I volunteered this morning again, I had an impossible time getting out of bed though. So sleepy. After volunteering I went back to my doctor's office and asked the receptionist to have the missing information filled in, which she did within about five minutes. After that it was on to the other women's center to get verification that I've had the three Gardasil vaccinations. I'm glad I checked it all over before leaving because there was a page missing that I had to ask for again. She gave me records from my past visits as well, and it was a little shocking to see some of that info (as in, I've gained weight since a few years ago, crap.)
I sorted through it all and made sure everything was there, checking off those blue and white boxes. I went through and put my name and SSN on every page. Then I copied everything, clipped all the pages together and sticky noted what each thing was ("Sections 2 & 3: allergies, counseling statements, dental braces, podiatrist," "Immunizations," "Lab Results," etc). So far it's like 27 pages and will be at least 10 more by the time it's over with. I'm pretty stoked that everything is ready for the last lab results to come in and then can be shipped off!
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Showing posts with label patience. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
Sitting at the lab/the busiest day
** The first part of this was written on my phone while waiting at the lab, the second half was finished this evening. This might be the longest and most boring entry ever, you are warned.**
I just left the doctor's office where the nurse was in the biggest hurry ever :-/ I went over all the forms with her so she could highlight what needed to be signed by the doctor, but filling out the form for the blood tests made me want to just tell her to stop and chill. I tried to show her the eight tests that I needed done and she just went "yep, yep, yep, we'll just do the Hep Panel and it'll get all three." All three as in Hep A, B, C. Not as in the three Hep B core/surface antibody/antigen nonsense that is required. She offered to have all the lab results mailed to me instead of having to come in again, which I do appreciate, so I self addressed some envelopes so they can send them. Anyway, meeting with the doctor was fine. I got to sit in the office and talk a little bit about me and my life and give my family medical history and then go over all the forms that needed to be filled out. He did me the honor of writing that I'm a non-smoker and was just trying to be honest on the initial application, which I appreciate. He also asked about birth control pills, which I used to be on, but stopped once my prescription ran out and I was uninsured. I don't feel a super strong need be on them since I'm not with anyone right now, but it was nice to have extra light, short periods. I would just really rather be on or off consistently and not changing it up every time I get a new job, insurance, or geographic location. I'll have to call my medical point of contact to see what's available overseas. (I guess I also don't want to start a new medication and have to get a medical hold put on my account...)
After leaving the doctor's I drove over to the lab to get all the blood tests done. Let me just interrupt myself to rant about how incredibly dumb it is that you have to have written doctors orders to get blood tests done. Who the HELL cares if I want to find out about my Hep B antigen status, or if I have HIV, or if my G6PD titer is where it should be. I have a freaking list from the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT that says I need these tests done, why isn't that good enough? Ok, down from my soapbox. I checked in and handed the woman the form that the nurse had filled out and then showed her the list from PC and asked her to double check that the tests requested were the ones checked. She just looked at me like I was crazy and told me I'd have to take it up with my doctor. I tried to explain that I had, that the nurse had been in a hurry, that I wanted to get it right the first time instead of coming back in a week, and that I had looked over the form and didn't understand half of the abbreviations on there. She again looked at me like I was nuts. She said that she would put everything into the computer, see if anything was duplicated and then if anything was missing I'd have to call to get verbal consent to add the tests on. At this point I took a deep breath and counted to ten and then went back and sat down. (I really don't understand why I can't have say over what tests are done from my OWN BLOOD) After a few minutes she called me back to the window and was already on the phone with nurse at my doctor's making sure that all eight tests would be done. I'm so glad I asked too, because it turns out that two were missing. I told her how much I appreciated her calling and double checking for me and actually almost got teary eyed, because I really was that thankful. The guy who actually drew my blood laughed because I asked to see the final form one last time. I had four vials drawn (not bad!) and peed in a cup.
After the lab I drove to the walk-in that I usually go to for colds and such to get my vision and hearing tested. As soon as I parked I realized that I had walked out without paying the nice woman at the lab. Oops. The hearing test was completely embarrassing, I missed so many. I could hear ambient sounds like cars driving by, the air conditioning kicking on, people coughing in the room next door, but I could not hear those damn tones. My vision was better, 20/15 in both eyes without any glasses or contacts :) It must be because I wear sunglasses while I'm listening to my all too loud music? Anywho, I drove BACK to the lab to pay where they just said "oh no, we just send you a bill if your insurance doesn't cover it all." Nice. Good thing the lab and the walk-in are only about a mile from one another.
I drove home after that just time to log on to the info session regarding nominees and invitees and the beginning of service and all that. It was helpful, but I feel like I've perused so many blogs by this time that all the information is just mushing together in my head. I asked about just flat out not receiving an invitation after clearing medical (because that seems to be my biggest fear right now) but I think he interpreted it as "what if I don't pass medical" because he suggested that placement would just be more hesitant about where to put me and that I needed to contact my medical person about holds and whatnot. By the time it was over I was so overloaded with Peace Corps that I needed a break. I drove over to my friends house for a movie date. She has a 4 week old baby so she's home all day and we have a shared love of all things movie, so we figured we'd put our mutual unemployment status to good use and have a weekly cinema experience. I got home a little bit ago and started sorting through my million pieces of paperwork.
I have everything sorted into three piles/giant envelopes. The first is "Stuff that is mine that isn't being sent anywhere." This stuff is the letter I got about my password, my copy of the NAC form, privacy statement, my copy of all my dental stuff, etc. The second pile is "Stuff that is still being worked on". Self explanatory. The third is "Stuff ready to be sent" That pile is getting bigger and bigger thankfully. I was going through the stuff that was done today, checking everything off of that nice blue and white checklist when I got to section X. Can I please say that I freaking hate section X? It's so non-descript but huge and blank and suggests that a LOT needs to be written there. The title is Summary of the Medical Examination and Additional Comments, but the part that the Dr. can write in is a list of "All Active and Chronic Conditions," "Recommendations & Comments," and "Do you have any medical concerns...?" I hate this. Anyway, I was checking everything and realized that my doctor had signed it, but didn't print his name, put his license number, or contact info. Grr. I am really pissed at myself for missing this, and I guess I'll be making a trip back over there tomorrow.
