Please read the message below from the Univ. of Evansville. If you are able to go please email Rebecca directly and cc me. Make sure to get more details from her as to what you need to do during the time period she gave. If they need materials I have some that you could pick up from me.

Thanks so much. Debbie

Though it may be too late I thought I would ask if there would be a volunteer available, especially for Tuesday, March 28^th.  We have a program from 6;30 to 8 p.m. with programming by our Career Services Dept.  Please let us know.  If no one is available, we will try again next year.

Regards,

Rebecca Poelhuis, Administrative Assistant, International Center

University of Evansville

Phone:  (812) 488-2279

Email:    rp50@...

DINNER & MEETING

Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30 p.m. Details as to the restaurant will come by the end of this week, but I want to make sure this gets on your April schedule.

WHITE RIVER CLEANUP

Saturday, April 8, 2006   8 a.m. to noon Meet at the DPW Maintenance Facility at 1725 S. West St.; clean up activities will be near the river from 16th St. to south of downtown. Sign up at www.indygreenways.org or call 317-327-7431 or just show up on April 8th. I will not be able to attend because I have to work but for those of you who are interested please RSVP to me and then I can put you all in contact with one another.

HOMEWARD BOUND (5K walk to provide housing and fight homelessness in Indiana)

Sunday, April 30, 2006 walk is at 2p.m. registration starts around noon: downtown at Veterans Memorial Plaza: Join CIRPCA team by clicking on "Join our team" in blue after you enter the below website! Thanks Elisabeth & Jerry for joining already!  http://centralindiana2006.kintera.org/faf/r.asp?t=12&i=136271&g=1185782  If you can not join us by walking, please donate to one of the team members walking for CIRPCA!

Cheers, Debbie

ombili9@..., 317-627-8982

I've been told that if I'm interested and comfortable with the
country, I'll be invited to Jordan.  I know very little about what's
going on over there right now - politically, economically,
religiously, etc.  I was hoping that someone would have some insight
for me and possibly know someone currently serving in or recently
returned from Jordan whom I could contact.

Thanks and have a great weekend,
Bree Danner
bree_danner@...

Dinner - 6:30, Wednesday, April 19

El Morocco located at the 'United Nations' corner of 86th and Ditch.
1260 W. 86th St., Indianapolis, IN 46260   http://www.elmoroccorestaurant.com/index.html 

$20/person for a 4 course meal INCLUDING tax and tip. Drinks are extra.

Please RSVP to Natalie Farrior  natalie.farrior@..., 317-413-1595     OR     Norman at nyeh@...

CIRPCA T-shirts will be available for sale.  Updates on local PCV's currently overseas and one Crisis Corps Volunteer.
Hope to see everyone there!

Norman

NOTE:  This information will NOT be mailed out by postcard. Please forward this to any local RPCV'S or potential PCV's that you know are not on our webgroup.

Hello,

Dinner was great at the El Morocco Restaurant. We had 1 current PCV parent, 8 recruits, and 10 RPCV's. 

No one walked in Homeward Bound Walk as we were not up for the rainy weather.

On Monday, May 8th from 5-10 p.m. go eat at the Old Spaghetti Factory to eat and a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to Walk The World. Organized by Jerry, leaving for Belize in June. www.fighthunger.org I will be there at 6:30 p.m. Let me know if you'd like to join me.

The walk is May 21st starting at 2:30 p.m. Register at the above website.

INDIANS GAME Join CIRPCA in the left field grass area in the outfield on Friday, May 12 at 7:00 p.m. They play Durham.

SLIDE NIGHT will be Sunday, June 4th at 6 p.m. at Mike and Pat Cupp's home. Please RSVP and I will give you their address. I know we will be seeing slides of Ethiopia, and if anyone else has slides please bring them. Otherwise, feel free to bring pictures.

Call me if you have any questions. (317) 627-8982.

Cheers, Debbie

Reminder:

Slide night of Peace Corps service (mostly Ethiopian) at Mike & Pat Cupp's home
is Sunday,
June 4 at 6p.m.

If you have not RSVP'd and want to come then please email me ASAP at
ombili9@...,
and I'll give you more details.

Happy Memorial Day!
Cheers, Debbie


More details coming soon: Picnic in July!

