So while in training you’ll undergo sessions on language, culture, politics, what to do at site (secondary projects, community integration), and program specific technical training. If they keep the same training schedule as before, your training day goes from about 8am-4pm and you’ll have language classes most of these days, and a mix of the others.
As for money, you don’t really get any. You get an eight sole/day allowance for transportation and general items. Peace Corps pays your families for rooming, as well as feeding you three times a day. On days where you’re at the training center for lunch, they’ll even pack your lunch for you!
Living situations are pretty good. All of the houses will have electricity and water…but water in the sense that the house has it. You might have running water, but it’s more common to take bucket baths. Between 4-15 other trainees will live in your neighborhood, so you’ll have friends around. Usually on Saturday morning, you’ll have special tech training…but I really don’t know about anything for the Small Business and Youth Development.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Security in the PC
So one question on everyone’s mind, especially the relatives of the volunteer, is security while the volunteer is serving in country. We work in under-developed countries, many with a past history of internal conflict of some sort. But part of the benefits of Peace Corps is the support network it builds for it’s country program. Besides the medical team, each Peace Corps country has a security director that is responsible for all things relating to safety and security in country. The director is usually a national who has experience working in safety/security related affairs (in Peru, the security director is an ex-Army officer).
Before the volunteer moves into site, the security director visits the area and evaluates the site to determine whether it’s safe or not (robberies, thefts, drugs, gangs, etc). He also helps determining where the volunteer will live, and when a host family is chosen, will assess the house and the room for potential vulnerabilities. And before move-in, the volunteers are trained on how to make their living situation safer and how to talk with the families to install security features (solid doors that lock, an outside light, bars for windows).
During training, volunteers are given a series of security lectures about how to assess situations and keep yourself safe. This usually includes the issues of drinking/partying. Also, the director briefs trainees on any major events that might affect security and also about how Peace Corps responds to any threat of safety and security. And during training and while at site, trainees/volunteers can call the security officer at any time of the day for any reason.
Personal security is something that, at heart, the volunteer is responsible for. So keeping your wits about you and just being smart in certain situations is the best prevention. Don’t walk alone at night in dark places, don’t be known for having a lot of really expensive stuff and carrying it around with you wherever you go. Also, make friends and be known in the community. Be known be all your neighbors and be friendly. Keeping a profile in the community will deter a lot of petty crimes as community pressures might make robbers think twice about you as a target.
But as our director says, ‘This isn’t your country. This isn’t your language. So when something happens, it’s not your fault’. And this is true. Crime does happen. Usually just petty robbery of theft, sometimes assault or what have you. And sometimes serious stuff does happen. That’s why volunteers also have constant ability to contact the security director at any hour to report any emergency or occurrence. In our case in Peru, the security director can talk to the police, talk to you, and figure out what to do with the situation. At least it’s a denuncia, or a report documenting the case. If you want to prosecute, Peace Corps will help you with the legal steps and support you (although they won’t represent you). Most of all, the security director is there to support you. Our security director has a large number of resources and contacts. For example, he was able to track down a stolen laptop in a black market. But crime does happen, unfortunately. The best thing to do is know how to prevent it, and what to do in case it happens.
Before the volunteer moves into site, the security director visits the area and evaluates the site to determine whether it’s safe or not (robberies, thefts, drugs, gangs, etc). He also helps determining where the volunteer will live, and when a host family is chosen, will assess the house and the room for potential vulnerabilities. And before move-in, the volunteers are trained on how to make their living situation safer and how to talk with the families to install security features (solid doors that lock, an outside light, bars for windows).
During training, volunteers are given a series of security lectures about how to assess situations and keep yourself safe. This usually includes the issues of drinking/partying. Also, the director briefs trainees on any major events that might affect security and also about how Peace Corps responds to any threat of safety and security. And during training and while at site, trainees/volunteers can call the security officer at any time of the day for any reason.
Personal security is something that, at heart, the volunteer is responsible for. So keeping your wits about you and just being smart in certain situations is the best prevention. Don’t walk alone at night in dark places, don’t be known for having a lot of really expensive stuff and carrying it around with you wherever you go. Also, make friends and be known in the community. Be known be all your neighbors and be friendly. Keeping a profile in the community will deter a lot of petty crimes as community pressures might make robbers think twice about you as a target.
