Hey guys, its Jordan! Anyway Stanson wanted me to post this to his blog for all to read! He sends his love!
Hey;
no lions or tigers yet; no nothing yet: it is actually boing in the small town i am in but better than being stuck in the hotel... we were not allowed to leave because there was a big soccer match, it was the deciding factor for the world cup or not & it was a tie: i have been sick for the last couple days, my stomach is cramping fever cold chills; being sick in africa is nothing like being sick in the states: it sucks: it started the first day i got to my host family's house: i felt bad but i was in bed by eight: I am feeling much better now though. still stomach pain but it is a big adjustment: it is to be expected: It was horrible though.. started questioning why i was here but it was the sickness. I am really excited now. The 7pm curfew sucks but you know. The host family is cool and friendly, all 13 of them! yes that is right there is 14 people living in my house, lots of cute little kids some older ones that are really helpful. They help me practice french which is nice! cameroon is way more developed than madagascar, i have eletric tv computer and fridge, running water and an indoor toilet! there are actually several cute girls: and more girls than guys so that works out in my favor: nothing going on in that sector though not to worried about it: if something happens it happens if not then so be it: everyone is cool as a group guys and gals so that is all i am concerned about: people to lean on when i am in my weakness and wanting t come home: anyway i love ya and need to get going
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Dear Prospective Volunteers:
Please give this letter to your family and ask them to hold on to it for as long as you are in Cameroon.
Communication
Due to recent technological advances (email, international SMS, etc.), Americans have become increasingly accustomed to immediate and convenient communication. This is increasingly becoming the case for Volunteers in Cameroon, although frustrations, particularly with traditional “snail mail” do remain. Peace Corps Cameroon would like to emphasize the following points to give you a realistic picture of the means of communication available to Volunteers in Cameroon before they leave home:
1. Traditional snail mail still takes a long time and is not reliable. A letter sent from the US will typically take a minimum of 3 weeks to reach a Volunteer in Cameroon. Packages and envelopes that appear to contain valuables still go missing with disheartening frequency. If you are going to regret something if it is lost or stolen, don’t send it.
2. Cell phone service will soon cover the entire country – although many volunteers will still be posted to areas where network may not yet be available. With the ubiquity of telephone and email, volunteers and family members may want to set up schedules for communication to prevent unnecessary worry when systems go down.
3. In the case of an emergency, Families should contact Peace Corps/Washington to the Office of Special Services. Please see specific instructions below. This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
4. All inquiries concerning Volunteers, mail, conditions in Cameroon, other non-emergency inquiries, etc. should be directed to the Cameroon Country Desk in Peace Corps Washington (see below). This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
5. Cyber cafés now exist in all the larger cities and many of the smaller ones in Cameroon. However, due to infrastructure problems and the limited service, e-mail is not totally reliable and often slow.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency situation in Cameroon, Peace Corps/Cameroon will notify the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps in Washington. OSS will in turn telephone the family of the Volunteer(s) involved.
In the event of an emergency (death in the family, serious accident or illness, etc.), family/friends should contact the Office of Special Services in Washington. The telephone numbers are 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470, or (202) 692-1470. Someone can be reached at this number 24/7 including weekends and holidays.
If you have an important question regarding a news report on Cameroon, you may contact the Country Desk Unit. However, the Desk will not always be aware of specific information, such as what individual Volunteer's vacation schedules are, how long it takes for mail to arrive at specific Volunteer posts, etc. The number for the Country Desk Unit is 1-800-424-8580 extension 2326/2325, or (202) 692-2326/2325.
Volunteers often enjoy telling their "war" stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Please do not assume that if your family member had a malaria attack that he/she has been unattended. There are two excellent Peace Corps Medical Officers in Yaoundé and one of them is always on call. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer will be treated in Yaoundé and cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Cameroon, he/she will be medically evacuated to a location that will be able to care for their medical needs. Normally these locations are either the United States, Senegal or South Africa. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
Mail
Few countries in the world offer the quality of postal service that we consider normal in the U.S. Volunteers, family and friends who expect U.S. standards for mail service will be disappointed. Mail takes a minimum of three weeks to arrive in Cameroon and may take several months. Some mail may not arrive at all (this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Some letters may arrive with clipped edges because postal workers have tried to see if any money was inside (again, this is rare, but it does happen). We do not want to sound discouraging, but when we are thousands of miles from our families and friends, communication becomes a very sensitive issue. We would prefer you be forewarned of the reality of mail service in the developing world.
Despite delays, we strongly encourage Volunteers to write to their families regularly. Family members will typically become worried when they do not hear from their Volunteer, so parents, friends, and relatives should be advised that mail is sporadic and that they shouldn't worry if they don't receive their Volunteer's letters regularly.
In the past we have noticed a common Volunteer letter writing pattern that particularly disturbs families and friends. During training and their first three to six months at post, Volunteers write home frequently. They are adapting to a totally new environment (which can be very difficult), and writing helps them process the new sights and sounds. However, once Volunteers feel at home with their surroundings and their work starts to take off, many simply forget to write home for long periods of time. Please don't be overly concerned if there is a break in correspondence three to six months after your Volunteer arrives at post!
However, if a family member or friends does not receive mail from a Volunteer for over three months, then that person may contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington (1-800-424-8580, extension 1470). OSS will then send a "health and welfare” inquiry to the Peace Corps Country Director in Yaoundé and ask him to check up on the PCV.
Typically, Volunteers are in regular contact with the Peace Corps/Cameroon office in Yaounde. However, as necessary, to respond to a “health and welfare” inquiry, the office in Yaounde will contact a Volunteer at his or her site by making a series of phone calls, radio contacts, or even sending a staff member to the site (which means several days travel in some cases). The PCV will then be asked to write home and the Country Director will inform OSS with information to pass on to family members. As you can see, this is a time-consuming process that affects quite a few people. Peace Corps asks Volunteers and their families to try to avoid both heartache and headaches by maintaining a regular pattern of writing to loved ones.
Most packages sent to Cameroon arrive (sometimes a few months late). Nevertheless DO NOT send things that have important sentimental or monetary value. Don't send expensive items, such as the Volunteer's favorite pair of one-carat diamond earrings. Items such as Walkman speakers, food, and clothing have usually arrived with no problem, but it's expensive for the sender and receiver. If sending packages, "bubble envelopes" work best. If sending any food items, put them inside a ziploc bag. This will reduce chances that bugs or rodents will devour them.
For the first 3 months after your Volunteer’s arrival in Cameroon, mail should be sent to the following address:
Name, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Once Volunteers complete training and are at their posts, the quickest way to send mail is to send letters and packages directly to your Volunteer's address at post. Remind your Volunteer to relay their mailing address at post as soon as they know what it will be. If you do not know your Volunteer's address at post, mail can be sent to the Yaoundé address above the entire time the Volunteer is in Cameroon. Please realize that mail sent to this address will be held in Yaoundé until sent out on a bi-weekly basis to Volunteer posts (thereby delaying delivery for up to several weeks).
