So it might be early, but I wanted to start blogging about the Peace Corps process now that I am officially cleared by medical and dental.
The blog will be a glimpse into my life while a Peace Corps applicant, trainee, and volunteer. I plan on continuously updating until I leave and then periodically while abroad. I want this blog to be link for people to keep in touch with me and to read about my life while I am in Africa.
Ok! Some background is a good idea I suppose!
I have wanted to join the Peace Corps for many years; I think I've been interested in doing overseas volunteer work for about as long as I've been interested in medicine...so since the 9th or 10th grade I guess. I put the idea off for a while because I wanted to go straight to medical school and I didn't want to maintain a super long distance relationship. Now because my boy is so supportive and we are so stable I started to think seriously about applying and finally applied this summer on July 3rd, 2009. Here's a basic outline of the process so far, time line style:
July 3rd, 2009: Application submitted. Spent upwards of 10 hours completing the monster application including two medium sized essays on multiculturalism and motivations for Peace Corps Service. The application is all online and requires three pretty intense recommendations. They advise starting the application process 9-12 months before you want to leave. Since I want to leave in the beginning of July next year, I guess this was perfect timing to wake up and decide to do it!
Mid July, 2009: Interview set up for third week in August at the Boston PC office. Also received addendum forms to help place me in a good fit program.
August 10, 2009: Interview rescheduled due to in office conflict.
August 28, 2009: Interview! Met with recruiter and she typed up my answers while I talked about my motivations for joining, my fears and hopes, my experience with leadership and how I handle stress, etc. I also had to fill out forms about my flexibility with my vegetarianism and my relationship status. All in all, it was not stressful at all! At the end of the interview, she went ahead and gave me my nomination! I am nominated for the health extension position in Francophone sub-Saharan Africa leaving in July 2010!!!
September 5th-ish, 2009: Received official notice of nomination status via online status update!
September 10, 2009: Medical and Dental packet arrived. Set up appointments for medical/dental clearance
September 16, 2009: Medical appointment. Filled out massive amounts of forms, blood tests for all sorts of things
September 30, 2009: Physician signed off on test results, psychiatrist signed off on mental health clearances. Received polio and tetanus shots. Ouch!
October 15, 2009: Dental exam. No cavities. Films sent off to Peace Corps along with entire medical packet! Whew!
October 22, 2009: Get a phone call asking about an irregularity with my medical forms. Need a personal statement explaining the inconsistency. I write one up and fax it the next day.
October 30, 2009: Get an email saying my online application status has been updated. I anxiously log in and see that I a decision has been reached and that I should look for the information in the mail!
November 2, 2009: Receive the letter saying that I am medically cleared for service where persons with an IUD can be properly cared for. I'm not really sure what this means and I hope it doesn't exclude me from going to any countries!
November 6, 2009: Receive a letter stating that I have dental clearance as well! I check the online status and see that I am cleared to the next step, the Placement Office. They will hopefully be getting back to me soon with an official invitation so I can actually know when and where exactly I am going!
So that's that for now. I'll keep y'all in the loop as I find out more. It could be a while before I hear from the placement people. I definitely have a list of the West African countries I'd most like to live in and I have been researching vociferously in my spare time. Stay tuned!
-Elaina
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