I will be performing with the Falls Church Concert Band for the last time this Sunday. You're invited to our concert in Mason District Park at 7:30pm on Sunday, August 22. We're featuring a lot of movie music. Our play list will look something like this:
Amparito Roca
Hollywood Milestones (has good horn parts on Back to the Future, Jurassic Park, and E.T.)
James Bond
Americans We
Walt Disney Overture
Mary Poppins (Feed the Birds has turned into one of my favorites, oddly enough)
Liberty Bell
Wizard of Oz
Somewhere in Time
Three Amigos
Pirates of the Caribbean
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This page will likely be my main point of contact with America for the next two years and my access to the Internet may be limited, possibly to a few hours a month. If you're interested in hearing from me, I recommend adding this page to your RSS feed or clicking the "followers" link to the right if you haven't already done so.
- Daniel
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
PC letter to families and friends of volunteers
I've been asked to share this letter with you. It contains information about how to contact me in Vanuatu among other things.
-----------------------
Greetings from the Pacific Desk in Washington, D.C.! It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member to the 2010 Vanuatu training program. We receive many questions from Volunteers and family members regarding travel plans, sending money, relaying messages and mail, etc. As we are unable to involve ourselves in the personal arrangements of Volunteers, we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest handling them.
1. Written Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to the Peace Corps office in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu) The mail service in Vanuatu is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service; thus, it is important to be patient. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for mail coming from Vanuatu to arrive in the United States via the Vanuatu postal system.
We suggest that in the first few letters sent, the Volunteer family member give an estimate of how long it takes to receive the letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often the volunteer will write. (Keep in mind that written correspondence sometimes wanes as the volunteer’s service progresses.) Also, try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows if one has been missed. Postcards should be sent in envelopes--otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office!
Volunteers often enjoy telling their “war” stories when they write home. This is one of the exciting and adventurous elements of serving as a Volunteer. Anecdotes in letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, transportation challenges, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted or exaggerated on the home front. There are two Peace Corps medical officers at the Peace Corps office in Vanuatu. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer is sent to Port Vila and is cared for by our medical staff. If Volunteers require medical care that is not available in Vanuatu, they are medically evacuated to a nearby country (Fiji, Australia) or the United States. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If for some reason your normal communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member for an abnormal amount of time, you may want to contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that we can inform the Volunteer. You may call the above number during regular business hours, as well as after hours and weekends. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency and the Duty Officer will return your call.
Dear Prospective Volunteer: Please give this letter to your family and
ask them to hold on to it for as long as you are in Vanuatu.
2. Telephone Calls. The telephone service in Vanuatu can be inconsistent at times, as well as pricey. During training, your family member may have scarce access to email, but some of the host training families may have phones in either their homes or at a nearby location. Your family member will communicate what that phone number may be.
During their service, access to email should be available—albeit not necessarily at all times. They will also be able to inform you of their telephone number once they arrive at their permanent sites in the country.
The Pacific Desk maintains regular contact with the Peace Corps office in Vanuatu through phone calls and email. However, these communications are reserved for business only and cannot be used to relay personal messages. All communication between family members and the Volunteer should be done via international mail, email, or personal phone calls, unless there is an emergency and you cannot reach your family member.
3. Sending packages. Family and friends like to send care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend, however, that costly items be sent through the mail. You may use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member until he/she has informed of a different address:
[Trainee’s Name]
Peace Corps/Vanuatu
PMB 9097
Port Vila
Republic of Vanuatu
It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed and opened more frequently.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Vanuatu. We understand how frustrating it is to communicate with your family member overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guideline. Please feel free to contact us at the Pacific Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. Our phone numbers are 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2523 or 2522, or locally, 202-692-2523 or 202-692-2522.
Sincerely,
Shelley Swendiman
Pacific Desk
Country Desk Assistant
Saturday, August 14, 2010
Leaving My Assignment in Virginia
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Well folks, it seems that it’s almost time to leave my assignment here in far off Virginia. I’ll admit that I didn’t know what to expect when I was first stationed here, but I’ve learned so much from the local people that I will forever be a changed person. While there was a lot to adjust to at first; a strange and bewildering people with bizarre customs, a new climate, new foods and experiences, and especially the language; it’s the little stories that will stay with me.
