Katalina in Africa

11 days and counting

The next chapter in my life will begin in 11 days and I'm very excited. I just came back from a relaxing vacation in Montreal, Canada where I practiced my French. Although to be honest you don't need French to visit Montreal, everyone speaks English perfectly! I would also bring an eskimo coat, its freezing...

New things I've learned about Guinea: 10 million inhabitants. low AIDS contamination. Two presidents since French independence. Made its flag based on Ethiopia, weirdly .

New things I've learned about my training: Highly intensive language training.

Stern Suggestion: If you are interested in joining the Peace Corps, I would take an NGO or Public Admin - related class.... It will make you want to become a humanitarian capitalist (you don't think they exist?)

Guinea

The population of Guinea is comprises about 24 ethnic group. The three largest and most dominant are the Fulani (also known as Fula [was I the only one who saw Madagascar?]), comprises 40% of the population. They are mostly found in the Futa Jallon Region. The Mandinka (Also known as Mandingo), comprises 30% of the population. They are mostly found in eastern Guinea and are concentrated around Kankan Prefecture, and Kissidougou Prefecture. The Soussou, comprises 20%, they predominate in areas around the capital Conakry, Forécariah, and Kindia. Smaller ethnic groups make up the remaining 10% of the population.

Despite being one of Africa’s richest countries in natural resources and metals, conditions in Guinea have been steadily declining over the past few years. Political trends are becoming progressively worrisome as decision-making and authority are becoming increasingly centralized practices of rampant corruption and impunity continue, and political freedoms and human rights are diluted. Guinea is bordered by four countries that have had serious levels of instability or conflict over the past decade—Cote d’Ivoire, Sierra Leone, Guinea-Bissau, and Liberia. Throughout this turmoil, Guinea has remained a relatively stable country and has been a receptive host to a significant refugee population. An unstable Guinea could create massive disruption throughout the entire sub-region. USAID is contributing to stability in Guinea through the provision and expansion of social services in the health and basic education sector, as well as through improving food security and rural incomes and strengthening their democratic processes.

Education: Years compulsory--8. Enrollment--primary school, 64.32% (male 78.71%, female 69.03%); secondary, 15%; and post secondary, 3%. Literacy (total population over age 15 that can read and write)--44.2% (male 58.74%, female 26.38%).

One Month and Change....

As the date of departure nears you start think about your packing list. I've read all the recommendations from the Peace Corps and other past/current Guinea volunteers. However, I still think my packing list should not exactly mirror any of theirs. I don't want to bring things that I'm not going to use or forget things that I would definitely would need.

I just sent my aspiration statement and resume off to the Guinea PC office. After handing in (at the beginning of my application process) a carefully detailed description of every experience I've had, I have to write a resume tailoring it to my PC post. I am a big fan of efficiency. I think if you ask someone for the same thing twice, it is inefficient and only demonstrates the fact that you do not communicate internally. Which really sets the tone for disorganization, which I am not a fan.

When you get your invitation you go online and check who else is going. I joined the facebook group, but I tried to make my own group on google, but that was a no go. I honestly don't feel the need to rush and make friends already, we are spending 2.5 years together, I think we'll be fine. One listserv I joined that has been beneficial though, a yahoo group. People talk about gifts to bring to host families, what shoes to bring, current events, its nice just to read even if I don't participate. Through that group I learned of a Masters student in Organizational Behavior (leaning toward the business organizational factors). She graduated already but has books on NGOs and other interesting businessy topics and wants to give them away. I told her she could definitely send them my way. I only hope I will be able to review them to pick which ones would be more valuable.

Which leads me to the next comment. I'm not sure how many people are going to end up reading this blog (if at all) BUT being the brilliant minds of Stern I have a proposition to make. As I've said before, I'm going to be a Small Enterprise Development Advisor in Guinea until March 2010. I will be posting projects on this blog in the future (starting Jan 08) and would love the support of my fellow Sternies (Unite!). I'm not asking for monetary assistance but more so exchange of ideas and information (KNOWLEDGE IS POWER) :)

P.S. I was being sarcastic about not being able to teach business concepts without powerpoint! :)

Where?

Hi Everyone!

Well, it looks like I'm leaving Dec. 01, not Dec. 23 as I had mentioned before. Long Story. However this means I'm leaving sooner than expected. Filling out Visa forms and getting a special Peace Corps passport is top priority! Oh yes, did I mention? I get a Peace Corps passport, I am not allowed to travel with my "civilian" passport.

I was reading a little bit more about Guinea and my assignment. Oh thats another correction, my official title is Small Enterprise Development Advisor. The reason for all of these discrepancies are due to my  mother who received my package and told me over the phone. I'm not sure how she read Small Business Enterprise Adivsor from the actual title.

I am starting to think about how do I bring electricity to my village. Laugh, but I'm serious, how do I bring electricity to a village in Africa? How can I teach people business concepts without power point? Je ne sais pas!

Questions/Comments are welcomed!

Peace Corps

Hello Sternies (and NYU) and Welcome to my  blog!

Instead of writing a really long entry with tons of information with no way for you to skip the parts you don't want to read, I have devised a format, Q&A! It will allow you to read the answers you are curious about and skip the ones you don't care. Lets begin!

How are you going to Africa? Through the Peace Corps, a wonderful government agency that sends US citizens around the world to third-world countries and help them develop a little bit faster. Remember the famous words JFK said? "Ask not what your country can do for you, Ask what can you do for your country" One of the many things he was talking about was the Peace Corps.

How does the application process go? Simple answer: submit your application. interview. nomination. medical and legal clearance. invitation. Shipped. In the ideal world, this is very easy. The real answer is after submitting a very long and thorough application online. You must wait wait and wait some more to receive an invitation for an interview. If after a month you have not heard anything you must call and make sure everything is okay with your application. The interview took approximately three hours, give or take a few minutes. They ask you about job, internship, volunteer experiences as well as situational questions. If she/he likes what they hear you guys talk about possible regions. After a week you'll hear back to see if you were nominated or rejected. Then comes the wonderful process of the medical clearance. They send you a packet to test for everything imaginable and in between. It takes about 4 doctor appointments (if you are lucky). Not to mention all the waiting time for your test results to come in. The legal clearance is the less complicated one of all. You just come into a Police Station or Peace Corps office and get your fingerprints done so it can be put through system to make sure you aren't trying to escape anything! Then you wait. Until they receive your package. Clear up any discrepancies with you. Then then then after what it feels like YEARS you receive the coveted invitation.

Where are you going? I am proud and honored to announce that I have been chosen to go to Guinea. Not Papau New Guinea, not New Guinea, not Equatorial Guinea... just plain Guinea.

How did STERN help you with the Peace Corps? Besides the fact that you need at least a bachelors degree for the Peace Corps. It is Stern who got me my preferred assignment. I am going to be a ..... Small Business Enterprise Adviser. How many Stern graduates can say that was their title right after graduation? Let me help you...not many to none. They were not only impressed with my credentials and experience, they were impressed by my educational background with Stern.

How long will you be away from us? Ladies and gentlemen this is the kicker and the reason why this wonderful adventure is not explored by many, the time commitment. I am going to be way for 2.5 years. Yes that is the minimum (not maximum) commitment. On the upside, that is 2.5 years of you reading my blog!

This is the end of my first entry. I'll definitely be writing a little bit more before I leave to Africa. Oh, by the way I'm leaving Dec. 23,07 to Africa, but orientation is on Dec. 1, 07.

For more information about the Peace Corps go to www.peacecorps.gov  or read "So you want to Join the Peace Corps?"

Test

Africa, the craddle of human kind.