I'm a Map, I'm a Map

For those of you who are confused about where in the world I will be living and where Uganda is actually located

Get Er Done!

These are a few things Ive done and needed to do with the invitation kit I was given:

2/16 got my passport paperwork signed and done.

2/20 mailed visa and passport paperwork

2/22 yellow fever vaccination

3/1 final dental exam (it's been over a year since my last PC dental exam)

3/2 Irrelevant: Mute Math concert!

Nothing else scheduled yet... Already finished/ sent most of the other paperwork in. Woot!

I've learned how to play the card game "Flux" this past weekend and that sitting by a fire on a skii mountain in-between two terrain parks is A-mazing

Invitation Kit!

My invitation unexpectedly came in the mail Friday since my toolkit said it was mailed on the 8th! Officially going to Uganda for Economic Development in May! So blue... so amazing... and finally in my hands!!!

I've been too exhausted to update my blog with all the excitement and reading I've been doing. The invitation kit is filled with all types of goodies: Congratulations letter, Volunteer Handbook, A booklet for family member and friends, an 'adjustment' handbook, my lovely Yellow Fever Vaccination fact sheet, five folders labeled: Passport and Visa,  Domestic Connections, Resume and Personal Papers, Finance and Insurance, and Staging Materials. On top of all that there is an online handbook for my specific country (Uganda) and an online Welcome Book and last but not least an Express Envelope to send information back. :)

The way the Invitation Kit works is you have 7 days to go through the kit, read all the information/ handbooks/online handbooks and then respond if you are going to Accept or Decline the invitation. If they don't hear from you within 7 days they assume you decline and offer the position to someone else.

After you accept it seems like they give you further instructions on the folders (visa, resume, finances, etc) and how to properly fill them out/ when they need to be sent in by. A few weeks before Staging you are sent another packet from what I understand as well.

My mind is blown right now with all this information and processing! I am almost done with my handbook and after I read that... I will be officially accepting the invitation! Its so exciting!

I don't have anything specific I've learned.... except that Uganda sounds A-mazing! and looks amazing according to Google Earth :p

Upgraded!

Got an e-mail today about an 'application status update' which kind of scared me a bit. In the back of my mind I thought I was going to have another hold put on my account again. But when I looked into the PC my toolkit page:

Congratulations! You have been invited to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

 :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)

It seems so official now! My toolkit has been updated to an 'Invitee Toolkit' which isn't too special... EXCEPT IT IS :D

Its been 5 days since my initial invitation e-mail as well so... any day now I should receive that wonderful blue invitation packet of goodness!

The only thing worthwhile mentioning about what I've learned today/ yesterday is that Zumba will not only kick your ass if you have a cold (or don't) but it will make you feel better afterwards somehow after all of the crazy dance moves and jumping around.

Timeline

September 2010 -  PC sparked my interest/ started the application process

10/2010- broke hand and had screws put in

11/2010 - Finished basic app

12/2010

1/2011 –received my PC toolkit user name/password

2/2011 – 8th Phone interview

               15th nominated for Sub-Saharan Africa/ Protected Areas Management/ Sept 2011

               17th Received medical paperwork

3/2011 - worked on filling medical paperwork out

4/2011 – 4th Passed Physical Exam but got another form for ‘incomplete” medical data

5/2011 – Passed Dental and Legal (19^th) PC said I need a current mental health evaluation.  

               counseling session 1

6/2011 – counseling session 2

7/2011 – 14^th deferred for 6 months

8/2011 -

9/2011 –

10/2011 – PC drops deferral/ Medically Cleared (1^st time)

11/2011 –

12/2011- Final phone interview/ placed on medical hold again and had surgery to remove my screw.

January 2012 – waiting on medical paperwork from docs

Feb – 2nd Medically Cleared (2^nd time) AND Program Identified!!!!!

“You should receive the invitation in 5 – 7 business days after I receive confirmation that these details work for you.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions about Peace Corps service. “ 

So  this is a very basic timeline of all the circles I had to run around to finally complete me application and medical. Everyone who knew me when I was going through all of this knew how frustrating it was... but will eventually all pay off! 

Its been 4 days... I CAN'T WAIT TO GET MY INVITATION PACKETTTT!!!! YAYAYAYAYAY!!!

Today so far I've learned...

....how to unjam a paper shredder without cutting your fingers

.... a group called OMM is 'boycotting' Ellen DeGeneres (who doesn't love Ellen?!)