For example, when I woke up this morning in my small, wooden group-home, it was much darker than usual. But, I’m skipping ahead. I went to the area we use as a kitchen, fought off the ants (one thing I won’t miss is the pervasive wild fauna), and cobbled together a breakfast of leftovers. The people here are very good about using every part of their food. It’s something we should learn from them. Anyway, today’s breakfast included some “potato rolls” leftover from a recent community celebration in honor of John attaining one more year of age. The people at the event kept insisting that these hunks of bread were “potato” rolls, though I don’t know why.
As I was getting ready to go out for the day on my bicycle, one of the housemates tried to warn me about the clouds and the darkness outside. “Big rain come. Come rain soon.”
I’ll say this for the locals here in Virginia; they are just so in tune with their natural surroundings. They always seem to complain that the next bus or train will be a few minutes late, and you know what? They’re usually right! I’ve even seen car drivers sitting at red lights and they start moving forward just a second or so before the light changes even if there are people in the way. It’s like they just know.
The storm passed a few minutes later and I was off on my bike down what the locals call “Four Mile Run Trail”. For you readers, I should explain that sometimes the locals use “run” for what we would call a “stream”. This gets even more confusing when you see all of the people from the community out running on the trail, but I’ve been told that is incidental. Also, the phrase “Four Mile” has nothing to do with actual distance. It looks like the Virginians just use the number four to denote “many”.
The trail was beautiful as always, though hot and humid, in keeping with this tropical climate. The green trees reaching skyward and rampant bamboo really give you a sense of peace that you can’t always find in the more cultivated places we’re all used to. Today, though, the stream or “run” was anything but calm, having filled with rain water. A few of the small concrete bridges on the parallel trail across the stream were overrun with rushing water. Fortunately, the Virginians thought to build a separate, higher trail on my side of the stream. Something we could learn from these people is that efficiency has its price and though it may seem backwards to us, a little duplication can really come in handy when living in a hostile environment like this. You may remember my post about how some single individuals spend their money maintaining TWO cars. While anthropologists may tell you that this unnecessary and ostentatious display is probably intended to attract mates, I think it’s just a part of the native wisdom that’s been passed down through the community here.
I changed into a more appropriate costume for work, which is something I think I’ve mentioned before. The people here have an elaborate system of dress with lots of subtle and unspoken rules depending on station and environment. Currently, I’m expected to wear clothes classified as “business casual” though they are really ineffective for either type of activity. I think I’ve mentioned the “jeans” before. I’ve gathered that it’s taboo to wear these in a work environment, but they are almost required in more social occasions. I’ve even seen locals wear business clothes until the early evening when they then trade in their black or blue slacks for black or blue “jeans”. The shirts and shoes often remain the same. I can only guess that the whole ritual has something to do with the setting of the sun and the perceived dangers of oncoming darkness.
Winter clothing often includes black or navy blue jackets, which is rather striking when you see so many people crammed together all wearing the same thing. I think it must be a form of Northern Virginian camouflage passed down through the generations. Kind of like how zebras huddle together to confuse predators, a flock of Virginians can seem like one ominous organism when you see a few dozen of them with matching pea coats all reading the “Express” with their heads down.
For those of you who haven’t tried to carry on a conversation in Northern Virginia, especially in a work setting, I’ll warn you, it is fraught with peril. First, remember to just keeping talking as fast as you can and interject your opinions at every gap in the conversation. Don’t worry about being asked for your opinions on politics or sports. I think the locals are just too shy to ask. They just seem to throw them out at each other to avoid any embarrassment by the other person. It’s okay to bring in outside wisdom and you can even cite your sources, but be careful not to cite any news over two weeks old. It seems that political discussion here avoids any information over 14 days old as that is associated with death or possibly ancient spirits best left unperturbed.
