Prospective Volunteer Resources Q & A

  

What is the difference between Health and Education volunteers?

The teachers had a much more well defined job than us poor wimpy health volunteers.  In some senses, health had a harder job because we had tocreate our job.  Teachers, on the other hand, had a well defined job that required a lot more time, and was fairly impossible to do to highstandards.  For instance, teaching 8th grade math was impossible, you had all these subjects to get through, but the kids didn't really understand division. Well, maybe they did by 8th grade... kinda... I tutored 6th graders and they really didn't understand the concept.  Math there is taught in the french system, which really isn't comprehension based.  I know many teachers were very frustrated.  That said, I know so many teachers who were so rewarded in their jobs.  They knew they were making a difference, they were appreciated because there were so few math teachers, and the few kids who *did* get it... well that was just a wonderful feeling.  I worked a lot with the schools and loved it.  There's nothing like working with a kid, especially one who's really motivated.  A lot of teachers just ended up teaching to the top half (or third) of the class.  It's all you could do.  And it is a bit depressing because even if the students do pass (or bribe) their way through all the exams and make it to university, there are preciuos few jobs out there for university students.

Comment on the secondary (local/tribal) language acquisition and cultural adaptations

Cultural adaptation... what can I say.  The first few months are hell, it's like trying to breathe underwater.  Then you get the hang of it and it's pure bliss, and you navigate with ease.  Guinea is like most 3rd world nations -- high emphasis on pride, saving face, family ties, age, gender (male).  If you read my letters you could get some of a sense for it. The toughest thing for me was that I would say something and mean one thing, but through their cultural filters they would interpret it as something else.

My classic example is when I didn't want to interrupt the doctor in an exam to greet him, because he was working.  He was a bit perturbed (greeting is very important).  I realized this was a cultural thing, that to me the importance of greeting fell underneath that of interrupting someone while they're working.  For them, why wouldn't I interrupt him during an exam, I'm the White Woman, and the patient is a lowly villager.  I have higher status, and the doctor has higher status than me, so I should have greeted him.  I tried to explain how in my culture, you don't interrupt someone who's working.  They smiled that knowing smile that said that they knew thatwas a weak excuse but they'd let me off the hook.  Frustrating.

But once I felt at home in the culture, I put my Guinean-ness on like a coat.  I shed a lot of who I was, the cultural trappings of how I dress,who I know, what I do, and became quite purely Stephanie.  It was all that was left.  And I loved the constant greetings, feeling part of a larger web,the sound of the mortars grinding rice, the cocks crowing, the neighbor's monkey torturing the goats...  Fond memories.

During the rainy season, does it ever stop raining?  How did you cope with that?

Depends on where you are, and the time in the rainy season.  In august, where I was, it rained every day from 4-5.  It was great.  Other times,you see the clouds rolling in and head for shelter.  It would rain about once a day or two during the high rainy season.  We got awful floods inConakry.  I remember before I left, I was all worried about rain and bought a fancy rain jacket and rain pants.  I never used them.  I bought a huge umbrella the size of the house and rarely went out when it's raining.  No one does. Everyone sits and waits for it to stop raining.  Your flip flops get real muddy.

How do you keep in touch with Family and Friends?

See my tips for Parents  for ruminations on mail and phones.  In addition to that, there's a website called LiveJournal.   Friends and family could check in and see what you've been up to.  Of course you need cheap access to the Internet, but some volunteers have them.  And friends/family can post messages to a particular entry like a BBS. There's potential for something good.  If anyone does one, please let us know.  Note: One drawback is that it's totally public, and people can post whatever they want if you choose to have the "comment on this" option available.

How often do you have access to internet and telephones?

When I was there, there were only cafe's in the capital.  I wouldn't be surprised if there were cafe's in other parts of the country by the time you're there, though.  There's a big push to get connected in Guinea now.  In all decent sized towns there are telephones.  They're laying the internet cables now, I think.  So you can always get connected by phone.  THat's $3/minute.  You can also get connected by email in the capital, for sure, for about $5-10 for a half hour.  It's pretty expensive, but it's a lifesaver.  I got to the capital about once a month, but I was really close.  The average is about once every three months.  You'll get to your regional capital about once a month.