The following suggestions and postal regulations may be useful:
1. Mail should be sent directly to the Yaoundé address, OR directly to your Volunteer's post address once training is finished.
2. Both Volunteers and family members should number letters sent so that the receiver can determine whether any letters do not arrive.
3. Packages should be sent via air, not surface mail (surface mail has been known to take longer than two years to arrive.)
4. Sending packages to your Volunteer in Cameroon is a risky proposition. Theft of packages is not only a problem in the Cameroonian postal system, it also occurs on the U.S. side. Although occasionally a package arrives quickly and without problems, it may take months or it may get "lost" along the way. Therefore, it is not advisable to send valuables this way.
5. If you do send packages, bubble envelopes seem to work better than large boxes. They are less tempting to would-be thieves. The sender should clearly and honestly mark the contents on the outside of the package, but a general description of the contents is sufficient: "clothing and candy" rather than "Nike high top sneakers and 2 lbs. Godiva chocolate."
6. Express mail is an expensive option that may take just as long to get to Cameroon. Perhaps a more secure option than regular airmail for documents, checks, etc., it is subject to more scrutiny by Cameroonian customs than regular mail. For items other than documents, Peace Corps staff has to submit import licenses to customs, and clearance can take up to 10 days. Thus, you may not necessarily save any time by using Express mail. DHL and UPS operate in Cameroon for those important documents. Note that current prices for these services run around $100.00 for one pound or less.
7. There is a tax which Volunteers will have to pay on all packages received before they can retrieve them from the post office. This tax varies according to the size of the package. It might be a nice gesture from friends or family to send a six-pack of Mountain Dew, but it may cost a Volunteer up to $10.00 to get it out of the post office.
8. Packages sent to the Yaoundé office are sent regularly to Volunteer posts. This may delay delivery to the Volunteer by up to several weeks.
9. If Volunteers wish to send a package from Yaoundé to the States, Cameroon postal rates are high and insurance is not available. For this reason, many Volunteers wait to send packages with returning PCVs (whom they ask first, in country) or wait until their Completion of Service (COS) date to send home gifts and souvenirs. Letters going to the States through the Cameroon post have been quite dependable.
10. US postage-stamped letters can be put in the "next traveler" box at the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé, to be hand carried by the next person going Stateside. Note that this is a courtesy, not an obligation, and Volunteers shouldn't expect any traveler to carry more than letter mail, unless special arrangements are made with the individual. Air travelers may be required to open letters and packages and/or submit them to X-rays, especially when they don't belong to the traveler.
11. The Cameroon Desk in Peace Corps Headquarters, Washington, is available to answer Volunteer & families' questions about mail. Due to staff and budget constraints, they cannot, however, facilitate the sending of personal mail for Trainees and Volunteers.
Telephones
All major cities and increasing numbers of remote towns in Cameroon have access to telephone and FAX services. Almost all volunteers now have cell phones (GSM). This has greatly improved Volunteers’ ability to communicate with their family and friends in the U.S.
The cost of calling the U.S. can be expensive. Often a Volunteer will place a short call to a friend or family member and have them return the call. Please explain this to family & friends so that they are not concerned when Volunteers call, relay a number and then hang up or are cut off!
E-mail
Email is now available and quite reliable in almost all provincial capitals. Most Volunteers open an account with yahoo, hotmail or gmail.
Diplomatic Pouch
The diplomatic pouch is meant for official business of the US Government only. Since Volunteers are not considered employees or agents of the government, they are not entitled to the use of the pouch.
Sending Money to Volunteers
While Peace Corps does not restrict Volunteers from receiving money from their families, please bear in mind that receiving money from abroad may lead to perceptions by Cameroonians that mitigate against some of the goals that the Volunteer is trying to achieve (i.e., acceptance in the community). Unfortunately, there are no simple methods to transfer money to Cameroon. Please note that Peace Corps is not able to transfer personal funds from the United States to a Volunteer or Trainee.
Credit Cards - Visa and American Express credit cards can be used in a few hotels and restaurants in major cities (Douala, Yaoundé and rarely in provincial capitals). Some can also be used to obtain cash advances at banks in Douala and Yaoundé. Some Volunteers bring credit cards and arrange for a family member to make payments from savings or a checking account in the U.S. Volunteers find credit cards particularly useful when traveling after their Peace Corps service. In setting up arrangements such as this, it is best to designate a family member with "Power of Attorney" to act on behalf of the Volunteer. Note that credit card and identify fraud are rampant in Cameroon and volunteers are advised not to use credit cards for any purpose.
Visiting Volunteers
Peace Corps Cameroon encourages family and friends to visit Volunteers. However, experience has shown that visits should be carefully timed so as not to interfere with the Volunteer's service or with integration into their community. First, visitors are not permitted during a Volunteer's pre-service training or during the first three months at post. Peace Corps has learned from forty years of experience that Volunteers adapt better to training and to their sites if they are not distracted by visitors during these critical periods.
The best time for visits are after a Volunteer has spent at least six months at post. They have established themselves in their community and have honed their language skills. Thus they are better able to host visitors. They also have a better understanding of Cameroon and have a clear idea of what sights they would like to show you! Note that Volunteers' supervisors discourage them from receiving visitors during peak periods.
Answers to Some Common Questions
Can Volunteers travel to the United States while on vacation?
Volunteers may travel, at their own expense, to the United States or a third country with the permission of the Peace Corps Country Director. The Country Director will normally authorize travel as long as the Volunteer has accrued the required vacation time and the trip will not take him or her away from the site during peak work periods. Note: Volunteers can not take annual leave during the first three months of service and the last three months of service.
How can family/friends in the United States send plane tickets or documents to Volunteers in Cameroon?
The best method is to have the items hand carried by a person who is traveling to Cameroon. For example, if another Volunteer is home on vacation or is having a family member come to visit them at post, arrange to have the items mailed to the traveler in the States and then have them carry the items to your country of service. (Please be aware that you and your PCV must make all arrangements yourselves).
Another reliable, but expensive, method is to have plane tickets or other documents sent by DHL or UPS. These types of carriers are able to ship documents from the States to the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé. The price will vary but the minimum cost is currently $75.00 to $100.00 for up to one pound of documents.
Will family members or friends be able to send facsimile messages to Volunteer in Cameroon?
Use of the facsimile machines in the Peace Corps office is restricted to official purposes only. Volunteers can receive faxes through numerous private Tele-boutiques located all over the country. As the Tele-boutiques rely on telephones and the telephone infrastructure is poor, this service is not always reliable. If you would like to send a FAX to your Volunteer, please ask them for the fax numbers nearest them.