After another day’s work, I pedaled home again and this time the rain caught me, but this misfortune turned out to be a chance at one of those cross-cultural experiences they tell you about. When the rain started, I parked under a community picnic shelter along with two others. That’s one thing I’ll miss about this place; the pace of life. The locals and I just took shelter, waited, and chatted. I’ve said it before, but the people here are just so laid back and friendly! I hope the tourists never get here and ruin it. Anyway, I spent the storm talking to this local woman who kept on looking at some of the drains nearby. She told me she was a “drainage engineer” which I guess is the person who keeps the communities received knowledge on irrigation. She bid me well (so friendly) and we were off.
When I finally got to my little group-house, I wasn’t surprised to see that a few guests were present in addition to my host-couple where there. It’s common in Northern Virginia for young adults to gather after work like this. Some people claim that this behavior is precisely what’s holding back the area’s economic development, but it seems to be an important and accepted social behavior in this community. I like to think the community has really come to accept me and today just confirmed that feeling. As I entered the house, there was the usual chorus of friendly exclamations followed by a few comments of heartfelt concern. “Hallo”, they said, and “Aye Dan”. “Dan” is what some of the locals call me. I think the diphthong at the end of the name “Daniel” is just too difficult for these people. Then, the one they call “Shea” started asking about the rain. “Big storm come, yes? You no wet-wet?”
I was able to assure him that I was okay and everyone was happy again; such a lovely, carefree people. I understand that some of them are going to throw an “ouse pah-tay” before I go, which is a ritual I’ve come to appreciate. If you ever get to attend one, don’t be pressured into drinking more than a sample of the offered “skippy”. I take it that it’s very important to the local culture, but like many things about Virginia, it’s crude, loveable, but abrasive nature will just make you miss civilization.
- Daniel
Well folks, it seems that it’s almost time to leave my assignment here in far off Virginia. I’ll admit that I didn’t know what to expect when I was first stationed here, but I’ve learned so much from the local people that I will forever be a changed person. While there was a lot to adjust to at first; a strange and bewildering people with bizarre customs, a new climate, new foods and experiences, and especially the language; it’s the little stories that will stay with me.
For example, when I woke up this morning in my small, wooden group-home, it was much darker than usual. But, I’m skipping ahead. I went to the area we use as a kitchen, fought off the ants (one thing I won’t miss is the pervasive wild fauna), and cobbled together a breakfast of leftovers. The people here are very good about using every part of their food. It’s something we should learn from them. Anyway, today’s breakfast included some “potato rolls” leftover from a recent community celebration in honor of John attaining one more year of age. The people at the event kept insisting that these hunks of bread were “potato” rolls, though I don’t know why.
As I was getting ready to go out for the day on my bicycle, one of the housemates tried to warn me about the clouds and the darkness outside. “Big rain come. Come rain soon.”
I’ll say this for the locals here in Virginia; they are just so in tune with their natural surroundings. They always seem to complain that the next bus or train will be a few minutes late, and you know what? They’re usually right! I’ve even seen car drivers sitting at red lights and they start moving forward just a second or so before the light changes even if there are people in the way. It’s like they just know.
The storm passed a few minutes later and I was off on my bike down what the locals call “Four Mile Run Trail”. For you readers, I should explain that sometimes the locals use “run” for what we would call a “stream”. This gets even more confusing when you see all of the people from the community out running on the trail, but I’ve been told that is incidental. Also, the phrase “Four Mile” has nothing to do with actual distance. It looks like the Virginians just use the number four to denote “many”.
The trail was beautiful as always, though hot and humid, in keeping with this tropical climate. The green trees reaching skyward and rampant bamboo really give you a sense of peace that you can’t always find in the more cultivated places we’re all used to. Today, though, the stream or “run” was anything but calm, having filled with rain water. A few of the small concrete bridges on the parallel trail across the stream were overrun with rushing water. Fortunately, the Virginians thought to build a separate, higher trail on my side of the stream. Something we could learn from these people is that efficiency has its price and though it may seem backwards to us, a little duplication can really come in handy when living in a hostile environment like this. You may remember my post about how some single individuals spend their money maintaining TWO cars. While anthropologists may tell you that this unnecessary and ostentatious display is probably intended to attract mates, I think it’s just a part of the native wisdom that’s been passed down through the community here.
