I'm in!

Yay! I was phoned by my very friendly Placement Officer yesterday. Apparently my availability was still listed as September even though I was nominated for a June program. I clarified, and he said he was inviting me to the China program. Excited is a slight understatement.

My parents, I think, have resigned them to the Peace Corps as inevitable. They were appropriately happy for me. I was worried about my grandfather's reaction- I hadn't told him because I didn't want to worry him prematurely. When I called him last night, he got really excited and thinks it's great! I love pleasant surprises.

This morning my toolkit updated. I was curious- does the toolkit update when someone updates and then you get an email at 5 am OR does it all sort of upload at 5 am? Turns out that its the latter. Just so you know.

My new and improved toolkit begins with a cheery "Congratulations! You have been invited to be a Peace Corps Volunteer." The status is no longer on the first page. there are links to My Application (all those circles and checks), Prepare Yourself, Prepare Your Friends and Family (which both are unchanged), and My Assignment. I kow have a Place checkmark in My Application, so the only thing missing is Dental. More fillings, whoo.

My invitation kit is in the mail, so I will read it, then phone to accept. More forms, presumably. Then a welcome kit a couple months before departure, then a staging kit, then staging then I'm off to China!

The "My Assignment" section doesn't have much, actually. There are sections for pictures and journal of PCV's, but both are blank. There is some general info, but nothing about China. I wonder if that will update. I suppose most people don't get a phone call, so they don't know where they will be until their invitation comes in the mail. Interesting.

I will continue to explore and keep you posted.