So now I'm really really a Volunteer (really)
Five months since I left Michigan, “pre”service training is finally over. The M24 Community and Business Volunteers are the first group in Moldova (and maybe in the Peace Corps?) to have a three part preservice training. We trained for 8 weeks when we first arrived, then went to site for 10 weeks, and finally returned for two more weeks of training.
During these last two weeks of training I:
- Lived in the same village as the rest of the COD Volunteers
- Memorized a Russian poem
- Froze
- Presented on the importance of operationalizing project goals (do it!)
- Learned some Romanian words
- Missed running water (only to return home to find out that running water at site is out)
- Took too many insanely packed minibus rides
- Met the US ambassador to Moldova
- Received a (real) text message warning Volunteers about an escaped criminal with tuberculosis - not to mention the fact that I haven’t mentioned the texts from a few weeks ago
- Attended sessions on the politics and economy of Moldova, strategic planning, working with host country partners, and presentation skills
- Went to meetings of the PC Gender Workgroup, Trafficking in Persons, and Volunteer Advisory Committee
- Started a google group for the M24 CODs to improve collaboration and communication
Now I am back at site excited and daunted by the work I have in front of me. I will have another post and some pictures up in the next few days.
3 weeks ago | Tags: training peace corps moldova russian romanian cod | Comments
