Bet you can't say Alpha Thalassemia Minor 3 times fast

Contrary to popular belief, I have in fact been chugging along at working through all the medical paperwork again. And all the effort has been well worth it, let me tell you.

What I've learned:
- Don't put off the medical process, because pretty much all texts expire after a year, and there are even more forms to fill out about what's happened to you the past year. (Where's the box to check labeled "I had a horrible doctor who put me on crazy iron pills that made me sick, and I just really loved my job and my friends and wasn't quite ready to leave"?)
- Mail and email with Peace Corps are actually easier than phone, especially when they have your dad's work phone number listed as your contact number
- I should only give blood out of my hand. Learned this one the hard way
- Abnormal blood results can scare you to death at first; seriously, if your doctor tells you something looks funny, DON'T GOOGLE IT, because it's probably nothing and you'll just worry yourself silly for a solid week.
- Hematologists are cool, but they like to talk alot.
- I have a genetic blood disorder called Alpha Thalassemia Minor (thanks, dad). Basically my red blood cells are smaller than usual, so I have more of them. But, there are no symptoms and it shouldn't have any affect on me volunteering! Interesting facts: it masks itself to look kinda like (get this)..anemia!; it gives me a slight natural immunity to malaria (hey peace corps, look!); and it's mostly found in Eastern Africa (ahem, anything you'd like to tell me mom and dad?)

So what does this all mean? It means one thing folks: medical clearance!

SIKE!

I got a phone call from my peace corps nurse telling me she cleared me, but she noticed after she'd clicked "Qualify" that one of my old tests from 2008 had expired. Luckily my doc could fit me in next Wednesday, so once those come back, I'm all set. No, seriously, this time I mean it...