I am so tired right now I can't even think anymore. In non-medical news, I have been emailing back and forth with a woman at the English Language Institute at my alma mater about volunteering there for the semester. I was told there would be two possibilities for volunteering through them, one being a classroom assistant and the other being a conversational partner. I contacted two different women about both opportunities and the one who's in charge of the classroom assistants emailed me back. She asked for my background and resume, which I gave, and then she asked if I'd had ESL Methodologies in grad school. My heart sank. I will first say that I loved my grad school advisor. She has known me my entire life and is amazing and without her I could not have done grad school as successfully as I did. The only regret I have is that she suggested that I not worry about ESOL courses. I really wish I hadn't listened to that. I emailed the woman back asking that would derail volunteering for them, but she got right back to me saying not at all, that she was trying to figure out if I could have TAUGHT October - December for them. I was so relieved and at the same time annoyed. I could still volunteer, but teaching would have been AWESOME.
The nurse said that the lab results should come back pretty quickly, I'm wondering if my October 2nd goal is still doable...
I just left the doctor's office where the nurse was in the biggest hurry ever :-/ I went over all the forms with her so she could highlight what needed to be signed by the doctor, but filling out the form for the blood tests made me want to just tell her to stop and chill. I tried to show her the eight tests that I needed done and she just went "yep, yep, yep, we'll just do the Hep Panel and it'll get all three." All three as in Hep A, B, C. Not as in the three Hep B core/surface antibody/antigen nonsense that is required. She offered to have all the lab results mailed to me instead of having to come in again, which I do appreciate, so I self addressed some envelopes so they can send them. Anyway, meeting with the doctor was fine. I got to sit in the office and talk a little bit about me and my life and give my family medical history and then go over all the forms that needed to be filled out. He did me the honor of writing that I'm a non-smoker and was just trying to be honest on the initial application, which I appreciate. He also asked about birth control pills, which I used to be on, but stopped once my prescription ran out and I was uninsured. I don't feel a super strong need be on them since I'm not with anyone right now, but it was nice to have extra light, short periods. I would just really rather be on or off consistently and not changing it up every time I get a new job, insurance, or geographic location. I'll have to call my medical point of contact to see what's available overseas. (I guess I also don't want to start a new medication and have to get a medical hold put on my account...)
After leaving the doctor's I drove over to the lab to get all the blood tests done. Let me just interrupt myself to rant about how incredibly dumb it is that you have to have written doctors orders to get blood tests done. Who the HELL cares if I want to find out about my Hep B antigen status, or if I have HIV, or if my G6PD titer is where it should be. I have a freaking list from the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT that says I need these tests done, why isn't that good enough? Ok, down from my soapbox. I checked in and handed the woman the form that the nurse had filled out and then showed her the list from PC and asked her to double check that the tests requested were the ones checked. She just looked at me like I was crazy and told me I'd have to take it up with my doctor. I tried to explain that I had, that the nurse had been in a hurry, that I wanted to get it right the first time instead of coming back in a week, and that I had looked over the form and didn't understand half of the abbreviations on there. She again looked at me like I was nuts. She said that she would put everything into the computer, see if anything was duplicated and then if anything was missing I'd have to call to get verbal consent to add the tests on. At this point I took a deep breath and counted to ten and then went back and sat down. (I really don't understand why I can't have say over what tests are done from my OWN BLOOD) After a few minutes she called me back to the window and was already on the phone with nurse at my doctor's making sure that all eight tests would be done. I'm so glad I asked too, because it turns out that two were missing. I told her how much I appreciated her calling and double checking for me and actually almost got teary eyed, because I really was that thankful. The guy who actually drew my blood laughed because I asked to see the final form one last time. I had four vials drawn (not bad!) and peed in a cup.
After the lab I drove to the walk-in that I usually go to for colds and such to get my vision and hearing tested. As soon as I parked I realized that I had walked out without paying the nice woman at the lab. Oops. The hearing test was completely embarrassing, I missed so many. I could hear ambient sounds like cars driving by, the air conditioning kicking on, people coughing in the room next door, but I could not hear those damn tones. My vision was better, 20/15 in both eyes without any glasses or contacts :) It must be because I wear sunglasses while I'm listening to my all too loud music? Anywho, I drove BACK to the lab to pay where they just said "oh no, we just send you a bill if your insurance doesn't cover it all." Nice. Good thing the lab and the walk-in are only about a mile from one another.
I drove home after that just time to log on to the info session regarding nominees and invitees and the beginning of service and all that. It was helpful, but I feel like I've perused so many blogs by this time that all the information is just mushing together in my head. I asked about just flat out not receiving an invitation after clearing medical (because that seems to be my biggest fear right now) but I think he interpreted it as "what if I don't pass medical" because he suggested that placement would just be more hesitant about where to put me and that I needed to contact my medical person about holds and whatnot. By the time it was over I was so overloaded with Peace Corps that I needed a break. I drove over to my friends house for a movie date. She has a 4 week old baby so she's home all day and we have a shared love of all things movie, so we figured we'd put our mutual unemployment status to good use and have a weekly cinema experience. I got home a little bit ago and started sorting through my million pieces of paperwork.
I have everything sorted into three piles/giant envelopes. The first is "Stuff that is mine that isn't being sent anywhere." This stuff is the letter I got about my password, my copy of the NAC form, privacy statement, my copy of all my dental stuff, etc. The second pile is "Stuff that is still being worked on". Self explanatory. The third is "Stuff ready to be sent" That pile is getting bigger and bigger thankfully. I was going through the stuff that was done today, checking everything off of that nice blue and white checklist when I got to section X. Can I please say that I freaking hate section X? It's so non-descript but huge and blank and suggests that a LOT needs to be written there. The title is Summary of the Medical Examination and Additional Comments, but the part that the Dr. can write in is a list of "All Active and Chronic Conditions," "Recommendations & Comments," and "Do you have any medical concerns...?" I hate this. Anyway, I was checking everything and realized that my doctor had signed it, but didn't print his name, put his license number, or contact info. Grr. I am really pissed at myself for missing this, and I guess I'll be making a trip back over there tomorrow.