I changed into a more appropriate costume for work, which is something I think I’ve mentioned before. The people here have an elaborate system of dress with lots of subtle and unspoken rules depending on station and environment. Currently, I’m expected to wear clothes classified as “business casual” though they are really ineffective for either type of activity. I think I’ve mentioned the “jeans” before. I’ve gathered that it’s taboo to wear these in a work environment, but they are almost required in more social occasions. I’ve even seen locals wear business clothes until the early evening when they then trade in their black or blue slacks for black or blue “jeans”. The shirts and shoes often remain the same. I can only guess that the whole ritual has something to do with the setting of the sun and the perceived dangers of oncoming darkness.
Winter clothing often includes black or navy blue jackets, which is rather striking when you see so many people crammed together all wearing the same thing. I think it must be a form of Northern Virginian camouflage passed down through the generations. Kind of like how zebras huddle together to confuse predators, a flock of Virginians can seem like one ominous organism when you see a few dozen of them with matching pea coats all reading the “Express” with their heads down.
For those of you who haven’t tried to carry on a conversation in Northern Virginia, especially in a work setting, I’ll warn you, it is fraught with peril. First, remember to just keeping talking as fast as you can and interject your opinions at every gap in the conversation. Don’t worry about being asked for your opinions on politics or sports. I think the locals are just too shy to ask. They just seem to throw them out at each other to avoid any embarrassment by the other person. It’s okay to bring in outside wisdom and you can even cite your sources, but be careful not to cite any news over two weeks old. It seems that political discussion here avoids any information over 14 days old as that is associated with death or possibly ancient spirits best left unperturbed.
After another day’s work, I pedaled home again and this time the rain caught me, but this misfortune turned out to be a chance at one of those cross-cultural experiences they tell you about. When the rain started, I parked under a community picnic shelter along with two others. That’s one thing I’ll miss about this place; the pace of life. The locals and I just took shelter, waited, and chatted. I’ve said it before, but the people here are just so laid back and friendly! I hope the tourists never get here and ruin it. Anyway, I spent the storm talking to this local woman who kept on looking at some of the drains nearby. She told me she was a “drainage engineer” which I guess is the person who keeps the communities received knowledge on irrigation. She bid me well (so friendly) and we were off.
When I finally got to my little group-house, I wasn’t surprised to see that a few guests were present in addition to my host-couple where there. It’s common in Northern Virginia for young adults to gather after work like this. Some people claim that this behavior is precisely what’s holding back the area’s economic development, but it seems to be an important and accepted social behavior in this community. I like to think the community has really come to accept me and today just confirmed that feeling. As I entered the house, there was the usual chorus of friendly exclamations followed by a few comments of heartfelt concern. “Hallo”, they said, and “Aye Dan”. “Dan” is what some of the locals call me. I think the diphthong at the end of the name “Daniel” is just too difficult for these people. Then, the one they call “Shea” started asking about the rain. “Big storm come, yes? You no wet-wet?”
I was able to assure him that I was okay and everyone was happy again; such a lovely, carefree people. I understand that some of them are going to throw an “ouse pah-tay” before I go, which is a ritual I’ve come to appreciate. If you ever get to attend one, don’t be pressured into drinking more than a sample of the offered “skippy”. I take it that it’s very important to the local culture, but like many things about Virginia, it’s crude, loveable, but abrasive nature will just make you miss civilization.
- Daniel
Monday, August 9, 2010
Book Sale
I was told today that all Peace Corps volunteers must get an H1N1 flu shot. I didn't know that virus was still around.
There are a few boxes of books to get rid of. Although I'll be posting these on Amazon.com, most of them will be free to you if you want them. I'll update this list as books sell on Amazon.com or I give them away. There are probably a dozen more lying around that I will add to the list later. Let me know if your want any of them.
My copy of "A History of the World in 7 Glasses" is floating around somewhere, which is as it should be. If I haven't forced that one on you yet, just wait.
- Daniel
There are a few boxes of books to get rid of. Although I'll be posting these on Amazon.com, most of them will be free to you if you want them. I'll update this list as books sell on Amazon.com or I give them away. There are probably a dozen more lying around that I will add to the list later. Let me know if your want any of them.
