About this time next week I will be landing in Miami, FL to begin my 2 days of staging. I can't believe it's only a week away. I'm so excited to begin this adventure. I would like to thank my friends and family for all the support they have given me. I definitely would not have found the courage to head to Peru without you all!
Much love to everyone.
Tuesday, February 17, 2004
Staging:
My staging packet arrived! This is the last step in my joining the Peace Corps. On March 16, I will board Delta flight 1151 at 10:00 am to head to my staging event at the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Miami, Florida. The staging event is a 2-day orientation about what to expect in Peace Corps Peru. I will depart for Peru on March 18 at 11:50 pm and arrive in Lima at 5:30 am. Yeah, a red eye flight!
I can't tell you how excited I am! I'm really going... It seems so surreal.
My staging packet arrived! This is the last step in my joining the Peace Corps. On March 16, I will board Delta flight 1151 at 10:00 am to head to my staging event at the Omni Colonnade Hotel in Miami, Florida. The staging event is a 2-day orientation about what to expect in Peace Corps Peru. I will depart for Peru on March 18 at 11:50 pm and arrive in Lima at 5:30 am. Yeah, a red eye flight!
I can't tell you how excited I am! I'm really going... It seems so surreal.
Friday, February 06, 2004
More info on Peace Corps Peru:
Peru 3: That's us! We have 15 people in our training group.
Electronics/Technology: Seems to separate volunteers from their community. Volunteer is thought of to be a "rich, foreign person". (Probably will be tough to get around that opinion in any case.) Should probably be cautious who you show/tell about valuables because of theft.
Sleeping Bag: a good quality sleeping bag is a necessity. Great for host family and for visiting sites during training.
Mail: It takes at least 10 days to receive mail. Packages should not be over 4 lbs. Customs goes through everything. Don't allow friends/relatives to send invaluables.
Visitors: Visitors are welcomed after completion of training + completion of 3 months at site. Inform PC of visitor's arrival. Opposite sex visitors can't stay in the same room as volunteer. Visitors shouldn't stay more than 2 weeks.
Food: Expect to eat a lot of carbs (potatoes, rice) and meat, and to possibly gain weight if not careful. Peruvians want you to eat a lot.
Sports: Volleyball and soccer are popular sports.
TEFL: Almost all volunteers teach English as a secondary project. Gives volunteer a way to "join" community.
Laundry: PCVs can pay someone to do their laundry. In training, there are "laundromats". When at your site, you may want to learn the process with your host family.
Host Family: The family that you live with is usually arranged by current PCVs in the area. You may also seek alternative host families, if you choose. PC will help in the process if need be.
Money: During training, you receive a daily allowance. In site, you receive about $300 per month. Which is said to be more than sufficient, with some left over. Banking accounts are available with ATM, Debits functions.
Converter: For electricity, you will need a converter.
Clothing: 1 dressy outfit for swearing in, business type clothes for training, less business-y (jeans) for site. A good rain coat and fleece are a necessity.
Peru 3: That's us! We have 15 people in our training group.
Electronics/Technology: Seems to separate volunteers from their community. Volunteer is thought of to be a "rich, foreign person". (Probably will be tough to get around that opinion in any case.) Should probably be cautious who you show/tell about valuables because of theft.
Sleeping Bag: a good quality sleeping bag is a necessity. Great for host family and for visiting sites during training.
Mail: It takes at least 10 days to receive mail. Packages should not be over 4 lbs. Customs goes through everything. Don't allow friends/relatives to send invaluables.
Visitors: Visitors are welcomed after completion of training + completion of 3 months at site. Inform PC of visitor's arrival. Opposite sex visitors can't stay in the same room as volunteer. Visitors shouldn't stay more than 2 weeks.
Food: Expect to eat a lot of carbs (potatoes, rice) and meat, and to possibly gain weight if not careful. Peruvians want you to eat a lot.
Sports: Volleyball and soccer are popular sports.
TEFL: Almost all volunteers teach English as a secondary project. Gives volunteer a way to "join" community.
Laundry: PCVs can pay someone to do their laundry. In training, there are "laundromats". When at your site, you may want to learn the process with your host family.
Host Family: The family that you live with is usually arranged by current PCVs in the area. You may also seek alternative host families, if you choose. PC will help in the process if need be.
Money: During training, you receive a daily allowance. In site, you receive about $300 per month. Which is said to be more than sufficient, with some left over. Banking accounts are available with ATM, Debits functions.
Converter: For electricity, you will need a converter.
Clothing: 1 dressy outfit for swearing in, business type clothes for training, less business-y (jeans) for site. A good rain coat and fleece are a necessity.
Friday, January 09, 2004
Here's what I've found out about...
Water and bathing -
everyone's situation is different. I have a cold shower in the health post in my village that I use if absolutely necessary. Usually, I heat up a bucket of water and bucket bathe. That is what a lot of people do, I think, in service and during training. Few houses have hot water, but those that do have electric showers. I brought a solar shower with me, but don't really use it.
Clothing -
since I bathe about once or twice a week, I change my clothes about once or twice a week, too. I wear jeans and long sleeved shirts mostly. In the Andes, it is hot during the day and cold and rainy in the afternoon and night. I would make sure to bring a good fleece and a good raincoat. Also, a pair of hiking boots that is waterproof. It really depends on where you will be placed- I don't think that those in Piura get much rain. But in Ancash/Huaraz, we get a lot.
