Its been hot-dry season since the end of September, so understandably projects in the village have been slowing down. Not just the projects, but a general malaze has taken over the village. Its too hot for people to do anything, they'll just nap for hours under a mango tree and wait for the reprise of late afternoon to do all their house hold chores. So as far as projects go, I've just been doing my own individual projects (which includes helping a PhD student with taking some lake survey data -- awesome!).
November has brought with it humidity and thunderstorms at night. The thunderstorms are are amazing to watch over the lake, but the humidity at night can be almost unbearable. But hot-dry season is also mango season! There are 4 or 5 large mango trees at my house which means there are always mangoes around, but that doesn't guarantee you'll get a ripe one (people are always coming over and taking mangoes, even if they're unripe!).
The idea of property rights are a bit different that what I'm used to in the States. It seems to be that all people are entitled to any fruits from any fruit tree. It reminds me of the saying that explains how property rights matter as much as people want to respect them, and only apply when you can enforce them.
But other exciting things have happened in November, like the celebration of the 50th anniversary of Peace Corps and USAID. It was a formal evening event at the Embassador's house. There was catered food, live music, and many important dignitaries to shmooze with. It was a good time.
The weekend after that a large group of us helped the Liwonde Park staff with a big-game count. Stacey Neilson and I spent the first day on a 12km transect walk, and the second day in a hide near a water hole. We saw more diversity of animals during the walk (including a run in with water buffalo, during which our guide shot his M-16 to scare them away as we ran the other way), but saw large groups of fewer animals while I was sitting in the hide (where we found an elephant!). I brought my camera, but wasn't able to get any good pics. It turns out all of those animals are really fast -- probably evolution or whatever.
And I just came back from a Thanksgiving getaway where a group of us met up to indulge in the good ol' American tradition of over eating. Yes, even in Africa we managed to stuff oursevles to the brim with some well cooked Thanksgiving favorites.
So now Stacey and I are preparing to seek out a couple permagardening experts, and learn what we can from them for the next few days, and take those skills back to site just in time for rainy season (starting in mid-December). I can't wait, it should be a good time. I'm sure they won't be afraid to put us to work.
'Till next time, take care all!
Monday, November 28, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Obstacles
Just came back from a two week training back at the college. It was great to hang out with everyone again. We even walked up to a nearby place that was showing a replay of a Redskins vs Cowboys game, it was awesome to watch.
Coming back from the training I felt rejuvenated and encouraged. PCV's wear many hats, but the training emphasized the role of a trainer/facilitator, and so I was motivated to be that person.
So getting back to the village was just like arriving home. Everyone was excited to see me again, and people were coming to me looking for solutions to obstacles in their projects. I finally felt like I was being useful.
The first man I started working with is a Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA). He's set up a small beekeeping project near his house to benefit the HIV/AIDS group he works with by selling the honey and providing the group with additional income to attain ARV's and a more nutritious diet. But shortly after leaving his house, I found out that his project stagnated because the HIV/AIDS group wasn't receiving any of their money from the project.
Another group I was helping out also had similar problems. A women's group was receiving funds from a foreign sponsor through a lei-son in the village, they would then ship their product back to the sponsor's country, sell the product, and ship the proceeds back to the group. They recently sold their first round, and the lei-son received money from the donor, bought materials like she was supposed to, but only gave the women's group half the materials they were owed, and started another women's group in another village with the other half, unbeknownst to the foreign sponsor.
In this second case I'm still deliberating whether or not its beneficial to confront the lei-son and risk losing the women's group and let morality prevail, or let the lei-son do whatever she's doing and leave the women's group short-changed. I'm also feeling pressured to accomplish something with these groups in order to show people and future interviewers that I've done something -- a common problem to aid as pointed out in Dambia Moyo's book Dead Aid.
Switching gears to more exciting news though, Polar Bears and Bob (and his sister) are going to Natties again!! Best of luck guys, that's really awesome! I miss you all!
Coming back from the training I felt rejuvenated and encouraged. PCV's wear many hats, but the training emphasized the role of a trainer/facilitator, and so I was motivated to be that person.
So getting back to the village was just like arriving home. Everyone was excited to see me again, and people were coming to me looking for solutions to obstacles in their projects. I finally felt like I was being useful.
