After the actual nomination things got very slow. I received notice a while later that I had missed a booster shot on my medical evaluation. I got it done in Texas re-sent my packet and continued waiting. By the time Christmas was rolling around I received my medical clearance. I was still slated for a program leaving in August of 2010 and was expecting a nomination 6 months ahead of then. In January of 2010, I was contacted by a legal specialist at the Peace Corps asking about my house and car loans, I explained that if worse came worse I had the money to cover both loans, but would be attempting to sell them both prior to leaving. I also said that I looked forward to receiving a nomination in February. He was satisfied with my financial situation, but commented that I likely wouldn't be contacted until April. This was very disappointing. I had been waiting with very little news for several months now and would have to wait longer still.
One thing nobody seems to realize about the Peace Corps application process, even after you explain it to them several times, is that a nomination is not solid, and you aren't really through the process until you are invited. As time went by I had no new to relay on to friends and family. Through February, March, and into April I began obsessively checking www.PeaceCorpswiki.com for the latest staging dates. I knew I was nominated for a non French speaking African country with a Water Resources program. Mauritania, Uganda, and others stood out as a possibility.
During that time I was contacted by one of my oldest friends asking me to be in his August 7 wedding. I of course couldn't give him a yes or no, but promised he would be among the first to know. In late April I received a call that my invitation was in the mail; they would not tell me where to over the phone. I was headed out of town to see family and friends that weekend in Columbia, and so would have to wait until I got back to find out where I was going. The only assignment listed in Africa departing in August was Uganda, leaving on August 3. I loved everything I read about Uganda, but the departure date was a heart-breaker. I filled in family and friends that it was the most likely scenario that weekend.
When I returned home my packet was waiting for me on my door step. I opened it up and was unsurprised to read that I was invited to depart for Uganda on August 3. I was shocked to see that instead of the Engineering assignment I had been nominated for, they had invited me to a Water & Sanitation Extension assignment. The two were related and worked together, but it was disappointing. One of my biggest motivations for joining the Peace Corps was the opportunity to use my engineering background, something I felt I was missing out on with my company. Over the next few days I reviewed all the materials, considered everything, prayed, and then accepted my invitation. Later that night I started this blog.
Over the next few weeks I would inform folks at my company, start a packing list, and put my condo on the market.
Ultimately things worked out great, my condo sold in no time at all, I made a clean break away from my company, was able to sell a ton of my furniture to the buyers of my condo, and late in the game, got notice that they couldn't get enough airline tickets for August 3 and would be departing on August 9.
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