This is really happening.

I am walking around the hospital in a daze. It's my last day as a Room Service Assistant. Every time I see someone in the hall I wonder if its the last time I will see them. Doctors, nurses, and random contractors that I see all the time are floating in and out of my day for the last time.

I am also aware of saying goodbye to my family. My sister is planning her off days for when I leave. My mom is getting to town in a couple of hours. My bio-dad gets here tomorrow. My cousins are saying super sweet good bye things. And my coworkers gave me a bear. The PCDR Facebook group keeps posting things like, "TWO WEEKS!", in the group postings, and my far away Kentucky friends are planning Skype dates.

I still have to pack my apartment. Get out of my apartment. Pass off my car. And pack my suitcases.

I'm not sleeping a lot over the next two weeks am I?

What Bible Study are you doing?

I have had a number of people ask me what Bible Study I am planning to do while I am in PC. My answer to this question has been that I am going "Back to Basics". The only official study I wanted to take was my bible. I have one main reason for doing this and one accompanying reason.

Main reason:
     Some of you are in the know about when I became a Christian. I had a conversation with God, a kind of demanding conversation on my side, wherein the answer I received was that, "The bible is the truth." Now, along the way I have changed this to hear, "The church is the truth.", "The River of Life is the Truth.", "Insert name of someone I admire is the truth." All of which were greeted with a reminder that this was not the lesson I had learned on that fateful day in June of 2008. When I think I know what matters in life I go back to basics. I read just the bible and ask for truth in that. I set aside what the world says it means to be a Christian, or a follower of Jesus, and I go back to what I know. It's really not a big deal (though it is a BIG deal), in that I just mean that I don't think God meant being a Christian to be a challenge or that every Christian is meant to be a cookie cutter version of each other. I find that i lose myself and I lose God when I try to follow the mold of traditional Christianity. Let me and God decide what that means for me, please. Also know that at the basis of my faith I have that I want to give more to the people of the world than I take and I want all humans to be treated like people.

Accompanying reason:
     At some point in my life, I can't remember exactly when, Mac at the River of Life church in Springfield, KY put forth a challenge to the people in his life and his church to read the bible in 90 days. I participated. I read it cover to cover once. I remember siting in that sun lit room at St. Catharine College (For those of you familiar with the school I was doing desk duty at the end of Siena). I read for hours each day. Well, probably hour. I remember a Facebook page devoted to the challenge acceptors. Each day Ray Hamilton was the first to post that he had read and that was a bit of a motivator to follow behind him and not that I too had read for the day. I think 8 people finished, but for me, it was a personal success. I learned so much about myself, my faith, and my God. I brought myself back to basics and I took away the "You are a Christian so you must be like all the other Christians" mentality I easily fall into.

Fast Forward to the now. I want to read the bile over a year. Though 90 days was wonderful and I was able to get the entire story, I want a bit more time to process the process. I have to shake expectations and just be me. One of my good friends from high school, Nikki has a mother (as many do), and her mother gave me a read the bible in a year devotional. It is entitled "Our Daily Bread". Though I am not going to follow the plan as they lay it out (Because I don't like mixing old and new testaments as a way of forcing some kind of emotional connection), and I am not actually going to start on January 1, I am going to use the journal as a way of writing some thoughts, getting in some time, and keeping track of my progress. Also, I am just going to go ahead and start in the morning, and not wait until PC to start. I try to be a do it now kind of person, so hopefully that is happening tomorrow.

Now, I answer this question because it has been asked of me more than thrice now. It is a helpful question from many (though not all) who care about me. I don't know that I will necessarily update often on this aspect of PC life. "Is Amanda doing her daily reading?" Well, we won't know, but I do know that if I get a reading in that day or not isn't going to change God. God, in my opinion, created us to live in the world so that's what I plan on doing, while at the same time, morals and life goals I had way before I gave God a chance lead me to want to give the people of the world the time they deserve, so I plan on doing that also.

My sister

In honor of me leaving,
or simply because of love,
my sister got a tattoo of me on her body.

I'm so PC.

Probably the most PC thing about me right now is that I am very delayed in my posts. As I read past volunteers blogs I was always sad when the posts would be months apart, but here I am doing the same thing. I also have no intention of going back and making it up, so you are going to have a space in this blog. I will update you today for as of today.

