Swear-In

I am now an official Peace Corps Volunteer after taking the oath yesterday and swearing-in! The last week has brought a lot of changes and am now waiting impatiently to move to site and really begin my life as a volunteer. After nine weeks of training in French and Bissa languages, medical, safety and security, cross-culture, and health technical sessions and living with a host family while being surround by 32 other American trainees, it is exciting to think about being on my own at site. I am ready to be able to set my own schedule, cook my own meals, have privacy when needed, and actually work in international public health. I reached the required language proficiency level about a month ago so have not been too concerned about this though my French still has a long way to go! I am currently at intermediate mid which is three levels higher than I was at when I arrived. We also had exit tests in each of the sessions but there was no concern about passing those.

This past week was counterpart workshop where all of our counterparts and supervisors from around Burkina Faso came to Ouahigouya to meet us, learn more about the Peace Corps, and set a plan for our first few weeks at site. For health volunteers, our counterparts are the “majors” or head nurses at the village health centers we will work in. Each of us are assigned to a health center where we can work with the staff and community board that overseas the health center to plan programs and activities. My counterpart has worked in the village for six years though he is not from the area. This seems to actually be quite a long time for a staff member to stay in the same community since these are government appointed positions that often involve moving every few years. I am thinking this may mean he is well-liked and respected in the community. Plus he speaks French slowly and clearly for me so I am able to understand much of what he says! The District Medical Officer for Garango where I will be also attended the workshop. He is my supervisor and I will probably try to meet with him every few months and may try to plan some programs at the district level. Karla, my closest PCV neighbor, is also in the same district so we share the same supervisor. My major also was able to share lots of info about my community and their health needs but I want to wait to share my impressions with you since I will be there so soon.

For our swearing-in ceremony many volunteers had comples, complete outfits, made from local pagne material purchased at the market and taken to tailors. There was a wide variety of styles represented but I think we all looked great. The US Ambassador to Burkina attended and spoke at our swear-in along with the several important people from the area and our Country Director. Our host families, counterparts, PC staff, and current volunteers all attended to congratulate us. Usually the swearing-in is held in Ouaga at the Ambassador’s house but for whatever reason it was held in Ouahigouya this year. All of the staff was very excited because everyone that started in our group made it to swear in without ETing --early terminating and returning to the US. We are the first group that all swore-in in at least nine years which is as far back as the staff can remember. It’s exciting to now be actual volunteers for many reasons including the fact that our stipend doubles from about $4 a day to $8 a day. Before we had many meals covered and no home expenses though so the doubling in income is definitely needed!

We are now attending Life Skills Workshop with our counterparts which includes lots of activities to teach about HIV/AIDS. My understanding is that this event is often held after being at site for several months but they decided to hold it earlier in order to allow us to be together for Christmas.

PS I added more pictures to Picaso so check them out at the link to the right!