Also you mentioned taking a lot of extra money.  Did you find that you needed this just for trips?  Or was it necessary to supplement the PC living allowance?

I mostly used it just for trips.  It can be hard to buy your plane tix from there.  The best is if you have the cash to buy your tickets, or your parents buy them in the U.S. and send them to you with a kind traveller.   But, it was also nice to have the cushion in case I overspent my allowance.  They just raised the allowance in 2000, so you should be comfortable, though.

What did you think of the antimalarial medicine? I've read horrible things about Mefloquine: hallucinations, mood swings, hair loss etc.  Was it really that bad?

It really depends on the person.  I took mefloquine during training and had some weird concentration problems, so I switched to Doxy.  Some people had weird dreams or insomnia.  Some people felt nothing.  If you get strange side effects, you can discuss with the doctor switching to other meds.  Each med has its own side effects and pros and cons.

Smoking -- no problem.  Alcohol -- you are a rich foreigner and they will  have no problem with you drinking.  Drunkenness isn't well looked on, but there are several bars around, and you can get expensive cans of beer in the  few expat stores.  Muslims probably won't drink.

Does dating while in Guinea need to be very discrete?

Well, as I spent more time there, I came to realize that everyone had a "little bit on the side".  Even married men.  Well, perhaps especially married men.  But, it was regarded with a nudge-nudge, wink-wink, yeah sure, even if you say you're faithful you're probably fooling around with someone. I didn't see people with "boyfriends" per se.  I tried to keep my reputation crystal clean, but I'm sure some people still thought I was dating villagers.  Other volunteers didn't care about their reputation so much, and in truth, it probably didn't hurt their work too much.  But, because you stand out so much, any reason to discredit you can be kind of
dangerous.  I just tried not to give anyone a reason to talk about me, you know what I mean?  And, I guess the thing about a "boyfriend" was not so much that it was scandalous, but that they wouldn't regard it as someone I shared things with, loved, respected, and cared for.  They would see it as I was his mistress, nothing more.  So, I referred to my boyfriend at home as my fiance to lend it some respect.  There are some subtle issues.
 

Also, as a Health Volunteer, did you often come across situations in which you saw very seriously ill/injured  people?

No, not often at all.  I saw a few dead people, and whenever someone was seriously injured I just got out of the way fast.  It happens every once in a while, and I know one volunteer who felt he needed to help with a huge accident, and he did some primary care and saw some nasty stuff.  So, it happens, but only a few times in your service, unless that's something you seek to help with.

I know that I will not be able to treat anyone but will people assume I have certain medical expertise because I am from America?

Of course, if you're interested in treating people, nobody will stop
you.  I mean, you're out in the bush, PC isn't going to be watching you. But, it would really limit your role, so most volunteers stick to the educational side.  Yes, people will definitely think you are a doctor, especially those outside the health center.  You don't have a very well-defined job.  Teachers can say "I teach at the high school".  You can say "I'm a health teacher".  Well, what's that?  WHat's a health teacher do?  Where's your office?  You hang out at the health center, so you must be a doctor.  Learn how to say "I'm not a doctor, I'm a health teacher" in local language.  It will save you trouble.

Will it be expected that I will be able to provide medical treatment/advice?

Sometimes the health clinic doctor will expect you to know some stuff.  Mine told me to do prenatal consultations.  I could have, it didnt' take much know-how, but I didn't want to and it wasn't my job.  It's something every PCV works out in their specific situation.  It's easiest to lay down your limits, say "I won't do this, but I will do this", and then change your mind later.  But, it sounds like you're not interested in being involved with the primary care side, so don't!  It will also depend whether or not you're replacing someone.  People will probably assume you'll do the same thing as
the last volunteer.

I am wondering how much the Peace Corps  experience on a people-to-people level is affected by its government-to-government structure and how much American college graduates really have to offer
in empoverished countries in Africa.

Almost everybody in Peace Corps says they got more out of the
experience than they felt they gave.

I agree with everybody else who has responded, once in your town or
village or at work people view you as an individual, not as a representative
of  your government.  But, you still are viewed differently and must deal with
many of the stereotypes people have associated with Americans.