Fiction, Novels, and the Interesting Stuff:
I Am America (And So Can You!) - I'm almost done reading it.
The Canterbury Tales: Complete
The Canterbury Tales (Cliff's Notes)
SOLD - Policy Paradox: The Art of Political Decision Making, Revised Edition
SOLD - Sarah Orne Jewett: Novels & Stories : Deephaven a Country Doctor; The Country of the Pointed Firs; Stories & Sketches (Library of America College Editions)
SOLD - The Art of War: New Translation
SOLD - The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction
Sartor Resartus (Oxford World's Classics)
Waiting: A Novel
SOLD - Watchmen
SOLD - Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
SOLD - Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community
Bone: A Novel
The School for Scandal and Other Plays (Oxford World's Classics)
The Origins of Totalitarianism
On the Genealogy of Morals and Ecce Homo
Text Books
American Foreign Policy: a Documentary Survey 1776-1960
Thomas' Calculus: Media Upgrade
CMMI(R): Guidelines for Process Integration and Product Improvement (2nd Edition)
Statistics (9th Edition)
Statistics for Business and Economics (8th Edition)
American Government : Institutions and Policies
Thomas' Calculus Early Transcendentals Part One (Single Variable, Chs. 1-11) Paperback Version (11th Edition)
My copy of "A History of the World in 7 Glasses" is floating around somewhere, which is as it should be. If I haven't forced that one on you yet, just wait.
- Daniel
Sunday, August 8, 2010
FAQ Part 2
· Will you come back to America during your volunteer service?
No, probably not. I will likely only return to America during my period of service if there is a medical emergency that requires that I be sent back to receive treatment or if there is a serious family emergency.
Would you like to come to Australia for Christmas in 2011?
· What if there is a medical emergency? What if you get sick?
Unfortunately, I will get sick just like I would if I stayed in America for two years. Two years in a tropical environment with different foods, different people, and different levels of sanitation, however, means that I get to look forward to the occasional parasite, flu, cough, or skin rash. It’s just gonna’ happen, especially early on and I’ll get over it. Peace Corps will be providing shots, anti-malaria pills, a first aid kit, and anything else I could need. They will also provide medical advice during training.
If I do come down with something more serious than a small cough, there is an in-country Peace Corps health office just for Peace Corps volunteer. I’ve been told by returned volunteers that the Peace Corps health service is exceptional and will take very good care of us. In cases of severe medical problems, volunteers can be flown to Australia or even back to America to receive medical treatment of a higher caliber.
Peace Corps also has a copy of my glasses prescription in case I need a replacement pair and can provide prescription medication if needed. They take care of everything.
Now, just to set your mind at ease, I’ve recently gone through a physical examination, received up-to-date vaccinations, and have had blood work done. I’m about as fit now as I’ve ever been and we'll receive a complete run down of what not to do in country. Since it's been asked, no, Vanuatu doesn’t have any, dengerous animals. The only major threat to my health will probably be falling coconuts.
· Did you get to choose where you’re going?
Not really. I received an invitation and I could accept or reject it. At one point during the application process I elected two regions that I would prefer, but I didn't get much say on my invitation. Rejecting the invitation would probably have kept me stateside for a few more months at least.
· What about your home? What about your stuff?
The house mates and I have offered my room to someone already, but nothing has been finalized yet. If this new person accepts the room and signs the lease, he may also take some of my furniture. Some things like the musical instruments will go into storage, possibly in my parents' basement if they're okay with that. Dad might like to have his cornet back anyway.
I have a few dozen books that I will either try to sell or give away. I may post the list here to see if anyone wants them.
· What will you take with you?
At most, 80 pounds of essentials including a few sets of clothes and maybe a laptop computer and cell-phone. I'll need to be able to carry all of my worldly possessions at once, which is something I haven't been able to do since my first year of college.
· What do your parents think?
I’m not surprised that people have asked me this, just surprised by how many have asked. Mom and Dad have known that I’ve been preparing for this for a long time and they seem happy for me and fully supportive. They didn’t even seem that surprised when I told them. They probably don’t like that I will be unable to communicate with them as often, but they tell me that this will be a great opportunity and they know that I’ve wanted to travel for a long time.
