Just a Shade Less Up in the Air

For the tiny but elite class of my friends who are getting all of their updates from me via blog and not facebook (ahem- Mrs. Gaynor) I had to update twice in a 12 hour period... but it's necessary because after the selling spree that has been my life for the past day or so, I received an email from Peace Corps updating my application status.

To under review.

For those of you who are saying "but, Arima, I thought you said you already got into Peace Corps? You're such a lying liar face".  I got nominated to a program.  A program within Peace Corps that would leave in September for Africa, specified that I should brush up on my French, and would work with agricultural extension.  This means that if I pass my evals they can place me within that program.  Since there are so few ag specialists applying (as evidence by the fact that way after the Fall deadline they were advertising for farmers online) there's a very good chance of getting a placement once nominated and if you are nominated and don't get a placement for one program you can always get placed in another.

Now for most people this tiny change in my status wouldn't be super exciting but here's why it IS exciting:

1) I've wanted to serve in the Peace Corps since I was twelve.  When you've been anticipating something this long, any progress is good progress.

2) My medical portion is being reviewed but my Dental and my Legal steps are already clear which means they're on my last evaluation.

3) They evaluate in order of precedence based on when people are leaving.  Since there are so many applications everything is rushed which means that they can't get to any of the med reviews (the lengthiest step) sooner than four months before intended departure.  I take it as a sign that my review is relatively important since they got to it almost exactly at the four month mark.  I've heard accounts of people not being reviewed until way way later.

4) DID I MENTION THAT THIS IS THE LAST STEP BEFORE PLACEMENT?!?!

Everything's so close.  For the first time in my life I'm tempted to literally pinch myself.  Two degrees and a minor from two different institutions, a plane ticket in my name for Israel on June 4, and now I'm inches away from a placement with the Peace Corps.  Clearly I'm dreaming.