Okay, I'm not really a schlemiel...but it sounded like a good title for a post.

I fedexed my appeal materials to OMS the other day. They have received them and they have even altered my toolkit status (not that I can actually glean much from that). It used to say, "HOLD" and now it no longer says that; rather it says my medical application is under review, once again. I hope that is actually true. Based on the most recent conversation I had with my nurse, my understanding is that when my materials arrived they would first go back to the person who made the MNQ (medically not qualified) decision. If that person decides that the materials I submitted are enough to warrant a second review, then my information is forwarded on to the review board. So there are essentially two more stages (of this portion of the medical clearance) process for me to get through (and then God knows what else)...a yes or a no from one person, and if yes, then yes or no from the board. And the board meets once per week, reviewing 3 cases per meeting.

I called my nurse, trying to get a little more info, left a message, and then realized it is Veteran's Day. So, I wait until Monday to follow-up. And if there is one thing I have gotten used to during this application process (to my shagrin), it is waiting. In the meantime, life is good. I am beginning to explore Peace Corps alternatives, in case I get a final medical disqualification one day soon.

If you are soon-to-embark on the health status review and have ANY concerns about issues that might come up during the review, I highly recommend investigating this page from peacecorpsonline.org

It explains very thoroughly the PC's internal views about 12 step programs as well as any other health-related concerns under the sun. These guidelines were very hard to find and apparently very hard to obtain originally. They were published in 2006, and it is my understanding that no one has been able to extract a more recent version since. (If I am wrong and someone has found one, please let me know). The individual who obtained these screening guidelines actually had to to so by citing the Freedom of Information Act. Talk about a tight-lipped bureaucracy! And yet, I still hope they'll take me ;)

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical ClearanceThe purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

I don't want to give anyone who might be reading this blog the idea that I've dropped out of the application process since my last post. I did finally receive a letter, which by the way was post-marked a day after my phone conversation with OMS. I'm glad I called them to check in. So now I'm working on collecting letters from my doctor and therapist in support of my appeal. For a medical appeal, the review board only wants to see letters from medical practitioners providing new details on my "conditions" that were not originally given. I'm hoping that just by virtue of these testaments being in letter form, that they will perhaps be more helpful than my original reviews. While the initial questionnaires required from an applicant's therapists and doctors do have long answer sections, I think they still may not present a comprehensive picture of a person, the way that a full, cohesive letter might be able to. We shall see. I was a little bummed that they don't want to see letters of support from all of my friends and employers who have since offered to write such things on my behalf. Pretty heart-warming to know I'm surrounded by so many people who believe in me though :)

My thoughts are this: I'm not giving up, but if I am still denied after appealing I'll look for other opportunities for PC-kinda service. This whole saga has shown me that I really do have the capacity to go through a rigorous application process. (Now 30 years old, I haven't attempted such a thing in over 10 years!) I'm sure the experience will serve me well even if it ends at the medical clearance stage.

Also, in the last year, while trying to bolster my PC-related skills, I have had the honor of doing some super amazing community service projects. Recently (through NY Cares) I worked with PS 616k, the Brooklyn High School for Leadership & Community Service, to create a mural for their cafeteria. 616k is a special school that catches kids 16-20 years old before they fall through the cracks in the school system. They put a lot of emphasis on second chances.

I spent a lot of time working with the principal and other staff to design something that would add warmth and inspiration to a place in their building that felt especially institutional. I got to interact with some students and made friends with most of the kitchen and custodial crews, and I was introduced to two teachers who are RPCVs. Great experience. If you are looking for ways to do community service in NYC, I can't say enough about how much I love New York Cares. Check them out. Throughout the school year I'm also co-leading a weekly young authors club, with kids ages 9-14 at a homeless shelter in Flatbush. Another service opportunity I feel incredibly grateful to be part of.

That's all...below are some photos from NY Cares Day, when over 40 volunteers came to 616k to paint the mural I designed. (I'm the one in the yellow and green, btw.)

Things regarding my application status are in limbo, or at least that is how I'm choosing to look at my situation. I have encountered a hurdle, and for the time being, I refuse to "take no for an answer".