The first man I started working with is a Health Surveillance Assistant (HSA). He's set up a small beekeeping project near his house to benefit the HIV/AIDS group he works with by selling the honey and providing the group with additional income to attain ARV's and a more nutritious diet. But shortly after leaving his house, I found out that his project stagnated because the HIV/AIDS group wasn't receiving any of their money from the project.
Another group I was helping out also had similar problems. A women's group was receiving funds from a foreign sponsor through a lei-son in the village, they would then ship their product back to the sponsor's country, sell the product, and ship the proceeds back to the group. They recently sold their first round, and the lei-son received money from the donor, bought materials like she was supposed to, but only gave the women's group half the materials they were owed, and started another women's group in another village with the other half, unbeknownst to the foreign sponsor.
In this second case I'm still deliberating whether or not its beneficial to confront the lei-son and risk losing the women's group and let morality prevail, or let the lei-son do whatever she's doing and leave the women's group short-changed. I'm also feeling pressured to accomplish something with these groups in order to show people and future interviewers that I've done something -- a common problem to aid as pointed out in Dambia Moyo's book Dead Aid.
Switching gears to more exciting news though, Polar Bears and Bob (and his sister) are going to Natties again!! Best of luck guys, that's really awesome! I miss you all!
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Do it for GAD!
My bad, its been over a month since I posted. There a few excuses I can make. Its expensive to travel to Chintheche, and we aren't paid enough where I can routinely get to internet (or the post office). Also, not too much has been happening.
BUT, I'm at Gender And Development (GAD) Camp right now. Basically, the GAD committee (a committee of northern PC Malawi) is hosting a week long summer camp for 25 secondary school students from the northern region, and hosted by the CCAP (type of church) where they provide food and board (paid for by a grant). The students spend the morning shadowing a professional in the city (lawyers, doctors, nurses, businessmen, radio dj's, hairstylist, and mechanics), getting to see what its like to be a professional, and to have an opportunity to ask specific professionals about their jobs. They then come back, have lunch, and listen to a guest lecture about professionalism, job skills, and the importance of education. We then break for dinner, then host a fun activity. Last night Haak (another PCV) and I hosted bingo. The kids were really into it, and the winners received glow in the dark bracelets which they thought were awesome.
The ride up here was typical for Malawi, but unusual for America. Kathi and I sat at the side of the road waiting for transport for 2 hours (transport is most scarce these days because there is a fuel crisis in Malawi, supposedly caused by a lack of money in the government). We waved down a small semi and squeezed into the front with two other people. They were pretty cool and we chatted the whole way up, which took 6 and a half hours (a ride that should only take maybe an hour and a half). First the truck ran out of gas, so we found a villager with a bike to ride into town and get enough gas to take us into town. Then, because of the way they poured in the gas, the semi kept stopping due to airlock. But we eventually arrived north to Mzuzu just in time for dinner at the CCAP, which was essential because we hadn't eaten since 11am.
Other things that have been happenning: I just shaved my head. Kathi took pictures, so hopefully she'll post them on fb or something. Experiencing some vivid dreams as a side effect of my malaria medication. The other night I dreamt that I was walking along a sidewalk at night, and two people ran by me (one chasing the other), and they came so close to me that I could actually feel the wind on my arm -- which woke me up. But the best meflopquin dream I've heard was that someone dreamt they were a gummy bear, trapped inside a skittles wrapper.
Anyway, I should get back to GAD camp, its almost time for lunch! Take care!
BUT, I'm at Gender And Development (GAD) Camp right now. Basically, the GAD committee (a committee of northern PC Malawi) is hosting a week long summer camp for 25 secondary school students from the northern region, and hosted by the CCAP (type of church) where they provide food and board (paid for by a grant). The students spend the morning shadowing a professional in the city (lawyers, doctors, nurses, businessmen, radio dj's, hairstylist, and mechanics), getting to see what its like to be a professional, and to have an opportunity to ask specific professionals about their jobs. They then come back, have lunch, and listen to a guest lecture about professionalism, job skills, and the importance of education. We then break for dinner, then host a fun activity. Last night Haak (another PCV) and I hosted bingo. The kids were really into it, and the winners received glow in the dark bracelets which they thought were awesome.