What you do contribute is a combination of a variety of things.  Are
you patient? flexible? outgoing? discerning? able to laugh at the right
time? the list goes on.  Do you have a special skill that is needed?  You
can  have the skill but lack the personality to use it wisely.  Some PCVs don't
come in with the right skills but they are bright and creative enough to
learn them.  Some parts of your job are beyond your control.  You can just
get stuck in a job that is really difficult and not many people would be
able  to make much progress.  And, some of the things you set in motion will
not be realized until after you leave, an accomplishment though delayed.

This is fairly vague and it probably is a good idea to find an RPCV
group near you.  As you listen to their stories, and they will be only to
happy to tell you story after story, you'll get a clearer picture of the
variety of experiences which PCVs have.  PC recruiters also have some books of
stories written by PCVs and there are books written by PCVs about their
experiences.

I am trying to sort through  the millions of alternative possibilities for international volunteering
through NGOs/PVOs and I am looking into direct volunteer work with orphanages/schools/other volunteer opportunities in Africa (although  the later is difficult without better contacts).

PC is probably a good starting point for most people.  The language
training is almost always good.  There is good medical support.  People in your
training group can help provide moral support.  The structure helps
people who are working overseas for the first time.

How do you handle taxes once you're in a foreign country?  does
PC explain things to you?

Taxes? What are taxes?? :) Never paid 'em because I didn't make anything. If she had a job (making decent money) before going in, then that's really all she should worry about. I was working in a grocery store for a year before going and never paid anything. (Don't tell the IRS :) )  PC does provide forms and such when you are over there, but I never did anything with them.

Another Response:  PC gives you information every year with amounts that you need to fill
in on  what line of the tax forms.  You need to be sure to get your state tax
forms  sent to you somehow.  Often you don't owe any taxes anyhow the second
year  because you've made so little money that year. I'm pretty sure you can
have your parents fill them out for you if you give them power of attorney,
and I can't remember if we had to send the forms back to the US ourselves or
if the PC sent them by diplomatic pouch.

Another Response:  Peace Corps will give you information about filing your taxes.  Becuase
you are living overseas, you automatically get a 3 month extension (your
taxes will be due July 15 instead of April 15). Most people don't end up having to pay much, or anything in the way of  taxes, if Peace Corps is their only income.  A certain percentage of
your  living allowance is taxable (the part that is not directly considered
living  expenses) but that is usually so low (only about a hundred or two
hundred a month) that you are not earning enough to have to pay anything.  Peace
Corps will provide you will all that information and tax forms, ect... while
you are overseas.

Should I get Power of Attorney? Will it be helpful even if I don't have much money?

I found power of attorney helpful several times.  I did have some
investments that needed to be changed over, so it was invaluable then. 
But also, I was applying to grad school and my mom was able to sign
documents in my stead, and request transcripts and all that sort of thing.  It's
easy to do the power of attorney -- there are computer programs that have the
forms in them, or you might be able to get it off the web -- and then you
just need it signed by a notary.  I strongly suggest putting yor mom's name
on your bank account, makes everything much easier.

Another Response:  An easy way to do this is with some software that is
available from Nolo. I am not connected with them in
anyway, I just used their software and found is easy
and accurate. You can download legal software at their
web site (www.nolo.com/software). They have a package
called "The Financial Power of Attorney". It costs
about $25.00 and your can order and download it
online. This is part of their WillMaker package and if
you need to make a will, you can just get the
WillMaker package (cost about $40.00) and it has the
Financial Power of Attorney built in. Be sure that you
don't get the "Limited Financial Power of Attorney"
which they also have. it's only for one time financial
transaction use, like authorizing someone to make a
purchase, like a car, on your behalf.

Another Response:  I do suggest getting power-of-attorney. Just puts everything out of your mind. My dad was mine and I'm glad. He was able to take care of insurance (while I was on vacation in the states) and other miscellaneous banking things.

Another Response:   For persons of any age or wealth, power of attorney is a
good thing. (At the very least get a parent co-signed onto
your bank account.)   Making out a "will" is also a good pro-active step, and a
sobering thought process.

Another Response:   Power- of- attorney means that you give someone permission to act on
your behalf (it doesn't have to be a lawyer).  I signed a simple form (I
think peace corps can send you one) that said my father could make decisions
or sign documents on my behalf.  Adding your mom onto your bank account
would do the same thing.  Power of attorney would also give her the ability
to cash a bond in your name, or buy or sell stocks, or do anything for
you.  She could even submit your tax returns and sign your name.  My dad
requested that Peace Corps send him copies of that tax information so that he
could fill out my tax return.

