Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain love for one another. - Erma Brombeck

Saturday, March 19, 2011

From the Desert to the Tropics

Well I have a country no and a story about getting it. The recruiting officer called me with a placement in the Caribbeans i would be doing conservation sustainability work perfect. I said yes to it and did not think that the Caribbeans is primarily English speaking countries and I do not want to go to an English country since I can speak it already.

I called them back right after I realized my mistake but they were closed for the night. I knew that they usually didn't change an invite after it was decided. I got a call the next day and asked which country i would be going to. Jamaica, not that I have anything against Jamaica but it was not what I was really looking for. I asked if it was too late to change my place and they said that they don't usually change countries. He asked me what I didn't like about Jamaica I explained my desire for no English. They said that they don't do really do this but they would see what other options there are. I would most likely be leaving a few months later.

I got a call back and they said that i would be leaving for EL SALVADOR on July 19th! I'll be doing environmental education; agriculturalist work. So it's like a full circle. I was nominated for the exact thing I'm doing. Spanish here I come.

Monday, March 14, 2011

It's been a while

It had been a while since I last posted. As you are most likely aware I was evacuated from Niger at the end of Jan 2011. It was an interesting time emotionally for me during this evacuation. I was in my village for only 8 days. Yet some how in those 8 days i have become very attached to the village and it's people. I had made friends that i still cherish and miss alot. I think one of the things that i am most grateful for it the opportunity to see my village. i did not pass the language requirements to go to the village but Tondi allowed me to go anyways with a tutor. Without this treatment i would not have had to opportunity to meet such wonderful people. I am forever grateful to Tondi. thank you!

My village was about 3k from the main road and market town. there was no real store or market in my village. it was broken up into four sections. i did not get the chance to know the other sections as much as i would have liked. there were a few projects that i was thinking of doing in my village: a community garden, an adult literacy class, help with the existing school system, and farmer field school (a scientific approach to farming). One of the hardest parts about leaving the village when i did is knowing that i did not give the village anything when they gave me so much. It is an unfair situation but one that i can not change and should not dwell on for long.

The evacuation came as a surprise even if if shouldn't have. The week before the evacuation there was alot of stand by warnings and curfews. I was called one morning and told that i was being evacuated. i was not told why or when only that i had to pack two bags both about 40-45lbs or less. I was to call no one and could tell no one. the only thing i could tell my village was the i was leaving for security reasons. I was to wait for further instructions. These instructions did not come until late that evening when i got a text message saying that if i was not informed before now i was to stay the night in my village. I got another on at around 8pm that i was to leave on the first bushtaxi out. I was not told when that would be and had to ask the chief or maigari how to get the the road and when to leave. I was to wake at the first prayer hour 5 in the morning and be out by 6.

I got to the regional capital and my regions hostel where i had the first contact with other volunteers and called home to inform my family what was happening. I was in my regional capital for about 4 days when we were shipped off to the capital to do the last admi papers before taking a round about way to the airport and flew to Morocco. There were did our close of service (COS)and helped us figure out what to do next.

In COS we had medical and other activities that we did learned about our options there were a few options i could take: close my service, re-enrollment, direct transfer, and expedited return. close my service is never going to another country which was out of the question. re-enrollment is applying again with a quick application, being pushed to the head of the line, and given more of a say in your service. direct transfer is being send from Morocco to another country. expedited return going home fore a few weeks and then being sent to another county. All of the options for expedited return and direct transfer had language requirements that i did not meet. I chose to do re-enrollment.

I came home after my service and went through some readjustment mostly sad or numb feeling, avoiding places and feel overwhelmed. I am now over such times and have finished my packet for re-enrollment i am waiting back on a response which should be any day now. I will keep you all updated about my options.

i would like to thank everyone for the support that they gave my during this emotional time.