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smile4kris
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 96.26.252.64
Posted on Saturday, December 20, 2008 - 12:12 am:   

If I have been on depression meds for a few years does this automatically give me a rejection letter? I've heard yes and no... if it's a yes I am going to be very very very sad. It's my dream to go to Africa.
Barbara Anderson
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 75.181.107.90
Posted on Friday, December 26, 2008 - 9:22 pm:   

I was also wanting to know if being on anti depressants, would be reason enough to keep someone out of the peace corps?
Admin1 (admin)
Moderator
Username: admin

Post Number: 1373
Registered: 7-2008
Posted From: 141.157.22.242
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 12:24 pm:   

i went to therapy and for a very brief period went on anti-depressants. i was on like half the normal dose and went off after three months and have been off of them for over a year now, i am still in therapy though. is that going to be a huge issue?

i went to therapy and for a very brief period went on anti-depressants. i was on like half the normal dose and went off after three months and have been off of them for over a year now, i am still in therapy though. is that going to be a huge issue?

I also was treated for depression; it was when i was in middle school but I disclosed it anyway. I think it is better to disclose it -- I had a severe depressive episode in country but since I had been treated a) I knew what was going on and b)since I had had it before, Peace Corps knew what was up and got me treatment right away. a friend of mine was bipolar and didn't disclose it to Peace Corps, nutted up*, a friend had to drag her to the office because she was in really bad shape, was medevac-ed, and almost fired by Peace Corps because she did have a pre-existing condition that she hadn't disclosed. One of the things they will ask you in your interview is how you handle challenging situations. You can use both your depressive episode and the semester you should have taken off from school as examples of challenges that you have overcome. Keep it positive and clearly describe the lessons you learned from those events. Everybody makes mistakes, it's that you learn from them and keep going that is the important thing.

i went to therapy and for a very brief period went on anti-depressants. i was on like half the normal dose and went off after three months and have been off of them for over a year now, i am still in therapy though. is that going to be a huge issue?

Take a look at the Peace Corps Meeical Guidelines for Adjustment Disorders: with Depressed Mood, with Anxiety, with Mixed Anxiety and Depressed Mood, with Disturbance of Conduct, with Mixed Disturbance of Emotions and Conduct, Unspecified.

Also read the following discussion on depression and the Peace Corps:


another question...

i've been reading some postings in the community and i'm terrified that some stupid errors on my part in college might keep me from getting accepted. if anyone has any advice or experience they'd like to share, i'd really appreciate it.

first off- it's taken me 6 years to graduate. that's not that unusual for the school i'm at, only i didn't do it in a very good way. i should have taken a break from school, but i come from a really small town that kind of sucks people in and destroys them (there were only 5 kids out of my graduating class that actually went to college), so i was scared to not register, even for one semester. so instead i took F's in all of my classes and for 3 semesters. i am now retaking all of those courses and made the dean's list this past semester. how much do you think this will count against me? i'm completely committed to the peace corps and i know two years is a long time and it definitely won't be like getting burned out with school and not knowing if i even wanted to pursue the subject i was majoring in. during that time i also went to therapy and for a very brief period went on anti-depressants. i was on like half the normal dose and went off after three months and have been off of them for over a year now, i am still in therapy though. is that going to be a huge issue too? i'm completely committed to jumping through whatever hoops there may be, but i'm just scared that my record might be too much to overcome. so... any advice?

thanks!

oh-
and my therapist said that because she was seeing me pro bono and there are no insurance records that i may not even have to disclose that i was in therapy... any advice on that?

(Post a new comment)


nirethak
2007-11-01 01:07 am UTC (link)
It took me 5 years to graduate, and while I didn't fail any of my classes, I came damn close in a couple. I also was treated for depression; it was when i was in middle school but I disclosed it anyway. I think it is better to disclose it -- I had a severe depressive episode in country but since I had been treated a) I knew what was going on and b)since I had had it before, Peace Corps knew what was up and got me treatment right away. a friend of mine was bipolar and didn't disclose it to Peace Corps, nutted up*, a friend had to drag her to the office because she was in really bad shape, was medevac-ed, and almost fired by Peace Corps because she did have a pre-existing condition that she hadn't disclosed.
One of the things they will ask you in your interview is how you handle challenging situations. You can use both your depressive episode and the semester you should have taken off from school as examples of challenges that you have overcome. Keep it positive and clearly describe the lessons you learned from those events. Everybody makes mistakes, it's that you learn from them and keep going that is the important thing.

