Pre-Journey: Arizona

Friday, May 7, 2010: Clear skies, High of 94*F
I received a call from the Peace Corps Medical Offices this morning. Apparently, I neglected one of the portions asking for prescriptions/supplements used. I missed the box that said "None." So, I'll be getting my Medical Exam in the mail so I can check the "None" box, sign and date. Once I've done this and send it on back to D.C., the Peace Corps Screening Nurse suggested I would gain my medical clearance almost immediately. A HUGE step forward. Also, having sent all the relevant dental information out on Wednesday, I suspect I will gain my dental clearance very soon as well.

Next step: PLACEMENT

Wednesday, May 5, 2010: Clear skies, High of 82*F I had a cavity to be filled and I needed a mouth guard because I grind my teeth at night (apparently, this is becoming more prevalent amongst younger people and is being blamed on over-stimulation of the senses...technology, basically). So here I sit in bed, with the left portion of my mouth still numbed by the local anesthetic applied prior to drilling. I FedEx-ed the dental documentation a few hours ago and suspect I will be cleared for medical and dental in the next few weeks! *Thank you David Ryder for your generosity and perseverance as well as Dr. Svans for your hospitality and drilling with a broken collar bone (ouch!)

Monday, August 3, 2009: Clear skies, High of 114*F (Ties Record High) Telephone interview goes well. Very well. Recruiter Kevin Elliott officially nominates me as a viable candidate to become a volunteer for the TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) program within the United States Peace Corps - this does not guarantee an invitation, there's a lot of work to be done. Once the program (TEFL) is established for a candidate, the recruiter and recruitee determine the region based on suitability, preference, etc. I was originally assigned to Eastern Europe/Central Asia - you can see the countries the Peace Corps serves in this region by clicking here. However, as time went on the proposed region moved to Middle East/North Africa - the only countries the Peace Corps serve in this region are Jordan and Morocco, primarily TEFL programs. Interestingly, there are 7 times more Peace Corps volunteers in Morocco than in Jordan. However, the current prospect of going to the Middle East/N. African region is a mere 50%.

In the following weeks I am sent information, maps, guidelines, medical, dental and legal clearance forms. Legal forms involve fingerprints and background checks...wasn't too worried about that one. Passed with flying colors. Medical forms involve a complete physical exam, including blood work. Truthfully, I wasn't worried about this either - but it proved to be more costly (no insurance!) and timely than I could have ever possibly imagined. There were a few speed bumps, but with the help and kind-hearts of those around me (thank you Dr. Sieckmann and staff), I was able to complete the medical portion, submitted late-April of 2010. Dental forms involve teeth. I went to a dentist...who gave me reasonable suspicion that he was a con. I gave him the $70 for the initial exam and ran for the hills - discouraged. I went to another dentist, this one was Peace Corps endorsed...and by golly he was awesome! He wasn't a traditional "dentist" - although, I am confident he had his DDS - he was a gum surgeon (there's some fancy name for it that doesn't come to mind). He couldn't perform the procedures I needed. So, one of my clients at Art One sought to help me with my situation. Said client discussed (nearly demanded) with his dentist how they could help.

Introduction:
I completed the initial application in mid-May of 2009. Expecting to graduate from ASU the upcoming December, and seeing that the Peace Corps requires a Bachelors Degree, I figured I'd get a head start - I was told the application process could take up to a year. It was an extensive and thorough application, but not too painful. Most of the application I was able to do on my own, but there was a section requiring references/recommendations from professional sources. Kraig Foote (Art One Gallery), Dr. Anneliese Harper (Scottsdale Community College, Returned Peace Corps Volunteer) and Bill LeGoullon (renowned photographer) were graciously willing to participate. A few weeks later I receive a call from Peace Corps Recruiter Kevin Elliott from the Western Regional Offices in Los Angeles. We arrange an appointment for a telephone interview.

*Anecdote:
Around this time, I was to speak at New School for the Arts & Academics '09 Graduation Ceremony (not keynote speaker). The speech, delivered to ~800 listeners, was a tribute to Kraig Foote and Art One Gallery for all he has done for the school over the years. We're talking lots and lots of donations here...$8,000 + supplies, materials, scholarships to alumni in 2009 alone... To an underfunded charter art school, he continues to make a very large impact on the lives of many young artists. As terrified as I was, I knew this was something I had to do - so I did. *Thank you SO much to Kraig Foote for your overwhelming support since October of 2005 - I could make your thank you note into a novel, seriously.

Later in the summer, I was to complete 30 hours and three months of adult literacy/library studies - I found many programs in Tucson, but none in the Phoenix area. The public libraries were sub-par in hospitality and help, so I had to find some other way to do this.

Unbeknownst to me, Executive Dean of NSAA Katy Ferrell-Cárdenas had served in the Peace Corps in Sana'a, Yemen in 1994. Upon discovering this information, I approached her about a student-teacher type arrangement in order to fulfill my requirements - she was SO nice and welcomed me as if I were doing them a favor. Shortly after, I got the go-ahead from Mr. Elliott (recruiter) as a sufficient alternative - he even commended me for my efforts!
So, I've been going to the NSAA Middle School on Monday and Wednesday afternoons to teach English to half of Mr. Gregg Howard's 5th and 6th period classes - we get our own classroom, too! Mr. Howard, English teacher/awesome guy, volunteered to bring me in. I've surpassed my requirements (30hrs/3mo), but have stuck with the kids - I'll be around until a week before finals. *Thank you NSAA, Mrs. Katy Ferrell-Cárdenas and Mr. Gregg Howard for your great display of hospitality and support.