Please give this letter to your family and ask them to hold on to it for as long as you are in Cameroon.
Communication
Due to recent technological advances (email, international SMS, etc.), Americans have become increasingly accustomed to immediate and convenient communication. This is increasingly becoming the case for Volunteers in Cameroon, although frustrations, particularly with traditional “snail mail” do remain. Peace Corps Cameroon would like to emphasize the following points to give you a realistic picture of the means of communication available to Volunteers in Cameroon before they leave home:
1. Traditional snail mail still takes a long time and is not reliable. A letter sent from the US will typically take a minimum of 3 weeks to reach a Volunteer in Cameroon. Packages and envelopes that appear to contain valuables still go missing with disheartening frequency. If you are going to regret something if it is lost or stolen, don’t send it.
2. Cell phone service will soon cover the entire country – although many volunteers will still be posted to areas where network may not yet be available. With the ubiquity of telephone and email, volunteers and family members may want to set up schedules for communication to prevent unnecessary worry when systems go down.
3. In the case of an emergency, Families should contact Peace Corps/Washington to the Office of Special Services. Please see specific instructions below. This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
4. All inquiries concerning Volunteers, mail, conditions in Cameroon, other non-emergency inquiries, etc. should be directed to the Cameroon Country Desk in Peace Corps Washington (see below). This will insure that family inquiries are handled in the most efficient manner.
5. Cyber cafés now exist in all the larger cities and many of the smaller ones in Cameroon. However, due to infrastructure problems and the limited service, e-mail is not totally reliable and often slow.
Emergencies
In the event of an emergency situation in Cameroon, Peace Corps/Cameroon will notify the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps in Washington. OSS will in turn telephone the family of the Volunteer(s) involved.
In the event of an emergency (death in the family, serious accident or illness, etc.), family/friends should contact the Office of Special Services in Washington. The telephone numbers are 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470, or (202) 692-1470. Someone can be reached at this number 24/7 including weekends and holidays.
If you have an important question regarding a news report on Cameroon, you may contact the Country Desk Unit. However, the Desk will not always be aware of specific information, such as what individual Volunteer's vacation schedules are, how long it takes for mail to arrive at specific Volunteer posts, etc. The number for the Country Desk Unit is 1-800-424-8580 extension 2326/2325, or (202) 692-2326/2325.
Volunteers often enjoy telling their "war" stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Please do not assume that if your family member had a malaria attack that he/she has been unattended. There are two excellent Peace Corps Medical Officers in Yaoundé and one of them is always on call. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer will be treated in Yaoundé and cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Cameroon, he/she will be medically evacuated to a location that will be able to care for their medical needs. Normally these locations are either the United States, Senegal or South Africa. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
Few countries in the world offer the quality of postal service that we consider normal in the U.S. Volunteers, family and friends who expect U.S. standards for mail service will be disappointed. Mail takes a minimum of three weeks to arrive in Cameroon and may take several months. Some mail may not arrive at all (this is not a frequent occurrence, but it does happen). Some letters may arrive with clipped edges because postal workers have tried to see if any money was inside (again, this is rare, but it does happen). We do not want to sound discouraging, but when we are thousands of miles from our families and friends, communication becomes a very sensitive issue. We would prefer you be forewarned of the reality of mail service in the developing world.
Despite delays, we strongly encourage Volunteers to write to their families regularly. Family members will typically become worried when they do not hear from their Volunteer, so parents, friends, and relatives should be advised that mail is sporadic and that they shouldn't worry if they don't receive their Volunteer's letters regularly.
In the past we have noticed a common Volunteer letter writing pattern that particularly disturbs families and friends. During training and their first three to six months at post, Volunteers write home frequently. They are adapting to a totally new environment (which can be very difficult), and writing helps them process the new sights and sounds. However, once Volunteers feel at home with their surroundings and their work starts to take off, many simply forget to write home for long periods of time. Please don't be overly concerned if there is a break in correspondence three to six months after your Volunteer arrives at post!
However, if a family member or friends does not receive mail from a Volunteer for over three months, then that person may contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington (1-800-424-8580, extension 1470). OSS will then send a "health and welfare” inquiry to the Peace Corps Country Director in Yaoundé and ask him to check up on the PCV.
Typically, Volunteers are in regular contact with the Peace Corps/Cameroon office in Yaounde. However, as necessary, to respond to a “health and welfare” inquiry, the office in Yaounde will contact a Volunteer at his or her site by making a series of phone calls, radio contacts, or even sending a staff member to the site (which means several days travel in some cases). The PCV will then be asked to write home and the Country Director will inform OSS with information to pass on to family members. As you can see, this is a time-consuming process that affects quite a few people. Peace Corps asks Volunteers and their families to try to avoid both heartache and headaches by maintaining a regular pattern of writing to loved ones.
Most packages sent to Cameroon arrive (sometimes a few months late). Nevertheless DO NOT send things that have important sentimental or monetary value. Don't send expensive items, such as the Volunteer's favorite pair of one-carat diamond earrings. Items such as Walkman speakers, food, and clothing have usually arrived with no problem, but it's expensive for the sender and receiver. If sending packages, "bubble envelopes" work best. If sending any food items, put them inside a ziploc bag. This will reduce chances that bugs or rodents will devour them.
For the first 3 months after your Volunteer’s arrival in Cameroon, mail should be sent to the following address:
Name, Peace Corps Volunteer
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 215
Yaoundé, Cameroon
Once Volunteers complete training and are at their posts, the quickest way to send mail is to send letters and packages directly to your Volunteer's address at post. Remind your Volunteer to relay their mailing address at post as soon as they know what it will be. If you do not know your Volunteer's address at post, mail can be sent to the Yaoundé address above the entire time the Volunteer is in Cameroon. Please realize that mail sent to this address will be held in Yaoundé until sent out on a bi-weekly basis to Volunteer posts (thereby delaying delivery for up to several weeks).
The following suggestions and postal regulations may be useful:
1. Mail should be sent directly to the Yaoundé address, OR directly to your Volunteer's post address once training is finished.
2. Both Volunteers and family members should number letters sent so that the receiver can determine whether any letters do not arrive.
3. Packages should be sent via air, not surface mail (surface mail has been known to take longer than two years to arrive.)
4. Sending packages to your Volunteer in Cameroon is a risky proposition. Theft of packages is not only a problem in the Cameroonian postal system, it also occurs on the U.S. side. Although occasionally a package arrives quickly and without problems, it may take months or it may get "lost" along the way. Therefore, it is not advisable to send valuables this way.
