Status

Hola!

Here's the latest update...

1. I received my Medical and Dental forms on Monday, October 18.
2. Got my eyeglass prescription form completed in the event that I break or lose my glasses.
3. The best dentist in the world (Dr. Wong 323.464.5555 - call him if you need a dentist!) and his staff (Kristin and Suzanne) helped me complete all my paperwork.  We took tons of pictures of my teeth.  I hope they look exactly the same upon my return!
4. I have my mammogram tomorrow morning (ick).
5. I have my physical, shots, etc. on November 2 (super ick).

Once I complete all of this, I send it back to the Peace Corps for their review.

THEN, I will hopefully get my invitation!

In the meantime, I am frantically learning espanol.  I am also figuring out all the logistics for my home, financial, etc.

Tonight, I've been invited to attend an annual Peace Corps "Bon Voyage" party in Pasadena.  It's a potluck and I made a salad that's supposed to be common in Ecuador.  It looks really pretty but I have no idea if it tastes like what it's supposed to taste like!

I've also been asked to be interviewed by NPR for a "potential article on the Peace Corps" sometime.

xo,

Beck

Nomination Acceptance

Step 1 - Application - complete
Step 2 - Interview - complete
Step 3 - Nomination - complete
Step 4 - Medical review
Step 5 - Accept Invitation
Step 6 - Prep and Depart

I decided: Latin America, Business Development, leave early March!

Now I must learn Spanish!  I am expected to have completed the equivalent of a full year of Spanish in college by the time I depart.

Yo no se (I don't know)
Donde esta el bano?  (Where is the bathroom?)
Que? (What?)

I will be receiving my Medical packet in the mail within two weeks and I will go to get poked and prodded by my various doctors.  The quicker I can finish the paperwork and let them do their okie-dokie, the sooner I will know which country I will be headed into.

Possible countries are: Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, or Paraguay.

Business Development involves the service of planner, coordinator, teacher, facilitator, and trainer.  I will provide technical assistance to enhance the host country nationals' basic understanding of business and free market economics.

I'm not sure if I know how to do that in English and certainly not in Spanish.

I have much to do and my head is spinning.