I was sitting in ethics class when my phone rang with the 202 number (I had been waiting on this all day). I literally ran out to answer. It was my Placement Officer. He decided that he wanted to have a final interview with me. :D :D :D
The interview was about an hour and a half of intense conversation..mainly about my tattoos. Long and incredibly scary story short, he said that I was a special case, as they've never had anyone apply with as many tattoos as me. Ha, he also asked about my hand and neck tattoos. I said "I have black X's on my hands, a blue bull (like Paul Bunyan) on my left neck, a gryphon on my right neck, and a cartoon symbol behind my left ear." When he asked what the symbol was, I bashfully said it was the Hidden Leaf Village symbol from the anime Naruto. FYI guys, I'm a huge nerd. Haha. He also decided that he didn't like the program I was originally nominated for since my skills weren't so great for Community Development with a focus in Environmental Education (found this out the day before via email with him). Instead, he finds me much more suited for a Youth Development project with a focus in At-Risk Youth. This is perfect for me. He said he needs to contact a few countries to see if they want me even though I'm covered in tattoos. He said he was pushing my file foward for an invitation based on my skills and experience. He said if I don't hear back from him by next Thursday to call him on Friday. I believe next week I will be told whether I'll be getting an invite (or not) and to where it may (or may not) be.
Overall, great conversation. Very informative. So I guess now I have a week to do more research and spaz out. Keep up the PMA everyone! It's working well. BELIEVE IT!
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Yay on answers! I told you he was great at actually giving you info!
ReplyDeleteI'm in youth development too!! So exciting that you will hear soon!!
ReplyDeleteYay! I am glad to see you got some nifty contact. It is also great that the PO didn't count you out for being the most tattooed prospective PCV ever :) I am still amazing that the only thing I was ever asked in regards to my tattoos was by my recruiter! I'll keep the PMA going for your invite!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to ask you about your pc experience with so many tattoos. My PO asked me Tuesday about my two prominently positioned tattoos and I said that I voluntarily cover them for work sometimes/when I don't want them to be a distraction. However, it didn't seem reasonable to cover them every day in a hot climate given that one is the top of my foot and the other is the inside of my upper arm. Guess it's a good thing I decided to wait to start on half sleeves.
ReplyDeleteFunny thing is, I work for a local governmental health department and my supervisor never had a problem with my visible piercing or tattoos and I'm responsible for monitoring compliance with a couple laws. Oh PC.
I sincerely hope you hear about an invite soon!
Heidi
PS I take it the Xs mean you're straightedge?
Thanks for all the positive comments, everyone!
ReplyDeleteHeidi- Every visible limb of mine is covered. My PO said he had like, half leg sleeves and that his brother also has sleeves. I made sure to clarify that none of mine were offensive. I just have a lot of colorful animals. Haha! I also have worked in an office (slacks and dress shirt) for the last year and a half AND I had an internship with a local christian organization as a case worker. So I just made sure to be clear I have been in settings where tattoos aren't always perceived as acceptable. And yes, I am straight edge, which my PO also asked after he heard what was on my hands. Haha.
Hey Congrats!!! I'm glad to hear that so many people who are in the same position as me are hearing things from their PO's. I hope I'm next in the stack of files, although I am nervous about my final interview.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have an invitation soon!
That's awesome! I was really excited reading your entry. Since he's changing your nomination, does that mean that it could possibly change your region?
ReplyDeletefissures- Yeah, I was originally nominted for Sub-Saharan Africa. So much for my one dreadful year of college French. I believe he said I most likely WON'T be going to Africa now. I'm growing more and more okay with this.
ReplyDeleteI am really, really interested in how things turn out for you! Great job on handling the questions, and good luck with your pending invite :)
ReplyDeleteHaha, when I received the initial call from my recruiter (for an interview) I sprinted out of the class I was in too (and it was a class in which I was the TA for)! Luckily, my PO contacted me via email to set up the phone "conversation," otherwise I would probably had to sprint out again! Anyway, congrats on having your file move forward. Hopefully it won't be too much longer now! Can't wait to see where you end up getting invited to.
ReplyDeleteI thought I'd check out your blog since you've read mine and it's great! Just makes me remember all the application/nomination insanity that is the Peace Corps. Your tattoos will not be a problem here in Bulgaria (if you come here), in fact the kids will probably love you more for it. There is a big YD program here though I am a TEFL (teach english as a foreign language). Good luck once again.
ReplyDeleteOh, and there are tons of nerds already here so you'll fit in quite well.