The ride up here was typical for Malawi, but unusual for America. Kathi and I sat at the side of the road waiting for transport for 2 hours (transport is most scarce these days because there is a fuel crisis in Malawi, supposedly caused by a lack of money in the government). We waved down a small semi and squeezed into the front with two other people. They were pretty cool and we chatted the whole way up, which took 6 and a half hours (a ride that should only take maybe an hour and a half). First the truck ran out of gas, so we found a villager with a bike to ride into town and get enough gas to take us into town. Then, because of the way they poured in the gas, the semi kept stopping due to airlock. But we eventually arrived north to Mzuzu just in time for dinner at the CCAP, which was essential because we hadn't eaten since 11am.
Other things that have been happenning: I just shaved my head. Kathi took pictures, so hopefully she'll post them on fb or something. Experiencing some vivid dreams as a side effect of my malaria medication. The other night I dreamt that I was walking along a sidewalk at night, and two people ran by me (one chasing the other), and they came so close to me that I could actually feel the wind on my arm -- which woke me up. But the best meflopquin dream I've heard was that someone dreamt they were a gummy bear, trapped inside a skittles wrapper.
Anyway, I should get back to GAD camp, its almost time for lunch! Take care!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Pics!
 |
| My host family (Abambo and Amayi are standing next to me), and our neighboors whom we share the compound with. |
 |
| My two year old host brother Fannuel. |
 |
| The village baow board, where many Abambo's come to hang out. |
 |
| The six new Tongas, and some of our trainers at Swear-in! |
 |
| I hunted this one day. |
 |
| My bedroom. |
 |
| Dining Room. |
 |
| New training group. |
 |
| Other side of the dining room. |
 |
| Kitchen. |
 |
| my house. |
 |
| View from my house, facing West. |
Monday, May 23, 2011
Busy busy
Hey all, I was going to post pictures, but this old fashioned computer I'm on doesn't 'recognize my USB device'. I'll try another internet cafe soon...if I find time.
I've completed training, been sworn in, and been posted at site for about three weeks now. Crazy. Here's what's happened during that time.
First we were sworn in, which was a fun and somewhat emotional experience. We were all formally dressed, and spent our day out on the Embassadors plush lawn area. As we were waiting for the event to start, we were all taking pictures - it felt so much like prom. The speeches began, and some people, including the speaker got all teary-eyed when she was saying how appreciative she was of our service. Then after the officail swearing in came the best part. Food! All sorts of fried appetizers, soda, and cake! We then left the Embassadors house to go to a luncheon at our Country Directors house. So much good food, including macaroni and cheese, roast beef, garden salad, and more cake! Ahh...I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.
We then went back to the college for a few days to get ready to head to site. Amidst all the packing and safety lectures, we managed to find time for a rematch of the Malawi vs USA soccer match. It went better this time - it was 2-2 at half time - but we still got crushed 2-5. They had some rediculously amazing goals though. Like a corner kick that bent in into the opposite top 90 of the goal, and another one where a guy dribbled between 4 defenders, and was sliding to make a shot that just found the smallest window inbetween the keeper and hitting the goal post to go in.
Then the next day, a group of 12 of us played the most intesne game of ultimate ever to occur in Malawi. My team was up 12-9, then it was tied 14-14, and we managed to win 16-14. CLUTCH! The best part was right afterwards, James, the cook, made the best dish in the world: spaghetti and meat balls. Yesssss...
I don't think I recovered very well from the two matches, because the next day I woke up with a headache that persisted all day. I later developed other flu like symptoms - but I didnt have the flu. We went to Lilongwe the next day, so I popped into the health office just to check in with the doc. He thought it was a viral thing, exhastperated by dehydration. So I ended up spending the day on an IV (after which I felt amazing), and staying over night, just so they could monitor me.
I waited all of the next day for a transport going back to the college. I almost missed the only transport, but managed to get back to the college around dinner time, sadly after half of the training group had already been driven to site.
We were posted to site the next day. We loaded a small, SUV-like transport with three PCV's worth of stuff crammed in, and on top of the car. We spent all day traveling and unloading at each persons site. The host villages were very welcoming to the volunteers, and helped unload the car.
After being posted, I've spent 3 weeks at site. I've been spending my doing house chores and chatting with the village. I get to do fun things like carry buckets of water on my head from the borehole, chop wood, and spend forever cooking over a fire stove. Sometimes I think the ramen packaging is taunting me when it says "cooks in 3 minutes".
Cooking probably takes up most of my time just because I'm not that good at it yet. Sometimes it takes one match to like the fire, and sometimes it takes one box of matches. Last night it took me 2 hours to cook pasta. A bit frustrating, but that was the best pasta ever...it tasted like victory.
