Adam Ventures

“The dead end kids” (NY Post) // Unemployment for young adults at 52.2% — one of the reasons I’m applying for the Peace Corps.

On 8 September I sent in my Peace Corps applications online. After submitting them, I was told to expect a packet of information containing basic forms for applying to the Peace Corps. The weekend after I submitted them, my family and I went to Chicago and stayed at the W Hotel (remember the name, I’ll bring it up again).

While in Chicago we took an architectural tour down the Chicago River, visited Millennium Park (saw The Bean), and basically loafed around. We did not plan anything, other than a deep-dish pizza dinner with a friend, so there was plenty of downtime. Nevertheless, we filled that downtime with walking the streets of Chicago.

Upon arriving home, I had received the packet from the Peace Corps. When it arrived there were sheets with general information on the Peace Corps and what a commitment to it would entail, two fingerprint forms, a form for the fingerprint forms, and a return envelope. On the form for the fingerprint forms, there was a note saying that if you lived in the Chicago metropolitan area that they would help you with the fingerprinting.

A: W Hotel, B: Peace Corps regional office

We had stayed only a thousand feet from the recruiting office! I could have had the forms turned in several days earlier and met my recruiter in person! In either case, the difference a few days make would not have mattered much for my Peace Corps applications. They probably weren’t even open over the weekend. I just thought it was very coincidental.

I sent in the necessary forms, and today received an email from my Peace Corps recruiter, with yet more forms to fill out. This time I was able to fill them out in a word processor and send them via email back to him.

Again, we play the waiting game… Next up should be a phone call.

I received the necessary paperwork acknowledging that the Peace Corps received my application. I now need to get my fingerprints printed to be sent off to the FBI, fill out a form, and send my unofficial transcripts back to Peace Corps offices. After that, I’ll be contacted by a recruiter and interviewed. Good to see things moving more quickly than I had imagined.

Update: Forms filled out and waiting in the mailbox…

I have just finished submitting my applications for the Peace Corps. I now have to wait 3 to 4 weeks for a Peace Corps recruiter to contact me and get the ball rolling. Exciting times!

“Thanks again, and good luck!”

2 out of 3 recommendations sent out. Waiting on my boss to answer his voicemail. Do not stand between me and the Peace Corps!