Peace Corps application timeline

Throughout the Peace Corps application process I found it extremely helpful to look at other application timelines to get an idea of where I was in the process and how long I had to wait at certain steps.  There's a lot that goes into determining how long the process takes, but it's always helpful to have something to compare to.  In the midst of my application process the Peace Corps changed the way they do the medical clearance process.  Everything was being put online, and the way an applicant becomes medically qualified completely changed.  I now had no other applicant timelines to compare mine to, which was a little frustrating at times.  But now that I'm most of the way through everything, I figured I'd put my timeline together in the event that someone happens to stumble upon this blog needing some reassurance that the waiting, while frustrating, is totally worth it.

April 3, 2012: Application submitted online (including all transcripts and letters of recommendation)
April 18, 2012: Received an e-mail from my recruiter in Chicago, requesting more information (skill addendum, vegetarian and relationship questionnaires)
April 27, 2012: Received an e-mail from Peace Corps recruiter requesting an interview
April 30, 2012: Interview! My recruiter told me I'd hear from him within a week or two - I didn't, so I contacted him to check-in. He let me know about the changing application process, and that they were still considering my application for nomination (basically knew by this point that I would be nominated, but didn't know anything more than that).
June 14, 2012: Official nomination!  I was also told at this time about new PC medical clearance process; basically I have to wait until mid-August to hear/do anything else - bummer.
July 25, 2012: Notified by e-mail about nomination and changing medical clearance process. Directed to go online to fill out Health History Form (earlier than I expected to hear anything from PC - great surprise!)
August 22, 2012: Medical Pre-Clearance.  Based on the information I submitted I am medically pre-qualified, which means I should be being considered for placement soon!
**Received several e-mails from PC during this time about new medical process, online medical portal, next steps, and some correspondence with the placement office about a few questions (specifically asked if I'd be ok with riding a bike several miles a day)
September 28, 2012: Invitation! I received an e-mail from PC (didn't read the subject and therefore didn't realize it was my invitation - just immediately opened it!), and the first thing I saw was 'Thailand' in big bold letters!
October 1 2012: Invitation officially accepted. Now begins the process of getting final medical clearance (dental appointment, physical, immunizations, etc)
November 7 2012: Final Medical Clearance! Now all I have to do is prepare for the biggest change of my life happening in just over two months. I can't wait.

75 days

I'm stuck in this strange, ready to leave but also wanting the next 75 days to last as long as possible, phase.  I've been doing so much to prepare myself to leave while enjoying everything about home that I know I'll miss terribly while I'm gone.  My departure seems so close but still so far away.  I'm sure it'll be here before I know it, but for now I'm in a strange state of almost-transition.  It's weird, but as much as I try to explain it to people they can't truly understand it.  I'm trying to soak up every bit of everything before I leave, because I have no doubt that I will be forever changed by this experience, and nothing will be quite the same as it is now. It's strange to think about, and a pretty amazing feeling as well. I finally feel like I'm doing exactly what I should be doing, at the exact right time in my life to be doing it. I can't wait to see what this adventure brings.

Invitation!

I got an e-mail on Friday from one of the placement officers I've recently been in contact with.  I didn't even read the subject line (which I noticed later said Invitation to serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer).  I opened the e-mail, read the first line and almost peed my pants. I'm going to Thailand!!! I'm still in shock and I don't think it's fully set in yet.  I'm officially accepting my invitation today and leaving in January! I'm over the moon excited...also a little overwhelmed with everything I have/want to do before leaving. I'm going to Thailand!!!

Application follow-up

I received an e-mail yesterday from a Placement Specialist in DC who had reviewed my application and requested a couple follow-up items (updated resume info and a youth questionnaire).  The questionnaire asked about why I wanted to do youth development; where I'm willing to go; when I can leave; what I'm willing to do without with regard to living arrangements (whether I can live without an indoor bathroom, electricity, away from other volunteers, etc - all of which I answered yes to...hopefully I won't come to regret that decision later).  It also asked about the top 5 challenges I expect to face, which really made me think seriously about how hard this is going to be (but also how amazing/rewarding).  The challenges I listed were definitely something to think about, but I think it's just another step of preparation in this whole process.  I had a moment of anxiety yesterday when I was completing this form...kind of a 'holy crap I'm thinking about living in another country with the possibility of not being able to pee in a real toilet with no electricity for 2 years' moment.  It's getting so real, yet still so far away.

I heard back right away after sending my updated information in and was told I would be contacted in the next week or two to discuss my application and the Peace Corps in general.  I'm hopeful that this conversation will lead to my formal invitation (everything I've read online indicates that this is like a final interview, reviewing suitability for a specific placement).  The mix of emotions is killing me...excitement, anxiety, fear, nerves.

I'm tired of people asking me where I'm going and when I'm leaving and having to answer with, I don't know.  I want to know where I'm going so I can start planning and making all these decisions that I have to deal with before I leave.  I could talk about this for hours. I can't wait.

Waiting...again.

I'm torn between the anxiety about wanting to receive my official invitation and the contentment of enjoying life as it is, knowing in a few months it could all change.  Usually when someone's nominated for PC service they are given a country and tentative departure date.  I was given one date and three countries.  Don't get me wrong, I'm excited at all three possibilities...but it's hard to think about each of them individually and not start to get my heart set on any particular choice. I still haven't told a great number of people about my potential departure.  I'm tired of anwering the questions of 'where are you going? when do you leave?', with just a simple I don't know. I have no idea.  Because in all the PC related blogs and internet sites I've read, they tell you anything can and will change right up until the day you leave.  So basically, I could be going somewhere completely different than where I was nominated to go, in a completely different month.  I daydream about leaving; where I'll go, what I'll be doing, how hard the transition might be. I can't count the number of times I've envisioned the day I leave in my head, saying goodbye to all things familiar. I'm anxious to leave but also have so many things I want to do before I go. I'm in transitional agony.

Medically pre-qualified!

I got an e-mail yesterday morning from the Office of Medical Services letting me know that based on the health history form I'm medically pre-qualified for Peace Corps Service! My information is now being sent to the Placement Office, where they'll review my file and consider me for various countries of service.  Crazy to think my life is in their hands as far as where I'll be spending the next two years of my life.  I'm not sure how long it'll take to hear anything, but the next thing I hear should be an official invitation!

Starting the new medical process!

I've received several e-mails in the past few days regarding the new application process updates and the changing medical process.  I wasn't expecting to hear anything until August 15th, but today I got a few messages from the medical office prompting me to complete the Health History Form.  Basically I answered a bunch of questions about past/current medical issues, surgeries, health issues, etc.  Now that that's filled out I just wait to see what the next steps are for any follow-up I might need to do with regard to my medical history.  It's getting seriously real now, and I couldn't be more excited, but the nervousness and anxiety that's been in the back of my head the whole time is also getting much more real.  I'm still processing the idea of leaving in 6 months. Life as I know it is changing, and I'm trying to soak up every enjoyable minute I can while I think about the future and what's to come...