Recommendations

My interview went pretty well, I think. I won't really be sure until I'm told if I've been nominated or not, but as far as I can tell it wasn't awful. I'll take it.

In typical my-application-to-the-Peace-Corps style, there was a hitch. I should have found out last Monday if I received a nomination or not, but unfortunately one of my recommenders neglected to turn in a letter about how awesome I am.

After going back and speaking with my recommender again, she apologized profusely for holding up my application, took me to lunch, and sent me a text the this morning saying that she both emailed a copy of her rec to my recruiter with an apology and also overnighted a copy to Chicago. She also has promised to call them on Monday just to follow up.

Monday being the operative day because if they haven't received the letter in question by then, my application is pulled and that whole thing goes down in flames.

Fingers crossed for quick fedex drivers.

So, point being, I guess tomorrow I'll know if I need to start looking for an apartment here or if instead I need to be investing in vaccines. Phrased like that, it seems strange that I'm hoping for vaccines.

Introduction

I've decided to keep a blog. Specifically, a blog about my quest to join the Peace Corps.

So far it's been a slightly convoluted process and as things are moving faster now, I want to both keep better track of things for myself as well as allow you to share my experience.

As of yesterday, the fifth of April, I have been invited to interview with my recruiter Betsy Blum. The hours in which they interview (9-4 Monday through Thursday) conflict with my class and work schedule, so instead of driving to Chicago I'll be doing a phone interview on the 20th. I'm pretty nervous. Everyone who has experience with the Peace Corps that I've talked to with has different advice: "talk about how much you love gardening!", "talk about how much you love kids!", "talk about how much you love traveling!" to "don't talk very much". I find it super scary to think that if I present myself wrong in this interview, my life is forever changed and not in the way I want it to be. I think I would greatly benefit from having an in-person interview but my recruiter was the one who suggested I not miss classes for it. Really she seems like a very nice person. We make jokes and are friendly... but it's her job to be like that with everyone.

In my anxious state, I've been doing some peripheral Peace Corps reading. There's a facebook group for future PC Volunteers that has some excellent information, and from that I found a website that discusses what they've coined "The Peace Corps Lottery". The crux of this article centers around why it is increasingly difficult to join the Peace Corps, elaborating on both financial and social issues (http://thenewservice.wordpress.com/2009/04/23/toughroadtopeacecorps/). It was "highly recommended" as a must read for anyone who is in the application process (such as myself).

It's a fairly frightening article all on it's own, but in the context of my own position-- horrifying. I recently had to switch from being a specialist, focusing on teaching English to new immigrants, to being a much loathed generalist. I was informed the positions were more difficult to obtain, but I didn't really have much of a choice. Switch or deactivate my application.

I suppose all I can do at this point is hope I give an amazing phone interview and move along with my day.I was informed the positions were more difficult to obtain, but I didn't really have much of a choice. Switch or deactivate my application.

I suppose all I can do at this point is hope I give an amazing phone interview and move along with my day.