El día más fantástico! INVITE!!!!!!!!!!!

At 3:30 pm, I saw Washington D.C. appear on my caller ID. It was my Placement Officer returning my call.

"You have in fact been invited to serve in Central America departing in late April 2011!"

The best words I can currently imagine hearing.

"You will be doing community development in the environmental conservation extension"

The next best words!

Basically I am being invited for.... Panama! (If I put my faith in the PeaceCorpsWiki... which I do completely!) My job description does not differ from that of an Environmental Educator, however I am more of a generalist position based on my not having an environmental science degree. I guess this is where studying Psychology with a minor in Sustainability Studies and intensive Spanish classes gets you. I couldn't be more pleased. I am literally on cloud nine... maybe even cloud 10 1/2.

So I am speechless. The blessing of the 26th has reentered my life. If you are unaware of this recurring date, here is a brief history. Exactly one year ago today, on January 26th 2010, I embarked on a 28 hour journey to spend 4 months in Australia. This was not my first international travel experience, but definitely the farthest I had gone, for the longest period of time, and I was alone. I spent 4 amazing months working and traveling in Australia with some very wonderful Ausssies, and returned to the USA on May 26th. April 26th of 2010, also found me on a another adventure to Bali and Lombok in Indonesia.
Today, January 26th, 2011, I hear from placement that I am indeed invited to go to Central/South America on April 26th, 2011. I had a strong feeling I would hear today about my placement. I am overjoyed and couldn't imagine wanting anything more than this placement location and job.

My thoughts on Panama... it Kicks Placement Bootay!

Panama is an isthmus, aka it is surrounded my water, two oceans to be exact, and is the crossroads of two land masses Specifically, Costa Rica and Colombia. I have wanted to travel to this area of the world as long as I can remember. Actually I have been torn between wanting to see Central vs. South America first. I am lucky enough that hopefully I will be sitting on the boarder of both regions! AMAZING! It is warm and green and people speak Spanish, among other indigenous languages from what I can gather. Basically my idealistic paradise. I am aware that I do sound very idealistic and naive to the struggles and hardships life will probably deal me in rural Panama. But bare with me, my blog will get there in coming months.

For those of you who do not know my continually changing story, my initial plans to travel south to the Spanish speaking world started with plans to teach English in Colombia, then Ecuador, then Colombia again, and now... Panama doing community conservation work! I think I have finally hit the mark and my dream is coming to fruition.

Thank you to family, friends, other nominees who feel like family and friends, current and past PC volunteers who have shared their stories with me in person or via blogs and books, and everyone who has sent me positivity. Good luck to you all and know that I am ever thankful for your encouragement.

MY PO INTERVIEW!

I promised I would update after my interview so here goes...

I just got off the phone with my placement officer in the environmental desk. The conversation lasted about 40 minutes, mainly longer than proposed because I tend to ramble when I am nervous. I also tell stories, which is probably annoying. ANYWAYS, I was asked a few of the same questions that I was in my initial interview. For example, "How will you cope without access to communication with home?, What are your expectations regarding distance from other volunteers?, What would keep you from finishing your service commitment?, What is your regional preference and why? Are you flexible to change jobs? What are your safety concerns? How is your family coping? What are you doing to prepare?" This last one made me feel pretty bad about working 55 hour weeks and not getting environmental experience. My answers to these questions were compared to my original interview responses, which was actually pretty enlightening. I think I have grown mentally over this process and really am more concrete on my desire to serve. I also have a much better understanding on what to expect, mainly from reading so many books and PCJournals over the last 5 months.

I was not feeling confident and felt nervous to the point of feeling sick while I was waiting for the call. I did ok though and think I spoke with confidence. I could not read the expressions of my PO, she was very hard to figure out. She did go into detail for me regarding safety, specifically evacuations, which was helpful information. I was relieved to hear how organized PC is on this point.

SO THE VERDICT IS... My PO does not think I strictly qualify for my nominated sector, environmental education, but that I clearly have extensive health and community/youth development skills. I also have SPANISH skills which I didn't even mention because I thought it was a useless and annoying attempt to get placed in C/S America. I have read how competitive this region is, and I figure many people have similar skills to my own. It was such a relief to hear that they were trying to get me into my top region! I want to speak fluently so badly and I really have the most international experience these days with my Mexican chefs at my work. I adore them and try to only speak Spanish to them whenever possible. They sometimes laugh at me but it's ok. I understand most of what they say although the vulgar words were not taught in my school, so sometimes I am lost. Sorry, random tangent again.

