»Application Process
September 2013: I officially decide to pursue international work for my post-graduation plans and start looking deeper into my options.
October 2013: I talk to one of my professors in the Texas A&M agriculture department, who introduces the Peace Corps to me. After talking to my professor, I look at the Peace Corps website and see that a recruiter will be in College Station the next week.
November 4, 2013: I meet with the recruiter, and after talking to him I decide to continue pursuing the Peace Corps. The next day I tell my mom and step-dad about my interest, unsure of what their reaction will be. They are A) Not surprised at my interest, and B) Supportive of my interest.
November 7, 2013: I notify my student loan provider that I am interested in applying to the Peace Corps and ask about loan deferment options if I become a volunteer. My loans are eligible for deferment during Peace Corps service.
November 8, 2013: I begin filling out my Peace Corps application online.
»»January 31, 2014: I officially submit my Peace Corps application. It took well over eight hours, spread across three months, to complete my application.
March 10, 2014: While driving to Houston to work as an intern at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, I receive a phone call from my recruiter and schedule an interview for the following week.
»»March 17, 2014 (St. Patrick's Day!): I interview with my recruiter at a Starbucks in College Station. I dress as I would for a regular job interview in business-casual attire, and am actually dressed nicer than my recruiter... Always err on the side of professionalism. I feel confident that the interview went well, although I don't want to assume too much.
March 18, 2014: I send my recruiter a follow-up thank you email as I would have done for a regular job interview.
»»March 21, 2014: I receive a voicemail from my recruiter that I am nominated to work in agriculture extension programs for countries without a language prerequisite. The Peace Corps office had phone issues, so there was a delay in my recruiter getting back to me after the interview.
March & April 2014: I receive and turn in my legal kit, and also continue paperwork to get a medical pre-clearance.
April 16, 2014: Two days after completing additional medical pre-clearance tasks, I receive an email saying there will be a delay for nominees waiting for a medical pre-clearance because of a high volume of final medical clearances being reviewed. My review process gets put on hold for almost two months.
April 2014: I attend a Peace Corps event in College Station for Texas A&M returned volunteers, new volunteers, and nominees. I find it very valuable to meet other Peace Corps Aggies and especially to listen to the returned volunteer's experiences.
May 10, 2014: I graduate from Texas A&M University with a B.S. in Agriculture Communications and Journalism. With my pending Peace Corps process, my post-graduation plans are still up in the air. While waiting to see what happens with thePeace Corps, I plan to take a few weeks off after graduation and the end of my part-time job to spend time with family and friends.
June 5, 2014: I receive a message that my pre-clearance is being reviewed and am asked to submit additional medical documents.
June 30, 2014: The day after I decide to actively pursue a temporary job for the fall, the principal from the school I had worked part-time at offers me full-time work for the next school year. With an understanding that I might leave during the year for thePeace Corps, we work out the job details and I accept the offer. I make arrangements to move back to College Station in July.
July 2, 2014: I receive another message requesting one more document for my medical pre-clearance review.
July 4, 2014: I spend a fun Independence Day with my siblings and nephews... Will I be here to do it again next year, or will I be in another country?
»»July 7, 2014: After a long and uncertain wait, I finally get an official medical pre-clearance and move on to the placement/competitive review stage. Whoop!!
July 9, 2014: I receive an email that I also have an official legal pre-clearance. I didn't realize I hadn't received that already!
July 16, 2014: The Peace Corps revamps the application process to make it simpler and shorter... I applied just a few months before this update and had to go through the long process. I'm not bitter at all! ;)
July 2014: I move back to College Station to live with friends until I find fall housing and start work again in early August. I use this time to have fun with friends, prepare for my job, read recreationally, focus on and improve my personal workouts, and get long-needed dental work.
August 1, 2014: I get an email requesting that I fill out a form to update my placement preferences. I go along with it, and choose from the displayed options an agriculture job in Ecuador, a youth development job in Peru, and for my third option... Any country, any job I'm needed for. Might as well play a little more Peace Corps roulette!
August 5, 2014: I receive a response that I am being considered for a Food Security assignment in Madagascar, departing February 2015. I consider Madagascar to be the Peace Corps jackpot... I'm totally excited, but also surprised and slightly confused because Madagascar wasn't even an option on the new preference form I filled out. I think I got caught in the transition of the old and new application processes. I'm supposed to know the Peace Corps' final decision by October!
