Wasn't Dante mistaken? Isn't that first circle of hell reserved for PC Applicants awaiting their invitation? Talk about limbo! After seven months of extremely patient behavior, these last few weeks are clearly different and very difficult for me. It's not fun being within four to six weeks of the invitation deadline. As Tom Petty says, "the waiting is the hardest part."

Everything, and I do mean everything that the PC has described as a deadline or time frame has occurred ahead of schedule. So I truly expected that the invitation would also occur ahead of schedule . . . and it still might, right?

It's all a test, and I know that. If we applicants cannot wait patiently for an invitation and endure the lengthy application process, then we're certainly not appropriate for PC service. Still . . . .

For those of you who are just beginning the process, my experience was that the OMS was wildly helpful and prompt. In fact, on the very few occasions when I called my RN, he immediately pulled my file and gave me tips and updates. The med clearance was painless in its efficiency. So just know that once you get your paperwork prepared correctly, the OMS is wonderfully quick.

For all of you applicants who have yet to begin your OMS exams and bloodwork, please note: you'll need the Hepatitis B CORE antibody test . . . not the HEP B SURFACE antibody.

I've got the world's best internist, and I was completely confident that we did everything correctly (despite the PC alerts that most applicants don't get their medical correct on the first try). Although everything else was perfect, we did indeed miss the Hep B core. There you have it -- tip of the day.

There comes a time when one must make that leap of faith and just put it all out there for the universe. Thus, I begin this blog, albeit not without skepticism that I'll ever receive an actual invitation for Peace Corps Service. Nevertheless, it's therapeutic, right? What will become of my PC journey and this blog? We can only speculate.