This past week . . .

On Tuesday I went to the dentist. And for anyone who knows me, you know I hate the dentist. I cry every time and it's usually a pretty traumatic experience for me. But fortunately I made it through! The bad news though, is that in order to be medically cleared to leave for the Peace Corps my teeth have to be perfect. Well, in fact they aren't. Far from actually. I need to have a few cavities filled and my wisdom teeth taken out! Yikes! Don't know how I'm going to do it but I have to and I will. Pain is temporary right?

My Legal Kit

 

Then on Thursday I received my Legal Kit which included a few background check forms and information on how to get my fingerprints done. So the next day I went to the police station and a very nice police officer used a fancy electronic scanner type machine (clearly technology isn't my strong suit) to scan my fingerprints and print them on my official fingerprinting cards. The whole process was very intimidating to be honest. I arrived at the police station, that no one seemed to be inhabiting at the time and told the secretary why I was there. She then called for a police officer to come in off the road to do the fingerprinting. I waited on the bench for a while when finally the police officer welcomed me and led me to a room labeled "detention". He safely put his gun in a lock box then scanned us both into the room. As I entered I recognized the area as the place where the "detainees" were booked. There was a place for mug shots, cells, and of course, the fingerprinting machine. other than the uneasiness of being in "detention", it went fairly smoothly. He entered my information into the computer, scanned my fingerprints, and finally handed me my official cards. I asked if there was a fee and there wasn't! Score! Before heading back to work (I was on my lunch break after all), I mailed the necessary legal documents to the Peace Corps. This was yet another thing to check off my list!

 

 

This is what happens when you are filling out a log at work when all you can think about is leaving for the Peace Corps in March 2016!

A week in. . . and the first Photo Friday!

It has been one week since I received my invitation. Before accepting I was encouraged to read a few lengthy documents, including the Peace Corps Armenia Welcome Book, the Volunteer Welcome Book, Assignment Description, Core Expectations document, and Safety and Security Information. After I "read" each I decided to accept my invitation. As soon as I clicked accept I was bombarded with emails including lists of things to do. The first email was from the medical offices laying out the details of my medical clearance. From what I've read, medical clearance, and more specifically, dental clearance can be the most costly and time consuming aspect of pre-service. Wahoo!

The second email was from the staging unit. The email included a "pre-departure checklist" and a zip drive that included directions on how to apply for a Peace Corps specific passport, visa information, and introductory language lessons. The email also stated that I will have to update my resume and gear it toward my assignment description as an English Education Teacher. I will also have to write an aspiration statement that lays out expectations and goals of my service. In addition, I was informed that I will have to complete online courses prior to departure and was given a link to begin that process. This all seemed doable until I realized most of the tasks included in this email are due within 30 days! And I thought applying would be the hard part!

 

In an effort to stay organized and on track I decided to buy a planner! As soon as I got home I started filling out my new planner with all sort of Peace Corps due dates! Next I started sifting through all the paper work. As I set out my passport application and instructions on my coffee table, Jack (my cat) immediately jumped up and laid right down on top of them! So typical. That should have been the first clue that filling out my passport application wouldn't be a smooth process. I must have filled out the application 4 or 5 times before getting it right! Now that I finally have it all filled out and all supporting documents are accounted for, my plan is to submit my passport application today! Just the first of many things I can check off the list!

Invitation!!!

Just received my invitation to serve in the Peace Corps! I'll be leaving March 26th 2016 for Armenia. Although I've been waiting for this moment for quite some time now, it seems so surreal. This is just the beginning of an almost three year process and there is a lot to take in. I'm trying to take things as they come. I think it will be very easy for me to become overwhelmed with all the things that will come along with being a Peace Corps volunteer! But to help me, I will always keep Bob Wiley's famous words in my mind, "baby steps!"