Another Response:   I do think it's a good idea.  It's not just for the stuff you own, but also to give someone like your mother the authority to take care of your affairs while you're gone.  For
example, if you have student loans that you'll need to have deferred, your mom
would probably be the one to do it after your first year.  Plus, you just
never know what might come up while you're gone.

How do I get Power of Attorney forms?

There are 4 basic ways to do this.

Attorney:

I was a volunteer in Guinea and just returned last
year. My dad had power of attorney over me for my
three years and before I left for Guinea, we went to a
lawyer who wrote up a short letter (I grant so and so
power of attorney yadda yadda...). I signed it, and we
had it notarized (basically anyone can notarize
it--banks, law clerks, etc.) Now your mom will have
complete control of everything. My dad said that the
few times he ever signed anything, he would sign my
name, then his name with PA after it. You shouldn't
need the paper or anything unless she's going to do
some major stuff. (ie. closing bank account)

On-Line:

Go to the search engine-Google- and request "Power of Attorney".
Click on the name of your state. Get a hard copy of the power of
attorney that you need and print it. (I think they charge about $10.)
Fill it out and take it to a Notary Public to be notarized.

Stationary Store:

Probably the easiest way to get a power of attorney form is to go to a
stationery shop and buy a standard form. You and your mom will have to
go to a notary to sign it, and that's all there is to do. Your mom can
makes copies of it, and send the copy with any document that she has to sign
for you.

Software:

I used a power of attorney form from some legal
software that my dad had. You should be able to get
one pretty easily, perhaps online?

Once you send in yourPC medical information, how soon do you hear back?
the information they gave me says it should take 4-8 wks for them to look over it.  but how soon did YOU hear back?  and do they send you a letter saying they looked over it or do they send you an invitation?

Medical clearance time just varries from person to person.
When I went through it in 1993, they were pressing for
everyone not to have wisdom teeth. Some volunteers I
entered with actually went and had them pulled, others
had to get notes from their dentists saying that they would
not be a problem for at least 2 years. 

If you have any health issues, or any long term medication
needs, expect the process to take longer. If you have no
prior surgeries, except for maybe tonsils...... it should
be simple...........

Keep in touch with (don't hound) your recruiter. They
should be able to update you on your application's process.
Also, I believe you can be "selected" for a program while
medical clearance is pending. You just can't get the
official "invitation" until you get that final medical
stamp!

I'm wondering if the older people who serve in the Peace Corps do
different things or are treated differently.
I'm an "older" person thinking of joining. I've lived abroad a lot and
would like being around others who have, too, and would be willing to
help those who don't know what to expect. Is there a place for people
like me?

"I was in my late fifties and my wife-to-be was in her early 60's
when we served in Western Samoa. I have no recollection of being
treated differently by the staff or having to do things differently than the
younger members of the volunteer group. I did suspect, though, that my
village assignment in a location that was more remote than many of the
others was based in some part by being older and more "mature". It was
never mentioned, and, again, this was a thought that crossed my mind.
The society, though, definitely treated age with a lot of respect and was an
advantage."

"In the Philippines age earned respect. The older volunteers did much
better - due to experience, and were treated better in country because
it was assumed that they had more experience. Only in America does age
seem to be a negative factor. We had 2 volunteer teachers in their late 60s and they had the best time
of their lives, and I think were one of the most successful volunteers."

"We had one volunteer who was in his 60s or 70s. He was a retired civil engineer. His main job was to go out and inspect proposed village projects. His comment to me was that he never dissed a
project. He would look, make comments and the project went on to
completion. His stamp of approval as an "elder" gave everyone enuf confidence to
proceed. He was happy as a lark.My only caveat is that health care can be very distant and difficult to
get to. If you have any high maintenance health problems, make sure they can be
looked after. "

"I and my wife were in our 50s when we served. We had a somewhat
different impression. Many of the underlying assumptions for our
training were based on the volunteers being 30 or younger. This was substantially muted by the people amdministering the training being careful to treat everyone equally. The same can be said for
the way PC headquarters in country treated us. We also were vaguely frustrated by our not always being treated as peers by the other PCVs whom we considered our peers."

