May 21, 2011: Application submitted.
May 24, 2011: Receive e-mail congratulating me on submitting my application and overviewing a packet sent to me in the mail.
May 30, 2011: Final recommendation letter submitted.
June 15, 2011: Interview in Boston.
June 22, 2011: Nominated for a Primary Teacher position in Sub-Saharan Africa, leaving June 2012.
June 23, 2011: Accept the nomination.
July 7, 2011: Nomination rescinded as I did not outright qualify for a Primary Teacher position.
July 12, 2011: Nominated for an English teaching position in Sub-Saharan Africa, leaving June 2012.
July 12, 2011: Accept nomination but the two remaining slots had already been filled. Nominated for an English teaching position in Asia instead.
July 13, 2011: Accept nomination for an English Teaching position in Asia, leaving June 2012.
September 16, 2011: Submit Medical Packet
September 27, 2011: Medical packet received.
October 28, 2011: Dental clearance received.
November 15, 2011: Medical clearance received, but with "limited placement" due to my peanut allergy. Asked via e-mail for an updated resume.
November 17, 2011: Submit updated resume.
November 17, 2011: Receive an e-mail saying the placement office would be in touch in 6-8 weeks.
January 6, 2012: Receive call from the placement office to discuss preference between Africa and Eastern Europe. (My limited placement status disqualified me from English teaching posts in Asia.)
January 9, 2012: Receive e-mail stating I'm invited to serve as an English teacher in Africa, leaving June 2012.
January 10, 2012: Status updated to "invitee".
January 12, 2012: Receive invitation packet on my doorstep. Invited to serve as a secondary English teacher in Tanzania, leaving June 2012.
January 14, 2012: Accept the invitation.
January 16, 2012: Submit passport/visa applications.
January 17, 2012: Receive an e-mail asking for my aspiration statement and resume. The e-mail also urges the importance of applying for the passport/visa through SATO travel.
January 24, 2012: Contacted by SATO travel. They explain that my birthdate needed to be entered in a different format on the visa application (DD/MM/YY) and that my original passport signature did not match my new passport signature closely enough.
January 19, 2012: Re-submit passport and visa applications.
January 26, 2012: Submit the aspiration statement and resume.
February 15, 2012: Receive e-mail notifying me that my staging date has been moved from June 11th to June 4th.
May 4, 2012: Receive an e-mail relaying my staging information. I am sent several PDFs including reporting instructions, content of staging, and a baggage advisory. I am asked to complete an online security orientation before June 4th and to contact SATO travel.
May 4, 2012: Call SATO travel. Make arrangements to leave out of Bangor, ME and arrive in Philadelphia, PA on June 4th.
May 14, 2012: Receive an e-mail asking me to complete a home stay questionnaire, submit a photo for my work visa, and provide the e-mail of a friend/family member who will be contacted when I arrive in Dar es Salaam. This is due by May 18th. I am also given more information about packing, electronic guidelines, my Pre-Service Training, bicycles/helmets, and FAQs. I am asked to give my family a letter about keeping in touch.
May 14, 2012: Staging date is set to be June 4th. Departing for Tanzania June 5th from JFK, arriving in Dar es Salaam at 6:50 pm on June 6th. (Layover in Johannesburg.) Swearing in date is set for August 15, 2012. Completion of service date will be August 14, 2014.
May 25, 2012: Receive an e-mail stating if we want to be part of a conference call with in-country staff that we need to RSVP by May 28th.
June 4, 2012: Fly from Bangor, ME at 7:05 a.m. Arrive in Philadelphia at 8:57 a.m. Check in for staging begins at 12:30 p.m. Staging takes place from 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
June 5, 2012: Hotel check-out at 2:00 a.m. Load bus for JFK at 2:30 a.m. Fly out of JFK at 11:15 a.m. 15 Hour & 20 minute flight.
June 6, 2012: Arrive in Johannesburg at 7:45 a.m. Three hour lay-over. Arrive in Dar es Salaam at 6:50 p.m.
June 7-June 12, 2012: Stay in Dar es Salaam.
June 12, 2012: Move in with home-stay families following a brief reception.
July 27, 2012: Final Written Exam is taken. Site Announcements are made!
July 29-August 5, 2012: Shadow Week/Site Visits are made. I traveled to Lushoto, Mlola, and Tanga during this week.
August 8, 2012: Final LPI (Oral Language Exam in KiSwahili)
August 10, 2012: Final Day of Training
August 11, 2012: Last Day living with a host family!
August 12, 2012: Travel to Dar es Salaam.
August 15, 2012: Swearing-In Date
August 16, 2012: Move to sites. Start of three-month period we are not allowed to travel outside of our region.
October 24, 2012: My site is no longer my site (due to security threat).
November 9, 2012: The Office of Medical Services (OMS) decides to medically separate me.
November 13, 2012: I sign the paperwork necessary for medical separation.