I am so tired right now I can't even think anymore. In non-medical news, I have been emailing back and forth with a woman at the English Language Institute at my alma mater about volunteering there for the semester. I was told there would be two possibilities for volunteering through them, one being a classroom assistant and the other being a conversational partner. I contacted two different women about both opportunities and the one who's in charge of the classroom assistants emailed me back. She asked for my background and resume, which I gave, and then she asked if I'd had ESL Methodologies in grad school. My heart sank. I will first say that I loved my grad school advisor. She has known me my entire life and is amazing and without her I could not have done grad school as successfully as I did. The only regret I have is that she suggested that I not worry about ESOL courses. I really wish I hadn't listened to that. I emailed the woman back asking that would derail volunteering for them, but she got right back to me saying not at all, that she was trying to figure out if I could have TAUGHT October - December for them. I was so relieved and at the same time annoyed. I could still volunteer, but teaching would have been AWESOME.
The nurse said that the lab results should come back pretty quickly, I'm wondering if my October 2nd goal is still doable...
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Online Info sessions & astronomy
Not that those two things normally go together, but today they do. Because I'm putting them both in my blog. Does anyone else still get those general emails from PC saying things like "get your application in soon and you could be leaving by July!" or "Life is calling, how far will you go? Attend a webinar to discover what the Peace Corps is all about"... I do. I want to send a return email saying "Thank you so much, but I got the application in some time ago and will be gone long before July, if I can help it, but thank you." I'm actually "attending" an online info session as I type this, I'm waiting for it to start. I'm hoping to maybe get some information on things I never would have thought to ask. There's another one on Monday geared towards nominees and invitees to explain things going on in this process and the beginning of service that I will definitely be listening to. Edit: the info session was pretty much what I expected it to be, but I got the chance to ask what kind of volunteer work to do now to make myself more competitive for the PO and she said anything teaching and in a classroom, but that if I have an ed degree and classroom experience (which I do) then I could do some work in ANOTHER area like health or HIV/AIDS, teaching English, something with agriculture, or even just teaching basic sanitation. Any of these would work to strengthen me as an "all around" good fit. I'm thankful for that information.
On the astronomy end of things, I went out last night to see what was supposed to be some kind of rare alignment that only happens once every 95 years or something. I had no idea what I was looking at other than a full moon, which was still pretty neat. I guess I looked pretty professional with my tripod and long zoom lens because a couple of people were asking me where to look and what to look for. One girl asked if I knew much about astrology, which I thought was funny. The moon was amazingly bright and my long exposures looked like day-time. The only hitch in the entire evening was when I returned to my car and realized that my bottle of mosquito repellant had leaked all over the inside of my purse and all over everything I had in there. My phone, a camera lens, bottle koozie, pictures of my nephews, USB drive, school board ID badge, three stacks of sticky pads, my point & shoot camera, my favorite pen, wallet... everything you can imagine. Too bad bug spray also acts as a paint thinner because it melted the blue dye off my phone case all over a new tee shirt. I was standing in my laundry room at 12:30 am when I got home with a bleach pen. (I'm smiling thinking how frivolous this will all be this time next year..)
Lastly, I got a phone call from the people at the Susan G. Komen foundation because I've registered to do a 3-day walk at the end of October. I have only raised $200 of the $2300 I need. Crap. I need to get better at this, huh?
On the astronomy end of things, I went out last night to see what was supposed to be some kind of rare alignment that only happens once every 95 years or something. I had no idea what I was looking at other than a full moon, which was still pretty neat. I guess I looked pretty professional with my tripod and long zoom lens because a couple of people were asking me where to look and what to look for. One girl asked if I knew much about astrology, which I thought was funny. The moon was amazingly bright and my long exposures looked like day-time. The only hitch in the entire evening was when I returned to my car and realized that my bottle of mosquito repellant had leaked all over the inside of my purse and all over everything I had in there. My phone, a camera lens, bottle koozie, pictures of my nephews, USB drive, school board ID badge, three stacks of sticky pads, my point & shoot camera, my favorite pen, wallet... everything you can imagine. Too bad bug spray also acts as a paint thinner because it melted the blue dye off my phone case all over a new tee shirt. I was standing in my laundry room at 12:30 am when I got home with a bleach pen. (I'm smiling thinking how frivolous this will all be this time next year..)
Lastly, I got a phone call from the people at the Susan G. Komen foundation because I've registered to do a 3-day walk at the end of October. I have only raised $200 of the $2300 I need. Crap. I need to get better at this, huh?
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
I totally have a crush on dr. house
I started volunteering today in a second grade class at a low income school. My friend is the teacher, so it's kind of a win-win situation because we can chat a little :) My name is on the sub list at four schools as well, and I'll be tutoring kids through the Title I initiative starting next month. My goal is to have a lot on my plate and a lot of resume updating to do when the nice placement officer calls asking what I've been up to. My PC program is primary teacher training - any other ideas on volunteer work for that? Also does anyone have any experience with sending in your dental stuff separate from medical in regards to being dentally cleared? I know my dental package was delivered on Monday morning because I got the delivery confirmation, but I haven't been told yet that it got there, that they're looking at it, or anything. I keep hoping for that little email in the morning saying they're at least reviewing it, but I guess in the grand scheme of things it's only been a day. Silliness, see latest entry :) I was gone most of the day today at the school and then running errands and shopping this afternoon. It was a lot better than sitting around reading blogs and timelines, shocking!
Does anyone watch House? See the premier last night? Hot. Also, I bought some Tom's of Maine toothpaste to get in better touch with my hippy side. I got the kids' Outrageous Orange-Mango flavor, but I'm not too happy with it's foam-ability. Their website does say the kids' version is less foamy than the adult version, but it's still going to take some getting used to. Hmm. Talk amongst yourselves.
Does anyone watch House? See the premier last night? Hot. Also, I bought some Tom's of Maine toothpaste to get in better touch with my hippy side. I got the kids' Outrageous Orange-Mango flavor, but I'm not too happy with it's foam-ability. Their website does say the kids' version is less foamy than the adult version, but it's still going to take some getting used to. Hmm. Talk amongst yourselves.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
19/365
I know there has been a serious lack of any PC updates, but I'll be desperately checking the USPS website tomorrow to see if my dental packet has arrived in DC, and I'm also going to call the gyno to see if they'll bump my appt up if there are any cancellations. Last but not least: Scarlet is a terrier through and through. She found a mole hole and spent about a half hour going to town. Love her.
