So, in one month I will be on a plane to DC and then to Senegal. Wow. Its pretty overwhelming.
I decided (as many other PCVs have done) to post a timeline of my application so that anyone else applying can have faith that although it is an incredibly long and slow process, you will eventually get there. I'll also include for family and friends the other things I have been doing recently.
Nov 2011- Start thinking the Peace Corps might be a good thing to try out. Take a look at the online application. Decide it is way too long and that I'll come back to it later.
Dec 2011- More certain that I want to do the Peace Corps, so after I finish exams I start writing the essays and filling out the application for real.
Jan 6 2012- Submit my online application.
Jan 25- Receive an email from the Peace Corps requesting some more forms and get a legal kit in the mail (background check, etc). I send everything back within a day or two.
Feb 27- Receive an email telling me that apparently my recommendations have not been submitted (unbeknownst to me) and that my application will be inactivated if they are not submitted in 10 days. I remind some people of some things, and my application is finally actually complete soon after.
March 7- I am told in an email that I am ready to interview and that I have been assigned a recruiter.
March 12- I am contacted for an interview in New York on April 6th. I was offered a phone interview, but opted for an in person interview instead.
April 5- I go to New York for the interview. I am not offered an official nomination at the interview, but my recruiter says that I will most likely get a position in a French speaking country in Africa because of the need there and because I (somewhat) speak French.
April 20- I get an email for my nomination!
Assignment Area: Health Extension
Region: Sub-Saharan Africa
Tentative Date of Departure: March 2013
Program Info: French speaking post. Post prefers experience in HIV/AIDS Education, nutrition or hygiene education/outreach.
May 17- Medical kit is mailed to me, with a deadline of July 9th
May 25- I graduate from college!! Woohoo!
July 9- I miss the deadline. Whoops. A combination of graduating, moving and not having any real primary care doctor. Also, sometime between my interview and now my recruiter has gone on maternity leave and I am at least somewhat in the care of a new recruiter.
July 31- I submit a new health history form and start the new online health review process.
Aug 10- Take the cumulative final for my intensive summer organic chemistry class (which is what I had been doing since I graduated, in case you were wondering). Done with all of my pre-medical requirements! Move out of my summer sublet in Somerville and back home to Sudbury.
Oct 10- After waiting for forever, I hear from the medical office and receive a medical pre-clearance, whatever that means. Apparently switching to the new system is backing everything up, so I am told to be patient.
Oct 25- I email the health placement office and update them on my activities in an effort to get my application moving. I am totally in limbo and can't commit to many jobs because of my limited timeline. I am working as a long term substitute at my local elementary school with an autistic student and doing some light volunteering. Starting to get nervous that I haven't heard anything yet.
Nov 5- I begin a six week French language class that meets after school in Boston to remember all that stuff I've forgotten since I last took French in high school. Keep waiting for the invitation I hope is coming.
Dec 3- Just when I least expect it, I check my email and there is my invitation!
"
Dear Emily,
Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to begin training in Senegal for Peace Corps service. You will be joining thousands of Americans who are building stronger communities around the world..."
I am (tentatively) scheduled to leave March 5th
I stay up all night reading everything I can about my assignment and country. So excited!
Dec 21- My last day of work at the elementary school. I will miss my student and the rest of the class so much but I am excited to have time to organize my life for leaving.
Dec 28- I begin my period of intensive study for the MCAT. I want to take it on the last date before I leave, which is Jan 24th. I had trouble focusing on my studying when I was working, so I schedule most of my studying for this four week period. With only a few exceptions, I study from 8am to 8pm and I get up from my seat only to go to the bathroom or make food. Every week or so I start to go crazy and need a trip to the gym.
Jan 6- I sacrifice some study hours to finish my medical clearance for the Peace Corps and I am medically cleared Jan 6th. This is the last set of clearances I need before I leave! I'm on my way!
Jan 24- I take the MCAT. I feel like I am going to throw up the entire time, but I finish it and feel sort of okay.
Feb 6- I realize how much I still have to do to prepare for leaving-
learning Wolof, learning more French, buying tons of random things that I would never need here, trying to find skirts that cover my knees and won't suffocate me in 100 degree weather, getting life insurance and trip insurance, organizing my bank account, saying goodbye to all my friends, packing up my life...
... so instead of tackling any of those things I write a blog post
All in all, it has been a little over a year from when I submitted my online application to when I will leave. I would say that I encountered a few more delays than the typical process, but waiting a year is fairly standard. Its been a lot of waiting and a lot of time spent in career limbo, but now that I am on my way I can say that it was totally worth it.