5. If you do send packages, bubble envelopes seem to work better than large boxes. They are less tempting to would-be thieves. The sender should clearly and honestly mark the contents on the outside of the package, but a general description of the contents is sufficient: "clothing and candy" rather than "Nike high top sneakers and 2 lbs. Godiva chocolate."
6. Express mail is an expensive option that may take just as long to get to Cameroon. Perhaps a more secure option than regular airmail for documents, checks, etc., it is subject to more scrutiny by Cameroonian customs than regular mail. For items other than documents, Peace Corps staff has to submit import licenses to customs, and clearance can take up to 10 days. Thus, you may not necessarily save any time by using Express mail. DHL and UPS operate in Cameroon for those important documents. Note that current prices for these services run around $100.00 for one pound or less.
7. There is a tax which Volunteers will have to pay on all packages received before they can retrieve them from the post office. This tax varies according to the size of the package. It might be a nice gesture from friends or family to send a six-pack of Mountain Dew, but it may cost a Volunteer up to $10.00 to get it out of the post office.
8. Packages sent to the Yaoundé office are sent regularly to Volunteer posts. This may delay delivery to the Volunteer by up to several weeks.
9. If Volunteers wish to send a package from Yaoundé to the States, Cameroon postal rates are high and insurance is not available. For this reason, many Volunteers wait to send packages with returning PCVs (whom they ask first, in country) or wait until their Completion of Service (COS) date to send home gifts and souvenirs. Letters going to the States through the Cameroon post have been quite dependable.
10. US postage-stamped letters can be put in the "next traveler" box at the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé, to be hand carried by the next person going Stateside. Note that this is a courtesy, not an obligation, and Volunteers shouldn't expect any traveler to carry more than letter mail, unless special arrangements are made with the individual. Air travelers may be required to open letters and packages and/or submit them to X-rays, especially when they don't belong to the traveler.
11. The Cameroon Desk in Peace Corps Headquarters, Washington, is available to answer Volunteer & families' questions about mail. Due to staff and budget constraints, they cannot, however, facilitate the sending of personal mail for Trainees and Volunteers.
Telephones
All major cities and increasing numbers of remote towns in Cameroon have access to telephone and FAX services. Almost all volunteers now have cell phones (GSM). This has greatly improved Volunteers’ ability to communicate with their family and friends in the U.S.
The cost of calling the U.S. can be expensive. Often a Volunteer will place a short call to a friend or family member and have them return the call. Please explain this to family & friends so that they are not concerned when Volunteers call, relay a number and then hang up or are cut off!
Email is now available and quite reliable in almost all provincial capitals. Most Volunteers open an account with yahoo, hotmail or gmail.
Diplomatic Pouch
The diplomatic pouch is meant for official business of the US Government only. Since Volunteers are not considered employees or agents of the government, they are not entitled to the use of the pouch.
Sending Money to Volunteers
While Peace Corps does not restrict Volunteers from receiving money from their families, please bear in mind that receiving money from abroad may lead to perceptions by Cameroonians that mitigate against some of the goals that the Volunteer is trying to achieve (i.e., acceptance in the community). Unfortunately, there are no simple methods to transfer money to Cameroon. Please note that Peace Corps is not able to transfer personal funds from the United States to a Volunteer or Trainee.
Credit Cards - Visa and American Express credit cards can be used in a few hotels and restaurants in major cities (Douala, Yaoundé and rarely in provincial capitals). Some can also be used to obtain cash advances at banks in Douala and Yaoundé. Some Volunteers bring credit cards and arrange for a family member to make payments from savings or a checking account in the U.S. Volunteers find credit cards particularly useful when traveling after their Peace Corps service. In setting up arrangements such as this, it is best to designate a family member with "Power of Attorney" to act on behalf of the Volunteer. Note that credit card and identify fraud are rampant in Cameroon and volunteers are advised not to use credit cards for any purpose.
Visiting Volunteers
Peace Corps Cameroon encourages family and friends to visit Volunteers. However, experience has shown that visits should be carefully timed so as not to interfere with the Volunteer's service or with integration into their community. First, visitors are not permitted during a Volunteer's pre-service training or during the first three months at post. Peace Corps has learned from forty years of experience that Volunteers adapt better to training and to their sites if they are not distracted by visitors during these critical periods.
The best time for visits are after a Volunteer has spent at least six months at post. They have established themselves in their community and have honed their language skills. Thus they are better able to host visitors. They also have a better understanding of Cameroon and have a clear idea of what sights they would like to show you! Note that Volunteers' supervisors discourage them from receiving visitors during peak periods.
Answers to Some Common Questions
Can Volunteers travel to the United States while on vacation?
Volunteers may travel, at their own expense, to the United States or a third country with the permission of the Peace Corps Country Director. The Country Director will normally authorize travel as long as the Volunteer has accrued the required vacation time and the trip will not take him or her away from the site during peak work periods. Note: Volunteers can not take annual leave during the first three months of service and the last three months of service.
How can family/friends in the United States send plane tickets or documents to Volunteers in Cameroon?
The best method is to have the items hand carried by a person who is traveling to Cameroon. For example, if another Volunteer is home on vacation or is having a family member come to visit them at post, arrange to have the items mailed to the traveler in the States and then have them carry the items to your country of service. (Please be aware that you and your PCV must make all arrangements yourselves).
Another reliable, but expensive, method is to have plane tickets or other documents sent by DHL or UPS. These types of carriers are able to ship documents from the States to the Peace Corps office in Yaoundé. The price will vary but the minimum cost is currently $75.00 to $100.00 for up to one pound of documents.
Will family members or friends be able to send facsimile messages to Volunteer in Cameroon?
Use of the facsimile machines in the Peace Corps office is restricted to official purposes only. Volunteers can receive faxes through numerous private Tele-boutiques located all over the country. As the Tele-boutiques rely on telephones and the telephone infrastructure is poor, this service is not always reliable. If you would like to send a FAX to your Volunteer, please ask them for the fax numbers nearest them.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
P.C.V. Philly 03/09/09-03/10/09
Finally, I had made it to the airport. As we slowly descended the escalators with my luggage in tow I could see the watering eyes of my family and Jordan. I kept think to myself what could I say to make this easier on them but nothing came to mind. It is what it is, I was leaving my family and friends for 27 months, I would not see them until December when I came back for a short trip.
I made it to the check in counter after hauling my lugging up and down the front of the airport searching for the correct check in counter, which happened to be undefined. I paid my luggage fee and headed to the counter. The clerk greeted me with a big smile and took my luggage which I am happy to say was 1 pound shy of the limit! As we stood around their eyes watering, tears flowing down my moms face, I felt a multitude of emotions. I was happy to finally begin my service, but very said to say goodbye. I felt guilt, but knew there was nothing to be truly guilty about. After I finished hugging and kissing my family I headed through security and to my gate.
