Nothing

It's been a while since I posted, so I thought I'd post.  Just to post.

I really have nothing to say other than: I will be working with some Pre-MBA Saudi Arabian students this summer.  I'll be teaching American Culture while helping them with their English.

Other than that nothing has been happening.  My medical clearance paperwork is still 3 sections short of completion and it'll have to wait until I get some more money.  So I'm working.  I'm actually at work right now.  Hurray for productivity, right?

Hope you're all well.

☮ & ❤

Two exams down, one and a whole bunch of needles and radiation to go!

Just over a week ago I received my medical/dental clearance paperwork in the mail.  I had done a lot of research prior to getting it so I knew exactly what I needed to do.  I had also read the experiences of a few people in their quest to volunteer and medical clearance clearly sounded like the hardest part.  One guy I read about spent over $1000 trying to get cleared!

So before I even got my paperwork I had researched the stuff I needed to do:

• Clinical Examination (aka a physical)
• Laboratory Results (blood test, urinalysis, complete blood count, etc.)
• Tuberculosis Skin Test
• Immunizations (tetanus, MMR, polio, chicken pox)
• Special Evaluation (separated shoulder)
• Dental Exam (including x-rays)
• Optical Exam

I checked on how much this would cost and just for the first three bullets I would have had to pay over $700.00. Ridiculous. Then add on the dental exam and optical exam?!  I thought this would be the highest hurdle/brick-wall-covered-in-glass-with-barbed-wire-on-top.

In reading everything on the Peace Corps website I found out that VA Hospitals routinely do full Peace Corps evaluations for free.  Jackpot.  Except for the part where the VA in Spokane has had trouble getting the Peace Corps to pay them.  Fail.

So the VA won't work.  Then I realized, I know a doctor!  Last night I finished my physical free of charge thanks to a family friend, Susan Coffin!  The physical was the most expensive part of the whole deal at over $200.00 at Rockwood Clinic here in Cheney.  I guess the hurdle just got shorter.

Susan also referred me to a friend of hers who is going to do the special  exam for my separated shoulder.  That'll be done on Friday.

On top of the physical that I just finished I remember asking my optometrist if he could sign off on my optical exam seeing as I just had one about a month ago and he was all for it.

Everything seems to be falling into place on its own, but I can't get content.  I have to see this through to the end.


☮ & ❤

The Beginning…

Hello! So, this is the blog that I will hopefully update frequently while I'm volunteering in the Peace Corps.

On April 29^th 2011 I was officially nominated for the Peace Corps as an English teacher. From what I've been told, if I am officially accepted I will be serving somewhere in Eastern Europe or Central Asia (see the link on the left) and I will be leaving in March 2012. During the application process that I started in early February I requested to be placed in Eastern Europe, so this it was great news getting the nomination for my preference.

I've been questioned constantly about volunteering and the process in general ever since I began applying. It's kind of overwhelming. People seem to be amazed with the news that I am going through with this. Maybe it hasn't hit me yet, but I feel very down to Earth about volunteering. It's just something that I've had on the top of my "bucket list" for a while.

For those who don't know about the Peace Corps, it is complete non-profit volunteer work. I'll work/live in a foreign country for 27 months where I'll teach English as a second language. I'm trained to teach social studies, so it will be interesting how well I can adapt. It's definitely going to be a learning experience both in the classroom and outside. My greatest strength is my determination and I think that it showed through in the application process. For those who don't know me, I'm a pescetarian (fancy word for a vegetarian who also eats fish). Depending on where I volunteer I may have to start eating meat again. I've been asked by my recruiter about it and I have no problems with a change in lifestyle. That doesn't mean I'll be forced to eat meat but in situations where it would be rude not to I will definitely take one for the team and show that I can acculturate. After all, this idea/adventure is bigger than me.

My next step is to try and earn an official invitation to volunteer. I'll be receiving medical, dental, and legal clearance paperwork to complete and it could take some time. In the mean time I will also be trying to volunteer at EWU in the ESL department so that I can learn how to be effective once I am in a foreign country around people who can't speak a word of English.

I think it kind of just set in a little bit… Imagine yourself in a place where nobody can understand you.


☮ & ❤