The Wait Continues...

Okay.  So  I'm still in the process of getting my forms in.  It's making me SUPER nervous!  I was supposed to have an appointment with my doctor today (just to fill out my forms since everything else is done)  but got a call from the office saying she wouldn't be in.  I've been trying to get in since I got back from Jamaica.  I texted her to beg her (since my forms are due next week) and she agreed to see me Saturday.  The only thing is that the Medical Applicant portal will be down from the 22nd to the 24th.  So I still have to wait to upload that stuff when I get them.  And of course there is the Pap Test (every female applicant must do it, regardless of if you are sexually active or not).  I couldn't get an appointment before the 26th!  So of course my results won't be back on time for the deadline.  I wish it didn't come down to now, but what can I do but try to get it all in.    I'll let you guys know how everything goes until my due date!

P.S.  I saw this (see below) post on Tumblr today (via nic0lettee.tumblr.com on the Peace Corps tag).  Anyone ever heard of it/tried it?

The Peace Corps Challenge!

Ever wonder what it’s like to live as a Peace Corps Volunteer?

Take the…

PEACE CORPS CHALLENGE - stolen from Lacy / Nora / Erin / Courtney / & a whole bunch of other Peace Corps Ethiopia Volunteers [& tweaked to cater the challenge to my own personal experience].

Best use of the Challenge: Pick one week, and cram as many challenge items into one single week as possible. You may pick & choose as you please!

Point values are assigned for each challenge item.
Some are one-time options which can be repeated at your leisure [unless a limit is provided]. 
For 1W challenges, points are only rewarded if the challenge is completed for the duration of the entire week.

MAX POINTS:  905  .

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THE CHALLENGE

1. Do not use your personal vehicle.
Options: hitching rides from others (spouses don’t count), bicycle, public transportation, by foot.
5 points per day

2. 1W - Do not leave your house after 6pm, unless you will be staying at a friend’s house.
10 points

3. 1W - Wear only 3 outfits. Rotation, rotation, rotation.
[though in reality, most of us only wear only 1 or 2 for the week.]
15 points

4. Spend an entire evening after dark (minimum 5 hours) without electricity.
Flashlights are allowed, but candles are preferred. No pre-charging of electronics allowed.
15 points per day

5. 1W - Live on a maximum of 5.00 USD per day, spending.
If you had food in your fridge and bring a sandwich to work, you’re in the clear.
This only applies to people who are not listed as a dependent on anyone’s taxes.
[Most other PCV’s set the limit to 3.50 USD, but I thought 5.00 USD seemed more reasonable]. 
15 points

6. 1W - Watch only television channels in a language in which you are not fluent.
Alternatively: Only watch TV with the sound on mute.
However, you may watch previously downloaded TV shows/movies on your computer - in any language you prefer.
20 points

7. 1W - Internet:
Option 1: Do not use the internet. [20 points]
Option 2: Use a maximum of 1.5 hours worth of internet for the week. [15 points]
If you choose Option 2, after each webpage loads, you must wait 5 seconds (“1-Mississippi, 2-Mississippi, 3-Mississi…”) before proceeding [& this is included in your total 1.5 hours]. If there are photos on the webpage, you must wait 30 seconds per photo. No YouTube or viewing videos of any kind. 

8. 1W - When using the restroom: first walk outside of your house/workplace, close the door, re-enter the building, and THEN proceed to the bathroom.
At night, you may alternatively use a bucket or pot in your room to relieve yourself [called a “chamber pot”].
30 points

9. 1W - Limit your water usage to 20L for the week. This includes drinking water, cooking water, laundry water, cleaning water, etc. An extra 15L is allowed for each bucket bath taken.
[Tips: baby wipes/”wh*re baths” & water reusage & water planning]
50 points

10. 1W - Only use water from a bucket. You may refill the bucket as many times as you like from the tap [though in reality, even this is not always possible].
40 points per day
No points rewarded for any use of direct running water from the tap.

11. Do not bathe for at least 3 days (washing of face & feet are allowed).
3 days is the minimum.[In reality: I bucket bathe 1x per week —- if I’m lucky].
10 points for 3 days; an additional 5 points for each day added.
If you go one week, 70 points.

12. On bathing days, take only a cold shower.
10 points per cold shower. 10 extra points per shower if running water is not used [aka bucket bathing].
Limit: 3 showers/baths for the week. [If you go over the limit, no points rewarded].

13. Wash an entire load of laundry by hand & let the clothes hang-dry.
Note: The Breathing Washer [search online] may be used [BEST GIFT EVER from mommy & daddy!].
20 points per load washed; additional 5 points per load hang-dried.
Limit: 3 loads for the week. [If you go over the limit, no points rewarded].

14. 1W - Your ONLY food options are the following [this includes snacking]:
Veggies: onions, tomatoes, cabbage/spinach, carrots, chili peppers, potatoes [and any other veggies that grow in your own personal garden]
Fruits: bananas, oranges [no seedless], mangoes, limes, pineapple
Supplements: rice, lentils, beans, chickpeas, pasta, injera, bread products
Dairy Products: Milk [powdered & liquid] and Yogurt (plain) only. [absolutely NO CHEESE].
[In reality: My parents are sending me a jar of powdered parmesan, PTL!! Anyone want to send me Velveeta / Krafts Singles?? Hahaha]
Others [allowed]: flour, corn starch, powdered chickpeas [“shiro”], cooking oil, sugar, salt, chili powder/cayenne/paprika, oats, eggs
No canned foods or meat.
50 points

15. 1W - Your only drink options are the following:
Water, Coke (no diet), Fanta, Sprite, fresh-made juice, Tea, & Coffee
20 points

16. 1W - You may not use: oven, microwave, dishwasher.
[Stove-tops are allowed].
20 points

17. 1W - Do not open your refrigerator.
How to survive: store foods / leftovers in a pot or Tupperware on the counter.
Be sure to reheat each time you eat.
[In reality: I don’t always reheat because I don’t always like hot food, but my stomach is used to it. Yours isn’t.]
30 points

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If you get around 400 points, send me a message with your address & a brief reporting of how it went, & I’ll send you something Ethiopian in the mail. Prizes vary based on points & efforts (;

Take the challenge!

Hopefully through this challenge, [or even just by reading it!] you’ll realize [like I did & STILL do during my service here] some of the little things in life that we really take for granted. Us Peace Corps Volunteers are used to these kinds of living situations [which really isn’t bad at all - you get used to it quite quickly], but we KNOW that when we return to the States [or wherever we choose to go post-service]… we’ll be SO THANKFUL for our cockroach/bedbugs/flea/mosquito-free rooms, our bathrooms with running [FOREVER running!] water, HOT water [right out of the faucet!!], grocery stores with ENDLESS options for food [aisles of simply cereal, or yogurt —- & MEAT that’s clean, cut, & ready to go (sans slaughtering)!], CHEESECHEESE&CHEESE, being able to hangout [out of our house!] when it’s dark without worrying about getting eaten by hyenas or attacked by creepies, doing work in a language that we are fluent in, being able to SHOWER several times a week, dressing up, keeping white things white, paved roads, driving, driving without an 80% risk of death, talking at full speed in English with friends, privacy……… & the list goes on.

As for what I’m thankful for here?

I’ll write a book about it later. Haha ;D