So my PO said she didn't think I qualified for strictly environmental sector ... I got pretty worried. I thought oh no she is going to pass me off to some other department into a stack of countless others and I will have to start this all over! I was wrong. She said her colleague is out sick, but that he does placement for the community and youth development programs, including one such program with an environmental education focus. Supposedly this placement is more generalist, but it will have very similar duties to environmental educators. This program is leaving late April for Central/South America. According to wiki, this country is PANAMA! If this other PO thinks I fit, and I got confirmation that there are spots available, I will be invited in the next week! My PO said she does think I am competitive for this program and will be emailing me tomorrow or Wednesday. She also gave me her personal line to call if I don't hear by Wednesday. WHAT!? Personal phone number from placement... I am impressed!

So that is Plan A. I would be so happy I could cry. However, there is a Plan B. This option is if this other placement specialist does not think I am a good match for his April departure (Panama) program. In this case my PO is willing to consider me for a community and youth development placement with a counseling component working with at-risk youth. I am a bit less enthusiastic about this placement, but not totally opposed. I recently applied for an internship with Outward Bound doing at-risk youth work and was denied due to my lack of experience. I agreed that I probably was not ready to the intensity that program required. However, it would be interesting to use my counseling and psychology background in Peace Corps. I just think that working with youth takes a very very special type of person. I love teaching, but when it comes to difficult youth, I prefer them to be the exception in my class, not the majority. All children need love and guidance, but I don't pretend to be able to relate instantly with children who are suffering in a developing country. Their challenges far outweigh anything I have experience and feel very blessed. I just want to be in a position to help. We will see what happens.

God/fate/nature/Allah/ or whoever you pray to has a plan for all of us. I just hope that the big man or woman upstairs only gives me a burden I am capable of handling. I want to do good in the world and learn as much as possible in this life. I am very hopeful and happy in this moment contemplating all of this and I have a renewed sense of patience.

Thank you to all who follow! Good luck to all of you!

Best Always,
Natalie

Contact from Placement! ... no new info .. BUT YES!

Dear Natalie,

My name is SUPERCOOL PLACEMENT OFFICER and I am the Placement and Assessment Specialist responsible for the final assessment of your application. I have made a preliminary review of your file and I would like to schedule a phone interview with you for further follow up. The call will last approximately 20 minutes. Please let me know your availability for next week.

 
 
WHAT!? SO SOON! I feel like the luckiest girl around! It seems as though this SUPERCOOL PLACEMENT OFFICER made this email and then boot'scooted out of the office to enjoy his/her weekend, but I responded right away asking for a Monday timeslot. I can't imagine waiting until Tuesday or Wednesday. I am going to have trouble focusing on work now as it is! YAY! SMILE IS PLASTERED TO MY FACE!
 
My recruiter keeps reiterating that placement *rarely* moves people out of their nominated programs. I am a bit skeptical, especially with all these setbacks and budget cuts. If that 8-week or 6-week deal holds true I could still be looking at North Africa mid March. That would be insane! I also just bought a 3 week scuba certification course with some friends, so I need to get on that pronto! Not sure if you can scuba in Morocco, but I imagine I will find a way.
 
Good luck to everyone waiting. I was told I would hear from my PO within 2-6 weeks. Technically it has been a week and a half. So miracles do come true.

Anyone else environmental edu. waiting to be placed?

So I am reaching out! Hi! Let's be friends and get through this together!

I have been obsessing over Peace Corps Journals for some time now and am having a hard time finding other applicants who are nominated for environmental education placements. I am curious to hear where people are being invited or re-nominated due to this back-log situation. I am pretty confident that I will not be going to North Africa March departure, and have no idea which regions I have a chance of being sent (knock on wood, fingers crossed, please oh please!). Seems like the PC wiki calculator and timeline shows quite a few upcoming dates for environmental education volunteer positions in Central/South America. I would be overjoyed to go to this region, but I am being realistic. Supposedly this is the most desired region and even my extensive Spanish experience does not equal a ticket to easy language street, for me anyways. Plus, I am really open to anywhere. I was super surprised and pumped about my original nomination, and look forward to round 2, (or 3 God forbid) of re-nominations.

Sooooo if you are in a similar position or just want to share with another restless applicant, let's chat.

THANK YOU!