It hasn't been all play and no work. Integrating into the community in itself is a crucial and important task. So far it has helped me to find projects, make relevant contacts, and identify avenues of accomplishing projects, and identify what the community wants.
I am in contact with the Forestry Office in my area, I may be teaching at one of the Seconday Schools (high schools) here, made contacts with a couple NGO's and CBO's in the area, and am involved in starting up a young womens group - talking to them about staying in school or watever. Not to mention the 2 womens groups I have inhereted from my preceeding volunteer, and the garden and tree nursery I've started in my backyard, and the mud stove I've built at a nearby volunteers house. I've been busy, don't worry mom.
During my second week at site, I was invited to a nearby house that was hosting a womens group called the Flame Writers. They are a group of women, mostly from the states, who have come to tour Malawi, inspiring young girls' creative expression. After spending some time with them, I was motivated to lead some writing groups that they might have inspired at the local secondary school.
I'm sure I'll fall into other projects too. I'm here in Mzuzu for an HIV/AIDS training. And the other day, a young man stopped by my house while I was cooking, asking me if I had condoms. I was like "um...what?". Then I remembered reading in the previous volunteers report, and how she used to distribute condoms and educate the community about family planning and safe sex.
Hope you all are doing well. Have the Sharks won the Stanley Cup yet? Good luck with the upcoming club season!! I will be there...in spirit...like a Jedi. I'm sure my Jedi spirit can get some phantom D's for you guys. Keep me on the stat sheet!
I've completed training, been sworn in, and been posted at site for about three weeks now. Crazy. Here's what's happened during that time.
First we were sworn in, which was a fun and somewhat emotional experience. We were all formally dressed, and spent our day out on the Embassadors plush lawn area. As we were waiting for the event to start, we were all taking pictures - it felt so much like prom. The speeches began, and some people, including the speaker got all teary-eyed when she was saying how appreciative she was of our service. Then after the officail swearing in came the best part. Food! All sorts of fried appetizers, soda, and cake! We then left the Embassadors house to go to a luncheon at our Country Directors house. So much good food, including macaroni and cheese, roast beef, garden salad, and more cake! Ahh...I'm drooling right now just thinking about it.
We then went back to the college for a few days to get ready to head to site. Amidst all the packing and safety lectures, we managed to find time for a rematch of the Malawi vs USA soccer match. It went better this time - it was 2-2 at half time - but we still got crushed 2-5. They had some rediculously amazing goals though. Like a corner kick that bent in into the opposite top 90 of the goal, and another one where a guy dribbled between 4 defenders, and was sliding to make a shot that just found the smallest window inbetween the keeper and hitting the goal post to go in.
Then the next day, a group of 12 of us played the most intesne game of ultimate ever to occur in Malawi. My team was up 12-9, then it was tied 14-14, and we managed to win 16-14. CLUTCH! The best part was right afterwards, James, the cook, made the best dish in the world: spaghetti and meat balls. Yesssss...
I don't think I recovered very well from the two matches, because the next day I woke up with a headache that persisted all day. I later developed other flu like symptoms - but I didnt have the flu. We went to Lilongwe the next day, so I popped into the health office just to check in with the doc. He thought it was a viral thing, exhastperated by dehydration. So I ended up spending the day on an IV (after which I felt amazing), and staying over night, just so they could monitor me.
I waited all of the next day for a transport going back to the college. I almost missed the only transport, but managed to get back to the college around dinner time, sadly after half of the training group had already been driven to site.
We were posted to site the next day. We loaded a small, SUV-like transport with three PCV's worth of stuff crammed in, and on top of the car. We spent all day traveling and unloading at each persons site. The host villages were very welcoming to the volunteers, and helped unload the car.
After being posted, I've spent 3 weeks at site. I've been spending my doing house chores and chatting with the village. I get to do fun things like carry buckets of water on my head from the borehole, chop wood, and spend forever cooking over a fire stove. Sometimes I think the ramen packaging is taunting me when it says "cooks in 3 minutes".
Cooking probably takes up most of my time just because I'm not that good at it yet. Sometimes it takes one match to like the fire, and sometimes it takes one box of matches. Last night it took me 2 hours to cook pasta. A bit frustrating, but that was the best pasta ever...it tasted like victory.
It hasn't been all play and no work. Integrating into the community in itself is a crucial and important task. So far it has helped me to find projects, make relevant contacts, and identify avenues of accomplishing projects, and identify what the community wants.
