Here's what the Peace Corps sent me, word for word, in a booklet with my invitation. It's quite long so I've just included a couple of the sections now and will get to my actual assignment next time. IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHY I'M BEING SENT THERE, TAKE THE TIME TO READ BELOW.
YOUR ASSIGNMENT
Country: Burkina Faso
Program: Secondary Education
Job Title: Science Teacher
Dates of Service: August 24, 2007 - August 23, 2009
Orientation Dates: June 4-6 2007
Pre-Service Training (in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso): June 7, 2007 - August 24, 2007
Please review all the information in this packet and call your placement officer with your acceptance or any questions in 10 business days.
HISTORY OF THE PROGRAM
Peace Corps was first invited to Burkina Faso (formally named Upper Volta) in 1966. For over two decades, Volunteers were engaged in a number of program areas, including teaching, agriculture and forestry. Unfortunately, strained political relations between Burkina Faso and the United States, from 1983-1987, culminated in the closure of Peace Corps programs in 1987. However, the former government's request that Peace Corps leave Burkina Faso did not reflect popular sentiment towards Peace Corps and in 1991 the newly established government requested Peace Corps' return to Burkina Faso. Throughout the years, Burkina Faso has been known as a desirable place to live and work with hard-working people, a welcoming culture and programming that affords most Volunteers the opportunity for a productive grassroots development experience.
Development efforts in Burkina Faso are important because Burkina Faso is one of the ten poorest countries in the world. "The Fight Against Poverty," the title of the Government of Burkina Faso's (GOBF) ten-year development plan, is a fitting description of the development climate in Burkina Faso. Burkina Faso ranks 175 out of 177 countries in the UNDP's Human Development Index: of countries with a Peace Corps presence, only Niger rates lower. Statistics paint a grim picture: average life expectancy at birth is 47.5 years; approximately 50% of the population is under the age of 15; the adult literacy rate is only 12.8%; the net primary school enrollment is 36% of the school age population (the number drops to 31% for primary school aged girls); the combined gross enrollment ration for primary, secondary and tertiary schools is just 24%; only 9% of eligible students enroll in secondary school, and ; less that 1% of Burkina's school age population reaches the University level. Burkina Faso's population grew from 3.5 million in 1960 to 6.2 million in 1975, and now, having doubled in 25 years, stands at 12.6 million. Burkina Faso's population is expected to reach 18.5 million by 2015. The annual population growth rate as well as the rate of urbanization is on the rise, further taxing the fragile infrastructure of the country. HIV/AIDS poses another growing challenge. Official statistics show that between 2.3% and 4.2% of the adult population is infected with HIV/AIDS. Nearly 86% of the population lives on less than $2 a day. If Burkina Faso is to compete and thrive in the 21-st century, these trends need to be addressed and significant changes will be necessary.
Despite the alarming statistics, there is room for hope. The GOBF's "Fight Against Poverty" embraces a multi-sectoral and integrated approach to development. Burkina Faso is supportive of private and public sectoral initiatives and partnerships. Efforts are underway to improve social and economic development. The GOBF has gained eligibility for Africa Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) trade status, for the Threshold Program of the President's Millennium Challenge Account (focused on girls' education) and, most recently, for the Millennium Challenge account itself. The GOBF embraces its partnership with Peace Corps and is a fill and active participant in all Peace Corps programs. In addition, the nation's hardworking and industrious workforce makes efficient use of available and new resources. Burkina Faso is peaceful, stable and making steady progress towards transparent and Democratic governance.
Peace Corps program areas in Burkina Faso continue to evolve over time. A group of 17 Public Health Volunteers arrived for the first time in December 1995 and the Education program reopened in June 1997 with 33 trainees. Small Enterprise Development and Girls' Education and Empowerment started respectively in 2003 and 2005. As of August 2006, 90 volunteers work in Burkina Faso including 18 in Health, 21 in Small Enterprise Development, 24 in Education, and 26 in Girls' Education and Empowerment.