Please RSVP to me ASAP if you are interested in working with Habitat
Tuesday, June 6 and/or Wednesday June 7th. Both days will be
siding/paiting on the west side of town. I will let you know time,
location, and what is needed after I hear from you.

Cheers, Debbie
C: 317-627-8982

FYI: Habitat is overwhelmed with people trying to help and not enough
people to reply to all the requests; therefore due to the previous
expressed interest from CIRPCA I got a call today for immediate
assistance within the next few days. Sorry there has not been any
opportunities before this, yet I will try to get us in for Fall 06.


P.S. - SLIDE NIGHT was a hit. Mike & Pat & Henry's slides of Ethiopia
& Ghana were awesome. Makes you get that old good feeling from those
Peace Corps days. Good times with good friends. We had a turn out of
just under 10.

Date: Mon, 12 Jun 2006 17:15:25 -0400
From: National Peace Corps Association <news@...>
To: npcanews@...
Subject: [NPCANews] E-newsletter for June 2006



Volume 3, Issue 6

www.peacecorpsconnect.org

June 2006




*Don't Miss It:
Final Open House Slated for Baltimore*

In honor of the 45th anniversary of Peace Corps--and the 10th
anniversary of Crisis Corps--NPCA, Peace Corps and Maryland Returned
Volunteers are planning a special Open House program that promises to be
quite inspiring, with workshops, a panel on crisis mitigation and
disaster response, and representation by several Country of Service
groups. As always, there will be ample opportunity to rekindle Peace
Corps friendships and meet those just starting their Peace Corps adventure.

So join us on June 18 in Baltimore, MD. This is the final Open House in
what has been a highly popular series of ten Open House events around
the country. Get the details, RSVP, and learn about past Open Houses by
visiting the NPCA Web site at www.peacecorpsconnect.org/openhouses
. See you
in Baltimore!




*Meet Our Colleagues: NPCA's Interns*

They're the unsung heroes of our office...they're our interns! Every
year, NPCA is fortunate to host a number of student interns. Their
energy and enthusiasm boosts our spirits--and they also do a lot of
important work for the Peace Corps community. We're especially proud
that many have gone on to become Peace Corps volunteers themselves.
Click here

to meet the 2006 summer interns!




*Board Candidate Profiles Now Online*

Three positions on the NPCA board are open for election in 2006.
Eligible voters will receive a mailing in late June with instructions
for voting online or for requesting a paper ballot. *Voting will take
place from July 1 to July 31. Only current NPCA members may vote in the
election*. Newly-elected members will begin their three-year terms on
the NPCA board at the September 2006 meeting of the Board of Directors
in Washington, DC. Meet the candidates and learn about current board
representation by visiting www.peacecorpsconnect.org/elections
.




*Alaska RPCVs Score Oil Dividend Victory for Serving Volunteers*

The NPCA affiliates in Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska have been working
since 1998 to restore Permanent Fund Dividends (PFD)--money given to
Alaska residents each year from state oil tax reserve funds--to Alaska's
serving Peace Corps volunteers. In the final days of last month, they
finally succeeded.

The 2005 dividend was worth $846. But to Peace Corps advocates, the PFD
was always about more than just money; it was about citizenship in
America's last frontier. The Alaskan courts use the PFD recipient list
for jury duty instead of driver's licenses or voting records, and Peace
Corps volunteers and Olympic athletes were the only two groups ever
specifically removed from the list of allowable absences since the PFD's
inception in 1982. With the governor's June 1st signature, the
eligibility of Peace Corps volunteers has been restored.

Look for more details on this victory in future NPCA advocacy headlines
.




*Go Angelina and Brad One Better: Be a NetAid Mentor*

Through the NPCA/NetAid Mentoring Program, NPCA and NetAid
provide a unique opportunity for RPCVs to help
educate, inspire and empower young people from across the U.S. to fight
global poverty.

By mentoring tomorrow's leaders:

* We support the Third Goal of Peace Corps.
* We foster the next generation of Peace Corps volunteers.
* We "keep the flame alive."

Applications are being accepted through July 15 for the next mentoring
program beginning in September 2006. To apply and to read excerpts from
the online exchange that took place in spring of 2006, click here
.




