YOU'RE INVITED....

So I came home from Nashville, visiting my sister, and there was my coveted package on the front door step. Peace Corps Invitation Kit!!!!

I have been invited to teach High School English in INDONESIA. Orientation is April 4th and Pre-Service Training will be April 7th. I am totally excited and can't wait to go. It feels like I have passed a huge milestone. I never thought that I would actually be going! 

My nerves are going crazy now though, because this is actually a reality. I sent my acceptance email this morning. So there is no turning back now.

My mother is a little scared for me, but she says that is just what moms do! haha. She has been online all day looking up things about Indonesia and trying to figure out all of the things that I can bring back for her.

I should be getting an email soon that will give me more information about my departure and getting my passport. So there will be more detail postings to share very soon!

Snow Day

Last night I went to bed... No snow. I woke up at 3:00am to get ready for work... Like 7 inches of snow. So being the bight star that I am (notice the sarcastic tone) I decided to still get in my little car and drive to work. Yeah, that was soooo not a good idea. After my car stopped moving I finally had to concede that I was not going to be going anywhere.  So today is a Snow Day, and my first one ever actually. YAY!  Now all I have to do is figure out what I am going to do with my spare time. Might be a good day to finish knitting projects and watch old movies.

Now my major concern with the snow.... Will UPS still be delivering today??? I am expecting my Welcome Packet from the Peace Corps today that has all the information that I want so desperately... Like where I will actually be going and what I will be doing. I figure those are all good things to know.  So now we wait and see if the Fearless UPS drivers of Chattanooga, TN will brave the snow and deliver my package. Here is that damn patience thing coming back to haunt me yet again!

 Any bets on the outcome?

ASIA!!!

Ok... So eerily as soon as I posted my last entry about the e-mail I received I got a phone call from Heather (My placement Officer).  She was super nice and gave me the words that I wanted to hear "I would to talk to you about a position I am considering you for." So we talked and then she said "I would like to officially invite you to the Peace Corps to Depart in Early April for Asia"  HECK YEAH!!!!

So All I know right now is that it is Asia, Early April, and I will be living with a host family for the entire 2 years that I am there. How awesome is that!  I will get the details of the program and country that I will be serving in within the next week. She is sending out my packet tomorrow via UPS. I can't wait to get it! I have no idea where is Asia I will be going, but I know it is going to be awesome!
I have told my whole family and everyone is super excited. Though in shock because even though they said there were no guarantees, we were still really planning on an Eastern European destination.  This is going to the adventure of a lifetime and I cannot wait. I am so excited, but I am getting scared at the same time. There was still a part of me that had doubts that I would even get an invitation. 
So In a few days I will know to which country I will be going... I can't wait!

Wild Card...

So after waiting for an e-mail from my Placement Officer I finally got one! However, It was a little disappointing...yet exciting at the same time!  All of the Education programs for the January-March time frame that I was nominated for have been filled. SOOOO.... that kinda of stinks because now I have to wait longer!(And we all know how well I have done with the waiting thus far). She goes on to say to be patient as it is a Core Expectation of the Peace Core (Patience) and to be flexible..... OK. Now the exciting part of the e-mail....

"In looking for an alternate program for you, I will be focusing on upcoming programs in  Eastern Europe, Caucuses, Central Asia, Asia, and Africa departing April June 2011.  If you have a strong preference for one of these regions, feel free to note it, *with the understanding that ultimate Placement determinations are based first and foremost on Peace Corps’ programming, and applicant preferences are never guaranteed."

 So I have absolutely No earthly clue as to where I might be sent! There are more regions in the mix now and each one holds their own appeal! So here is to more waiting.... and the Wild Card factor! Lets see where it leads!

Rocky start to 2011

Happy New Year!!!!

Well, it started off that way. I ended up spending the weekend with my sister and her family. My nieces always are a blast and keep me busy. I went to head home, back to Chattanooga and my car started acting funny.... It is a stick shift and my car would not go above 60mph and it was revving something terrible. Then the smell of burning clutch filled the inside of my car. It was Not good! So I had to get my sister to come and pick me up off the side of the interstate..... And I think I may have hit a poor skunk or at least scared the crap out of him when I pulled off the road because the skunk smell was outrageous! So I called into work and will be spending tomorrow trying to get my car fixed. Thank goodness Firestone is open on Sunday!

since this happened I Had to get someone to cover my shift at work tomorrow. So since Kristina is doing that for me I will need to cover a day for her on her to make it up to her. That means that I will not be able to get my wisdom teeth out on Thursday as planned. I will call on Monday and reschedule for next week hopefully. It shouldn't be that big of a deal since I just need to have them removed before my departure.

In the meantime I am trying not to freak out and take a few deep breaths. It will all be ok, and the New Year will get back on track to being fantastic!