PROJECT BACKGROUND
The Ministry of Education has currently identified the need for approximately 1000 additional secondary school teachers. The largest need, approximately 600 teachers, is for math and science teachers. For the foreseeable future, Burkina Faso will require teachers from other countries to help fill its need for teachers. The Ministry has requested the Peace Corps fill positions in the following areas of Burkina Faso: the East, Sahel, North, Central North, and the Boucle du Mouhoun. You will most likely be assigned to one of these areas - where the need for teachers is the greatest.
Saturday, March 31, 2007
New Backpack!
Alright. This one's to the 'rents (that means parents, you old folks). Here's the infamous packing list from the RPCV who helped me out with advice about packs and solar panels. Here's what she brought:
Arianne's Packing List for PC in Senegal
And that fit into a pack and a small other bag.
I found the backpack I'm getting. It's super sweet and made my arc'teryx. Way more expensive than I'd ever consider but found one on ebay that puts it at the price of a cheap pack. Since packs are all over ~$180 for the size i need, this is definitely worth it. Never knew packs were so spensive (or what they're made of that makes them so) but it'd better do the job!
I'll post my packing list tonight.
Today Katherine and I went and fed the geese at Beebe lake. They've come to expect us now and actually get out of the water and waddle over. It's great. They'll even eat out of our hands. BTW goose beaks are sharp. Click on images for more goose than you'd ever need.
Arianne's Packing List for PC in Senegal
And that fit into a pack and a small other bag.
I found the backpack I'm getting. It's super sweet and made my arc'teryx. Way more expensive than I'd ever consider but found one on ebay that puts it at the price of a cheap pack. Since packs are all over ~$180 for the size i need, this is definitely worth it. Never knew packs were so spensive (or what they're made of that makes them so) but it'd better do the job!
I'll post my packing list tonight.
Today Katherine and I went and fed the geese at Beebe lake. They've come to expect us now and actually get out of the water and waddle over. It's great. They'll even eat out of our hands. BTW goose beaks are sharp. Click on images for more goose than you'd ever need.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
What's too much technology?
I think the verdict is that I will try to bring as much technology that's presently in my life to Africa as I can.
I've spent the past days reading other West African PCVs blogs, and it really seems like while not everyonoe does, those that do bring tech comforts/tools from their US life don't regret it.
In particular, iPod's are a huge hit. C'mon, I'm not going to just bring no music, and my other options are what? CDs? Tapes?
Not to mention there are solar chargers that iPods hook into that work just fine. Especially if there's no lack of sun. (lol maybe not in ithaca).
I'm going to be a teacher. It seems like teachers in particular appreciate bringing a laptop. I think that as long as I back up my life before I go and go with the understanding that the computer could disappear or break at anytime, bringing along my 2 year old powerbook would be a good choice. Yes no electricity, no running water in my village, but maybe at the school or maybe in a near town. I can't know at this point how close i'll be to a town, and since electronics are difficult to send, I think i'll be bringing mine.
It is generally strongly reccomended that people bring:
Shortwave Radio
Travel Clock/Radio/Temp thing
Flashlight
Headlamp
Watch
Beyond that I think i'll bring
Laptop (Powerbook G4) (they make solar chargers but they're expensive)
Camera (Canon S3IS) (i'd love a wide angle lens but they're expensive too)
iPod mini + headphones
Travel Speakers (yes, for my hut)
Calculator (for grades)
The good news is that with solar technology, all of this can be powered by the sun. Especially the African sun.
One girl's blog i read detailed her use of one flexible solar panel that she hooked everything else she brought into.
Solar panel can even charge my rechargeable batteries. Hurray for being green.
In other news - I purchased a DivaCup (http://www.divacup.com/). It's a surgery grade silcone 1 oz. cup thing that you use in place of a tampon. Apparently they're really freakin awesome even if you're not headed into the bush. What I want to know is ... why didn't anyone tell us about these before??? cups like this one have been around since the 30s but instead - me and all of my female friends have had to deal with stupid pads and tampons. Hell - it's even better for your wallet. If you buy one at $30 and it lasts for 10 years, that's $3 a year and i can guarantee all of you are spending more than that on tampons. It's also hella better for the environment. TRY ONE! I'll let you know (in non graphic terms) how mine works out. Oh and i got it on eBay for $18.50.
