I'm happily back in the States and enjoying getting ready. I'm still working on tying up loose ends with Golondrinas. I updated this blog a bit with some more pictures and some editing. I've been traveling between North Carolina and Delaware as the wind blows, shopping, and attending environmental education workshops.
For those interested, here's a timeline of my progress toward becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer:
8/28/07: Submitted online application
9/11/07: Received email from recruiter to set up interview
9/17/07: Final reference submitted
Interview in DC, Fingerprinted
Nominated to Environmental Education (but asked for different nomination)
9/18/07: Nominated to Protected Areas Management in Central/South America leaving mid-May 2008
9/24/07: Medical packet received in DE (I left for Argentina 9/22/07)
10/25/07: Received medical packet, scheduled appointments
10/31/07: Doctor's appointment (Labs completed entire month of November)
11/1/07: Dental appointment, Women's health appointment
Departure date moved up to mid-April
11/9/07: Eye appointment
12/5/07: Sent in medical packet after final doctor's appointment (missing one lab)
12/8/07: Mailed and emailed results of remaining lab
1/7/08: Re-emailed results of remaining lab
1/8/08: Medically cleared!
2/12/08: Received invite!Below is the information regarding my invite:Country: Panama
Project: Community Environmental Conservation
Job Title: CEC Extension Agent
Staging: Miami, 4/14/08-4/15/08
Pre-Service Training: 4/16/08-6/26/08
Dates of Service: 6/27/08-6/24/2010
I'm working on a packing list and hoping that I'll be able to stick within the 80lb luggage limit. Geesh! I don't think I've ever kept under that this past year with all my jobs and travels. And I now have three huge curriculum manuals that I want to take. Perhaps I can squeeze those into my carry-on along with my laptop. Yes, I probably won't have power... but even if I use my laptop just a few times, I'll be happy. :) I just bought an mp3 player too since I doubt I'll be able to play music off my PC. I still haven't taken it out of the box, but that will be for another day. So that's it for now. I better finish up my taxes. (Who woulda thunk that I even made enough to pay so much back to the government this year? And thank you all for paying your taxes too, thus funding my Peace Corps adventure. lol)