August 7, 2014: The Placement Office requests an updated resume, a completed skill placement questions document, and a pre-departure French language study plan for the Madagascar program.
August 13, 2014: I submit my new documents. All the paperwork from the last few months has been exhausting, but I'm still pushing forward!
August 14, 2014: My first day back at work! I enjoyed having the summer off, but I am glad to start working again. This is my first full-time job.
»»»September 4, 2014: While at work, I receive my official email invitation to serve in Madagascar as a Food Security Agriculture Extension Volunteer! I break the news to a co-worker friend and then call my mom. I'm excited, but also feel like I'm in shock!
»Pre-Departure
»»September 7, 2014: I accept the invitation to serve in Madagascar. I was tempted to accept my invitation immediately after receiving it, but realized it would be helpful to my mom if I let her read my Volunteer Assignment Description first. My mind was already made up to accept, but I wanted to keep her included in the decision.
September 2014: I notify the school that I will be departing for Peace Corps service in February, so I will end my employment at the end of the fall semester. I also join a Peace Corps Madagascar Facebook group to get connected to current volunteers and others in my training group.
October 2014: I schedule and complete most of my medical exams and tasks. I also send in my passport and visa documents.
October 14, 2014: After checking on my pre-departure preparation progress, I realize that I still haven't received my Learning Space login information email after accepting my invitation. Apparently, this was an issue with others in my departure group as well. I send an email to Learning Space and get a response with my information the same day.
November 2014: My student loan grace period ends and I begin making payments. I'm glad I will get a deferment while in Madagascar!
November 5, 2014: I submit an updated resume and aspiration statement for Peace Corps Madagascar.
November 19, 2014: I receive additional chicken pox and polio shots to meet Peace Corps requirements. I get them at a Walgreen's in College Station. I am unable to cover the cost for both these and my Yellow Fever shot, so I request and receive an deadline extension from the Medical Office for Yellow Fever.
November 21, 2014: I sign up for a Peace Corps Madagascar mentor/mentee program.
December 12, 2014: I go to another Walgreen's to get my Yellow Fever shot. The pharmacist catches from my form that I've had another live vaccine (chicken pox) administered within four weeks, so I am unable to receive the Yellow Fever shot to meet my new deadline. The previous Walgreen's did not enter my information correctly into the computer system, nor did they tell me that it had to be at least four weeks between my chicken pox and Yellow Fever immunizations. I should've done more research myself. I notify the Medical Office of the situation and my nurse graciously allows me another extension.
December 19, 2014: I have my last day of work at school. A few tears roll from both myself and the kids. I use my last week as an opportunity to talk to them more about why I'm joining the Peace Corps and the work I'll be doing. These kids are important to me, and I hope to keep in contact with them while abroad.
December 21, 2014: I start doing research on the Peace Corps World Wise Schools program. After Christmas break, I plan to see if my school of former employment would be interested in it.
»»December 22, 2014: I am finally able to get my Yellow Fever shot and finish my medical kit. I get my final medical clearance.
December 23, 2014: I move out of College Station to go back to my ranch in the Texas Hill Country until my February departure.
January 2015: Starting at Christmas, I spend as much time as possible with family and friends. I go on short roadtrips with family, travel to see family members, spend a day a week babysitting my nephews, and spend a few days here and there with friends. Even in the midst of final Peace Corps prep chaos, I want to invest in my relationships. It will be hard to leave so many people I love... I don't regret spending so much time with them.
January 20, 2015: I visit my school of former employment. The staff, kids, and parents give me a small send off... I receive cute handmade cards, a basket of goods, lots of hugs, lots of encouragement, and a breakfast to die for. Working there was wonderful, and the people there were (are) even better. The Peace Corps has big shoes to fill ;)
January 20, 2015: I break a tooth (back molar that had a large filling) and get a crown. I have to update my Peace Corps dental documents, which is the worst part. But I'm glad I broke a tooth stateside and not in Madagascar!
January 24, 2015: My family throws a send-off party for me. I enjoy seeing many family members and friends and am greatly encouraged by them.
»»February 9, 2015: I leave Texas for staging in Philadelphia. The next day, I leave the USA and arrive in Madagascar on February 11!
