Woah... Peace Corps? Yes, please!

Well, since my last post the following has happened:

• My blood count is at a normal level over 12... the infusions worked!
• I cleared medical a few days after I received the results of my blood test.
• I was contacted by my placement officer that day asking for an updated resume of my work and volunteer history as she does the final review of my application!
• I sent in my updated resume the following week
• I got an email a few days later asking for a good time to schedule a phone call with my Placement Officer to go over the final review of my app. 
• I had a 15 minute convo with my PO yesterday and was told she is looking into a program in Africa departing for early October doing small business development!  She said I should be hearing from her in 1-2 weeks with a possible invite! 

This has all happened in two months.  It took 6.5 months for my medical review to be completed! Crazy!

Here is my LONG timeline of this process... It looks like it will most likely be 1 year from start to invite! 

7/1/10- Application Submitted.
8/10- Contacted by a recruiter.  Got fingerprints done... FBI card status! 
9/13/10- Interview over the phone with my recruiter.  Nominated at the end of the interview for Sub-Saharan Africa doing Business Advising departing late May/early June 2011.
9/14/10- Toolkit states I am officially a Peace Corps Nominee and my Medical/Dental Kit are both in the mail.  Legal clearance was completed.
10/10- Had various dental and doctors appointments completing my  kit.
11/17/10- Received a notification that my Medical/Dental kits were received. Also received my dental kit back saying dental work needs to be completed and new x-rays.
1/11- Got three crowns, one fillings, and x-rays. Thank God for dental insurance and for blessing me with the funds to get it all done at once.  Sent info off the the Dental office and was cleared at the end of January.
2/17/11- I got impatient as I realized I hadn't heard anything from the medical office and my nominated trip was approaching and emailed them asking if they had started reviewing my file. 
2/18/11- Received work that "my file was just assigned a nurse and I will be hearing from her in 4-6 weeks". 
3/26/11- Received a letter from my MO asking for a follow up blood test and a new PAP smear.  My blood count was low and my PAP was over one year old. 
4/11- Found out my blood count dropped even more.  Was placed on iron supplements.  Faxed a letter and repeat blood test back to my MO.  Received another letter stating the information was incomplete, my doctor did not specify when I began the iron supplements and they want another blood test.
5/11- Realized my iron isn't raising fast enough.  Underwent Iron Infusions.  Completely free thanks to Kaiser and my awesome insurance through my work!   
5/18/11- Received an actual phone call from my MO asking how I was doing and if I had finished my infusions.  I told her yes and I was going to get my blood drawn the next day to see results.  Had a blood test and my iron was over a 12 (which is good!) and there was a LOT of iron floating around in me.
5/26/11- Received notification via my toolkit that the MO made a decision and I will be receiving a letter in the mail stating what they decided.  Received an email from the Placement Assistant about 1 hour later asking for an updated resume so she can pass along my my application to my placement officer.  Guess that means I passed medical!!!  Woohoo!  I also received an email from my placement officer stating I am not going to make my original nomination.  (I already knew that) 
6/1/11- Sent my resume over.  It was hard fitting all my work and volunteer experience onto two pages. 
6/7/11- Received an email from the PO assistant saying she is passing along my application to the PO and I will hear from her in 4-6 weeks. 
6/9/11- Received an email from my PO asking what time would be best for her to call me and to discuss the final review of my app.  AHHHHH!!!!!   I told her Monday or Tuesday at noon during my lunch break. 
6/14/11- Had a 15 minute conversation with my PO and was told that she is looking at a trip departing in early October for Africa doing Small Business Development!  She also said I'll here from her in 1-2 weeks about this trip.  Possible Invite?  I hope so!

I'll write another post soon!  Hopefully with a picture of me with my BBP!  BBP- Big Blue Packet, i.e. invitation!

RAS! Restless Applicant Syndrome or Really Annoying Stuff?