There I was finally getting on the plane, I was boarding! As I looked around I thought the myself “what the hell is this”? I looked like a large Lincoln with wings. Did I just board a crop duster or what? I seriously thought it was a prop plane it was so small. This completely ruined my plans of crashing on the plane because every small air pocket we hit rocked the shook the plane violently. It was rather annoying! Oh well, it was only to Memphis right? We made it to Memphis on time, nothing too much to see, I grab a bite to eat because I knew I would not get to eat once I got to Philly. I got to my gate and had a few minutes before boarding. I choose to remain standing. They loaded the 1st class people then called for general boarding. I was first in line, I handed in my ticket and they scanned it. I was about to proceed when I dropped my folder with all my paper work in it. It scattered everywhere. I heard people behind me making comments as the ticket taker assisted my in gathering the papers. To bad he could not help me gather my humiliation.
I got on the plane; only to realize it was the same crop duster I was in from OKC. Great here we go again! I get to my chair and take a cramped seat as I think these things were built to seat 5 year olds because there is obviously not enough room for an adult. The guy I sat next to was pretty nice; it was a sophomore at Florida so we talked about the game some and then about random subjects. Once we reached the fact of the reason I was headed to Philly he told me his father had also done the P.C. route and how much he loved it. I felt once again that this is the right decision for me.
Tired, beginning to get irritable with the fact that I could not sleep because we hit every air pocket between Memphis and Philly I was finally able to get off the plane! We arrived early which means I might actually make it in time. I get my shuttle, it took them like 15 minutes to get to the airport, and everything is working out so far. Philly was not the most attractive city; the buildings were pretty run down. We drive through downtown, which was pretty nice, then over to University City. We were staying in the Sheraton across from the University of Penn’s campus. I began to like this area of Philly, it reminded me of an old dirty European City, yet very cool.
I check in, and ask where the closest connivance store was; they inform me the Wawa is across the street. I grab something to snack on and head to the Staging event. We all get checked in and finally introduced to Julie (the country desk in D.C.) and Leonard (the helped with the staging event). They stand up and give us a little information, and then they call for Rosy (I think) to come speak with us. She is an associate Director at P.C.; she has a bad look on her face. I look around and the rest of the P.C.V.s are starting to get the same feeling I am. She stated that she was there today to deliver some news, it was not good news, and we all knew what was coming. “You are not going to be able to board the plane to Madagascar tomorrow”. Some of the girls were tearing up, everyone hearts and enthusiasm sank as be began wondering what we were going to do? We had sold cars, quit jobs, cancelled insurance, cancelled cell phones; basically quit everything in our lives back home. We had student loans coming due, which we thought were going to be deferred due to the Peace Corp service. They continued to brief us about the situation in Madagascar (the Major went into hiding due to the President issuing an arrest warrant for him, the UN took him in and was protecting him, some of the army is committing mutiny). They told us that they were sending us back home tomorrow and went through some logistics. They paid us what they were allowed to pay us, $100.00 and told us they were taking us to dinner at 6. Some of us went to grab a few drinks then headed back to the hotel.
Everyone was heart broken; we had come all this way only to be turned back, sent home to begin again. We have fallen in love with a country that we will no longer get to see or help. We have been waiting for so long for this opportunity to only have it jerked out from under us at the very moment it was set to begin. Some of us don’t have anything to go home to, everyone has liquidated everything, has new bills to pay and no income to pay them with. It is a bummer of situation to be dealt but it is at the fault at no one. It is just as it is, an unfortunate event that has caused problems in 32 young peoples lives in which we are going to have to figure out what to do. In a way it will better prepare us for our eventual service as P.C.V.s.
We went to dinner with the staff from D.C., they were nice and you could tell how truly sorry they were. You could see their eyes water, you could hear their voices quiver as they fought back they emotions and tried to remain professional. They actually cared about us and what they were putting us through, they wanted to help us in anyway they could however they were bound legally and could only do so much.
After dinner a bunch of us went to get some drinks on our 100 dollars that the PC gave us. We closed the bar down and went back to one of the rooms and hung out. I fell asleep around 330, woke up at 630 and went back to the airport. I boarded my plane to come home. I got home around 330 to find out my luggage decided not to accompany me home. FML!
This experience has brought a range of emotions; in the end I will be okay. It has reaffirmed my commitment to the Peace Corps and what they are trying to do. I plan to continue down this path, however I am open to all opportunities. I will update you all with my new assignment once I find out what it is. I would say you could call but I am still without a cell phone, it is my next project once I find out when and where I am going.
I am setting here feeling the growing pressure of facing everyone again, after already saying my goodbyes twice. I will now be forced to say them again. Although I do realize this is not my fault, I still feel as though I have been very unsuccessful in meeting my dreams and dragging everyone along with me. I hope one day I will be able to board that plane as a Peace Corps Volunteer. For the moment I am at home, setting by the phone waiting on a call from the Peace Corps and trying to piece my life back together.
I am truly sorry that this is playing with everyone’s emotions.
I made it to the check in counter after hauling my lugging up and down the front of the airport searching for the correct check in counter, which happened to be undefined. I paid my luggage fee and headed to the counter. The clerk greeted me with a big smile and took my luggage which I am happy to say was 1 pound shy of the limit! As we stood around their eyes watering, tears flowing down my moms face, I felt a multitude of emotions. I was happy to finally begin my service, but very said to say goodbye. I felt guilt, but knew there was nothing to be truly guilty about. After I finished hugging and kissing my family I headed through security and to my gate.
There I was finally getting on the plane, I was boarding! As I looked around I thought the myself “what the hell is this”? I looked like a large Lincoln with wings. Did I just board a crop duster or what? I seriously thought it was a prop plane it was so small. This completely ruined my plans of crashing on the plane because every small air pocket we hit rocked the shook the plane violently. It was rather annoying! Oh well, it was only to Memphis right? We made it to Memphis on time, nothing too much to see, I grab a bite to eat because I knew I would not get to eat once I got to Philly. I got to my gate and had a few minutes before boarding. I choose to remain standing. They loaded the 1st class people then called for general boarding. I was first in line, I handed in my ticket and they scanned it. I was about to proceed when I dropped my folder with all my paper work in it. It scattered everywhere. I heard people behind me making comments as the ticket taker assisted my in gathering the papers. To bad he could not help me gather my humiliation.
I got on the plane; only to realize it was the same crop duster I was in from OKC. Great here we go again! I get to my chair and take a cramped seat as I think these things were built to seat 5 year olds because there is obviously not enough room for an adult. The guy I sat next to was pretty nice; it was a sophomore at Florida so we talked about the game some and then about random subjects. Once we reached the fact of the reason I was headed to Philly he told me his father had also done the P.C. route and how much he loved it. I felt once again that this is the right decision for me.
