Wow! I am completely overwhelmed with everything. I have spent years of my life yearning to join the Peace Corps and the past year of my life going through the application process. Even though joining the Peace Corps has been something I have wanted to do ever since I heard about it, actually applying was at first one of the most whimsical things I have ever done.
My whole life, I have lived in the Lehigh Valley. I grew up here and even went to college and grad school here. Part of me has always wanted to leave, but I have never taken the steps to do so. Finally Last spring I decided that I was going to apply. The application, I thought, was pretty intensive; it was almost 30 pages of filling out information about myself. Little did I know that the application was actually a fairly easy step in the process and only a small foundation for everything else that I would be required to do. After submitting the application and all of the extra documents that were necessary, I went in for an interview in the NYC regional department. The interview was very exciting and also helpful in realizing some of the realities of joining the Peace Corps. The following day [July 8, 2008] I received a nomination for community development in sub-saharan africa. It all seemed to be happening so quickly.
But then came the difficult part, submitting lots of paperwork concerning your medical and legal status. You are trying to finish all of these things as quickly as possible. But then as soon as that was finished, I simply had to wait. It felt like so long that I had to wait, just to hear that I was medically approved. Even after that happened though, I was doomed to wait again.
My application was finally transferred to the Africa placement office, but I still had to wait. 8 1/2 months after I was nominated for sub-saharan africa I was offered an invitation. Those were some of the most torturous 8 1/2 months of my life. I felt like the fulfillment of my dreams were in the hands of someone else and I had no more control over what was going to happen.
Now looking back, it is easier to understand how there are a lot of steps to the process and placing individuals in correct positions. Just two weeks ago, though, I was squirming and unable to understand why everything was taking so long.
Through this long application journey I have learned that the situation is what you make of it. Along the way I have had a bunch of random opportunities spring up - teaching for one. I decided to accept these opportunities and make the most of what I do have. Even though the Peace Corps was my dream, I had to be prepared for the possibility that it was not going to work out for what ever reasons at this point in my life. Maybe I am only able to say this because I have accepted an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps.
Unfortunately for me, I am currently a graduate student and an adjunct faculty still having responsibilities and tasks to accomplish before I am able to leave. Right now my hugest problem is the distraction that the prospect of Mauritania brings to my everyday thoughts and actions. I have been unable to focus on my daily responsibilities without trying to go through everything that needs to be done before I leave in June.
I am so excited by the opportunity to integrate into a completely different culture that I am not able to concentrate. But I am honestly ok with this fact and I think it is a good thing.
My dreams are finally becoming a reality.
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