*Friends of Thailand Thanks, Updates the Peace Corps Community*

Friends of Thailand group leader Carolyn Nickels (second from left)
recently wrote the following to her fellow RPCV group leaders:

"A year and a half has passed since the tsunami caused so much
destruction in the countries bordering the Indian Ocean. At midnight on
January 9, 2005, Friends of Thailand launched /Project Restore/ to
assist education communities throughout the tsunami-zone of southern
Thailand in their recovery efforts. Two weeks later... I sent a message
to all of you via this listserv about Friends of Thailand's effort.
Almost immediately, the worldwide RPCV community responded with amazing
speed and compassion... Donations from individual RPCVs began to arrive
in huge stacks...." Click here
for
more.




*Share the World with Kids:
NPCA's /Kids Around the World/ Web Site*

* Will you be traveling to a developing country this summer?
* Would you like to share your experiences with kids in the U.S.?

Consider conducting interviews with children between the ages of five
and 12 in developing countries for our Kids Around the World Web site
. /Kids Around the World/ (www.katw.org) is a
teaching tool that introduces elementary-age kids in the United States
to the lives of children all over the world. The site includes child
profiles with interviews and photographs of children in developing
countries, as well as lesson plans and links to more information about
the countries featured.

/Kids Around the World/ is a great introduction to international and
cultural issues for younger kids, and teachers in the U.S. and around
the world are using this site to put a human face on countries across
the globe.

To find out more and to download the materials you will need to complete
a child profile, please visit www.katw.org and
click on "Get Involved," or e-mail Ellen Frierson
for more information.




*Hearing Held on Vasquez Nomination to Head FAO*

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a brief confirmation hearing
on May 24th for Peace Corps Director Gaddi Vasquez, nominated by
President Bush to serve as representative to the United Nations Agencies
for Food and Agriculture (FAO). Vasquez, the third longest-serving
Director of the Peace Corps, will succeed former Congressman Tony P.
Hall (RPCV Thailand). His nomination will likely go to the Senate before
the July recess. Anticipating Vasquez's successor, NPCA has urged the
White House to appoint an individual with strong connections to the
Peace Corps, preferably an RPCV. Click here
to
read his testimony (opens in .pdf format)









------------------------------------------------------------------------


*In This Issue*

. Don't Miss It: Final Open House Slated for Baltimore <#11>

. Meet Our Colleagues: NPCA's Interns <#22>

. Board Candidate Profiles Now Online <#33>

. Alaska RPCVs Score Oil Dividend Victory for Serving Volunteers <#44>

. Go Angelina and Brad One Better: Be a NetAid Mentor <#55>

. Friends of Thailand Thanks, Updates the Peace Corps Community <#66>

. Share the World with Kids: NPCA's /Kids Around the World/ Web Site <#77>

. Hearing Held on Vasquez Nomination to Head FAO <#88>

------------------------------------------------------------------------


*Peace Corps
Community News*

. The Case Foundation's Web site focus on water spotlights RPCV reports
from the field


. From Africa to Asia, a spirit of service binds a Peace Corps family


. In predominately Muslim area, Peace Corps volunteer overcomes HIV/AIDS
related taboos


. Oldest known returned Peace Corps volunteer turns 100


. Jeff Barry (Comoros) gives new meaning to "green grocer"


. Zachary McNish (Panama) receives Duke Law School service medal


. On the NPCA Bulletin board: "Child from Every Nation" Project...more


. Seeking: Paul and Anne Kaprowski, Mr. Klumpp... more


. On the NPCA Calendar: NPCA Open House, Friends of Paraguay picnic,
Friends of Costa Rica reunion ... more


. Peace Corps community news clippings updated daily!



------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Last Chance*

. June 16: Deadline for Nominations for The Shriver Award for
Humanitarian Service


------------------------------------------------------------------------

Click here
for
resources and information about celebrating 45 years of service at home
and abroad!

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Register Now for September Advocacy Activities*

NPCA Advocacy Program is gearing up for a series of activities in
Washington, DC on September 13-15. The centerpiece will be *Capitol Hill
Advocacy Day on Thursday, September 14th*. We need your voice on issues
related to Peace Corps and other global concerns. Register today to
participate and click here
for regular updates on
Capitol Hill and other advocacy programs this coming September.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

*Apply or Donate:
James R. Collins Magazine Publishing Fellowship*

July 15 is the deadline to submit an application for the 2006-2007 James
R. Collins Magazine Publishing Fellowship. Get further information on
how to apply
...

