Getting Excited....

I didn't think I would be writing any blogs until I got closer to leaving, but I'm already getting antsy! I want to go, now!

One of the guys I work with in the Career Center is from Benin, his name is Lee (actually Azatassou). Benin is one of the former French colonies in Africa. So, I could end up there on my assignment! Anyway, I've been talking to Lee about all of the French speaking countries. Here is the list of countries where I might be! -
- Mauritania
- Mali
- Senegal
- The Gambia
- Guinea (French and English)
- Sierra Leone
- Liberia (French and English)
- Togo
- Benin
- Cameroon
- Niger
- Burkina Faso

I know it's a long list...but it's something! :) I'll have my doctor's appointments finished by December 18th and can mail in my medical paperwork and hopefully get an answer asap!

That's all for now. I'm exhausted!

Interview + Answer!

My interview was Friday...it went awesome! I should have blogged about it Friday, because by Tuesday I had an answer - NOMINATION!!

Basically, my interview included normal interview questions, but the last 20 minutes or so were more personal questions. Like, how I'm going to handle different types of food, or perhaps very minimal living conditions (think mud hut). She also asked me how I would react to witnessing domestic violence, especially in a place where it wasn't taken seriously (against the law).

My interview felt really successful, in fact my interviewer told me that I seemed to "be a perfect fit for the Peace Corps." So, I had high hopes going into the weekend and following week.

The interviewer called me on Tuesday (while the little girl I babysit was asleep) and gave me the good news!! YAY! First, she asked me about my departure date. On my application I wrote that I would be ready to leave on August 1st. However, she had an assignment that she felt I was qualified for that begins in mid July. I readily and excitedly said I could start in June if need be. She then asked me if I knew how to ride a bicycle - yes! Then she asked if I would be willing to take a course in French - yes! Soooo I'm tentatively scheduled to go to NW Africa (where they speak French) in Mid-July and teach English (among other things)!! woohooo

This assignment is contingent on me quickly and successfully completing the medical requirements (Physical, Dentist and Eye Doctor) and the placement officer agreeing that that's the best place for me (usually the case). I am nervous and excited and everything else. I'll be taking French 102 in the Spring (so I have to try and catch up with 101 over break to be successful in 102...GU doesn't offer 101 in the Spring, unfortunately).

Soo, I won't know more for a while, but I think I should get in the habit of blogging, so people know what's going on while I'm living somewhere where I can't just call anyone up :)

Interview!

My interview for Peace Corps is this Friday....I am SO nervous/giddy/excited!

I've never wanted and planned to do something for so long. I decided I wanted to be a Peace Corps volunteer when I was in 7th grade. I decide I want to do things all the time and change my mind the next hour, day, week...but Peace Corps I've wanted to do for 9 years! It feels destined...hopefully it works out....otherwise this blog will be me freaking out about what I'm going to do after I graduate college.

My back up plan, thus far, includes applying to (ordered from best alternative to 'worst' alternative):
1. Americorps NCCC
2. Refugee Resettlement Agencies throughout the United States
3. Americorps VISTA
4. WA State DOC (or other state DOC's...I just have connections here :)
5. Accenture Consulting
6. Dept of Veteran Affairs (pretty much all states are hiring right now, obviously)
7. Spokane Mental Health
8. Graduate School (uggg, hopefully not)

I'm doing mini practice interviews at the Career Center's "Speed Mock Interviews" tomorrow night, so that should be good practice. I also plan to do a practice interview with someone from the Career Center and I've already started writing out answers to potential questions! Considering this is my third year working for the Career Center I really should not be nervous...but it is my future in question, so is it really that bad to worry?