Tired, beginning to get irritable with the fact that I could not sleep because we hit every air pocket between Memphis and Philly I was finally able to get off the plane! We arrived early which means I might actually make it in time. I get my shuttle, it took them like 15 minutes to get to the airport, and everything is working out so far. Philly was not the most attractive city; the buildings were pretty run down. We drive through downtown, which was pretty nice, then over to University City. We were staying in the Sheraton across from the University of Penn’s campus. I began to like this area of Philly, it reminded me of an old dirty European City, yet very cool.
I check in, and ask where the closest connivance store was; they inform me the Wawa is across the street. I grab something to snack on and head to the Staging event. We all get checked in and finally introduced to Julie (the country desk in D.C.) and Leonard (the helped with the staging event). They stand up and give us a little information, and then they call for Rosy (I think) to come speak with us. She is an associate Director at P.C.; she has a bad look on her face. I look around and the rest of the P.C.V.s are starting to get the same feeling I am. She stated that she was there today to deliver some news, it was not good news, and we all knew what was coming. “You are not going to be able to board the plane to Madagascar tomorrow”. Some of the girls were tearing up, everyone hearts and enthusiasm sank as be began wondering what we were going to do? We had sold cars, quit jobs, cancelled insurance, cancelled cell phones; basically quit everything in our lives back home. We had student loans coming due, which we thought were going to be deferred due to the Peace Corp service. They continued to brief us about the situation in Madagascar (the Major went into hiding due to the President issuing an arrest warrant for him, the UN took him in and was protecting him, some of the army is committing mutiny). They told us that they were sending us back home tomorrow and went through some logistics. They paid us what they were allowed to pay us, $100.00 and told us they were taking us to dinner at 6. Some of us went to grab a few drinks then headed back to the hotel.
Everyone was heart broken; we had come all this way only to be turned back, sent home to begin again. We have fallen in love with a country that we will no longer get to see or help. We have been waiting for so long for this opportunity to only have it jerked out from under us at the very moment it was set to begin. Some of us don’t have anything to go home to, everyone has liquidated everything, has new bills to pay and no income to pay them with. It is a bummer of situation to be dealt but it is at the fault at no one. It is just as it is, an unfortunate event that has caused problems in 32 young peoples lives in which we are going to have to figure out what to do. In a way it will better prepare us for our eventual service as P.C.V.s.
We went to dinner with the staff from D.C., they were nice and you could tell how truly sorry they were. You could see their eyes water, you could hear their voices quiver as they fought back they emotions and tried to remain professional. They actually cared about us and what they were putting us through, they wanted to help us in anyway they could however they were bound legally and could only do so much.
After dinner a bunch of us went to get some drinks on our 100 dollars that the PC gave us. We closed the bar down and went back to one of the rooms and hung out. I fell asleep around 330, woke up at 630 and went back to the airport. I boarded my plane to come home. I got home around 330 to find out my luggage decided not to accompany me home. FML!
This experience has brought a range of emotions; in the end I will be okay. It has reaffirmed my commitment to the Peace Corps and what they are trying to do. I plan to continue down this path, however I am open to all opportunities. I will update you all with my new assignment once I find out what it is. I would say you could call but I am still without a cell phone, it is my next project once I find out when and where I am going.
I am setting here feeling the growing pressure of facing everyone again, after already saying my goodbyes twice. I will now be forced to say them again. Although I do realize this is not my fault, I still feel as though I have been very unsuccessful in meeting my dreams and dragging everyone along with me. I hope one day I will be able to board that plane as a Peace Corps Volunteer. For the moment I am at home, setting by the phone waiting on a call from the Peace Corps and trying to piece my life back together.
I am truly sorry that this is playing with everyone’s emotions.
Monday, March 9, 2009
So Long...for now
So here I am, it is 2 in the morning. I have two more hours to go before I have to get around for my next big adventure. Although I am sleep deprived and running on next to no fuel I cannot sleep. My mind is racing through the thoughts of my past and future. I keep contemplating what I am doing, if it is the right decision and the sadness I feel from leaving my family and friends. I am continuously reminded of what I am going to be missing at home. I think of my beautiful nieces and nephews growing older and missing that portion of their lives which bothers me tremendously. I think where my friends will be in two years and about those who I am sure to lose before my return. However, I also have the realization that not going would be a bigger mistake than staying here. There seems to be mounting reasons on why to stay, but only a couple to reasons to depart all that I know for the unknown.
I believe with all of my heart that if you are not improving the world then you are wasting your time. This does not mean every moment of everyday, and it does not have to be dramatic improvements. It could be as simple as volunteering at the local homeless shelter or mentoring kids. It could just as easily be helping an old lady across the street, making someone’s day. I have wasted plenty of my life being selfish, not doing the small things and in a way this is to help make up for my shortcomings. Not that I feel guilty or obligated, but more so that I know what I was giving pretty much at birth and has lasted the rest of my spoiled life, and I know that the other 97% of the world was not. I have been blessed and others have not. What type of person would I be if I simply enjoyed my privileged life without lending a hand to those who have not had the comfortable lifestyle that I take for granted?
I am not trying to fool anyone and make this sound like a completely selfless act because it is not. In my limited experience I have always gained more from helping than the people I have helped and I am sure it will be the same way in this situation. One of my goals is to live on all 6 major continents; this will be the third. Although it is not technically on the continent it can count for my goal as Africa. Another goal is completing grad school at some point in time, the Peace Corps is very well respected and looks great on resumes. Not to mention that they have programs that tie in with certain MBAs. Then there is that fact that I will also be on the beach drinking Mai Tai (sp) in my hammock, (just kidding)!
The pros are more than the cons, maybe not in this short post but in my mind they are, and more importantly in my heart. In the next couple of hours I will depart on a new adventure and a new chapter in my life. I will embark on the unknown, my future in a state of uncertainty. I hope that you can continue this journey with me, please keep me updated on what is going on in your lives and I will do the same.
I love you all, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. You have all in some way or another kept me going and lifted up. You are the heroes of my life. (I promise not all post will be this sappy and serious))
With love,
Stanson W. Dobbs
I believe with all of my heart that if you are not improving the world then you are wasting your time. This does not mean every moment of everyday, and it does not have to be dramatic improvements. It could be as simple as volunteering at the local homeless shelter or mentoring kids. It could just as easily be helping an old lady across the street, making someone’s day. I have wasted plenty of my life being selfish, not doing the small things and in a way this is to help make up for my shortcomings. Not that I feel guilty or obligated, but more so that I know what I was giving pretty much at birth and has lasted the rest of my spoiled life, and I know that the other 97% of the world was not. I have been blessed and others have not. What type of person would I be if I simply enjoyed my privileged life without lending a hand to those who have not had the comfortable lifestyle that I take for granted?
