application process

so i haven't posted anything in over a month. truth is...not much significant has happened in that time. i'm just really trying to focus on spending as much time with the important people in my life as i can. i am reminded everyday that i'll be gone soon. today my mom and i were cooking a meal together and she just turned to me and said, "this is what i'm going to miss, us just hanging out together." and it's so true. shoot jackson...i have to make the most of the time i have!

this post is huge but i figured i would give a little recap about what the application process was like for me now that i am done with that part of it all. keep in mind this is not how it happens for everyone...it's just my experience.

1. upon entering my final leg of college and sitting down to plan my future i remembered hearing about the peace corps before and thought it may be something i'd be interested in. i knew i didn't want an office job. i wanted to travel and experience other worlds apart from mine, and more importantly be able to serve people and be a part of something bigger than myself. turns out after minimal research i was sold. step one for me!

2. i happened to mention to my mom that it sounded kind of cool and after telling her a little more in detail about what it would mean...she encouraged me to just go ahead and apply. at that point i was actually up against the deadline to apply for a spring 2010 departure, which was my ideal timeline. they tell you to apply approximately one year before you could possibly leave. it was the end of december 2008 and i knew i'd graduate in december 2009 and that i wouldn't want to leave right away but i didn't want to be in the transition period for too long after graduation either. so i went for it and filled out that application.

3. the initial application part in itself is not difficult. you basically just fill out some information about yourself saying that you are interested in filing an application. i knew that it wasn't a true commitment yet, so i went ahead and filled it out just in case. it only took me a few days to realize that it was just the right choice for me, and i proceeded with the rest of the paperwork. this includes some more detailed questions about you and your abilities. with that you are required to answer two short essays, 1. a cross-cultural experience you've had and 2. a motivation statement about why you came to apply. you have to send a resume and 3 recommendations, complete an aspiration questionnaire about things you hope for during your experience, and other forms based on information they might need from you. the hardest part about this part is just finding the time to do it. it's not rocket science.

4. the interview dun, dun, dunnnn! i have pretty good interview skills and don't feel totally awkward in situations like that but this wasn't my favorite part of it all. it was nice because it was the first face that i was able to see and talk to. but it's so hard to come up with answers to deeply thought out questions on the spot. like come on...it would be nice if they could send you the questions before so you could prepare! but nonetheless, it wasn't terrible. my regional director was really nice and understanding. we were also able to schedule a meeting closer than me having to go all the way to the regional office. the whole thing took maybe an hour and was very relaxed (at least as much as it can be). my advice would be not to stress about it. the hype is on how competitive the application process is. i mean you should put effort into it, but ultimately if it's what you're meant to do...it'll happen for you in time.

5. i was expecting a long wait time. i had waited a few weeks after submitting my application to have my interview and they stress during the whole process that you will learn patience...and trust me YOU WILL! it didn't take that long after my interview that i got the call from my recruiter telling me that he couldn't officially nominate me but that he could in may (i think it was about middle march at this point) because nominations cannot be made sooner than one year from departure.

6. may 4th comes along and the email comes through telling me that i have officially been nominated...i get the following information...may 2010. eastern europe. teaching english. comes as a huge shock for me because i have been taking one semester of spanish after another and thinking my experience would land me in south or central america. but i am so excited to finally have a taste of what's to come that i can't be disappointed! i mean it is europe after all...

7. the nomination packet comes in and this is the big daddy right here. luckily i only had medical, dental, and optical screenings to have done (i did not have any legal or financial situations to tend to) because it took me about 5 months to get all of it completed and sent back to them...which is heartwrenching! it seems like it will never end...the making of dr's appointments and going in and out of offices having this man fill this part out and sign here, and having to leave the forms with this girl to complete this part and stamp here. it was grueling. and then to have my dentist tell me that he was going to recommend on the form that i have my wisdom teeth removed before i left! so of course i had to have them out because i wouldn't be approved without clearance. just one set back after another...this part can get really overwhelming. i almost broke down many times from being stressed out over it. but like my mom told me over and over again, "just take it one form at a time." (this would be the part, if there ever was one where i questioned whether or not it was worth going through the process) in the end looking back it was totally worth it and i'd do it all over...it really wasn't that bad and thank God there was no complications after i sent the forms back.

8. so now comes the real fun waiting part. it takes months for you clearances to go through and you don't receive your official invitation until you are good to go. and you don't hear from anyone for that whole time. don't drive yourself crazy. i am glad i had school to occupy some of my time and be able to focus on something else rather that just sitting around waiting. so i had mailed my forms in around september 2009 and it is now approaching february 2010 and no word from anyone! this is when it gets a little tiring...especially when you are so excited to tell people what you are doing. of course the first two questions out of their mouths are 1. where are you going? 2. when do you leave? and all i could tell them was I THINK eastern europe in may but that COULD CHANGE, because until the official invitation comes it could change from your initial program nomination. they would always look at me funny, like how are you so excited when you don't even know anything? but i was and that was hard...the not knowing part.

9. january 29, 2010 (i blogged that very day about it). i get the greatest news ever. my placement officer calls to tell me that my invitation can be expected in the mail the very next day aka it's all legitimate now...no more guessing. the morning of february 6 my mom sneaks into my bed and whispers "i have something i think you might want." for whatever reason my immediate response is to recluse myself under the covers and hide (like for real!?...i'm 21 and that's the response i have???). but anyway, i finally have specific details about my trip and i couldn't be more thrilled to share that moment with my family, who i have not mentioned before as being just as excited and anxious as i am through this whole process. of course i still don't know where my staging (orientation) will be held the days prior to me leaving the country but i look at that as just need to know when it gets to me.

10. i let the initial freaking out about it pass for a day and monday morning i was back in business. i had to of course officially accept my invitation right away by contacting the placement office. and then i took a look at the packet that was before me. yet, some more forms and things to complete. one of which is a passport application, which should be done as soon as possible. i opted to get a civilian passport, which has already gotten to me by mail, as well as applying for the government issue one required, in case i want to do some independent travel. if you can find a friendly passport associate at your nearest office (which was definitely not my experience) then this part of the process shouldn't be so overwhelming.

11. so i am now at another waiting point in my journey, though there hasn't been much time to wait. this is when you prepare for leaving. past volunteers in your area can help with packing ideas and other information you may need before you go. the country desk will request questionnaires and things to be filled out for placing you with a host family and organizing your training needs, but nothing much more than that. now i feel like i'm coasting until departure day. of course a little stress is there about things that need to get done and the little amount of time but i am getting things taken care of one thing at a time and trying not to wait until the last minute. i am also focussing on spending time with my loved ones as much as possible. that's what this part is most about. i know i will be leaving in 32 days and i plan to make the most out of each one.

so there is still a matter of staging and actually leaving for my country of service that have yet to be fulfilled, but for all intent and purposes i am out of the clear in regards to this thing called the "application process".

***linked the peace corps application page, if you want to check it out!