Decided to go to Armenia

January 26, 2015, S/P Application Day 212:

I called the Peace Corps Armenia Placement Officer today to let her know that Sam and I would be thrilled to go to Armenia. I'm not sure if that's true for me right now, but I'm working really hard to make it true by the time that we actually depart. We should get our official invitations some time in the next few days.

Well, they always said that you need to be flexible....

January 23, 2015; S/P Application Day 209:

I was contacted today by the Peace Corps Armenia Placement Officer. She told me that there were no more spots in the Cambodia program that Sam and I had been nominated to. There are, however, two education spots open in Armenia. She told me that this was Sam and my best bet to be able to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers, but that it would mean I would be serving as an Education Volunteer rather than as a Health Volunteer. She's holding two spots for us. I have the weekend to discuss it with Sam. They need an answer on Monday.

I honestly don't know what I'm going to do. When you start your Peace Corps Application, every one tells you that you need to be flexible to be a successful Peace Corps Volunteer. But of all the ways I imagined being flexible in my Peace Corps service- I never imagined that I wouldn't be doing something I loved. I've tried to get behind the idea, but no matter how I look at it, I don't like kids, and I'm not passionate about teaching. Not being able to serve as a health volunteer is extremely disappointing to me. 

On the other hand, all the reasons I wanted to apply to the Peace Corps are still relevant. Living in Armenia for two years will expose me to a new culture, it will expand my understanding of the world, I'll learn a new language. I'll travel and live in a part of the world that I'd never visit otherwise. And the secondary cross sector goal in Armenia is Gender Equality/Women's Empowerment, which is something I can really get behind. It's also a really good opportunity for Sam. Unlike the Cambodia program, the Armenia Education sector is one of only 3 PC programs which result in TEFL certification by the US government at the end of your service. 

I'm really dissapointed that I won't be able to work as a Health Volunteer. But given that that's no longer an option and the choice I have is working as an Education Volunteer in Armenia or not working as a Peace Corps Volunteer at all, I think I have to choose to go to Armenia. I just hope I can get rid of the bitter taste I get in my mouth ever time I think about it before then.

Contact from Cambodia Placement Officer

January 8, 2015; S/P Application Day 194: 

Today both Sam and I were contacted separately by TH, the Placement & Assignment Specialist for Peace Corps Cambodia. TH informed us that we are currently under consideration for the Cambodia program and the final "Know By" date (the last date that applicants will hear from TH regarding a decision on their application) is March 15th. TH also asked us each two questions: Did we know how to ride a bike? and How did we feel about living with a host family for the entire 27 months? We answered both of these things with the appropriate (and helpfully true) "Yes, we can ride bikes" and "Living with a host family will be fine" answers. Hopefully we'll get an invitation soon?

First actual contact with Placement

December 17, 2014; S/P Application Day 172: 

Sam received an email from a "Placement and Assessment Specialist" today notifying him of an opportunity to teach in Zambia, and wondering if he would like to be placed under consideration for this program. Since I wasn't mentioned in this email, Sam called the placement officer to see if he (we) are eligible for this opportunity. Unfortunately there are no openings in health or agriculture work sectors, so our application status remains unchanged.

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!