To Love or Not To Love...when applying to the Peace Corps

So, about a month ago I gave you a quickie update. Well, I still don't know what the heck I'm doing with my life. After my status was put on hold...I didn't necessarily give UP, but I guess I just thought maybe it was a sign of some sort. Now, all I can think about is Peace Corps (just like before...) and to me, that is an even GREATER sign that this is what I'm meant to do.

The ONLY hesitation I have now stems from the fact that I am now in a relationship. All mushiness aside, I kinda KNEW this would happen. I mean, that's how life is...it throws you curveballs just to test you. For goodness sake, I was single for like 2+ years...dating aimlessly...bored with the whole dating scene...ready to meet my Peruvian (or Ecuadoran, or Dominican, or Costa Rican...etc.) husband through the PC...HAHAHA justttttttt kidding!!

Seriously though, the idea of finding a boyfriend was definitely not on my radar. So now that I have one, I'm left trying to figure out what the heck to do with him if I do get invited for a PC post...

Granted, I'm not even medically cleared yet. But I know that I will be...hopefully lol. Still, my availability to leave won't be until after October 10, 2010, since that's one of my best friend's wedding date and I'll be a blushing bride..smaid! :-)
Problem is that by that time, if we're together still, we'll have spent a whole year building something that I'll just have to kick to the curb! I mean I'd never expect him to try and maintain a long distance (cross the seas) relationship for two years and three frikkin months!

So out of all this rambling, my dilemma is this...is it better to end things while it's still early and save us both the heartache (even though I have no certainty that I'll even be chosen for PC?) orrrr, just suck it up, wait it out, and figure out how to cross that bridge when we get to it (even though it'll probably cause severe emotional distress? lol)

Answers? Ideas? Comments? Questions?

Talk about on the MOVE!

Well, Well, Well...didn't think I'd have this FAB news to share so soon, but I got the call from my recruiter this afternoon. The skill addendas that I had to complete to detail my business experience cleared me for some kind of business development position in Latin America that starts in February 2010!!! Woohoo!!! So yeah...that's my official nomination!

Now...before everyone gets TOO excited, don't forget that a nomination is not an INVITATION. Nothing is definite until I get medical and dental clearance. After that, I believe I have to be approved by the host country, and THEN I may be extended the invitation to serve. So...we still have a ways to go. I just want to hurry up and get these med/den procedures over with! I'm sure they are gonna cost me a fortune. I just hope that the money I have in my flexible spending account will cover the majority of it!

And so the wait begins!

Hi Folks!

So...today I met with my lovely recruiter for my official interview! I was crazy nervous, but it pretty much went like your standard job interview. Questions about my leadership abilities and conflict resolution tactics etc. etc. Then we talked about things that might make me uncomfortable. For instance, would I have issues dealing with isolation from other volunteers or living in a place where there are strict gender roles. What about a living situation where I'm expected to attend the religious ceremonies or services of the community? (hmm...) I think I answered all of the questions pretty well...at least I attempted not to sound too much like a bumbling idiot!

The next step is to wait...my recruiter informed me that most positions are filled until Spring/Summer 2010! That's not the best news...HOWEVER, there is a Business Advisor position that may be available for January! The only problem is that usually those positions are reserved for those who have formal experience owning their own businesses for 5 years or so. She says that there are occasionally exceptions, so she's putting in a call to her DC counterparts to see if I can get in! If not...then I'll just be playing the waiting game, and waiting patiently by my phone for that call with my official nomination. :-)

My plan for the meantime is to resume my preparation for the GREs, apply to grad school (I hear that some schools give you a free ride if you are going into the PC!!) and then attempt to do at least one semester before I'm called to duty. No use in wasting time while I'm still home right? Right.

So yes...excitement level is still pretty high. I do appreciate all the well wishes and love and support my friends (and family) are showing. It may be a long and arduous process...just stick with me!

Here goes nothing!

Hello world.

I started my Peace Corps journey during the second half of 2008. It all began with one of those deep and enlightening convos that Tari and I like to have. The kind where we talk about our life purposes and try to figure out our next steps. She mentioned PC, I googled it the next day, and suddenly I knew that I had found what I'd been looking for all along.

So now...about half a year later, I finally submitted my fingerprints and other assorted documents to my recruiter. Now things seem to be moving pretty quickly, but judging from all the PC blogs I read (yes, I'm addicted), this could all be a big fluke! I submitted everything between Monday and Tuesday, and by Wednesday I had my first interview scheduled for THIS COMING TUESDAY!! Ahhh!!

Now...I've definitely kicked up my blog reading and PC wiki research. I want to get an idea of what's to come. Yes, I know...nothing can quite prepare you for uprooting your life and moving to a foreign place, but I've googled "peace corps horror stories"...doesn't get much scarier than that! So I think that I know what I could potentially be getting myself into: scarcity of food/water, rabid dogs roaming my town, thieves breaking into my home, weird host parents, intense heat, polluted water and diseased mosquitos...pretty much everything you can think of!

For those of you who don't know just what the PC entails...Basically, I'll be shipped off to some "less-developed country" for 27 months. I'm shooting for Central/South America, but for all I know, I may be nominated to go to the Middle East or Africa or even some South Pacific Island! (we'll cross that bridge when I get to it)

The whole point is for me to [attempt to] help a community to help itself. This may be through some small business development initiative, or possibly, some type of special education program. My PC recruiter will assess my skills and my experience and nominate me for the position that she feels will best utilize them.

Am I scared? COMPLETELY. But, I'm also extremely excited. I hope to be placed somewhere where I can access the internet and stay connected with my friends and family, but I understand that there is a possibility that I won't. Let's all keep our fingers crossed.

My next update will probably be Wednesday...that way I can let you know how my interview went!