Medical and Dental Forms

Our medical and dental evaluation forms arrived in the mail today and are more confusing and complex than imaged. And, as suspected, my kidney stones are coming back to haunt me. I have to go see a urologist for an evaluation. ☹ Booo!!! I really hope this does not screw us out of going. Also, it’s going to be quite a challenge to track down my medical history. Ugh. I’ll keep you posted as we move along this process…PS- I told my Mom, Sister and Brother about going to the PC finally. Amy and Michael were very cool with it. My Mom, well, she was a little shocked and needs some time to let it sink in. I think she’ll be ok though. And now, for the grand finale, I am going to tell my dad this tomorrow. I’m scared.

NOMINATION!!!

We have been nominated! As expected yesterday, it is a program that leaves in August 2011, my position is in community services and Chris’ is in environmental education and living in a French speaking country in (drum roll please)…Sub Saharan Africa!!!! Our recruiter (M) said my position is specifically for a program for empowering women-Cool! BUT, there is a catch that hasn’t made this quite as exciting as we’d hoped- Chris is required to take French lessons/tutoring, pass a French proficiency test AND do 3 months of environmental awareness programs/volunteering in Columbus all before we leave. He is very concerned as to why he needs to do all this extra work when he a) has taken formal French classes, b) lived in Haiti for 2 years, a French/Creole speaking country and c) has WAY more experience in environmental training than any extra volunteering they want him to do considering he’s a frickin’ engineer in the environmental field. :) In fact, our recruiter even said to me he is “too qualified” which is why they want him to gain experience on more of a “grassroots level” since he’s got so much technical experience. Oh and d) I have had no French training (I took Spanish in HS and college) and they didn’t initially require me to have French tutoring or take a test. Huh?... Chris called M later today and she basically said she’s not even sure why all this is needed but not to worry too much since the test is more a formality on paper and will probably not actually need to be taken. She is a new PC recruiter so she’s still figuring all this out herself. She said she would be calling the Placement Officer in DC on Monday to get more information on these requests and discuss other placement possibilities. Both Chris and I don’t feel comfortable spending all this extra time on requirements, then may still not be able to go because he doesn’t pass a test. M told us we are fantastic applicants and they really want us so all and all, right now we are pretty much feeling that we’d like her to look for other opportunities if Chris will be required to do all this extra stuff. It just doesn’t seem to make sense considering we are more highly qualified than most fresh outta college applicants and she told us that…Oh, how we are feeling the bureaucracy of a government organization! Not sure what’s going to happen from here, but it’s time to tell my Mom this weekend. ☺

Finally some info

Our recruiter gave us a seriously big dose of information today! She sent our info. To DC today for a nomination in a program leaving in August 2011 with Chris in environmental education and me in community services (NOT education which is what I was expecting but the more I read about community services/development, I am kinda pumped!). I just want to know where we are going now!!!!! We think it’s South America. She says DC has to get back to her in 48 hours so we’ll know of an official nomination tomorrow or if not, not until next Friday since she’ll be out of town until then.