John's Next Step

Over the last three months while at work I’ve been able to talk with a number of people about Peace Corps.  I’ve taken many questions such as what it is and what the costs. When did it start? The idea started with an early morning speech on the University of Michigan Ann Arbor campus on October 14, 1960 by then Senator John F. Kennedy.  The key question posed to the assembled students was how many of them would be willing to serve their country and the cause of peace by living and working in the developing world?  The first volunteers headed off after his election in 1961.  Ghana was one of the first countries to host volunteers. The Peace Corps is a U.S. Federal Agency with the mission to promote world peace and friendship.  Three goals support this mission: 1)      Provide trained men and women to meet a need in a host country 2)      Promote a better understanding of Americans among the people they serve 3...

Celebration time!!! I received medical clearance so I can now turn my attention to other things.  It is time to celebrate with some wine and then plan my next steps before Eastern Caribbean. Next steps in the process This month I will begin more serious research on the Eastern Caribbean to prepare what I might bring.  The research will include reading blogs of current Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) and general research.  This will help me to decide what I am going to take and how to prepare. I will also get more serious about what I have, what I want to keep, what I want to leave, what I need to give away, and what I need to get.  I already have most of what I will need, but I’m also thinking of host family gifts.  For example, I have a headlamp that I like and I will bring it along.  But I might buy a new one or two for gifts.  I will be likely staying with two families.  The first part of training is on St. Lucia for 6 weeks and that wi...

My medical review started this week and I was given three bonus tasks for my doctor to complete.  (No additional tests or shots for me at this time.)  These were for some other conditions that are in my medical history even though they are not currently causing problems and have not changed in the six months since my close of service and medical clearance.  I’ve emailed the paperwork to my doctor and will follow up this week to see if I need to do anything.  Hopefully, I can return the paperwork this week as well. I’ve got a good doctor and office and I will happily complete (and pay for) any additional medical tasks so that I can to have the opportunity to live overseas in poverty again.  (More on this in a later post.) Additional medical tasks are common.   A friend is currently working through her fourth or fifth round of bonus tasks, which is unusual, and I understand frustrating for her as well as for the medical office.    ...

I am still waiting for medical review and still expecting additional tasks.  I'm guessing that I will be asked to get some vaccinations.  But I honestly don’t know. The medical group does not review each task as they are submitted.  It is my understanding that they wait until all medical tasks are complete to begin the review.  (They may have reviewed my dental clearance because of a question that I asked.) I should also remember that this is a busy time for Peace Corps with a lot of volunteers deploying like me around May and June.  So they have a lot of people trying to get medical clearance at this time and medical may be a little backed up.  Of course this is also over the Christmas and New Year holidays. My medical tasks were not due until January 12 th , so I should not worry (and they may not get my case in the queue to review until then).  I am checking email each day to see if I have gotten medical clearance or additional tasks.  ...

Finished initial medical tasks I have turned in all of my initial medical tasks.  Hurray!  I’m waiting for their review.  I have not heard what if any additional tasks will be required, but I would not be surprised if I have a few things to do. I’ve heard from other potential volunteers that they are getting additional medical tasks, some even after they received an email saying that they were done.  Facebook and the Peace Corps As I might have mentioned – there is a Facebook page for Peace Corps volunteers 50 years and older.  One of the current threads in this group is the experiences with medical clearance.  Reading and commenting on the thread is a way to share experiences and to provide mutual support.  Anyone 50 or older who is or was a Peace Corps volunteer or is considering it, should definitely consider joining this group. There are a number of other Facebook pages that could be of interest to Peace Corps volunteers.  One of...