Balancing Act

It's been a fun week! Lots of stuff due very quickly all at the same time. I'm juggling all the Peace Corps stuff with my academic things, and I have to be careful to strike a delicate balance so I can get everything done without stressing myself out (seriously, it's summer, the first summer I haven't worked since I was 16 - I'm taking it pretty easy right now despite all the things I need to do).

My to do list:

• Peace Corps: Aspiration Statement (finish by Friday)
• Peace Corps: Update my resume (finish by Friday)
• Peace Corps: Apply for passport and visa (as soon as possible)
• Academic: Thesis rough draft - 1,000-2,000 words (finish by Sunday)
• Academic: Conference paper - 20 minute paper (finish by next week)

Peace Corps wise, the statement and resume are almost done. I'm irritated I don't have my teacher training information here with me to put on my resume, but all that stuff is in storage back home so I'm just going to have to let it go. And the statement! The questions are so vague I don't even know where to begin. I spent all day yesterday poking at it and, well, I'm not too terribly impressed with what I've written. I'll look over it again a few more times before I send it out in a couple of days. I have an appointment next week to hopefully get the passport and visa stuff taken care of, and I'll tell y'all all about the fun adventure that's sure to turn into (ROAD TRIP!).

In between all this Peace Corps stuff I've continued working on my thesis. My supervisor wants me to send her a good chunk of the middle because we've been having trouble structuring my paper and she wants me to see if what we came up with is going to work. I've been finishing up my research and will hopefully start writing tomorrow, which will give me a couple of days to bang it out. Since I pretty much know what I want to write in my head, it should be really easy after I finish the last of my reading.

Now, that conference paper...that's going to be interesting. I was asked very last minute to present a paper at this huge conference here in Leeds by a friend because someone dropped out. This conference is one of the largest Medievalist conferences in the world (right up there with Kalamazoo) and, well, depending on the day I go from being pretty calm to freaking out. I've never presented a paper before and don't know how comfortable I feel (as a Masters student) presenting my ideas to people who've been doing this for years, especially over a topic I have only studied for a semester. Argh. I wrote the paper last term but haven't touched it to make it presentation worthy yet. I'll have a week to work on it after all these other deadlines are met, which will be plenty of time (I hope). Because, hey, at least I have a paper. Some people who are also presenting papers don't even have outlines for their papers yet. It'll be a good experience at the very least and will look great on my resume if I continue in academia after the Peace Corps.

It's all about balance, making sure I get everything done in time. I enjoy these kinds of balancing acts, though. Keeps life interesting. And after the conference, it's going to be smooth sailing until I'm back home.

And That, As They Say...

...is that.

After reading through all the materials they sent me, sleeping on it, and waking up still smiling, I sent in my formal acceptance. I'm going to Ukraine in September!

The response from family and friends has been overwhelming, and it warms my heart to know that everyone is supporting me so completely. I am truly blessed.

Now that I'm officially an Invitee, I have lots of things to take care of within the next ten days: update my resume (which hasn't changed much in the last month so will be easy), write my Aspiration Statement (to tell the in-country people how utterly awesome I am), fill out passport and visa applications (I have to find a UPS office...), and anything else the country desk tells me I need to do. All of this on top of a thesis rough draft due at the same time. Fun times!

After all of that is done, I'll have about a month downtime before I need to start thinking about insurance, travel arrangements, and buying the things I'm going to need for this adventure (read: warm clothes). I also need to roughly plan out my 20 days at home and buy plane tickets to visit people during that time (shout out to the Seester!). I must say I'm really glad Dad is coming to spend a week with me here in England before I head home (we're going to drive around Scotland!). It'll be really good to get some him-and-me time in before the whirlwind that will be my time back home.

Some things I learned in my reading:

• I'm going to be learning either Ukrainian or Russian during training, though I won't know which one until I arrive so there isn't much pre-departure prep I can do. However, there is a language program I'm supposed to look at provided by the PC. Ukrainian is the official language of the country, but since Russian was the official language for so long, a lot of parts still mainly speak that, though both languages are heard throughout the entire country.
• I will be working at a higher eduction institution in a small to medium size town. 'Higher education institution' can mean anything from a university, an institute, or a college that may have either a teaching, technical, or business orientation.
• Depending on where you are, Ukraine has cold winters with temperatures that dip below freezing and warm summers with temperatures that can get up to the 80s. There will be a betting pool established on how long it will take for this Texan girl to start complaining about the cold.

