Peace Corps Application Time Line

A lot of Peace Corps applicants have some kind of documentation of their process so here is mine:

February 2008 -- Meet with recruiter to talk about the Peace Corps

April 28, 2008 -- Submit application

May 2, 2008 -- Recruiter contacted me about scheduling an interview and sending additional forms

June 9, 2008--Interview with Peace Corps recruiter, Sarah Barfield, in Wilmington, NC

June 23, 2008--Officially Nominated for either Eastern Europe or Africa::Community Development

July 30, 2008--Sent nominations for Community Development in Cetnral/South America or Sub-Saharan Africa

August 4, 2008--Pulled my application due to multiple reasons...to put aside this opportunity for a better time in my life

March 3, 2010--Talked to recruiter about reapplying for Peace Corps

March 15, 2010--Start Application Process Again

March 28, 2010--Turned in Application

March 29, 2010--1st Recommendation submitted (Thanks Peggy!)

March 30, 2010--2nd Recommendation submitted (Thanks Jeff!)

April 28, 2010--Emailed Recruiter because I had not heard anything (this is where the waiting game began!)

May 6, 2010--Heard from Recruitment Coordinator, have to wait due to outside circumstances to move forward with the process.

December 1, 2010--Can finally move forward with application

December 5, 2010--Recieved packet of information including fingerprints, NAC Questionnaire, College Transcripts, Certifications

December 16, 2010--Received an email from the recruiter stating that they needed the information back by January 5th (no problem!)

December 22, 2010--Had to submit a new recommendation to fit the guidelines of preffered recommendations (Thanks Sheila!)

December 23, 2010--Delayed information for log into my toolkit was finally sent to me

December 28, 2010--Peace Corps representative called to have me send over copies of scuba certifications

December 29, 2010--Send back all information including transcripts, fingerprints, etc.

January 20, 2011--Peace Corps Toolkit update! Paperwork is complete!

February 11, 2011--Interview at NCSU completed::possible nominations for Community Development or Business Development, waiting for program specs to be released

February 25, 2011--Emailed recruiter asking what else I should be doing--stated just wait for more information to be released and update him on any new skills I acquire

April 1, 2011--Emailed recruiter looking for an update. RAS (restless applicant syndrome) is settling in

June 13, 2011--Emailed recruiter while in Europe asking for updates. Officially nominated for Eastern Europe doing NGO Development leaving June 2012

July 17, 2011 -- Home from trip to Europe with a medical packet sitting in my mailbox.

September 13, 2011 -- Finished all medical paperwork - Sent back to PC headquarters.

September 24, 2011--Forgot to have Doctor co-sign all paperwork and have to redo two tests.

October 20, 2011 -- Send back all information to Medical Office

November 2, 2011 -- Status Update! Letter came in the mail a few days later saying I am Medically cleared for service!

November 28, 2011 -- Email from Placement Assistant stating my file is complete and a Placement Specialist will be in touch.

Medical Packet Received.

As any Peace Corps applicant may know, the best thing to wake up to in the morning is an email from PC saying "Application Status Update" !! Having sent in my medical packet on the 3rd of September after becoming the most immune person in North America, I have been waiting for an update since then. Seeing as I'm not set to leave until June 2012 I know, and have prepared myself for, this to be the longest and most agonizing part of the process. (Insert Restless Applicant Syndrome (RAS) Here). Even my status update prepared me for such -- "Peace Corps received the results of your physical exam on September 12, 2011. If the program you are nominated for is not scheduled to leave in the next 4 months you may not hear from Medical until the time of departure is closer. Currently those programs scheduled to leave in the next 4 months are being reviewed. For applicants leaving within 4 months Peace Corps may request additional medical information. Please respond quickly to these requests."

So now is the waiting game. Fortunately I'm in the best position possible with a great job, supportive friends and family, an opportunity to save some money before I go, and lots and lots of patience.

I've been fortunate to be able to talk to an old friend quite a bit and he has been a huge support through this process. My friend Josh (check out his blog -- eatingwatermelonseeds.wordpress.com) is serving in Peace Corps Kenya and really loving it. Josh and I applied at about the same time, so I'm super jealous that he is in country already and I'm still waiting and wishing. I've had the fortune to be able to talk to him about once a month so he can give me real time updates on what Peace Corps life is like. His statements - Peace Corps isn't for the faint of heart. Which I already knew.But he loves it!! The camaraderie, the challenges, the new experiences, the beauty of the people and places, are all well worth it.

I'll continue to keep you posted as more updates come along!!!

Car Free Lifestyle

I'm thinking about selling my car. Living a car-free lifestyle has often been on my mind, but as of late I have been thinking about it more and more. As I'm trying to cut back my expenses and reevaluate where I'm spending my money, I realized I spend an astronomical amount of money on my car. Actually, I spend more money on my car than I do on the roof that is over my head. Seems crazy, huh.

Although in my head I'm thinking about this in sheer dollars there are a lot of other things to think about to. Currently, I can walk to work, the bank, food and drinking establishments, the park, and many other things but there are things that would be less convenient. Such as:

Trips to Target...which could be the death of Sami as you know her.
Easily accessible grocery store
Beach Days
Cold walks to work in the Winter Time
Am I missing others?