*I am a mental health professional and thus permitted to use phrases like "nutted up"

(Reply to this)(Thread)


lemurlookalike
2007-11-02 02:09 am UTC (link)
"nutted up"- hahahahaha
i think i will disclose it and hopefully should be ok. i never really needed to be on meds, and i'm only in therapy because i'm a student and it's free and it's nice to have a sane adult to talk to.
thanks so much for your advice!

(Reply to this)(Parent)


rachelmarie14
2007-11-01 01:55 pm UTC (link)
I haven't gone to country yet...but I think the above person is right. Disclosing something like a mental condition will allow PC to place you in a way that you can remain stable and do the work, and will let you access necessary treatment if that's the case. Obviously, know that you will have to go through forms, but they're not that bad, you just have to get through them.

(Reply to this)(Thread)


lemurlookalike
2007-11-02 02:09 am UTC (link)
thanks!

(Reply to this)(Parent)


bychoice
2007-11-01 04:06 pm UTC (link)
Also, if you have had mental illness problems, there are medications you shouldn't take, like Lariam (the primary anti-malarial the the Peace Corps uses). Or if something horrible did happen and you did freak out, you want to be able to prove that it was due to your service. A note from a therapist saying that you had problems before but that they are all resolved will go a long ways in helping with that. I don't get the impression that the Peace Corps is turning people away right and left for having done badly in school. If you say that you have learned from it, then you should be fine. (I really get the impression that most people back out on their own rather than get turned away by the Peace Corps. Don't stress too much.)

(Reply to this)(Thread)


lemurlookalike
2007-11-02 02:10 am UTC (link)
that is soo good to hear about them not turning people away left and right. thank you!

(Reply to this)(Parent)


finding_meggan
2007-11-01 04:37 pm UTC (link)
I think you should disclose. Not doing would be irresponsible and possibly dangerous.

(Reply to this)


tranquilo_vida
2007-11-01 08:58 pm UTC (link)
1. you have already disclosed on a very public forum, once in an exchange student communtity I mentioned that I had mono and a few months later right before I was departing I go an e-mail saying that I needed to have a doctor sign a form because my health status had changed and they had to have proof that I was fine and recovered from Mono and it said something to the affect of you dind't let us know you had a major illness(I did speak with a volunteer about it and was told it shouldn't be a problem and I didn't think of Mono as a major illness) So since you have disclosed it here then you might as well jump through the hoops and save yourself the risk of it being found. This is a very public place and I am sure there are people that moniter it, and for good reason.

As far as school I am in the same place as you, getting back on track. today I spoke with a recruiter and was told that if I wanted to be nominated for an English teaching position(I don't) that they require your GPA to be 2.5 by the time you graduate. Mine WILL(close but not quite there) be at least that so it wouldn't be a problem, for health positions I guess there isn't a GPA requirment but for at least english there is.

(Reply to this)(Thread)


lemurlookalike
2007-11-02 02:12 am UTC (link)
i don't think my gpa will be an issue when i graduate b/c by then i will have retaken all my F courses and should have around a 3.4. i was just worried they would see the 3 straight semesters of F's and be like, "well doesn't look like she handled school very well, better not accept her. "

and i completely didn't think about peace corps finding out info through lj, that's a bit scary. but i guess you never know.

thank you!

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


tranquilo_vida
2007-11-02 02:26 am UTC (link)
I think as long as you show improvement they will understand. And if it is called into question you can always point out that even though it wasn't working out, you stuck with it and eventually got it together and didn't just drop out, that speaks volumes about how comitted you can be to things like two years of service!




