our toolkit has been updated- we've been nominated and our behemoth medical kit mailed to us!
in hopes of getting this done as soon as humanly possible, we've both already made doctor's appointments for early next week.
fingers crossed the med kit comes before monday?!
Showing posts with label nomination. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nomination. Show all posts
Friday, September 24, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
you want US to decide?
there are too many and not enough words for today.
i wish we had taken the whole day off. it was that mentally exhausting and exhilarating.
after a 1.5 hour commute, we arrived (in separate cars, as we were departing for work separately) in virginia with 25 minutes to spare. we grabbed a breakfast snack- chocolate milk for me, snapple for him, and stale graham crackers for us both- and found the peace corps office.
we settled in, nice and early.
we heard our names and were immediately at ease with our amiable recruiter. after what felt like shooting the breeze (but really was the first third of the interview) about his service in thailand, our reasons for applying, and our strengths and weaknesses as a couple, the first hour was over. i was left to extrapolate on my background and histories for another hour, and then chris was up. his much shorter personal interview ended quickly, and he pulled us both back into his office.
"so you're both quite qualified and i'm going to nominate you. let's take a look at what's available in your time frame- after july, you said?"
our hearts leaped and our throats went dry. you mean we don't have to wait on pins and needles to wait to see if we are qualified?
our recruiter told us we were actually a strong applicant couple (he apparently has two other couples he's been seeking out a nomination for for quite a while now) and he pulled up his placement availabilities.
he read the secret peace corps code and said:
"looks like we have northern africa/middle east in september with chris doing community development and kate teaching english. sound good?"
that sound was our speechlessness. we're both so open to going anywhere, but hadn't really considered northern africa/middle east. that'd be jordan or morocco. we took a long look at each other and chris managed to ask:
"that's the only availability?"
after taking a second look, and ensuring chris' had the tutoring hours, we determined chris could also qualify to teach english, and we now had four options.
northern africa/middle east. september. chris doing community development and kate teaching english.
eastern europe. september. chris doing ngo development and kate youth development.
central asia. august. chris doing youth development, kate teacher training.
asia. august. chris doing teaching, kate teacher training.
took our breath away. we stuttered and asked his advice. he said northern africa/mid east would be so cool. i was getting more sold on the idea.
we took a break for lunch and said we'd call him very soon with our choice.
it was just so shocking to even HAVE a choice. there are so many horror stories about not knowing, being so out of the loop, and left hanging in this process. we'd resigned ourselves to not knowing, ever, until someone else decided.
and now we had to decide.
whatever decision we made, where we ended up, would be because we had initially chosen, blindly. it was in our hands. terrifying.
after a harried lunch of pizza, some quick peace corps wiki checking, our spirits rose.
asia. august. that could be- could it really- it may be- the philippines. the last three year, philippines has departed in august.
the philippines. that. could. be. AWESOME.
we called our recruiter and he said it was all good to go.
we've been nominated?
i wish we had taken the whole day off. it was that mentally exhausting and exhilarating.
after a 1.5 hour commute, we arrived (in separate cars, as we were departing for work separately) in virginia with 25 minutes to spare. we grabbed a breakfast snack- chocolate milk for me, snapple for him, and stale graham crackers for us both- and found the peace corps office.
we settled in, nice and early.
we heard our names and were immediately at ease with our amiable recruiter. after what felt like shooting the breeze (but really was the first third of the interview) about his service in thailand, our reasons for applying, and our strengths and weaknesses as a couple, the first hour was over. i was left to extrapolate on my background and histories for another hour, and then chris was up. his much shorter personal interview ended quickly, and he pulled us both back into his office.
"so you're both quite qualified and i'm going to nominate you. let's take a look at what's available in your time frame- after july, you said?"
our hearts leaped and our throats went dry. you mean we don't have to wait on pins and needles to wait to see if we are qualified?
our recruiter told us we were actually a strong applicant couple (he apparently has two other couples he's been seeking out a nomination for for quite a while now) and he pulled up his placement availabilities.
he read the secret peace corps code and said:
"looks like we have northern africa/middle east in september with chris doing community development and kate teaching english. sound good?"
that sound was our speechlessness. we're both so open to going anywhere, but hadn't really considered northern africa/middle east. that'd be jordan or morocco. we took a long look at each other and chris managed to ask:
"that's the only availability?"
after taking a second look, and ensuring chris' had the tutoring hours, we determined chris could also qualify to teach english, and we now had four options.
northern africa/middle east. september. chris doing community development and kate teaching english.
eastern europe. september. chris doing ngo development and kate youth development.
central asia. august. chris doing youth development, kate teacher training.
asia. august. chris doing teaching, kate teacher training.
took our breath away. we stuttered and asked his advice. he said northern africa/mid east would be so cool. i was getting more sold on the idea.
we took a break for lunch and said we'd call him very soon with our choice.
it was just so shocking to even HAVE a choice. there are so many horror stories about not knowing, being so out of the loop, and left hanging in this process. we'd resigned ourselves to not knowing, ever, until someone else decided.
and now we had to decide.
whatever decision we made, where we ended up, would be because we had initially chosen, blindly. it was in our hands. terrifying.
after a harried lunch of pizza, some quick peace corps wiki checking, our spirits rose.
asia. august. that could be- could it really- it may be- the philippines. the last three year, philippines has departed in august.
the philippines. that. could. be. AWESOME.
we called our recruiter and he said it was all good to go.
we've been nominated?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
emails! and phone calls! and interviews scheduled, oh my!
it only took five skill addenda, 31 emails, and four phone calls to schedule our interview.
whew.
it's TOMORROW and i've told my wonderful place of business that we're applying. after a mishap last spring with an employee leaving with just two weeks notice, and out of general respect, i'm being incredibly up front with my manager about the peace corps process and our intentions. everyone is loverly and supportive. i'm so lucky.
interview tomorrow. suit pressed and ready to go. resumes freshly printed, just in case. alarm set to allow two hour commute for 40 minute drive.
let's do this.
whew.
it's TOMORROW and i've told my wonderful place of business that we're applying. after a mishap last spring with an employee leaving with just two weeks notice, and out of general respect, i'm being incredibly up front with my manager about the peace corps process and our intentions. everyone is loverly and supportive. i'm so lucky.
interview tomorrow. suit pressed and ready to go. resumes freshly printed, just in case. alarm set to allow two hour commute for 40 minute drive.
let's do this.
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