February 04, 2004
I will never eat at Franks.
Here are a couple of contrasting shots of Los Baņos, my home for the past four days. The people are very friendly, but both water and air are heavily polluted. (Environmental concerns are an area where many PCVs are helping.) Jeepneys, the cheapest and most prevelent mode of public transport, modeled after US military jeeps, are built in the Philippines, but run off old Japanese diesel engines. Whatever emissions laws that exist don't seem to be enforced, but it would be neat if I and other volunteers could investigate alternative fuels (such as biodiesel or recylced veggie oil) for these exhaust spewers. Imagine being in a city pioneering such a project. The whole country would be greatful. Nobody wants to live their lives coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and soot-covered.
Today we found out our volunteer locations and assignments for the next two years. (Not all PCVs find out this information so soon after arrival. But we have to begin specific language training and in any event, our sites were pretty much determined before we arrived. No point in delaying when everyone is eager to find out.) Coincidently, tomorow morning we all fly to the island of Bohol for ten weeks of pre-service training (PST) which is where I will be volunteering for the next two years.
I've been assigned to work with the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI) in Bohol. For my "anchor project" I will work with women weavers who are trying to market their wares. Last semester, I did a domestic microloan feasibility study for Katalysis Partnership (an organization facilitating microloans to Central American women) which is why Stella, my Associate Peace Corps Director (APCD), placed me in this position. Also, I think the DTI requested an MBA, and in the business group, I'm the closest one to completion, having completed my coursework. Sounds good to me. I'm sure I'll learn more details after I read through the monsterous packet.
I also hope to work with youth and on environmental/eco-tourism projects. This office has had foreign volunteers before, and my only fear is that some of the things they'll ask or expect me to do will be beyond my capabilities. (That's where self-taught on-the-job training comes in!) My initial 3-month homestay may be with the vice-mayor. I hope I'm not too spoiled.
Posted by dbs at February 4, 2004 05:25 PM