I am in contact with the Forestry Office in my area, I may be teaching at one of the Seconday Schools (high schools) here, made contacts with a couple NGO's and CBO's in the area, and am involved in starting up a young womens group - talking to them about staying in school or watever. Not to mention the 2 womens groups I have inhereted from my preceeding volunteer, and the garden and tree nursery I've started in my backyard, and the mud stove I've built at a nearby volunteers house. I've been busy, don't worry mom.
During my second week at site, I was invited to a nearby house that was hosting a womens group called the Flame Writers. They are a group of women, mostly from the states, who have come to tour Malawi, inspiring young girls' creative expression. After spending some time with them, I was motivated to lead some writing groups that they might have inspired at the local secondary school.
I'm sure I'll fall into other projects too. I'm here in Mzuzu for an HIV/AIDS training. And the other day, a young man stopped by my house while I was cooking, asking me if I had condoms. I was like "um...what?". Then I remembered reading in the previous volunteers report, and how she used to distribute condoms and educate the community about family planning and safe sex.
Hope you all are doing well. Have the Sharks won the Stanley Cup yet? Good luck with the upcoming club season!! I will be there...in spirit...like a Jedi. I'm sure my Jedi spirit can get some phantom D's for you guys. Keep me on the stat sheet!
Friday, April 15, 2011
Still in Training...
Here's my permanent address:
Robert Gormley, PCV
District Forestry Office
PO Box 38
Chinteche, Malawi
Almost done with training! Two weeks left then I swear in and become a volunteer!
A lot of time has passed, and I can't remember everything that's happened, so I'll go backwards in time because its easier for me to remember.
I've spent the last couple days at my new site by myself. My site is really cool, I'm 5 minutes away from the beach, and I can hear the waves crashing in the distance. At the site I've inherited a dog named kubaya boko (hippo killer). My forearm is sore from fanning my fire when I cook. But its cool, I'll power through typing this post because I'm sure you're all wondering whats going on.
We had a village farewell last week. It was craziness, and leaving homestay was kind of sad. All four villages met up and we showed them what we had been learning in PST. Then we had a cross cultural exchange session in which the Americans played a baseball game -- I was the peanut vendor. We explained its history and what was happening, but I'm pretty sure we just looked really weird to them. Also, the day before, the trainees played the staff in an epic Malawi vs USA soccer match. Sadly we lost 2-4, but we definitely impressed them with our sweet skills.
The first week of homestay crawled by so slowly, I thought it would take forever. But we all adjusted to it, and time flew by. And now PST is almost over. Woohoo!
Our days in homestay were very structured...kind of. We had breakfast, language and tech training from 8am to noon. Lunch from noon to 1:30, then another language and tech session from 1:30 to 4:30. My family usually ate around 6:30, and I was in bed by 8pm. But often times, when we needed transport to get to a session, we would spend a lot of time waiting around, if it ever came (which it didn't a couple times).
The best part of homestay was Thursdays, when all the trainees came together at the college. Its amazing how quickly we all bonded, and how great it is to see each other again.
Anyway, that was homestay. I'm heading to language intensive where i'll be chilling at a lodge in Nkhata Bay for a week, learning Chitonga non-stop. Then we'll all meet up in Dedza for a week, get ready for move-in. Then we swear in April 26th!
I'm trying to load a J&A episode right now and its taking forev. That's definitely been the hardest part about Malawi so far. But other than that, training has been pretty sweet. But soon my small bubble of a world will soon break, and i'll be living at site, being all independent or watev. Can't wait! Miss y'all! Take care.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Im alive
Im at an internet cafe and i only have a few minutes.
Malawi is pretty sweet. My homsestay family is awesome. My abambo (dad) is 33, a farmer and a builder. My amayi (mother) is 27 and awesome. Then I have two sisters (10 and 7), and a bother (3) who is totally obnoxious and hilarious. basically the only time i get to spend with them is when we eat meals (3 squares a day), and an hour before breakfast. My amayi usually wakes me up around 5 am to start doing chores (starting the fire, chopping fire wood, collecting water from the bore hole, etc.) Most of our meals consist of nsima, beans, potato, rice, soya pieces, chicken, and veggies (cabbage or rape). The rest of my day is spend learning Chitonga and enviro tech skills.
Im having an awesome time so far. Everyone here is really cool. I'll probably access internet 2 weeks from now when we get to go to site visits. Talk to you then!