Updates... still nothing concrete

Restless Applicant Syndrome has been getting the best of me as of late. I can't help but obsess over the updates of strangers who are in my same little boat all across the country, waiting desperately for news from the Peace Corps Placement Officer powers that be. I figure I should give back to my waiting mates and keep updating as information trickles my way.

I finally got the letter saying my medical is in fact complete and the decision is a big thumbs up! I am so happy I could hug and kiss all my doctors and nurses and random ladies with needles who seemed very callous at the time they shed my blood. Maybe it was just tough love. Either way, their attitude got me through blood testing without fainting. Wish I could say the same for my gyno exam. I fainted at the point of taking blood pressure. It's weird, I know.

I also was lucky enough to hear from my PO assistant who asked for an updated resume and skills addendum for me to complete and send back within one week. I did it in four hours. He said thanks and let me know I could hear from the PO in 2-6 weeks. Basically, he did not want to give any clues as to whether or not my nominated departure date and country would be affected by any current changes. Grrr. I was a bit frustrated, but I am getting better at waiting. So here I wait.

I was recently in contact with my recruiter about some of the safety issues brought to all of our attention by  the tragic 20/20 investigation on tv last night. While I am very sad and really worried about this program, I am taking it with a grain of salt. It just makes me worry about the potential in-country support, seeing as it has failed a few volunteers.  I can only pray for the safety of everyone currently in service and all of us (hopefully myself included) who will be heading out this year for the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps.

As for my conversation with my recruiter, It soon changed to the topic of my pending application status. She seems to think that March departure is certainly not out of the question. Seeing as it is only 2 months away.. no problem. This causes a bit of anxiety within me. Would they really wait that long to tell applicants. I find that a bit crazy, but then again I have been preparing mentally for months. I think I have just been holding onto a glimmer of hope that I will end up in South or Central America as I have dreamed. Either way, I am happy with what I get. Should be a nice surprise wherever I end up. I stress NICE with wishful thinking. PLEASE OH PLEASE.

So expect some updates in the next 2-6 weeks. I know I will be waiting patiently by the phone, computer and mailbox. I guess there is no set way for this all to come to pass. I could get another interview, a status update, or any and all of the above all leading to a hefty package in UPS. I know another North Africa nominee just got invited this past week (Congrats!) to Tanzania in June. I figured that would be proof that I could expect being pushed back to a later departure date. My recruiter is not so sure.

I have been practicing adding pictures and such so I will go ahead and try this out :

Medical is Complete, My Glass is Half Full

Saturday at 6:00 my much coveted status changed email arrived from Peace Corps. Pretty much on the verge of insanity after a fun, yet stressful Peace Corps Mixer last night. A collective feeling of anxiety and stress surrounded us nominees. No one had heard anything good. One person had already been pushed back to May or June after her March departure program was filled. I was still in limbo...

Technically I am still in limbo, but at least I know my nurse has "made a decision" regarding my medical file. I am not anticipating bad news, but I really hope I won't be terribly disappointed. I still could easily be bumped to a later program, and thus lose my spot in the Morocco program. C'est la vie.

Last night I began watching old Peace Corps Public Service Announcements from the 60's- the 90's. The reflection of the culture of the times was evident and really interesting. My favorite was one from the late 1960's that mirrored the movie "The Graduate." I almost laughed out loud when the young graduate was told by (what I assume to be) an old, rich, white guy "Go to law school son! You won't regret it." The commercial ended with a statement about how you can always get a good/ high paying career. Money isn't everything.

Another one I loved was pretty simple and just showed a glass of water containing half of it's contents. It said "if you see this glass as half full, you may be the type of person the Peace Corps is looking for." I like that one and how ominous it is. As if being optimistic may get you recruited into the clutches of a secret society. Fine, I am there!

2011 is a good time to be an optimist. This March marks the 50th anniversary of JFK's founding of Peace Corps. 50 years later, I hope to be on board (and departing the country).

Wishing the best to everyone who seeks their dreams, and of course to my friend Brittany on her wedding day,

Natalie

Apologies nonetheless

I would like to offer my sincerest apologies to any and all parties who have been negatively affected by this blog. I have, nor ever had, any intention of exploiting anyone or violating anyone's privacy in any way. If there is something that you find offensive, let me know and I will make edits where appropriate. This blog is for the sole purpose of capturing my mindset, like a photograph, during this time in my life. It is therefore, purely a product of my thoughts and feelings and should be only considered as so.

I am sorry.

Love always,
Natalie Petrucci