Fortunately living downtown allows me to walk to work and there is an OK bus system that would allow me to get to the grocery store and target with little afterthought. However, for 25 years I've lived a life of instant gratification...and I want to be sure that I think about all the aspects of my life that may be affected positively and negatively before I make this drastic lifestyle change.

Here's what my 7th grade History teacher, Ms. Hanifee taught me to do when life offers choices: A good ol' pros and cons list.

Pros
Environmentally Friendly
Get Exercise
Save LOTS of money
Wilmington offers Public Transportation and living downtown allows me to walk to food and entertainment
Can rent a car for long day or weekend trips

Cons
Won't be able to do things at a moment's notice
Will have to walk in the cold/rain
Inconveniencing friends when needing a ride

So, it's looking pretty good that I may want to try this. My mom and I came up with a good idea to try to live for two weeks without using my car. Meaning hide the keys from myself and see how I can get around without using my car. Seems easy enough.  Since I'll be leaving for the Peace Corps, hopefully, in June 2012 and will need to sell my car anyways I really want to think seriously about this. It's a great way for me to save up some money before leaving by severely cutting my expenses.

What do you think? Any advice would be great. I know a couple of you have lived in Wilmington without a car and I would love to hear your experiences!!

Peace Corps Update

Online status update!!

As I'm looking out the window at Hurricane Irene whipping through all the trees in my neighborhood, I'm trying to stay focused on other things. The storm has not been too bad but the wind and rain kept me up for most of the night. Minimal damage has ensued to our area but I'm thinking about my friends and family in the Northeast who might be affected by Irene as well.

My Peace Corps status is moving along quite well at this point. Since I arrived back from Europe to find a medical packet in my mail, I have been going to the doctor and dentist quite regularly. I don't even have to sign in anymore they already know who I am! I've been to the doctor for four visits, the dentist for three, and the health department twice. All in all I've completed all of my dental and medical paperwork and am just waiting for one more shot on the 31st and I can send it all back to Washington. I can't wait!!!

I am one of the few that has already received my legal clearance, which from what I've read is sometimes takes the longest and typically doesn't clear until after your medical clearance goes through. So I'm feeling like I'm in a good place to leave in June or maybe even sooner. Who knows!! If there is one thing that Peace Corps is not good at, it is keeping applicants abreast of leave dates/locations. I'm constantly sitting on the edge of my seat through this process.

Good luck to all those that are waiting out the storm!!!

Surfer's Healing

Today I got the chance to spend the day at the beach instead of sitting at my desk. But really it wasn't just a day at the beach, it was so much more. This is the third year I have volunteered at Wrightsville Beach with an amazing organization called Surfers Healing. Today more than most days I'm feeling extremely lucky for the life that I've been given and the constant reminders of how easy most of our days are despite our simple complaints.

So, I'm guessing you're wondering why I'm being so sappy and want to know what Surfers Healing is. Well today I got to spend the whole day with over 200 children who have some form of autism. Surfers Healing is an organization who sets up camps all over the United States for one day to take children with autism out into the water and show them what it feels like to surf.

There are lots of reports that show the healing power of water for children with autism just google - autism and water therapy. Pretty amazing stuff. However, it's a different kind of therapy for those of us who have life so easy compared to the families of these children. I have the utmost respect and admiration for some of the daily struggles that these families go through every day.

Although I was just a volunteer today helping the kids put on life jackets before the surfers took them out into the water, I took away so much more than just that. I learned that every person, no matter what their physical or mental ability, deserves to be given the time and chance to try something that will make them smile and for so many kids (along with their families) that is what Surfers Healing brings them.

This event is truly amazing! The only moment I felt sad today was watching one boy have an outbreak of emotions when we couldn't get to his turn fast enough. The boy was told his time was at 11:30 and at 11:32 he gave up and walked away. Because he didn't get to go right at his time he just couldn't focus on having the opportunity to do what all the kids around him were able to. It truly broke my heart that I couldn't get him to take his focus away from the time and think about getting in the water. His mother then told me that they same thing happened last year as well. I wish I had written the families name down so we could ensure that next year he'll get to go at the right time. I just wish I could have helped him, but it's impossible to understand the thought processes of another human being.

The surfers that make the event what it is truly have a gift. They take each individual child into the water and work with their individual capabilities. To watch them sit out in the surf waiting for the perfect wave and get almost every one of those kids to stand up on the board is an amazing site.

I'm truly blown away when I get to take a day away from my desk to do things like this. I learned some valuable lessons.

Check out this video: VIDEO: Surfer's Healing at Wrightsville Beach | WWAY NewsChannel 3

Amazing Peace Corps slogan

Crafting!

Now that I'm officially done with school I've been doing lots of crafting. Here are some of the things that I've been making. If you want one of something just let me know :)

Yarn wreath with seastar embellishment

This is a terrible picture of this necklace but it's made from an old t-shirt

Beaded Earrings

Pumpkin and peanut butter dog treats...obviously Prince really wants some :)

Bead braided necklace with black/clear beads

Up close picture of the necklace