Staging and at the airport

Hey, check out two new photos on my Flickr site.

Other updates...... Started taking the Malaria meds yesterday... so far so good. No reactions that I can tell. Still really excited - but mellow.

Just hanging out at JFK at the gate.... couple more hours wait to get on the plane to Brussels. We will be traveling for a total of 27 hours!

Staging - Deer in the headlights.

FYI.... did'nt do spell check.... :(

Left good old Flint town USA on Tuesday to arrive in Philadelphia for a 3 day staging event/orientation before leaving for Uganda.

Since being in Michigan for the past 5 months, I'm afraid I got a bit attached to the whole family scence afer being in Alaska these past 5 years. So, it was a little more difficult saying good bye this time. As you all know, I come and go frequently. Seems to be my thing. Well, I'm back in my traveling groove now and take comfort in knowing I can carry all my belongings and there is nothing I did'nt pack that is'nt already with in me.

The whole experiance has went so smothly and low stress that I am confindent in this choice for Peace Corps. It's really an amazing opportunity. I can't belive I am actually getting on a plane for Uganda tonight!

I met one of my fellow volunteers at the airport in Philly. Well, actually I picked her out on the plane in Detroit. She had the same 'deer in the headlights' look that I had been walking around with. And, sure enough when we arrived at the hotel, there was a whole slough of them..... going to place like Malawi and Cameroon. You could feel the excitment in the room, over flowing really of anxiousness and ucertainty. After I turned in my paperwork, I had to go find a quite corner to sit and decompress from all the excited energy in the building.

The 'dear in the headlights' look has passed for now. I'm sure it will be back when we arrive in Uganda. My group is all women. It's a crazy experiment by the Peace Corps, I think. There is twelve of us and the dynamics seem good. We all have sure varied strenths and experiances. I don't know for sure - But, I suspect I am the oldest one in the group. It has been a long while since I was in a group format like this. I was very active in college with organizations and group activities...... mosly in a leadership role. And, now I find myself trying to figure out my place within the group and so far- find myself in a back seat listener capacity. After 5 years of post college life and work in Alaska, my highly independant nature is in full bloom. My challenge for the next 10 weeks of Pre-Service Training will be to stay aware of how my nature to 'just do my own thing' and acpeciate alone time - may be percevied as anti-social. I am really going to try to get to get to know my fellow volunteers on a personal level and do my best in the small herd.

Here's a photo of all of us!

We get on the plane tonight out of JFK. I'll try to post again when we get settled in Uganda - maybe this weekend.

Shout out for a Great Big THANK YOU!

Thank you for Brenda and Dan Carey, my Aunt and Uncle. They graciously opened up their home to me and allowed me access to the whole ‘north wing’ of their home. It has been super nice to have a stable place to rest my head and ‘stuff’ during my time in transition.
I can never repay them for all the kindness they and the rest of the family have shown me during these past five months. It is so nice to have all your support. I will carry your kindness with me on my journey.

PEPFAR Peace Corps Video

Check out this video on the Peace Corps site about PEPFAR (president's emergancy plan for aids relief) Volunteers. I will also be a PEPFAR Volunteer. It is basicaly a funding source designation. But, the video is great at describing the scope of volunteer service.

http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=learn.whatvol.healthhiv.showvideo&vd=hope&bw=whb

Offical assignment summary for Peace Corps

So, you still want to know more about what I will be doing while serving as a Community Health Volunteer for Peace Corps in Uganda?

Here’s the official version of my assignment summary:
Uganda's Ministry of Health, NGOs, Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) and community-based organizations (CBOs) are asking for Volunteers to help them with applying what they have learned about improving living conditions for poor families in rural areas. They are asking for assistance in several key areas:

Train trainers from government and community-based organizations (CBOs) so that they can improve their skills to plan and implement participatory educational programs for health workers in their communities. Requests emphasize new accurate information and improved methods of teaching nutrition, preventive health care, behavior modification, management of HIV/AIDS, basic sanitation, and reproductive health education, life skills for in-and-out-of-school youth and working with orphans and vulnerable children.

Work with administrators to improve their organizational management skills by developing systems for planning, funding, designing, managing, and evaluating community health projects.

Work with communities to identify their resources and develop and manage appropriate community activities.

All Volunteers in the health sector will be expected to focus on HIV/AIDS. You will design and conduct workshops aimed at increasing awareness. You may collaborate with the education Volunteers and develop adult education skills to help you plan high quality health programs. Volunteers in the education sector will be looking to you for accurate information as they design workshops for school-based health education programs for youths.