Back to work in the lab.
I've spent the past days reading other West African PCVs blogs, and it really seems like while not everyonoe does, those that do bring tech comforts/tools from their US life don't regret it.
In particular, iPod's are a huge hit. C'mon, I'm not going to just bring no music, and my other options are what? CDs? Tapes?
Not to mention there are solar chargers that iPods hook into that work just fine. Especially if there's no lack of sun. (lol maybe not in ithaca).
I'm going to be a teacher. It seems like teachers in particular appreciate bringing a laptop. I think that as long as I back up my life before I go and go with the understanding that the computer could disappear or break at anytime, bringing along my 2 year old powerbook would be a good choice. Yes no electricity, no running water in my village, but maybe at the school or maybe in a near town. I can't know at this point how close i'll be to a town, and since electronics are difficult to send, I think i'll be bringing mine.
It is generally strongly reccomended that people bring:
Shortwave Radio
Travel Clock/Radio/Temp thing
Flashlight
Headlamp
Watch
Beyond that I think i'll bring
Laptop (Powerbook G4) (they make solar chargers but they're expensive)
Camera (Canon S3IS) (i'd love a wide angle lens but they're expensive too)
iPod mini + headphones
Travel Speakers (yes, for my hut)
Calculator (for grades)
The good news is that with solar technology, all of this can be powered by the sun. Especially the African sun.
One girl's blog i read detailed her use of one flexible solar panel that she hooked everything else she brought into.
Solar panel can even charge my rechargeable batteries. Hurray for being green.
In other news - I purchased a DivaCup (http://www.divacup.com/). It's a surgery grade silcone 1 oz. cup thing that you use in place of a tampon. Apparently they're really freakin awesome even if you're not headed into the bush. What I want to know is ... why didn't anyone tell us about these before??? cups like this one have been around since the 30s but instead - me and all of my female friends have had to deal with stupid pads and tampons. Hell - it's even better for your wallet. If you buy one at $30 and it lasts for 10 years, that's $3 a year and i can guarantee all of you are spending more than that on tampons. It's also hella better for the environment. TRY ONE! I'll let you know (in non graphic terms) how mine works out. Oh and i got it on eBay for $18.50.
Back to work in the lab.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
I found another future BF PCV!!
I can't stop searching Google for info on Burkina Faso + Peace Corps + Science Teaching thereabouts + Packing.
Surprisingly, I found a post on 43 Things by a guy who is also going to Burkina Faso to be a Secondary Science Teacher, with a staging on the same day. Strange to almost randomly come across someone on the internet who I may or may not get to know really well even though right now i don't know his real name.
http://www.43things.com/entries/view/1808977?new_comment=1586163&page=0#comment1586163 was the post.
Today I also learned that my research advisors, Kim and Jed - well actually only Kim - is pregnant!! How great. They are great mentors and so I can only believe they will be amazing parents. I told them about Burkina Faso and we went out in hall and looked at the map and I showed them the country. The map was so old that the country was called Upper Volta. I hope I get to see pics of the baby even though I'll be in Africa.
Tonight I'll make my first attempt at a packing list - just so I can get some idea of what I own and what I'll need to buy.
Right now I'm back in the Risley Library at Cornell where i spent many late nights. Here's a pic of said library with some of my sweet friends from last semester come exam time.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Happiness
Tonight at Lost Coffee (coffee + late at night + college students) some friends got in a discussion about happiness in relation to poverty. Some were arguing that the wretchedness of poverty, especially in a place like a poor African country, would make a life there arguably less desirable and therefore less happy than a life in a richer place. I don't know about how true that is, and spending a month in rural Kenya couldn't have possibly taught me enough to know it all, but being with the people of Kenya - the dirt poor people of Kenya - only left me with a feeling that those people were often happier than we are. But how? They were so cheerful and peaceful all the day long. Seriously, singing and dancing every night, we could hear their laughter as we went to sleep every night. I guess as long as you have enough to scrape by, your culture can do the rest and bring you happiness even in the dust of africa. Here's a picture of a girl we played with in the village in Laikipia. The jump rope was one of three toys I saw in the village.
