Star Date 4635 (September 15, 2011)
Captain’s Log:
Hooray! I finally got accepted into the Peace Corps! It’s been a very long process; I started my application last summer! However, I even got my dream assignment: English Education/ Youth Development in the Middle East! I will be leaving in March 2012, which is about 6 months away. Although, it’s never too soon to start a blog! Especially when you’ve got a super-clever intro thought up by your super cool, ingenius, and devilishly-handsome friend who in no way has anything to do with writing this blog ;-).
<--That was the First Officer. Who is also a fellow Peace Corps applicant... and borrowed my computer. Hi! I’m Sam. If you know me, you know how FREAKED OUT I am at having received my assignment, finally. If not, you should after you are done with this. Since I’ve had a hard time finding information about how long people have taken in different parts of the application process, here’s my contribution to the data set: So it starts with an application, which is done online.
I started mine on 8/24/2009. Along with the application you also have to send in three personal references. I asked my references to write them in May 2010.
The last recommendation came in July 2010.
On August 10th I got confirmation that my application was received. Then after they review that, they request some more stuff through the mail, like fingerprints, so try not to lose any of your fingers at this point in the process. Then, interview time!
I had mine on October 16th. It went really well and I got what’s called a nomination on October 26th. This means one gets a tentative assignment including program, general geographic location, and departure date. Mine was for English Teaching, Central Asia, March 2011.
Then came my favorite part, the medical review! This is where they send you a giant packet of forms to fill out including medical and dental forms. I would recommend double and triple checking every form and procedure because this part of the process is where most delays occur. Also, DEFINITELY ask somebody with an MD after their name to fill out your forms--or at least, make sure one is in the building and can sign the paperwork for you.
While they received the majority of my medical paperwork by January 13, 2011, this is where I started to become a Problem Child. Most of my paperwork was signed by Nurse Practitioners (NPs) who are, while very capable people, apparently not enough legality for this whole process. I was living on my own at the time and trying to save money as much as possible. The Peace Corps gives a small medical refund, but not enough so I went to the nurses’ office at the local Community College (they don’t like me much. It was a learning experience for both them and me.). 26 pages of medical information later, they had it stamped, faxed and done. Unfortunately, the Peace Corps sent me information back saying I needed an MD to do this, that, and the other thing. Six months later-- July-- done.
After I was medically cleared on August 26th, I moved on to what’s called the placement and competitive review and they asked for an updated resume.
Since it was now past my original departure date, I got a new nomination on September 12th, this time for the Middle East, where I had wanted to go in the first place!
I had a final interview by phone yesterday morning (September 14th) and that afternoon I got an email telling me that I was accepted! I should be getting my invitation by mail in the next 6 days. Countdown starts now! (The invitation states whether I’ll be going to Jordan or Morocco. Yay!) In the final interview, we talked about lots of stuff. -What have you been doing since you were nominated over a year ago? [Next blog entry]
Conversations that occured during the final interview:
-Making sure that I, as the volunteer, understand what exactly I’m getting myself into
2 days off a month that accumulate; 3 days Use Them Or Lose Them days off a month as well!
-How does my family feel about what I’m doing
-Has anything changed in my medical/legal situations?
-Am I free March 2012 to leave?
A friend of mine asked me a few days before the interview, "how does your mom feel about the Peace Corps?" I was shocked to realized, as I was preparing a reply, that I didn't know. I proceeded to ask my mom, of course, and she told me that, not only was she jealous of my potential experience, but she supported me and thought it was something that would be an asset to my life. I mention this all, because if it hadn't been for my lovely, lovely dearest friend, I would not have been able to tell the interviewers Honestly that my family supported me. So, thanks Mindy. And, thanks Mom.
A note:
In Arabic (traditionally), each person has two names. The first name--ie, Sameera (My Arabic teacher gave me that name). And the second name, which shows the possession by a family. For instance, Al-Bassar. It technically could mean 'son of Bassar'. The "Al-" in this example indicates "son of".
On that same line of thought, one of my (favorite) professors used to call me "Bint Bob". In this case, "Bint" means "daughter", and my father's name is Bob. I am, proudly, the daughter of Bob..
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