I’ve listed out here, to the best of my recollection (and from going through all of my emails and other records) a timeline summary of my Peace Corps experience.

Timeline

June 5, 2005: I go on a hike with a couple friends, during which time the Peace Corps is mentioned in passing. Something clicks in my head in a big way, and I realize immediately that my life is about to take a very different course from what I envisioned just hours earlier.

June 6, 2005: I begin the Peace Corps Application online, and start asking friends, people with whom I’ve volunteered in the past, and previous employers for recommendations.

June 20, 2005: I complete the Application and submit it online.

June 29, 2005: As of now, two of my three required recommendations have been sent in to the Peace Corps on my behalf. A previous supervisor of mine Mark C., and my good friend Matt S. have both submitted their recommendations, but I’m still waiting on one of my volunteer supervisors named Dave M., who has a bad habit of not returning phone calls. I contact the Peace Corps and ask them what I can do, and I learn that I can have up to five references, and if I can’t get one from a volunteer supervisor, it’s not the end of the world.

June 30, 2005: Contacted Liz F., a really cool woman with whom I’ve volunteered in the past, and Jenny K., my last employer’s supervisor, asking them both if they wouldn’t mind filling out a recommendation for me. I have at this point written off Dave M. as a recommendation provider.

June 27, 2005: Received a large envelope from the Peace Corps today, containing an FBI background check form with fingerprint charts, as well as Skills Addenda for Health Extension and Computer Science programs.

July 5, 2005: Stopped by the local Sherriff’s office to get fingerprints taken, for the Peace Corps FBI background check.

July 7, 2005: By this time, both Liz F. and Jenny K. have completed their recommendations for me, so I’m now just waiting for an interview with a Peace Corps recruiter.

July 18, 2005: Carmen J., the Burlington, Vermont Peace Corps recruiter, sent me an email stating that she’s received my application, and that I may be qualified for the Information Technology and Health Extension programs.

July 27, 2005: I have my Interview with Carmen J. in downtown Burlington, at a little coffee shop named Muddy Waters. It lasted about two and a half hours, and was extremely informative. Lots of informal Q&A, followed up by a set of canned questions that Carmen had to ask as part of the interview protocol.

August 15, 2005: I met again with Carmen J. downtown to discuss Africa some more. She had served in Uganda back in the mid 1990s, and it intrigued me. Originally I wanted to serve in Eastern Europe, Asia, or the Pacific Islands, but through my discussions with her, I’ve been leaning more towards Africa as a continent of interest.

September 8, 2005: I got Nominated today! In addition, Peace Corps updated my toolkit, and everything looks different now. My toolkit has already the Legal clearance circle checked, so I can only assume that I was legally cleared for service before I received my Nomination.

September 16, 2005: Received my Medical Kit. This has a whole lot of information that needs to be filled out, including forms for Dental, Vision, and Medical clearances.

September 19, 2005: Today I went to the doctor’s office to start on my medical kit. Lots of blood drawn, lots of poking and prodding, and lots of paperwork.

October 6, 2005: Stopped by my optometrist’s office to have my doctor fill out the necessary paperwork. Fortunately, this was only one sheet of info, and I didn’t need an exam.

October 10, 2005: Today I went to my dentist’s office and had the bitewing and panoramic X-rays taken, along with a thorough exam. Also lots of paperwork here. Fortunately, I take great care of my teeth, so I didn’t need any work done.

November 11, 2005: Completed my Medical Kit and after double-checking it, I mailed it off.

November 21, 2005: Peace Corps updates my toolkit, indicating that they’ve received the results of my Physical Exam (i.e., Medical Kit).

November 22, 2005: Peace Corps updates my toolkit, indicating that I’ve been Dentally Cleared!

December 2, 2005: I receive notice from the Peace Corps that my medical kit is missing a lab report for one of my blood tests. It turns out that the hospital that was given the task of executing the tests forgot to do one, and my doctor and I both missed it. Oops.

December 6, 2005: I go to my doctor and have more blood drawn for this missing lab test, stressing the importance of receiving the results as soon as possible.

December 8, 2005: I receive the missing lab report and mail it off to the Peace Corps.

December 20, 2005: Peace Corps updates my toolkit, indicating that I’ve been Medically Cleared!

December 22, 2005: Peace Corps updates my toolkit, indicating that I’ve passed my Placement Review!

December 29, 2005: Wrote an email to Carmen, requesting information about my Placement Officer (PO).

January 3, 2006: I receive a response from Carmen, telling me the name of my PO, but noting that I probably shouldn’t contact her until late February or early March, because placement for my departure timeframe (September 2006) won’t start until then, and contacting her beforehand would be premature.

February 10, 2006: Peace Corps updates my toolkit, indicating that my Invitation is in the mail! My online toolkit has changed again with new options for Invitees. This happened way faster than I thought it would, but I’m not complaining!

February 16, 2006: My invite arrives! I’m going to The Gambia in July to serve as an Information Technology Specialist!

February 21, 2006: Filled out and mailed off my passport and visa applications. I had to fill out a DS-11 because I’ll be travelling internationally between now and my staging in July. Had to convince the lady at the clerk’s office to give me back my current passport (she was going to send it in with my application) - boy that would have been a problem if she hadn’t given it back.

February 26, 2006: Sent in my aspiration statement and updated resume to my country’s desk at the Peace Corps.

June 8, 2006: I received my Staging Kit today, which contains some last-minute sort of information regarding departure, as well as where staging will take place.

June 22, 2006: My plane tickets arrived in the mail from Sato Travel (or, rather, my travel itinerary, the tickets are apparently “e-tickets” that I’ll get at the airport).  I’ll be flying out of Burlington, Vermont on Monday, July 3rd, at 11:20am to Philadelphia for Staging.

July 3, 2006: Flew to Philadelphia, PA for staging.

July 5, 2006: Drove from Philadelphia, PA to JFK International in New York City.  Hopped on a plane to Brussels, Belgium.

July 6, 2006: Arrived in Brussels, Belgium, pretty early in the morning.  Transferred to another airliner headed to Banjul, The Gambia via Dakar, Senegal.  Arrived in Banjul after the sun went back down.  Total travel time: a little over 24 hours.

July 7, 2006: Started Training in Fajara.  Training will last for a little more than two months, and will involve living in a small rural village to learn the language and culture, as well as living in a small safari camp by the river where we’ll have seminars.

September 15, 2006: Sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer today!  Woo hoo!

September 22, 2006: Election Day here in The Gambia.  Things are up in the air a little bit with Peace Corps due to potential political instability.  Fortunately, nothing bad happened.

September 23, 2006: Moved into my home for the next two years.

September 25, 2006: Started work at the Gambia Technical Training Institute, my primary site.