...or contribute to
this new fellowship fund, which is named in honor of Jim Collins
,
the late associate publisher of /WorldView/.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Visit NPCA's interactive online career center
. You'll find job search
resources, job listings



------------------------------------------------------------------------

Subscribe/Unsubscribe |
Join NPCA |
Contribute to NPCA
| Update Contact Information
| Disclaimer


National Peace Corps Association . 1900 L Street NW Suite 205 .
Washington, DC 20036 . 202.293.7728 news@...

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hello everyone,
I have e-mailed many of you already about this project. I have
successfully formed a partnership between my agency here in Jamaica;
Ewarton Community Development Action Committee (ECODAC) with Pedals
for Progress. Pedals for Progress sends bicycles and parts to
partner agencies in developing countries to support sustainable
projects that will assist in community development, youth
development and provide low cost transportation for needy people.
ECODAC intends to use the Pedals for Progress program to be part of
the curriculum for a Life Skills Training Centre that is being
developed to assist young men who are in need of vocational and
technical training. The project will be sustainable and income
generating. The only issue is that money needs to be raised for the
initial shipment of a container of bicycles and parts. After the
initial shipment each shipment will pay for itself.
I am basically working on this fund raising without the benefit of a
budget or resources. I am paying for computer internet time out of
my own pocket from computer internet cafe in the market town nearby.
This is cutting into my Red Stripe budget! So, I am begging you to
consider helping a community in Jamaica by donating what you can to
Pedals for Progress by following the information below, or go to
P4p.org and click on the donation section of their site. Make sure
you tell Pedals for Progress that you want your donation to go to
the Jamaica shipment.
I wish I could offer you something like a free Jamaica t-shirt or
something for donating, but like I said before our agency has a very
small budget! If you come to Jamaica while I am still here I can
offer to be your tour guide and buy you a Red Stripe!
Please donate soon, we need to raise money for the shipment by the
end of the month.
Thank you for your consideration.
Richard




Click here to make a donation online!

  Contributing to Pedals for Progress means
making progress without pollution.


With your donation, you make it possible for Pedals for Progress to
continue with its unique economic development programs. P4P helps
people get to work using recycled bicycles as a source of basic
transportation, a source of trade, and a means for employment and
enterprise.

To make a donation, please print this page, fill it out and mail to
Pedals for Progress.


Name: _____________________________________________________

Address: ___________________________________________________

City: __________________________ State: ______ Zip: _____________


Telephone:

(daytime) __________________ (evening) _________________


_______ Include me on your mailing list and send me P4P's annual
newsletter, InGear.

_______ Please do not include me on your mailing list.


My contribution is:

______ $1000 ______ $500 ______ $250 ______ $100


______ $50 ______ $25 ______ OTHER


______ MY DONATION IS FOR PFP's CAPITAL CAMPAIGN FUND


VISA/MASTERCARD #______________________________________

EXPIRATION DATE ________________________________________

If contributing with a personal check, please make your check
payable to:

Pedals for Progress
PO Box 312
High Bridge, NJ 08829-0312

*Your contribution is tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

Thank You!

*All information sent to Pedals For Progress will be held in strict
confidence and no names and addresses will be sold or shared with
other organizations.

June 13, 2006

Hello!

I am a Recruiter out of the Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office and
I wanted to let your group know that two Recruiters from Chicago
(Courtney and Fonzi) will be visiting Indianapolis in July.  We are
planning to conduct two information meetings, two information table,
a nomination party and a day of interviews throughout the week of
July 3rd.  Please see the schedule below:

Information Meeting with Video
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Indiana State Library
History Reference Room
140 N Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, IN
6pm-8pm

Information Table
Thursday, July 6, 2006
Indianapolis Artsgarden
Main Gallery
47 S Pennsylvania St
10am-3pm

Information Table
Thursday, July 6, 2006
IUPUI
Behind Career Center
9am-4pm

Lunch Information Meeting with video
Thursday, July 6, 2006
IUPUI
University College 115
Noon - 1:30PM

Peace Corps Nomination Party
Thursday, July 6, 2006
The Kuaba Art Gallery
876 Massachusetts Avenue
Indianapolis, IN 46204
6pm

Interviews
Friday, July 7
IUPUI Career Center,
Business/SPEA Building 2010
8:30am-2pm

To schedule an interview, please contact Alfonso Montero in the
Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office at (312) 353-6122 or
amontero@....