As I began the application process of joining the Peace Corps I began reading other applicants and volunteers blogs and their journey to getting to their assignment.  Well, I came to find that there is one common term applicants have coined called RAS, otherwise known as Restless Applicant Syndrome.  This is what we call getting antsy and mostly occurs during the waiting period.  When I read about RAS I often thought to myself, "I am so lucky that I don't have RAS, I know the Lord will place me where he needs me in his timing".  I thought I was being really patient until recently.  I was nominated for departure in Late May/early June and was also asked to be a bridesmaid in one of my best friends weddings this coming March.  Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to leave the country or travel in the first 6-7 months.  With my nomination I didn't have a doubt that I would be able to come back for her wedding but as time ticks away I am still not cleared medically.  I am kind of freaking out that I might have to miss her wedding!

I submitted my medical kit in October and they barely began reviewing it in early February.  Three months later?  Really???  I was still feeling good then because I thought they would speed through it and get me cleared, I had plenty of time to make my original nomination.  Wrong!  I feel like more and more things are coming up prolonging my departure date even more. 
First they needed a followup blood test and a new PAP because mine was over a year old.  Done.  Wrong again.  My blood test came back saying I was more anemic then my original test.  My doctor decided to put me on Iron pills boosting my iron levels.  I submitted a letter from my doctor about the iron count and also my new medical info they requested.  Yes, I am good, I sent it all in and maybe they will clear me now.  Wrong again!!!  They sent me another letter stating my paperwork was incomplete, my doctor and I forgot to state when I began taking the iron pills and now they wanted another blood test showing my iron count from after the pills.
Okay, I do that! My iron count has not gone up very much at all.  I have been taking horse pills for iron... they are a lot of iron!  Today my doctor decided I need to have iron infusions so my iron will be at an ok level... I am currently at an 11.6, the standard in 12-16.  I start in a week and a half and it will be a three week process. 

I'm hoping that after this process and my iron count will be good, they will clear me medically and I will not be WRONG again about my medical kit being complete.  I pray they have a spot for me departing before mid August.  It has always been a dream of mine to serve other people in a foreign land and to share my education with them. 
I know the Peace Corps is right for me and pray for patience.  It will all work out in the long run!  :)

Peace Corps update!

So I have some good news!

Over the past two weeks I have spent a lot of pretty pennies to finally finish all of my dental work so I can complete my dental file for the Peace Corps. That included getting new xrays, three crowns, and one filling.  I finally finished last Tuesday night and sent off my revised dental packet Weds, and was cleared for dental on Sat!  Woohoo!

I hadn't heard anything from the PC office in months, so it feels great to know that I am not forgotten!  Now the wait is on the Medical office to clear my medical file.  I want to do this so bad and I have been doing really well at the whole patience thing, but it gets scary not hearing a peep for months at a time. 

A few weeks ago 20/20 did an expose on women in the Peace Corps that have been raped and "forgotten" by the Peace Corps and also on a volunteer that was murdered in country.  I have gotten quite a few people coming up to me telling me they are extremely worried about me going to Africa with the Peace Corps.  My response to them is that it could happen here in our own backyards.  I am choosing to join the Peace Corps knowing the risk of possible danger.  Since I do not have TV (cable) I didn't get to watch the special, but I did read a lot of articles about it and understand why people are so scared, I kind of freaked out the weekend it showed and was questioning myself if it was worth it.

I came back to the realization that I am in God's hands!  I cant 100% prevent myself from being a victim.  I can be overly cautious, which I believe myself to already be, and I can make smart decisions keeping myself out of threatening or sketchy situations. 
I also feel that the more I integrate and build solid relationships with my community and host family the more I will become like a real family member and they will protect me as they would one of their own flesh and blood. 

One of the things that I most look forward to is building those relationships with my future village and helping to share my knowledge and education and learn from them as well. 

I feel like right now all I can do is hand it all over to God because everything is done according to His plan and in His timing.  All I can do is have faith and patience.  Which thankfully I do have.  :)

This road looks never ending!

