6 March 2006
Well, tomorrow it’s off to our PST sites! I’m very excited, but also kind of sad. Up until this point both the Environment Education and Health sectors have been going through all of this together. I ended up making friends with some of the folks in the Health sector: almost more than in E.E. I suppose if I actually counted then I might actually know how true that is, or if that’s just what it feels like. Anyway, both of the roommates that I’ve had, the girl I borrow the guitar from and the guy who I sat next to on the plane over are all Health volunteers. So, hardly a week into training an I’m already saying a goodbye of sorts again. That is unexpected, to say the least.
On the other hand, I am so incredibly excited to get into training proper! In less than a week we’ll be in language classes, and in only two we’ll be in home stays!! Knowing which language we’ll be learning is even cooler because it gives us a specific region where we’ll be working. (!!!!) And, no I can’t post exactly where I’ll be online. In fact, doing so could easily get me fired. So, if you want more detailed info on that, write to me. Or call me. Once I get a cell phone. Also awesome is starting the technical training… hooray! Well, I’d best get to sleep.
Bslama (goodbye) for now.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
4 March 2008
4 March 2008
We have arrived in Morocco!! It’s wonderful to finally be here. The countryside that we saw on the way from Casablanca to Rabat was very beautiful. Flocks of large sheep, fields of cactus that look like over-sized prickly pears, donkeys pulling carts. We’re staying in a nice hotel, all 60 of us. It’s a large group to herd around, I’m sure the directors feel like the shepherds of those large sheep. Only moreso—one of the PCTGL’s (that would be Peace Corps Trainee Group Leader’s) said it was like herding cats. J
Interestingly we saw a street demonstration soon after we arrived in Rabat. We asked about it, and were informed that this past week there have been several demonstrations (which are legal with permits in Morocco). This one was about the unemployment of intelligent, educated young people. The group included both men and women, most of who weren’t over 35, but some of who probably were. It’s hard to tell from a distance. Apparently there is a shortage of jobs… or, some say, a shortage of jobs with the government. Anyway, it was an interesting glimpse into Moroccan life, economics and politics, if only a glimpse.
Rabat is a clean city, cleaner than I expected, which says more about my expectations than it does anything else. For example, I was expecting something like Dar es Salaam, but this is not a third world country. It’s a second world country. Thus, the rolling black-outs I nearly expected aren’t in evidence either, which is nice. We got to see the Peace Corps Office; a lovely little complex in the city, with a library, offices for all four sectors, doctor’s quarters, and a swimming pool that has been converted into a garden with a curious concrete lip all the way around it. The PC staff here seems friendly, excited and competent, all of which is really good to know, as all of those qualities are needed here!
So, that’s the news from me! There will be more later…
We have arrived in Morocco!! It’s wonderful to finally be here. The countryside that we saw on the way from Casablanca to Rabat was very beautiful. Flocks of large sheep, fields of cactus that look like over-sized prickly pears, donkeys pulling carts. We’re staying in a nice hotel, all 60 of us. It’s a large group to herd around, I’m sure the directors feel like the shepherds of those large sheep. Only moreso—one of the PCTGL’s (that would be Peace Corps Trainee Group Leader’s) said it was like herding cats. J
Interestingly we saw a street demonstration soon after we arrived in Rabat. We asked about it, and were informed that this past week there have been several demonstrations (which are legal with permits in Morocco). This one was about the unemployment of intelligent, educated young people. The group included both men and women, most of who weren’t over 35, but some of who probably were. It’s hard to tell from a distance. Apparently there is a shortage of jobs… or, some say, a shortage of jobs with the government. Anyway, it was an interesting glimpse into Moroccan life, economics and politics, if only a glimpse.
Rabat is a clean city, cleaner than I expected, which says more about my expectations than it does anything else. For example, I was expecting something like Dar es Salaam, but this is not a third world country. It’s a second world country. Thus, the rolling black-outs I nearly expected aren’t in evidence either, which is nice. We got to see the Peace Corps Office; a lovely little complex in the city, with a library, offices for all four sectors, doctor’s quarters, and a swimming pool that has been converted into a garden with a curious concrete lip all the way around it. The PC staff here seems friendly, excited and competent, all of which is really good to know, as all of those qualities are needed here!
So, that’s the news from me! There will be more later…
Saturday, March 1, 2008
philly!
i'm in the home of the philly cheesesteak, the city of brotherly love. it's cool to chilly, and there's 60 Peace Corps Trainees running around. it's a great group so far. lot's of smart, funny people, who're passionate about doing good in the world! there's three married couples in our group, one of whom are in their retirement years. i am, however, mostly in the company of my own age group for the first time in months. it feels great! i have even met two, count them 1,2 Christians already. I know some of you were praying for that, and i'd have to say, prayers answered! although neither are in my sector, the fact that they are there at all is comforting. just someone to understand where i'm coming from if things get hard, you know? but everyone is super nice and friendly and excited and full of hopes and fears and ideas and plans and all sorts of crazy emotions! it's great, but tiring. which is why i'm going to bed. and, dad, there are many who brought their laptops. which makes me feel somewhat better, even though i'm still decked out in technology, as only your daughter would be! :)
for all of you who are over 50 and think you're too old for peace corps, but wish you had done it, i have news for you! the oldest volunteer to ever serve was eighty. that's right, 80! so, if you really want to, have the time and the consensus with your spouse, check out the online application!!! anyway.
we've been orientating, getting to know each other, and just chillin' for a couple of days. we registered, i got all my paperwork in. Mrs. Erickson, you should expect a call about the school-partnership thing sometime in the relatively near future. :)
things are going well so far!
love and peace to all
for all of you who are over 50 and think you're too old for peace corps, but wish you had done it, i have news for you! the oldest volunteer to ever serve was eighty. that's right, 80! so, if you really want to, have the time and the consensus with your spouse, check out the online application!!! anyway.
we've been orientating, getting to know each other, and just chillin' for a couple of days. we registered, i got all my paperwork in. Mrs. Erickson, you should expect a call about the school-partnership thing sometime in the relatively near future. :)
things are going well so far!
love and peace to all
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