Destination Unknown...again

Back at the end of October I finally received my medical and dental clearance after 3 months of zero contact from the Peace Corps, which was awesome.  I read other PC timelines constantly, and, for many, final interviews/updated resumes/invitations start flying in within a couple weeks of clearance.

I was not so lucky.  I heard nothing until the first week of December, at which point I was asked to submit an updated resume.  Still hopeful, I convinced myself this is the last hurdle, and that an invitation would soon follow.  

Two weeks later, I receive another email.  My placement officer needs me to answer a few questions either via email or phone interview and has attached the list of questions for me.  Reading through the 2.5 pages of questions, discretely placed in the final subquestion in the very last question I find out the initial program I was nominated for (Central/South America, TEFL/Teacher Training, March 2013) has been closed.  

Keep in mind, via PCwiki and some other online detective work, I’d narrowed down my placement to Costa Rica departing March 2013.  There was no doubt in my mind where I was going.  Expectations=crushed.

She wanted to know how flexible I was with my departure date and location.  I responded with a more eloquent version of “I’ll go/do anything, anytime!  Just let me go!!!”

I guess now I can confidently say I’ll be going somewhere, to do something, sometime between February and June 2013.  Le sigh.

So now I’m waiting, again, for an update and hoping I hear something before we leave for our cruise Jan. 10.  

crossing my fingers.

Quick Update

I got all of my medical/dental paperwork submitted in June with no problems.  There ended up being 3 dentist visits and 3 doctors visits, but we fit them all in within a one month time span, and the doctors at Seoul National University Hospital were great.  They were highly organized, familiar with the paperwork, and probably did a better job keeping me informed of all the processes than any US hospital could have.  I’d highly recommend them to anyone trying to apply from Korea.  The PC medical evaluators didn’t have a single complaint.  I didn’t even know I was under review until I got my clearance email.

Which brings me to the latest development… I just got my dental and medical clearances!!!  I’ve been trying to keep myself distracted since I got back to the States, and, honestly didn’t expect any updates for at least another couple weeks.  What a WONDERFUL surprise!

Anyway, that’s about all the new news.  I’ll try to get a comprehensive application timeline up in the not too distant future.  Peace out!

Medical: Round 2, Dental: Round 3

Yep.  Dentist, doctor, and eye check all in the same day, BUT, I’m almost finished!  YAAAAYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!

All of my dental and medical are done and now I’m just waiting for my labs to come back.  I pick up all my paperwork in a week and a half!  

I still need to buy another pair of glasses and get my frame measurements, but at least the technical portion of that form is finished.

WEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Medical: Round 1, Dental: Round 2

After a couple weeks of trying to schedule an appointment with the Seoul National University International Clinic, I finally got to go in for my medical clearance exam this weekend.  Despite the hassle and confusion setting the appointment, I couldn’t be happier with how well they took care of me at the hospital.

I stayed out late with my co-teacher at the Chuncheon Mime Festival Friday night (super fun!), then caught the 6 am bus to Seoul for my appointment.  I made it to the clinic by 8:15 and had plenty of time to fill in my portion of the evaluation form while I waited for them to open at 9. 

The nurse that assisted me all morning spoke great English and did a great job going over the form with me and explaining all of my procedures.  She personally walked me through my physical, arranged my gyno exam in a different area of the hospital, and made sure I had an escort any time something took me outside the clinic area.  I’ve never felt so informed in a medical situation.

Despite the supreme lack of sleep and food, they managed to keep me in a good mood all morning.  I do mean ALL morning.  I was in and out of appointments from 9am to 12.  The fact that they kept me smiling through a physical, gyno exam, 2 shots, and 7 vials of blood for lab work is nothing shy of miraculous.  Especially since I HATE getting blood drawn.  I have a poor track record with it (fainting, pain, seizure ) and I get really really wigged out.  Luckily, I remembered to bring my kindle and made sure my nurse told them that I was planning to read my book and pretend they weren’t there and that they could tell me when they were finished.  To my surprise it was almost completely painless and they told me my reading plan was super cute.

750,000 won later (about $650) I’m just one TB test from finishing the med portion.  All I have to do now is go in for one more blood test, then wait another couple weeks for all of the lab reports to come in.

Now, the dentist, on the other hand, wasn’t quite as pleasant.  I went from SNUH to lunch to US Dental (formerly Tufts Dental) for the second of 3 appointments.  Last time, she did the general exam and determined that I have a few small cavities and a desperate need for a professional cleaning.  Considering it’d been 8 years, I considered that a success.  Oh, and surprising detail, I only have 1 wisdom tooth.  That’s pretty cool.

So, this time, I went in expecting a couple fillings and a cleaning.  Maybe $150 worth of work.  Haha…no.

