Yesterday, I received another e-mail notifying me of a "status update" on my Peace Corps Application Tool Kit. When I went to the application site, I read a message informing me of a hold on my account. This message also said all applicants have a hold on their account while their medical forms are being processed, and unless I am contacted by Medical Services, no more information is needed. I've not yet been contacted by anyone, so, once again, fingers crossed, I'll hope I don't need to drag out this process much longer. Of course, it's quite doubtful that anemia thing will be swept under the rug. We can hope though.
It's been exactly three weeks since I sent off my medical forms, so I guess it hasn't really taken too long thus far. I am just getting fairly frustrated with all this waiting. I know I should have patience, but it really hit me about the time commitment involved with this when I was reading another volunteer's blog. She mentioned she'd spent over a year just on the application process, for this two year program.
But nothing has deterred me. Every day, I am more certain this is what I want to do right now. I am not hesitant even when my friend mentioned one her friends, a volunteer, who had been shot with rubber bullets by a police officer in Kazakhstan and had been sent home.
I always laugh when people think the Peace Corps is like the military, but you know, maybe it is after all...
Generally the hold means that they need something from you. They mail something to you via snail mail telling you what they need so that's probably why you haven't heard yet - you'll probably get a letter today or tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ashley. Maintain PMA and wait. However, if you get to a point where you think you have waited beyond a fair amount of time, sending a politely worded e-mail inquiry will not be out of order. My personal wait for medical clearance was four months from the time PC received my packet. I am certain that it came at that time only because I inquired.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes (At least you are spending the waiting period in Chapel Hill - - - my favorite place and how I wish I was still there)
Thanks, Ashley. I really highly doubt this would be the true end to the medical portion, so I will expect something in the mail soon then. This whole journey through the Peace Application is starting to feel a little Mordor-esque.
ReplyDeleteAnd Lew, are you from Chapel Hill yourself? I just go to school here. I can't believe you waited four months to hear from them. You must have incredible patience. My current plan was to give them one month at the very latest before I very politely hounded them.
Lew's right - it's a delicate act between waiting and asking. Sometimes things move only after you ask. But before you ask, you realistically have to wait a few months/weeks/whatever. Just a timing game I guess.
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