Friday, September 17, 2010
panic
I should not be allowed to think about PC while I have my period. All I've managed to accomplish over the last two days is reading and bookmarking twenty-one other PC blogs, and scaring myself into thinking I'm going to make it through medical just fine and then still get rejected when the PO looks over everything and just cracks up laughing at me. I'm pretty sure it's hormones that have me all agitated, but I found a blog where a woman was asked to rewrite one of her essays (twice. ouch.) and then wasn't invited after all. This was after she was put on medical hold for like eight months. I would shrivel up and die. Maybe not really, but I would be so disappointed. I panicked when I read her entry about rewriting the essays, because she included the prompt given to her initially and it did NOT match the ones I wrote about. I went back and reread my essays and calmed down a little bit because they fit what I was asked, and were pretty well written. Maybe we're all given different essays? I wish I knew someone else applying and going through all this because I'm so sick of bugging my NPC (non-peace corps, new acronym) friends with all my musings and worries. (For example, no one I know has even heard of a Diva Cup, let alone considered getting one.)
My dental packet hasn't arrived in DC yet, I know because I've been psychotically stalking the USPS tracking site (cough...)
There are no pictures because, like I said, all I did was read PC crap and panic.
My dental packet hasn't arrived in DC yet, I know because I've been psychotically stalking the USPS tracking site (cough...)
There are no pictures because, like I said, all I did was read PC crap and panic.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Another appointment down
I just returned from an appointment with a podiatrist, and it's a shame that I'm leaving and don't have any real foot issues because he was a totally nice guy. I felt sort of bad just going to have him fill out the PC form because I could tell that he really wanted to help me. The reason PC wanted me to go in the first place was because I reported having fasciitis on the initial medical questionnaire. For those of you not in the foot-know, it basically means that in the mornings, my right heel hurts like a bitch and I have to gingerly stretch it out in order to walk like a normal human being. This is caused by something or other in my foot when I run around and play soccer or wear shoes with awful arch support. It's not a huge deal because I've had it for a few years now and have managed just fine. I take OTC anti-inflammatories (ibuprofen, aleve, etc) and just stretch if it's bothering me. I felt bad because the nice podiatrist man was offering to show me inserts for my shoes, write me a script for pain meds to take with me, and I kept saying, "No I'm fine, thanks." I really just wanted the form filled out. Under the "specific requirements for follow up over the next three years" he wrote "f/u PRN" which I'm smart enough to know means "follow up as the situation arises." If any of you are ever playing Trivial Pursuit or some other similar game, you want me on your team. I'm so full of random knowledge like that it's not even funny.
Now that the podiatrist is done, I have no Peace Corps medical stuff for the next two weeks, ugh. I feel like it's such a waste of time.
Now that the podiatrist is done, I have no Peace Corps medical stuff for the next two weeks, ugh. I feel like it's such a waste of time.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Efffffffffff......
I had to call and reschedule my gyno appt for the freaking TWENTY SEVENTH because I'm supposed to get my period tomorrow and there's no way it'll be over by Monday. Good-bye, goal of getting the medical review sent back within a month, you were fun to shoot for. I'm just hoping it doesn't cause too much of a rush to get me cleared, or even worse, delayed! Does anyone know if I can go ahead and send in my dental stuff since it's done? Maybe I'll call them...
*Called them, they said to go ahead and send it in :) Will make copies of everything and send it this afternoon!*
*Also I'm TB free! woo hoo!*
*Called them, they said to go ahead and send it in :) Will make copies of everything and send it this afternoon!*
*Also I'm TB free! woo hoo!*
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
medical review day one
I had my dentist appointment this morning to get my x-rays and exam as well as a cleaning because it had been a while. I generally have a good experience when I visit the dentist; I've had one cavity in my entire life, never needed braces, and only had two wisdom teeth that were taken out with no problem when I was 21. Anyway, I got my full-mouth series of x-rays and the chart filled out that all my teeth are healthy and that I don't need any work done. I had my teeth cleaned and an impression taken for a new occlusal splint because I clench my jaw at night. I got one when I was 17 but there are holes where my teeth are sharp :) The dentist recommended that I get a new one made since it's ten years old and worn through, and also so I'll have a spare to take with me. I double checked everything before I left, which i'm super glad I did because they had forgotten to check the box that said I had no oral diseases, the dentist hadn't signed it, and my x-rays were on plain paper rather than photo paper. I got everything taken care of except the x-rays because they didn't have photo paper. Since I'm going back tomorrow to pick up the occlusal splint, I'll bring them some photo paper to print the x-rays on. As I was leaving, the receptionist handed me a stack of polaroids from when I was little. My dentist's office used to take a picture of any kid who didn't have cavities and put them on a bulletin board. I particularly love the one of me at age seven in a bathing suit top. Like, WHY was I allowed to go to the dentist without a shirt on?
After the dentist I made my way over to the health department where I spent two hours waiting around for 10 minutes of actual medical work (so glad my phone battery died too). The immunization department initially tried to send me over to the foreign travel desk, but once it was determined that I didn't know what country I'm going to yet, that I only needed boosters that are recommended to the general population, and that the Peace Corps will give me the serious shots at staging, I was shipped back down the hall to the immunization ladies. I had blood drawn to test for varicella immunity since I had chicken pox but never had that vaccine, I had booster shots for Tdap and Polio, and I had a TB test injection which I get to have checked on Thursday. I asked the woman who drew my blood if she was good at drawing blood and she just laughed. She got the needle in my vein on the first try and drew the vial with no issues, so I guess that answered my question. I used to have a vicious fear of needles and tried to get myself over it by donating blood (this backfired on me because I'm O negative and CMV negative, so my blood goes to babies and immunosuppressed patients, so they call me every two months begging me to come in). The second woman I saw about fell off her chair when I told her all about the Peace Corps - how far away I'm going, not knowing anyone, possibly using a pit latrine, not having air-conditioning, etc. It made me really happy to be excited about all of this rather than anxious. It reminded me of my classroom aide last year who wanted to stay home from the most awesome field trip ever because she doesn't like the outdoors. I don't understand that mentality at all - I love being outside and getting dirty and sweaty, which is a good thing since I'm sure the peace corps offers lots of opportunities for that!
