One year ago, once June 2011 became available for the Peace Corps application, I began this journey. I finished the application in March, was taken out of active consideration because I was too excited, then finally allowed to move forward in June. Now, after all that time, everything I do seems to revolve around Mongolia. Right before New Years, I finally made the excessive number of phone calls for the paperwork. When I called SATO, they said they couldn't help me and to call the Mongolia desk. I did that, but of course he is in China for most of December and January and I was redirected to the Balkans desk. Side note: who knew the Peace Corps still had a Balkans desk? She was also out of the office so I left a very sad message and prepared for another wait. Luckily, she got back to me the next afternoon and emailed me the missing papers. They were in the mail and arrived in Washington the next morning. Hopefully they take good care of my passport (soon to be passports!) and I filled out all of the paperwork correctly.
I've noticed that everything I do has this weird sense of finality, even if it still seems a little surreal. My last Christmas at home, my last New Years at home, last semester at school. When I bundle up to go outside, it's like practicing for the incredible cold that's coming to me in the upcoming years (except that's almost a joke considering it's barely cold enough to snow here). I'm back to stalking the mailman again because I'm anxiously awaiting a package of books from Amazon. I'm actually really excited to get them, they sound really interesting:
1. The Unofficial Peace Corps Handbook
2. Modern Mongolia: From Khans to Commissars to Capitalists
3. Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World
So a nice history of Mongolia and the essential book about Genghis Khan to occupy my time over the next 144 days. Not that I'm counting or anything.
Conn Igluuden (not certain thats the correct last name) wrote some great semi-historically accurate books about the rise and rule of Chinngis called "Genghis" Its a three parter with the fourth being the rule of his 3rd son afterwards. There a decent read and cheap on Amazon.
ReplyDeleteWhy'd you have to call SATO?
ReplyDeleteIn my invitation kit, I was only sent the front side of both the visa application and the directions on how to fill it out. The folder said if you have any questions about the visa to call SATO. Also said if you make a mistake to call SATO and they'll send you a new one so I'm not sure why they couldn't help me, but whatever.
ReplyDeletelol. "If you make a mistake, call SATO, but they can't help you."
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Peace Corps Mongolia Ashley! It's one of the best Peace Corps countries in the world (or at least I think so). I hope you like the Unofficial Handbook, it's certainly not perfect but we are working on it. We're excited to see you when you get here!
ReplyDelete