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Headlines: October, 2007; Recruitment; Medicine





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Admin1 (admin)
Moderator
Username: admin

Post Number: 1375
Registered: 7-2008
Posted From: 141.157.22.242
Posted on Saturday, December 27, 2008 - 12:31 pm:   

Concerns about medical clearance for Depression

Concerns about medical clearance for Depression

I think you could probably work through most of it by making a good case for yourself, but it will be very difficult for you. Keep in mind that recruiting officers, medical personnel, and placement officers are all individuals and some may try to shut you out when they hear about a problem like depression. If you really want to try to make it, you have to push forward if you find resistance like that. That being said, honesty is the best policy if you've been officially diagnosed with all these problems. Are the anxiety and ADHD officially diagnosed, or do you feel you fit the symptoms? As for the depression, if you've been consistently okay on meds for several years, you can make a case that way. Usually the only way you can get through major problems with clearance is by proving that you have it under control, and you have to be honest with yourself about that first before you can convince them. PC is very emotionally stressful, and people get depressed and lonely often even without a previous history of depression. These are all things you should take into serious consideration. So in short, you'd probably have to see extra doctors (counselors, etc) and do some extra tests for things like the weight issue. I forget what you're supposed to do for that. But since you've got good experience working on projects like the PC does (teaching English to impoverished people, living abroad, etc), you should focus your attention on that when talking to anyone from the PC. Be honest and open about your conditions, NEVER lie (I've heard of many people getting medically seperated (i.e. kicked out) because they forgot to mention something on their medical history, even unintentionally), and battle your way through medical clearance. Know that it will be tough, because it is anyway without the extra tests, and you might want to put off applying until you can reach your weight goals. It might make the process a lot easier for you. Plan ahead for the extra costs of having an appointment with a counselor or psychologist for the extra paperwork. I think you can do this if you really push for it. Good luck with your decision! (Reply to this)(Thread)

Concerns about medical clearance for Depression

Concerns about medical clearance
Hi everybody,

I'm very interested in joining the peace corps. Being a peace corps volunteer has been a dream of mine for many years. I think I'm a qualified candidate, too.

A little bit about myself and what I think makes me a good candidate:
I'm 22 years old, female, and earned my bachelors in Anthropology and History in May 2007. I was very active in extra curricular activities at my school (Amnesty International (founder and president), Peace Action, Break the Silence, POWER (women's group), etc. I studied abroad at the American University in Cairo for my junior year. There I studied Arabic, anthropology, and modern middle eastern history and politics. In the spring semester I volunteered to teach English for refugees living in Cairo (HUGE population of refugees and asylum seekers, primarily from the Sudan). Working with these men (class of approx. 30 students, ages 17-40) had a profound effect on my life. I learned a lot about the struggles and discrimination they faced on a daily basis.

I really want to volunteer... but I'm concerned that my medical history will disqualify me. I'm planning on meeting with a PC representative later this week, but I'm not sure how candid I should be about my concerns.

For the record, my top choices are: Jordan, Kenya, Morocco, and Tanzania, but I would be willing to go anywhere they wanted me to. [EDIT: DOES ANYBODY KNOW IF THESE CHOICES ARE AMONG THE LOCATIONS WHERE THERE ARE STRICTER/MORE LENIENT REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL CLEARANCE?]

Here's a list of things that I think may be problematic.

* * Clinical depression (diagnosed when 14, doing fine with medication)
* Anxiety (Mild, fine with meds)
* ADHD, inattentive type (I don't believe this is listed as one of the conditions that would prevent me from serving)
* significantly overweight (but in decent enough shape. I'm working very hard to get in better shape and lose some weight, and would ideally have lost a lot before heading out)
* ** One ovarian cyst (resulting in somewhat irregular periods... the problems associated with the cyst diminish significantly if I lose weight. I lost a significant amount of weight while living in Egypt and my symptoms pretty much disappeared.)
* Eczema (when I was a little kid, although I do have still have slightly sensitive skin)
* Pretty bad eyesight (strong prescription, requiring prisms, although my optometrist says I would be able to get away with out them... the prisms are mostly for reading)

*: on the list of things that "PC is (typically) unable to reasonably accommodate"
**: On list of things they will defer your placement until condition is resolved.

Ugh. Listing it out like that makes it seem so much worse than it is. I know that the purpose of these medical screenings is to protect myself and those around me if something should go wrong when I'm in country. I fully respect that policy, but I also don't think any of these problems are severe enough to cause major problems when I'm abroad. I just don't want these things to prevent me from serving.


All of that said, I'm wondering what you all think.

