The clock has just struck noon here in New York and 3 cups of coffee into the day I'm sitting down to do what I've been trying to do all week: finish the never ending stream of Peace Corps paperwork that is due before I depart in less than a month. Wow. Less than one month till my 27 months of service begin.
Let's take a step back. Last October (2008) I decided it was about time to stop talking and start acting on my dream to become a Peace Corps Volunteer. I went to the website, filled out the pages upon pages of forms, updated my resume, wrote a few essays, and collected my recommendations. All of this took a few weeks, but when it was all done, I breathed a sigh of relief thinking, "wow, the hardest part is over!" I was wrong. I waited for a few months, then one day in February received a phone call: "You have passed the initial screening, now we need to set up an interview." I arrived at the interview more nervous than I have ever been in my life but was immediately put at ease. My recruiter was so encouraging and a pleasure to talk to. Instead of the 45 minute interview I had anxiously anticipated, I spent the next two hours chatting with my recruiter.
After the interview, I was nominated to the Pacific Islands Region, but was told I would not find out my country till just before departure. All of this seemed fine, and I kept just going with the flow. Medical papers came. Shots were taken. Fillings we're filled and my boss was informed that I would be leaving soon.
Months later, my medical file was cleared and I was informed that my invitation was on the way. For an entire day I waited for a package to arrive; a package containing the information on which direction my life would be heading! It did not come that first day, and I started to think - be patient, give it time. As I was thinking that, the doorbell rang, and there was my beautiful FedEx package waiting for me at the door.
Heart fluttering, I grabbed it, ran to the kitchen table and opened it as fast as I could: SAMOA! I jumped for joy and yelled to no one, for no one was home. Then the phone calls started. Somewhere between calling/texting everyone I knew I fell asleep. I awoke thinking that it had all been a dream, but no, there was the nice, blue folder with all its neat contents packaged inside. Time to open it up and start reading.
I should have known the work wasn't over. So here I am now, 3 weeks from departing for the biggest adventure of my life, and instead of finishing my paperwork, I'm starting a blog. I have always wanted to have my own blog and I figure this is the perfect opportunity.
More interesting entries to follow.....
Musical quote of the day:
Oh, Fee, you're trying to live a life
That's completely free.You're racing with the wind
You're flirting with death
So have a cup of coffee
And catch your breath
Thank you Phish. A Phish entry will surely follow.