But as our director says, ‘This isn’t your country. This isn’t your language. So when something happens, it’s not your fault’. And this is true. Crime does happen. Usually just petty robbery of theft, sometimes assault or what have you. And sometimes serious stuff does happen. That’s why volunteers also have constant ability to contact the security director at any hour to report any emergency or occurrence. In our case in Peru, the security director can talk to the police, talk to you, and figure out what to do with the situation. At least it’s a denuncia, or a report documenting the case. If you want to prosecute, Peace Corps will help you with the legal steps and support you (although they won’t represent you). Most of all, the security director is there to support you. Our security director has a large number of resources and contacts. For example, he was able to track down a stolen laptop in a black market. But crime does happen, unfortunately. The best thing to do is know how to prevent it, and what to do in case it happens.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Packing
Packing.
So you’ve gotten an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps (congrats!) and you got that huge PDF document giving you the low down on your country and including that giant packing list (the Peru list was over two pages). So how do you pack for two years in a developing country? You don’t.
My advice would be to think about packing for the first three months of training, and even then less than that. Some people are chronic over packers, and if that’s your style and if that’s how you’re going to prepare for Peace Corps than so be it. But maybe take some advice about what to pack to lighten the load, which is especially important when you have to travel with all your stuff.
Clothing: Depending on your country, you might have very specific clothing requirements. Might be hot in all parts of the country, or there might be a specific social dress code, or for your program there might be a certain dress requirement (if you’re a teacher for example). But the important thing to remember is that everyone in your country wears the appropriate clothes, and therefore you can get it in country. So you don’t need to pack everything, just some stuff to get you started. Normally, people also where the same clothes a lot. Nobody is really going to notice or care. As long as it’s clean, it’s all good. If you have a country where you could be working in a couple different climates (like Peru, which has three distinct climates pending on where you are), don’t try to pack for all of it. Pack for the weather where your training center is and then you can buy other clothes in country. It’s probably not necessary to buy new clothes for where you’re going. Check out the thrift stores first, especially for shirts. Bring a pair or two of jeans if you want. But remember that you’re probably going to be handwashing your clothes as well, and this more or less stretch them out and cause them to fade out a little more rapidly than normal. At the same time, it’s just comfortable to put on a my Sidney Crosby shirt and a pair of basketball shorts. They’ll be looking at how weird the gringo is anyway, so nothing you wear will really be conspicuous.
Toiletries: Pretty much everything you would need to buy is available in country, and if not really evaluate if you need it. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, razors, deodorant, etc are all available. Just take enough to get started.
Medications: As Peace Corps says, take enough for the first three months except OTC stuff. You’ll be given your medical kits during the first days of training, and it has everything you need (I think) and you get free refills. So it isn’t really worth the space or the cost to fill your suitcase with Tylenol or bug spray or sun screen, because it’s there.
Personal items: I would take a few things that can make wherever you’re living feel more like home. But as a rule, don’t bring anything that you would be devastated if it were to be broken, destroyed or robbed. I brought a bobble head, pictures, and a couple other memorabilia items that were small/compact.
Laptop: Bring it. Peace Corps is a lot of report writing and document reading. Much of our technical material is in PDF version, and a lot of official communication is done through e-mail. Sometimes you can even connect your laptop at the internet café (though it could be a security risk depending where you are as everyone will see the gringo’s computer).
So you’ve gotten an invitation to serve in the Peace Corps (congrats!) and you got that huge PDF document giving you the low down on your country and including that giant packing list (the Peru list was over two pages). So how do you pack for two years in a developing country? You don’t.
My advice would be to think about packing for the first three months of training, and even then less than that. Some people are chronic over packers, and if that’s your style and if that’s how you’re going to prepare for Peace Corps than so be it. But maybe take some advice about what to pack to lighten the load, which is especially important when you have to travel with all your stuff.
