Waiting....

So I know the hope was to get all of the secondary application stuff done last week, but it so didn't happen. At this point, we have all of the other stuff done and ready to go, but we're waiting for Ken's friend Jake to rewrite his recommendation. Ken had needed a "friend" reference, but Jake had also been Ken's manager, so he wrote it from the perspective of a boss, not a friend. So Ken had to get him to rewrite it. Since it's not in our hands, we're just waiting for him to finish it at this point. If he hasn't done it by the end of the week, I may get frustrated.

Gap Year

So Ken and I have this crazy gap year between now, and when we should leave for whatever mud hut in Africa we are assigned to. It's a fickle length of time, because it's long enough to get a real job, get trained and do that for a while, but then we'd have to quit not long after. But on the other hand, a year is an entire year. Neither of us really wants to flip burgers for a year killing time. I have my job at After Hours which I'm holding on to with white knuckles, but Ken isn't so lucky. His job on campus will end at the end of September because he wont be a student anymore. So he has to find a new job before then, with a random degree (which will be applicable when he has his teaching license, but not now), and in this economy. So he's looking for a new job (if anyone knows of anything in the area - please let us know!) and I'm looking for another daytime position to add to my hours at the AHC. Ideally, some sort of part-time office work that will look reasonable on a resume, and wont be a totally foreign concept (as office stuff is what I've been doing since high school). I could technically try to get some sort of "real" "grownup" type job, but at this point I honestly don't really want to. The last two terms at school nearly killed me. I can't count the number of times I melted onto the floor and sobbed about how I was never going to pass CDS 450 and 451. I'm mentally and emotionally fried. I don't mind working hard, or working long hours, but I honestly don't want a job that is going to be very mentally difficult. I know it sounds lazy, but that's how exhausted I am at this point in my life. Unfortunately, we really can't afford for me not to have another part-time day position, so I'm on a job quest for a part-time office/receptionist/scheduling type job (again, if you know of anything - let me know). Wish us luck.

Still working on it

Well, my hope to get everything sent on by Wednesday was a no go. I've been distracted by relaxing now that I'm out of school, and my Mom's stuff. I spent most of the day on Monday at Riverbend, and all day on Wednesday with my Mom. I'm glad I did it, but it prevented me from getting other stuff done. I don't have an excuse today, as I spent nearly all day finishing up Danielle's skirt and gabbing with her. But again, I don't regret doing that. It was fun doing simple crafty stuff and gabbing without a time limit. However, I did work on my resume, which is something they wanted, and Ken requested his official transcripts. So some things are done. I think I'll take our marriage licence to work tomorrow to photocopy, so maybe I'll be able to send off the stuff tomorrow. Maybe. Probably Friday.

Buzz Kill

So we got an email from our recruiter today, and we need to resubmit a bunch of stuff because we made mistakes. Fun fun fun. This is the crap that everyone complains about. So our applications probably wont be forwarded to DC for at least two more weeks while we resend (and they process - which is the long part) our stuff. I would like to get all this done by Wednesday. That's the tentative goal anyway.
Here's the list:

• Ken – please submit a new resume that also lists your education experience (college degree stated, submit via email)
• Ken – transcript, with your name officially printed on it (I believe you may obtain these three academic advising or registrar’s office, unofficial is okay if it has the name)
• Ken – a reference from a personal friend (see instructions below on how to add a new reference. While we’ve received three, we have two from previous jobs and one from a volunteer activity. In addition to those two categories, we also request that one reference be from a friend.)
• Tyan – please submit a new resume that also lists your education experience (college degree stated, submit via email)
• Tyan - transcript, with your name officially printed on it (I believe you may obtain these three academic advising or registrar’s office, unofficial is okay if it has the name)
• Ken & Tyan – copy of your official marriage certificate