· Are you going to grow a beard?
No. Why do people keep asking?
If you have any more questions, please post them in the comments section below.
- Daniel
Saturday, August 7, 2010
FAQ Part 1
No comments and one follower? Well, I'll write for an audience of one.
Enough with superstition and incantations, the people demand facts! As I spread the news that I’m leaving for a Peace Corps mission to Vanuatu, a few common questions keep popping up. So, taking a cue from Whitney and Andrew’s journal, here is my best attempt at answering them. Please forgive me if most of my answers are of the “it depends” variety.
· Where are you going?
Ripped from the Wikipedia page on Vanuatu:
Vanuatu (vah-noo-AH-too or / van-WAH-too), officially the Republic of Vanuatu, is an island nation located in the South Pacific Ocean. The archipelago, which is of volcanic origin, is some 1,750 kilometres (1,090 mi) east of northern Australia, 500 kilometres (310 mi) northeast of New Caledonia, west of Fiji, and southeast of the Solomon Islands, near New Guinea.
Vanuatu was first inhabited by Melanesian people. Europeans began to settle in the area in the late 18th century. In the 1880s France and the United Kingdom claimed parts of the country, and in 1906 they agreed on a framework for jointly managing the archipelago as the New Hebrides through a British-French Condominium. An independence movement arose in the 1970s, and the Republic of Vanuatu was created in 1980.
· What!? I’ve never heard of it.
Well, remember the musical South Pacific? That’s the place. Also, I’ve been told a season of “Survivor” was filmed on one of the islands. Think of a tropical paradise, but really poor with few roads and limited infrastructure.
· When are you going?
I leave for orientation on September 10, 2010. Training begins in Vanuatu on September 12.
· How long will you be gone?
Probably for 27 months. There will be three months of training north of the Port Villa, the capital, followed by 24 months at a site where I will be doing my actual work. There are opportunities to extend this.
Also, I can quit at any time if things are just really bad. I don’t expect THAT to happen though.
· What will you do there? What is your job?
*Ahem*. It depends. I have been invited to volunteer as a Small Enterprise Development Advisor as part of Peace Corps Vanuatu’s Provincial Economic and Community Empowerment project. The project has several parts and the Corps won’t determine which part I will be assigned to until near the end of training. To quote from my assignment packet:
Provincial Economic and Community Empowerment Project (PEACE) Volunteers work to increase the institutional capacity of organizations to meet their objectives and achieve self-sufficiency through partnership building and income generation. Volunteers partner with area secretaries, rural training centers and other local institutions. They provide hands-on training to interested community individuals and groups in business feasibility and start-up, bookkeeping, organizational management, new product development and marketing.
My limited understanding of it is that I will be “advising” the Ni-Vanuatu on business 101 concepts. I plan on brushing up on “Business for Dummies” in the meantime. If you have any books I could borrow on business basics, please let me know.
· Where will you live?
Again, this will be determined some time during my three months of in-country training. There’s a chance I could live in a provincial capital, but I’m mentally preparing for the notion of living in a thatched hut like the locals in a rural, underdeveloped, and remote coastal village. Although some volunteers want to challenge themselves and some even think their service is less authentic if they aren’t “roughing it”, I don’t have a strong opinion on the matter. Communities in Vanuatu have asked for volunteers. I’ll go to where they are and where Peace Corps thinks I can do the most good. I can always go camping later.
· Will you have electricity, plumbing, internet access, cell phone access, etc.
That depends largely on site placement. For now, I’m just assuming a very rural, unconnected existence with a corps provided kerosene lantern and stove, no internet or phone connectivity, and no plumbing. I may be surprised.
The Peace Corps does guarantee that there will be some way to communicate from my site in case of emergency.
No, Sonny, I will not have a television
· Will you be paid?
Sort of. After the three months of training are over, the Corps will add a small amount of money each month to an account that I can access when my service is over. That’s really just for readjustment upon my return so that I’m not instantly homeless. I will also be paid in local currency (the Vatu) every month during service. That money is supposed to be enough to live modestly like the locals at my site and should cover food, clothing, and other basics. I will also be given a sum for settling in when I first arrive on site so that I can by a cooking pot, stove, and things to get myself situated.