Clothing: Depending on your country, you might have very specific clothing requirements. Might be hot in all parts of the country, or there might be a specific social dress code, or for your program there might be a certain dress requirement (if you’re a teacher for example). But the important thing to remember is that everyone in your country wears the appropriate clothes, and therefore you can get it in country. So you don’t need to pack everything, just some stuff to get you started. Normally, people also where the same clothes a lot. Nobody is really going to notice or care. As long as it’s clean, it’s all good. If you have a country where you could be working in a couple different climates (like Peru, which has three distinct climates pending on where you are), don’t try to pack for all of it. Pack for the weather where your training center is and then you can buy other clothes in country. It’s probably not necessary to buy new clothes for where you’re going. Check out the thrift stores first, especially for shirts. Bring a pair or two of jeans if you want. But remember that you’re probably going to be handwashing your clothes as well, and this more or less stretch them out and cause them to fade out a little more rapidly than normal. At the same time, it’s just comfortable to put on a my Sidney Crosby shirt and a pair of basketball shorts. They’ll be looking at how weird the gringo is anyway, so nothing you wear will really be conspicuous.
Toiletries: Pretty much everything you would need to buy is available in country, and if not really evaluate if you need it. Shampoo, soap, toothpaste, razors, deodorant, etc are all available. Just take enough to get started.
Medications: As Peace Corps says, take enough for the first three months except OTC stuff. You’ll be given your medical kits during the first days of training, and it has everything you need (I think) and you get free refills. So it isn’t really worth the space or the cost to fill your suitcase with Tylenol or bug spray or sun screen, because it’s there.
Personal items: I would take a few things that can make wherever you’re living feel more like home. But as a rule, don’t bring anything that you would be devastated if it were to be broken, destroyed or robbed. I brought a bobble head, pictures, and a couple other memorabilia items that were small/compact.
Laptop: Bring it. Peace Corps is a lot of report writing and document reading. Much of our technical material is in PDF version, and a lot of official communication is done through e-mail. Sometimes you can even connect your laptop at the internet café (though it could be a security risk depending where you are as everyone will see the gringo’s computer).
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Language Training
So when I was nominated to serve in the Peace Corps, and after I received my invitation, I had approximately four Spanish classes under my belt. I hadn’t spoke extensively in over a year, and forgot a lot due to learning Arabic. But I still received the invitation. At the same time, people who had majored in Spanish where invited. As well as with people with less experience.
Before departure, Peace Corps gives us access to an online version of the Rosetta Stone. And it was a good review, but it was also just too boring and too repetitive for anyone to stick with it long enough. Also, many people also got their invite about 4-6 weeks before leaving so there wasn’t much time to sink your teeth into that.
I tested into the language level intermediate-middle, which is the requirement that ALL trainees have to be at before they’re allowed to swear in. It isn’t too complex. You need to be able to speak a bit in the past tense, and be able to function in situations beyond simply asking for food, such as talking about your personal interests or something like that. With language level, the Peace Corps gives you full resources to advance in your Spanish level. Everyone, including the advanced kids, have class for 3-4 hours a day, 4-5x a week. The classes focus more on functional spoken Spanish rather than focus too much on grammar. Plus, just being in the environment allows you to pick it up quickly (that is if you choose to talk to your family and are willing to make mistakes). We do a mix of class work, homework, field based exercises (interviewing people on the street), activities, and conversation.
The second half, after the second interview, the classes here focuses more on the technical aspects of your program and the vocab for that. For those who need help, one on one tutoring sessions are held for 30-40 minutes every day at the center during tech training. The Peace Corps really gives you every reasonable resource to improve with your language skills. Most people here increase dramatically during the first few months.
The Peace Corps gives each trainee a plethora of resources, but it is ultimately up to the trainee to make the effort. There’s no grades, no punishment if you don’t do the homework. It’s tough, but it’s doable if you’re willing to put in the effort. My advice (and this took me awhile to realize) is to just get out there and try to speak as much as you can. Maybe not to strangers, but to your host family who is likely to have hosted trainees before you. Read newspapers to absorb grammar and increase comprehension. And just try. You’ll make it.
