Our last group photo. Ha ha, just before the shot, Andrei scooted over from behind me, leaving me floating. I don’t touch the ladies :-). I count 38 out of the original 45 making it to this point, a higher percentage than most cohorts.My Lusoga buddy Becky, second from right in the front row (between the Blue House PCVs) was ill and only came out ten minutes for this photo, Thursday night. She didn’t get better and was taken to the ICU Monday for malaria. She had tested negative the first time. She had stopped taking her meds a few months ago.
I spent last week with my cohort at a very nice resort. It is low season right now, so I guess the Peace Corps got a good rate. They like giving us a nicer place at each conference. This was called Cessation of Service (COS) conference. It’s all about wrapping things up and planning for the immediate future.
We learned about the three day process at headquarters before you “gong out”. Mostly because they drain a lot of bodily fluids (and solids 😉 ) the first day, and results are provided on the third day. And there are exit interviews and forms to fill out. I have already put together a booklet about Bugiri and ATEFO for my replacement.
There was a session about readjustment to USA life. No doubt it is sort of jolting, as I experienced. It was acknowledged that frequently a RPCV is asked to describe their experience, but often the inquisitor is just being polite. Keeping it short, I will say: “I endured unbelievable hardships, while elevating my entire town out of poverty, and securing a lifetime of education for all the children.” Yeah, that should cover it. See if they are paying attention.
The “Three Fossils” t-shirts were a popular item. It’s like we are a folk group. Ron on the right has lost 40 lbs. I spoke about Dave’s plans in an earlier post. Ron is either retiring to fishing in Wisconsin, or will open a restaurant in La Paz Mexico.
There were sessions on what to do after Peace Corps. I co-facilitated a session on resume writing. Thanks for assistance from back home from Mike and his daughter Michelle (an HR pro). I helped several volunteers revise their resumes. It’s been fun learning everyone’s plans. A lot of them are going to grad school. An alleged benefit of the Peace Corps is the designation of NCE (Non-Competitive Eligibility) which gives RPCVs an automatic competitive edge in Federal hiring for a few years. However, the hiring freeze and doubts about future funding for non-military activities, including the Peace Corps itself, have the negated the NCE benefit.
For me, when I was accepted, it was nice to think I had the next few years figured out. Now that time is running out. I am struggling a bit on the after-service question for myself. I feel lucky to have options, but each one has an impediment. [heh- started the paragraph in Uganglish “For me..” ]
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On our last night of the conference, I was honored to be asked to be the Agriculture PCV to thank the Peace Corps staff and speak to the cohort. There was certainly some humor, but I am not one to waste an opportunity like this. I have heartfelt love and admiration for the volunteers I served with. They represent our country’s best hopes. However, their future will not be easy. I urged my cohort not to go home and retreat behind their white privilege (“Especially you, Aruna”). RPCVs will know how to take on “secondary projects”, organize and interact with groups, make presentations, and otherwise lead with confidence. I would hate to see those skills go to waste. Sure, go to a march and take a selfie for Facebook. But what will you say to your grandchildren, when you take them to Disney World, now located next to a beach in Orlando, and they ask “Grandpa, what did you do …..?”
Ditch diggers in Iganga. No back hoes here! This was at least a kilometer on each side.
Across the street they are lining another ditch with stones.
They were out of these crazy taxi models when we passed through Fort Portal a few weeks ago, so I ordered one. I asked the artist to put one Muzungu in it. This one is crammed with nine altogether, but real taxis need a minimum of 19 (3-4-4-4-4) before they leave. Tires are bottle caps. One of my souvenirs!
While I was gone, Matthews built a fence around our gardens to keep out the goats. Were the fences in the old West that ramshackle?
The permagarden we dug in Kazo town. Picture was taken twelve days ago. They weren’t getting much rain there, but lately its been picking up..The garden at Blue House is not doing as well.