I am not trying to fool anyone and make this sound like a completely selfless act because it is not. In my limited experience I have always gained more from helping than the people I have helped and I am sure it will be the same way in this situation. One of my goals is to live on all 6 major continents; this will be the third. Although it is not technically on the continent it can count for my goal as Africa. Another goal is completing grad school at some point in time, the Peace Corps is very well respected and looks great on resumes. Not to mention that they have programs that tie in with certain MBAs. Then there is that fact that I will also be on the beach drinking Mai Tai (sp) in my hammock, (just kidding)!
The pros are more than the cons, maybe not in this short post but in my mind they are, and more importantly in my heart. In the next couple of hours I will depart on a new adventure and a new chapter in my life. I will embark on the unknown, my future in a state of uncertainty. I hope that you can continue this journey with me, please keep me updated on what is going on in your lives and I will do the same.
I love you all, thank you so much for your support and encouragement. You have all in some way or another kept me going and lifted up. You are the heroes of my life. (I promise not all post will be this sappy and serious))
With love,
Stanson W. Dobbs
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Shipping information
Dear Madagascar Trainee: Please give this letter to your family and ask them to hold on to it for as long as you are in Madagascar.
Dear Families and friends,
Greetings from the Madagascar Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member to the Peace Corps/Madagascar training program. During the past year we have received many questions from Volunteers and family members regarding communication, mail, and travel plans. As we are unable to involve ourselves in the personal arrangements of Volunteers, we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest you handle them. Peace Corps service certainly impacts more than just the trainee and we hope that this information will help ease some of the uncertainty which affects the families of Volunteers.
The Country Director has asked for us to emphasize the importance of communicating your concerns with us, the Madagascar Desk at Peace Corps/Washington, rather than with staff in Madagascar. This is critically important for a host of reasons. Madagascar has approximately 130 Volunteers and the in-country staff’s primary responsibility is the care and well being of your family member. The Peace Corps/Madagascar office does not have the capacity to assist family members who call seeking information. The Peace Corps/Madagascar office is in direct and frequent contact with the Madagascar Desk, especially during emergency situations such as cyclones. We, the Madagascar Desk, are well equipped to take your questions and talk about your concerns.
The Peace Corps experience can be an exciting, intimidating, and amazing experience for both the Volunteer and family. The Volunteers will learn a lot about Madagascar during their preparation for service and throughout their service of two years. This is also a great time for you to learn more about Madagascar, which may alleviate some of your concerns. For instance, Madagascar is a huge country (the fourth largest island in the world!) and a cyclone that brushes by the northern tip will have no impact on the southern areas.
Below are a few links to get you started in your discovery:
The World Factbook – Madagascar: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ma.html
Embassy of Madagascar: http://www.embassy.org/madagascar/
The Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/madagascar/
Cortez Travel and Expeditions: http://www.air-mad.com/
The Living Edens –Madagascar: http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/
1. Irregular Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps' office in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar) The mail service in Madagascar is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service; thus, it is important to be patient and understanding. It can take three to four weeks for mail coming from Antananarivo to arrive in the United States via the Malagasy postal system. From a Volunteer's site, mail might take 1-2 months to reach the United States. Sometimes mail is hand carried to the United States by a traveler and mailed through the U.S. postal system. This leg of the trip can take another several weeks as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S. There is a truism that you may wish to embrace as uncomfortable as it is, “No news is good news!”
On average, it takes approximately four weeks for letters mailed from the United States to reach Antananarivo, and may take an additional six weeks to reach the Volunteer’s site. We suggest that in your first letters, you ask your Volunteer family member to give an estimate of how long it takes to receive your letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often you will write to each other. Also, try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows they have missed one. Postcards should be sent in envelopes – otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office! Ironically, mail service can speed up a bit once a Volunteer is at site and they will be sending you their specific site address after six weeks of training.
Volunteers often enjoy telling their “war” stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Further, given the lag time in communication by the time you receive certain news, weeks if not months have passed and the Volunteer has moved past a particularly sad moment when they miss you or that specific illness and don’t understand why it is that you are so concerned anymore! There are two Peace Corps medical officers at the Peace Corps office in Antananarivo. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer is sent to Antananarivo and cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Madagascar he/she will be medically evacuated to Pretoria, South Africa or the United States. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If for some reason your normal communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member for an abnormal amount of time, you may want to contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. The Office of Special Services will then contact the Peace Corps Director in Antananarivo and ask him to check up on the Volunteer. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that we can inform the Volunteer. Use the above number during regular business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday). After hours, or during weekends, the Peace Corps Duty Officer may be reached at (202) 638-2574. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency, and the Duty Officer will call you back.
2. Telephone Calls. The telephone system in Madagascar is relatively good and service in and out of Antananarivo to the United States is fairly reliable. In the interior of the country, where most of the Volunteers are located, there are fewer phones and service is more sporadic. Typically, Volunteers plan to be in larger towns on a certain date to receive calls from home. This can usually work, but there are also innumerable factors that can make the best-laid plans fall apart. The transit house (a.k.a. MEVA) is the place where Volunteers will stay while in Antananarivo on official business and where many Volunteers will receive calls from the States. The telephone number there is: (261)-20-24-246-70. Be advised though that this line is only available outside of normal business hours which is 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Please be aware that the Peace Corps staff in Antananarivo and Washington are not able to assist in arranging these calls. Your family member will be able to inform you of the actual telephone numbers once they arrive in-country and to their site. The Madagascar Desk is in regular communication with the Peace Corps office in Antananarivo. However, this communication is reserved for business only and we cannot relay personal messages. All communication between family members and the Volunteer should be done via international mail, e-mail, or phone calls.
3. Sending packages. Family members and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Please be advised that packages can take at a minimum 1-2 months, but sometimes as long as 4-6 months. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try sending inexpensive items through the mail, though there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend sending costly items through the mail. It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more heavily. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may always use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member:
“NAME”, PCV
BUREAU DU CORPS DE LA PAIX
B.P. 12091
POSTE ZOOM ANKORONDRANO
ANTANANARIVO 101
MADAGASCAR
For lightweight, but important or time sensitive items (e.g. airline tickets), we would recommend using an express mail service. DHL is one possibility and other courier services may operate in Antananarivo. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. We would advise you to shop around to find the best prices and service options.
If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
“NAME”, PCV
C/O U. S. PEACE CORPS MADAGASCAR
VILLA LES LIERRES
LOT IIK 76, BONNET INVANDRY
ANTANANARIVO
MADAGASCAR
(You’ll also need to include the Peace Corps/Madagascar phone number: 261-20-224-3820).
