Hiya,

I have been offically cleared of medical /dental..hip hip hooray! It was a loooong frusterating process on USF's part not the Peace Corps which has been amazing.

Well between not finding my shot records, Usf saying they couldn't sign off on them, and giving woefully inaccurate information about appointments, records I was ready to scream.

I sent my packet out on Febuary 9th. Two weeks later I had dental clearance and a week after that I had medical clearance.

ThePeace Corps gods have smiled on me. Medical never goes this quickly or rarely does (so I have heard!). I feel increadily lucky and blessed that it went so quickly. :)

Now what happens next?

I wait some more...and wait...and wait until I recieve my country invite. It could be monday, it could be a month from now. I really can not say.

Also, I have no clue as to how this works. Phone call? Email? Peace Corps toolkit update? The only thinkg I know is that I am not going to the Phillipeans as they leave in May and I leave in June.

Its been such a long process, and I really don't know if I can wait much longer. I am excited to finally have an idea of what the next two years of my life will look like. All of the countries all sound amazing.

Wish me luck on my Adventure!

History Fun Fact of the Day,

Did you know... That on November 15 1923 $1.00 was equal to 4.2 trillion German Marks

So I recieved my Offical nomination from PC last thursday wow! I am excited it has yet to sink in. It all feels very surreal. So here is my post from Facebook: Hiya All! My day began rather badly, I was sick with a sinius infection, and just found out I couldnt regiser for classes b/c testing services did not remove my CLAST hold though i passed the test. Which I am still extremely proud of! Anyway I had to drop off a transcript at my recruiters office. He asks me a few times if I am really open to go anywhere and I say yes, well of coarse ..thinking omg where is he sending me.. its going to be Mongolia I know it. I get a call or three from him later that day saying he found a program for me. First he thought about public health, but gave me the optin to decide between that and teaching English . Well I chose English naturally. Then he calls back and says ok we can't put you in a program teaching University level English, though he thought I could pull it off, DC wasnt so sure. So now I have been offically nominated for East/Southeast Asia or Central Asia. The Peace corps divides it into two regions and I will be teaching English at the k-12 level. YAY! Its not what I had in mind, but feel that the placemnt couldn't be more exciting. Ok so are probably wondering (like me!) what are the countries I could serve in. They are: Thailand, Mongolia, China, Phillipines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic I feel like its moving so quickly. But hey I am over the moon big time!!!! Now all i have to do is get medically and dentally cleared for my region and I am off! So wish me luck on my adventure!!

History fact of the day: Cecil Rhodes a very prominent British imperialist ,(and founder of Rhodes scholars, owned Debeers Diamond Co. and his family still does. The women in that family must have amazing Jewelery

So wish me luck

Lauren

HI all!!

Ok I had my interview yesterday I wanted to type about then , but sadly blogger was not working. :(

Anway it was intensive so many questions....

It went amazing. My recruiter was wonderful and put me at ease. IT was successful. What can I say. I am happy. I will recieve my medical packet in a month to go through my medical, legal and dental, clearances. My info will be sent up to D.C. and they will find a match for me.

Wow I am one very happy and excited person today.

SO wish me luck, I have tons of paperwork heading my way.

History fact of the day: Women in the USA won the vote in 1920. Please go out and vote this novemeber 7th !

My interview is tommorow.

I am excited, happy nervous ,anxious ...all that the same time..I am also a bit tired, but sadly thats due to my amount of homework.

My interviewtommorow at 2 pm. It is an hour and apprently I must put on my thinking cap. Oh boy what kinds of questions will they ask?!

I am happy that it is all finally comming together.

Touch wood it will work

so wish me luck :

History fact of the day: The British Monarchy has some very cool and elaborate pagentry. Well it wasn't always the case. Turns out the a lot of the ritual dates back to Victoria if not later. So will its still very fun to watch, the tradtions aren't a 1000 years old.

I got my finger printing done and will submit all of my paperwork to Ryan, my recruiter on Tuesday. The women who finger printed me, said I would have good karma for doing the Peace Corps. I hope so!

I got my application toolkit information the other day. This allows me to track my apps online. Did it come in the mail?? No of coarse not. I called the Atlanta office and got it by mail after it was late. Turns out the Peace Corps had my address listed incorrectly. This was after I changed it about four times. Also according to my toolkit I do not have any of my refrences submited. Although all three of them have been. I will see Ryan on tuesday and will straighten things out then.

