Staging, day 1
Trip Start
Jun 26, 2006
1
13
50
Trip End
Aug 14, 2008
Washington,
District of Columbia,
United States
Monday, June 26, 2006
I've been at staging the whole afternoon. We have this Staging workbook that we have been going over and answering questions together. It's basically orientation.
We recieved our first "paycheck" on this "first day on the job". Actually, it's called a staging allowance, I think. The total was $160: $60 for transportation, $71 for food, and $9 for tips and stuff. They gave us all debit cards. Anyhow, we were all like, "Yes! Money! Let's go out and eat!" I went with a couple girls to a Lebanese place.
There are 36 volunteers: Two married couples, 40/60% male/female, and most people graduated within the past three years. There's also quite a few that just graduated like me. Although, I'm by far the youngest, but there's a guy who's 21.
Everyone seems pretty cool and really down to earth. Definitely a different crowd than even senior college students. We are all really pumped to go to CR, and the Spanish proficiency is across the board, I think everyone has a background in Spanish at least, though. I'm not the only one who needs practice.
We're all swapping rumors about what we've heard. I think the worst is about the malaria pills. All kinds of wonderful side effects... fun!
We leave Wed for CR at in the dark hours of the morning. From there, we go to a retreat in the mountains somewhere, something like a team building thing, I've heard. After that, we go to the capital for 11 weeks of training and to meet our host families for those 11 mos.
The hotel has free internet computers, so if I can get on tomorrow, I'll try. We just found out that there is supposedly only one computer in the country office... I haven't heard anything about the internet cafes, though.
Still doesn't feel real. Maybe if I pinch myself...
Comments
Malaria Pills
Malaria Pills aka Hydroxychloroquine aka Plaquenil used to treat malaria. Side effects very mild--and rare but could happen--retinal deposits--should resolve once the medication is stopped. If you're on Hydroxychloroquine/Plaquenil you need to visit with an ophthalmologist at least every 6 months to one year. --JMJ--
Lariam Daze
While I would never tell you not to take any medicine that Peace Corps is prescribing, you might listen (critically, albeit) to what the PCVs in country (and more importantly, posted where you'll be) do.