Jess writes:
Hey All!! Just a quick note to let everyone know that yes, we're alive!!! Adam and I are doing great! Quick update:
We are living at a homestay with MaChristine and PaJohannas in Machipe, just outside a larger town called Bhundu. We are learning SiSwati, a cousin-tongue of Zulu, and we're catching on fast!
It's SUPER hot here - about 32-34C every day... I think today we will spend some desperate Rand (dollars) for a fan!!!!
Training is going well and today we got to visit some primary and secondary schools to learn about the ways in which children learn about HIV/AIDS and interact with such discussions - it was great! I got some battle wounds from a dubious game of duck duck goose, but VERY worth it!!
Internet here is uber slow and we don't get into town often, so unfortunately we won't be able to update again soon... but PLEASE keep in touch by sending mail/emails so that we can hear what is going on. PS - The mail during PST has been pretty reliable, so feel free to send lots of letters... shameless plug, again!! Also, keep posting on facebook because we have some access to email via a PCT's blackberry and we LOVE to read the messages!! Again... shameless plug... ha ha!!
We love and miss you all tons - but please know that we are well and thoroughly enjoying the start to our African "honeymoon".... yeah for bucket baths!! So romantic!!
Okay, about to run out of time.... bye for now!!
Salani Kahle!!!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Ngiyabonga Kakhulu (Thank You)
Jess writes:
So as you read this post, we'll actually be on our way to South Africa!!! (Remember, I love that "Scheduled" post option... ha!). Since we may have little access to internet or phone during training, I wanted to set up one final, very important, post before we left. Yesterday's post may have covered the specifics of contact, etc., but there were some things that we both wanted to make sure were said upon our departure.... Thank You:
If we were to thank everyone who has helped to get us this far, this post would be far too long to read. So we hope you all know how very much your love and support has meant to us over the last few years.
In particular, to our "family" at ISU, the Boys & Girls Club and the Alliance - we could not have made it without your guidance and willingness to share our dream. To our "family" at WineStyles & Duffy's - you have made our last nights in the states so incredibly memorable! To our "family" of doctors - you have kept us in one piece before we embark, what a feat! To our "family" of friends, distant and near - your many visits and unwavering support of our endeavors has helped us to get through some of our toughest times. You have all done more than you could ever know.
And a special note to our actual families, who have been at our sides through all the thick and thin of this Peace Corps process. Adam and I would not have had the stamina to keep trying or the strength to keep hoping without your love and support of our dreams. You have remained, as always before, our physical and emotional foundations for life. We could never thank you enough for all you have done, but we hope you always know what it has meant to us.
To all of you, for all you have done,
Thank You.
So as you read this post, we'll actually be on our way to South Africa!!! (Remember, I love that "Scheduled" post option... ha!). Since we may have little access to internet or phone during training, I wanted to set up one final, very important, post before we left. Yesterday's post may have covered the specifics of contact, etc., but there were some things that we both wanted to make sure were said upon our departure.... Thank You:
If we were to thank everyone who has helped to get us this far, this post would be far too long to read. So we hope you all know how very much your love and support has meant to us over the last few years.
In particular, to our "family" at ISU, the Boys & Girls Club and the Alliance - we could not have made it without your guidance and willingness to share our dream. To our "family" at WineStyles & Duffy's - you have made our last nights in the states so incredibly memorable! To our "family" of doctors - you have kept us in one piece before we embark, what a feat! To our "family" of friends, distant and near - your many visits and unwavering support of our endeavors has helped us to get through some of our toughest times. You have all done more than you could ever know.
And a special note to our actual families, who have been at our sides through all the thick and thin of this Peace Corps process. Adam and I would not have had the stamina to keep trying or the strength to keep hoping without your love and support of our dreams. You have remained, as always before, our physical and emotional foundations for life. We could never thank you enough for all you have done, but we hope you always know what it has meant to us.
To all of you, for all you have done,
Thank You.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
"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:
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!
- 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
- 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.
- 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!!!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
A Pre-Departure Mini Tour
Jess writes:
So, first of all, I should mention how uber helpful the current South Africa volunteers (especially those from SA 18, 19 & 20) have been in our stressful preparation for service!!! They are so wonderful! Now to the point: a current PCV who will be assisting in our training from February-March recently visited our soon-to-be training area and took some photos for us! After a brief stay in Siyabuswa at a regional college to settle-in, finish immunizations, etc. we will be moving to our homestay sites in one of two villages outside of Dennilton (both in the Mpumalanga region, Northeast of Pretoria). The remainder of our training will take place at a facility in a local nature preserve, a short van ride from the villages. So before we even depart - thanks to our super-great PCV mentors!!! - here is a mini-tour of where we will be spending the first couple months of our stay in South Africa:
Around Dennilton - rolling hills!