With my address snafu, I can only wonder what else was wrong on my application. Hopefully, not much.

I attempted to edit my pervious post, though I tried it would not work. Boo ! so unfortunatly I am stuck with a slightly incoherent history fact.

I am off to try and study.

So wish me luck

Lauren

History Fact of the Day:

The Luddites were a group of weavers who were replaced by machinery durning the Inudstrial Revolution. In response to this, the Luddites broke various weaving machines so they could work again.

We use the term now to refer to people who do not like or embrace technology, for example using a typwriter and not computer. This is inacurate. The Luddites were not against technology, but rather unemployment.

Now, we need to find a new term for people who anti-technology . Any ideas?

Today I met with my Peace Corps Recruiter. Oh yes, a mere 9 days after turning in my application. I know the government is on the ball. My apps was sent in, to Altanta , the regional headquarters and then sent to my local recruiter at the University of South Florida (USF). So it turns out that it is his job to make me a more viable canidate. It dosen't matter if I dont have the right experience at this exact moment. As long as I am willing to gain it, then all is good. I am very happy! After speaking with him, I really feel the Peace Corps is the place for me. It feels right and a good step into aduthood ( ohh the dreaded a-word).

My next step is to fill out yet more paper work..I am already sensing a theme here. I will be finger printed which UP does for free (hurahh for usf police) and then give it back to Ryan. We will then make an appointment for my formal interview. The sooner I get my interview , the sooner DC can think about where to place me and the sonner I am on my way.

History Fact of the day: The union jack is the flag of the United Kingdom. It is supposed to represent the combined flags of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland. Except however, they missed a country. You see wales, isn't represented on the flag.

Lets just say its hidden.

So wish me luck on my new adventure

Good Night World

Lauren

Hiya!

Just wanted to let everyone know that I have submitted by Peace Corps Application offically as of this morning. (wow!)

It was with a great sense of relief, excitment, and trepidation that I did this. It is all a matter of thinking about one chapter of my life coming to an end and another begining. I am taking my first steps out into the real world ( a huge leap I might add). That is what is hitting me right now. I never expected college to fly by and yet it has. The Peace Corps never truly seemed real until now.

I recieve my applicant toolkit in the mail within 7-10 days. --This allows me to keep up to date with my progress in the apps process. After this my recruiter will call and set up an interview (knock on wood) .

So wish me luck!

History fact of the day: On september 27 1984 @ 1:31 am I was born :)

This is to chronicle my journey of applying and serving the Peace Corps

Hello All,

So for a while my posts will be few and far between. All I can say is that I finally asked my boss for my 3rd recomendation letter. She will write it. yay! So everything goes in, in september. I know its really early, but I want to make certain that I have everything I need.

My other boss ( I acutally have three) applied for PC, and talking with her really enforced my idea of what joining.

On the work front--still working for Orientation. I had a three week break. On this break I

a. went to a friends 21st birthday party and got to chat with Dutch saliors

b.looked after my cousins

c. Slept in and went to my class.

its going really well. Oh the things Ive learned.

I have a week of straight orientation work coming up and then another straight week! . so wish me luck

Lauren

History fact of the day : The term "Defender of the faith" used by (most) English monarchs since Henry VIII was oringally given to Henry because kept out the protestant refromation. Oh yes ! He was first defender of the catholic faith. Though when Henry spilt with the church he kept the title.

Hello Everyone.

This is what I hope will be the first of many many blogs entries to come.

As most of my friends and family know (or they don't) I am applying to the Peace Corps. I submit all my paper work in early september and by the time I graduate I will be off some where far and exotic. Living in Florida means that ocean, palm trees and sunny skies ( other then Hurrican season) so tropical islands are the norm for me. Oh yes now Europe that is exotic. I am wishing to to Eastern Europe/Central Asia region of the world. For those who know history wish me luck in my adventures!

For the summer I am working for my University and what can I say its a job and I am acutally enjoying it. I work with freshman and love my co-workers. I work up to 40 hours in three day shifts and recieve a stipen. Oh yes not much pay but the rewards can be wonderful.

Now I have an exam to finish studying for so good night world.

I will keep everyone updated on my progess

History fact of the day:

~Did you know that the Holy Roman Empire was niether Holy, Roman, or an Empire?! Crazy I know.