The Wait

Well, nothing new on the Peace Corps side...but it's nice to report that the house closing is still on track.  With the garage sale now out of the way, it's on to the final clean-up of the garage...argh!  But Mr. B wants everything out of the garage by Tuesday...ok...doing my best here.  I'm thinking this will be a tough week...I actually never thought this week would get here...All my dreams are just beginning.  But I've met some new friends since I've been back...and I'm going to miss them very much.  I'll miss everyone for sure but it's harder to meet new friends knowing you won't be around for long...especially when you get along so well with them...and you wish you had met them some time ago...life would have been a little happier.  Nonetheless, I have to move along to make these dreams happen.

One of my special new friends told me something recently...He said, "I've arrived."  I fully understand that. He is in his happy place, that place we all seek to be in...But I've had some time to think about that...While I can't say that "I've arrived" to my happy place...I can say that I have finally arrived to the point that I've been waiting for for so long to be in...moving from here.  It's come down to this week, my last week in Clearwater.  I may not have arrived to my "happy place" yet, but I've arrived to the beginning of the journey to my "happy place".  That's not to say that all my friends here will be forgotten.  Far from it!  You have all made my life a wonderful journey to this point, and I am happy to have known you all...and I want to thank each and every one of you.  In these last 3 years you have given me inspiration, hope, encouragement, and best of all, friendship.  I will forever remember you and how you've touched my life...and in all that each of you have given me, I will pass it on...

Progress

I was able to send all documents out within 24 hours.  I also spoke with my Placement Officer and she was very encouraging but one thing that struck me about our conversation was something she said.  She indicated that more than 50% of the nominees don't end up going to the assignment they were nominated to.  WOW, so I told her I'd been studying Spanish and asked if I should be studying any other language right now, like French.  She said it would be wise to do both...so OK...Maybe I won't go to Central/South America after all.  Now, it's a pure waiting game...much like when I was in the Army...hurry up and wait...I'm guessing that's where I learned patience...lol

I also learned this week that any time I see a doctor/dentist I need to forward a copy of the doctor notes/lab work/medical data to the Peace Corps...Can't leave anything out...it's as if they are my employer but not...yet anyway.

Placement Process

Received email from my Placement Officer requesting updated resume as well as official transcripts.  I have all these ready and will get them out tomorrow.  I hope things go well when they get them.  Seems like a more competitive process than expected.

Medical Approval

On October 18th I received my medical clearance to serve in the Peace Corps.  This process took all of about 3.5 months from the time I turned in my medical paperwork.  I have heard of others that took over a year and they were much younger than I.  There were several times I had to go back to the VA to retrieve additional information...and while I was in UT I had to go to the Salt Lake City VA for an updated tetinus shot which they required before clearance.  My clearance was based on my being placed in a country that can provide an annual Mammogram.  No other specifications were noted, yea!

My paperwork has been submitted to the placement office and I am just waiting for the call to start my country selection process.  I was told last Tuesday it would be the week of October 31st.  My assignment has been chosen, business training manager, for somewhere in Central or South America.  It will finally be exciting to learn which country I get assigned to.