Idea!

I feel happy... scared ... excited ...worried ...sad ...strong ...inspired.... the list goes on! Waiting with a purpose is so much better than just bumming around your parents house waiting for something else to pop up! I know how much they love my company and will miss me dearly: hogging the tv, finishing their favorite snacks, petting the dog, running errands, cleaning dishes.But now I've got better things to do :p

3 days ago when I read that e-mail I felt like how you feel when you just get over having the stomach flu... or (for the college crowd) that moment when you aren't hungover anymore. Too bad I've got a cold now and that 'sensation' has left a bit. I'm still happy no doubt about it... but just can't smell anything.... oh well...

A few random thoughts I had today...
Common things will soon be uncommon.
I will probably have more homework than I've had in a year.
and... I'm going on an adventure!


I'm going to try and have a 'section' each time I blog that will be of something I learned that day. It could be one or two things or a list... depending on how much I've learned that day and how much I feel like typing. They could also be useful things I've learned or 'pointless' random tid bits. My friend Amanda gave me the idea for video blog... but I hate hearing myself talk on camera (I like the way I sound better when its from in between my own ears). So this will have to do... plus its easier than video. I think this should be a very entertaining addition in case I'm boring in my actual post (if that's even possible). Plus... even though I'm not wherever you are... I still want to try and put a smile on your face (even from halfway around the world) :D

So... today I've learned:
  -That Simba means lion in swahili. (Mufasa... haven't gotten to that yet)
  - 1000 Ugandan Shillings = less than 50 cents US Dollars
  - The Qdoba on the corner of Gratiot and Masonic is now open!

Superbowl is tonight... so I hope everyone enjoys it... I'll be avoiding the Superbowl like usual :)

Digging for Information

So after being too excited to eat yesterday... informing friends/family... I hardly got any sleep. I'm guessing that's normal though.

I've been doing some 'digging' for information and found a PC group leaving for staging on May 22nd and then Uganda on the 24th.... currently can't find any other African departure dates in May.... so... looks like I may be heading to Uganda! Won't officially find out until I receive my packet though.

Waiting with a purpose... I'm okay with that!

Where are we going?

Todays the day!!! Well actually yesterday was. About 6pm I get on the computer and check my e-mail... expecting... nothing new. I thought wrong!

Earlier in the day I had my mom send a fax out for me. I received a confirmation e-mail from the Peace Corps (PC) at about 8:30am stating that they got my papers .... well that sure was quick. To catch everyone up...I've been having trouble getting my medical paperwork from my doctors office. I was supposed to get a copy of something 2 weeks ago. Still have not received it. The only paperwork I had completed was a doctors note/ recommendation and my own personal statement. I'm sick of waiting for this paperwork... not just that but I'm sick of this year long struggle with the medical process (I suppose good things happen to those who wait). So I sent those two off to the medical office. Hoping that if they see the doctors positive recommendation.... they won't need anything else.... BINGO! A few hours later another e-mail from the PC! This time stating that I'm not only medically cleared (YAY!) But... that they found a program for me! Already!!! (I'm still 'giddy' from the news). I'm more excited now.... then I was when I graduated college (...eh...it's more like a 50/50 toss up) But I wasn't ready to leave such an amazing time in my life! Then again I didn't really have a plan and I was still struggling with my medical paperwork so I was scared about losing the 'but I'm a college student' excuse. But I feel like 50lbs just lifted off my shoulders and I know I'm going to be doing SOMETHING!

Michelle,

I am happy to inform you that you have received medical clearance and I have identified a program for you.  Congratulations for completing the final phase of the application process. The details:

Assignment: Environmental Education

Region: Sub-Saharan Africa

Departure: May 22nd

You whould receive the invitation in 5 – 7 business days after I receive confirmation that these details work for you.  Please let me know if you have any additional questions about Peace Corps service. 

  

Sincerely,

Karen
The best e-mail I think I've ever read! THANK YOU KAREN FOR MAKING MY LIFE BETTER!

I suppose its a good idea to start a documentation of... well... the next few years of my life. Since it will be hard to keep in touch with and track of so many friends/family members separately. Plus maybe a few new people that I can inspire will join me on my little adventure.

So... my blog... here we go! I hope its entertaining/ enjoyable/ fun/ and absolutely flippin' A+mazing!

(first post... over and out....)