So, I was so excited and relieved to have ALL of my paperwork sent to the Peace Corps and for them to review and tell me how perfect I am for the Peace Corps and for them to send me a letter telling me to start preparing, that I will leave on _____ for _____.  Well, the smooth process I was praying for hasn't quite gone the way I'd hoped. 

A few weeks ago I was at a night out/meeting with Favor of God's co founder Martin Onen when my phone wouldn't stop ringing.  My mom was calling me and that is weird for MY phone to ring so much (I am not a fan of talking on the phone).  After hitting ignore a few times, I quietly stepped outside because I figured it must be an emergency for my mom to call me repeatedly.  Well, come to find out I received a thick manila envelope from the Peace Corps and mom thought it was BIG news, like placement/departure date BIG.  I gave her permission to open it and explained to her that I won't be receiving that BIG letter until I have spoken with my placement officer, which I have yet to hear anything from.  What was in the envelope was my dental records sent back to me and a request for new xrays and a letter from my dentist verifying that I have had the three teeth needing crowns actually completed.  I thought, no big deal... WRONG!

I went to my dentists office the next day and they informed me that the dental work they are needing completed records on have not been done yet and the xrays cannot be completed until my insurance renews in January or else I have to pay out of pocket.  No bueno!  Well, after about an hour of talking and figuring out what needed to be done and the only logical route to take would be to wait until January and pray that my spot is still available when they finally receive and review my files.  I also left pretty broken hearted because I was informed that my crowns will be about $1200. 
Pretty much in tears when I arrived home my amazing roommate came to my rescue and helped me figure out how I can budget this month so taht I will have the money in my account by my dentist appt in early January.  She is so amazing!  We had a great roommate date and she ensured me that God will get me through this, she was just so comforting and encouraging. I do have the best roommate ever!!!
Thankfully I had finished my Christmas shopping by this time and as long as I remain responsible I can do it!

As for placement, I have been blog stalking and I have a feeling I am going to Ghana but from reading all these other peoples blogs they tend to be wrong. :)

All I know is that wherever I end up will be where God has planned for me to go.  I pray for flexibility, a clear and open mind, and for God to truly move me in this whole process.

On an upside, I have signed up to take a membership course with my church where I will deepen my knowledge and faith in Christ.  I am so excited!  Plus, I am taking it with my best friend Abby!  We tend to have a lot of fun in classes together and sometimes don't get in trouble.

Hello blogging world, it's been a while!

So it definitely has been a while, a couple years really.  I thought I'd try and get into the habit of blogging since I think that might be my only way of communicating to the most of my family and friends here at home for a few years. 

Why, you may ask... well, to make a long story short, my life will hopefully be changing a LOT for the next three or so years. 

I started blogging in, I believe, 2008 because my sisters had the cutest blogs and I loved reading about their lives (even though I see them all the time).  I liked seeing the comments from our extended family and that they were able to get a glimpse into all of our lives here in Southern California. 

Well here is a quick glimpse into the past two years of my life. 

2008-
June- Graduated from college
June- Moved back home

August- Went to Honduras with Sandals Church

October- Got a seasonal job at Kohl's as a POS and rocked the position
December- Got another job at Odyssey Health Care as the receptionist and rock that position even more!

2009-
Nothing really new
Still working at Odyssey as the receptionist
Applied for a few positions within the company but the time wasn't right

August- Moved out of my parents house into a cute little apt with a friend from church

-Applied to go to Uganda with church and got invited to join the team!  Woohoo

2010-
March- Went to Gulu, Uganda with Sandals Church to visit Favor of God Ministries
June- Decided I want to join the Peace Corps
July- Submitted my application
August- Volunteered as a camp counselor for Pipeline (elementary Sunday school) for a week

September- Interviewed by phone and nominated to serve in the Peace Corps in Sub-Saharan Africa doing Business Advising departing late May/early June of 2011!

