Peace Corps

I’ve obviously skipped a few months of keeping up with this task.

I’m officially a Peace Corps Volunteer now. I’m in the Philippines and I’m hoping that I’ll be able to accomplish something…nay, anything…in the next two years.

I guess I can’t mark this “thing” as done yet then…because I still have a ways to go.

So…I’ve been anxiously awaiting the day my damn invitation arrives in the mail…

...or, maybe I should say, “I’m waiting for the day that my invitation arrives in the mouth of the snail that hitched a ride on the back of a giant tortoise as they casually ambled their way across the U.S.A….Washington D.C. to Texas…stopping at each Civil War battleground along the way making sure to stay for at least one day in order to soak in all the Dixie culture.”

Seriously. How long does it take the USPS to deliver a freakin’ envelope that went in the mail on December 6th???

SO, until that special day comes..and I’ve pretty much stopped thinking it’s going to be tomorrow…all I know is that I’ll still mostly likely be headed to some country in Asia this May.

All the other anxiety in my life revolves around this in some way, but I’m going to rant about that elsewhere.

I drove my ass 220 miles up to Dallas yesterday…actually, I drove the first part of the trip Wednesday afternoon and then stayed with a friend…and then the 220 miles BACK yesterday…for my initial Peace Corps interview. Did I mention my truck has no a/c? Oh..and it’s 101 degrees outside these days.

I figure it went well…my recruiter nominated me for a community development position..I think. It’s all so ambiguous.

I keep swinging between feeling pure excitement and confidence…and then violently over to crippling anxiety.

Well, I guess it can be a bit overwhelming. But, I think I can do it.

Part II…

Turned in my background check, fingerprint charts, some more skillz sheets and ONE of my handwritten recommendations…another one was filled out online..and the LAST one, well…

See, here’s the thing…I’ve held out on finding my employer reference because I haven’t really had a work supervisor in over two years. Or, if I have had a supervisor, it’s been in at a job where they know my name and that’s about it…I don’t think that’s this is a particularly bad thing, but it has left me kinda strapped.

So, anywho…I hit up my last full-time boss and she “agreed” to be my reference. And by this I mean that she agreed to sign a reference form that I wrote for myself…whatev…I really wanted to work with her, but..well…I really don’t like this woman.

I don’t know what else to say. She’s manipulative and undermining, but she always generally liked me..so, that’s what I got.

It’s done.

Or rather, I figure it’s started.

I submitted my online application and basic health check today. It only took me, um, seven months, but it’s an accomplishment for myself that’s far beyond the scope of words…for now.

The email said I should be contacted by a recruiter in 3 to 4 weeks. So, now for more fun…

I get to work on digging up 10 years worth of scattered medical records and compiling notarized copies of my financial obligations. Now THAT sounds like fun…

Well, I’ll be partially unemployed (until further notice) in a couple weeks…so, it’ll give me something to do.

I now have two essays that what I would consider “nearly complete.” Good base…and just need some polishing…and editing…

Ok. So they’re not “done.” I’m just not very good I focusing on formal, non-rambling writing…then add drinking excessive amounts of coffee while trying to write…and it turns into a jittery babble fest.

But, I’m feelin’ pretty good about them. In fact, if I can’t find a job tomorrow (thanks TAKS test..), I might even have it REALLY done!

Actually, I first looked into doing this almost 7 years ago..yikes…but, the twisted path that I’ve chosen to follow has only lead me to action now.

I’ve finished the online application, I’ve secured my three references, and now I’m stuck on, sigh, the essays.

You’d think that’d I’d be able to write a freakin’ 250-500 word essay these days! I mean, with my college degree, and let’s not even talk about how much I bullshit on my blog, or someone else’s blog, or over IM…but NOOOO, I can’t figure out how to write about a cultural experience…or, how I’m a leader.

Well, it’ll happen, damn it. Ok?