How much money should I bring?

If you plan on doing a lot of traveling, your living allowance isn't going to cover it. How much and what type of money you bring depends on where
you think you might go.

Another response: I was able to do most of my traveling on the money I had left over from my peace corps living stipend. Most of my fellow volunteers found that too, but it was always nice to have the extra cash just in case. As long as you don't fly, travel in and around the countries neighboring Guinea is relatively inexpensive. I brought $400 cash with me when I went
over and it was plenty (and I used my credit card
whenever it was possible).

Should I bring credit cards?

In Guinea there are very few places that
except credit cards and travelers checks are hard to cash. But if you are planning to go to Mali or Ghana or another country, then those might be
good options. And I had a credit card, some travelers checks and kept a few hundred dollars in cash in the safe in Conakry. In a nutshell, it
depends, you might want to try a combination of things.

Another response: Credit cards aren't very popular in Guinea. The only two places I know of that accept them are the Camayane Hotel and Novotel Hotel both in Conakry. They both accept visa and mastercard. Outside of Guinea, you might have a better shot at using credit cards in the bigger cities. I was able to use mine in Accra, Ghana (everybody took it there) and somewhat in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. They also took it in many places in Morocco. Aside from that, it's best to travel with cash. I know cash isn't reimbursable if you lose it like travelers cheques are, but you can't use travelers checks anywhere I found in west africa. I brought travelers checks with me and never once had the chance to cash them. I suggest you bring some cash with you. If you use $100 bills, you get a better exchange rate than if you had say, 10s and 20s.

Should I bring traveller's checks?

Just a word of warning--do NOT get those travelers checks that two different people can use. For example, they are advertised showing Dad using them on the golf course and Mom using them while shopping. In Guinea, they were impossible to cash because the money changers and the bank thought you had to have both people there to sign the check. However, regular travelers checks that are issued to just one person seemed to work great.

Should I bring an ATM card?

Yes, even in Guinea you can now use your ATM/credit card at a couple of Bicigui branches in Conakry. Apparently it's pretty easy and you get a good exchange rate to boot. I'm sure the same is true in Dakar.

Another response: There is one ATM in Conakry, at the main bank. I was warned against using it because of stories of others who had money missing out of there accounts after they used it. I don't know if these stories are true ( I don't know how they could be), but I didn't want to risk it. Anyway, Conakry it the
only place you can use your card in Guinea, but if you are traveling it might come in handy.

Another response: First off, there is one ATM in Guinea, it's at a Bank in downtown conakry. You can use it with your credit card to get cash advances (in Guinean Francs) but it's not conected to ATM systems in the states, so you can't get money out of your bank account.

What clothes should I bring?

I would suggest that you take enough clothes wih you to last about a week and you can get more clothes made there. However, it takes a little while
to feel comfortable enough to go to the tailor. Another thing is that I never found the heavy cotton/twill clothe that most khaki pants are made out of, so if you like those, you might want to bring a few pair with you. You shouldn't have any problem finding fabric to have shirts made.

What did you learn in Peace Corps?

What did I learn in Peace Corps? I think of Peace Corps as a hike over
a mountain, so I could see the entire valley on the other side,
stretching before me. Before I climbed that mountain, my view of the world was
limited by these big mountains around me -- I was in an isolated little valley.
I now understand my place in the world, and how the world works, and who
I am, what the U.S. is, and when I read some article about India or
Afghanistan, I understand a bit more. I could not have gotten that by working in the
U.S. Working in the US, especially in less priviledged areas, will give you
a different perspective on the world and help you understand your country
and your place in your country. That's important. But PC helped me
understand my place in the world, and I wouldn't trade that knowledge for
anything. But everyone's different.

The other thing it changed about my life was to give me a dedication to
helping people. I went into PC for pretty selfish reasons -- to
adventure and stuff. I came out kind of cynical and hardened, but with a real
dedication to helping others.

What was the most frustrating thing about Peace Corps?

Most frustrating: Communication. I broke down crying after many
discussions with my boss, where we were involved in an intense power
struggle and I didn't understand where he was coming from and vice
versa and the cultural communication barrier was just huge.