The letter I was told to look for in the mail (via online toolkit - see previous blog entry), on September 23rd, has still not arrived. My toolkit stated it was actually put in the mail on September 22nd. It is now October 5th. On Monday, October 3rd, I took a quick break from volunteer work I was doing and telephoned the Office of Medical Services in D.C. I was easily connected to my nurse, who first told me that she had in her notes to "remember to send out that letter"...because she had not actually sent it on the 22nd. Obviously that was frustrating to me, but that's life. Mistakes happen. Then she asked me if I wanted to know what the contents of the letter were. Well of course I did! Gently, she explained that they were not able to qualify me medically for service at this time, because of my "reliance on meetings" of an Anonymous 12 Step program I am involved with and because of "other issues in recent years"...

(So, first: I am partially breaking my anonymity because it has been quite challenging for me to uncover clear and accurate information with respect to PCVs and 12 Step stuff. If you are reading this and want to discuss it further because you have related experience as a PCV or RPCV, or because you have questions about mine, please email me privately at coddkaren@gmail.com)

...I did not ask more (yet) about what she was referring to when she said "other issues", but I am guessing that it is in reference to the facts that I am prescribed medication for a biological form of clinical depression and because I see a therapist. Of course, I will pursue this murky, nebulous assessment further, but after she said it I simply replied that I absolutely intend to appeal the current decision. At that point I was told that the letter (which still has yet to reach me) contains instructions on the appeal process. So I thought I would to wait to ask or say much more until I receive those instructions.

I won't go into my whole personal history here, but I know these are very, very common conditions, and in the interest of full disclosure, I was very transparent with PC about all of this. I happen to have been very responsible, diligent, and successful at coping with my "issues" and really, truthfully believe that the way I have persevered is a key part of my personal skill set, and definitely relevant to working with disadvantaged populations. Bla bla bla. Anyway, before and throughout my application process I have done a lot(!) of research, so while I was very aware of the possibility of this type of outcome, it is still frustrating.

With as much patience as I can muster, I continue waiting for my letter. I'll be happy to post more about my experience with the appeal process, and the outcome. Even if I can't overturn the disqualification, and serve, I do hope sharing my experience can benefit others...

...oh, and by the way I thought every sensitive intellectual New Yorker had a good therapist!? (Joking...sort of.)

I've snickered when I've seen this ("restless applicant syndrome") mentioned in other applicants' blogs...but admittedly I feel it. And I'm aware that my process has thus far been fairly expeditious. So I'm pretty lucky. Still, when you're waiting to hear whether you might be moving around the world for a couple of years, it's hard to be patient! I will say I'm doing better since lately I'm not hounding peace corps wiki or trolling blogs for some kind of vague (theoretical) hint about what my fate might be.

In the meantime, I'm working on grant applications for my job and looking forward to a service project I'll be leading this school year. And listening to Pandora.com - specifically a station of 90s hip hop. Awesome.

I was hoping to see that the Peace Corps had already completed my evaluation and that there are "no holds!"...but that was very wishful thinking. They updated my toolkit to let me know they received my information and are reviewing it but that they may not be telling me anything for a while. This is what I originally expected (because of my far off departure time, as per my nomination). However, because of their speedy completion of my dental evaluation, I'd hoped the other portion would have a quick return as well. And well, you never know. I have been very lucky so far, that my experience with the application process has actually seemed fairly expeditious. At least from what I have observed from other applicants' accounts, I should remain grateful and patient...

Just walked in the door after being upstate for a friend's wedding. Nice to come home to an official note that OMS (Office of Medical Services) has determined I am qualified for a dental clearance. It also emphasizes that dental clearance is good for only one year...so if the rest of my clearance process (for some reason) takes longer than a year, I would have to go through it all over again. Let's hope that doesn't happen. I doubt it would, but from what I gather anything can happen in the course of applying for the Peace Corps.

And aside from that, I'm just waiting. Daydreaming about assisting troubled youth in Mongolia, or wherever the heck they may want to send me. Very grateful to have received this part of clearance so quickly.

As of this morning I have been dentally cleared!

I wasn't expecting to hear so soon since my nomination is for June 2012, but I'm super happy to hear something! Now I'm hoping to hear about the physical exam soon too!

phew...medical packet is now in the hands of fedex...soon to arrive in D.C.