Well, medical clearance went swimmingly, and by swimmingly I mean it was touch and go for a long time there. I had to redo my WBC lab test because my levels were high. I also had to explain that I had recently had a root canal, was about to have another root canal, and the following week I was going to have all of my wisdom teeth removed. Well, there goes my chances of LOWERING my WBC. During that time it was hard and awful and confusing and frightening, but as of right now I am in the clear and okay with it.

For a long time I was telling people I was leaving, but not feeling it myself. My sister, Gabby, kept saying I was leaving and that she was sad, but it was just not real to me. Then, on February 1, 2013, as I sat in the break room at lunch checking my email I saw a message entitled "Staging!!". I knew this was it. I had to call SATO to set up my flight. I called 10 minutes too late though (Because directly after work I made a Craigslist purchase of luggage for the trip) and had to call on Monday. Now I know I am leaving on March 4, 2013 at 10 something in the morning.

Since then I have been going between freaking out about everything I have to pack and sitting in my house telling myself I have plenty of time. Friday my sister, my cousin, and one of my best girlfriends are coming over to stake claim on my belongings. The rest are either going with me or going into storage. I have already quit my job. My last day of work will be March 19.


Other thoughts lead me to this:

"Everything happens for a reason."

The statement I have dished out over and over again in my life, but have recently had it thrown at me more than I've sent it flying. When I decided to jump onto my Peace Corps dream again it was partially because I had chosen the best time in my life. I was finished with my bachelor's degree, I was single, and I didn't have any children. Also, the people that made up the bulk of my life and time were suddenly gone and there was no getting them back. Surely there wasn't anything that could happen in a few months that would lead me to question PC. Well, don't take life for granted. It has a way of throwing wonderful things in front of you that can lead you to trip up the perfect scenario you envisioned for your days. Don't get me wrong. I am not giving up on PC. I feel like my life has all come together to get me to this point. Also though, I know that I am leaving behind a life filled with wonderful adventures and people that may or may not be the same when I get back. There is no way I can be the same. No way. I just hope that in the end, things work out for the best when I return home. For both of us.

Big Blue Envelope!

Medical Clearance

This is a list of what I need, updated as I get it done. 

1. Physical

1. Basic Physical   4 December 2012
2. Pelvic Exam (going to try to make an appointment for Saturday)
3. Glasses (Going to do a walk in whenever I have time and they are open. Possibly tomorrow after the second root canal)
4. Lab Work (blood and pee extracted 5 December 2012)
5. TB  23 August 2012)

2. Dental Exam (Ish, I had an exam and am in the middle of the work)

3. Immunization Compliance (I should really make sure this is printed and scan it in)

4. Polio Immunization (Getting this on Jan 2)

5. Varicella Immunization (First one 4 December. 2nd scheduled for Jan 2.)

6. MMR Immunization (First one 4 December. 2nd scheduled for Jan 2.)

7. Lab work  (In progress)

1. HIV
2. CBC
3. HEP B
4. HEP C
5. G6PDQ
6. Basic Metabolic Panel
7. Urinalysis

8. Dental X-Rays (When the dental work is done, the x-Rays will be completed)

9. Tetanus and Diptheria Immunization 4 December 2012

10. HHF positive response form (I don't know if I have to upload anything for this, but I will look into that.)

I have been putting off medical things until January when my insurance kicks in, but now that I have to have clearance by 4 January 2013... I am putting off NOTHING. 

I will have you know. On 3 December 2012 I went to Comfort Dental. My doctor... Dr. Hale, took x-Rays and got started. He is great by the way. I have to at least put this in there. He is helping me out a lot with everything and he is a great dentist. On Monday he started my first root canal procedure, did a filling, and didn't make me feel awful for not taking care of my teeth until adulthood. Thank you Dr. Hale. The following day, I came in for upper fillings. Yes, my teeth aren't in great shape. We don't have to talk about it. The (IDK, nurse... dental hygienist,  I don't know their actual title) actually complimented my teeth while she was filling them. I don't know if I believe someone who says I have beautiful teeth as they are filling a tooth next to a root canal, across from another root canal and below another filling, but hey, she made me feel okay about having awful teeth. I will say though, they do look great from the front. 

Also, I went yesterday, 5 December 2012, to have all of the lab work done. I went to "Any Lab Now", and it was fairly cheap. Yay that. Though, I didn't realize, I would be peeing in a cup and I went right before I left work, so I walked over to the Burger King, got a kids meal, and waited out the time before I had to pee playing with the toy I was given. Yay Adulthood. 

