10 weeks and counting

So,  I'm leaving in about 10 weeks for Kyrgyz Republic and I'm trying to fit in as many fun things to do with friends and family before I leave. 

I'm teaching my 2 1/2 year old nephew to ice skate!!  It's been fricken COLD in Chicago (I guess its been cold everywhere cense everyone is getting snow) and the pond behind my parents house is frozen so we have been playing hockey on it. 

I'm also trying to saving up as much money as possible but with 4 trips set up with friends its kinda hard to do.  I'll be visiting Vegas, New York, DC, and Vancouver in the next 10 weeks!!  I'm super excited!!  I consider these plane rides practice for when I take that billion hour plane ride half way around the world in March. 

I just got my family set up with Skype.......I'm hoping I'll have some sort of internet access even if it's just a couple times a month.  Welcome to the 2000's family!!! WOW a computer that acts like a phone?!?!  NO WAY!!! 

I'm still not really sure what to pack.  I have these dresses that make me look really dressed up (and my roommate tell me they make me look about 25 which is shocking b/c most people ask me if i'm even old enough to drive.) and everything that I keep reading says that Kyrgyz Republic is a dressy place so I'm thinking these dresses, black pants and 2 pairs of jeans. Hmmmmm........... I'm sure I'll regret bringing/not bringing something. 

I'm also hoping that once we get at staging we are able to leave the hotel for one last bar/party night because my birthday is the next week!!!  I'll keep my fingers crossed!!!!! :-)

Kyrgyz Republic March 25th 2011 HERE I COME!!!!

I just got an invitation to Kyrgyz Republic leaving March 25th 2011!!!  I just started this blog to connect with others leaving and also to keep my family up to date.  If your going send me an email at medicnicole85@yahoo.com!!  See you there!!

Nicole

Peace Corps Time Line

Peace Corps Timeline

I’m writing this because during my application process I could never find a reliable timeline.  This is 100% accurate!!

March 10^th 2010 – Completed my application

March 21^st 2010 – All references done

April 1^st 2010 – Got a call from a Peace Corps rep and was told due to me not having a Bachelors degree my application was on permanent hold. He said he was going to talk to Washington Office to see if they could find a program for me.  In the mean time he sent me a package for finger prints and background check.

April 9^th 2010 – Received package

April 14^th 2010 – Sent back the finger prints and background check.

3 Months Later

 July 10^th 2010 – Got a call from Peace Corps rep and said that because I have so much experience (Paramedic, 5 years experience as emergency room tech) they are going to waive the degree and proceed with the application process.  I was told I was the first person in the Chicago Peace Corps office that they allowed to waive the BA degree.  They assigned me a recruiter and said they would call me for an interview. 

July 16^th 2010 – Recruiter called to introduce herself, see if I had any questions, and said she was mailing me a package with things I needed to fill out and an Email with things to fill out.  (Financial Obligation, Romance Involvement ext.) She wanted it all back before August 6^th.

July 19^th 2010 – Emailed back the Financial Obligation, Romance Involvement ext. (The stuff on the email)

July 30^th 2010 – Still didn’t get the package in the mail so I emailed my recruiter.

August 2^nd 2010 – Recruited emailed back and said she didn’t email the package because I had already done it.  And to call to set up for an interview.

August 20^th 2010 – Interview with recruiter

August 25^th 2010 – Nominated for Health Extension Services in Central Asia for end of March 2011.  Recruiter called and said congrats!!! And she is mailing me the official letter and a medical package will be on the way.

August 27^th 2010 – Got an Email saying there was an update on my application.  They mailed my medical kit.

August 31^st 2010 – Received medical package in the mail.  Scheduled all the appropriate doctor’s appointments. (Medical, Dental, Eye Doc)

September 2010 – 2 Doctors appointments (including blood work, Pap test and a crap load of paper work), 2 eye doctor appointments (eye exam, Glasses/Contact fitting exam) and 2 dental appointments (cleaning and fixed a chipped tooth.) 

September 27^th 2010 – Mailed my medical package back to Washington Office.

October 1^st 2010 – Got an Email saying there was an update on my application.  They received my medical kit. And Dental Clearance.

“Peace Corps received the results of your physical exam on October 1^st 2010. If the program you are nominated for is not scheduled to leave in the next 4 months you may not hear from Medical until the time of departure is closer. Currently those programs scheduled to leave in the next 4 months are being reviewed. For applicants leaving within 4 months Peace Corps may request additional medical information. Please respond quickly to these requests.”

December 7^th 2010 – Got an Email saying that a medical decision was made and to look for a letter in the mail

December 8^th 2010 – Got another Email saying that my application was on legal hold for an underage drinking ticket I got in 2004.   I had to write a personal statement and answer some questions about drinking.

December 9^th 2010 – Got my letter in the mail.  It says I’m medically cleared and that my application was sent to the Placement office.

December 10^th 2010 - I got an Email from the placement office saying they wanted an updated resume and one more recommendation from a friend who is also a coworker.  I sent the resume on the 10^th and my friend faxed the recommendation on the 11^th.

December 20^th 2010 – I got a voice mail from my placement officer saying she has some follow-up questions and to please call her back.  I called back but she wasn’t there so I left a message on her answering phone.

December 21^st 2010 – When I was at work my placement officer called again and left another message.  I didn’t want to wait to call back when I got home because it was going to be too late (I work 6a-6p and it would have been 8p in DC) so I called during my lunch break and she sent the invite to Central Asia in the mail.

December 22^nd 2010 – Got an Email saying my application was updated online.  I looked and it said they sent my invite package in the mail.

I'll update more as it happeneds