Random end note: I just realised something -  perogies, a dish I was introduced to here in England (thanks, Melody!), is a Ukrainian dish. I about spazzed. I LOVE perogies. The next two years are going to ROCK!

A Little Red Slip and a Big Blue Envelope

Every time I've walked into the mail room (yes, twice a day...), I've looked at the pile of packages, wondering if there were any new ones, if one of them could possibly be mine. I would open my mail box, hoping for the little red slip that would say I had a package, sighing in disappointment when there was nothing there.

This afternoon, there was a little red slip.

I felt myself get light headed as he pulled the package out from under the desk. I anxiously waited for him to find the book I had to sign, and, completely ignoring the elevator, I raced up the five flights of stairs to my flat. I quickly unloaded my backpack, taking deep breathes, putting things away until I could focus on the package. Ripping open the DHL packaging, I carefully pulled the contents out.

Finally, it was here. In my hands. The big blue envelope I've been hoping, praying, waiting for all of this time.

I opened the flap, and right in front was the paper that would satisfy all of my curiosity (it really did feel like Christmas morning):

Yes, that's right! I'm going to Ukraine to be a University English Teacher!!! I almost started to cry when I saw those words, I was so happy. I leave September 17th, 2010, which means I have a grand total of 21 days at home before I'm off on my next grand adventure. Wow, that's going to be fun!

I am absolutely ecstatic! This placement lets me work toward both of my possible future careers: my job position will give me experience if I decide to get my PhD and become a University professor, while living in the Ukraine means the possibility of learning Russian, a language that will really help me if I decide to join the State Department. It's perfect. I am So Unbelievably Happy!

However, I'm still going to read through everything before calling and accepting. Even though I am BEYOND happy, I want to be completely informed before making such a huge decision. This basically means that my productivity is shot for the day because will you look at all the stuff they sent me:

Going to take some time to get through that. I'll let you know what I learn!

Checking the Mail

The office of my dorm is only open for four hours every weekday: 8-10AM and 4-6 PM (closed on weekends). Our mail boxes are in the office, so if you want to check your mail, you have to do it during those hours. During this school year, I have checked the mail maybe a dozen times total, most of those during the anxious month when I was waiting for a letter from my endocrinologist to prove to the Peace Corps I'm perfectly healthy. So the fact that I checked my mail twice today and anticipate this to be the trend until I have my invite in hand should really tell you something.

At first, I was determined to avoid becoming obsessive and only check the mail in the mornings after my jog. I came back to the building, ran downstairs, went to the office, and then headed back to my flat. No big deal, totally easy. No need to dwell any more on it. I decided to leave the building and work on campus to avoid even the possibility of temptation to check it again this afternoon. I mean, seriously, it's Monday. The invite was sent off on Friday at the earliest. No way it's going to be here yet. I diligently worked on campus all day, and when I finished everything I had, I went back to the dorm, smugly patting myself on the back for my clever plan to avoid the mail room. But an unconscious glance at my watch told me it was only 5:50. Oh no! I found myself seized with the desire to check the mail. No, no, there was no point! I had checked it this morning, it's only been one business day, it couldn't possibly be in yet. But what if it was?! What if it had been put on the first plane out and had been sitting in the mail room all day and I could have had my invite for all of that time?! Taking deep breathes, fighting for control, I entered my building and faced the elevator. Up would take me to my flat, but down...down would take me to the office. I hesitated. I admit it: I was weak. I was going to push up, really I was, my intentions were pure. But my traitor of a finger pressed the down button. That was it. I was doomed.

It's actually not excitement or anticipation or anything like that which has made me check my mail so regularly now. It's pure, unadulterated curiosity. I am So Freaking Curious about my invite! Where am I going? When am I leaving? What will I be doing? Of course I am excited, but it is 100% dwarfed by sheer curiosity. It's like a Christmas present under the tree when you're a kid. You weigh it in your hands, shake it, listening as hard as you can as if you could guess what's inside by the sound it makes. The curiosity burns inside of you, you just want to know what's hidden under that pretty paper and shiny ribbon. But you have to wait until Christmas morning, when all of the curiosity, all of the waiting, pays off in the sweetness of unwrapping the present and feeling that rush that comes from finally knowing. It doesn't even really matter what the present actually is. The feeling of curiosity being satisfied is such a pleasure in and of itself. Or at least it always has been for me.