Specific questions:

1. Should I bring up my concerns about specific conditions with the representative? Will doing so hurt my chances of getting nominated?
2. Is the medical clearance process separate from the nomination process? Do they nominate you first and THEN see if you are clear to go, or is your health status taken into consideration when they are looking you over initially?
3. Do you think that my medical conditions will disqualify me?


One of the reasons I am asking now is that I know that the application process is very long and arduous. I don't want to expend all of that effort and time if I don't have a chance to get in. I am willing to fight for this and try to convince them that I am capable of serving, but if I don't have a chance in hell, then Id rather spend my time finding a job or position that would accept me, despite these flaws.

Thanks so much for your help! I really appreciate your guidance on this!

(Post a new comment)
Es salam alaykum!!!!!

my_warm_blood
2008-01-14 04:37 am UTC (link)
Go for it. Stay determined & do it!
Even if things fall through & don't work out, I think that'd be better than anyways having the nagging "what if..." in the back of your mind. Plus, you have TONS of qualifications which will help you!

I don't think any of those conditions are enough to rule you out - it will probably mean more drs appointments & paperwork, but I definitely think you can work around it.

Also, my husband & I spend nearly a month in Egypt, most of it in Cairo. We met with several professors from AUC & visited a church on Zamalek where there was a store of things made by Sudanesse refugees (perhaps you know it!) We loved loved loved it & our first PC choice was Jordan/Morocco, but we're nominated for Eastern Europe. Oh well, maybe some day. :-)

(Reply to this)(Thread)
Re: Es salam alaykum!!!!!

censor_free
2008-01-14 05:10 am UTC (link)
alaykum es salaam!

I know exactly where you are talking about!! I think that's St. Andrews? It was only a few blocks away from where I lived on Zamalek! I went there a few times to shop and see if I could volunteer or anything. The Church grounds host a store called Tukul Crafts. A totally amazing organization/company that makes really cool bags, textiles, wall hangings, and lots of other stuff. I think its owned and operated by the refugees themselves. The goal is to promote self-reliance and teach the refugees valuable skills they can use later on. I bought so much stuff from them!

Thanks for the encouragement. I think I am still going to apply because I want it so badly... and I know I would be forever kicking myself if I gave up before I ever tried.

Oh, also, do you think I'll have a better chance of being placed in Jordan/Morocco because of my background in Arabic and living in the Middle East? I really really want to do Jordan and improve my fluency (among many other reasons). I am, however, very very interested in working in Africa (specifically Eastern Africa) because of my experience with the refugees. Khalas!

It'll all work out, inshallah.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


arandomparadox
2008-01-14 04:39 am UTC (link)
I think you could probably work through most of it by making a good case for yourself, but it will be very difficult for you. Keep in mind that recruiting officers, medical personnel, and placement officers are all individuals and some may try to shut you out when they hear about a problem like depression. If you really want to try to make it, you have to push forward if you find resistance like that.

That being said, honesty is the best policy if you've been officially diagnosed with all these problems. Are the anxiety and ADHD officially diagnosed, or do you feel you fit the symptoms? As for the depression, if you've been consistently okay on meds for several years, you can make a case that way. Usually the only way you can get through major problems with clearance is by proving that you have it under control, and you have to be honest with yourself about that first before you can convince them. PC is very emotionally stressful, and people get depressed and lonely often even without a previous history of depression. These are all things you should take into serious consideration.

So in short, you'd probably have to see extra doctors (counselors, etc) and do some extra tests for things like the weight issue. I forget what you're supposed to do for that. But since you've got good experience working on projects like the PC does (teaching English to impoverished people, living abroad, etc), you should focus your attention on that when talking to anyone from the PC. Be honest and open about your conditions, NEVER lie (I've heard of many people getting medically seperated (i.e. kicked out) because they forgot to mention something on their medical history, even unintentionally), and battle your way through medical clearance.

Know that it will be tough, because it is anyway without the extra tests, and you might want to put off applying until you can reach your weight goals. It might make the process a lot easier for you. Plan ahead for the extra costs of having an appointment with a counselor or psychologist for the extra paperwork. I think you can do this if you really push for it. Good luck with your decision!

