BETWEEN THE PAGES…..OUT OF ORDER THOUGHTS ON THE PEACE CORP

Because I am writing this blog as a catch-up to the actual events, I am way behind real-time entries.  But, from time to time I want to insert a blog about our Peace Corps activities so that when I do catch up my thoughts, at least will be current.

David and I decided to join the Peace Corps in August after David quit his unfortunate job at Golder Associates in Arequipa, Peru.  We were lucky enough to snag a face-to-face interview with a recruiter while we were in Philadelphia for a visit in August rather than have to do a Skype interview from Peru.  Becky told us during the interview that it was difficult to place couples and would be even more difficult for us since we were OLD!  She warned us that the normal time from application to leaving for an assignment was about 12 months, but would probably be longer in our case.

Well, we received our invitation, the first step, about 2 weeks after the interview and then the fun began.  Because we are not 20 something, our parts are a bit worn out which has caused the PC (Peace Corps) much consternation, and, subsequently, us, much anxiety.  We had to provide original test results for our of our prescriptions (some of which have not changed in 25 years, nor been tested for) and provide as well some new test results.  Well, for me that proved less than humorous.  My original prescribing doctor (who had diagnosed me with my little ailments well over 25 years ago is no longer practicing medicine because he is involved in a court case for prescribing drugs illegally!  Needless to say, his office was not about to send me old, old files.  And then there are all the HIPA laws about sending things through email, etc.  This meant that, at one point I had to provide an EKG.  We were in Buenos Aires at the time, and luckily a cousin of David's aunt lived there, and just fortunately enough, she used to be a doctor (she is about 80 now) and she was able to arrange one for me!

David had to prove all manner of things to convince the medical people that he was healthy.  He had to provide a urinalysis, and we were in the White Towns of Spain at the time and, unbelievably, found a clinic, knocked on the door, without a prescription or doctor's note of any kind, and got the urinalysis.

I am convinced that the whole application process is a way to vet applicants….if we can survive this you can cope with anything the bureaucracy overseas can through at us!!!

We submitted all our forms (fingerprints from Scotland…which was very costly), medical forms from all over, and security checks.  Then we figured it would be a very long wait.  In the meantime we have visited the UK, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy and now Greece. At one point I was getting worried about not hearing ANYTHING, so I called the Government clearance people, and right away received an email that we had been cleared.

Then January 28, unbelievably, we got our assignment!  We had been hoping and hoping for a June or July departure date, but kept telling each other that was impossible.  But here we are, going to the Philippines, a country we had never even discussed. I am, of course, in teaching and David is in Coastal Resources Management (?)

So, of course, the first thing we did was go online and start looking up everything we could possibly find about the Philippines, Peace Corps couples, older folks in the Peace Corps, etc.  We haven't been able to find too much about older couples but have certainly read a lot about other peoples' experiences.  My conclusion is:  the experience is what you make of it and I think that the parameters of each job description are loose enough that there is a great opportunity for invention and exploration.  That's what we are good at.

I think we are really glad that we are going together.  Having a built in support system will allow each of us to be more productive and enjoy our new home more, I think.  It will be a little weird because each of us will be working on separate projects.  So, for example, I worry because now each of us has an area in which we are strongest and rely on the other; in the Philippines I imagine we will be looked at more as individuals.  Also, we want to be looked at as individuals.  For example, now when we travel anyplace that requires tickets David always holds his hand out I give him whatever tickets I need and he takes them both.  I imagine that will make me look pretty helpless to folks who don't know us really well in the PC.  However…..

So, now we are in Greece and have ALL these medical requirements, including getting Measles, Mumps and Rubella shots because we cannot prove we got them as kids.  (That's because they were not invented then…the shots, not the disease).  Polio, tetnus, etc. etc.  Blood work, X-rays, dental X-ray,s eye exams, etc. etc.  So, we got a list from the embassy here in Greece and found what seems to be a good doctor who speaks English.  However, our first visit was not so good.  She forgot we were coming and went to a funeral!  However, she came back, too late to do anything, and will talk to someone about a discount rate for all our work and then let us know when we can come back.  Meanwhile, we did get a TB test started  and will hope for the best when she gets in touch with us.

We went to the embassy and got our passports and visas taken care of, sort of.  We are still waiting for the embassy guy to call us back to let us know if he can mail some of the forms for us, because, if notk it is going to cost us 60 euros each to mail the stuff DHL to the states.

I think you have to be wealthy to apply for the PC.