Malawi is pretty sweet. My homsestay family is awesome. My abambo (dad) is 33, a farmer and a builder. My amayi (mother) is 27 and awesome. Then I have two sisters (10 and 7), and a bother (3) who is totally obnoxious and hilarious. basically the only time i get to spend with them is when we eat meals (3 squares a day), and an hour before breakfast. My amayi usually wakes me up around 5 am to start doing chores (starting the fire, chopping fire wood, collecting water from the bore hole, etc.) Most of our meals consist of nsima, beans, potato, rice, soya pieces, chicken, and veggies (cabbage or rape). The rest of my day is spend learning Chitonga and enviro tech skills.
Im having an awesome time so far. Everyone here is really cool. I'll probably access internet 2 weeks from now when we get to go to site visits. Talk to you then!
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Bon Voyage!
I'll be leaving for Malawi, Africa to be an Environmental Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV).
My job title is a Community Forestry or Community Parks Extension Volunteer. I will be implementing collaborative community management of protected areas. Though, from talking to many other PCV's, most volunteers work on something other than what they are initially assigned.
I decided to join after graduating from UC Davis, because the Peace Corps looked liked a great next step in that it provided me with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained, and also a challenging and unique environment for me to learn and grow both professionally and personally.
Orientation (Feb 24-26)
The next step in my journey will be the orientation session held in Philadelphia, PA. Here the other Malawi environmental and health volunteers will be receiving an introduction to the Peace Corps, what our service may be like, and the necessary shots we will need.
From Phili, we will be bused to JFK in New York, and leave for Malawi at 10:40am EST.
Pre-Service Training (PST)
Upon arrival, we will begin our PST. This training lasts eight to twelve weeks, during which, we will live with a host family. Training includes five major components: technical training, cross-culture training, language instruction, personal health and safety training, and the role of the Volunteer in development.
I won't have access to internet during training, and after training I don't know how accessible it will be (so I don't know how frequently I will be able to update this blog). However, I would appreciate receiving letters from you all!
My temporary address during training will be:
Robert Gormley, PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi
A Note about Snail Mail in Malawi from the Peace Corps
Mail takes a minimum of two to three weeks to arrive, often longer. The Peace Corps advises friends and family to number their letters [so I will know if any are missing], and include "Air Mail" and "Par Avion" on their envelopes. Packages take six to nine weeks for airmail, and surface mail packages take around six months. If someone is sending you a package, it's advisable to keep it small and use a padded envelope so it will be treated as a letter.
I'm excited to see what the Peace Corps and Malawi have in store for me over the next two years! Bon Voyage!
My job title is a Community Forestry or Community Parks Extension Volunteer. I will be implementing collaborative community management of protected areas. Though, from talking to many other PCV's, most volunteers work on something other than what they are initially assigned.
I decided to join after graduating from UC Davis, because the Peace Corps looked liked a great next step in that it provided me with an opportunity to apply the skills and knowledge I have gained, and also a challenging and unique environment for me to learn and grow both professionally and personally.
Orientation (Feb 24-26)
The next step in my journey will be the orientation session held in Philadelphia, PA. Here the other Malawi environmental and health volunteers will be receiving an introduction to the Peace Corps, what our service may be like, and the necessary shots we will need.
From Phili, we will be bused to JFK in New York, and leave for Malawi at 10:40am EST.
Pre-Service Training (PST)
Upon arrival, we will begin our PST. This training lasts eight to twelve weeks, during which, we will live with a host family. Training includes five major components: technical training, cross-culture training, language instruction, personal health and safety training, and the role of the Volunteer in development.
I won't have access to internet during training, and after training I don't know how accessible it will be (so I don't know how frequently I will be able to update this blog). However, I would appreciate receiving letters from you all!
My temporary address during training will be:
Robert Gormley, PCT
Peace Corps
P.O. Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi
A Note about Snail Mail in Malawi from the Peace Corps
Mail takes a minimum of two to three weeks to arrive, often longer. The Peace Corps advises friends and family to number their letters [so I will know if any are missing], and include "Air Mail" and "Par Avion" on their envelopes. Packages take six to nine weeks for airmail, and surface mail packages take around six months. If someone is sending you a package, it's advisable to keep it small and use a padded envelope so it will be treated as a letter.
I'm excited to see what the Peace Corps and Malawi have in store for me over the next two years! Bon Voyage!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)