(Reply to this)(Thread)


censor_free
2008-01-14 05:20 am UTC (link)
Thanks for your feedback.

I'm trying to lose weight right now. If losing weight and getting in shape mean that I'll increase my chances of getting approved, then that is a huge motivating factor.

I'm officially diagnosed with Clinical Depression and ADHD... I'm not sure about the anxiety. I think it might just be classified as a symptom of the depression.

One of the benefits of having ADHD is that it has endowed me with a deep streak of perseverance and stubbornness. Once I make up my mind and decide I want to do something, it gets done. I had to fight to go to Egypt (school, parents, etc.), but I was ultimately able to convince everyone, and I went and had one of the most valuable experiences of my life. Living in Cairo and going to school full time was a pretty stressful situation, but I made it though with good grades and a much clearer understanding of who I was and where my strengths and weaknesses lay. Sometimes the most motivating thing someone can tell me is "no". :-)

thanks again for your help!

(Reply to this)(Parent)


midoriliem
2008-01-14 04:42 am UTC (link)
I can try to help:
I have chronic depression, and it's fine as long as you write a personal statement and get a letter from your shrink certifying that you are able to serve. Expect rigamarole, however. I know nothing about anxiety or ADHD, but I will say that I believe the PC has every page of my long mental health file, and they still let me in finally.
I know nothing about the weight problem or the ovarian cyst, but anything you can do to improve that will look good (the effort itself looks good; make sure the doctor notes that.) I have horrible eyesight...I'm well past legally blind without my glasses. Most childhood health problems that are resolved or nearly resolved aren't an issue. I had severe heart and digestive and allergic problems as a child, and there was some paperwork about those, but nothing that barred me from going.

1. Should I bring up my concerns about specific conditions with the representative? Will doing so hurt my chances of getting nominated?

I would not- you have a much better legal case if you are nominated ("reasonably qualified") before you disclose your health problems. Furthermore, unless there is something region specific, I don't think it would matter that much. However- and I honestly had to ask myself this, as did other medical people- if you truly think you will be significantly limited by your health problems...you might want to reconsider. You can leave me a message and I'd be happy to talk more in detail.

2. Is the medical clearance process separate from the nomination process? Do they nominate you first and THEN see if you are clear to go, or is your health status taken into consideration when they are looking you over initially?
Yes, yes, and no.
3. Do you think that my medical conditions will disqualify me?
I'm not sure, but my initial response is...no.

(Reply to this)
go for it

zan_830
2008-01-14 05:06 am UTC (link)
From what I know, if one has consistently been on meds that help w/the depression, that will not block you-a lot of people in PC take anti-depressants and such. But for anything mental health they will require a lot of paperwork & a statement on how you cope w/stress, etc.
I've also heard that if any condition has caused a specific problem LATELY, they may defer a person for 3 months, 6 months, etc.
That being said, I have several random medical issues which I thought might be a prob, and I got cleared! (w/restrictions). I've heard and my experience has been that PC is pretty accmodating. Certain countries have more/closer medical staff, so they may just place a person somewhere less remote if there are certain health issues-just in case they need access to care.

(Reply to this)


warrior_panda
2008-01-14 05:35 am UTC (link)
Let 'em know!

Also: How is Egypt in terms of tourism? I'm looking into it for Spring Break.

(Reply to this)(Thread)


censor_free
2008-01-14 05:47 am UTC (link)
Egypt is GREAT for tourism, in that there is so much really interesting stuff to see. Unfortunately... everybody knows it. It's definitely worth going. You can still have a really great time and avoid being mauled by tourists and vendors hawking their wares if you do some research and know where to go.

Cairo can be overwhelming (its a city of 20 million people, afterall!), but that very vibrancy makes it exciting and worth checking out.

Depending on where your interests lie, I'd defineltly recommend checking out the Western Deserts and the Sinai peninsula. The Sinai is one of my favorite places in the world. Dahab is an amazing city on the Red Sea (I can recommend a really great tour guide if you want). There is really great diving along the coast of the Sinai, but watch out for tourist pits like Sharm es Sheik and El Gouna.

Of course, you have to go to Luxor and Aswan, where most of the anceint ruins are. I recommend spending the extra cash and going down to Abu Simbell as well.