A brief update. Yesterday I took the bus upstate to Kingston, NY and visited my favorite dentist, Tom Cingel. Got my x-rays and evaluation. Thank you Tom and Joanne (hygienist extraordinaire)! I have now completed more than half of my medical clearance paperwork...will be going to see my GP this week for her review and then get any vaccinations that I haven't had within specific time frames (Tetanus, Polio, and something else). I'm waiting to hear back from my pediatrician's office to see if they still have a record of my having had chicken pox when I was 7 (in oh, 1987). I would like to avoid having to pay for any titers that I don't need (like Varicella) or have already had. Thankfully my college had records of my MMR boosters. So far I am still on my self-imposed schedule of completing everything by the end of July. Fingers crossed that I can get rid of all of these forms and move onto the next phase of waiting around as soon as possible.

the first entry...

It might seem silly and boring to anyone who is not in the process of applying to serve in the Peace Corps, but I have certainly found myself googling other potential PCVs timelines, into the wee hours of the night. So if mine is of help to anyone...well here it is.

At the time of posting, I am in the midst of completing medical clearance paperwork (of which there is a lot). Praying to get through it without being rejected or spending an arm and a leg for immunizations.

November 2010 - Peace Corps in mind, I decided to build my résumé, with respect to volunteer activities.

...Did loads of volunteer work through NYCares (and other organizations) from then, through the present.

December 21, 2010 - Requested additional information to be mailed to me.

March 24, 2010 - Attended an information session with a Returned PC Volunteer in NYC.

March 25, 2011 - Began my online application.

...Reached out to friends and acquaintances who have served in the PC.

...Read every PCV/RPCV blog I could find.

April 12, 2011 - Completed the online application (minus reference letters).

April 24, 2011 - Received packed with fingerprint cards, financial info requests, skill addenda, and other fun stuff.

May 9, 2011 - Finally had all of my reference letters submitted and a notarized letter from my Dad saying he agrees to help pay any student loans I can't defer during service.

May 9, 2011 - Received invitation to interview with recruiter.

May 26, 2011 - Interviewed with recruiter at NYC office.

May 31, 2011 - Nominated officially for a position to begin early Jun 2012:

Assignment Area: Community DevelopmentRegion: Asia/Central AsiaTentative Date of Departure: early June 2012Program Info: Youth Development focused program. Applicants should have or gain at least 3 mos. relevant volunteer or work experience with at-risk youth (youth out of work, school drop-outs, substance, physical, or mental abuse issues, or from dysfunctional families) between the ages of 10 and 25 to be competitive for an Invitation; Applicants must be flexible to serve in Central Asia or Asia.

June 13, 2011 - Received my medical clearance packet and began making appointments with physicians. I have paperwork needing to be completed by my psychiatrist, therapist, general phyician, obgyn, and dentist...not to mention a load of shots and bloodwork that will need to happen. I also have to write two more statements (related to mental health stuff) and get two more reference letters. Oh Peace Corps, you have no idea how organized and determined I am. Your bureaucracy brings out the best in me.

June 22, 2011 - Appointments are underway. I've mailed in my request for my college to release my immunization records to me, if they still have them on file from 1999. (and I really, really hope they do) My doctors are all super supportive. The dentist is going to see me for nearly no $, which is great because I don't have dental insurance. And while I do have general health insurance (and I'm very lucky that I just happen to be due for my yearly physical), there will almost certainly be things that insurance will not cover and the PC's reimbursement agreement doesn't offer a whole lot.

I changed a medication today to its generic so I can see if it works for me before I wind up in the wild. I learned recently that while the PC does provide health care, it provides only generic prescriptions when they exist. So, figured I'd ask my doctor to let me try it now rather than later. If these meds don't go well, that's a serious issue. The rest of my appointments are scheduled to take place within the first three weeks of July. If all goes according to plan, I should be able to mail off my completed packet by the end of July. Then, I wait, again, for one - six months, before being notified as to whether I have been cleared.

After being cleared (fingers and toes crossed that I will be!) I will wait for an official invitation to serve. This is not guaranteed, even after I have been advanced this far. Invitations are typically sent to people anywhere from two - eight months prior to their departure.