Post 1: The Process & The Revelation

Hi, everyone!

For those of you who don’t know me, my name’s Andrew. I’m a 22-year-old college grad (23-year-old in May) who graduated from the University of Central Arkansas with a B.A. in writing and a minor in linguistics. Right before I graduated, I finished my application to be a Peace Corps Volunteer, thus catalyzing the most rigorous waiting period of my life.

I dig brevity, so I’m just gonna timeline this son of a gun:

• March-April 2009: completed my Peace Corps application
• May 27, 2009: nominated after my interview for a TEFL program in Eastern Europe
• June 2009: obtained legal clearance
• November 2009: obtained dental clearance
• December-January 2010: obtained medical clearance
• February 2010: received an e-mail and a phone call from Placement
• March 3, 2010: received my invitation packet

Upon seeing my process simplified in this manner, you might think it was relatively smooth and standard. Wrong! My quest to obtain medical/dental clearance was nothing short of epic because a) I was uninsured at the time, b) there was a misunderstanding regarding a few minute notations on my medical kit and c) I still have all four of my wisdom teeth, so I had to consult with an oral surgeon.

However, in the end, I was, Praise Jesus, deemed healthy.

Now, about receiving my packet, it came in the mail on my father’s birthday, first of all, so I felt guilty for inadvertently upstaging him. Then, after opening it, I quickly relinquished said guilt and attempted to read my letter with trembling–no, earth-quaking–hands. Seriously, I was borderline convulsing right in my parents’ kitchen; I had waited 8-9 months for a single destination that was smack-dab on the second line of the body of that letter.

That destination, folks: Mongolia.

I couldn’t be more surprised, stoked, nervous, curious, and honored. That’s all I’ll say for now.

Peace (Corps),
Andrew