Reimbursement

I got my check for a whopping $12 today! Yay.

Also phoned to let my APO that I would be out of town with sporadic email access. I was half hoping he'd say, "While you're on the phone, let me go ahead and do your invite." No such luck.

It turns out that the people who are receiving invites now were pretty much all originally scheduled for another date and got pushed back, so that's making me feel a little better. More waiting.

Teehee

I got a letter today from the regional recruitment office. It was very friendly, advised me that my medical packet would be coming soon, and that I should go ahead and schedule the doctor's appointments.

Teehee...I've been medically cleared for a couple weeks now. I think the regional office should check in with DC before sending these out.

Contact from Placement Office!

I received an email from my assistant placement officer today:

I’m writing you from the Peace Corps placement office and I’ve been reviewing your file. I just wanted to send you a reminder that upon your graduation in June we will need a copy of your final transcript. At that time, please send us a copy showing:

· your name

· the name of the institution,

· the degree you received and the date it was conferred.

It can be an unofficial transcript, as long as it reflects the required information. Please email or fax this document to my attention at the number listed below. Feel free to contact me with any questions you may have at this time.

Regards,

His name

Excellent! I found out that my PO is on vacation until January when I called to see about submitting a transcript. At least I know my file's not being ignored in the meantime. I told him that I wouldn't be able to get that transcript til early July. I also asked about sending in a new resume, so we'll see what he has to say.

Medically Cleared!

Hooray! I got the letter in the mail, and I am medically qualified. That was super fast- just ten days, even with mental health stuff.

The letter says that I will hear separately about dental qualification (which I actually already got) and that the Placement Officer will now begin reviewing my file. I need to call tomorrow and figure out to whom to send a resume so that they can see my new Kaplan teaching which will make me more qualified for the China job. Some invites have already gone out, so hopefully they'll think I'm a good fit and I will get my invite soon.

Hooray!

Holy Cow Batman!

Medical (check mark): Complete. A decision has been reached regarding your medical review. Please look for a letter in the mail.

That was ridiculously fast. They got my kit on November 19th, and they reach a decision on the 25th? That's almost scary. But as I am perfectly healthy, I'm sure they just checked me off and moved on.

Yay? Can't wait for the letter. Since I'm going to be out of town, I might cave and phone the nurse.

Dental Dilemma

The good news: PC responded faster than I ever thought possible. I heard info on my dental file a scant week after I mailed it in. Also, it will not delay my file and I don't have to get the treatment done until 30 days before departure.

The bad news: They want me to get five fillings. Five! My dentist was loathe to schedule the appointments for them...mumbling about excess treatment. Not to mention the cost of them. *sigh* I understand they don't want me to get to China and need a root canal or something, but please, this does seem excessive.

I heard about people being invited to my program today...I hope it doesn't fill before I'm medically cleared.

Thanksgiving for 25!

I had a bittersweet time yesterday...I've always made Thanksgiving for my friends at school. This year, it was 25 people, one massive turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green beans, carrots, stuffing, cranberry salad, cheesecake, pie, etc.

I had a great time cooking, and the party was so much fun. But it was also a little sad that we probably won't all eat together like that, well, ever again. I'm more happy than sad about life moving on (beats dying), but college has been the best part of my life so far, and I'm a little teary that it's ending.

I have high hopes that we will all keep up with each other in the future- I'm sure I won't remain close with ALL 25 of the people who where there but I plan to keep in touch with 10-15 of them, and stay tight with 5-6. Especially with Gmail Video Chat, it'll be like we never left!

:-)

Peace Corps is currently reviewing...

my dental and medical documentation. According to my toolkit, they received it on November 19th, two days after it got to their mailroom. Not bad at all. Hopefully they'll get me cleared in the next month or two and I can get an invitation in time not to worry about finding another place to live/job/food/life after June...

Packet Arrived

According to the USPS tracking thing, my opus medical arrived at Peace Corps HQ (I love that they call it that!) at 11:37 this morning. Let's see how long their system takes to get through paperwork. :-)

Finished the packet!

Hooray! I finally finished the medical packet and am on my way to mail it as soon as I finish this post. I had my eye appointment, physical, and last shot yesterday. My doctor was patient, but kept remarking how frivolous the form seemed. It was pretty funny.

