Timeline
To the best of my knowledge (and email and phone records) this is a timeline of my Peace Corps experience.
Timeline
20 May 2009 – I begin my application to serve in the Peace Corps. In the coming months I’ll read up on the Peace Corps to know what I’m getting myself into and I’ll mull over the commitment that I would make to the Peace Corps.
8 September 2009 – I finish my application to serve in the Peace Corps.
12 September 2009 – Paperwork (fingerprint kits, FBI background check form, and a request for college transcript) arrives at my door from the Peace Corps. At the time, however, I am on vacation in downtown Chicago. Unbeknownst to me I was a mere 2 blocks from the Chicago Peace Corps offices!
17 September 2009 – I am assigned to a Peace Corps recruiter. He sends me forms to fill out so that he has a better idea of my qualifications.
21 September 2009 – The deadline for applications to be submitted in order to be considered for a 2010 staging date (the date when you go from civilian to Peace Corps Trainee.
27 October 2009 – I receive a call from my recruiter saying that he is sorry he hasn’t been in contact with me but that it won’t be too much longer. He says that he has been busy recruiting over the summer and should have some time within the next 2 weeks to formally interview me.
9 November 2009 – The interview with my recruiter. After asking me a variety of questions he concludes the call with rather sobering news. There aren’t any positions available in the programs I requested in the area I requested (South or Central America). He said that he would be receiving an updated list within the next month or so. In the meantime he will put my application on “temporary withdrawal”, a term that sounds much worse than it is.
10 November 2009 – My application is technically on “temporary withdrawal”. Basically means that the application is put on hold until new positions are available. The status keeps the system from thinking that the applicant has lost interest in the Peace Corps and subsequently deleting the application.
24 November 2009 – I receive a call from my Recruiter saying that he is leaving his position as a recruiter and that I’ll be assigned a new recruiter.
10 January 2010 – I call the Peace Corps offices on a Sunday and leave a message explaining that I have not be reassigned a new recruiter. They follow up the next day, get my name and other information and tell me that they will assign me a recruiter quickly.
13 January 2010 – My new recruiter gets in contact with me.
22 January 2010 – My recruiter nominates me to serve with the Peace Corps! Thanks, Jeffery!
23 January 2010 – My application is activated.
26 January 2010 – The Peace Corps offices send me a medical kit to fill out.
28 January 2010 – I receive Office of Medical Services approval to complete the medical kit at a VA hospital. (For Peace Corps applicants, go to PeaceCorps.gov and sign in. Click on My Application on the left, then click Medical Evaluation, and then click Reimbursement. Information can be found on the second-to-last section.)
30 January 2010 — The medical kit arrives at my door.
1 February 2010 — I complete the dental and eye exam forms. I needed a full mouth series (12 x-rays) at the dentist’s office. At the eye care place they simply transcribed the notes from my chart to the Peace Corps form.
3 February 2010 — I saw the doctor today for the physical exam. They took urine and blood tests and I should have the results hopefully sometime next week.
5 February 2010 — I went back to the doctor’s office to show them my arm (the tuberculin test needs 48 hours to elapse) and they surprised me by having the blood work done early. The packet of paperwork, including the forms for reimbursement, is now sitting in the mailbox ready to go.
15 February 2010 — The final lab report missing from my medical packet was faxed to Peace Corps offices.
18 February 2010 — My online Toolkit at PeaceCorps.gov updates to show they have received my medical packet.
27 February 2010 — The dental packet was sent back for being incomplete.
01 March 2010 — The checks for reimbursement for the dental and medical checkups arrived.
29 June 2010 — I receive a call from my Peace Corps screening nurse requesting for one more blood test regarding my hypothyroidism. Papers were sent to me detailing the information I would need to get from the doctor.
12 July 2010 — Send in the papers regarding my hypothyroidism by fax to my medical screening nurse.
13 July 2010 — My toolkit updates, removing the hold on medical.
27 July 2010 – Find out that my departure may be pushed back.
02 August 2010 — I have bloodwork done in a last ditch effort to see if I’m within normal levels.
03 August 2010 — Results come back and I am within normal levels!
04 August 2010 — Faxed in the results. Later, medically cleared!
12 August 2010 — I receive a call from Placement informing me that I was not medically cleared in time for my original nomination. I am renominated for a departure in January with a new Environmental Education assignment.
13 September 2010 – My Peace Corps Online Toolkit updates. An invitation has been sent. So soon?
15 September 2010 – Invitation: Sustainable Community Tourism in Guatemala 2011-2013!
04 January 2011 – Staging in DC
05 January 2011 – I officially become a PCT as I step foot on Guatemalan soil
25 March 2011 – I officially become a PCV
