *tentatively* Nominated! Eastern Europe - Caucus Region, TEFL, late-September '09

August 4, 2008 -- Got a call from my recruiter. All "gerneralist programs" (TEFL, Community Development, etc) are suspended indefinitely while the budget is re-worked. Will give me a call when my program re-opens. See "Nomination - bad news, darn government" for more info.

September 8, 2008 -- Received my official nomination today! Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), Health, Aug 2009.

September 13, 2008 -- Received medical forms in mail (there're a lot of them)!

December 15, 2008 -- Finally mailed my medical forms to the PC medical office. I was really busy with school and a couple of doctors took their time filling out the forms. But it's in the mail now! woo hoo!

December 28, 2008 -- Dental clearance :)

December 30, 2008 -- PC "officially" received my medical forms.

February 6, 2009 -- Awoke to find that my toolkit updated to show: "Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail." next to my medical section. Ominous and cryptic, but I shall find out in the next couple of days.

February 9, 2009 -- Got a letter in the mail today from the OMS: The Office of Medical Services is pleased to inform you that you have been medically qualified for service [...]. You will now move to the next step in the process, the Office of Placement. woo hoo!

February 12, 2009 -- Received an email from my PO today. She told me that she'll hopefully start looking at my file in the next 4-ish weeks!

March 12, 2009 -- PO says they'll hopefully start my review in 4 more weeks.

March 26, 2009 -- Emailed recommendation from my current ESL supervisor to my PO. I'm hoping to actually get into a TEFL program rather than a health extension program, so I hope that this will help!

April 21, 2009 -- received an email from the placement office requesting an "updated professionally formated resume" and a copy of my transcript showing that I've graduated.

April 22, 2009 -- Sent placement office my updated resume and my file is now being passed to my PO for a final placement review and invitation!

May 15, 2009 --
Received an email from my PO letting me know that he'd begin my final application review on the 18th.

May 18, 2009 -- Received an email from my PO early this morning letting me know that my invitation is in the mail!

May 20, 2009 -- INVITATION! Uganda :) *I still can't believe it only took 2 days to get here!*

May 21, 2009 -- Called to accept invitation.

May 26, 2009 -- Aspiration statement and resume submitted.

May 30, 2009 -- Passport and visa applications submitted. It's been exactly one year since I submitted my application :)

July 30, 2009 -- Fly to Philly to stay with my sister for a few days before Staging.

August 4, 2009 -- STAGING!!

August 5, 2009 -- *sings* I'm leaving on a jet plane.....! (Leave for Entebbe, Uganda, via Brussels)

Application - CHECK!

Well my application and health survey is finally completed. One recommendation (Thanks ERIC!) has been submitted. Now all I can do is sit back and wait for my recruiter to call and wait for my "toolkit" instruction letter!



Wish me luck!

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Whoo hoo!

I just started my Peace Corps application!







Stay tuned for updates :)