We would like to have RPCVs attend the information meetings on the
the 5th and 6th to speak about their personal experiences as PCVs.
After the evening meeting on the 5th, we will go to a nearby
establishment for some drinks. In addition, we will be hosting a
nomination party to bring Peace Corps applicants, their families,
RPCVs and families of currently serving volunteers together.  This
is an excellent way for RPCVs to share their experiences with others
who are about to leave for PC as well as ease the minds of their
parents.  Plus, this will allow CIRPCA to network with PCVs who may
be interested in becoming CIRPCA members after they finish their
service.  Please let me know as soon as possible if you are willing
to speak at one of the meetings listed above.
Yesterday, we sent invitations out to all RPCVs within the
Indianapolis zip code range who finished their service within the
last 10 years.  As much as we would like to send this invitation out
to all RPCVs in Indianapolis, there are too many of you and too few
of us!

I have attached the invitation (note from Debbie: go to the files
section under our webgroup and it is there) to this email and if you
know of any RPCVs who would be interested in attending this event,
please forward it to their attention.  We are asking people to RSVP
as soon as possible so that we will have a head count to give to the
owner of the Kuaba Art Gallery.  She is from Ghana and will be
preparing typical food from her region in Ghana.

One last item.  We hope to have phenomenal attendance at each of
these events and are asking RPCVs to distribute PC flyers around the
Indianapolis area.  If you are able and willing to do this, please,
please let me know and I will send you as many flyers as you are
willing to distribute.  Please email me or Fonzi with your name,
address, and quantity of flyers you are willing to post around the
city.  Our emails are as follows:

ccunningham@...
amontero@...


We thank you in advance and hope to see you at the information
meetings and/or nomination party!

Sincerely,

K. Courtney Cunningham
Recruitment Representative
Beekeeper Volunteer, Paraguay, 1998-2000
(312) 353-7747
ccunningham@...


Alfonso Montero
Recruitment Representative
Business Volunteer, 2003-2005
(312) 353-6122
amontero@...

55 W Monroe Street
Suite 450
Chicago, IL 60603
(800) 424-8580, Option 1

Hi everyone.  I know I've been nonresponsive lately, but as I'm sure
you can all relate I feel like I've got a million things going through
my head at once all the time right now - preparing for departure.  I'm
hoping to make it to some function and see everyone before I leave
though.  You all have been great and I'm so glad I've had the
opportunity to get to know everyone a little.
I just wanted to fill you in on the latest with my departure.  My
departure date has been pushed back a week and we're now meeting in
Philadelphia on July 24th for staging.  Then we'll truck it to New
York on July 26th and fly out of JFK straight to Johannesburg SA (with
a refueling stop in Dakar).  What a long trip, but it'll be with a
good group.  I've been in touch with 18 or so members of my group and
it seems like we have a great group, so I'm excited.

If anyone is interested, I've also set up a blog to document my
travels - there's nothing on it yet, but it's www.dannerb.blogspot.com.

~ Bree

When:                       SUNDAY, July 16th, 2006   AT 4:00 p.m.

Where:                     Colleen Turner's home

                                    8157 Linda Leigh Ln, 46217, H: 881-0612

Please bring an ethnic dish to share, a chair to sit in, and bring your own beverage. Plate service will be provided.

We will have fun games to partake in like ping pong and horseshoes.

RSVP ASAP to Norm Yeh at nyeh@...   317-748-3927

Can't wait to see you. Happy 4th of July!

Cheers, Debbie

Namibia 00-02

C: 317-627-8982          ombili9@...