Alexandria is gorgeous and very historically significant. The library is great and the fresh sea food is to die for.

Good luck with your trip if you decide to go! Let me know if you have any more questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


slunickomoje
2008-01-14 08:04 pm UTC (link)
Hello! I'm pre-interview right now (it's on Thursday).

As far as I've heard they do not ask any health related questions during the interview (I've tried to research as much as possible - through Yahoo, and friends currently in PC).

That said, you will have already filled out health information as part of the application process. The application has two parts, the first is the qualifications section, the second a health section. It isn't until after your application has been submitted in full that you will hear from a recruiter regarding an interview.

Nominations are handed out following the interview, at which point you'll have to go through the full health status check. If the recruiter does not ask any health related questions I might consider staying away from that topic - that said, it is also your opportunity to ask any questions you might have. Therefore, if you aren't sure how your health will affect your experience, it might be worth asking.

I hope this is helpful and not just a repetition of things you already know.

Also, I wanted to let you know that I'm also trying to get myself in better shape for possible future service. I update my journal with weigh-ins and PC related updates. I'd love to talk to more people in the process, especially if they too are trying to get in shape :o)

Also, from the time you submit your application to the time you leave it can take anywhere between 6-12 months. That should give you a nice bit of time to start working on getting your body ready for service.

Good Luck!

(Reply to this)(Thread)


lemurlookalike
2008-01-16 04:28 pm UTC (link)
hey!
i'm going through the same thing... trying to get my fat butt back to its non-fat glory days. :-) i don't usually update my lj but i might start a new one for weight loss. and it'd be great to have support. also, i was nominated about 3 weeks ago, so if you have any questions about your interview or anything feel free to ask! my email is kmutter@gmu.edu . and good luck tomorrow!

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)


slunickomoje
2008-01-17 02:41 am UTC (link)
That would be fantastic! If you get a new LJ please let me know! My interview is tomorrow, I'm really crossing my fingers. Where were you nominated for & when? Also, what type of work will you be doing? I love to hear about other people's experiences.

Good luck to you!

(Reply to this)(Parent)


anisky
2008-04-11 02:57 pm UTC (link)
That's strange-- I received an email from my recruiter asking me to set up an interview a couple days after I submitted the app online, when not all of my recommendations had been finished and before I even received the extra paperwork. Did he mean an unofficial interview then? Though he did say there was some urgency because there are positions in early fall to fill...

Can anyone shed light on this?

(Reply to this)(Parent)
Kenya

zan_830
2008-01-14 11:54 pm UTC (link)
I read on the yahoo group that Kenya is on the list of countries that takes people w/medical restrictions bc they have a lot of high quality medical facilities.
If you post this question about which countries on the yahoo group called peacecorps2, I think a lot of people who have medical restrictions can tell you where they were nominated and/or are serving. You can also search that board and probably find the post I remember reading about Kenya.
Many people say perseverance is the main characterstic needed to be a successful PCV! Best of luck!!

(Reply to this)


ms_mischief
2008-01-29 10:09 pm UTC (link)
lemme address your concerns according to what I remember from my med clearance and what I've learned from Peace Corps since

mental health: I know someone who's had depression issues for years who is currently serving in Moldolva, doesn't seem like it could be a huge obstacle if you can prove it's been manageable with whatever option you've been exercising

weight: they want you in what is considered to be the normal range of body mass indexes, if I remember right it's probably no more or less than 25% of what is normal for your age/height...I think a reason for this is because of the dramatic difference you'll have from an American diet to a local one, I was (still am actually) overweight when I left, but I've lost 20 pounds in my country of service with no exercise or active dieting. There are other girls who were bigger than I was who have also lost a lot of weight, but keep in mind that supposedly most women gain weight where they go, and you may have a hard time exercising for reasons I'll list later

ovarian cysts: not sure but I had a slightly abnormal pap smear, they just ask for records in the last year showing healthy reproductive organs. I'm assuming the logic isn't too far off from that in this case

eczema: don't think this'll be much an issue, but having sensitive skin, be thankful the peace corps will give you as much sunblock as you want, or whatever ointment you'll need

eyesight: if you wear glasses/contacts, they discourage contacts because of water sanitation but in azerbaijan most people wear them anyway. they want you to bring 2 pairs of glasses but don't check to see if you did

I wouldn't bother bringing up your medical conditions during the interview personally, but more than likely they'll have seen a bit about your medical history from your application and will address it if need be. with that said, it sounds like you will have quite the uphill battle set up for you with the medical clearance. I don't say this to discourage you, but to practically prepare you.

