November 25, 2013: Medical paperwork done (I don't remember what this was called, but it's the automated email that comes out when you complete your application, maybe Pre-medical Clearance or something?)
RADIO SILENCE. Ugh this was the worst part. So unhappy. Just waiting and waiting and some more waiting.
Eventually we get to the point where we start emailing people trying to set up our interview. I know, I know, a bit aggressive, but I was antsy.
January 30, 2014: Interview! We got an email to set up our interview! Thank god. Finally, I can breathe. One of the bonuses of living in DC is that we're right by a Peace Corps headquarters, so we set it up for the following Friday (February 7).
February 7, 2014: Interview day! We get there at 8:45 am for our 9:00 interview. We're sitting in the lobby waiting, and our recruiter comes down (his name is Scott, and he's wonderful) and asks who wants to interview first. I go upstairs and we chat for almost an hour. Forget all the questions you've read online. It's basically just all the questions from the application about your experience and then some basic questions you'd expect. Are you ready to live abroad for 27 months? Why do you want to do the Peace Corps? etc.
They do ask if you have a preference on location, but, as far as I can tell, it's just a test to see how flexible you are. I was honest and told him that I didn't really care, but I enjoyed my time in Botswana, so going to Africa would be nice. Then I repeated like a million times that I was willing to go anywhere they needed me.
Then Scott and I go downstairs and it's Toby's turn. As far as we can tell, we had all the same questions asked of us. He also responded about location with just wanting to go where we were needed, but less of a preference for Central/South America because neither of us speak Spanish (we also generally knew that we wouldn't meet the language requirements for Spanish speaking locations).
Now it's time for the couple interview part. It was actually a lot shorter than we were expecting. The couple part only lasted about 20 minutes. The only question that caught us off guard was who's idea it was to apply. Since it has kind of been a major part of the conversation for most of our relationship, it was a hard one to answer.
At the end, he told us that he would get back to us within two to four weeks, and to get back to him in a month if we haven't heard from him. UGH MORE WAITING.
February 19, 2014: OMG. Email from Scott asking what our thoughts on Morocco were. WE'RE FOR IT. Naturally, I reply within about 12 seconds saying it sounds great.
BOOM. Nomination email. We get our emails at like 7:00 on a Wednesday night inviting us to the Youth Development sector in Morocco, departing January 2015.
HEYO PEACE CORPS
Then, again, we're back at waiting. Scott says this is the official hardest part of prepping for Peace Corps. Just time to wait for Invitation. He says if we don't hear from anyone by May, then we can email him. OOF.
March 31, 2014:
Dear Alexis,
Congratulations! It is with great pleasure that we invite you to begin training in Morocco departing January 5th for Peace Corps service. You will be joining thousands of Americans who are building stronger communities around the world. This call to action gives you the opportunity to learn new skills and to find the best in yourself.
OH MY GOD WE'RE GOING TO MOROCCO. We both accept immediately and just wait for the other emails to pour in.
Now, we have to wait for that magic window of time to start: between 6 months before departure and 2 months before departure. That's when we can officially get all of our doctor/dentist things done. In the mean time, we read a lot of other blogs like this one.
July 13, 2014 - We are now officially in the magical window of time. Doctor's appointments! Dentist appointments! Let's go!
There are the basics: physical exam (with all the blood work fixin's), dental exam with x-rays, nothing unusual there
The vaccinations were a little bit more challenging: it took both of us quite some time to track down proof from a doctor that we had Chicken Pox as a child. I actually turned in a hand-written note from my pediatrician on my old vaccine records that says "had chicken pox age 2 yrs" But hey, whatever.
Special shout-out to the Peace Corps pre-service nurses: they are all so friendly and helpful! Every asinine question I've had has been answered and in a very prompt manner. It's been wonderful.
August 19, 2014 - Medically done! Labs are done, vaccines are administered, and we're both still TB free! Now we work on finishing our dental work and keep on trucking!
November 28, 2014 - Both medically and dentally done! Every bit of paperwork is turned in. Rumor has it that we get our staging information exactly a month before departure, so that should be the next step?
December 11, 2014 - PEACE CORPS EMAIL. They want to know what size shirt we need at staging.
December 12, 2014 -
Greetings Alexis:
Now, we have to wait for that magic window of time to start: between 6 months before departure and 2 months before departure. That's when we can officially get all of our doctor/dentist things done. In the mean time, we read a lot of other blogs like this one.
July 13, 2014 - We are now officially in the magical window of time. Doctor's appointments! Dentist appointments! Let's go!
There are the basics: physical exam (with all the blood work fixin's), dental exam with x-rays, nothing unusual there
The vaccinations were a little bit more challenging: it took both of us quite some time to track down proof from a doctor that we had Chicken Pox as a child. I actually turned in a hand-written note from my pediatrician on my old vaccine records that says "had chicken pox age 2 yrs" But hey, whatever.
Special shout-out to the Peace Corps pre-service nurses: they are all so friendly and helpful! Every asinine question I've had has been answered and in a very prompt manner. It's been wonderful.
August 19, 2014 - Medically done! Labs are done, vaccines are administered, and we're both still TB free! Now we work on finishing our dental work and keep on trucking!
November 28, 2014 - Both medically and dentally done! Every bit of paperwork is turned in. Rumor has it that we get our staging information exactly a month before departure, so that should be the next step?
December 11, 2014 - PEACE CORPS EMAIL. They want to know what size shirt we need at staging.
December 12, 2014 -
Greetings Alexis:
The Staging Unit is looking forward to your arrival in Philadelphia, PA on January 12, 2015 for the Morocco staging event. Please read this email and the attachments carefully, as the information here will answer many of the questions you have regarding your final steps prior to departing for Morocco.
YEAH. We then had to call the SATO office and get our travel arrangements. And we'll be flying into Philly on the 12th, then out of JFK for Morocco in the evening on January 13th.
January 12, 2015 - To Philly we went.
January 13, 2015 - Overnight flight on Royal Air Maroc from JFK to Casablanca. It was about 8 hours, and we slept 0 of them.
January 14, 2015 - WELCOME TO MOROCCO.
January 18, 2015 - We moved to our Ribat El Khier for our Culture Based Training.
March 4, 2015 - We learned that Taounate, Morocco would be our home for our two years of service.
April 1, 2015 - Alexis & Toby: Official Peace Corps Volunteers!
April 10, 2015 - We moved to Taounate to begin work!
January 12, 2015 - To Philly we went.
January 13, 2015 - Overnight flight on Royal Air Maroc from JFK to Casablanca. It was about 8 hours, and we slept 0 of them.
January 14, 2015 - WELCOME TO MOROCCO.
January 18, 2015 - We moved to our Ribat El Khier for our Culture Based Training.
March 4, 2015 - We learned that Taounate, Morocco would be our home for our two years of service.
April 1, 2015 - Alexis & Toby: Official Peace Corps Volunteers!
April 10, 2015 - We moved to Taounate to begin work!
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