Preparations for Departure and the Process So Far...

Greetings. This is a blog I have created to document my time in Panama during my Peace Corps service, if you couldn't guess from the title. It is primarily intended to keep friends and loved ones updated on what's going on with my life abroad. But if you do not fit into the aforementioned categories don't worry! I've created this blog keeping in mind that others would be interested in hearing my tales such as those that want to learn more about the Peace Corps, water sanitation, Panama, the people of Panama, or me (O.o). It's also possible that you are here quite by accident, and that's okay too I guess.

This post was written months before my departure, so you wont find anything related to Panama here. In order to keep this from being a mere introductory post, I will go over a little bit of the application process and my timeline of events. For a better overview of the application process, check out the Peace Corps website: https://www.peacecorps.gov/apply/application-process/

The first step is talking to a recruiter. Seriously, even if you know you are motivated and feel like you have a good understanding of the application process, it's always a good idea to talk to the recruiter. There's a variety of reasons, but I'm too lazy to spell them out. Ask a recruiter to find out. The next step is filling out the application. The most common question I received was if I got to choose where I wanted to go. In the early days of the Peace Corps, you applied and were sent to where you were needed most. Over time however, the Peace Corps gradually provided greater transparency and choice regarding placement. Today, you can apply for a specific position in any country. However, you can also just specify that you are open to serving anywhere and doing anything. In my case, I opted for the latter.

After reviewing my application, I was informed that my application was moved into consideration for a position in Peru as a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) Facilitator which had the following deadlines:
- Apply by July 1, 2018
- Know by September 1, 2018
- Depart by March 12, 2019 (I think)

Obviously, I didn't get accepted because this is a blog about Panama and I'd have pictures of Peru by now, but I digress...

My first application was submitted March 2nd, 2018, which was followed by:
- Placement under consideration March 9, 2018.
- Interview request March 12, 2018
- Interview March 19, 2018 (which I recall happened at 5:30 am during Finals week...)
- Removed from consideration September 13, 2018

So, yeah. After a half-year of waiting I never heard back. I was convinced they forgot about me since the know by date had passed without hearing any word from them. When I did get around to emailing my placement officer, he promptly sent my rejection letter. From what I understand, my rejection was largely due to a poor interview. By this time however, I had vastly increased my volunteer hours, and a productive face-to-face session with the recruiter gave me a better understanding of the interview process. I sent my application on September 21st and was placed under consideration for Panama as an Environmental & Water Resources Facilitator:
- Apply by October 1, 2018
- Know by December 1, 2018
- Depart by June 11, 2019

My timeline was as follows:
- Placement under consideration September 26, 2018
- Interview request October 23, 2018
- Interview October 31, 2018 (a spooky day for an interview, still at 5:30 am)
- Invitation! November 9, 2018

The process afterwards involves legal clearance (fingerprints), medical clearance, and an official no-fee passport application. After completing those tasks and being granted clearance to serve, I was prompted to complete an aspiration statement and send an updated resume. From what I can tell, the next step is to receive my staging instructions and then depart.

Anyways, the information I provided is mostly of import for current applicants who are dying from the waiting in the process and are looking to get an idea of how long the wait can be. Other than that, the interesting stuff won't come until after I depart in June, so stay tuned!