Okay, so HP (the training director) calls me on my cell and asks where I am and who's with me and tells me there's a hurricane drill happening... in all the confusion, I thought he needed us back immediately, but that was wrong...

So, where was I? Oh yes, Samoa.

Here's an overview of the first day:

We arrived at the airport at 5:30 am. We drove to our hotel, Apia Central. After breakfast, we participated in an ava ceremony, which is like a welcome ceremony... we had to memorize a line, "Lua ava le'a le Atua... soifua." (this is God's ava...good health). We poured out a drop of ava and then took a sip. it was pretty nervewracking... I thought I'd forget the line, but I survived! We had lunch and then had our first language lesson and let me tell you.. I'm in for a wild ride... this is hard stuff. and I'm embarrassing myself a lot.. but I'm learning! Then we got to grill some of the current volunteers about life in Samoa...

We go to out host village tomorrow. It's in the village Amaile and everyone says it's the most beauitful part of Samoa.. so we got lucky.

The rest of training has been lots of language, technical, health, and safety training.. it's overwhelming, but do-able.

I'm putting up a few pics.. they are uploading so slowly that can only do a few.. but some is better than none right?

Well, it's been an incredible week and a half... I went to LA after the hardest goodbye I've ever experienced... staging was kind of a bust, but Samoa is absolutely amazing. First of all, I'll just love my group! They are a fun group of people and we have a great time together.

Well, I just found out there's a hurrican drill, so I gotta go. Updates later.

Is this not the cutest little samoan girl you've ever seen?

So, I dedicated today to all the Peace Corps paperwork! I did my aspiration statement, updated resume, and all the passport and visa applications... The only thing I still need to do is go get the picture for the passport and visa, and then I'm done! Not too bad, just kind of tedious. I'm relieved I'm almost done.

I'm getting excited! And I still have to wait 4 months! I'm ready to move on to the next chapter of my life... I want to be done with school..

May 31, 2007- Sent in application.June 26, 2007- All recommendations are in.July 3, 2007- Interview.July 3, 2007- Nominated for a Health Extension program in the Pacific Islands, departing June 2008.

July 6th- Medical Kit mailed.

September 5, 2007- Sent in medical kit.

September 7, 2007- Dentally cleared.

December 18, 2007- Sent in all additional info they asked for (extra doctor visits, forms, and blood tests).

December 20, 2007- Medically cleared!!!! I am now legally, dentally, and medically cleared. Also… “No placement holds on my account at this time.” “Your file is currently under consideration.”

January 22, 2008- Email from placement assistant asking for updated transcript and any additional health experience. I emailed the requested info back to her, and she emailed me back saying I’ll hear from my PO in 3-5 weeks… this is kind of devastating.

January 28, 2008- Phone conversation with my PO, Brennan. She says I’ll be hearing from her in a few weeks.

January 28, 2007- Invitation mailed… much quicker than a few weeks!!

February 4th- Invitation received-> SAMOA!!

February 6th- Accepted invitation

June 2nd-June 4th - Staging

June 4th - Departure

June 4th –August 20th- Training

August 20th 2008-August 20th 2010- Volunteer

So, I got my invitation, and it was glorious... I'm going to..........

SAMOA!!!

I wasn't expecting that at all.... but it was a great suprise.. I'm very excited! I'll be a village development worker. The description makes it seem like I'll be doing everything under the sun from aerobics classes to tutoring to environmental stuff, and much more...

I leave on June 2nd for staging in LA, and then leave for Samoa on the 4th.

How incredible...

I'm waiting a few days to accept my invite so I can buy some time before the aspiration statement and updated resume are due... It's a busy week for me.

Man oh man.. I can't believe the wait is finally over. It feels great.

So up woke up yesterday morning to find an email saying my peace corps application status has changed, and I just can't believe that it's finally happened! My invitation was sent out of January 28, 2008. It's a miracle. This might be the longest few days of my life.

I'm gonna toss out a guess and say I'll be going to Vanuatu... that's my gut feeling. we'll see!

So, things are progessing quite nicely! I got a call from my PO today while I was in class, so I called her back and we talked for a few minutes about my potential placement. She asked me a few questions and I answered them... and that's about it! She said I'll be hearing from her in a few weeks... hopefully sooner rather than later. I think I'll be invited soon!!!!

So, I got an email from my placement assistant today asking for an updated transcipt and any additonal health experience I've had since I applied.. I gave her the info, and she emails me back saying it'll be another 3-5 weeks, and it's pretty discouraging. I feel like I'm already bursting open at the seams to find out where I'm going and after more than a month of waiting I find out I have another month.. it sucks pretty bad. Pretty bad indeed.

So, I emailed the woman I thought was my PO (Yung-Mei Haloski), and she emailed me back to tell me that my PO is actually Brennan Winter and that I should have an invitation in 3-4 weeks!! Hopefully once winter break's over and I go back to school, time will go by a lot faster... I also hope that it doesn't take that long. :-)

Until then!

So... I'm applying to go into the Peace Corps!! I'm a senior in college right now.. I graduate in May with a major in Biology and a minor in Chemistry, and then I'm leaving in June. I am through the ridiculous medical clearance process, and I am desperately awaiting an invitation. Here's my timeline so far...

May 31, 2007- Sent in application.

June 26, 2007- All recommendations are in.

July 3, 2007- Interview.

July 3, 2007- Nominated for a Health Extension program in the Pacific Islands, departing June 2008.

July 6th- Medical Kit mailed.

September 5, 2007- Sent in medical kit.

September 7, 2007- Dentally cleared.

December 18, 2007- Sent in all additional info they asked for (extra doctor visits, forms, and blood tests).

December 20, 2007- Medically cleared!!!! I am now legally, dentally, and medically cleared. Also… “No placement holds on my account at this time.” “Your file is currently under consideration.”

This waiting game is horrible... I want an invitation soo bad! Hopefully it will come soon!