Remember that the application process is designed to weed out people who don't have the commitment, tenacity, resolve and other things to send people out on assignment. I'm a very healthy individual but hit a few setbacks (that resulted in tears of frustration) because of my blood (it was genetic the doctors ruled out, Peace Corps wanted to make sure before sending me to a country with malaria...the disease they thought I could have would have a bad reaction w/malaria prophylactics). When it comes down to it, 1/4 people who apply to peace corps actually depart for an assignment. But most of that is b/c people drop out.

As for the countries you want to serve in, while you sound like a great candidate it's important to remember to not get your heart set on countries and to be flexible. You sound like an independent, self-sufficient, strong, opinionated woman who is accustomed to doing what she wants to do. Take it from me as a volunteer who lives in a country I call "Muslim lite" that your ambitions may not necessarily match your personality and your coping skills when you're half a world away from your support group. PC expects us to be culturally on duty 24/7 so that means always having to be conscientious of how you will be percieved in your community. At home in the states I was highly independent, motivated, opinionated...a bit of a firecracker that did as well as she damn well pleased whenever. And going into a Muslim/conservative culture has been a daily challenge both physically and mentally, I rarely go anywhere by myself let alone have hope of being able to go running/exercising outdoors (which doesn't help with the weight gain in a starch/oil heavy diet) because of the rigid gender roles of women I'm expected to integrate into.

While this is what we sign up for, be ready for the possibility of spending 2 years miserable to unhappy to just ok because of your personality not meshing as well as you'd like it to considering your ambitions. I hope this wasn't too negative, there's more to PC life than the rose-colored glasses everyone seems to preach. There is a dark side, you'll have your ups and downs but in the end your service is what you make of it.

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Headlines: January, 2008; Recruitment; Medicine





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Director Ron Tschetter:  The PCOL Interview Date: December 9 2008 No: 1296 Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.

PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director Date: December 2 2008 No: 1288 PCOL's Candidate for Peace Corps Director
Honduras RPCV Jon Carson, 33, presided over thousands of workers as national field director for the Obama campaign and said the biggest challenge -- and surprise -- was the volume of volunteer help, including more than 15,000 "super volunteers," who were a big part of what made Obama's campaign so successful. PCOL endorses Jon Carson as the man who can revitalize the Peace Corps, bring it into the internet age, and meet Obama's goal of doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011.

December 14, 2008: This Month's Top Stories  Date: December 14 2008 No: 1305 December 14, 2008: This Month's Top Stories
Michael Adlerstein to make UN green 21 Nov
Harris Wofford writes: America at a turning point 14 Nov
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Gen. Victor Renuart Jr. son served in Peace Corps 6 Dec
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Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own Date: October 23 2008 No: 1279 Some PCVs return to Bolivia on their own
Peace Corps has withdrawn all volunteers from Bolivia because of "growing instability" and the expulsion of US Ambassador Philip Goldberg after Bolivian President Evo Morales accused the American government of inciting violence in the country. This is not the first controversy surrounding Goldberg's tenure as US ambassador to Bolivia. Latest: Some volunteers have returned to Bolivia on their own to complete their projects.

PCVs Evacuated from Georgia Date: August 19 2008 No: 1254 PCVs Evacuated from Georgia
The Peace Corps has announced that all Volunteers and trainees serving in the Republic of Georgia are safe and they have been temporarily relocated to neighboring Armenia. Read the analysis by one RPCV on how Georgia's President Mikheil Saakashvili believed that he could launch a lightning assault on South Ossetia and reclaim the republic without substantial grief from Moscow and that Saakashvili's statements once the war began demonstrated that he expected real Western help in confronting Russia.



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This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Depression; Recruitment; Medicine

PCOL42601
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Abigail
Unregistered guest
Posted From: 75.150.114.181
Posted on Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - 2:11 pm:   

So-so. Something was not impressed.

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