Before departure, Peace Corps gives us access to an online version of the Rosetta Stone. And it was a good review, but it was also just too boring and too repetitive for anyone to stick with it long enough. Also, many people also got their invite about 4-6 weeks before leaving so there wasn’t much time to sink your teeth into that.
I tested into the language level intermediate-middle, which is the requirement that ALL trainees have to be at before they’re allowed to swear in. It isn’t too complex. You need to be able to speak a bit in the past tense, and be able to function in situations beyond simply asking for food, such as talking about your personal interests or something like that. With language level, the Peace Corps gives you full resources to advance in your Spanish level. Everyone, including the advanced kids, have class for 3-4 hours a day, 4-5x a week. The classes focus more on functional spoken Spanish rather than focus too much on grammar. Plus, just being in the environment allows you to pick it up quickly (that is if you choose to talk to your family and are willing to make mistakes). We do a mix of class work, homework, field based exercises (interviewing people on the street), activities, and conversation.
The second half, after the second interview, the classes here focuses more on the technical aspects of your program and the vocab for that. For those who need help, one on one tutoring sessions are held for 30-40 minutes every day at the center during tech training. The Peace Corps really gives you every reasonable resource to improve with your language skills. Most people here increase dramatically during the first few months.
The Peace Corps gives each trainee a plethora of resources, but it is ultimately up to the trainee to make the effort. There’s no grades, no punishment if you don’t do the homework. It’s tough, but it’s doable if you’re willing to put in the effort. My advice (and this took me awhile to realize) is to just get out there and try to speak as much as you can. Maybe not to strangers, but to your host family who is likely to have hosted trainees before you. Read newspapers to absorb grammar and increase comprehension. And just try. You’ll make it.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Underwear
So as for underwear, I would recommend against the white variety. Like any white clothing they show dirt and filth more clearly (especially poopstains). But who is going to see your underwear? Most likely everyone. You see, washers and dryers are most likely going to be a luxury during training and while at site, so your clothing is going to be washed by hand and dried on a line. In my house, the line is on the roof, so my clothes wave freely for a day or two above the house like a proud flag of flannel and what ever else I threw in the wash. And chances are, you'll have the poops with some frequency, and white underwear will let your family and friends know just how that ceviche hit you...
As far as type goes, personal preference I guess. But remember, it will be hanging up so nothing too risque. Not sure what other people where, but I think your regular cotton variety would be just fine, just bring a lot (turnover from laundry day to back in the drawer can be three days for me). On the other hand, maybe think about investing in some higher class underwear. Brands like Exofficio, REI and even sport brands like Underarmor and Reebok might be worth the investment. Brands like these tend to be more durable in the wash, as well as 'moisture wicking' the easy the comfort in hot days. You can also rotate them in and out to air them out, thus using less pairs. They also wash easily and dry quickly, giving you a quicker turn around time if you need an emergency wash. I've also washed mine in the shower for a quick fix (was out of underwear).
Why is this important? Well, things are always a bit different as a Peace Corps volunteer and some commodities we're used to just don't exist (washers/dryers, quality readily accessible underwear) and you can't just run to Wal-Mart or wherever while you're at site. So a little foresight helps.
As far as type goes, personal preference I guess. But remember, it will be hanging up so nothing too risque. Not sure what other people where, but I think your regular cotton variety would be just fine, just bring a lot (turnover from laundry day to back in the drawer can be three days for me). On the other hand, maybe think about investing in some higher class underwear. Brands like Exofficio, REI and even sport brands like Underarmor and Reebok might be worth the investment. Brands like these tend to be more durable in the wash, as well as 'moisture wicking' the easy the comfort in hot days. You can also rotate them in and out to air them out, thus using less pairs. They also wash easily and dry quickly, giving you a quicker turn around time if you need an emergency wash. I've also washed mine in the shower for a quick fix (was out of underwear).
Why is this important? Well, things are always a bit different as a Peace Corps volunteer and some commodities we're used to just don't exist (washers/dryers, quality readily accessible underwear) and you can't just run to Wal-Mart or wherever while you're at site. So a little foresight helps.
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