UPDATE: Nominated for Business Advising program in the Pacific Islands because I didn’t have the language requirement for C./S. America. From what I could read on the Peace Corp website I found that the possible islands were: Fiji, Tonga, Vanuatu, Kiribati, Samoa, Micronesia and Palau. Of those, two that listed a business position were Vanuatu and Tonga. Time to do some research!

So now my options are business advising in C./S. America or in the Pacific Islands. I’m an A-Match (Almost-Match) for C./S. America because of the language requirement. If I get picked I have to take 1 or 2 accredited Spanish classes - that’s no problem at all though, so I hope I get picked. I really wanted C./S. America.

If I get the Pacific Islands that would still be neat. So my A-match will go in first and if I don’t get that then I will be nominated for the Pacific Islands. Sometimes the unexpected turns are exactly what you need. Either way the experience should be awesome!

Everything went really well and it should! I’ve set myself up to be the perfect candidate - degreed, debt-free (well, almost), medical/legal issue free, enthusiastic and flexible!!

I’d say the only down parts were that my chances of being able to teach English were slim to none,  that I didn’t have enough Spanish to guarantee a Spanish-speaking country and I might still be doing engineering.

Actually that last one isn’t too bad, as long as its hands on and not in an office I’d be cool with it. I think right now she has me on a track for environmental/water resources engineering or geodevelopment management. As I think about it more, that does sound cool! My main passions are definitely with people, but the environment isn’t much farther down on my list. 

In the end nothing matters except the experience - the language and place may not be what I had hoped for, but I know the experience will be great no matter what. I’m definitely improving my go-with-the-flow-ability!

Next steps are waiting to hear more information, a nomination and then all my evaluations.

I have my reasons for asking for a starting date after Feb 09, but I so wish it could be earlier!!

I have my interview for “the toughest job you’ll ever love” on the 23rd. I feel pretty good about it, but can’t help feeling doubt.  I don’t see any reason for them not to take me. My financial, legal, medical and educational backgrounds meet their requirements. I have the motivation, the heart and the stomach for it. I’m about as light on my feet as I can get.  But hey an interview is an interview is an interview.

I just hope that I get a spanish speaking country. Of course, anywhere they sent me would be fine. I wish I could know right now where it was so I can start my research and get excited about it!! Patience has never been my strong point

To anyone reading this - thank you! I hope to use this space to write about my experiences as this process continues and of course as a means of keeping in touch with you all from wherever I get sent to!

Please add your comments below - I know that reading them from wherever I end up will be so nice!