I still need to go get a pelvic exam. I've never had one. Yay, Unicorn-status.

Also, I need to go get some spectacles and have another eye exam. On the bright side, I may snatch up two more pair of glasses on that trip. I may need extras! 

I am cutting it a little close with the second set of shots, but they have to be 28 days apart. I will be getting the second set on January 2, 2013. Hopefully EVERYTHING else will be done by then though.

Also, I have to put in a note. I was super nervous about the $4,000 bill I was going to have for my dental work, but someone I know decided to front me $3,000. I don't know if he would want written "credit" for it though, so for now I will say a public "Thank you!" to a private donor.  

Invited!

So I was at Village Inn with my sister when I received a call from "Washington DC". Needless to say I answered it and started shaking quite a bit.

Some guy went on to tell me that I had received an invitation over a week ago and he was checking on me. I was frantically searching though the 54 emails I hadn't yet deleted... nothing. Nothing. Where is it!!!??? He went on to say that he had sent it on the 23.. blah blah blah. It wasn't there.

He read back the email address he had for me amandacunni..... Insert me butting in, "No! There is an "M" in between amanda and cunningham. You know, like for M*******, my middle name. There is an M there." He told me it would be resent and that I would have an email within half an hour. He gave me his email address and since I could barely hear him he said "F, as in Frank."

I went home... nothing. Two hours later... nothing. During those two hours, I was trying to email him... "FM*****@peacecorps.gov"... it bounced back. "FM*****@Peacecorps.com"... it bounced back.

"Amanda, What are you doing wrong?" I went back to the name I had written down... "Oh,..." It was FM*****ON@peacecorps.gov. I sent him an email, and he wrote me back... oops, he forgot the "n" between the "I" and the "g" in Cunningham. Also, when he said "F" as in Frank, Frank wasn't his name... it was F**** and I was dressing everything to him as Frank. WHOA. Spelling is not my strong point and apparently it isn't his in that moment either. Too much reference to me I'd assume. Finally... I watched my screen, and it popped up. I was invited. I am invited. Dominican Republic in March. Whoa... now the real work begins. I have 30 days to get medically cleared.

Placement Specialist

I went through my emails today and I had an email from a woman named Rebecca. Rebecca is the Placement and Assessment Associate, Community Economic Development Desk. She asked me to fill out a questionnaire. I emailed the document to her and she got back with me today. She told me via email that I should hear more in 2-6 weeks for a final suitability review. 

Placement Specialist, here I come! 

Nomination!

A Peace Corps nomination is as follows:

 After your interview, your recruiter will match your skills with a program that needs those skills and nominate you to that program. Nomination means that you will know the general program you will work in, the geographic region, and your approximate departure date.

So, what I know today is that I am nominated for a march departure date in a spanish speaking country within a community development area. In order to remain competitive, I need to practice spanish. I went out today and purchased some materials. My other intention is to get in better shape. I am going to start making sure I go to the gym five days a week. I started tonight. 

NOMINATION! It's the next step. YAY! 

Interview

I had my Peace Corps Interview today.

I arrived really early, since I had to drive to Denver. When I arrived at the Panera Bread I sat down to check my Command Center (That's what I call my phone now, because really... it's not just a phone) to make sure I was at the correct location. As I was reading the email from my recruiter I overheard the people in the corner. It was obvious she was conducting an interview. Then, it was obvious it was my recruiter. I was over an hour early, and decided to give them some space.

After the interviewee left I looked over my things and prepared more answers to the questions. I checked to see which projects I thought I qualified for and made sure I was ready. As I sat for another 45 minutes I saw my recruiter just hanging out in the corner. She made a few calls and I gave her some space.

About five minutes before the interview was scheduled to begin she came over and asked me if I was Amanda. I explained that I was and also mentioned that for an hour and a half I knew she was sitting there doing stuff. Should I have walked over sooner? I don't really know, but an interview starts when and interview starts, I wasn't late, and we were both prepared, so I didn't worry too much.

Interesting news: I found out that i actually do qualify for a Spanish speaking location since I have 2 college level Spanish classes... go me. The interview went great. Turns out my recruiter went to Ecuador, so cool, and all of my current questions were answered. I think she liked me, so there it is.I have to fill out a few addendum's.  I also have to fill out another paper that I had, but got messed up. That should arrive from Dallas any day now. Once all of that is filled out, she starts looking for placement for me.


YAY squared.