Road out of Dennilton - headed towards the homestay villages.
Arriving in one of the homestay villages - apparently this area is frequented by baboons!!
The outside of one of the training facilities in the nature preserve.
The outside of another training facility - this could be interesting if it rains....!
The inside of the primary training facility - Hey look! There's electricity! YAY!
That's it for now - we'll keep you posted!!!
6 Days and counting....!!!
So, first of all, I should mention how uber helpful the current South Africa volunteers (especially those from SA 18, 19 & 20) have been in our stressful preparation for service!!! They are so wonderful! Now to the point: a current PCV who will be assisting in our training from February-March recently visited our soon-to-be training area and took some photos for us! After a brief stay in Siyabuswa at a regional college to settle-in, finish immunizations, etc. we will be moving to our homestay sites in one of two villages outside of Dennilton (both in the Mpumalanga region, Northeast of Pretoria). The remainder of our training will take place at a facility in a local nature preserve, a short van ride from the villages. So before we even depart - thanks to our super-great PCV mentors!!! - here is a mini-tour of where we will be spending the first couple months of our stay in South Africa:
Around Dennilton - rolling hills!
Road out of Dennilton - headed towards the homestay villages.
Arriving in one of the homestay villages - apparently this area is frequented by baboons!!
The outside of one of the training facilities in the nature preserve.
The outside of another training facility - this could be interesting if it rains....!
The inside of the primary training facility - Hey look! There's electricity! YAY!
That's it for now - we'll keep you posted!!!
6 Days and counting....!!!
Peace Corps Wants to Say Hi!
Jess writes:
Hello all! Since the majority of our family & friends know to check this blog exclusively for important updates, I am using it to distribute, at Peace Corps' request, a desk letter to "Family & Friends of Volunteers". We have additional information that we will be posting in the very near future, with even more specifics about staying in touch, etc., but for now, here's Peace Corps' first correspondance to you all specifically!! Enjoy!!
January 2010
Dear Families and Friends,
Greetings from the South Africa Desk at the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, D.C.! It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Peace Corps circle of friendship. We receive many questions from family members and friends of Volunteers about life in South Africa, so we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance.
1. Irregular Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps' office in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa) Mail from the United States to Pretoria is fairly reliable; however, mail service within South Africa is not as efficient and reliable. There is enormous variation in the time it takes for mail and packages to arrive at Volunteers’ sites. Generally, Volunteers find that they receive mail and packages from the United States two to four weeks after it has been sent. The same is true for sending mail from South Africa. Of course, there are exceptional cases in which a letter or a package might arrive within a shorter period or be substantially delayed. Some mail simply may not arrive. The destination of mail for Volunteers is as varied as the length of time it takes for mail to arrive.
We suggest that in your first letters you ask the Volunteer to give an estimate of how long it takes for him/her 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 if he/she has missed one.
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is a rewarding experience; however, there will also be times when Volunteers may write home telling of their "war" stories. Letters might describe recent illnesses, frustration with work, isolation, lack of resources, etc. While the subject matter may be good reading material, it can often be misinterpreted on the home front. Volunteers have a wonderful support network in-country that includes counterparts and community members at their site, other Peace Corps Volunteers, as well as Peace Corps/South Africa staff. The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps/South Africa maintains a medical unit in Pretoria with two full-time medical officers, who care for the Volunteers’ primary health care needs. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in South Africa, he/she will be medically evacuated to the United States. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If for some reason your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member, you may want to contact the South Africa Desk or the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that a message can be sent to 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) 692-1470 and you will be transferred to an answering service. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency and the Peace Corps Duty Officer will call you back.
2. Telephone Calls. The telephone system in South Africa is relatively good and service in and out of Pretoria to the United States is mostly reliable. In the interior of the country, where most of the Volunteers are located, phones are fewer in number and of decreased reliability. Volunteers do not have residential phones; however, many Volunteers choose to buy cell phones or use public phones to make and receive international calls. They will be able to inform you of the actual telephone numbers and the reliability of telephone service once they arrive at their permanent sites in the country.
The South Africa Desk maintains regular contact with the Peace Corps office in Pretoria through phone calls and e-mail. However, these communication lines are reserved for business only and cannot be used to relay personal messages. All communication between family members and the Volunteer should be done via international mail, personal phone calls, or e-mail. Many Volunteers are able to access e-mail at Internet cafes in larger cities and towns on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on their location.
