Almost done!

Well, what do I say? Every day I read updated Peace Corps blogs (click http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/ to read them yourself) and I am so jealous every time I read a blog announcing some one's invite or departure. My heart is ready to go.

Unfortunately, there is absolutely no way to tell when I will be leaving and I have to find a job for the summer--preferably something full time, challenging, and that pays well! I feel bad knowing with a certain sense of probability that I will leave this fall that this also means I will have to quit my job. Apparently PC gives volunteers 6 weeks notice before departure, which is a pretty generous notice for any job, but I still feel bad going into interviews and not saying anything about this rather lengthy commitment. But if I tell the truth, that I'm probably going to leave in 3-4 months, I will never get a job. How do I live with myself, you ask? I keep saying, "Well, you think you will leave this fall, but you could be leaving next spring or next summer, in which case you will need a job for a much longer period than expected. To tell an employer that you could be leaving this fall is premature." At least that's close to what I recite each night before I go to bed... As for interviews, I had 2 phone interviews this week, 2 phone interviews last week, 2 office interviews last week, and 2 office interviews this week. All interviews are for different jobs. I have no idea how I've avoided confusing them so far...

The medical exams are almost done. Today was supposed to be my last dentist appointment, but darn it! One of my cavities needed a root canal and that set me back. Now I have to go back on Friday morning for another appointment--my third time this week! (I told you the cavity count was high...). But once that will be the last of my dental appointments. Tuesday I got my Polio shot--lots of fun. I also saw the doctor last week for my medical exam which went just fine and I'm healthy. Who would have thunk it? :) Today I went back to the clinic to get my blood work done as well as a TB test. Tomorrow I'm back at the clinic to have a scar looked at (I had a mole removed a couple years ago and the doctor wants to check it) and then Friday afternoon I go back yet again to have my TB test read and collect my lab reports. Then I'm packaging this baby up and saying goodbye!

More stuff on Friday--at 7:00 I'm heading east! Back to Colorado for a week long white water rafting adventure with Aunt Judy and Uncle John. I've never gone before, so my life is in their hands! :) We'll be floating down the Yampa River starting in Colorado and pulling out in Utah. Should be a blast! The stretch we're covering is 77 miles long and we'll go right through Dinosaur National Park. I can't wait to get out an camp again! I haven't gone since I was in grade school. One last hurrah before the great pilgrimage. I'll be back June 12th and hopefully I'll have a job by then and Peace Corps will have grant me medical and dental clearance. I'll be sending my stuff off from Colorado (at least I think so!); please pray that there aren't any more complications and that I get my stuff all finished on Friday.

And that's all folks. Does it seem like I'm busy? :) Between the doctor, the dentist, and job interviews, I'm exhausted, plus when you add in this trip, where does all the time go?

Almost there...

Well, I've been working on these darn medical forms for a week now. I should be done Friday though, and that's pretty exciting. :)

Tuesday I had my dental exam and well, looks like my mouth is rotting. I won't tell you how many cavities I had but it was enough to probably set a record. Keep in mind I haven't been to the dentist in almost 6 years. Stupid insurance... So, I've got two appointments for next week--Tuesday and Wednesday--and then I'll be done with that. Oh, also found out I grind my teeth at night. I should be getting a night gaurd too...

Yesterday was my medical exam and that went well. I actually ended up not having to see a specialist and that's great news. Unfortunatley they don't do Polio vaccinations there so I have to go find a place sometime today that does. I also have to go back on Wednesday next week to have some blood tests PC requires as well as a TB test, which means I'll be done Friday. I couldn't do them yesterday because you have to fast for 8 hours before they draw blood and the TB test takes two days to get the skin results.

Anyhow, things are winding down. Who knows how long it will take from here on out, but it seems like everything will go smoothly. I'm in great health so there shouldn't be any road blocks. Let's cross our fingers!!

For the meantime though, I'm heading back to Colorado on the 1st to embark on a 5 day rafting trip from Colorado to Utah on the Yampa River. Should be fun! I'll see you all when I get back!

Some pictures from the previous Colorado trip:

No more school exams; bring on the PC exams!

Well, I've finally graduated! Hooray for me! It all went off without any problems and my family was well behaved. They also helped move me into my new home (I'm living with a lady I met a Curves--random huh?). Things seem to really be shaping up.

The Europe vacation I had been planning for months fell though this weekend, which is a huge bummer, but on the bright side I'm visiting my aunt in Colorado for one week and I leave tomorrow. That is something to be excited about.

I also received my Peace Corps medical packet. What a pain!! So, I have to get a big ol' physical done (scheduled for Thursday next week), I need to have a huge questionnaire filled out by my school counselor regarding my mental health (which is just fine), I have to see a orthopedic specialist for my knee (how will I ever afford that?), I need a vision exam ($), a hearing exam (where do you get that done?), a "woman" exam (Eeek!!), and I have to go through a big dental exam as well (scheduled for Thursday too). Unfortunately, Kortney has no insurance of any kind not to mention no assurance that she will get in.

In an effort to remedy my problem, today I purchased a dental discount membership online and called one of the supported dentists. However, I'm not so sure how this is going to go. The receptionist could hardly speak English so let's pray this works out okay. I hope they've done a PC exam before... :S

As far as my thoughts about PC, I'm really anxious and nervous. I'm plagued with, "Where will I go?" "What will I do?" "Will I want to come home early?" "Will I be accepted?" "How long do I have to wait for an invite?" I'm going nuts.

I keep getting emails from ELI asking me to return again and that has me second guessing myself too. I want to work in Southeast Asia, but PC isn't really offering teaching positions there anytime in the near future while ELI is in desperate need for CTF volunteers. However, PC fits my long term goals and doesn't require that I fund raise. I'm not sure I could raise the 7G's ELI would need before August when I'd leave.

For whatever reason still unknown to me, I'm pushing ahead with Peace Corps. I hope I get an invite soon. The worst thing that could happen is they reject me based on medical needs (which is unlikely because I'm pretty healthy, active, and young i.e. resilient), forcing me to stay here, work for a year, and go to grad school. I'm leaving it in God's hands.

I've been nominated!

Woo hoo! I just talked with my recruiter this morning and I've been nominated to Eastern Europe, due to leave in September. Now, that doesn't mean I will leave in September, but it does mean that I'll be considered for their program.

I'm being lumped in with 190 other nominees and they could choose any number of us. This group also has some requirements such as three months of ESL teaching or tutoring. Hopefully I'll be considered though. I taught in China for one month, Vietnam for one month, and I've tutored in the writing center for two years. That will hopefully place me above the rest as far as experience goes. If not this group, I could be moved to another. There is a group leaving for Africa in November and because I have some French experience I may be bumped up to that group.

Nevertheless, the time I can be sure of my destination is when I receive my invitation letter. I still have a lot of stuff to finish before then such as a medical and dental exam and lots more paperwork, but once that's completed I'll be one step closer to an invitation. Let's hope I can leave sooner rather than later!

Peace out!