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PCV Monique M. Green
Apartado 98-5200
Nicoya, Guanacaste
Costa Rica

Sunday, March 8, 2009

PC Application, Placement, & Invitation Timeline

PC Application, Placement, & Invitation Timeline


  • August 28, 2008--Submitted my PC application and health inquiry form
  • September 3, 2008--Mailed Welcome package
  • September 12, 2008--Received Welcome package, Background Check forms and Assignment Area sheets: preliminary forms with one month return restriction
  • September 18, 2008--Completed and returned Background Check: Two fingerprints charts, A Nat'l Agency Check form, and other additional legal forms
  • September 25, 2008--Received email from Recruiter Jody stating one of my personal references have not submitted forms
  • September 28, 2008--Contacted my TEFL Instructor/Professor to push for early submission; TEFL Instructor assured that she submitted the form earlier that month
  • September 29, 2008--TEFL Instructor re-submitted the personal reference and Cultural Sensitivity form online; On-line rejected form due to error on the cpu system
  • October 3, 2008--TEFL Instructor submitted forms directly to Recruiter Jody and me--BIG mistakes. For future references please do not repeat mistake
  • October 4, 2008--Received deactivation email due to failure to submit all materials in timely fashion and due to broken confidentiality agreements (please read all fine print)
  • October 5, 2008--Contacted recruiter to request for extension; Jody submitted reactivation information and left me to dry
  • October 6, 2008--Duped, but not defeated
  • October 7, 2008--Began my mission to find a substitution for TEFL Instructor to complete my PC application
  • October 12, 2008--Contact Research mentor/professor/friend as my substitution
  • October 20, 2008--Research mentor/professor/friend agreed, but was in the middle of semester and assured that it will be delayed but promised it will get done
  • December 27, 2008--Receive enclosed envelop of PC recommendation and Cultural Sensitivity form
  • January 7, 2009--Submitted Reactivation letter along with enclosed and sealed envelop to protect confidentiality
  • January 20, 2009-- Application Reactivated
  • Febuary 3, 2009--Received call from new recruiter Ed Riehl--Thank God!
  • Febuary 20, 2009--Set interview date
  • Febuary 21- March 2, 2009--Prepped for interview
  • March 3, 2009--Interview scheduled in New York, New York with Recruiter Ed Riehl-- awesome guy
  • March 5, 2009-- Contacted about a possible opening in Urban Youth Development (UYD)in C./S. America--sounds promising, but it is not certain yet, remember we are dealing with PC
  • March 6, 2009--Received email regarding project and forms
  • March 7, 2009--Completed UYD forms and submitted-- must wait two business days to see if I will be accepted or not
  • March 31, 2009--Went to my Gyn, blood work, and Mental Health appointments as required by Peace Corps.
  • April 1, 2009--Dental exam and x-ray. It has been 4 yrs since I've been to the dentist. I must get a deep dental cleaning which is expensive and 2 fillings. Remind you I have no insurance. I must pay 1,000 out the pockets for my teeth.
  • April 4, 2009--TB skin test
  • April 6, 2009--Had to wait 2 days for results. I am negative
  • April 20, 2009--Completed full medical physical, gather blood work and all papers
  • May 15, 2009--Received Polio vaccination
  • May 21, 2009--Submitted Medical forms
  • May 22, 2009--Called to follow-up and track forms. I was then told I missed a deadline I didn't know existed, which is quite common in this game. Everything is vague and unassuming.
  • May 27, 2009--Forms log onto system
  • May 27, 2009--Missed July departure deadline
  • August 12, 2009--Medically qualified w/o a hitch
  • August 13, 2009--First contact w/ PC placement, letting them know about my continued interest in PC
  • August 19, 2009--Contacted about a possible TEFL program in Pacific Island that leaves in mid-October & had to complete & submit a vegetarian questionnaire
  • August 21, 2009--Declined invitations
  • September 1, 2009--Invited to Francophone African region for the Community/Health Development program that leaves in End of November 2009
  • September 2, 2009-- Although excited I turned down the invite because my dental work was incomplete, which is why I turned down the initial offer
  • September 3, 2009-- I withdrew my application until my dental work was near completion.
  • November 5, 2009--Rooting and Scaling of quadrents 1&2 completed (dental deep gum cleaning- to rid of build tartar underneath your gums) I know, I know I have not been to the dentist in 5 years due to a scary life threatening experiences.
  • November 16, 2009--contacted PC placement to reactivate my PC application. I had to submit an updated resume, Job Supevisor reference letter, & motivation letter-highlighting why I deactivated my app and why I want to reactivate my app.
  • November 26, 2009--On the day of thanksgiving I've decided to complete my PC motivation letter, and resume.
  • November 29, 2009--My job supervisor submitted am email version and mailed a copy to PC placement as well. She knows how much PC means to me.
  • December 1, 2009--Rooting and Scaling of quadrents 3&4 completed
  • December 2, 2009--Emailed about a Youth Development Program in C/S America. Immediately accepted!!!
  • December 3, 2009--FINALLY RECEIVED OFFICIAL INVITATION FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES PROGRAM IN COSTA RICA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  • December 9, 2009--My 2 cavities were filled.
  • December 9, 2009--I hand delivered my Dental form to PC OMS.
  • December 9, 2009--Emailed my Aspiration letter and International resume to my Costa Rican post
  • Dcember 11, 2009--Verbally accepted invite
  • December 14, 2009-- I have received dental clearance. I am officially good to go.
  • December 15, 2009--Completed my DS82 no-fee passport application
  • December 17, 2009--Took my 4 2x2 passport photos to submit w/ my application (Do not forget to write your name and Country of Service on the back.

As you are gathering this is an enduring process only for those who are committed. Understand that during that time I was committed to the AmeriCorps*VISTA program with United Way of Pennsylvania doing several other important projects as well as service projects. This time fly by mighty fast. Following my service which ended on January 25, 2009, I moved to New Carrollton, MD where I found employment for the time being.

Yes, there may be a possible opening, but I am not excited about anything yet until I received official nomination forms and a plane ticket.

If you have any specific questions regarding anything, please write them and I will try to answer what I find appropriate and fitting. I will do my best to make sure you gather as much info as you can about the process I am sure you may need mental and emothonal support and yes, I am opening myself to help you.

2 comments:

  1. Hey, you left a comment on my blog asking why I declined the El Salv invitation last year. Really, I did so for multiple reasons. Just to put it simply w/o going into too much detail (which is entirely possible)...I wanted to get more experience (which I'm presently doing now by teaching english in China & volunteering with children in a hospital), also, I felt uneasy about my medical restriction being accommodated by that country.

    If you have a medical restriction like a good # of people have, you can't be placed in just any country, the PO has to send your medical file to a country they want to invite you to, and the Medical Officer of that country must "ok" your file in order for you to get the invitation. If they don't, your PO will look for a different country. What I was really wary of was the fact that Ukraine, a relatively developed country, couldn't support my restriction, while El Salvador could.

    In all, I wasn't comfortable with it, and didn't want to only "half ass" something so important. A potential community deserved someone who was 100% in it, and with that country/assignment/restriction, I absolutely wasn't.

    However, I'm not totally out of the PC process. I tried to reactivate my application, and at the time, they couldn't--which is unfortunate because just a few months earlier, they were giving people 2nd invitations if you declined and letting them reactivate. So I will be reapplying in August (the date they told me I first can--that my 1st application will be expired). I'm definitely trying to get as much experience as I can right now, and really hope the PC works out. I'm really hoping for TEFL or Youth in Africa, North Africa/Middle East, or EE/CA

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