On the way home from the health department the check engine light came on in my car and the speedometer and odometer both quit. I was irrationally scared of crashing until I realized that all I had to do was keep my eyes on the road (duh?) I drove to my mechanics and let them check it out. Verdict? A broken speed sensor. I'm bringing it back in the morning to have it changed and get to spend another couple hundred dollars that I don't really need to spend right now. I guess this is just God's way of keeping my sense of humor in check, since the rest of my life is going pretty great for the time being :)
Lastly with the murder of the PCV in Lesotho, my mom has decided that I'm not to bring my SLR with me. I totally understand her concern, and am not taking my safety lightly, but I think I'm going to wait to find out which country I am sent to before making a decision one way or the other.
After the dentist I made my way over to the health department where I spent two hours waiting around for 10 minutes of actual medical work (so glad my phone battery died too). The immunization department initially tried to send me over to the foreign travel desk, but once it was determined that I didn't know what country I'm going to yet, that I only needed boosters that are recommended to the general population, and that the Peace Corps will give me the serious shots at staging, I was shipped back down the hall to the immunization ladies. I had blood drawn to test for varicella immunity since I had chicken pox but never had that vaccine, I had booster shots for Tdap and Polio, and I had a TB test injection which I get to have checked on Thursday. I asked the woman who drew my blood if she was good at drawing blood and she just laughed. She got the needle in my vein on the first try and drew the vial with no issues, so I guess that answered my question. I used to have a vicious fear of needles and tried to get myself over it by donating blood (this backfired on me because I'm O negative and CMV negative, so my blood goes to babies and immunosuppressed patients, so they call me every two months begging me to come in). The second woman I saw about fell off her chair when I told her all about the Peace Corps - how far away I'm going, not knowing anyone, possibly using a pit latrine, not having air-conditioning, etc. It made me really happy to be excited about all of this rather than anxious. It reminded me of my classroom aide last year who wanted to stay home from the most awesome field trip ever because she doesn't like the outdoors. I don't understand that mentality at all - I love being outside and getting dirty and sweaty, which is a good thing since I'm sure the peace corps offers lots of opportunities for that!
On the way home from the health department the check engine light came on in my car and the speedometer and odometer both quit. I was irrationally scared of crashing until I realized that all I had to do was keep my eyes on the road (duh?) I drove to my mechanics and let them check it out. Verdict? A broken speed sensor. I'm bringing it back in the morning to have it changed and get to spend another couple hundred dollars that I don't really need to spend right now. I guess this is just God's way of keeping my sense of humor in check, since the rest of my life is going pretty great for the time being :)
Lastly with the murder of the PCV in Lesotho, my mom has decided that I'm not to bring my SLR with me. I totally understand her concern, and am not taking my safety lightly, but I think I'm going to wait to find out which country I am sent to before making a decision one way or the other.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
My Peace Corps Timeline
I've stopped updating this entry. For a complete, up-to-date timeline, please see the separate page titled Timeline :) Thanks guys.
I've seen other PCV blogs that detail their timelines, and it always interests me because they're all so different. For the sake of comparison, my own memory, and anyone who comes across this in the middle of their own application, I am going to put mine up. I'm obviously going to have to update this as time goes on...
Three conversations in June and July of 2010 brought up the Peace Corps to me. After the third time, I decided to at least look in to it, not really committed to anything more than that because I have a cat and a dog that would need to be looked after. (And frankly I don't WANT to leave my dog, but as my sister in law said "don't NOT do something because you have pets..") My dog would have no problem finding a home, I have offers to take her off my hands at least once a week. I brought up the idea to my friend Nora who immediately declared "I'll take Nadia!" She has always loved the puddle of fur that meows at me to be fed :) And with that I decided to apply.
July 13, 2010 - I go to the PC website and look around, it's a lot different from what I thought it was (I was under the impression that it was for college students to do a semester abroad or something) It looks awesome and I begin filling out the application, I tell my cousins when they get home from work & they're ecstatic.
July 14, 2010 - I finish my essays and the health status review, I submit it all
July 28, 2010 - packet comes in the mail, my mom says she'll mail it to me
July 30, 2010 - I receive an email from my recruiter telling me that I need to send her back the forms in the packet as well as my college transcripts and financial obligation form, I also "attend" an online infosession where I ask some questions and get more and more excited about the prospect of doing this
July 31, 2010 - The packet arrives from Florida and I sort through it
August 2, 2010 - Fingerprints done at the police station in SC
August 4, 2010 - All of my references have completed the forms for me :)
August 10, 2010 - I call several people in PC to see if I need the financial obligation form notarized since I am planning on paying off my debt before leaving. I can't get in touch with anyone, leave a message for my recruiter and then have the form notarized anyway, to be safe. Recruiter calls me back after I drop everything in the mail and says what I did was fine.
August 13, 2010 - Email saying my status has changed - I check and they've received all my forms, but not all of my references. hmm. I email my recruiter to check on them.
August 14, 2010 - Email saying my status has been updated - All references are in and my recruiter will contact me soon to schedule an interview! Woo hoo!
August 23, 2010 - I haven't heard about an interview yet so I email asking if she knows what timeline to expect, she calls me right away saying that she was expecting ME to call and schedule it... miscommunication? Anyway, we schedule the interview for that Thursday, I offer to drive to Atlanta for an in-person interview.
August 26, 2010 - I show up at 10:55 for my 11:00 interview (nervous!), wait a few minutes, ask the receptionist for tips (be professional, she's not your friend, it's a job interview... got it.) We talk for almost 2 hours and I relax as I go, afterwards she tells me that she thinks I'd be a great fit for the primary teacher training program and looks over some paperwork that tells her where that program is available. She asks if I would be willing and able to ride a bike 3-5 miles a day (yes!) and then that there aren't any programs in francophone countries (sad!). I can either choose Asia leaving in January or Africa leaving in February. Now, all along I'd been thinking I'd end up in francophone Africa, since French seems in high demand, and most of the french speaking/education programs are in Africa. I've also wanted to travel there for as long as I can remember, or at least since I read Poisonwood Bible. Given that that was my first instinct, and it gave me a month more to get everything together, I picked Africa. I marvel at the fact that it's becoming more real now, that I have a region and a vague timeline to shoot for, haha.. I drive home to Florida.