So here I am, knowing full well I'm going to be checking the mail twice a day for the foreseeable future no matter how much I try not to, with curiosity welling up inside of me more and more with each passing day.

I wonder how long it takes a package to cross The Pond?

It's Official

Oh, wow.

It's official. They have sent me an invite.

I am going to be joining the Peace Corps. After over a year, after filling forms and writing essays and seeing doctors and being tested and stressing and worrying, there's nothing else. The last hurdle was cleared, there's nothing more. I am invited to join the Peace Corps.

She gave me no hints about where I'll be going. All I know is that I'm leaving in September and the rest of the information is in the mail.

It's done. I'm going.

Oh...wow.

One Step Closer...

Oh, wow, that was a lot faster than I thought! I really wasn't expecting any contact from the Placement office for at least a month, and then today I received an e-mail saying that the final assessment of my application has been completed! She said I 'possess a great skill set and demonstrate strong motivation to serve' (hell yeah I do!).

But alas, there was just one more thing between me and that beautiful blue envelope.

Last year, a lot of changes occurred in my life. Big Changes. Apparently, there is a policy in the Peace Corps I didn't know about called the Major Life Change policy (MLC) where they want a full year to have passed between a major life event and the beginning of service. One of my Big Changes happened just over a year ago now and my Placement officer asked me to write a statement about how this event won't effect my service.

Seriously, this is probably the easiest thing I think I've had to do in this whole application process. Because yes, last year was hard. A lot of things in my life changed and it hurt and it was painful. But I have grown as a person because of it. I love where I am now and what I'm doing, and I have never been happier because, honestly, how can you not be happy while living your dreams? The hardships in life are the things that teach us, and I would like to believe that because of all the things that have happened, I am stronger for it. I will be able to be a better volunteer because of all the lessons I have learned about myself and my abilities.

I just sent in my statement, and now my application is in the actual placement stage. I'm still being considered for a September departure to Africa or Central Asia, possibly Eastern Europe. Basically if it's leaving in September, it's fair game, which means the Staging Dates listed on PCwiki don't really help me much in trying to guess where I'm going. Which I think is really cool because I always love a good surprise! Anyways, I was told all of the details about when, where, and what I would be doing would be included in that big, beautiful envelope they are going to send me.

This is really happening. This is actually, really, finally happening. I'm excited and happy and thrilled beyond belief. How can you not be happy as your dream comes true?

The Joys of Limbo

I've had some time to think about this whole Nomination Confusion thing and to get used to the idea that I no longer have a program I am nominated for. A part of me is still generally very confused about how this all happened (I never would have agreed to leave before my Masters program was done, how did I get nominated for a time I couldn't leave?) and another part of me is still worried about the consequences of this Confusion (do they still want me? will I still get an invite? what if they think I'm not dedicated or responsible enough because of this happening?), but as the days go by, these parts grow smaller and smaller. And more and more of me becomes excited.

When I thought I was leaving in September to Eastern Europe / Central Asia, no matter how much I tried, I couldn't keep off of PCwiki and looking at the staging dates and trying to figure out where I was going to go. I had narrowed it down to two or three places, and I had read blogs about them and wondering what life would be like in those places. I was constantly wondering about where I would be going and secretly hoping for one of those two or three places. I know you shouldn't get your heart set on any specific place because it's probably going to change, but I just couldn't help it.

Now, pretty much any place is a possibility. Any program leaving in September or October (or beyond) anywhere in the world is fair game. I gave a quick look at the list of places with Staging in those months, and it's just incredible the wide range of places that are possible: Jordan, Tonga, Ukraine, Mozambique, so on and so forth, on and on. And pretty much every place I read about, that I do a little research into, I get excited about. Each place has their own challenges, their own personality, and sounds simply amazing.

It's funny, now that there are so many more possibilities of where I can go, I am no longer plagued with wondering where I'm going like before. I am no longer hoping for a specific place. That aspect of my restlessness is completely gone. After my quick search through PCwiki, I no longer have the desire of trying to figure out where I might be going. There are just too many places, too many possibilities to even begin to wonder which of them I could be heading to. The entire world is a possibility. It's incredibly liberating and very exhilarating.