MAP: http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?addr=8157+Linda+Leigh+Ln.&csz=Indianapolis%2C+IN&country=us&new=1&name=&qty=

Hello,
In my work as a Crisis Corps volunteer here in Jamaica
I have formed a partnership for my agency, Ewarton
Community Development Action Committee (ECODAC), with
an agency in the U.S. called Pedals for Progress.
ECODAC is creating a Life Skills Training Centre to
provide much needed technical and vocational
opportunities for young men.
Pedals donates used bikes to projects in developing
countries. Go to their website for a better
explanation of what they do: www.p4p.org
Pedals for Progress will ship a container of bikes to
Jamaica to be fixed up and sold as a income generating
project for our agency. To send the first shipment
money needs to be raised. Each following shipment will
be paid for by the profits from the first shipment.
It costs about $6,000 USD to ship a container of bikes
to Jamaica from the U.S. The container will contain a
value of about $30,000 in bikes or more.
Some money has already been raised. To get the bikes
shipped Pedals for Progress needs $2,000 USD more. If
this is not raised in the next week or so, Pedals will
have to wait until the fall to consider our program
again, and will ship the container to another agency
that is already active.
Pedals for Progress is a good NGO. It was started by a
returned Peace Corps volunteer. If our agency can get
the bikes shipped we will be able to sell them to
provide some much needed funds for the Life Skills
Centre and also provided much needed cheap and
environmentally friendly transportation for needy
people in the community. With gas prices continuing to
go up many people in the community can't afford to get
to work or school.
$2,000 USD is not a whole lot of money in the U.S.,
but it is a lot in Jamaica. It is $130,000 JMD.
If you would like to help the Ewarton Community
Development Action Committee's Life Skill Centre and
their partnership with Pedals for Progress please
contact David Schweidenback pdls4@...
Money can be wired directly to Pedals at the following
bank account:
bank: Unity Bank Clinton, NJ #021210057
account: Pedals for Progress #1030372624
If you donate please contact David to let him know
that you want the money to go for the Jamaica project.
Any amount you can donate will be assistance in
helping young people get Life Skills Training in
Ewarton, St. Catherine, Jamaica.
Thank you for your consideration.
Richard

Richard Sitler (cell) 876-475-8424 Ewarton P.O. St. Catherine, Jamaica, WEST INDIES                richs85@...

Hi everyone!
I'm so sorry I've missed out on all the fun CIRPCA happenings lately.
As I'm sure you can all relate, it's been kinda crazy preparing for
departure.  But, the day is quickly coming - it's off to South Africa
on July 24th (by way of Philadelphia for staging, that is).
So, I just wanted to bid everyone a fond farewell and say I'll do my
best to keep in touch during my service - hopefully communication won't
be too difficult.
Take care,
Bree

Great pitch-in Colleen!  Thanks for having us at your beautiful home.

I had a question for any of you who are more knowledgable in the area
of TESL.  I've been looking at an online certification program at
Indiana State University since my hospital has tuition reimbursement.
  I wondered if someone could take a look at it and give me their
opinion.  Also if someone else is interested in getting their
certification,  we might be able to be study buddies if that's needed.
  Any input would be appreciated.

The site is:

http://www.indstate.edu/distance/tesl-tefl.html

I've sent an email to Dr. Barrett to see when the course work is
offered in the fall semester.

James Phillips

Someone has replied but because I sent this to CIRPCA I don't know who
replied. If you reply please do one of two things

1) click on the link in the email to reply then click on "change
reply" then add your name and how many you are RSVPing for.

OR

2) Email me at ombili9@... as your RSVP.

Thanks, Debbie

        WHEN: SATURDAY, August 19, 2006, 8:30a.m. - 1p.m.             

WHO: We need 100 people who can hammer nails!

WHERE: I'll let you know after you RSVP. (a little north of downtown)

RSVP to me by tomorrow (8-10-06) a.m. Habitat can assure they will have enough people! Please join me in FUN and SWEAT!

Cheers, Debbie

ombili9@...          627-8982

Hey everyone!  How are you all doing?  I hope all is well for each of you in the States. 

 

I left town on Monday, August 14 and stayed in D.C. for two nights.  They basically started us out in a really nice hotel for 2 nights and lots of talks about aspirations, anxieties, health and safety, etc. including every icebreaker activity you can think of.  Then we left for Panama on Wednesday and arrived that night.  The flight from Miami was short, only about 2.5 hours. 

 

We are in a group of 37 people that are all serving in Panama.  We are the 58th group to ever serve in Panama and the biggest group ever.  Apparently, in recent years the economic growth has been very high (5 - 7%) however the distribution of wealth is very very uneven, second only to Brazil for all of this hemisphere.  We are on Central time right now and Panama never changes time. 