August 27, 2010 - I receive an email that my status has changed - I'm a nominee now!!! I have legal clearance already, and will need to get blood tests, shots, x-rays, etc.
August 31, 2010 - I get another email that my status has been updated - My medical packet was mailed out on the 30th and I'll need to complete it and send it back.
September 2, 2010 - Medical/dental packet arrives in the mail, it's a behemoth. Separate entry for this, it's too big.
September 7, 2010 - Dentist appointment this morning, my teeth are perfect and need no work :) I had an impression taken for a new occlusal splint (to keep me from clenching my jaw at night) since mine is 10 years old and has holes in some places. I also went to the Health Department and got blood drawn for varicella immunity since I had chicken pox but no shots. I also had a TB test, Polio and Tdap boosters, and got my immunization history.
This is where I am now, waiting :)
I've seen other PCV blogs that detail their timelines, and it always interests me because they're all so different. For the sake of comparison, my own memory, and anyone who comes across this in the middle of their own application, I am going to put mine up. I'm obviously going to have to update this as time goes on...
Three conversations in June and July of 2010 brought up the Peace Corps to me. After the third time, I decided to at least look in to it, not really committed to anything more than that because I have a cat and a dog that would need to be looked after. (And frankly I don't WANT to leave my dog, but as my sister in law said "don't NOT do something because you have pets..") My dog would have no problem finding a home, I have offers to take her off my hands at least once a week. I brought up the idea to my friend Nora who immediately declared "I'll take Nadia!" She has always loved the puddle of fur that meows at me to be fed :) And with that I decided to apply.
July 13, 2010 - I go to the PC website and look around, it's a lot different from what I thought it was (I was under the impression that it was for college students to do a semester abroad or something) It looks awesome and I begin filling out the application, I tell my cousins when they get home from work & they're ecstatic.
July 14, 2010 - I finish my essays and the health status review, I submit it all
July 28, 2010 - packet comes in the mail, my mom says she'll mail it to me
July 30, 2010 - I receive an email from my recruiter telling me that I need to send her back the forms in the packet as well as my college transcripts and financial obligation form, I also "attend" an online infosession where I ask some questions and get more and more excited about the prospect of doing this
July 31, 2010 - The packet arrives from Florida and I sort through it
August 2, 2010 - Fingerprints done at the police station in SC
August 4, 2010 - All of my references have completed the forms for me :)
August 10, 2010 - I call several people in PC to see if I need the financial obligation form notarized since I am planning on paying off my debt before leaving. I can't get in touch with anyone, leave a message for my recruiter and then have the form notarized anyway, to be safe. Recruiter calls me back after I drop everything in the mail and says what I did was fine.
August 13, 2010 - Email saying my status has changed - I check and they've received all my forms, but not all of my references. hmm. I email my recruiter to check on them.
August 14, 2010 - Email saying my status has been updated - All references are in and my recruiter will contact me soon to schedule an interview! Woo hoo!
August 23, 2010 - I haven't heard about an interview yet so I email asking if she knows what timeline to expect, she calls me right away saying that she was expecting ME to call and schedule it... miscommunication? Anyway, we schedule the interview for that Thursday, I offer to drive to Atlanta for an in-person interview.
August 26, 2010 - I show up at 10:55 for my 11:00 interview (nervous!), wait a few minutes, ask the receptionist for tips (be professional, she's not your friend, it's a job interview... got it.) We talk for almost 2 hours and I relax as I go, afterwards she tells me that she thinks I'd be a great fit for the primary teacher training program and looks over some paperwork that tells her where that program is available. She asks if I would be willing and able to ride a bike 3-5 miles a day (yes!) and then that there aren't any programs in francophone countries (sad!). I can either choose Asia leaving in January or Africa leaving in February. Now, all along I'd been thinking I'd end up in francophone Africa, since French seems in high demand, and most of the french speaking/education programs are in Africa. I've also wanted to travel there for as long as I can remember, or at least since I read Poisonwood Bible. Given that that was my first instinct, and it gave me a month more to get everything together, I picked Africa. I marvel at the fact that it's becoming more real now, that I have a region and a vague timeline to shoot for, haha.. I drive home to Florida.
August 27, 2010 - I receive an email that my status has changed - I'm a nominee now!!! I have legal clearance already, and will need to get blood tests, shots, x-rays, etc.
August 31, 2010 - I get another email that my status has been updated - My medical packet was mailed out on the 30th and I'll need to complete it and send it back.
September 2, 2010 - Medical/dental packet arrives in the mail, it's a behemoth. Separate entry for this, it's too big.
September 7, 2010 - Dentist appointment this morning, my teeth are perfect and need no work :) I had an impression taken for a new occlusal splint (to keep me from clenching my jaw at night) since mine is 10 years old and has holes in some places. I also went to the Health Department and got blood drawn for varicella immunity since I had chicken pox but no shots. I also had a TB test, Polio and Tdap boosters, and got my immunization history.
This is where I am now, waiting :)
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
exercising patience
My *unofficial* volunteer handbook arrived the other day, as did my lens, my sub card for this year, and my camera :) What has not gotten here is my nomination/medical clearance packet and my memory card. Thank goodness for wal-mart, because that's the first place I went to after getting my camera battery charging. Just so everyone knows, the camera is a beast. That's the best way I can describe it, it's huge and wonderful and takes amazing pictures. I'm making my way through the 444 page user's manual, taking a break every few pages to orient myself with what's being talked about and to try it out in real life.
I finished the handbook the same afternoon it came. It was that wonderful. I keep googling others' peace corps blogs to find out answers to silly, random questions that keep popping up in my head (do I shave my legs? what kind of underwear is best? when do I get my shots? do I use my own passport or one they give me? am I an idiot for wanting to bring my camera?... these kinds of things) I keep getting more and more excited every time my own "applicant status" changes. I feel like I'm a little bit closer to being a part of this amazing group of people whom I admire so much. For those of you not in the know ;) peace corps has a login for those who've applied and are tracking their way through the system. It shows where you are and what's required to move onto the next step along with tips and thought provoking surveys. Something I've seen on other blogs is a timeline of the application status - I think I'll do one of these in a separate entry that I can edit as I move along. I'm interested to see just how quickly this process goes. Sometimes it seems like forever between when I hear updates, but looking back it's only been a month and a half.
