Dear Friends, Family, and Healey Students

Dear Family, friends, and friends at the Healey School in Somerville, MA:

Thank you for visiting my blog! I created this for you to know a little more about my adventures in Namibia, Africa with the Peace Corps.

According to the Peace Corps web site, the PC is "an organization filled with men and women who live and work in another country for two years. The people who serve in the Peace Corps are "Volunteers" who share their skills with people at the grass-roots level to help solve some of the most important challenges that face communities in the developing world. Peace Corps Volunteers serve as teachers in elementary and secondary schools. They help communities protect their environment, gain access to clean water, and prevent the spread of diseases. They work with people who want to build small businesses. And they help farmers grow food more efficiently.
Peace Corps volunteers build the bridges of cross-cultural understanding with the people of other countries. They help the people of other countries learn more about who we are as Americans, and at the same time, they bring home with them a better understanding of the peoples and cultures.
The Peace Corps is part of the U.S. government." You can read more about PC at www.peacecorps.gov

I started the entire process to join PC back in Jan. 2005. I had to fill out a 10 page application, complete with references from people I've worked with saying they think I would do a good job. Once my application was received, I went in for an interview in March 2005. I met with a PC recruiter who asked me very difficult questions like, "how will you deal with being away from your family for 2 years?" or "how will you explain to your village you do not eat beef or pork?" I had to think very carefully about how much my life will change living in a country very different from the United States. I am open to learning new ways of living my life, and after 2 1/2 hours of interviewing, my recruiter nominated me for a "job" in Sub-Sahara Africa leaving in Nov. 2005 to train primary education teachers.

The next step was to be checked by a doctor and dentist to make sure I am healthy enough to live in a country without the same medicine as here in the United States. Plus, there are so many different diseases and bugs who carry diseases in developing countries, which the PC wants to make sure I am strong enough to handle if anything should happen. This was a LONG process, which began in April. I went to my doctor (Dr. Canty!) several times, had almost 10 shots (ouch!), then went to my dentist and eye doctor. I was finally cleared in July!

My invitation finally arrived on Aug.15th saying I was invited to join the Peace Corps in Namibia, Africa! How do you say that name??? Well, after practicing a few times - Nah-Mih-Bee-Uh. And where exactly is Namibia?? If you look on a map of Africa, look all the way South and find South Africa. Namibia is just above South Africa on the West Coast on the Atlantic Ocean. What other countries does Namibia border? The climate in Namibia is VERY hot, as most of it is a desert. But, there are lots of animals there including Giraffes, Hippos, and Lions. Can you think of any other animals that might live there?

I leave for my Peace Corps assignment on November 7th, 2005. I will spend 2 days in Philadelphia meeting all the people in my group, to learn a little about what to expect when we get off the plane, and to get any final shots....then off to Africa!

In the meantime, I am spending a lot of time with my family and friends before I leave. I have started a packing list because there are very few items I can bring with me - I have to be able to carry it all!! If you have any suggestions, please leave a post!

I will continue to update my blog during my service. I will try to post pictures as well. If you would like to write me letters, I will soon have my address up....so be on the lookout!!

Thanks again for reading. I look forward to hearing from you all!

all the best,
Pam Lowry