Trying to send cash or checks is very risky and is discouraged. If your Volunteer family member requests money from you, it is his/her responsibility to arrange receipt of it.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. We understand how frustrating it can be to communicate with your family member overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guideline. Please feel free to contact us at the Madagascar Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. You may reach us at 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2302, or locally, 202-692-2302.
Sincerely,
Country Desk Officer
Peace Corps
Madagascar Country Desk
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20526
Phone: (800) 424-8580 ext. 2324 or (202) 692-2323
Fax (202) 692-2301
E-mail: madagascar@peacecorps.gov
Dear Families and friends,
Greetings from the Madagascar Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member to the Peace Corps/Madagascar training program. During the past year we have received many questions from Volunteers and family members regarding communication, mail, and travel plans. As we are unable to involve ourselves in the personal arrangements of Volunteers, we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest you handle them. Peace Corps service certainly impacts more than just the trainee and we hope that this information will help ease some of the uncertainty which affects the families of Volunteers.
The Country Director has asked for us to emphasize the importance of communicating your concerns with us, the Madagascar Desk at Peace Corps/Washington, rather than with staff in Madagascar. This is critically important for a host of reasons. Madagascar has approximately 130 Volunteers and the in-country staff’s primary responsibility is the care and well being of your family member. The Peace Corps/Madagascar office does not have the capacity to assist family members who call seeking information. The Peace Corps/Madagascar office is in direct and frequent contact with the Madagascar Desk, especially during emergency situations such as cyclones. We, the Madagascar Desk, are well equipped to take your questions and talk about your concerns.
The Peace Corps experience can be an exciting, intimidating, and amazing experience for both the Volunteer and family. The Volunteers will learn a lot about Madagascar during their preparation for service and throughout their service of two years. This is also a great time for you to learn more about Madagascar, which may alleviate some of your concerns. For instance, Madagascar is a huge country (the fourth largest island in the world!) and a cyclone that brushes by the northern tip will have no impact on the southern areas.
Below are a few links to get you started in your discovery:
The World Factbook – Madagascar: http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/ma.html
Embassy of Madagascar: http://www.embassy.org/madagascar/
The Lonely Planet: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations/africa/madagascar/
Cortez Travel and Expeditions: http://www.air-mad.com/
The Living Edens –Madagascar: http://www.pbs.org/edens/madagascar/
1. Irregular Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps' office in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar) The mail service in Madagascar is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service; thus, it is important to be patient and understanding. It can take three to four weeks for mail coming from Antananarivo to arrive in the United States via the Malagasy postal system. From a Volunteer's site, mail might take 1-2 months to reach the United States. Sometimes mail is hand carried to the United States by a traveler and mailed through the U.S. postal system. This leg of the trip can take another several weeks as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S. There is a truism that you may wish to embrace as uncomfortable as it is, “No news is good news!”
On average, it takes approximately four weeks for letters mailed from the United States to reach Antananarivo, and may take an additional six weeks to reach the Volunteer’s site. We suggest that in your first letters, you ask your Volunteer family member to give an estimate of how long it takes to receive your letters and then try to establish a predictable pattern of how often you will write to each other. Also, try numbering your letters so that the Volunteer knows they have missed one. Postcards should be sent in envelopes – otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office! Ironically, mail service can speed up a bit once a Volunteer is at site and they will be sending you their specific site address after six weeks of training.
Volunteers often enjoy telling their “war” stories when they write home. Letters might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc. While the subject matter is good reading material, it is often misinterpreted on the home front. Further, given the lag time in communication by the time you receive certain news, weeks if not months have passed and the Volunteer has moved past a particularly sad moment when they miss you or that specific illness and don’t understand why it is that you are so concerned anymore! There are two Peace Corps medical officers at the Peace Corps office in Antananarivo. In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer is sent to Antananarivo and cared for by our medical staff. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Madagascar he/she will be medically evacuated to Pretoria, South Africa or the United States. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If for some reason your normal communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member for an abnormal amount of time, you may want to contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. The Office of Special Services will then contact the Peace Corps Director in Antananarivo and ask him to check up on the Volunteer. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that we can inform the Volunteer. Use the above number during regular business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday). After hours, or during weekends, the Peace Corps Duty Officer may be reached at (202) 638-2574. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency, and the Duty Officer will call you back.
2. Telephone Calls. The telephone system in Madagascar is relatively good and service in and out of Antananarivo to the United States is fairly reliable. In the interior of the country, where most of the Volunteers are located, there are fewer phones and service is more sporadic. Typically, Volunteers plan to be in larger towns on a certain date to receive calls from home. This can usually work, but there are also innumerable factors that can make the best-laid plans fall apart. The transit house (a.k.a. MEVA) is the place where Volunteers will stay while in Antananarivo on official business and where many Volunteers will receive calls from the States. The telephone number there is: (261)-20-24-246-70. Be advised though that this line is only available outside of normal business hours which is 8 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
Please be aware that the Peace Corps staff in Antananarivo and Washington are not able to assist in arranging these calls. Your family member will be able to inform you of the actual telephone numbers once they arrive in-country and to their site. The Madagascar Desk is in regular communication with the Peace Corps office in Antananarivo. However, this communication is reserved for business only and we cannot relay personal messages. All communication between family members and the Volunteer should be done via international mail, e-mail, or phone calls.
3. Sending packages. Family members and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Please be advised that packages can take at a minimum 1-2 months, but sometimes as long as 4-6 months. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to the high incidence of theft and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try sending inexpensive items through the mail, though there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. We do not recommend sending costly items through the mail. It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more heavily. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may always use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member:
“NAME”, PCV
BUREAU DU CORPS DE LA PAIX
B.P. 12091
POSTE ZOOM ANKORONDRANO
ANTANANARIVO 101
MADAGASCAR
For lightweight, but important or time sensitive items (e.g. airline tickets), we would recommend using an express mail service. DHL is one possibility and other courier services may operate in Antananarivo. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. We would advise you to shop around to find the best prices and service options.
If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
“NAME”, PCV
C/O U. S. PEACE CORPS MADAGASCAR
VILLA LES LIERRES
LOT IIK 76, BONNET INVANDRY
ANTANANARIVO
MADAGASCAR
(You’ll also need to include the Peace Corps/Madagascar phone number: 261-20-224-3820).
Trying to send cash or checks is very risky and is discouraged. If your Volunteer family member requests money from you, it is his/her responsibility to arrange receipt of it.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Madagascar. We understand how frustrating it can be to communicate with your family member overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guideline. Please feel free to contact us at the Madagascar Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. You may reach us at 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2302, or locally, 202-692-2302.
Sincerely,
Country Desk Officer
Peace Corps
Madagascar Country Desk
1111 20th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20526
Phone: (800) 424-8580 ext. 2324 or (202) 692-2323
Fax (202) 692-2301
E-mail: madagascar@peacecorps.gov
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