29 July 2006

On leaving

How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
-Carol Sobieski & Thomas Meehan, Annie

This summer I read a really great book of poems by Ted Kooser. I liked this one:

Good-bye

You lean with one arm out
against the porch post,
your big hand cupping its curve,
shy of that handshake
we both know is coming.
And when we've said enough,
when the last small promises
begin to repeat, your eyes
come to mine, and then
you offer your hand,
dusted with chalk from the post,
and sticky with parting.

13 July 2006

Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How?

Don't search for the answers, which could not be given to you now, because you would not be able to live them. And the point is, to live everything. Live the questions now. Perhaps then, someday far in the future, you will gradually, without even noticing it, live your way into the answer.
-Ranier Maria Rilke, Letters to a Young Poet


General FAQs (about the Peace Corps)


How does the Peace Corps work, exactly? Do they train you first?

The Peace Corps is a 27-month experience, affectionately refered to as "the toughest job you'll ever love." It starts with a couple of orientation days in the States called "Staging," where you meet other volunteers, fill out paperwork, learn the rules, get your shots, etc. Next, you fly to your country of service. There, you have a "retreat," for a few days, where you get over your jetlag, learn a lot more rules, and ease into a completely different lifestyle. You also meet your in-country Peace Corps staff, ambassadors, and people who work for the goverment.
Next, there is a 10-week training period. At this time you are a PCT- a Peace Corps Trainee. As a PCT, you live with a host family and take language classes, cultural classes, and tech classes with the other volunteers, learning everything you need to know to live and work in your country. After the three months of training are up, you are sworn in as a volunteer. Then, you're a PCV- Peace Corps Volunteer- and you go to your actual assignment, where you live and work for two years.

Here's the official Peace Corps website.



Is there a contract? Are you stuck there for two years even if you hate it?

No. If you don't like it, you can leave. Obviously, they try not to accept volunteers who will give up easily, but if it's not for you, that's not a problem. If you immediately don't like it, you can leave during training. If get your assignment and then start not liking it, you can talk to the Peace Corps staff about the best course of action to take. You can always go home.



What's your actual assignment?

I don't know yet. During the training period, the staff members get to know your personality, strengths/weaknesses, language capabilities, and goals as a volunteer. During training (about two months into it, I think), they assign you to a site based on available positions, your living situation preferences, and what they think you would be especially great at! I'm a health volunteer, which can mean a lot of different things. I'll let you know about my position when I find out what it is, in late November/December!



How many other volunteers will you be working with? Or, will you be all by yourself?

Every position is unique. I generally won't be working with other volunteers. The Peace Corps doesn't put volunteers too close together, because they want them to form relationships within the community, really learn the language, etc. So, yes, I'll probably be "all by myself," if, by that, you mean that there will be no other Americans with me.



Do you know anyone else who's going to Uganda with you?

Nope! I do have some other friends in the Peace Corps though- Rachel is serving in Costa Rica, Quinn is serving in El Salvador! I will meet the other Uganda volunteers for the first time at Staging, on September 26th.



Are you paying your own way?

No. The Peace Corps pays for your transportation to and from your country of service. The community in which you work provides your housing. The Peace Corps gives you a settling-in allowance to buy furniture, pots, blankets, etc, and well as a monthly living allowance for all of your expenses- food, water, clothing, transportation, entertainment, stamps, whatever you need. The allowance is supposed to be based on local living costs... I imagine it's probably a lot more than what a local person actually makes.



Are they paying you for this? Or, are they paying your student loans?

The Peace Corps is a volunteer organization. At the end of your service, the Peace Corps gives you a "readjustment allowance" of $225 for every month that you served. This is meant to help you get back on your feet in the States- get an apartment, put a down-payment on a car, start paying your student loans again, visit the friends and family you haven't seen in two years. So, yes, it is money, but it's not intended as compensation for your work, per se.


