Peace Corps Fake Out

November 5, 2014; S/P Application Day 130:

Today we received our first contact initiated by the PC since our nomination emails 100 days ago. The subject line was truncated in my email viewer, so all I saw was "You're Invited", I was so excited- but it turns out we were just being invited to a recruiting event in Massachusetts. So disappointing. Sam apparently had the same problem, only he was driving when he got the email. He had to pull off to the side of the highway. Not cool, Peace Corps, not cool.

Community Drop In Hours

September 29, 2014; S/P Application Day 93:

I checked in with our recruiter at Community Drop In Hours today. She says that everything is going as she expected so far. She confirmed that in her system, Sam and my applications are listed as "Ready to Invite", and also confirmed that we are, in fact, nominated to the Cambodia program. She also checked and told me that positions for the jobs we're applying for (TEFL and Community Health) have not yet been filled. She says she expects us to get our invitations soon. This is all really good news.

Applications complete- now send us an invitation!

September 17, 2014; S/P Application Day 81: 

Today I received word from my volunteer supervisor that my final letter of recommendation had been sent to the Peace Corps. Now it's time to kick back, and wait to hear from placement ....

Why haven't we heard from placement yet? I just want my invitation! 

Final Reference Contacted! Hurray!

August 26, 2014; S/P Application Day 59:

Today I was CC'd on an email from my PC recruiter to my final reference. Hurray! Once I get confirmation that he's sent in a letter of recommendation, then all of our application elements will be completed. After this, there's nothing to do except wait and hope to hear from placement.

Last Reference Figured Out

August 20, 2014; S/P Application Day 53:

I still hadn't heard back from the PC about my final reference, so I decided go to our recruiter's Community Drop In Hours at the same local coffee shop we had our interview. I'm really glad I went. I was able to meet with our recruiter and have a nice chat with her. It turns out she's been away at a conference all last week, so my request to have the final reference email resent had gotten lost in the scuffle, Our recruiter said she'll send it out again for me, and that it's not a big deal that it's been delayed since Placement probably wouldn't have gotten around to reviewing our applications yet anyway.  I also got to meet a few people in the area who are interested in applying to the Peace Corps, and had a nice smoothie while we chatted. All in all, not a bad way to spend an afternoon,.

PC *still* hasn't contacted my volunteer reference

August 8, 2014; S/P Application Day 41:

Still no word from The PC regarding my final letter of reference. Today I called the PC recruiting office and left a message on the Northeast Regional Recruiting Center's answering machine. We'll see if that helps?

PC still hasn't contacted my Volunteer Reference

August 4, 2014; S/P Application Day 37: 

Still no word from The PC regarding my final letter of reference. I've sent an email to our recruiter to ask about this again.