Yes yes i know haven't had the idealism beaten out of me yet - but really - i wish my american friends were as seemingly at peace with themselves as the Masai were.
Yes yes i know haven't had the idealism beaten out of me yet - but really - i wish my american friends were as seemingly at peace with themselves as the Masai were.
The News
Well today i got the news. I called my mother - and on about the 5th try i got her and the news that my official invitation packet had arrived from the Peace Corps. She was so excited she needed to act angry. But that is not unlike her at all.
So where am I going? Burkina Faso.
When will I be leaving? June 4th is when my orientation starts. I'll be leaving the country on the 7th.
And that's all I have to say about that.
So where am I going? Burkina Faso.
When will I be leaving? June 4th is when my orientation starts. I'll be leaving the country on the 7th.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Review, for some
Alright, so I'm hoping that readers of this blog will come from all corners of my life, so let me just do a quick recap of where life is at for me. In January I graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Biology, concentrating in Neurobiology and Behavior. I have ever intention in going on to graduate school for something related to that field and animals, but where and when that will be shall be determined at a later time.
In January I went to Kenya, as a part of the last class i took with Cornell. It was amazing. We stayed in the Lakipia region in central Kenya, along side the Masai and wild Africa and learned some field biology. I've wanted to go to this part of the world more than any other for quite sometime, so it was a dream come true. Maybe I'll post some pics here.
In the fall of last year, while finishing my last semester here at Cornell, I finally moved forward with applying to the Peace Corps. I'd had the idea in my head, more or less, for almost four years, and the time had come. I'll go into the application process at another time but, long story short, I'm on the edge of completion of the application process. Today or tomorrow my mom will get my invitation packet in the mail, I'l call her, and she'll tell me where and when I'll be going. As of now, all I have is a rough sketch of what I'll be doing: Secondary Level Science teacher and potentially Middle School level English teacher in French speaking Africa leaving sometime in June. Once i'm formally invited, I'll have a country of service and a leave date. I can barely sit still. It's like applying to college, being accepted, and then waiting and waiting for the government to call you up and tell you which University you'll be attending. It's a crazy feeling.
Anyway, for the next two weeks, I'm back at Cornell, visiting friends, my girlfriend Katheirne, and working on my research for the lab I work for.
On top of that I'm trying to study for the GREs and research what in the world one brings to Africa for 2 years.
Caio
In January I went to Kenya, as a part of the last class i took with Cornell. It was amazing. We stayed in the Lakipia region in central Kenya, along side the Masai and wild Africa and learned some field biology. I've wanted to go to this part of the world more than any other for quite sometime, so it was a dream come true. Maybe I'll post some pics here.
In the fall of last year, while finishing my last semester here at Cornell, I finally moved forward with applying to the Peace Corps. I'd had the idea in my head, more or less, for almost four years, and the time had come. I'll go into the application process at another time but, long story short, I'm on the edge of completion of the application process. Today or tomorrow my mom will get my invitation packet in the mail, I'l call her, and she'll tell me where and when I'll be going. As of now, all I have is a rough sketch of what I'll be doing: Secondary Level Science teacher and potentially Middle School level English teacher in French speaking Africa leaving sometime in June. Once i'm formally invited, I'll have a country of service and a leave date. I can barely sit still. It's like applying to college, being accepted, and then waiting and waiting for the government to call you up and tell you which University you'll be attending. It's a crazy feeling.
Anyway, for the next two weeks, I'm back at Cornell, visiting friends, my girlfriend Katheirne, and working on my research for the lab I work for.
On top of that I'm trying to study for the GREs and research what in the world one brings to Africa for 2 years.
Caio
Sunday, March 25, 2007
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