You may also be asked to identify community resources and help communities see how they can address their own needs and interests. You will be expected to assist counterparts in designing, managing, and evaluating health projects. Ugandan co-workers who are trainers will be looking for assistance to develop better skills for educating adults and for developing training methods that encourage people to practice what they learn. Emphasis may be placed on demonstrating what you've been trained in by developing and using models, kits, and other participatory training methods.

If your background is in MATERNAL/CHILD HEALTH EDUCATION, you may work with traditional birth attendants and midwives to plan and teach reproductive health and child care workshops that encourage good nutrition, breast feeding, and immunization

If your background is in NUTRITION, you may be involved with planning, planting and managing community model gardens and exploring best methods for preparing, processing and preserving food. Many community members will need help in understanding the nutritional needs of children, People living With HIV/AIDS and their caretakers and pregnant women, local and inexpensive sources of nutritionally rich foods, infant care, malnutrition and its impact, nutritional contributions to addressing illnesses, and specific nutritional strategies for positive living.

If your background is in WATER/SANITATION, you will very likely find yourself engaging in hands-on work of building improved pit latrines, protecting springs and other water sources, constructing water tanks, and water harvesting systems. Water and sanitation topics will include environmental hygiene, water and waste management, water purification, waste disposal and recycling.

For those interested in YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, you will work with youth on various life skills, educational, recreational, and sports activities with both in and out of school youth. Other activities may include skills training for out-of-school youth, the promotion of income generating activites, conducting non-formal eductaion programs, and training peer educators.

If you are interested in traditional medicines and community healing practices, you will have much to explore. Valuing the knowledge of traditional healers, while developing systems by which their understanding of basic hygiene and sanitation methods is enhanced, is a major area of interest in Uganda at present.

Whatever your background, your skills and educational training will be matched with the needs and interest of the organization and community to determine the specifics of the work you do. To augment the skills you bring to the communities you will serve, you will receive training in many of the aspects of community health described above during your pre-service training.

More Michigan Memories, summer 06

Other memories I have created while back in Michigan:
- a Home made meal with my oldest living friend, Mary age 93
- Mother’s Day BBQ surprise
- Chicken Stuffing Bake meal with mom
- Watching Soccer and Football games of cousins Kevin and Kyle
- Feeding the cows at Virginia’s with Mom and Jimmy
- Melanie’s 30th birthday in Kalamazoo
- Good projects around the house at Aunt Brenda and Uncle Dan’s
- Catching up with and old co-worker, Alyona, in Holt.
- Reminiscing at C.E. Lewis Landscape Arboretum
- Selling or rather giving away lemonade and no-bake cookies at our garage sale
- Camping in Ludington State Park with the Lasely’s
- Camping and the Dunes at Silver Lake State Park with Heather, Jared, Mike and Pam
- Tall Ship Festival in Bay City with Grandma, Mom and Jimmy
- Road Trip down to Louisiana with Mamo to visit cousin Erika and her family
- Pam and Mike Birthday parties
- Helped put in a stone patio and painted the house at Pam and Mike’s
- Crossroads Village tour and train ride with mom
- Frankenmuth Antique Car Show with Pam, Mike, Heather and Jared
- 10 year High School Reunion

Back to Michigan and my father's death

When I got back to Michigan, around mid May, I first spent some time with my dad. We never had the closest relationship. It in fact, was quite stressed at times. But, during my visit and during these last few months – we definitely came closer to understanding and accepting each other. He passed away somewhat unexpectedly and very sudden. He passed away on August 18, 2006 at the age of 51. I have several positive memories of his hard work ethic and willingness to share his knowledge. I continue to reflect on his life and the imprint he has made on mine. I’m sure the processing will continue for years to come.

In Vegas, the Grand Canyon and my iPod

I made it down to Las Vegas in record time…. Sleeping in your car has its advantages. It makes the get up and go all too easy. While in Vegas I visited family and got the ‘Freemont Experience’. I had a really good time and definitely glad I made the detour south. On many an occasion I would say….”It was only a week ago that I was thigh high in snow on the way to my friends outhouse.” This was the first part of May with 85 degrees in Vegas and only 40 degrees in Homer, AK.

It was during the 6,000-mile road trip that I fell in love with the iPod. My friend, Dylan introduced me to the thing and the radio transmitter. It rocks! My theme song while on the road was: Aretha Franklin, A Natural Woman. I would crank it up when the sun was shining and I was passing through an especially scenic area. I would belt out….”You make me feel like a na…tur…..alllll wo…..men.” Glad I was by myself. Very fun. Thanks Dylan for all the great music.