Peace Corps Vanuatu provides bedding, a lantern, a first aid kit, mosquito netting, quinine pills, multi-vitamin pills, and a few other essentials.
I'll answer more questions in the next post. If there is anything you would like to know, just ask.
- Daniel
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Superstition
I need to keep writing about Vanuatu and even muttering the word to myself (go ahead, try it) for fear that otherwise it will all slip away. Normally, I’m not superstitious, cynical even, and I know that on paper at least, this is going to happen. I haven’t been to a bank branch in over a year and stopped receiving paper statements long ago, but at least I know and believe that all my money is still in place. This trip seems less stable for reasons I can’t logically justify. Plans have been verified and papers approved, but I fear that the notion of this adventure takes on greater substance with each new person I tell. There is a ghost before me and only by keeping a fixed gaze and chanting the sacred text “Vanuatu” can I prevent it from blinking out of existence. Or maybe it’s more of a fear that it’s all a dream I may wake from. Anyway, it’s some kind of clever metaphor. Take your pick.
On Monday afternoon, I told the boss I would be leaving. I submitted my letter of resignation, excitedly spilled my plans, and that was that. He came by yesterday to discuss “the transition”, though, and I was gladly thinking, “oh yeah, this is actually happening.” I’ve waited until today to spread the word to the rest of my coworkers and I will be announcing my departure to the Falls Church Concert Band tonight. After that, the whole notion of me leaving the United States for over two years should be a little more solidified.
But, just in case, Vanuatu… Vanuatu… Vanuatu.
- Daniel
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Peace Corps Vanuatu Welcome Book
The first question most people say when I tell them about my Peace Corps trip is "Vanuatu? Never heard of it. Where is it?" I've listed some links on the right side of the page that give some answers. The Peace Corps Vanuatu Welcome Book has all kinds of interesting information, particularly little details for Peace Corps volunteers that you probably won't find elsewhere.
- There's a good map on Page 2.
- Pages 6 and 7 describe the work that PC volunteers do in Vanuatu. I will be a part of the Provincial Economic and Community Empowerment project.
- People keep asking me whether I'll have Internet access, electricity, etc. I don't know. Probably not. Pages 14-18 describe living conditions. If you're interested to know what my daily existence will be like, take a look. I'll fill you in on more details as I have them.
- The section of crime and safety is a bit of an eye opener. It's intended to prepare the volunteer to avoid any issues, but it also sheds some light on the culture of Vanuatu. The section on "kriping" on page 26 is, well, creepy.
While I plan on sharing a lot about the country, I'm going to try not to just repeat what you can already find elsewhere.
- Daniel
Monday, August 2, 2010
Welcome to Daniel's Log
Welcome to Daniel's Log.
The purpose of this log is to keep in touch with you, my friends and family and anyone else following my adventure. It is also intended to provide updates and information about my Peace Corps experience in Vanuatu and to maintain a conversation with those I'm leaving.
Since regular internet access in Vanuatu will be unlikely, I recommend subscribing to this blog using an RSS feed so that you will be notified of any updates I make.
Thank you for following my work with the Peace Corps. Just writing letters and updates will no doubt help me feel more connected with those I've left behind and I suspect that will be very helpful at times. Please provide comments or questions as I'd love to hear from you, but please understand that my replies may be delayed significantly.
- Daniel
The purpose of this log is to keep in touch with you, my friends and family and anyone else following my adventure. It is also intended to provide updates and information about my Peace Corps experience in Vanuatu and to maintain a conversation with those I'm leaving.
Since regular internet access in Vanuatu will be unlikely, I recommend subscribing to this blog using an RSS feed so that you will be notified of any updates I make.
Thank you for following my work with the Peace Corps. Just writing letters and updates will no doubt help me feel more connected with those I've left behind and I suspect that will be very helpful at times. Please provide comments or questions as I'd love to hear from you, but please understand that my replies may be delayed significantly.
- Daniel
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