Burkina Bound: Adventures in the Peace Corps: I'm Alive

Contact Me

I now have a new permanent mailing address. You can send me letters or packages (either would be fantastic) to the following address for the next two years:

Erik Durant
Corps de la Paix
Ouahigouya 01
01 B.P. 392
Burkina Faso
West Africa

For detailed instructions and tips for mailing me letters and packages, click on "Sending Me Mail" under the "Important Posts" tab below or simply click here. If you can't send me any mail, that's totally fine as well. I also appreciate emails (ecdura at gmail dot com) and posts on my blog, of course.

I also have a cell phone. Imagine that! To call me, I believe you dial 001 226 75 52 50 58. I don't know how much it costs you so check into that. I know it can be really expensive. I can also receive texts (cheaper for you) if you want to do that.

Timeline

01/12/08: Submitted online application to the Peace Corps
01/12/08: Submitted Health Status Review form online
01/17/08: Contacted by my recruiter for an interview
01/31/08: Interview with my recruiter
02/15/08: Officially nominated for a health-extension program in Sub-Saharan Africa departing in November
02/21/08: Received PC medical kit in the mail
03/05/08: Eye exam
03/06/08: Dental exam
03/25/08: Medical exam
04/03/08: Mailed completed medical kit
04/10/08: PC recieved my medical kit
04/25/08: Received medical clearance
08/01/08: Received dental clearance
08/22/08: Received my official invitation to Burkina Faso as a Community Health Development Worker, leaving for staging on October 12, 2008

Friday, October 17, 2008

I'm Alive

Bonjour everyone! I am safe and sound here in Ouahigouya, Burkina Faso. I only have 10 minutes to type this up, so I'll make this short. We arrived safely in Ouaga Wednesday night, but unfortunately one of my bags ways delayed, but I should get it within a few days I'm told. After an overnight in the capital, we crammed into a bus and made our way to Ouahigouya, where we will remain for most of the next three months. The people here are super friendly, and I am practicing my French daily with them (Moorè training begins tomorrow). It pretty hot but not too bad, very dusty, but the food has all been really good: chicken, apples, bananas, and lots of rice dishes. Anyway, my time is running out; I will post again the next chance I get with more details, but do not worry. I am safe and having a blast!

4 comments:

Anonymous said...: I'm so glad you made it! And... I'm sending you a package soon (if that's okay with you). Any requests?

Au revoir!
Carrie; October 18, 2008 at 3:45 PM
Unknown said...: Glad to hear you made it OK, Erik! :) I mailed you a letter a couple of days ago, but I'm not sure when it will get to you...anyway, hope things continue to go well!

Peace,
Rebecca; October 20, 2008 at 8:48 PM
Anonymous said...: We've been praying for you, buddy! We're so happy to hear you're okay, although of course we knew you would be.

Your adventure is just getting started!; October 23, 2008 at 2:07 AM
Anonymous said...: Erik:
Be on the lookout for a package that we shipped to you on Saturday. We have your number, and text us if that will save on your phone bill. Your host family sounds great!
Best wishes & thinking of you.
Love,
D&M; October 25, 2008 at 3:45 AM

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Glossary

Some useful Peace Corps abbreviations and terms :
· Assignment: The location and job the volunteer is placed in
· APCD: Associate Peace Corps Director. A host-country national in charge of that region's program
· CD: Country Director. The one in charge of the volunteers in that country
· COS: Close of Service. The end of a volunteer's service
· Country Desk: The department representing regional countries, at Peace Corps headquarters in Washington D.C.
· ET: Early Termination. Leaving, for whatever reason, before COS
· Homestay: Part of training where the volunteer lives with a member of the community (the owners of the house are often referred to as "family," i.e. mother, brother, etc.)
· Host Country: The country where the volunteer is serving
· IOS: Interruption of Service. When local, political, or environmental conditions require the entire program to be pulled from an area
· IST: In-Service Training. A secondary training event that happens mid-service
· LCF: Language and Cross-Cultural Facilitator. Trainers responsible for language and culture sections during PST.
· Medevac: Medically Evacuate. To return a volunteer to the States for medical treatment, usually because they have an injury/illness that is untreatable in-country
· Medical Separation: When a volunteer cannot complete service due to a medical problem
· OMS: Office of Medical Services
· PC: Peace Corps
· PCMO: Peace Corps Medical Officer. The nurse or doctor in charge of all that country's volunteers
· PCT: Peace Corps Trainee. Volunteer's title during training and before becoming an official volunteer
· PCV: Peace Corps Volunteer
· PST: Pre-Service Training. The training program, usually 3 months long, that teaches volunteers language, cross-cultural sensitivity, and job skills before they begin their official service
· RPCV: Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
· Site: The location where the volunteer lives and works for 2 years
· Staging: The first day of training, held in the U.S., before flying out to the host country
· Swearing-In: The ceremony that accompanies transition from PCT to PCV

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Friday, October 17, 2008

I'm Alive

4 comments:

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