She greets me at the door and informs me that I’m scheduled for 7 filllings and 1 exctraction.

uhh…WHAT?!?!

So I completely panic and start frantically trying to figure out what this whole extraction business is.  Apparently, she’d intended to remove my lone little wisdom tooth, to which I responded HELL NO!!!  I’ve read so many horror stories about wisdom tooth extraction in Korea.  FYI: it’s a conscious procedure here.  Just a little local anesthetic and you’re awake for every horrifying crunch and yank.

She tried to explain that it’s Peace Corps procedure, as outlined in the report.  After pointing out that it says the the tooth must either be removed or be ASYMPTOMATIC, I convinced her to let me keep it.  I mean, f’realz, I didn’t even know it was there.  Obviously, it’s not causing any trouble.

So, that was the first dental crisis of the afternoon.  After that, we went back and she told me we’d only be doing half my fillings today and that I have to COME BACK for the other 3.  I didn’t even argue.  The thought of going back makes my skin crawl, but, after winning the battle of the wisdom tooth, I didn’t want to push my luck.

Oh, and it ended up costing waaaay more than $150.  Like, 3-4 times more.  And I’ve still got another $300 session on Wednesday.  

Long story short, for those of you applying from Korea, SNUH International Clinic is the shiz.  They will bend over backwards to make sure you’re comfortable and well taken care of.  US Dental, however, will be very thorough with your report and do great work, but costs way more than a typical Korean dentist and is not the most welcoming person you’ll ever meet.  I seem to get the impression that she’s always looking for a way to make a little more money off you.  Maybe that’s just me though.  I’ve heard great things from other people, but, if I were given a second reliable option, I’d probably give someone else a shot.  Personal opinion.  (Obviously, I’m not a great authority on dentists.  I avoid them if at all possible.)

Anyway, that’s the adventure so far.  I’ll be really really happy when this whole portion of the process is done.  It’s not that it’s terrible, it’s actually better than I expected, but it is a bit of a hassle and I really really really dislike doctors and dentists.

Parenting WIN...

My family is totally supportive of me joining the Corps, but that doesn’t stop them from occasionally throwing out reasons why I shouldn’t go.   Today’s has been my all time favorite:

Dad:

“I have a proposition for you…

Instead of joining the Peace Corps, St. Louis is starting a women’s football league.  You should stay and do that instead because you’d be great!  And it’s a lingerie league!  Well, I mean not exactly lingerie…”

Me: 

“Oh, I know.  Just shorty shorts, a bikini top, and pads.  I’ve looked into joining one of those before.  It’s awesome St. Louis is finally getting a league!  Maybe when I get back…”

Dad: 

“But you’ll be too old to play then!”

Me: 

“I’ll be 27…”

Dad:

“Yeah, ok… but think about how good you could be if you start now!  You could be in the hall of fame or something!  Just think about it…”

Yep, my dad told me to skip the peace corps to join a lingerie football league.  And, it was urgent enough for him to grab the phone from mom right before she hung up so he could tell me about it.  

Little does he know that the hardest part of living abroad is not experiencing my family’s shenanigans on a daily basis.  I so so so love them!

I have a blog so it must be official...

I’m starting this blog a bit later than I’d wanted, but I haven’t made my plans totally public yet.  Until then, I’ll just make sure this one doesn’t wind up on facebook.

A few months ago, I applied to the Peace Corps!  I submitted my application Febrary 18, my references arrived a couple weeks later, my legal forms a few weeks after that, and, on April 15, I had my initial interview.  On April 30, I received my nomination!  

Central or South America, Primary Teacher Training, March 2013!

I’m incredibly excited!  The nomination couldn’t be any more perfect for me.  So, if all goes according to plan, I’ll be headed south right around my 25th birthday.  Considering I just celebrated my 24th birthday eating pigs feet with my coworkers in Korea, I think I may be doing something right here.

So, that’s all the exciting stuff, now for the down and dirty of this part of the application process: medical and dental clearance.

I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I haven’t been to a dentist in something close to 8 years.  I realize that’s a long time.  

That streak ends tomorrow.  I. am. terrified.  There is no way this will go well.  I personally know of at least two issues that will need to be addressed and god knows what will show up on those x-rays.  At least there’s a US certified dentist in Seoul that I can go to, and it should be a bit cheaper than going when I get home.

I’m also in the process of setting up an appointment for my medical evaluation.  In addition to not doing dentists, I’m not a big doctor person either.  I don’t even own ibprophen at this point.  My theory of just not getting sick or injured has worked pretty well for me so far.  It’s a shame to break such a strong tradition now.

Oh well, it will all be worth it when I’m on that plane to some Spanish speaking paradise in a few months.  Until then, I’ll try to keep you updated on the, from what I hear, agonizing application that will be my life for the foreseeable future.

PEACE!