As my wonderful dad said: 'It will work out and you will be assigned someplace that you will find interesting and challenging; a place where you can help the people the most.' I am absolutely thrilled to see where that place turns out to be.

So You Wanna Join the Peace Corps?

I got a kick out of this site:

So You Wanna Join the Peace Corps?

Two of my favourite lines -

About packing light:

'If you want to kill two birds with one stone (something that you might actually get to do on some assignments), strap on your luggage and run around your neighborhood. That way you can also begin to get used to people staring at you strangely. It's going to happen.'

About thinking 'Why am I here?' after being in-country for a while:

'In such dire times, also remember that you're pretty much a guest of the government just visiting. Most of the people live there year-round. So stop your bitching.'

Too funny!

That Explains It...

Got an e-mail back from Placement Office. And my oh my, how the ballgame has changed.

At my interview I had been told I was being nominated for a September departure. I am almost certain I had received a letter to this effect. Turns out I was nominated for a program that was leaving mid-July to mid-August.

Ahh...that's why they were so confused about me wanting to leave after September 1st...

I'm not sure how this happened. My master's program doesn't end until August 20th, so I wouldn't be able to leave before then, which I'm sure I had told my recruiter. My saving grace was that on my original application I had put my date of being available to depart as August 15th, which would mean a mid-July to mid-August departure wouldn't have been possible anyways. Someone, somwhere, mixed something up. I'm not sure how, but I guess it happens. Gotta roll with those punches.

I'm still being considered (thank God), but my region is more likely than not going to change since I'm now, basically, not attached to a program since I'm no longer a part of the one I was nominated for. She said she's considering me for departure in September to either Africa or Central Asia, or in October to the Pacific Islands or the Middle East. Basically I can be sent anywhere at any time after September 1st. God, I hope this confusion doesn't penalize me in any way...

There are a lot of emotions going through me right now, but mostly I just feel numb as questions run through my head. How did this happen? Where am I going? When am I going? What if they try to send me to Africa, the only place I said I wouldn't go at the request of my parents? What would I do?

She said she would be done reviewing my application by early August at the latest. So I have at worst two full months to wait and see what happens. Which is fine, I've been waiting so long already, what's a few more months? It'll all work out, I know it will. I really believe this is what I'm meant to do, and I'm sure it'll all work out and I'll go where I'm meant to be.

I guess I'm back to playing the waiting game, only this time it's much more interesting because when I receive my invitation, when I leave and where I go really will be a surprise. No more possible speculation, the entire world is a possibility. Which, you gotta admit, is kind of cool. Fingers crossed!

Stress Relief

I've been having trouble focusing on my reading today because of this latest little development with the Placement Office. I know it isn't much of an issue, it'll work out, but I really want to know what's happening, patiently waiting for an e-mail that hasn't come yet. So I decided to relieve some stress in one of my favourite ways. I baked a cake.

My classmates are well aware by now of how much I enjoy cooking and baking. They even started a little fund to help 'support my habit' (as I like to teasingly say). I find cooking and baking to be an excellent way to take my mind off of things, measuring out ingredients, focusing on mixing things together, having that sense of accomplishment when it comes out of the oven. I love it! And I love sharing my creations with people, love seeing the looks on their faces as they eat, being able to give somebody something they hopefully enjoy. This is why my classmates love me baking - I usually feed it to them!

Now that my cake is done, I still haven't received an e-mail back from the Placement Office. But my mind is clear, I feel much calmer, and hopefully I can now go back to focusing on my reading. Plus, I now have chocolate cake to munch on, and what could be better than that!

Availability Confusion

It's never that easy, huh? Thought I was in the home stretch, but then I wake up to another e-mail from the Placement Office, and now I'm completely on edge. It said something along the lines of that if I want to change my availability date, I have to write a statement explaining why. Except I have expressed no interest in changing my availability date: I was nominated to leave in September and I stated I am available to depart any time after September 1st.

So I wrote them back explaining my confusion, and now I'm just sitting here wondering what this is all about. I mean, I haven't been asked to leave earlier than September, so being available starting on September 1st shouldn't be a problem. And if they want me later than September...well, they wouldn't have sent an e-mail like that, would they? They would have just asked me if I would be willing to leave later, right?