 

So basically now I feel like I'm in a prolonged summer camp - - - - well, with the exception of the 20 minute language interview where I was not allowed to speak any English and the Yellow Fever Vaccination I just received, and hepatitis will be next here in about 2 hours.  (Started taking the malaria pills last night).  We are staying in this village about an hour outside of Panama City.  It used to be occupied by a military group and is now used for camps, offices, etc.  It is called Cuidad de Saber (City of Knowledge).  There is really nothing here but the few little buildings.  However, we are only a half mile from the first lock of the Panama Canal.  It just looks like a giant damn.  It's very pretty and green, with lots of palm trees everywhere and very high humidity.  We now have electricity and running water, but not really any hot water, just cold. 

 

We will be leaving here tomorrow to go to stay with host families for the next 10 weeks of training in a town called Santa Clara.  I'm having a great time, I just can't wait to find out where my job site is going to be.  I should find out in about 4 weeks.  Ok, well that's about all I know right now.  I will write more whenever I can.  I am not sure when I will have access to internet again.  Take care and I'll talk to you later.  Miss you all!  Adios!

 

Shazia Davis shaziadavis@...

Reminder that Tuesday, August 22nd at 7 p.m. vs Durham.  Meet in the
left field lawn.


See you then!

FYI: Habitat on Saturday was awesome. I will post pictures under the
pictures for this webgroup as soon as I get them uploaded.

Cheers, Debbie

Hey all, I am forwarding this from Shazia Davis who is currently serving in Panama. Her email is shaziadavis@... but note as she says in the email she doesn't have much access. Cheers, Debbie

 

 

 

Hey guys!  First of all, I am sorry but I definately do not have time to write all of you guys back, and really not even time to read all of the 50 emails I have in my inbox right now, but just know that I sincerely miss you and and hope everything is going well.  I am able to get to internet for the first time today in a week and I only have about 10 minutes, so weīll see what I have time to say.....

 

I am at a training site in Panama called Santa Clara, about 40 minutes or so by car, an hour and a half by bus to Panama City.  It is not the Santa Clara you see on the map by the beaches and stuff.  It is a small town, not really even a town, they call it a pueblo, kindof a village.  There is no postal system at all in Panama, as in there are no road signs or street addresses.  People get post office boxes in the closest city and have to go into the city periodically to check to see if they have mail.  You find the place you are going to if you get lost by asking for a certain personīs house.  I am living with a family who I will be with for the next 10 weeks.  They speak no english at all.  I am using a letrine, which is basically an outhouse for all intensive purposes.  To wash we have this small pipe that goes up a tree and a little spicket that constantly drips this small stream of water into this giant sortof thing (itīs like the trash containers I remember as a kid burning stuff in that are about as high as your chest).  The water has been dripping into this bin for who knows how long, so Iīm probably not the cleanest anymore!  We just have a big bowl that we grab the water out of the bin with and dump it over our heads.  Itīs outside with these broken slabs on concrete to stand on.  Iīll have to say the first bucket was rough, but Iīm definately getting used to it.  Itīs outside about 20-30 feet from the house. 

 

The house is made of concrete slabs with a tin roof and itīs on the top of a giant loma (hill).  There are no doors, just curtains.  The bugs are super bugs.  The ants are huge and fly and bite here.  The flies are twice as big, twice as loud and also bite.  We have job training 4 hours a day in the middle of a rainforest under a palm thatched roof kindof hut that we get through by tracking through quite a bit of mud.  Then we have 4 hours of Spanish class, so at the end of the day I am definately really tired.  They absolutely love carbohydrates here and so the diet basically consists of a lot of fried food, tons of rice, and this really hard meat that I think is beef, lots of bread, and beans.  I have gotten fruit sometimes and started to ask for it....taking lots of vitamins.  We have like 15 chickens and 15 more baby chickens.  Itīs really weird to see the chickens eat the chicken bones when we have chicken. 

 

We got to visit another volunteer living in an indiginous village with Embera indians and that was really cool.  I was going to send pictures but I donīt have time, sorry!  Hope you are all doing well and Iīll try to write again soon but I donīt think Iīll be in a town again for 2 weeks. 

 

Talk to you guys later.  Love, SHAZ

Another message from Shazia in Panama!  shaziadavis@...

