Timeline

Seems like all the cool kids in Peace Corps post the timeline of how things worked. And I'm all about bandwagons.

Juneish: Riding my bike home from work, decided to join the Peace Corps, started filling out application. No, seriously.

Julyish: Distracted by moving, don't like writing essays, application languishes.

Early August: Created and did a workshop at Summer Seminar that got me over the hump. Submitted app!

Late August: Interview in Oakland. Nominated the next day! Huzzah. Nomination is the recruiter's recommendation that you go forward. Mine was to Science Teaching in Africa, departing June 2009.

September-October: Doctor/Dentist appts. out the wazoo. No seriously, there was gynecology involved. Submitted all medical paperwork at the end of October.

December 24th: Medically cleared for service! Best Christmas present this year! Ok Mom, maybe the pig was a little bit better.

January 15th: Phone conversation with my placement officer--the person IN CHARGE of where, when, and if I go! Basically a recap and update on things covered in the interview--how does your family feel (my dad hates africa, but loves me anyway), how's your relationship (non-existent), how will you cope (fudgeansweridunnobutiwill).

January16-February 7th: Obsessive compulsive mail-checking for invitation.

February 7th: Online status updates to "Invited." I squee, Amanda cries, Lou and Megan love and hate me at the same time.

February 7th-February 12th: Obsessive compulsive mail checking accelerates, and includes Amanda texting me the status from home when I'm not home to check it as soon as it arrives. Mailman is lucky I never actually saw her coming up the driveway, as I'd likely have tackled her.

February 12th: Cell phone battery dies at work, meaning that Amanda's text message of "Cameroon, June 3rd" doesn't get to me. Hahahahaha.

February 13th: Accepted invitation as "Science Teacher", leaving for staging June 3rd, 2009.

February-June: Insane preparation

June 3rd: Surrender.

June 3rd-6th: Staging in Philly or DC (seems like the last several groups of trainees for Cameroon have gone via Philly, but who knows?)

June 6th 2009-July 1st 2011: Residing in Cameroon!

So there we have it. Just under a year from the first inspiration to the departure. Holy crap, this is actually happening.