All I can figure is that the confusion arises from the fact that I technically don't graduate with my Masters until December. I will be completely done with my studies in August, I won't even be a student any more after that point, there is just a small time delay between finishing the course and actual graduation so that my thesis can be evaluated. A quirk in the United Kingdom education system I explained in both my interview and in my e-mail.

I don't know. I'm sure it'll work out. Until then I just need to relax, take a deep breath, and see what happens.

Contact!

I have been checking my e-mail account every couple of hours (or more...) every day for the last 24 days, increasingly wondering if it's possible to blow up Gmail from checking it too much. So today, before heading out to a movie, I automatically opened an extra tab for Gmail, reading an article as it loaded, not expecting anything to be there. The tab loaded, and there is was. 'Gmail - Inbox (1)'. My heart skipped. I clicked on the tab. And there it was. An e-mail from Placement Office.

I must admit - I squealed in excitement.

Though I almost had a bit of a panic when I started reading it. The first thing the e-mail asked for was my MA transcript. I had explained in my interview that even though I will be done with my studies in August and will technically no longer be a student after that point, I won't graduate with my MA until December. When I read they wanted a transcript, I was like, 'Aw...crap.' But not to worry! They said not having it won't impede the process, they'll just need it when I have it. So I plan on mentioning in the e-mail I send back with my updated resume, skill addendum, and departure availability how I won't have an official transcript until December, just so they know.

And the skill addendum! It wants my training experience, and even though I have had plenty of hours of training (required by the school I had taught at), I don't have ANY of that information with me. I searched every last file on my computer hoping I had saved something with that type of information in it, but alas, all of my training certificates are safely tucked away in the bottom of a box in a storage unit in Texas. Does me no good there, but what can you do? So I guess I'll just have to leave those spaces blank, which sucks because I DO have training, I just don't remember what it was called, who taught it, how to contact them, et cetera. Oh, well, it'll work out.

Gosh, I'm so excited I could just burst! I'm going to take the rest of the weekend to polish everything and will send it in on Sunday. Can you believe I didn't have to wait multiple more weeks/months for contact? Oh, I'm so happy! On to the home stretch!

Still waiting...

It's been 21 days since I was medically cleared (but who's counting?). Placement Office said my file would probably be under review within 4 - 6 weeks, so I'm about halfway through that period. I know, I know, it'll probably be more along the lines of multiple months, not weeks, before I hear from them, but that doesn't stop a girl from hoping. And this girl sure is hoping. Patience, got to have patience. Been waiting for over a year, what's a few more weeks and/or months for such an incredible adventure?

In the meantime, I've been reading blogs and looking at various programs leaving when and where I've been nominated (thanks to PCwiki - behind Facebook, this is my ultimate procrastination tool), and I have a couple of sneaking suspicions on where I might be heading. I've been reading the blogs by the PCV serving in those places, learning about them, wondering about them. Though I'm not going to set my heart on any place because I know how the Peace Corps likes to keep people on their toes!

But actually, I've recently heard about another program that I would really like to do. And as in 'really like to do' I mean, as soon as I heard about it, I sent an e-mail to my best friend basically squealing in barely contained excitement. It's not in the region I'm nominated for, and it leaves a little later than I'm nominated for, but that's all right in my book since it would be such an amazing opportunity. I'm not going to go into more detail, just in case I don't (or do!) get the program, but it would totally rock my socks off to be sent there. Though it would rock my socks off to be sent anywhere!

Leaving later actually does strike my fancy, though. My first reaction: so I can travel more before heading back to the States! My second reaction: so I can actually spend time with my family and friends! As it currently stands, if I leave in September I'll have just a few weeks between returning from England to going off wherever. I would be fine leaving in September, that's when I told the Peace Corps I would be ready to leave after all, but it would definitely be a whirlwind adventure filled with a lot of emotion. I saw Super Dad and the Sister over Spring Break when we met up in Greece, but the last time I saw everyone else was in December, if not later. So it would be nice to leave a little bit later and have the chance to spend some real time with everyone. And to spend some real time in my favourite restaurants before leaving them again (oh, what I would do for a steak and a big glass of sweet iced tea...or some good tex-mex...).

Hopefully I'll know what's happening within the next few weeks. So that when my friends ask, 'How's the Peace Corps thing coming?' I can say something besides, 'Still waiting...'