2009.08.09: August 9, 2009: Headlines: COS - Mauritania: Blogs - Mauritania: Safety: COS - Senegal: Personal Web Site: Peace Corps Volunteer "Look Here for Michele's updates" writes: Despite being away from our villages since July 27th, we were pretty hopeful that we'd all be able to go back as soon as the team was finished with the evaluation, but now we are in a huge mess of doubt
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Peace Corps Online : Directory : Mauritania : Peace Corps Mauritania : Peace Corps Mauritania: Newest Stories : 2009.08.08: August 8, 2009: Headlines: COS - Mauritania: Safety: NY Times: Suicide Blast Wounds 2 at French Embassy in Mauritania : 2009.08.09: August 9, 2009: Headlines: COS - Mauritania: Blogs - Mauritania: Safety: COS - Senegal: Personal Web Site: Peace Corps Volunteer "Look Here for Michele's updates" writes: Despite being away from our villages since July 27th, we were pretty hopeful that we'd all be able to go back as soon as the team was finished with the evaluation, but now we are in a huge mess of doubt| By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 9:37 am : Edit Post |
Peace Corps Volunteer "Look Here for Michele's updates" writes: Despite being away from
our villages since July 27th, we were pretty hopeful that we'd all be able to go back as soon as
the team was finished with the evaluation, but now we are in a huge mess of doubt
What with the Al Quaida targeting an American missionary, refusing to give Americans Visas into
Mauritania and all that we the Peace Corps Volunteers of Mauritania have been pulled into Senegal
while a Safety and Security Team evaluates the viability of continuing in Mauritania. On our way to
our extensively planned "Eco/Health Camp" for young girls, we were called together,
cancelling the camp, and busing us to Thies (say it: ch-ez) in Senegal. Well Saturday was
the last day of the Security Review and also the day that Mauritania's first ever suicide bomber
attacked, injuring 2 guards at the French Embassy and 1 random jogger(as reported by NY
Times).
Peace Corps Volunteer "Look Here for Michele's updates" writes: Despite being away from
our villages since July 27th, we were pretty hopeful that we'd all be able to go back as soon as
the team was finished with the evaluation, but now we are in a huge mess of doubt
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Inchallah
What with the Al Quaida targeting an American missionary, refusing to give Americans Visas into
Mauritania and all that we the Peace Corps Volunteers of Mauritania have been pulled into Senegal
while a Safety and Security Team evaluates the viability of continuing in Mauritania. On our way to
our extensively planned "Eco/Health Camp" for young girls, we were called together,
cancelling the camp, and busing us to Thies (say it: ch-ez) in Senegal. Well Saturday was
the last day of the Security Review and also the day that Mauritania's first ever suicide bomber
attacked, injuring 2 guards at the French Embassy and 1 random jogger(as reported by NY
Times). So, despite being away from our villages since July 27th, we were pretty hopeful that
we'd all be able to go back as soon as the team was finished with the evaluation, but now we are
in a huge mess of doubt.
Fortunatey, the 51 of us volunteers left (from the usual 140) after COS and IS (Close of
Service and Interrupted Service, respectively) are getting treated very well at the Senegalese
PCV training site, bonding like you'd never think possible, and enjoying the similarities in
Senegalese culture.
Between "training sessions" (designed to keep us up-to-date, well informed, and just
busy while we wait for the evaluation to be finished) and eating delicious food we're able
to explore the local life and see how Senegal can be just like Mauritania: boutiques for certain
objects only, like fabrics, soaps, or food stuffs. The markets are just as bustling, colorful,
noisy, pushy, smelly, hot, and entertaining and still take a long time to find what you're
looking for, bargain the price, then walk away with it on your head. Buses are still super stuffed,
super stuffy, and lose pieces on your journey, like our bus that lost the front bumber here.
We're not only in "training sessions", but also teaching sessions, and serving the
commnity. We spent the weekend at a nearby beach and worked with a local Cooperative to clean the
shoreline. I love that no matter where we are in West Africa the people are (generally)
warm, opening, interested, and talkative! The local jewelry maker, a woman named Adama (say it:
Adam-ah), comes to the training center every day to sell her stuff to us; she's also started
calling me "Bobine" (say it: bow-bine, rhymes with pine) and invited me to her
amazingly artistic house. She, her painting husband, and 9 artisitc children paint, sculpt, sew, and
make jewelery all for sale to the public. They've given jewelry to everyone who has bought from
them, and even gave me same paintings! Samba Ly, Adama's husband, has a website with some of his
work (scroll down to see "Lac Rose" the painting he gave me; keep going, there's
some English, too!) Just like in Mauritania, the people are willing to give whatever they have
to a friend and treat you to some of the best hospitality I've seen in the world (not that
I've been everywhere, but a fair amount ;).
