You are invited to.......

I have been too filled with excitement, to have posted anything in the past day. On Friday, February 18, 2011, I received the second phone call from my PO, whose name I now know, Brian. This conversation went very smoothly. He told me that he had chosen a program, which he feels best fits my skills. He asked me a few more questions, such as if I was happy with Central/South America departing in June, which I am of course. He also asked if anything has changed legally or medically. He then told me that he was sending my invitation that morning via air mail. I was so excited because it would reach me just in time, before I leave on my trip to Wisconsin/ road trip from the Midwest to the Southwest. On Tuesday, I was texting my mother all day asking if the mail had arrived and she finally told me around 3pm. She did not want to tell me that it came because she knew that I would leave work to come home and open it. It was best she waited because I took off of work the rest of the week anyway and yes, I would have not been able to work for the remainder of the day. The trip home was hard, I was so anxious, my heart was pounding. This is the biggest moment of my life, this determines where I will be spending 27 months, maybe more, of my life. I ripped the envelope open as fast as I could and couldn't even think straight when I read my assignment. I am invited to Ecuador as a HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Volunteer, under the Community Health Program. I had predicted it was going to be either Peru or Ecuador, and could not be any happier with my invitation. Ecuador is such a diverse, beautiful country and I can not wait to experience it. I am currently reading the plethora of information provided to me and trying to calm myself down and take it all in. I sent my acceptance email : I , Marissa Fontanez, am accepting my invitation to serve as a HIV/AIDS Prevention Education Peace Corps Volunteer, in Ecuador departing June 1, 2011. I hereby certify that I have read the Volunteer Assignment Description, Online Welcome Book, and Core Expectations and agree to abide by the policies therein. I did not have to even read any of that to have made my decision, my decision was made a year ago, each day growing more motivated and determined to serve. This week could not make me any happier, officially being invited to serve as a PCV, receiving my small but helpful tax return, going to see my best friends who I consider family and my home, going on a road trip, and paying off my credit card debt in full!! I have a lot of reading to do and can not wait to learn more about where I will spending 27 months, maybe more, of my life.

The long awaited 202 area code...

I have been patiently waiting, with spurts of anxious moments,  for the famous 202 area code phone call. When I was medically cleared the end of December, I received a phone call from placement asking for an updated resume. After I sent my resume, they replied that I should hear from someone within the next month. It has now been two months and that call finally arrived! After a long day of waiting around St. Luke's to admit my client into rehab, I was ready to go home. I got back to the office finished up some paperwork and started to check out my usual list of blogs, starting with PCJ! How perfect that as I am reading PC blogs, dying for the phone call it comes! I acted like a maniac and ran outside to gain service. I was out of breathe and extremely nervous from excitement. I honestly did not even catch the man's name I was too excited to think. I sat myself down in the most isolated spot I could find, in the corner of an alley way across from a homeless man enjoying his day's meal. I apologized to the PO for my nervousness and excitement. He then began the second interview, which lasted exactly 22 minutes and 29 seconds. The shortest amount of time to decide my entire future. The interview went well, even though I feel I babbled on for some of my answers. Some questions he asked were : Has your motivation to join the PC changed in any way?, How have you prepared for PC during your application process?, How do you feel about being isolated?, What is going to be the biggest challenge you believe you will face and how will you overcome it?, Are you willing to take out all visible piercings and cover any visible tattoos?, How do you feel if you won't be able to communicate via phone or Internet?, Are your family and friends supportive of your decision to leave?, As a woman, you may be discriminated against and disrespected in some cultures. How do you feel about that and how will you handle it?, He also spoke of my language skills, family background being Puerto Rican and how I would feel if I saw no change or process in my projects or community. I may have forgotten a few other questions but that was about it. He then asked if I have any questions, which I didn't at the moment. He then told me that I was qualified for placement! He stated that he has a few programs in mind and that he will need to look into them further to make a decision. He said he would call me back tomorrow or the beginning of next week! I will be anxiously waiting until then. I think due to the timing, that my invitation will be coming in the mail while I am away on my road trip. However, I told my mother that she is NOT allowed to open it but instead must overnight it to wherever I will be at the moment. Now back to the waiting game but at least I am fully qualified for service!