Another Brick in the Wall... but this time, a good one

The information contained in this post is a few days old, but being that I only bothered to check my e-mail for the whole week today, it's news to me. Michele and I have become medically qualified according to the Peace Corps. That's it, though. No trumpets, no announcements of where we're going. Just a simple email stating 'Your account has been updated' with a link which lead to a Peace Corps website showing a little check mark next to the title 'Medical Clearance'. The instructions for the next part seemed kind of vague-- mainly, the Peace Corps will go through a process to see if my educational and occupational qualifications can be placed anywhere in Africa along with Michele's educational, etc qualifications. They don't really specify a timeframe for this next stage, but at least the ball is in their side of the court now so I can relax. (Michele would argue here that I am far too relaxed about this whole process as is-- something must be wrong with me because I don't freak out if they haven't contacted us in a few days-- that sort of thing.)

But yeah, as for now, I'm free to relax. No more medical or dental checkups. I'll have to buy another pair of glasses, but that can wait til just before we leave. Another brick has been placed. It doesn't quite look like a wall yet, but maybe someday it will. My faith has been renewed. Thank you, Easter. You've saved the day again.

Delays...again.

Michele talked with some people at the Peace Corps offices today (as she's really big into keeping tabs on them), she found out the only reason I'm not medically cleared yet is because the Peace Corps still doesn't have a copy of one of my medical reports. My urinalysis to be exact. They called me last week and gave me their fax so I could get my doctor to send it to them. The info Michele found out was that they never received the fax from my doctor because the Peace Corps Lady gave me the wrong fax number. Oy! Urinalysis. It's such a funny word when you think about it.

Here is the real conversation I had with our Peace Corps lady the week before:

Me: ... I got the voicemail you left me. You mentioned something about my medical reports.

Peace Corps Lady: Yes, actually, we're missing your analysis.

Me: Ok, which analysis?

PCL: Your analysis.

Me: Right, but which analysis are you missing?

PCL: No, we need you so send us your analysis.

Me: Right, but which one are you missing so I can send it?

This "Who's on First" routine continued for another few minutes until she spelled it out for me. I feel now might be a good time to explain the title of the blog. A 'charlatan' is a fool or idiot who thinks of themselves as enlightened or smart but is always oblivious to it. I don't think it has anything to do with me (Michele did pick the title).

But yeah, if my doctor was able to fax it to the right place, and the Peace Corps people received it ok... it means I'll be medically cleared in a short while and Michele and I will find out exactly where in Africa we're going. Then all the fun begins with the research into where said country is, what kinds of people there are, whether to bring bug spray or lion spray... actually, I think no matter where I go, bug spray will be close to the top of my list. And nuts for my pet monkey.

Introduction

So I think I got a little ahead of myself with the first post. If anyone is going to understand what this blog is, I should probably tell you about the 'behind the scenes' type stuff. It will all just make a little more sense that way.

Michele and I have decided to take a stab at joining the Peace Corps. Well, more than a stab, actually. We are joining (assuming I get past the medical clearance).

They are sending us to Africa because for some reason, they feel that my six years experience with the French language makes me 'proficient'. I can assure you now, I am not. Far from it. My living in Paris for 9 months seems to have not helped all that much either. Michele is constantly getting frustrated with me when I cannot help her enough on her French I assignments. The other part of the frustration comes from the fact that she's forced to take French on top of an already full course load for her final semester at UGA.

So yeah, anyways- we don't know where in Africa yet. I'm not medically cleared (due to the speedbump known as government). I've turned everything in, my doctor never said anything was wrong, so it's really just trying to get through the bureaucracy now. I've spent a small fortune in dental expenses so far because the Peace Corps is extremely anal. Damn $680 mouth guard. People are supposed to join the Peace Corps when they are poor and have nothing else to lose, but apparently not. Oh well. I'm sure I'll rant on more of that later. Once I get to Africa, life will be beautiful again. No more 9-5 (or in my case 6:20am - 7:20 pm). No more Atlanta traffic. No more Athens to Atlanta everyday ($$$ gas).

So to introduce anyone out there who doesn't know: I'm an architect, I live in Athens with Michele and I work in Atlanta. Michele is finishing up her fifth year of college to get her three majors.
The summary:
Michele and I -Peace Corps - going to Africa in July - going to being loving life. We've set up this blog to document our trip, everything leading up to it, photos, thoughts, reactions, etc. Also, it's a simple way of keeping in touch with friends and family when we're in the heart of the dark continent.

Anticipation for Africa

I figure I'll start the blog out with a little piece of inspiration - a small piece of a puzzle that will hopefully solve the question of "WHY?"

This is from Garrison Keillor's 'Writer's Almanac', something you'll see me pulling many quotes from.

"The truth is, I do indulge myself a little the more in pleasure, knowing that this is the proper age of my life to do it; and, out of my observation that most men that do thrive in the world do forget to take pleasure during the time that they are getting their estate, but reserve that till they have got one, and then it is too late for them to enjoy it." -- Samuel Pepys, one of the greatest diarists in the English language