After the initial shock at the beauty of the gorgeous jewelery, the training center, its greenery,
and the comparitive paradise that is Thies, we also went to some local points of interest: a local
Monastary, the first organized Christian anything I've seen/done in over a year of being in
Africa! There were a fair number of us that attended the Mass and were treated to the "Heavenly
sounds" of the monks' voices and their musical instruments: a 23 stringed guitar called a
kora (say it: core- ah), a bongo drum, and a hollowed out gourd... not to mention the
constant birdsong going on just outside!
Later, when about 40 of us went to Popingue (say it: pope-in-gay) for the beach clean up,
etc, we learned more about the Muslim/Christian relations in Senegal (in Mauritania they're
tense...) Popingue boasts one of the largest Christian population and pilgrimage sites in West
Africa. Locals say its not at all a problem living totally mixed with Muslims and Christians: most
families are about half and half, with a few aunts and uncles practicing Christians, and a few
practicing Muslims. They claim that they're all family, they all love each other, it is what it
is, and they all serve One God... so it's a non-issue!
Monday we're leaving the Training Center in Thies to go to Dakar and find out if we're
actually going back to Mauritania, changing all sites to be along the river, or leaving the
country...
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: August, 2009 ; Peace Corps Mauritania ; Directory of Mauritania RPCVs ; Messages and Announcements for Mauritania RPCVs ; Blogs - Mauritania ; Safety and Security of Volunteers ; Peace Corps Senegal ; Directory of Senegal RPCVs ; Messages and Announcements for Senegal RPCVs
When this story was posted in August 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .
Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director
Senator Dodd's Senate Subcommittee held confirmation hearings for Aaron Williams to become the 18th Peace Corps Director . "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," said Dodd as he put Williams on the fast track to be confirmed by the full Senate before the August recess. Read our exclusive coverage of the hearings and our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams .
Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez .
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Story Source: Personal Web Site
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Mauritania; Blogs - Mauritania; Safety; COS - Senegal
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Peace Corps Online : Directory : Mauritania : Peace Corps Mauritania : Peace Corps Mauritania: Newest Stories : 2009.08.08: August 8, 2009: Headlines: COS - Mauritania: Safety: NY Times: Suicide Blast Wounds 2 at French Embassy in Mauritania : 2009.08.09: August 9, 2009: Headlines: COS - Mauritania: Blogs - Mauritania: Safety: COS - Senegal: Personal Web Site: Peace Corps Volunteer "Becky's Mauritanian Adventures" writes: We still have not heard final word about our future in the Peace Corps, and though I am trying to hold out hope, I also know that the Peace Corps will always hold our safety as a top priority| By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Monday, August 10, 2009 - 9:37 am : Edit Post |
Peace Corps Volunteer "Becky's Mauritanian Adventures" writes: We still have not heard
final word about our future in the Peace Corps, and though I am trying to hold out hope, I also know
that the Peace Corps will always hold our safety as a top priority
This has been a somber day for Peace Corp Mauritanian volunteers. Not just because it puts our
future in jeopardy, but also because a country that we have grown to call home will now be thought
of by the world as a dangerous and unstable place. We are always reminded that terrorists are
extremists and do not represent the mainstream thinking. It will be very difficult for me to leave
all those people who have done nothing wrong, although those that I have spoken to do understand.
Peace Corps Volunteer "Becky's Mauritanian Adventures" writes: We still have not heard
final word about our future in the Peace Corps, and though I am trying to hold out hope, I also know
that the Peace Corps will always hold our safety as a top priority
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Welcome to Camp Peace Corps...
anyone up for a game of limbo?
Hi everyone. I wanted to give you all a quick update, because a lot has happened in the last week,
and a lot will continue to happen in the weeks to come. Since coming back from America, I've
been at "Camp Peace Corps". It is actually the training center for the Senegalese
volunteers, but they have kindly offered to let us use it while the Washington security team checks
on the safety of Mauritania. It really does feel a lot like camp. There are group volley ball games,
cabins, and a mess hall. We even went on a little excursion this weekend, and we all rented a house
on the beach. So yeah, it's been pretty awesome…that is except for the dark cloud over all of
our heads.
There is a very real possibility that my two years in the Peace Corps will be cut short. In addition
to the events I described in my previous entry, last night, a suicide bomber detonated a bomb in the
capitol, killing himself and wounding a few others. We still have not heard final word about our
future in the Peace Corps, and though I am trying to hold out hope, I also know that the Peace Corps
will always hold our safety as a top priority.
This has been a somber day for Peace Corp Mauritanian volunteers. Not just because it puts our
future in jeopardy, but also because a country that we have grown to call home will now be thought
of by the world as a dangerous and unstable place. We are always reminded that terrorists are
extremists and do not represent the mainstream thinking. It will be very difficult for me to leave
all those people who have done nothing wrong, although those that I have spoken to do understand.
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