I've read how important it is that every blank is either checked or explained, so when he left the prostate exam blank empty, I asked him to write n/a. He did, but he muttered under his breath, "Who are these people that they need me to tell them a woman doesn't have a prostate." heehee

I then drafted my mental health statement and spent two hours assembling, checking, running to the doctor for a lab report they forgot, and checking yet again. I was immensely pleased to have everything finally finished.

Now, unless they want more information, I have done all that I can do. Time to sit around at wait!

Mouth? Check!

I got my third and final filling done today. It was super quick (20 minutes) and very painless.

I also proactively picked up copies of my lab report before Friday's physical/massive form completing party. It's a good thing I did because my doctor mistakenly ordered a thyroid test instead of a Hep C test. Bonus points: My thyroid is just fine!

I phoned the office and the doctor himself (!) called back to apologize and say I could stop by anytime for the retest. I did, so it should be back before Friday.

So, assuming I don't have Hepatitis C, all my labs (including the formerly wayward urine) have come back clean. Always nice to know I don't have leukemia, HIV, tuberculosis, rare blood diseases, etc.

On a slightly different note, I reflected today that this medical process has been more intense and stressful than I had thought. It's due in part to my wanting to get the forms turned in under two weeks (which will be this Saturday). Also, it's a lot of little parts that I and I alone must keep up with, and I think that takes a good bit of mental energy.

However, it's much less stressful than teaching is, and I'm almost finished. Two more days!

Prophylaxis

So I showed up to get my filling done, and I discovered that there had been some miscommunication. They had be down for a cleaning today. Oh well, I needed that done too.

I also had to wait thirty minutes past my scheduled time, which was annoying. Anyway, my teeth are nice and clean again. I then went back to the doctor, peed in a cup yet again, and dashed away to class.

Now, we wait some more...

Two fillings down, one to go.

Went and had two fillings done today. Thought it would be all three, but they have a policy of not numbing both sides of your mouth at once. Okay...

Also my doctor called (at 7pm on Friday! Poor man needs a life). Apparently there were "irregularities" with my urine sample, but everything else looks great. I have to go retest Monday. He proposed that I have a urinary tract infection. Ick.

The Saga Continues

I had my TB test checked today. I do not have tuberculosis, which is good. It's sort of funny how nice it is to get negative test results even when you already knew you didn't have it.

Also had the remaining blood drawn for the blood work. The phlebotomy tech raised her eyebrows looking at the list of 12 blood tests and asked "what the heck" was wrong with me. I told her the government :-)

Now, I just need my fillings, physical, and eye exam, all of which are scheduled.

I've been enjoying reading a Peace Corps yahoo group. It's exciting to hear from people getting invites, and it's a great place to ask questions and get them answered by folks in the know.

Obama won!

...and I went to the dentist. I stayed up late waiting for the results. I thought both candidates' speeches were excellent. I always feel terrible for the losing candidate. You pour 110% of yourself into a single goal for two years, seven days a week only to have to announce to millions that you have lost when the defeat is still painfully fresh. Not to mention that phone call. (I've always wondered how the number swapping goes...)

And boo to California for passing Prop 8. I just heard. I was really hoping that reason would prevail over fear, but apparently not just yet. I'm not too worried though. Obama's election is proof that people overcome prejudices with time and hard work. It will happen someday soon, I hope.

But yes, the dentist. This was my first time visiting (I just got new dental insurance), and I was very pleased. They are not overbooked constantly, like every other dentist I know, and they are very friendly. The dentist did everything himself, and he didn't seem to mind spending the time with me that it took to get everything evalueated and filled out.

He took a full mouth series of x-rays and gave me the originals, then checked all my teeth for cavities. He also did the periodontal probing that I was so dreading. It doesn't hurt at all except for the front two teeth on top and bottom, and that's not so bad!

I have mild gingivitis, easily cleared up by prophylaxis (just a cleaning, it's been eight months) and two small cavities. I'm getting it all taken care of this week, and then my mouth should be ready for the Peace Corps stamp of approval.

Labs, Pt. I

I went to University Health Services (UHS) today for the first bit of blood work. I got a little bubble of TB purified protein derivative injected under my skin quite painlessly. I have to go back in 48 hours to make sure it hasn't reacted. Looks fine so far.

I also had a five minute chat with my doctor to sign the HIV test consent form and have him order the rest of the blood work for me. He confirmed my suspicions that much of this is largely unnecessary. He actually called the PC office once and complained that they were over-testing healthy people! I love my doctor.

Some of the blood tests are fasting tests, so I'll go Thursday morning and get them done. Tomorrow morning is the dentist. Dreading the periodontal probe. That just sounds bad...