Lastly, I paid off a good chunk of my credit card debt yesterday, and only have one payment left on one card (which will go through on Sept 9th) to be credit card debt free :D. I still have a massive student loan, but the credit cards were my sore spot. Last year this time I had over $8,000 on a super high interest rate card and two lower rate cards, and really thought I'd just carry it around forever. Eventually I'd have to break it to someone if they wanted to marry me, that I'd ruin their chances of buying a house and if they wanted to cut and run, I'd understand. Sad. I found a calculator on the Kiplinger website that figured out what it would take to pay off the balance, and for the first time I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. I doubled the amount I had been paying, and started making two payments a month (splitting it lowered the average daily balance which lowered the amount of interest that I was charged). In the spring I received an offer from my bank for a great rate if I transferred a balance, so I did and my double payments went even further. When I'd looked into teaching abroad in the past, something that kept me from thinking it could be a reality was that debt; who can just pick up and leave with that kind of albatross? (Not to mention the programs COST thousands to do!) This time I knew I had enough in savings to pay it off completely before I leave, and I promised my mom I'd do that since she signed a thing saying she'd take over whatever payments I leave behind. I went ahead and transferred the money from savings to my credit card yesterday after reading a quote from Hemingway in the unofficial handbook: "the shortest answer is doing the thing." In essence, don't toil back and forth with a question, just do it and find out what happens. What happened is that now whatever money I earn this fall can go into savings :)
I keep thinking about this opportunity I'm getting to be a part of and I'm filled with excitement. I feel like there are the types of people who travel and there are those who don't. For one reason or another, life gets in the way and things are put off until there's more money and more time. Sometimes I feel old (I think that comes from living in a college town where I'm surrounded by people 18-23 whenever I go anywhere) but I know I'm really not. Realizing this helps when I lament how much time I've wasted NOT doing this, it lets me be happy when I grasp how much of my life I'll have after this experience has happened.
I finished the handbook the same afternoon it came. It was that wonderful. I keep googling others' peace corps blogs to find out answers to silly, random questions that keep popping up in my head (do I shave my legs? what kind of underwear is best? when do I get my shots? do I use my own passport or one they give me? am I an idiot for wanting to bring my camera?... these kinds of things) I keep getting more and more excited every time my own "applicant status" changes. I feel like I'm a little bit closer to being a part of this amazing group of people whom I admire so much. For those of you not in the know ;) peace corps has a login for those who've applied and are tracking their way through the system. It shows where you are and what's required to move onto the next step along with tips and thought provoking surveys. Something I've seen on other blogs is a timeline of the application status - I think I'll do one of these in a separate entry that I can edit as I move along. I'm interested to see just how quickly this process goes. Sometimes it seems like forever between when I hear updates, but looking back it's only been a month and a half.
Lastly, I paid off a good chunk of my credit card debt yesterday, and only have one payment left on one card (which will go through on Sept 9th) to be credit card debt free :D. I still have a massive student loan, but the credit cards were my sore spot. Last year this time I had over $8,000 on a super high interest rate card and two lower rate cards, and really thought I'd just carry it around forever. Eventually I'd have to break it to someone if they wanted to marry me, that I'd ruin their chances of buying a house and if they wanted to cut and run, I'd understand. Sad. I found a calculator on the Kiplinger website that figured out what it would take to pay off the balance, and for the first time I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak. I doubled the amount I had been paying, and started making two payments a month (splitting it lowered the average daily balance which lowered the amount of interest that I was charged). In the spring I received an offer from my bank for a great rate if I transferred a balance, so I did and my double payments went even further. When I'd looked into teaching abroad in the past, something that kept me from thinking it could be a reality was that debt; who can just pick up and leave with that kind of albatross? (Not to mention the programs COST thousands to do!) This time I knew I had enough in savings to pay it off completely before I leave, and I promised my mom I'd do that since she signed a thing saying she'd take over whatever payments I leave behind. I went ahead and transferred the money from savings to my credit card yesterday after reading a quote from Hemingway in the unofficial handbook: "the shortest answer is doing the thing." In essence, don't toil back and forth with a question, just do it and find out what happens. What happened is that now whatever money I earn this fall can go into savings :)
I keep thinking about this opportunity I'm getting to be a part of and I'm filled with excitement. I feel like there are the types of people who travel and there are those who don't. For one reason or another, life gets in the way and things are put off until there's more money and more time. Sometimes I feel old (I think that comes from living in a college town where I'm surrounded by people 18-23 whenever I go anywhere) but I know I'm really not. Realizing this helps when I lament how much time I've wasted NOT doing this, it lets me be happy when I grasp how much of my life I'll have after this experience has happened.
Monday, August 30, 2010
365?
I've found some extremely helpful discussion groups on Flikr regarding my choice of camera and all the clicks and whistles that go along with it. Something that's been pretty wonderful is the advice that I can convert four of my older lenses to work perfectly with my new camera. Reading through everything I'm realizing that the lenses I have are pretty great. People have entire groups dedicated to posting shots they're taking with lenses I just happened to inherit and have in my possession for most of my life. sweet.
I'm hoping a few things arrive today - my Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook, my nomination and medical paperwork (my insurance runs out in a month!), my 24mm f/2.8 lens, and an email back from a guy who does AI conversions for older Nikkor lenses. I need to get my medical clearance asap since I'm leaving so soon! Right now all I know is that I'll go sometime in February, but really that's only six months away, which will fly by. I've been thinking about my dog a lot. I think she's going to be the thing/person that's hardest for me to leave; this dog and I have a very special relationship. The dog I grew up with had to be put to sleep in 2006 (I'd had her since 1992) and it was possibly the hardest decision I'd ever had to make and follow through with. It broke my heart and I get teary eyed to this day thinking about her. Anyway, ten months later my mom knocked on my door and handed me a tiny puppy. Scarlet. It took us a while to warm up to one another, she was a little depressed not being around her litter-mates and I was reminded of the dog I'd had to say goodbye to. Eventually we realized that we needed each other, and have been inseparable ever since. This past summer I stayed in South Carolina for a month and a half and Scarlet of course came with me. Long story short my cousin's dog took issue with Scarlet being so precocious around her food and "attacked". We weren't standing in the room with them so we don't know exactly what happened, but it ended with Scarlet's eye being pulled/popped out and we rushed her to the vet ER. She was put through surgery and had her eye sewn shut for a few weeks, but she ended up making a full recovery. I still think that the left eye is a little bigger than the right one and maybe will always be out a little further, but she's alive and can see. Taking care of her and worrying about her has made it that much harder for me to think about leaving her behind for two years (and no, I can't take her with me, nor would I want to... the margin of error is so much smaller in a developing country with the lack of vet care and just the impracticality of trying to travel around the world with a dog... really? please.)
