Timeline Questions Answered

I've received several questions about the process of becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer so I thought I'd share my answers with everyone in case there's anyone out there itching to apply. Warning: this process isn't for the impatient.

Last week of May 2008: Filled out my application online, wrote the required 2 essays, sent in my college transcripts and began to wait.

June 1, 2008: Finalized my online application and hit the "submit" button - here I go! Need to find 3 references who will tell the PC that I'm an awesome candidate. (Thank you EF, JM, and KB!)

June 16, 2008: Got a call from the Peace Corps office in Chicago asking to schedule a phone interview. Scheduled for June 24, 2008. Prep time.

June 24, 2008: Phone interview. A few normal interview questions but several curveballs. When he asked me how I would handle an "unstructured" work environment I was stumped...then he helped me along and said "well tell me about your work in the campaigns you've worked on" - BINGO! I knocked it out of the park. I knew those campaign experiences would come in handy. After the necessary questions were asked of me, he says "well we're about finished Amy, do you have any questions for me at this time?" I wanted to say, yes, can you block off your entire afternoon so I can ask you everything that I can think of? But I didn't, I only asked one question - "when will I find out if I'm in?" He politely asks me to hold on the line, but then he comes right back after plugging my name and experiences into his trusty little Peace Corps matcher-upper and says "How does teaching English in West Africa sound to ya? You would leave in June 2009 but I can't tell you any other specifics." Sounds good to me. I accept and I'm officially Nominated to be a PCV.

July & August 2008: Medical Clearance. Multiple doctors visits, seven viles of blood drawn, some precautionary dental work and an eye appointment. If anyone was worried, I now know that I am healthy as a horse. I receive a letter stating that I am "Medically Cleared Worldwide."

August 2008: Legal Clearance. Fingerprints at the police station prove that I am not a criminal just trying to escape to a foreign country. I'm cleared.

January 30, 2009: I haven't heard anything from PC in months so I break down and call. I told myself I wasn't going to bug them until February 1st...I made it to January 30th - not bad. I speak to a lady who said she was just reveiwing my application and had a few more questions for me. I answer them, they're softball questions but she wants to make sure my parents understand that I could be assigned to a very remote location where I might not have instant communciation. I tell her we're operating on the "once a month" rule until we know more - as in I will only be able to call or email them once a month. She seems pleased and says I should know something within 60 days. Ok - a little longer than I was hoping but at least I could see the light at the end of the tunnel.

February 2, 2009: I receive an email from the PC stating I have an "Application Status Update." Unfortunately I read this email while I was driving into work so my mind wondered the whole way from Lexington to Frankfort. Was this my invitation I've been waiting on? Was this an email telling me I wasn't fit for the PC? I get to work and open the update to read "Congratulations! You're Invitation Packet has been mailed." That's it - nothing more nothing less. Snail mail? Seriously...this is 2009. But I figure that I'd waited since June 2008 I can wait a few more days for the US Postal Service to do it's job.

February 7, 2009: INVITED!!! I've already written about this day (see very first blog post) so I won't repeat. But it was damn near one of the most exciting days of my life. This little piece of paper told me where I was going to live and work for the next 2 years and I couldn't be more happy about it.

So that's how it happened. While a pretty lengthy process, I now understand why. Since February I've bought everything from a headlamp to a Bug Hut and nearly everything in between. I've most recently started buying things in 3 month supplies (that's what they tell you to bring) such as shampoo, soap, and Clif bars. Some of my purchases yield some strange looks though from the cashiers who have the luxury of checking me out. I'm sure they think I'm either going into hiding with all of my Clif bars and soap or constructing a tent or cape with the 45 pairs of unmentionables I bought. Strange looks I may receive, but there are some things I'm just not willing to go without.

Never met this woman....but she rocks!

When Mauritania holds presidential elections on June 7th, one candidate will be a brave young woman who has done it all before. Aicha Bint Jeddane talks with Magharebia about why she is seeking the country's highest post for the second time. Check her out....

First female presidential candidate breaks gender barriers in ...
Magharebia.com - ‎Mar 20, 2009‎

Beauty Secrets of Mauritania

Back in November, Oprah dedicated one of her shows to "Beauty Secrets from Around the World." She had guests on to discuss beauty expectations of women in Japan, India, Oman, Brazil and guess where else....Mauritania!! Some of you have already seen this, but for those of you who haven't it's worth it. So take a 5 minute break from work and watch this(disregard the first 10 seconds or so).

http://video.aol.com/video-detail/oprah-mauritania/631581530/?icid=VIDLRVENT05

Packing for 2 years?!?

So I've started the process of gathering everything I will need (want) to take with me to the sandbox. I've packed for some long trips - but nothing like this. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I was already an 'outdoorsy' kinda gal, but since I'm not I basically have to start from scratch. I haven't owned a sleeping bag since middle school - I have never owned a tent - and I definately have never had a need for a headlamp - until now. As I was ordereing my REI Bug Hut 2 (yes, it's an upgrade from the Bug Hut 1) and other things from a website made for people like me, I strangely felt like I was preparing to spend two years in the woods, then I realized I was just preparing to spend two years in the desert, close enough. So in case you were interested, curious or just down right nosy, I thought I'd share a few of the items that I'll be stuffing into my suitcases - all of which I'm sure I'll covet once I actually get over there. Next item on my list is an internal frame backpack (just learned that term). Goal: To pack as much as I can and still be able to wear the backpack without tipping over backwards. My little LED headlamp to wear in the pitch dark when I'm trying to locate the ladies room - or just the hole in the ground. Pray for a western toilet.

Mummy style summer sleepsack. I've heard the sheets I'll be provided can be compared to sandpaper so this will be something comfy to zip up in. Here she is - the REI Bug Hut 2 (aka - my little oasis so those pesky little mesquitos don't hurt me while I sleep).

Skirts! I found them. Laugh all you want, but these things are comfy, I may never shave my legs again - you definately can't see them with these things on. I'm really glad that Boho Chic is "in" according to some teenybopper website. I'm sure the Mauritanians are thrilled.

Solar charger to the rescue! Back to the basics. Leave it outside all day to charge in the sun, bring it in at night and plug my ipod, cell phone or digital camera to charge. Magic.