Seeing the Grand Canyon was pretty nice. Not as awe inspiring as I thought – but, good just the same. I think the best part was crawling out of my car (I parked for the night in a side parking lot on one end of the park) in the wee hours of the morning to see the sun rise over the canyon.

The journey after leaving AK

Back to leaving AK……
I sold all my worldly belongs in a yard sale that created over $800 in profit! I in turn gave that money to the Alaska Marine Highway System for a 4-night ferry ticket from Whittier to Prince Rupert, B.C. I had always wanted to see the southeast and thought the ferry would be a great way to exit the state. Boy, did I second-guess that decision while lying on the bathroom battling motion sickness while crossing the Gulf of Alaska. I seriously wanted to die. I couldn’t eat or sleep for 2 days. While the ferry rocked back and forth endlessly, any scent of food or attempt to move off the bathroom floor – sent me running for the vomit bag. When we got to Juneau, I began to eat again and started to enjoy the solitude of the big ship. I don’t regret taking the ferry; it’s definitely something I needed to go through. But, I don’t think I will put myself through that again.

I drove off the ferry in Prince Rupert, B.C. and headed south. It wasn’t until I made it to Washington that I really began to smile from ear to ear. I dug those long lost sandals out of a box and felt the sun on my feet. I felt released and optimistic for warmer horizons.

Aspirations for Peace Corps

Aspiration Statement:

A: My professional attributes include: a high level of independence, conceptual thinking and a great drive for implementing ideas and achieving goals. For me, work is play. I quickly see patterns in external events. I am drawn to constant challenge in careers, and like to develop models, explore ideas, or build systems. I seek knowledge and understanding. I am cool, calm and collected. I am logical, hypothetical and investigative.

I aspire for an opportunity to live out side of the American culture. I hope to learn from different cultures, make a difference in one person’s life and share my experience with others. I trust that I will be transformed.

If given a choice, I most aspire to be involved with a non-faith based partner organization that offers economic development opportunities; such as job training or small business development. I feel I have the most to offer and higher interests in workforce development and training. I anticipate offering my horticultural and youth development skills towards possible secondary projects. Again, if given a choice, I also aspire to be involved in a joint development project with another volunteer(s).

B: Active listening skills, patience, flexibility, a realistic and logical approach to organization and resource development, constructive evaluation skills and preventative measures to ensure self-sustainability; are all strategies I would use to work with and meet the expressed needs of host country partners.

C: My strategies for adapting to a new culture include: patience, flexibility, an inquisitive mind and strong desires to achieve goals.

D: During pre-service training, I hope to gain hands-on skills and knowledge related all the issues described in the welcome packet.

E: The opportunity to serve as a Peace Corps volunteer furthers my goals of living and working overseas and exploring careers in international development. After my service ends, I may consider further education to finish a degree or build upon a positive development experiance with in the international community.

Peace Corps and $$$$$$ !

So, here I am about to join the Peace Corps. Now, why Peace Corps you say? Well, to get right to it – it’s about money. All, the other overseas opportunities I researched required a hefty payment up from for their services…. Weather it was TEFL courses, volunteer agencies that do placement, or straight businesses that have offices over seas – I would have had to plunk down some serious cash in order to make it happen. But, with Peace Corps EVERYTHING is taken care of. What an amazing opportunity. The benefits include: student loan deferment, health care services and evacuation if needed, life insurance, round trip plane ticket, great training and a quarterly stipend! It’s just perfect for the low income and adventurous ~

Leaving Alaska with new goals!

Leaving Alaska was such a bittersweet decision. Many factors came into play when I realized I needed warmer horizons and a new perspective. Looking back, I know it was the right decision and maybe should have even left sooner. I am usually pretty good at reading the signs in my life to give me direction on where and what to do next. But, for about the last year that I was there…. I really struggled on what direction to take and wasn’t very solid on my motivations for the choices I made. I literally was all over the map. I knew what I didn’t want. But, at the time – I wasn’t 100% about what I did want. And, for those who know me – I NEED direction and progress. Feeling stagnant has got to be one of my worst feelings.

So, I eventually came up with three goals.
1. To have a degree. 2. To have a home. 3. To live and work over seas.
And, when we got three inches of new snow over the Easter weekend – I knew it was time to go.

I decided to focus on the living and working over seas goal first because in order for me to afford a home – I would need a job. And, at that time I didn’t have a job and couldn’t see one I wanted to stay with in the near future. And, in order for me to have or rather finish a degree – I would need to know what I needed or wanted that degree in. And, at this point, finishing my Horticulture degree would not do me much good; nor, worth the additional $10,000 in tuition.

Carrie May

Carrie May