Medical Kit Arrived!

And to say that it is extensive would be a gross understatement. The packet includes the following:

-Instructions and Checklist
-Report of Physical Abilities- Can you ride a bike? Lift 20 pounds? etc.
I. Introduction
II. Health Conditions Requiring Further Information from the Physician
--These are things I answered yes to on the Health Status Review bit of the application. For me, this means describing my "allergy to medication other than sulfa drugs," "other birth control method" meaning the pill, and having a high BMI.
III. Other things I checked yes to on the form- having visited a mental health counselor in the last ten years. Ten years?! Now I have to go track down the person I saw and get her to fill out a rather extensive form. I also have to write a personal statement saying how I plan to cope with the stress.
IV. A checklist of conditions that I have or haven't had in the last year.
V. Generic stuff, like height weight, BP, and pulse.
VI. Complete clinical exam- head, nose, mouth, thyroid, ears, eyes, lungs, breasts, cardiac, peripheral pulse, abdomen, anus, pelvic spine, musculoskeletal, neurologic, skin, scars and tattoos, psychiatric. Head to toe indeed!
VII. Labs- Have to attach copies of these reports: Urinalysis, PAP, TB test, HIV, CBC (complete blood count), Hep B, Hep C, G6PD (something with red blood cells)
VIII. Required Tests for older people- don't apply to me
IX. Immunizations- Have to get: tetanus booster, Polioi booster, MMR booster. Have to list whether I've had Yellow fever, Hep B, or Hep A vaccines.
X. The End! The doctor signs and dates

Also, the Dental Exam:
I. Check off location of fillings, check off teeth with abnormalities
II. Periodontal evaluation. According to Webster's, this means a gum evaluation. Gingivitis, etc. Very complicated. I hope my dentist can handle this.
III. Third Molar Evaluations- Yay no problems! Mine are long gone.
IV. TMJ evaluation- popping lock jaw
V. Bruxism- grinding the teeth
VI. Prosthesis
VII. Treatment completed after the evaluation.
I also need full mouth and bitewing x-rays. Yikes.

I learned a lot about dental health. I'm confused though...if I need to have cavities filled, can I still send the form in? Maybe I can get it all done before the 14th since my dentist appt is first.

Eyeglasses form- just the prescription and frame measurement.

And last but not least, a nice prepaid envelope in which to send it.

This is...intense.


IV.

Email Update

I got an email at 5:15 this morning saying that my online account had been updated. I logged on, but nothing seems to have changed. I suppose there is a bit of lag in something changing and them telling me. At least I know they will email me if something happens!

Letter from DC

Apparently they just figured out that I exist. I hope they aren't usually this slow! The Boston office was the one behind all the other work.

Anyhow, the central office in DC sent me a letter saying hello and telling my about the toolkit. Yeah, I already figured that out :-)

In other news, the website was updated to inform me that they mailed my kit on October 29th. Hope it's here soon!

Online Toolkit

So they have a nifty thing that keeps you super-updated on your application status. It had a tiny bit of information before I was nominated, but it exploded overnight.

It tells me exactly what I still have to do. They haven't mailed my medical kit yet, but there is a checklist of all the things I am going to have to do. It's a ton! I may be able to use my physical from June, but I have to convince the doctor to transfer all that to the Peace Corps form as well as order all the bloodwork. It might be easier to just have a new physical. When I get the forms, I should be able to tell.

They reimburse you for the medical expenses, but only a little, like $200 for everything. I should be ok with student health center, but it's got to be tough for people without insurance. Or even with insurance- I doubt it covers all the extra bloodwork and shots.

The website also has a section to learn more about your region, ways to thing about how you'll adapt to the culture, and other neat exercises.

It also has a section of things you can print and send to your family. Like how safe and healthy and well-trained you'll be. Useful. Perhaps it will help set the parents at ease.

Nominated!

J nominated me for the following post:

Program: English Teacher

Program #: 171 2009 3 J1

Region: Asia (China)

Addition Information: Post prefers (NOT requires) that trainees have Masters Degree. Post requires they have 6 months classroom teaching experience.

Date of Departure: June 2009

She recommended that I go ahead and make dentist and doctor appointments so I can get medically cleared ASAP. Done. Dentist appointment next Wednesday and eye and doctor appointments for the 14th. Not as soon as I would like, but what can I do? I think that should be quick enough.

