Note 1

Well here goes nothing, my first post on the blog that will chronicle my life for the next 2+ years. Looking at some of my fellow invitees blogs they have been at this for awhile and chronicled their application process. I was not that organized and apologize as I know the time line of how it all played out would be helpful to future applicants. So I shall write a brief paragraph telling how it all played out!!

The summer of 2008 (from the end of May till the start of August) I lived at the University of Botswana and worked at a feeding project and an education centre in Gaborone. This was a service learning trip through the civic leadership department of my college. Jokingly I refered to this as my Peace Corps light trip." I had for years considered doing Peace Corps but had always talked myself out of it. That trip gave me new insight into myself and what I wanted to accomplish in my life. I returned home in August and although I missed the continent dearly Peace Corps was not on my mind. ( The blog from that summer can be seen at http://botswanabound.weebly.com/matts-log.html).

I began thinking about Peace Corps again, spoke with a recruiter, and in Janurary of 2009 I had an application submitted. She seemed posotive about my HIV education experince and my volunteer work, but she reminded me it was highly highly competitive. Soon the moment came (after much much paperwork) where I had a two hour web interview with my recruiter. She mentioned she wanted to nominate me but I wouldn't be leaving till early 2010 for a French speaking African country. I was stoked! She informed me that she would not be able to officially nominate me for the trip she had in mind until the start of May.

Near the end of April I missed a call from my recruiter.. I was nervous... why was she calling so early! The next morning the moment the office in Dallas was open I called as I walked to class (I remember it had been raining but the sun was out so it was a nice cool morning). My fingers were trembling! She told me a handful of spots had opened up and she wanted to nominate me for French speaking Africa leaving in September!! I was excited, scared... everything! I called my partner Cole, my family, my friends, and everyone else that was in my phonebook.

I then went through all the medical, eye, dental, legal etc etc etc... piles of paperwork. I won't lie, there were times when I wondered if it was all worth it! However, I kept my head up and kept working through it all.

Time whittled away... I cleared everything.. dotted each i and crossed each t.... news never came. I watched as mid July went by. I became worried and started sending e-mails (which in turn directed me to other e-mails) in time I was told they would tell me at a minimum of 6 weeks prior to departure if I was officially invited. Time wore on.. and on. Finally I got an e-mail:

Hello Matthew,

My name is ______________, I am your Placement Officer at Peace Corps. I am currently considering your application for placement. I would like to arrange a 30-minute phone interview with you to complete the final evaluation of your application. Please let me know a day and time, beginning Thursday, August 12th when you would be available for a phone interview and the best number at which to reach you. I am available Monday through Friday between 9:30am to 5:30pm EST.

Thank you,

I was again excited.. scared.. everything. (plus confused... the 12th was a Wednesday). The interviewed occurred and the first thing I was told was that I would not be leaving in Sept. and would be renominated for another trip. I was pretty much heartbroken.... buuuuut!!!! I then was told I was nominated and invited to leave mid October! My packet was to be in the mail and arrive within the next 7-10 business days.

I knew it would be hard times.. then it occurred! On the 17th of August I received my invitation packet. I accepted on the 20th and have since completed more paperwork and began to get prepared.



Yeah that is what I have thus far... I'm prepping... working at my old high school.. and trying to network with people would will be staging with me!

Here we go!