The count down to the Peace Corps

In February 2012, I was sitting in my apartment with my lovely roommates (Abby and Nicole) whom had just come back from a Peace Corps informational meeting on campus. I remembered my senior year of high school looking into the Peace Corps, but hadn't thought too much about it until one of my sorority sisters (Bethany) had joined and I was able to follow her blog about her experience in Peace Corps Swaziland. I was student teaching at the time, and I figured it was my 'back up plan' after I graduated, so I applied. About a week later as I was taking some of my students to FFA Farm Forum, I received a call from my recruiter who wanted to set up an interview! I was quite surprised as I didn't expect to hear from anyone for a few months. I scheduled the interview for March 8th. I had to get finger prints taken, fill out some paperwork on my agricultural background and have my 3 references in before my interview. I only had 2 references in due some technical issues, but we proceeded with the interview regardless. The interview went well. One question I remember being asked was what do you do when you are bored: I listed off a bunch of things because he kept on asking what else? what else? I ended that with I'd talk to myself...which is probably more true than read a book or journal. ha He also asked me if I'd rather go to South America or Africa, to me it didn't matter, because both had programs in agriculture. He told me once he received my third reference I'd be getting a nomination!  Thank you Kara, Steven, Mr. Meyer and Tammy for the recommendations . It was March 19th when I received my nomination for Sub Saharan Africa in Agricultural Extension and Forestry to leave for February or March 2013! I did not have my third nomination in yet and I assured him it was in the mail and he should receive it shortly. He said that was okay. A few days later he had still not received the third letter of recommendation and asked me to find another person as he technically should not have interviewed me, none the less nominated me without it. So I did that, and from there on I was pretty much set on joining the Peace Corps. I read countless blogs, tried to find any horror story possible in order maybe to change my mind. I worked at 3-D Angus and Dalton Grain farm the summer after graduation to complete my 3 month required additional experience. Thank you Dalton's for having me in your home and teaching me many things. Although I was pretty much dead set on joining the Peace Corps, there was still a small part of me that wanted to teach too, so I had several interviews for teaching positions. I did not prepare well for them mainly because I knew what I was wanting to do more, so I'm not sure why I cared so much when I didn't get a job since I knew if I took a teaching job I would regret not going through with the Peace Corps. Through this time I also went through many medical and dental tests....Woot woot yay for root canals and wisdom teeth removal. PS. being put to sleep is pretty much the sweetest thing ever, you go in, fall asleep, wake up and boom your done. I no problems and was eating steak the next day ha, but am sad that I forgot to ask to keep my wisdom teeth so I could put them under my pillow for the tooth fairy. After many months of waiting, submitting paperwork, submitting resumes, reading more blogs, watching YouTube videos on people receiving their invitations, dreaming about where I'd be going......I received my invitation  in November for the Peace Corps!!....I'll give you one guess to where. MALAWI on March 5, 2013.