November- I turned 25!
-Completed and sent in my medical and dental evaluations
-just received a request for new dental x-rays to be completed and am waiting patiently while the rest of my paperwork is being reviewed.

Surprise!

I'm joining the Peace Corps!

I will hopefully be moving to Africa and this will be where you can hear about my adventures!

Please pray for me in the coming months that everything goes smoothly, that I have patience in waiting and in my current job, that God prepares my heart for the incredible adventure of life I am about to embark on! 

Love you all!

Job.... Yup, I finally got one!

So this is a picture from Christmas break with my CSUSB housing friends and old roommates at our Christmas extravaganza. I got Mama Mia and was so excited!

This is how excited I am right now about having a real JOB!

Well friends, here is how it all started.

After 6 months of the post graduation job search I finally found a few. It all started out with dad nagging me to stop into Khol's in early October and apply just as a seasonal employee. I went in one afternoon and the lady at customer service told me that I am a lucky girl because she was going to add me to the interviews for the next day. I went to the interview and they hired me, they were pretty puzzled as to why a college grad wants to work at Kohl's. Hey, it's a paycheck and better than nothing that a lot of others in the U.S. have right now with this economy. I was hired as a cashier and did pretty well for myself throughout the holidays. So well, I was the top employee for the week before Christmas for getting people to sign up for Kohl's charge cards... that's a pretty big deal in the Kohl's world! I was also told they wanted to keep me on year round. It was at the beginning of December that Alvord School District contacted me to be a substitute teacher. I went through the hiring process and then the holidays hit and it was put on hold. Well it so happened that during the holidays I was contacted by my friend Ed who I went to Honduras with and he told me about a job with his company Odyssey Health care that would be full time with benefits!


Wooo Whooo!


I went in for my interview Monday the 22nd they loved me and offered me the job right on the spot. I didn't accept right away because I didn't want to leave the subbing job high and dry especially when I forked over quite a bit of money to run the background checks, certs... etc.


After talking to my life coach, aka my brother Miles, we decided that it was a great opportunity and I accepted the job!

I am now a working woman!

I work Monday thru Friday 8-5pm as a receptionist for an amazing health care/hospice program.

YAY!

Ps. As for right now I am still at Kohl's... you can catch me at the register most weekends.

I talked to the cream of the crop!

Okay so since I am home so often I receive 98% of the phone calls on the house phone asking for Mr or Mrs Nicks. Most of which are telemarketers either trying to get us to do a survey or to buys something. I really don't like to talk to them so I have come up with the greatest technique on tricking them so I don't have to talk to them myself. When they ask how old I am I just tell them I am not 18 yet, that I am not an adult or am still in high school

Tonight I did just that and I had the funniest response ever.

It was an older lady, I am guessing from the south and she had an attitude, not the bad kind but she just had that fun edge when she spoke.
Well tonight our conversation went like this:
Lady: Hi may I please speak with Mrs. Nicks?
Me: Sorry but she is not available right now
Lady: Oh, well what about Harold?
Me: He's not either
Lady: Well then, who are you?
Me: Their daughter
Lady: Oh well then I will talk to you, You sound like an adult
Me: Sorry mam but I am not, I'm only 17 (I try not to giggle)
Lady: What? You sound so old, You sound like a grown woman
Me: Nope, sorry! (I am beginning to giggle because its so funny!)
Lady: Okay then, well let me tell you Honey, don't you ever leave your mommy and daddy, stay as long as you can, stay forever! And DON'T have kids!
Me: (I continued to laugh)
Lady: You have a great night sweetie!
Me: Thanks you too!

Hahahaha... I probably do sound my age but I think it is so fun to pretend, especially when you don't wanna answer questions on a survey or you don't want to buy something. This lady was a lot of fun and didn't bug me like the other boring ones do. It just made me smile, then giggle, and then laugh so loud my brother came in and wanted to know what was up. I filled him in and told him he can borrow my trick any day... though he isn't an adult, so maybe not this one just yet.