Celebrating 50 Years of Promoting World Peace and Friendship (and.... COS conference!)

Despite my prediction of blogging proliferation over the last few weeks, it turned out that life was too busy.  I’m now back in Gobabis and back at school after 2 ½ weeks of conferences, Close of Service medical nonsense, and a few days of sickness.

There’s a lot to catch up on, so I’m going to update in a couple parts. 

3 weeks ago Group 30 gathered together for the last time for our Close of Service conference. (COS conference is usually held at some swanky hotel in one of the touristy areas, as a treat for PCVs completing their service.  Due to “budget constraints” our COS conference was held at the Harmony Center, the location of our other InService Trainings – certainly not as nice as some of the other COS conference locales of the past, but  it was nice to return to Harmony one last time.)  Group 30 came to Namibia 33 strong.  We lost 8, gained one and lost that one again.  We're down to 25. 

COS conference was emotional. For 2 days we discussed the good, bad and ugly of our services.  It forced us to reflect on what we've done, what we hope to accomplish in the remaining time, and also on the things we wanted to do, but couldn't and won't, for whatever the reasons.  It forced us to look forward to that murky space existing beyond COS.

COS photo, take 1

COS photo, take 2

COS photo, take 3 (with our Country Director Gilbert on the left in red, Waldo the Super-APCD in the back behind Vanessa in the white/green checkered shirt, and Miriam on the far right)

Peace Corps packed a lot into the week for us; from Harmony Center we went directly to Safari Court Hotels for the All-Volunteer Conference.  I think I mentioned in my last update that PC/Nam hasn’t had an AVC in over 5 years, and when participants of the last AVC caught wind that there was going to be another, the general reaction was something along the lines of “I can’t believe they’re doing that…. again.”  I have to admit that even I was worried it would turn into a bit of a shitshow.  BUT….  It was great. I had a hard time believing that Peace Corps had enough faith in the behavior of the 115ish PCVs in country to put all of us up in what was the swankiest hotel in Windhoek before the 5-star Hilton was built this year.  Hotel Safari is NICE.

PCVs overtake the lobby.....

AVC was only 2 days (July 21 and 22) but it was great. It's nice to get together with other volunteers.  It's a morale booster.  It's a stress relief.  Day to day we are in these situations that only other volunteers can relate to, and when we get together, even if we have nothing else in common, we have that.  It's nice to hear what other people are doing at site.  It's nice to share ideas and methods and projects, nice to hear our ideas and methods and projects appreciated, nice to take new ideas back to our sites. 

On the first morning of the AVC, we watched a video chronicling the first years of Peace Corps all the way through present day.  The video really was fabulous propaganda, accentuating the ideals of Peace Corps and the people who decide to devote 2 years of their lives to helping people in an unknown land.  (At the end of these videos, I find myself thinking, “Ah man, I want to join the Peace Corps! Oh wait….”)  Despite all the difficulties, doubts, regrets I have about being a PCV, COS and AVC conferences reaffirmed that I made the right decision – in becoming a volunteer and sticking it out even though it sometimes doesn't seem worth wading through all the bad stuff.

After lunch on the first day we held a program celebrating the 50^th anniversary, and invited the ambassador, the minister of education, and other community officials from around Namibia.  Imagine my pleasant surprise when in walked my former principal (who, you'll remember, left my school in March to accept a post at the Ministry of Education regional office).  One of the biggest disappointments of my service has been his departure from my school.  He’s a good dude, and it was nice to see him there.  We recognized our PCMO (Peace Corps Medical Officer) Clara, who is the longest serving PCMO IN THE WORLD. 41 years she’s been a PCMO. Forty. One. Years. Oh, Clara.  We listened to Namibians tell us about their experiences with PCVs, both as children being taught by volunteers, and as adults working with us.  Several PCVs gave their reflections on being a PCV.  And, at the end of the program, there was a reception. Free food!

I am in a Waldo (Super-APCD) and Mr. Tjizoo (my former principal) sandwich!  Seriously, though, 2 of my favorite Namibian men.

On the second day they tried to teach us to be resilient. It was better than being lectured to, but…. We watched some old school Public Service Announcements from PC’s 50s years.  Again, I found myself thinking about joining the Peace Corps…..  But I’ve tried to find some of them and post them here, they’re at least entertaining. 

We managed, on the 2nd day, to get a majority of PCVs together for a quick photo....

Then the big event: pizza and beer at the Ambassador’s house!! Her Excellency Wanda Nesbit lives in a VERY nice part of Windhoek (the heights, if you will, since it’s on a big hill overlooking the city).  It was a nice way to wrap up the AVC, and also nice to talk to the ambassador and hear her thoughts on things happening in Namibia and around the world.

The Ambassador's inhouse bar...

From our COS conference and the AVC I think, more than anything else, I was reminded of the love/hate relationship I have with Peace Corps.   I was reminded why I wanted to be a Peace Corps volunteer.  Often, volunteer gatherings also make us remember why we wanted to become Peace Corps volunteers in the first place.  We can forget all the bitterness, frustration, and other negative feelings that can accumulate at site and appreciate the positive things that we're doing and that are happening.

From AVC I was shipped to the Peace Corps office to go through the Close of Service medical routine the following week.  I developed my first upper respiratory infection of the year as soon as I got to the office, which I attribute to 115ish volunteers who are, on a daily basis, exposed to myriad germs being grouped together for several days, sharing germs. 

Peace Corps just moved their office conveniently across the street to a bigger space, and to combine the medical office and admin office. They also built a posh PVC lounge and 2 flats for PCVs in Windhoek for medical or programming. Perhaps I must take some photos when I go back to Windhoek next week...   It was nice being in Windhoek for a week, but I could have done without the hassle of COS medical stuff.  More about that tomorrow...

And a parting shot of my shamelessly adorable africat who likes nothing more than to be held like a baby....

Thanks for reading! I hope you’re well wherever you are.