Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Medical Packet Mailed

I got an email this morning that my medical packet is in the mail, so now begins the long process of gaining medical clearance, which usually takes a couple months to complete. I definitely will need to stay diligent and act quickly to get everything done efficiently. In the coming weeks, I will need to get a physical, perhaps bloodwork done, a dental exam and fix any teeth that might pose a problem within two years, and get an eye exam and two pairs of glasses (yay!). It will most likely be even a longer wait until PC actually clears me to go, but it's a step in the right direction.

Country Predictions

So I've been thinking and doing some research today about where in Africa (if I do go to Africa) I might be sent. Because I don't meet the French requirements for several West African countries, I can safely narrow down the list of nations to the following:

Botswana, Cape Verde, Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zambia

I also looked at an unofficial directory that is put together by invitees containing a list of the different countries, their programs, and dates. This directory is by no means exact and changes frequently, so it shouldn't be taken very seriously, but according to it, the only health programs in Africa leaving in November are for Madagascar and Namibia. So it will be interesting to see what happens. All in all, I will be happy with either of those countries or any from the longer list above. If I had my choice completely, my favorites would include Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, or South Africa. Between Madagascar and Namibia, I guess I would prefer Namibia more simply because it is on the mainland, but it will be cool no matter what happens.

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

In The Beginning...

So I've decided to go ahead with this blog idea that some of my friends have suggested. I've never really done one of these, so I am learning as I go. If you could not have guessed it by now, I have created this website in order to document that journey that lies ahead of me with the Peace Corps, wherever that may be. Last weekend, I received a call from my recruiter, who informed me that she was officially nominating me as a Peace Corps Volunteer. She has recommended me for a health and HIV/AIDS education program somewhere in Sub-Saharan Africa that leaves in November. I am beyond excited about this placement, as this is exactly where I want to go and what I want to do. While this is a great step in this process, there is still a lot to be done, and really there is a possibility the location or program could change (though most likely it will not). I should be receiving a packet in the mail in the coming weeks that contains my medical tests and legal paperwork. I will need to make appointments with my doctor, dentist, and eye doctor before I can be medically cleared to join. Once I get medical and legal clearance, I will then have to suffer the long wait until I receive my formal invitation into PC. At that time, I will know exactly what I will be doing, where I am going, and the exact day of departure. They usually say that most nominees are formally invited between 6-12 weeks before their scheduled departure date, which means I have a long way to go. While I have no idea if I will have internet access on a regular basis at my site, I plan to utilize this blog wherever I go, however I can. In the meantime, I will try to keep everyone updated on what's going on with the process on the home-front.