Hi guys!  Once again I am sorry that I again do not have time to write back to everyone.  Hopefully when I finally get to my site in November I will have more time.  I think through the training I am just going to be really busy all the time and with hardly any access to the outside world.  There are two phones in the pueblo and both of them are now broken.  A phone card canīt be used on a cell phone b-c it costs alot, so itīs a matter of traveling an hour to get to a town.  Sorry, I didnīt know Iīd have the chance to come today so I donīt have pictures.  Descriptions and updates will have to do.....

 

Training is still very intense, lots and lots of classes and a total influx of Spanish.  I am improving quite a bit already, my aunt in Panama did tell me that.  The families all live around each other and visit all the time.  They do a lot of what they call pasearing, which is basically sitting around talking for hours on end.  Although we use a letrine and bucket bath we do have electricity which is kinda nice.  They all watch TV in the evening, and I am starting to understand the gist of what is going on.  I heard very briefly there was a hurricane somewhere in Florida so  hope all my Florida girls and guys are ok down there. 

 

I dealt with the carbohydrate situation for a while and two days ago as I was craving vegetables (something I never thought I would say as I was not a huge vegetable lover in the States....) I decided to break it down to my host family cook.  She had absolutely no idea what to do to fix vegetables and when I told her that I wanted her to do nothing but heat up the can of peas she looked at me like I was totally crazy and still thinks I need to have rice with every meal.  Iīm surprised she didnīt try to fry the peas! 

 

So anyway, I am adjusting.  I wouldnīt use the word ĻfunĻ, but yes itīs definately an experience and Iīm sure I am in for so much more.  Yes I am taking the malaria pills, once a week and yes I do have vivid dreams but I have not yet had nightmares, only once did someone die!  I am sleeping under a mosquito net which looks crazy and kinda pretty at the same time in a funny sort of way.  I live in the middle of nowhere compared to all the other trainees which is really annoying and I half to walk forever to get anywhere - more than 2 hours a day of walking.  It makes it really hard and I definately sweat alot.  I bought a paragua - literally for the water in Spanish but I bought it for the sun!  There is no drinking alcohol at all really.  Hopefully I will be able to get a can of beer for my birthday in two days. 

 

We are leaving in the morning to go to visit a volunteer in another part of Panama.  I am really excited.  I am going with another girl and visiting a girl that lives in the Veraguas region apparently very close to the coast in a very very small town, not on the map.  I should be able to see the ocean, yeah!!!  And itīll be very nice to get out of Santa Clara for a couple days and have a break from the training. 

 

Love shazia

 

Shazia Davis

Cuerpo de Paz - Panama

Edificio 95, Ave. Vicente Bonilla

Ciudad del Saber, Clayton

Corregimiento de Ancon

Ciudad de Panama

Thanks to Shannon Sainer for passing along this opportunity.

Call the folks listed below if you are interested. I will not be
able to volunteer due to having my exchange students Fall
Orientation from 1-5 p.m. that day. After her orientation then maybe
we will head down there for some evening entertainment.

Kalalenipo nawa (Stay well), Debbie


Dear Potential Volunteer,

The 26th annual Fiesta will take place this year on Saturday,
September 16th from noon until midnight at the American Legion Mall
in downtown Indianapolis. La Plaza needs volunteers to help in
almost every aspect of Fiesta, from set up Friday night to face
painting Saturday afternoon to tear down in the early hours Sunday
morning. Fiesta volunteers receive a Fiesta 2006 t-shirt, light
snacks, and a heartfelt "gracias" for helping to make Fiesta a
continued success.

If you would like to volunteer, please complete the attached Fiesta
Volunteer Registration Form and return it to La Plaza by September
1, 2006. Spanish language skills are helpful in some areas, but not
required.

For more information, contact Elaine Cuevas at (317) 890-3293
extension 35 or elaine@....

   Hope to see you there.


   **NOTE  we have moved.  Please see new contact information below.

   Laura Dandelet
   Program Manager
   La Plaza, Inc.

   8902 East 38th Street
   Indianapolis, IN 46226
   317.890-3292 Ext. 33
   317.898-4397- fax
   laura@...
   www.laplaza-indy.org
   To serve, empower and integrate the central Indiana Latino
community.