15% of Perkins loans are forgiven for each year of Peace Corps service. I do have a Perkins loan, but I have other loans as well, that won't be forgiven. During your service, you defer your loans through the "economic hardship" deferment option.



Did you get all of your shots? Are you taking malaria medicine?

I got several shots when I first went to Thailand, but the Peace Corps will be giving me many more. I'll get some at staging and all throughout training. I'll also be taking mefloquine (Lariam) as a malaria prophylactic. Apparently it gives you very vivid dreams, and since my dreams have always been well on the insane/vivid side, I'm curious to see how this will turn out.


What happens if you get sick?

At the start of your service, the Peace Corps gives you a big ol' medical kit, full of all your medical supply needs, pepto bismal to neosporin to oral rehydration salts. What happens if you get sick depends on how bad it is. If you just have a cold, you take care of it yourself, lamenting the fact that your mom/nice roommate/significant other is not there to bring you chicken noodle soup. You dig through your medical kit, find some sudafed, and stay in bed.
If you have something that is more serious and requires a doctor's visit, there is full time medical staff in your country. You might have to go see them, or they can also come see you- it depends on your location and the severity of your illness. This would be for things like the inevitable parasite infection.
If your problem is really really really bad, i.e. something that would best be taken care of in a state-of-the-art hospital, they do a "medical evacuation." Meaning, they fly you to the States, or somewhere comparable, and you get the complicated surgery for your broken arm. Or whatever the case may be.



Do you ever get a vacation?

I'll officially get two paid vacation days a month. The work schedule is based on the agreement reached by you and your community partners, and is therefore much more flexible than the American-style 9-5.



Can you come home at all during your service, to visit?

I can, if I want to accumulate my 2 vacation days per month. If I do choose to do this, all travel costs are up to me.



Can people come visit you?

YES! Please do- you're very much invited! I would absolutely love to have visitors. American Airfare is said to be the best place to find tickets to Uganda. (The airport is in Entebbe.) I've never personally used the site, so I'm not too familiar with exactly how it works, though it seems to be affiliated with a travel agent.



How often are you going to have internet access?

I'm not sure. I won't have much internet access (if any at all) for the first ten weeks, because I'll be in training. The training town doesn't have internet access, and with all of the classes and activities, I won't have time to travel to anywhere that does. Since I don't know my assignment just yet, I don't know how close my site will be to an internet cafe. However, I don't mind spending a few hours walking, biking, riding in the back of a truck, etc., so you can be pretty darn sure that, once I get to my assigned site, I will find a place where I can keep in touch.



What's your mailing address?

N.B.: This is for October-December 8, 2006. After that I will have a new address, which I will be sure to post!


Jessica Wilson, PCT
PO Box 29348
Kampala, Uganda

The mail can be a little slow, but if you take the time to write me a letter, I will definitely take the time to write you back! It's good to write AIRMAIL on the envelope!



When are you coming back?

My service ends December 6, 2008. (I know! 2008! I think that's the year everyone in America gets his own personal robot, right?) A lot of volunteers use part of their readjustment allowance to travel around before heading home... I can see myself doing that.



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Country-specific FAQ (about Uganda!)

Please note- some of these I really won't know until I get there, so my answers are speculation based on what the Peace Corps has told me and what I have read on my own.


Where is Uganda?

Ok, this one I'm pretty sure about! Uganda is in East Africa. It is bordered by (starting at the top, going clockwise): Sudan, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Here's a map.



How's the temperature? What about seasons?

Despite the fact that it sits right on the Equator, temperatures are generally in the 80s, every day, and get down to the 60s at night. The elevation makes it not (quite) so hot. There are two rainy seasons, one around September-October-November, and one around March-April-May. The rest of the time it's the... non-rainy season. :)

Here's the current weather from Weather Underground.



What language do Ugandans speak?