Delay

J is checking on the exact date of the China trip departure. She can't nominate me for it until I'm sure that I go.

Interview

I agonized over what to wear...how formal of clothes do you wear to an important interview for a very crunchy type group? I decided on a nice blouse and jacket with brown slacks. It was perfect; my recruiter was in a simple sweater and skirt. I love the professional relaxedness of the Peace Corps!

The interview itself was surprisingly easy. We just chatted a long while about how and when and where I could go- a little tricky because of graduation, etc. There's a chance I could go for the China program. Usually, they just slot you for a region, but with China, South Africa, Paraguay, and Mongolia, they put you on country tracks. The China program sounds perfect, but it leaves the first week of June. Commencement is June 4th. That could be a problem...

The other interview was just basic questions: Why do you want to do the Peace Corps? Are you worried about food? Housing? Are you romantically involved? How will that affect you? Etc.

J (recruiter) was friendly and easy going. She ended up the interview by saying that she planned to nominate me that afternoon! I was expecting a bit of delay, at least, but I guess not! Yay!

Packet is Here!

The packet arrived today with a friendly letter from the Boston recruiting office. Glad I'm applying, etc, etc, turn these forms in pronto.

- The skill addenda was easy- filled out whether I could do a list of tasks in Spanish or French. also listed my teaching experience.
-NAC form- authorizing a background check. In triplicate.
-Fingerprint cards- I had to go to the police department to get these done. I was expecting messy ink, but they have a nifty digital machine. Downside: I had to pay $20 bucks for the two cards.

The packet also had information on the assignment area (education) I picked, medical conditions that preclude service, etc.

I got all the forms together, and I will pass them off to the recruiter at my interview Friday.

And we have contact!

Today I got an email from my recruiter J. I've met her once, and she was very nice. Today she emailed me saying she'd mailed a packet of more forms to complete. She also offered some times for an interview. I emailed back, set up an interview for Friday, and starting scrambling to find some nice clothes for the hour and fifteen minutes (gulp!) interview.

Outstanding forms:
-College transcript
-Skill addenda (in packet)
-NAC form (in packet)
-Fingerprint card (in packet)

Application Complete!

So I finally worked my way through the entire online application. Be warned, it is extremely picky about logging out. If you close the window without logging out, it won't let you access your application again until quit the browser, then empty your cache and clear your cookies. Annoying.

The sections on the application:
--Personal Information- Name, Address, Race, SSN, etc.
--Application Information- Date available, previous application, etc.
--Legal Information- Are you a criminal? Drunk? No? Good good.
--Financial Information- Do you have any debt?
--Intelligence Activities- Do you work for the CIA?
--Military Status- Are you in the army? [Why would you apply if you were?]
--Family Information- Spouse? How's that going?
--Dependents- Are you going to be leaving a kid (or brood) behind to go globe-trotting?
--Job Preference- What do you want to do for the Peace Corps? Pick from these.
--Post-Secondary Education- College stuff.
--Language Skills
--Licenses and Certificates- Teaching, First Aid, etc.
--Employment History
--Community and Volunteer Activities- It was confusing for me to figure out what was employment and what was volunteer since I get a stipend for a lot of volunteer work...
--Geographic Preference- How flexible are you? Where do you want to go? Where will you not go? Why?
--Practical Experience- Just in case we missed something in the last fifteen sections.
--Essays- Cross Cultural Experience and Motivation Statement. Like college essays but scarier.
They also want a resume.

You also have three recommendations: one friend, one volunteer supervisor, and one boss.
They fill them out online.

Also, you have to submit the Health Status Review in order for the application to be complete. I didn't know this. It's quick though, as it's a bunch of yes or no questions. "Do you have diabetes? Parkinson's? A funny shaped nose?"

Whew! Finally complete. Submitted at 11:53 on October 15th, 2008. Now we wait.

How it all began

I've always wanted to do some sort of public service. I plan to do it as a career. Also, I want to travel between college and grad school.

Public service + travel = Peace Corps

So, my motivation was pretty straight forward to start with, but the more I found out about the program, the more I liked it. I like the well-organized structure, the guarantee of safety, the in-country medical staff, etc. I also like its full disclosure of its goal to improve the US image abroad. Nearly all NGO's have some sort of goal beyond public service, but few are willing to talk about it.

So, I decided to apply. I met people who were returned volunteers, and I realized that I wanted to be them when I grow up. They go on to have the careers that I want, the lives I'd like to have. Thus the journey begins...