Packing

I know it's stupid, but I'm already thinking about what to pack. This is totally letting my crazy/neurotic side show, but I've already made several lists, and am planning my PC wardrobe. It's kind of exciting having to fit your entire life into 2 bags weighing no more than 80 pounds total. What to take? What's important? This has to suffice for two years away - can I live that long without cute clothes, accessories, and kitchen gadgets? My current plan is to buy/make several button down shirt-dresses. These are cute even when loose, and I feel cute in them. I own a couple dresses like that now, and always like wearing them (I wore one today). Plus, they lend themselves to layering which I am a big fan of. I know it's stupid to be fretting about this already, but I will be miserable if I'm wearing moomoos for two years. I will feel like an ugly fat cow, and will be sad and depressed. My mood is definitely dependant on how I feel about myself, and I don't want to be pissy for 27 months. Plus, let's face it, if I'm pissy, it makes Ken sad, and I don't want to make Ken sad. I've read a lot of packing lists from other PCers, which generally soothes my worries. People manage to pack a lot of stuff in that 80 lbs, which is nice to know. Luckily, Ken and I are going together (160 lbs total!) , so some things we will be able to pack one of, instead of two. So we will be able to take more stuff overall.
I definitely want to take knitting stuff. It's a pretty packable hobby, and is soothing when I'm stressed. Plus I can knit little toys for the kids, which will be fun personal gifts. I'm planning on taking cotton, which wont be hot like wool-blends, and is kid-friendly.
Other packing thoughts - I can't decide if Ken and I should take a laptop. Some of me likes the idea of being disconnected (that is some of the point right?), but the ability to play DVDs, CDs, ability to download pictures from camera, and blog writing is very alluring. But the potential for theft, or it dying from heat/humidity/dirt/bugs worries me. Still haven't decided.
A lot of PCers bring frying pans. Apparently the ones in other countries suck bigtime, and are recommended. But they are also quite bulky and heavy. It is a frying pan after all. Other kitchen things: good knives and cooking utensils. I will probably bring at least one good knife (I'm pretty picky about having good knives). I've heard that pampered chef has a knife that has a sharpener built into the cover. That would be pretty sweet.
Of course, what I pack will depend on where we go, which we wont find out for at least six months. But in general, loose clothes that breathe, comfortable shoes (chacos, danscos and dr martens can all be walked in for miles and miles), and a couple of activities to keep me happy will be the majority of what I pack.

Hello, and welcome to our blog

Hi! It's Tyan

Ken (hubby) and I applied to the Peace Corps a little over two months ago. The process thus far has moved pretty quickly, and hasn't tested our patience too much yet. Though I hear it gets horrible later. We had our interview three weeks ago, and are now waiting for the secondary "phone" interview. If all goes well, the phone interview should end with our recruiter forwarding our applications to Washington DC. As a couple, the application process is a little different as Washington handles most of it, in contrast to single applicants who are mostly handled by their recruiter. At our interview, Erin (our recruiter) said that we should expect to leave sometime next late spring/summer (May-September 2010). Based on our qualifications we are most likely going to get sent somewhere in Africa or the Pacific Islands. Ken's focus is Agriculture, and mine will either be Health Education or Special Education.

Ken and I had told a few people about applying to the Peace Corps, but had not announced it to the majority of our families. At our joint graduation party, we announced it to the family. Most people weren't thrilled. I wasn't horribly surprised, but was still saddening. The most common response was, "Why would you want to do that?", or "Why would you want to go there?". I think my Aunt Annah was the only person who didn't already know to be excited by our announcement. I think a lot of people assumed I was pregnant, and announcing that. I did gain a little weight this term (stress), and I could see how people could think it was pregnancy chub, not just LLD-stress-nearly-killed-me chub. I think that the family will think more favorably on our decision as time passes. I know it will be hard (and will be hard for me!), but this will be a great experience.

To sum it all up - we are waiting to hear if our application is being forwarded to DC, we should leave next summer, and everyone knows (even if they aren't that happy about it).