3. Sending packages. Parents and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to occasional thefts and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may also use the following address to send letters and/or packages:
Name of Volunteer, PCV
U. S. Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
0001
Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA
It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes or bubble envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more frequently and might pose as a greater target for theft. For lightweight but important items (e.g. airline tickets), DHL (an express mail service) does operate in Pretoria. If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
Country Director
c/o: U. S. Peace Corps
126 Verdoorn Street
Sunnyside
Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA
The phone number for the Peace Corps office in South Africa is (27) 12-344-4255, as DHL will need this information. If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. Other courier services may operate in Pretoria - DHL is only one possibility.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member or friend is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. We understand how frustrating it is 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 South Africa Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. Our phone number is 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2331, or locally, 202-692-2331.
Sincerely,
Fernando Moyle
South Africa Country Desk Officer
202-692-2331
Hello all! Since the majority of our family & friends know to check this blog exclusively for important updates, I am using it to distribute, at Peace Corps' request, a desk letter to "Family & Friends of Volunteers". We have additional information that we will be posting in the very near future, with even more specifics about staying in touch, etc., but for now, here's Peace Corps' first correspondance to you all specifically!! Enjoy!!
January 2010
Dear Families and Friends,
Greetings from the South Africa Desk at the U.S. Peace Corps in Washington, D.C.! It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Peace Corps circle of friendship. We receive many questions from family members and friends of Volunteers about life in South Africa, so we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance.
1. Irregular Communication. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps' office in Pretoria, the capital of South Africa) Mail from the United States to Pretoria is fairly reliable; however, mail service within South Africa is not as efficient and reliable. There is enormous variation in the time it takes for mail and packages to arrive at Volunteers’ sites. Generally, Volunteers find that they receive mail and packages from the United States two to four weeks after it has been sent. The same is true for sending mail from South Africa. Of course, there are exceptional cases in which a letter or a package might arrive within a shorter period or be substantially delayed. Some mail simply may not arrive. The destination of mail for Volunteers is as varied as the length of time it takes for mail to arrive.
We suggest that in your first letters you ask the Volunteer to give an estimate of how long it takes for him/her 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 if he/she has missed one.
Being a Peace Corps Volunteer is a rewarding experience; however, there will also be times when Volunteers may write home telling of their "war" stories. Letters might describe recent illnesses, frustration with work, isolation, lack of resources, etc. While the subject matter may be good reading material, it can often be misinterpreted on the home front. Volunteers have a wonderful support network in-country that includes counterparts and community members at their site, other Peace Corps Volunteers, as well as Peace Corps/South Africa staff. The Peace Corps’ highest priority is maintaining the health and safety of every Volunteer. Peace Corps/South Africa maintains a medical unit in Pretoria with two full-time medical officers, who care for the Volunteers’ primary health care needs. If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in South Africa, he/she will be medically evacuated to the United States. Fortunately, these are rare circumstances.
If for some reason your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member, you may want to contact the South Africa Desk or the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470. Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that a message can be sent to 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) 692-1470 and you will be transferred to an answering service. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency and the Peace Corps Duty Officer will call you back.
2. Telephone Calls. The telephone system in South Africa is relatively good and service in and out of Pretoria to the United States is mostly reliable. In the interior of the country, where most of the Volunteers are located, phones are fewer in number and of decreased reliability. Volunteers do not have residential phones; however, many Volunteers choose to buy cell phones or use public phones to make and receive international calls. They will be able to inform you of the actual telephone numbers and the reliability of telephone service once they arrive at their permanent sites in the country.
The South Africa Desk maintains regular contact with the Peace Corps office in Pretoria through phone calls and e-mail. However, these communication lines are reserved for business only and cannot be used to relay personal messages. All communication between family members and the Volunteer should be done via international mail, personal phone calls, or e-mail. Many Volunteers are able to access e-mail at Internet cafes in larger cities and towns on a weekly or monthly basis, depending on their location.
3. Sending packages. Parents and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Unfortunately, sending packages can be a frustrating experience for all involved due to occasional thefts and heavy customs taxes. You may want to try to send inexpensive items through the mail, but there is no guarantee that these items will arrive. Even though many Volunteers choose to get local post office boxes, you may also use the following address to send letters and/or packages:
Name of Volunteer, PCV
U. S. Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
0001
Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA
It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes or bubble envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more frequently and might pose as a greater target for theft. For lightweight but important items (e.g. airline tickets), DHL (an express mail service) does operate in Pretoria. If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to:
Country Director
c/o: U. S. Peace Corps
126 Verdoorn Street
Sunnyside
Pretoria
SOUTH AFRICA
The phone number for the Peace Corps office in South Africa is (27) 12-344-4255, as DHL will need this information. If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. Other courier services may operate in Pretoria - DHL is only one possibility.
We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member or friend is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South Africa. We understand how frustrating it is 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 South Africa Desk in Washington, D.C. if you have any further questions. Our phone number is 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2331, or locally, 202-692-2331.
Sincerely,
Fernando Moyle
South Africa Country Desk Officer
202-692-2331
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