{"id":317,"date":"2010-12-06T03:41:50","date_gmt":"2010-12-06T09:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/brd\/wp\/?p=317"},"modified":"2010-12-06T04:52:17","modified_gmt":"2010-12-06T10:52:17","slug":"government-issue-turkey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.briandeyo.us\/index.php\/2010\/12\/06\/government-issue-turkey\/","title":{"rendered":"Government Issue Turkey"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anyone on Facebook or in Swaziland likely already knows that Krista and I have spent our last two and a half months trying to find out everything we could about our community.\u00a0 We talked to dozens of people, interviewed NGOs, took a bunch of pictures and made a lot of friends.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think we made any enemies either.\u00a0 All of this has culminated into an 86 page report.\u00a0 Included are a bunch of graphs with circles and arrows on the back of each one explaining what each one was.\u00a0 Apparently I\u2019m not supposed to let other PCVs know as they pointed out to Krista that we are geeks when they found out how long it was.<\/p>\n

Oh what I would give to eat at Alice\u2019s Restaurant right now.\u00a0 We didn\u2019t get to listen to it for Thanksgiving as we somehow\"Brian<\/a> don\u2019t have a copy.\u00a0 Rather sad and it will need to be remedied before next year.\u00a0 Thanksgiving was a feast that couldn\u2019t be beat however as there was more food than anyone could eat.\u00a0 There was so much food that there was desert still left when we had to depart.\u00a0 Thanksgiving was held at the US Ambassadors residence.\u00a0 Neat right?\u00a0 Not only is he a politician but he\u2019s also likeable and hosts a nice dinner for Peace Corps volunteers and any other expatriate Americans running around the country.\u00a0 Plus he has a pool.\u00a0 Our taxes are being well spent in another country, have no doubt.\u00a0 Sadly even with the exchange rate at E7 to $1 it still likely costs a few million dollars to get that place.\u00a0\u00a0 It was probably bought 30 years ago when the exchange rate was a zillion to one, so it really cost not much more than dry-cleaned pocket lint.\u00a0 In spite of those thoughts, I was proud to be an American that day and it was really an incredible experience being so far from home, yet finding new people to celebrate one of my favorite holidays with.\u00a0 Even got to speak to one of the financial gurus working with the government here and the International Monetary Fund.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think Swaziland makes the newspapers much in the US, but there is some interesting reading these days about the IMF and the African Trade Union.<\/span><\/p>\n

Thanksgiving came while we were in the capital for our second round of intense training.\u00a0 Basically training consists of three meals and two tea breaks separated out by the occasionally engaging PowerPoint and making animals out of bostick (think silly putty).\u00a0 We had very little opportunity to work with the Language teachers as most class time was reserved for learning nifty things like raising money.\u00a0 Between raising money and trying to teach rural residents what a \u201cprofit\u201d is we also heard more info about HIV and male circumcision (MC).\u00a0 MC is going to be big this year.\u00a0 The plan is being joked about as just \u201cthe tip of the spear\u201d in the ongoing war against HIV\u00a0 Actually it\u2019s not being called that, I\u2019m trying to start that as the head of my comic tour through the country.\u00a0 I\u2019m going to head off on a real tour just after I collect enough tips to make money.<\/p>\n

Reading this you must be thinking my jokes aren\u2019t that great.\u00a0 You would be correct.\u00a0 Although a sense of humor is required to be a volunteer, I don\u2019t think puns count.\u00a0 The reason I feel that MC needs jokes is that there is a huge push for it here.\u00a0 Apparently men who get the snip are estimated to be 60% less likely to get HIV.\u00a0 This being scientifically backed up data the move is on to cut as many men into the program as possible.\u00a0 The goal is 152,000 men by next year, which is about 1\/6th the entire population of the country.\u00a0 It will be a busy year.<\/p>\n

