Wednesday, June 15, 2005
It has been a good week. Since I was flying to Dar on Sunday evening, I didn’t go to the Sikh Gurdwara in the morning. But I kicked around town for the afternoon, and dropped in there to see if their library was open. It wasn’t, but there were people playing doubles badminton in the recreation area. They all commented on the fact that I had not been in the morning service – I guess I have become a regular there. That feels kind-of good. Anyway, as they play it, badminton is really a fast, reflex sport! None of this lawn tap-tap stuff.
Dar es Salaam is the most liveable that I have ever found it. The temperature is comfortable for the first time, and the humidity is moderate. What a change! And the meeting is productive, and much more interesting and helpful than I had expected. Our group in the PC has had so many dropouts, they brought a group of us together to talk about setting up a committee(s) on Peer Support and Diversity Training. That tends to sound a little touchy-feely to me, but it really is a good effort, and I think could have helped several of the people in my own group if it had been available. We have had two volunteers from Kenya here to help in the program, since Kenya has had a very active and successful effort for some years now.
The program is over now, and has a good idea of how to proceed, and an excellent board was elected. I was even requested to continue to be a part of the planning, although there is no question of my being on the board, as I am out of here in less than half a year. But it really feels good to have been recognized as contributing to this early planning.
While here at HQ, I tried to see whether there is any chance of extending my Peace Corps service by combining it with working with the TechnoServe NGO in Central America. Of course that is putting an awful lot of qualifiers on what I want, and it appears not to be feasible. The PC does not currently have any joint programs with TechnoServe, and doesn’t seem to have much going in the area of business development in Central Americal. Oh well, it was worth the try. I still have an appointment with TechnoServe tomorrow, where I will try to open a door to work with them directly – and also talk about how my present program with them in Mwanza might be expanded next year when I am no longer here.
Dar es Salaam is the most liveable that I have ever found it. The temperature is comfortable for the first time, and the humidity is moderate. What a change! And the meeting is productive, and much more interesting and helpful than I had expected. Our group in the PC has had so many dropouts, they brought a group of us together to talk about setting up a committee(s) on Peer Support and Diversity Training. That tends to sound a little touchy-feely to me, but it really is a good effort, and I think could have helped several of the people in my own group if it had been available. We have had two volunteers from Kenya here to help in the program, since Kenya has had a very active and successful effort for some years now.
The program is over now, and has a good idea of how to proceed, and an excellent board was elected. I was even requested to continue to be a part of the planning, although there is no question of my being on the board, as I am out of here in less than half a year. But it really feels good to have been recognized as contributing to this early planning.
While here at HQ, I tried to see whether there is any chance of extending my Peace Corps service by combining it with working with the TechnoServe NGO in Central America. Of course that is putting an awful lot of qualifiers on what I want, and it appears not to be feasible. The PC does not currently have any joint programs with TechnoServe, and doesn’t seem to have much going in the area of business development in Central Americal. Oh well, it was worth the try. I still have an appointment with TechnoServe tomorrow, where I will try to open a door to work with them directly – and also talk about how my present program with them in Mwanza might be expanded next year when I am no longer here.