Mail -
while in training, you'll receive mail at the training center. Once in your site, all of the nearby volunteers share a PO Box in the regional city. Mail can take anywhere from 10 days to 2 months to arrive. Letters almost always get here, but packages can be a crapshoot. I have received a lot of packages, but three have been lost in the mail. Never make them over 4 pounds or they are really expensive and you will have to pay customs taxes on them. Also, if the contents are new or expensive (ex. Discman), customs might keep 8it as a Christmas present. Tell people not to send anything that they or you would be devastated if it didn't make it to you.
Water and bathing -
everyone's situation is different. I have a cold shower in the health post in my village that I use if absolutely necessary. Usually, I heat up a bucket of water and bucket bathe. That is what a lot of people do, I think, in service and during training. Few houses have hot water, but those that do have electric showers. I brought a solar shower with me, but don't really use it.
Clothing -
since I bathe about once or twice a week, I change my clothes about once or twice a week, too. I wear jeans and long sleeved shirts mostly. In the Andes, it is hot during the day and cold and rainy in the afternoon and night. I would make sure to bring a good fleece and a good raincoat. Also, a pair of hiking boots that is waterproof. It really depends on where you will be placed- I don't think that those in Piura get much rain. But in Ancash/Huaraz, we get a lot.
Mail -
while in training, you'll receive mail at the training center. Once in your site, all of the nearby volunteers share a PO Box in the regional city. Mail can take anywhere from 10 days to 2 months to arrive. Letters almost always get here, but packages can be a crapshoot. I have received a lot of packages, but three have been lost in the mail. Never make them over 4 pounds or they are really expensive and you will have to pay customs taxes on them. Also, if the contents are new or expensive (ex. Discman), customs might keep 8it as a Christmas present. Tell people not to send anything that they or you would be devastated if it didn't make it to you.
Monday, January 05, 2004
Hello! I just received emails from my fellow Peru Youth Development group members. How exciting!! We all received an email from the Peru Director welcoming us to the program. She reminded us that we are the FIRST Youth Development Program to enter Peru, with only 2 other programs there now. Quoting her, "We are very proud of the new program and very pleased with the welcome PC has received throughout the country." She also mentioned that if any of my friends or family members have questions, feel free to contact her at kraftery@pe.peacecorps.gov
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Tuesday, December 09, 2003
Looks like the weather is going to be pretty nice in Lima for my three months of training. After that, the weather will depend on where I am posted. If I'm in the Andes in central Peru, then the days are warm (the sun is really strong), but the afternoons are really rainy and cold. If I'm in northern Peru, near Ecuador, then it will be mostly warm. My contacts tell me you can buy anything you need in Lima. Lima has a mall just like the states called Jockey Plaza, with prices that are a bit higher. That certainly reassures me on the pressures of packing.
Tuesday, December 02, 2003
In my search for information of travelling to Peru, it looks like I'll need a hiker's backpack and rolling duffle bag for packing. Most of the advice I've received says that I should be able to carry all I bring. How in the world do you pack for 2 years and be able to carry it on your back?
My contact in Peru says that she is about 35 minutes from the city of Huaraz where she has access to email and phones. I guess that's better than NO access, right?
My contact in Peru says that she is about 35 minutes from the city of Huaraz where she has access to email and phones. I guess that's better than NO access, right?
Wednesday, November 19, 2003
Friday, November 14, 2003
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
Hello! As you probably already know or heard, I've joined the Peace Corps. And I'm extremely excited to be going to Peru, February 2004. It has been an arduous and often-times frustrating application process. I've actually been working on this endeavor since March 2002, prior to my college graduation. But it is only now in the last couple of weeks, that I've received information of my placement.
I will venture to Lima, Peru on February 20, 2004 for 3 months of intensive training as a Youth Development Facilitator. As the third group of Volunteers to re-enter Peru in more than 28 years, it will be challenging because of the lack of local knowledge of Peace Corps' mission and role in a community. I will serve in Peace Corps Peru for 2 years.
They (Peace Corps Staff) tell me that Peru is a beautiful and diverse country, about the size of Alaska. 60 percent of the population is under the age 25. Peru suffers from extreme poverty, low levels of education, and massive urban migration. I will be working with a high-risk population to primarily carry out educational activities. I will probably be working with local schools, health centers, and non-governmental agencies to strengthen education, life skills, and employability. I will probably be placed in a rural community and live with a family during my entire service. This policy exists so volunteers can fully integrate into the community and to enhance safety. I will more than likely have electricity and running water.
Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support. When the time comes, please feel free to visit me in South America!!
I will venture to Lima, Peru on February 20, 2004 for 3 months of intensive training as a Youth Development Facilitator. As the third group of Volunteers to re-enter Peru in more than 28 years, it will be challenging because of the lack of local knowledge of Peace Corps' mission and role in a community. I will serve in Peace Corps Peru for 2 years.
They (Peace Corps Staff) tell me that Peru is a beautiful and diverse country, about the size of Alaska. 60 percent of the population is under the age 25. Peru suffers from extreme poverty, low levels of education, and massive urban migration. I will be working with a high-risk population to primarily carry out educational activities. I will probably be working with local schools, health centers, and non-governmental agencies to strengthen education, life skills, and employability. I will probably be placed in a rural community and live with a family during my entire service. This policy exists so volunteers can fully integrate into the community and to enhance safety. I will more than likely have electricity and running water.
Thank you for your continued thoughts, prayers, and support. When the time comes, please feel free to visit me in South America!!
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