"All the 411" (Episode 1)

Jess writes:

So as you read this, we'll be headed off to Washington D.C. for staging...!! (I love the "Scheduled" post option, so we can write these tidbits in advance for everyone!) But, before we take off, we wanted to provide all the important information that you'll need to get a hold of us, keep up with us, and follow the journey!

This informational mini-series (ha!), aka "All the 411", will be updated periodically as our information changes during training, site assignment and service. So look for our "All the 411" updates throughout our Peace Corps adventures!

Time Difference:

• Just a quick reminder that South Africa falls in the GMT+2 timezone... which is +7 hours EST, +8 hours CST, and +10 hours PST. So we appologize now if we are blogging / emailing / calling very early in the morning!!
• Also, South Africa does not observe daylight savings time... which means when all of you "spring forward", we don't, so the time difference is reduced by one hour (i.e., +6 EST, +7 CST, +9 PST). Hope that makes enough sense!! Ha!

Follow Us:

• Our Stories: We will update this blog as frequently as possible with our tales of Peace Corps Service. You can also leave us messages on any post - we would love to hear from you!
• Our Photos: When possible, we will update all photos in the "Albums" section of Jess's Facebook page (find link at right). At times, we may add some photos to the blog as well.
• Other Chit-Chat: When possible, we will be checking our Facebook pages (find links at right) to chat with friends and family and send brief messages if necessary.
• NOTE: We will not typically send mass emails or updates to friends and family, so please use the connections above to stay in touch!

Phone Us:

• During Training, we will not have general telephone access. (However you can always contact our family stateside by calling Mona at 815.228.5712.)
• In case of emergency, the S.A. Office Phone can be reached at: +27.12.344.4255
• In case of emergency, the S.A. Duty Phone can be reached at: +27.79.111.5810
• In case of emergency, the S.A. Country Director can be reached at: +27.79.111.8356

Skype Us:

• We have set up a Skype account (and have even bought a webcam!) in hopes that we will have dependable enough internet service at some point during service to say hello to friends and family "in digital person"!
• In order to connect, you must first set up your own Skype account (at www.skype.com) and then search us via our Skype account name, "JessAleksy" or via our Skype account email, BordAngel4@hotmail.com.

Mail Us:

• During Training, our address (for letters & packages) will be as follows:
  Volunteer Name Peace Corps
  PO Box 9536
  Pretoria 0001
  South Africa
• DHL Packages only (important, lightweight packages) should always be mailed to: Country Director U.S. Peace Corps 126 Verdoorn Street Sunnyside Pretoria South Africa
  
• Letters: estimated delivery time: 2-3 weeks
• Packages: estimated delivery time: 6-9 weeks
• NOTE: Letters are delivered to volunteers only once a month and packages are only delivered if office staff are visiting our sites (unless we travel to Pretoria for other reasons and are able stop by the office to pick up mail).
• IMPORTANT: Make sure to number & date all letters and packages (so we know if one gets "lost" in the mail) and mark all with "AIRMAIL" to ensure speedy-er-ish delivery. It is also suggested to mark all packages either "EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS" or "RELIGIOUS MATERIALS" to avoid theft while passing through customs and mailrooms.
• P.S. - We would LOVE to receive letters throughout service, and especially during training when we are in "adjustment" mode and have little other communication... so this is our tactless plea for your writing! Packages, however, are often very expensive for volunteers to receive (due to SA taxes), so as much as we would love goodies from home, please do not send any packages until we determine the most cost-effective way to do so. Thanks!!

Alphabet Soup:

Peace Corps service is a wondrous world of abbrviations, acronyms and interesting shortenings. So to keep you "in the know" (and make reading our blogs possible!!), here's a handy, alphabetical, list (Good luck!):

• APCD: Associate (S.A.) Peace Corps Directors (current: H. Matseke & K. Lelaka)
• CBO: Community-Based Organization (Grassroots, usually non-profit)
• CDO: Country Desk Officer (current: Fernando Moyle)
• CHOP: Community HIV/AIDS Outreach Program (our service program)
• HC: Host Country (i.e., South Africa)
• HCA: Host Country Agency (i.e., our assigned CBO or NGO)
• HCN: Host Country National
• ICD or CD: In-Country Director (current: McGrath Jean Thomas)
• IRC: In-Country Resource Center
• IST: In-Service Training (short stints during service, as needed)
• MI: Master's International Program (My Master's Program)
• NGO: Non-Governmental Organization (Non-Governmental NPO)
• NPO: Non-Profit Organization
• PA: Program Assistant (current: Jan Molomo)
• PC: Peace Corps
• PCD: Peace Corps Director (current: Aaron S. Williams)
• PCMO: Peace Corps Medical Office
• PCPP: Peace Corps Partnership Program (donor program for PC)
• PCT: Peace Corps Trainee (during Training)
• PCV: Peace Corps Volunteer (current)
• PST: Pre-Service Training (2 months prior to service)
• PTO: Programming & Training Officer (current: Lisa M. Jordan)
• RPCV: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (alumni)
• SA or ZA: South Africa
• TM: Training Manager (current: Victor Baker)
• WWS: World Wise Schools (correspondance program with U.S. schools)

Hope that helps! We'll keep you posted!!!