Timeline of Hope

December 07 - Sent in completed application including references

January 08- Sent in required legal documentation

February 08- Interviewed mid February- *Nominated for Health- Extension program in Sub-Saharan Africa leaving end of September.

March 08- Received Medical packet and began completing appointments

April 08- *Completed & cleared Medical - waiting for dental appointment

May 08- *Completed & cleared Dental- all documentation is complete and will be sent to my PO

June 08- Waiting to hear from Placement

July 08- Waiting to hear from Placement still...

Today is July 28th- I'm concerned as to whether or not I'll be sent an invitation. Some days I'm hopeful and excited, others I'm frustrated and disappointed, today I'm frustrated and disappointed. The Peace Corps placement process is a delicate one. They review information that has been accumulating since the day you applied. They review your interview, medical, dental, and legal information carefully to match it appropriately to a program best suited to your abilities and hopefully your interests.

They are the match makers- I need a match- else I feel I'll explode.

On the bright side however, if I'm invited to serve I will hear such information within the next 3 weeks as the Peace Corps has to issue invitations 6 weeks prior to the tentative date of departure. Therefore, since my estimated date of departure is the end of September, the very latest that I can be invited would be mid August...

I hope I hope I hope I get in!

"Hope is passion for what is possible"- Soren Kierkegaard

The fact that it's still possible is what keeps me going... in the mean time please meet Dannelle the overtly anxious stress bomb of doom. :-)

Where I find myself these days...

"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.'
Start where you stand,
and work with whatever tools you may
have at your command,
and better tools will be found as you go along."
~ Napoleon Hill

As a recent graduate I'm both frustrated and blessed to temporarily be apart of the education system. Frustrated as I'm meandering through these past months waiting anxiously for new curve balls to be thrown, to hear for new information from the Peace Corps, to learn of where I'll be spending the next 27 months of my life; however, blessed because I wouldn't have it any other way. It's a breathe of fresh air.

Start where you stand.

I think this statement interests me so much in part because it's so contrary to the culture we live in. We go to school to become educated. We become educated to teach others and to obtain a job to maintain ourselves. We live in a culture of stepping stones, of progressive growth. To start where we stand doesn't necessarily imply any previous knowledge or growth- it's impulsive, it's without instruction, it's a clean slate.

And so I find this very appropriate considering where I find myself these days: Prepared for life outside of the system, to fly by the seat of my pants and to learn how to adapt along the way. I can't think of anything more thrilling.