jessica and el mundo: January 2011

Hi friends!

Today I'm writing from Panera in The Villages, Fl. I have been living in Florida for 120 days now.

Since I have begun the Peace Corps application process, I have been asked hundreds of times about my current status. Part of the Peace Corps journey is the very extensive application process. It's been hard to communicate with people about a) why it takes so long, and b) why I am willing to wait this long for an answer. If you would like to know more about the application process, here is a link for you; http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.howvol.stepstoapply.

I have read articles suggesting that the process takes so much time because the Peace Corps wants to make sure their volunteers are committed and have had time to make sure they want to serve.
It's been stressful waiting to so long, but mainly because my friends and family have been asking me about updates, and I usually have none to give them.
Going into the process, I knew it would take a long time, but I didn't know it would be this long. I have been very patient because I truly want to serve as a volunteer. To any applicants out there that might feel the same stress I have been facing, my best advice is to just tell people, "I don't know anything new now, but I'll be sure to tell you when I find out." Or sometimes I'll say, "I'm a little burnt out talking about it now, can we talk about the Peace Corps later?"

Below is my Peace Corps timeline for you to gander at.

Feb, 2010- My Peace Corps application was finally submitted after a few months of procrastination

March 25, 2010- I was nominated for a region and assignment. I was nominated for Health Extension in Latin America

May 11, 2010- My medical documents were received by the Peace Corps

Sept. 20, 2010-The Peace Corps called to notify me that I needed to submit a new blood test to become medically cleared

Nov 22, 2010- I received a call from the medical office notifying me of medical clearance

Dec. 2010- I received an e-mail from the Placement Office requesting updated materials

Jan. 13, 2011 (today)- I called the Placement Office to notify them that my availability date has changed.

I received a temporary position with The Villages Community Development offices as a Customer Service Representative. I'll be working with residents in The Villages and making ID's for them. The position required that I will be working through April, so I made the decision to stay in Florida for awhile longer and save up more money. I'm also working at a country club restaurant called Mallory Hill. While I would love to be boarding a plane as a Peace Corps volunteer now, I think it will be best for me to stay through April and save as much money as possible.

The person in the Placement Office that I spoke with said that this means that the Placement I might receive could be for a few months after my availability.

That's the most up-to-date information I have to share with you! Oh, I almost forgot. I'm planning a return trip to Ohio over Feb. 19-22. I hope to see you then :)

Now, time for some photos from early December when Emily and Erthel came to visit :)