The official language is English, which is spoken by most people who have been through the education system. There are about 30 different tribes, and four main language groups, but several additional languages too. A main central/southern language is called Luganda. I am not sure what language I will be learning- it might be Luganda, or it might be one of the more western languages, such as Ruyankole. Either way, I imagine it will be difficult, since everyone will automatically speak to me in English. I plan to say (in whatever language I learn) that I am a Ugandan albino who can't speak English. This will surely cause everyone to quit speaking English to me. ;)





What do Ugandans eat?

The staple food is matoke, which is mashed bananas. Another popular base is ground maize, called posho or ugali (depending on what part of the country you're from). There is also cassava, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, groundnuts (I think these are peanuts?), chicken, goat, beef, fish, and lots of fruits and veggies.



Is it unsafe?

This is a big question. Yes, it's unsafe, and no, it's not unsafe.
Northern Uganda is unsafe, although a recent landmark peace treaty looks promising. The Lord's Resistance Army, led by Joseph Kony, is a terrible organization based in southern Sudan and northern Uganda. It is comprised mostly of child soldiers; the violence that these children know is unspeakable. There are many groups trying to raise awareness about this situation... a really awesome one is Invisible Children.
The situation in other parts of Uganda is much different. I will not be in the north, and in fact, am technically not allowed to go there. The other parts of the country are peaceful. The most unsafe places are actually the cities, where no one is looking out for you, and you are just like any other tourist. In the (very likely rural) community where I will live, it will be much different. I will be a member of the community, and people will know me and watch out for me. And, because of my novelty, I'm sure I will be watched out for constantly, whether I want to be or not! The most likely crime is theft.
In the event of a true emergency, there are planned Peace Corps evacuation protocols.


Where can I read news about Uganda?

The best site I've found is All Africa. Scroll down a little bit- it gives links to top headlines of most major media sources, updated daily.



What are your living arrangements?

I don't know yet. Many health volunteers live in the same building/compound as the NGO or clinic that they are working with. My community is supposed to provide me with a bedroom and sitting room to myself. That's all I know!



Are you going to have electriciy?

Likely not. Some volunteers do, some don't. I'm not expecting to; maybe I'll be pleasantly surprised, but I'm certainly not getting my hopes up. I've read that only 3% of Ugandans have access to electricity. (Kerosine is my new favorite hydrocarbon.)



Are you going to have running water?

Unlikely.



Can you sum up your toilet situation in two words?

Pit latrine! Think in-ground port-a-potty, without the western-style seat. Ok, maybe not as bad as that sounds. Quite similar to the squat toilets I used in Thailand (minus the plumbing), and quite similar to, well, the toilets in the majority of the world. Here's how to build one, courtesy of MSF (aka Doctors Without Borders). You just think you're normal, sitting down on that porcelain flushing contraption!

(And yes, there is toilet paper.)



What's your transportation going to be like?

I have two really long, really great legs! And, I'll probably have a bike. There are also bike taxis called boda-boda. There is public transportation to bigger towns/cities, but it is guaranteed to be crowded, and might be somewhat unreliable. Or, "flexible," as I prefer to think of it. I hear that riding in a vehicle in Uganda is a great adventure... you can probably look forward to a future post on the topic!



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Blog FAQ


Why do you have a blog? Why don't you just email everyone?

Basically, it's a whole lot easier. I don't have to worry about leaving anyone out. And, since it's up to you to read it, you only read if you really want to. (And, I only want you to read if you really want to!)



What if I want to respond to something you've written? Are you still going to use email at all?

Yes! I will check my email as often as I have internet access. You are always welcome to email me, and I will try to respond to individual emails as best I can. You can also leave a comment at the end of any entry.



Do you know who is reading your blog?

I know who I've told about the blog, but no, I don't know if you're reading it, unless you tell me so!



Do you mind if I put a link to your blog on my website/blog?

Please let me know if you would like to- generally, I don't mind, but I do have to be more careful than usual because of all the Peace Corps rules!



What is "nneetegese"?

It means "I am ready" in Luganda, one of the languages of central/southern Uganda.