My Personality Clash and an Update

I’m very much a type A personality and I’m always making lists and planning. I always reflect on my thoughts, dreams, and actions, and wonder if what I said/did was the right thing to say/do in that moment. I’m also adventurous. Perhaps this is more related to my current stage of life; however I have been this way since I was a kid. In addition, I strive to be more relaxed and go with the flow. So my type A personality clashes with my desire to have a type B personality which causes me all kinds of inner conflict with joining the Peace Corps. Don’t get me wrong, I am 100% committed to the Peace Corps and can’t imagine anything else I’d rather be doing. It is just so hard to plan! Since the Peace Corps has to send an invitation at least four months prior to departure, I only feel confident in planning things four months out. My mom got tickets for us to see Wicked in September, and I was worried for a day or so that I would get an invite and wouldn’t be able to use that ticket. Silly I know but these are the kinds of thoughts I have among others.

Some great news that I received last week was that I have been legally cleared! I turned in a questionnaire almost six weeks ago, emailed legal placement about 3 weeks ago, and received clearance about one week ago! My application has been moved to the health placement desk which was a pleasant surprise! My original nomination included no information about the region, sector, or date in which I was nominated. At the time I was contemplating whether I was ready for the Peace Corps and did not follow up with my recruiter about this. So then during the pre-medical review, I was told that files were reviewed based on nearest departure dates. I was worried that I didn’t have a relative departure date and that my application would fall through the cracks. I emailed placement my updated resume including my social work experience in a healthcare facility. They must have received the resume and moved me to the health desk because I didn’t have that experience one year ago when I submitted my application!

I was also trying to contact my recruiter about my nominated departure date. After playing phone tag for about a week and a half, she left a message stating that I was nominated for September 2013! Well, September spots are filled and it sounds like many people have already received invites for October so I’m now hoping to get an invite for January. I’m really hoping to get an invite to South Africa doing HIV/AIDS awareness and outreach. But as I’ve said before, I would be absolutely thrilled to serve anywhere in any sector in the place where my skills are best matched.

So that’s where I am now, waiting for contact from health placement. Due my excessive stalking of the future Peace Corps volunteer Facebook page, people tend to get invitations on Friday so I check my email even more than usual on that day. I’m going to a PC sendoff party tomorrow which I’m very excited for. I think it will be a wonderful opportunity for me as well as my parents to learn more about the Peace Corps.

New Apartment!

This has nothing to do with the Peace Corps but I want to share how excited I am to move into a new apartment! The apartment situation has been a stressor for a while, and I'm glad everything is falling into place, and I'll be living with a friend from college. The one I'm in now happened due to a panicked decision last August when I was moving to Eau Claire and did not have anywhere to live 2-3 weeks before beginning my job. My new apartment is available in 16 days, and I move in 23 days!

I’ve been making some preparations for the Peace Corps. I signed a 6 month lease for the new apartment with the intent that I will hopefully be leaving within the next 6 months. If I don’t leave within 6 months, I can go on a month-by-month lease until I do. I resigned my position as a dance teacher for the 2013-2014 seasons—I cried. This has been the hardest decision as far as joining the Peace Corps and I've been putting it off for a while. I hope that in the future I’ll be able to find a job I love as much as I loved teaching dance. The Peace Corps advises against making major changes until an invitation is in hand, however regardless of joining the Peace Corps, I know I won't be staying in Eau Claire for another full year. I'll move back to Minneapolis and look for a full time social work position, and maybe apply to grad school but this is all plan B.

Smaller preparations for the Peace Corps include checking out beginner French books to brush up on. I can certainly read and understand it better than coming up with sentences on my own but it’s a start. I’ve also looked into volunteer opportunities with the AIDS Resource Center and I'm hoping to begin volunteering soon.

I’m still obsessed with reading PC blogs and journals. Although I’d be happy with just about any invitation, I picture myself in Africa. However, I trust that everything happens for a reason and PC will place me where my skills are best matched. I am still just so restless and ready for a change. Currently, I’m waiting for legal clearance, and sent in a statement over a week ago. Progress is slow but there is still headway towards making the Peace Corps a reality.