Getting Close

Nearing the end of November, I'm starting to really actively thing about reactivating my application. I just can't decide on the right time. If I could do it now, I would in a heartbeat, but the nominations for when I can leave aren't open yet. I was suggested to reactivate in March, but I would *love* to do it in January, the first week of January, before I leave.

In the mean time, I think I am going to send my recruiter an updated resume and update on a couple volunteer things I've done, as well as a brief statement about be overflowing excitement and barely contained patience to reactivate my application! I'll do that tomorrow I think, I don't like e-mailing at night when I'm on the verge of getting tired and could potentially get wordy or miswrite stuff or not check my grammar/spelling. 

But that is a start, that email I'm sending will be a start to let her know I'm very excitedly on my way to reactivating my application!

Update: aaaaap I did it I did it! I got it proofread by awesome Sara before I sent it, and Sara and Brittany both helped with resume updates. Everyone please keep your fingers crossed for good news!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm so nervously excited!!!

Update: immediate out of office reply! my recruiter is out of office until December 1st...only a week, but noooooooo! I was hoping for a quick, positive reply. That's okay though, I will wait it out. Its a week, I'm patient, I can do it.

Wooooaaaaaa

So, I just happened to look at my toolkit, someone in the group just got that mysterious medical message saying "look for a letter in the mail regarding the decision"--you know, the one that freaks EVERYONE out and makes them think they have been denied. I'm sure she's cleared, but it freaks everyone out. I wish I could just give her a big hug and tell her to breathe!! Haha! I just know how that was. ANYWAY. I got on my toolkit to see what my message actually said--it said one thing before the letter, one thing after...any way, I noticed two things on there that I had never noticed before! I never got toolkit updates about that, so I had no clue those two things had changed.



So basically, it says (a) up in the red, that I had withdrawn my application and if I wish to reactivate it to contact placement, and (b) down at invitation, that I had declined my invitation to El Salvador.

I just had NO CLUE my ToolKit had updated to that!!! As "bleh" as that is to see, it IS good because it lets me know that my application really is able to be reactivated, which I have sometimes been nervous about just because its floating around "no man's land." Though I thought I was supposed to contact my recruiter instead of my PO? But it says Placement Office. Hrmmmm. Very interesting.

I dunno, I just found the whole update very interesting! Its been there since August without my even knowing it!

Life is Calling

I totally think they should contact Peace Corps about them using this video for an ad--listen to the lyrics. Not only do they have great voices, but the lyrics match....amazing

Packing List!

Pretty much exactly 2 months I leave for China--I leave the first week of January. People are right, the closer and closer something gets, the quicker the time goes. Its 2 months away and I STILL have to get my visa and buy my plane tickets. Today I should be getting the tickets, today or tomorrow. Hoping for Korean Air or JAL. I know Korean Air is nice, but have never flown JAL, tho I believe I've heard good stuff about it. Also, my information for me to get my visa with is on the way, so I'll be going up to Chicago to get that at the end of November or beginning of December. Not looking forward to that drive....6 hours, 8 hours? Eitherway, its awful.

Last night I started putting together a packing list for China--I may not be going with the Peace Corps, but I used their packing list to get a decent idea of what I'll need. Most of it I had on my list, but some of it was "oh yeah!"

Annoyance.

I'm not trying to go all holier than though on readers :) The point is, why is someone allowed to be so demeaning and condescending and rude and bullying to people day after day with no reproach? ESPECIALLY in an organization like the Peace Corps where there should be friendliness, shared excitement, and just overall harmony.

I VOTED! (you better too!)

I voted. And you better get your ass out and vote too (particularly if you are voting for Barack Obama)

My dad, sister, and I got up and went to vote this morning. We got in line at 5:45 am, with 15 minutes to wait. We were about 50 deep in the line, yet there were about 50-75 more behind us once 6 o'clock rolled around and the doors opened. In the front of the line there were even people with yard chairs and blankets--who knows what time they got there!

6 o'clock, doors opened. There are 2 precincts at Methodist Temple where I vote

-- 2-8 and 2-13, I am in 2-13. I got over to that line and signed my name (of course I had trouble when the little old woman didn'

t understand why I was registered here but my license had a Bloomington address, I had to explain that I live here, am registered here, but when I had to get my license, I was in Bloomington and didn't have any Evansville proof with me).

6:13 my dad went up, 6:15 Caitlin went up, and about 6:20 I went up to vote and was finished in a few minutes

BARACK OBAMA!

GO VOTE!

YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT!

SO GO VOTE!!!!

Tell Barack

Goal

I know I want to go to EE/CA, NA/ME, or Africa.....its one of those things where you know you want to go there, because you'd do well there and the like; however, can't really put your finger on the specifics of why those regions would really suit you. 

So that's my goal. In the next couple weeks, I want to come up with a few reasons why Eastern Europe/Central Asia, North Africa/Middle East, and Africa would be the best regions for me.

At least TEFL's top 2 regions are in Africa and EE/CA, and in the Middle East (aka Jordan) its one of just 3 work areas, and seems to be the strongest. So those factors are going for me. But I want my personal reason, not a statistic reason. I know my personal reason is there, I just have to piece it together! :-D