Beyond my bad jokes I do appreciate the opportunity to write, regardless of how little I\u2019ve been doing it lately.\u00a0 The inability to post details of site really does bother me.\u00a0 It is kind of difficult to think that due to security concerns I can\u2019t say where I\u2019m at, but people could see my pictures, and pretty much figure out it\u2019s me.\u00a0 The URL for my site is probably a dead giveaway also.\u00a0 So with my inability to write whatever I want on here without resorting to private posts and what not does not mean I am accepting defeat!\u00a0 I am actually teaming up with another occasional cynic working within the system to write for the post newspaper!\u00a0 You can do more damage to the system while working from inside the system.\u00a0 In truth I\u2019m really excited as there were three committees I was nominated to, but this post will be the best blend of all three.\u00a0 The newspaper was a great source of information when our group first reached post, as I\u2019m sure it has been for the groups before us.<\/p>\n

It also serves as a great mechanism to get to know our colleagues better.\u00a0 In spite of the physical dimensions of the country, logistics of travel make seeing people a challenge.\u00a0 The closest neighbor is a 3 hour walk, and we have been approved for bikes.\u00a0 I know what you\u2019re thinking\u2026 that should make travel easier\u2026 right?\u00a0 Since it\u2019s downhill most of the way on dirt roads with khumbis losing pieces and passengers as they fly by, and goats ready to sleep in the road seconds before you get there, I\u2019ll stick to walking.\u00a0 Back to the newspaper.\u00a0 It is called Sojo.\u00a0 I am really looking forward to it.\u00a0 It is appropriate for republishing so if anyone wants it emailed let me know.<\/p>\n

The other committees I was nominated to are PSN which is peer-support-network.\u00a0 It is primarily to support the next group of volunteers who hit country and go through the same stress we did and endure the same barrages of now seemingly silly questions that our group had.\u00a0 Rumor has it PSN is trained on other side of the country, which amounts to a one-way 6 or 7 hour bus ride each month.\u00a0 This means several trips when the new volunteers arrive.\u00a0 Not so good for me.\u00a0 The other position was for Volunteer Action Committee (VAC) which is all about bringing issues the PCVs have to the staff and trying to resolve things for everyone.\u00a0 I took myself off of this list as there were other people I thought were equal and superior to my usefulness in this position.\u00a0 I am still flattered that everyone wanted me for something, but I\u2019m really getting more and more excited about writing the newspaper.\u00a0 The skills I pick up will be immediately transferrable to Elderhaven\u2019s newsletter.\u00a0 I also get 3 days in the capital which means I will actually see the staff and other PCVs instead of staying at site all the time.\u00a0 I also get carte-blanche to write terrifically bad and poor taste jokes.\u00a0 We don\u2019t tape people\u2019s eyes open like in Clockwork Orange and make them view it.\u00a0 But we should.<\/p>\n

Spending time at the office will be good for other reasons.\u00a0 The IT guy on staff seems reasonably knowledgeable\u2026. and I\u2019ll leave it at that.\u00a0 There is a large project where all the PCV resources are being moved to Google Docs from a SharePoint server.\u00a0 I have no official confirmation about the location of the server, but I\u2019m really sure it is under the IT guys desk.\u00a0 When I asked about the backup for all the PCV resources I also received a sheepish grin and a change of subject.\u00a0 So hopefully I can at least act as a consultant on IT matters, as there was a near CF over the SharePoint server when I first showed up.\u00a0 A few more consultant visits and I\u2019ll earn my useless-but-knowledgeable merit badge.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to join the Scouts.\u00a0 The Scouts are associated with the Boy Scouts, but girls can join too\u2026 thus the different name.\u00a0 They go on camping trips and have lots of nature lectures and have the same sustainable philosophy of development that PC has.\u00a0 Sadly I\u2019m too old for merit badges but they will accept me as a Scout Leader.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Before I go I thought I would share more interesting updates.\u00a0 These could all be generated into a story of their own, but I\u2019ve started using bullet points in email, so I will do it here also.\u00a0 Bullet points mean I am not done hearing myself speak (reading myself write?)<\/p>\n