The original point of this post was an idea, one that I've seen a few places on Flickr - a 365 day photographic journey that will start September 1, 2010 and go through September 1, 2011. I'll take at LEAST one picture every day and post them here or on my Flickr account, possibly as part of one of those already established. Knowing that half my time in the next year will be spent in situations that I have NO grasp of right now, I will most likely not be able to post the pictures daily, but I'm definitely going to try to shoot every day. I just invested an ungodly amount of money in a camera and it would be ridiculous not to use it as much as I can.
Oooohhhh... the mail just arrived! Unofficial Volunteer hand book got here, but no nomination yet. UPS tracking says my lens is on the truck for delivery and that my camera will be here tomorrow. I'm off to read & do some financial nonsense.
Cheers!
I'm hoping a few things arrive today - my Unofficial Peace Corps Volunteer Handbook, my nomination and medical paperwork (my insurance runs out in a month!), my 24mm f/2.8 lens, and an email back from a guy who does AI conversions for older Nikkor lenses. I need to get my medical clearance asap since I'm leaving so soon! Right now all I know is that I'll go sometime in February, but really that's only six months away, which will fly by. I've been thinking about my dog a lot. I think she's going to be the thing/person that's hardest for me to leave; this dog and I have a very special relationship. The dog I grew up with had to be put to sleep in 2006 (I'd had her since 1992) and it was possibly the hardest decision I'd ever had to make and follow through with. It broke my heart and I get teary eyed to this day thinking about her. Anyway, ten months later my mom knocked on my door and handed me a tiny puppy. Scarlet. It took us a while to warm up to one another, she was a little depressed not being around her litter-mates and I was reminded of the dog I'd had to say goodbye to. Eventually we realized that we needed each other, and have been inseparable ever since. This past summer I stayed in South Carolina for a month and a half and Scarlet of course came with me. Long story short my cousin's dog took issue with Scarlet being so precocious around her food and "attacked". We weren't standing in the room with them so we don't know exactly what happened, but it ended with Scarlet's eye being pulled/popped out and we rushed her to the vet ER. She was put through surgery and had her eye sewn shut for a few weeks, but she ended up making a full recovery. I still think that the left eye is a little bigger than the right one and maybe will always be out a little further, but she's alive and can see. Taking care of her and worrying about her has made it that much harder for me to think about leaving her behind for two years (and no, I can't take her with me, nor would I want to... the margin of error is so much smaller in a developing country with the lack of vet care and just the impracticality of trying to travel around the world with a dog... really? please.)
The original point of this post was an idea, one that I've seen a few places on Flickr - a 365 day photographic journey that will start September 1, 2010 and go through September 1, 2011. I'll take at LEAST one picture every day and post them here or on my Flickr account, possibly as part of one of those already established. Knowing that half my time in the next year will be spent in situations that I have NO grasp of right now, I will most likely not be able to post the pictures daily, but I'm definitely going to try to shoot every day. I just invested an ungodly amount of money in a camera and it would be ridiculous not to use it as much as I can.
Oooohhhh... the mail just arrived! Unofficial Volunteer hand book got here, but no nomination yet. UPS tracking says my lens is on the truck for delivery and that my camera will be here tomorrow. I'm off to read & do some financial nonsense.
Cheers!
Sunday, August 29, 2010
pictures pictures pictures
Another blast from the past back story, because I promise everything going forward will make more sense if this is clear.
When I was 12 my dad died. One of the things I snagged from his house (I really don't remember how I got everything...) was his Nikon F from 1970. An old SLR, six lenses, and a whole lot of love. I taught myself to use the camera and have fallen in love with everything photographic since then. I have taken pictures at weddings, of musicians trying to begin their careers, and just about every other situation I am ever in. There is the problem though - film offers limited opportunity to explore and experiment. Of course I can buy a roll of film, read articles on how to shoot a new technique, and then go out and try 36 shots... but I will have NO idea how any of them came out until I get it developed a few days or weeks later. Too much grain? There goes the entire roll. Overexposed? Yep, that sucks. I've wasted so much film trying to get a shot of lightning that it's embarrassing to walk into the developing lab because I know the girl behind the counter is just going to tell me they were all blank. Damn. I needed a new camera. I just ordered a magnificent DSLR that will allow me to play around and try new things, seeing how each and every change I make affects my pictures. I'm tracking my package on UPS and it's been sitting in Georgia for a while, I'm such a twelve year old.
When I was 12 my dad died. One of the things I snagged from his house (I really don't remember how I got everything...) was his Nikon F from 1970. An old SLR, six lenses, and a whole lot of love. I taught myself to use the camera and have fallen in love with everything photographic since then. I have taken pictures at weddings, of musicians trying to begin their careers, and just about every other situation I am ever in. There is the problem though - film offers limited opportunity to explore and experiment. Of course I can buy a roll of film, read articles on how to shoot a new technique, and then go out and try 36 shots... but I will have NO idea how any of them came out until I get it developed a few days or weeks later. Too much grain? There goes the entire roll. Overexposed? Yep, that sucks. I've wasted so much film trying to get a shot of lightning that it's embarrassing to walk into the developing lab because I know the girl behind the counter is just going to tell me they were all blank. Damn. I needed a new camera. I just ordered a magnificent DSLR that will allow me to play around and try new things, seeing how each and every change I make affects my pictures. I'm tracking my package on UPS and it's been sitting in Georgia for a while, I'm such a twelve year old.
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