- found out I wanted to go on Pacific Partnership 2010
- figured out if I could afford to go (darn mortgage!)
- got together my resume (getting references without starting rumors is impossible)
- sent application
- sent in copies of degree, license etc.
- obtained criminal record check (took 6 weeks)
- renewed passport by mail
- got told could not renew passport by mail (4 weeks later)
- drove to Calgary and renewed passport in person (driving:3 hours, in line: 30 minutes, passport renewed: 2 minutes)
- completed phone interview
- completed Skype interview
- tried to obtain "a letter from your privileging authority outlining scope of practice" which is a delightfully vague requirement and it turns out that there is no such thing in all the province of Alberta which is fine because at the end of the day I didn't need it (2 months)
- received 3 immunization boosters resulting in sore arm (lasted 2 days)
- picked a malaria drug which turned out to be easy: my choices were the one that's side effect is night terrors and insomnia, the one that causes sunburns and rather unpleasant gastric effects or the one that costs $5 a dose: I'm going for almost 5 months you do the math
- tested negative for TB and HIV (no great surprises there)
- realized that I have to somehow pack 4 months of shampoo, toothpaste, contact solution etc into one collapsable duffle with wheels- it's a good thing I'm a good packer
- attempted to find a collapsable duffle with wheels (turns out a baseball bag is just the thing!)
- had all my roommates decide to move out (may have had minor breakdown at this point)
- following negotiations involving a dryer repair man, had roommates decide to stay (happy dance!!)
- drove to Utah to attend orientation (round trip of 22 hours driving)
- Met many fabulous people at orientation and parked in what is without a doubt the cleanest parking garage on the planet (below the conference center)
- purchased many useful things while in Utah including collapsable duffle with wheels and 5 months worth of vitamins in daily packs
- obtained travel visas for 3 of the countries I will be visiting, bless Uncle Rick and the referral to Visa Universe (4 weeks)
- filled out more forms than I even remember signing (something about people being able to take my photo, and there was something about an emergency contact in there too)
Meanwhile on the home front there was also much stress which I will not elaborate on here but suffice it to say I regained about 10 of the 30lbs I had lost last year (did I mention that I stress eat?) Good thing that I'm heading to a boat where I get to take 10 flights of stairs everyday!
All in all total cost of prepping for my trip: No idea- lost track
Being able to say I've committed 4 months of my life to helping others:
PRICELESS!!!!
T-14 days and counting!
