Volunteer Life
This article was first publised in the in-country publication PeaceWorks/Summer '07 edition ...
- Essential Ingredients of Volunteer Life, One PCV’s Perspective
Nam LaMore, Khemisset/SBD ‘05
With more than 675 days of in-country Service, PCVs, ranging from recently sworn-in to those in my group, have asked what general and specific factors have contributed to my Volunteer Life. I applied to the Peace Corps with full knowledge that I was voluntarily stepping out of my comfort zone. Every adventure comes with some discomforts. I was prepared for lack of running water, electricity, fluffy down comforters, 300-thread count Egyptian cotton sheets and life’s other comforts and familiarities. I did not need to leave my home, friends and family in California for 27 months to look for a vacation or an easy experience. And the Peace Corps never promised me such an experience.I joined the Peace Corps to be a Volunteer so that I could contribute to development efforts. The Peace Corps is delivering just that: an opportunity to contribute to development efforts within my assigned community of site, and an experience to last a lifetime. Everyone’s Volunteer Life experience is different; however, here is a simple, personal blueprint that has helped me with my Service ...
- Manage Expectations & Personal Accountability.
One of my life-skills – transferred from Corporate America to Peace Corps – is to manage expectations, my own as well as those around me. For example, before coming to Morocco we were asked to write an Aspiration Statement that included our Expectations, Strategies for Adapting to a New Culture and Professional & Personal Goals. I suspected this exercise was to gage our commitment and maturity as we prepared to live in another culture. During my homestay period, I taped a copy of my Aspiration Statement to the wall, and made a point to review it whenever I faced
cultural challenges. I expected that my Service would be to meet the needs and goals of community-based, not team-oriented, development efforts. More than once I thought about revising my Aspiration Statement, but decided that was not necessary as my experience matched my own expectations.Mutual Respect & Open, Flexible Communications.
I established mutual respect, and open, flexible communication channels with Staff, other Volunteers and Host-Country Nationals early in my Service. I tried to learn how they like to be contacted; some people prefer to talk on the phone instead of, say, email or text messaging – for these phone-yakking communicators, I simply text them to call me – there’s no shame in admitting that I am low on phone credit.
Get Involved & Stay Involved.
My first priority is to my sector, SBD. My Program Staff – Bouchra & Tariq – seem to remind me of this at every opportunity. It’s a good thing, as I often ask to get involved in non-SBD activities, such as sector-neutral VSN, YD’s Spring/Summer Language Camps, site development, trainings, etc. They like that I want to get involved, and I often remind them how my involvement will fit in with my primary
projects, goals and objectives for SBD. My hobby of photography has evolved and become a useful tool in helping artisans with their marketing efforts. Program Staff and the PCV community recognize this and have made good use of this skill.Create Support Networks.
I tried to create networks around me. This has included PCVs in and out of my sector, stage and region; artisans in my site and elsewhere; PC Staff ranging from my Program Staff to other sector’s Program and Administrative Staff; Host Country Nationals in my community ranging from café workers to local officials; and “others” who include development workers from such international NGOs as JICA, KOICA, Oxfam and UNESCO. For example, at a recent craft festival, Amina Yarbis (I met her a year earlier) noticed I was being harassed by kids. She motioned to the kids to come over, and told them to ask me questions about who I am and what I was doing in Morocco. I was having a cultural exchange moment with the kids, with Amina acting as a cultural attaché. When the kids left, she said she remembered our discussion that I sometimes face harassment just because I am a diverse PCV, and that the unwanted attention can be a source of frustration. The same day, she trusted me to watch her booth as she went for a long lunch. We provide mutual support and perspectives to each other on many different levels.
Develop Routines.
I developed daily, weekly and monthly routines shortly after arriving in my site. Khemisset was my Community-Based Training site, so I had an idea of what my daily and weekly routines would be. An example of a daily routine was taking a walk to the medina each morning. Sometimes the walk brought me to the artisana for work-related discussions, but more importantly it was a way for me to integrate daily with my
community. An example of a weekly routine is Happy Couscous Friday, when I have lunch with my landlord’s family. Or weekly routine is going to the weekly souk where I have lunch at the same fish-fry tent, buy fresh produce from vegetable sellers and discuss tourist traffic with carpet sellers. These have been rewarding cultural experiences.Acknowledge Culture Shock.
I live (next to a mosque) in a conservative part of town that is in a not-so-conservative-PCV site. In spite of having less than five months of Service left, I continue to experience culture shock everyday. For example, I am not comfortable covered head-to-toe when it is hot enough to quickly brew sun-teas. However, I respect the culture and, therefore, do not show my bare knees or shoulders. Another example, my apartment is equipped with a traditional Moroccan toilette. I hate to squat and read Newsweek in the morning; instead, I catch-up on world politics and global warming while sipping on non-refrigerated, no-sugared, sun-brewed tea and glancing up at the setting sun from my kitchen. Not so bad.
The final essential ingredient to my Volunteer Life is getting to know PC Office’s Hakim (administrative assistant) and Azeddine (tech guru) – they are very helpful. I always thank Hakim whenever he patches me through to or takes a message for my Programming Staff, and Azeddine for keeping the PCV Lounge computers and printer from failing when I need them most … now, for example, as I put the finishing touches on thi
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
Come Into the Light
Living in Morocco was an interesting experience in many ways. Indeed it is probably one of the most liberal of Muslim countries; I witnessed this act of religious tolerance first hand every day. I was asked if I was Muslim1 on a daily basis. Typical conversation (translated in English for my benefit):
1. Because to people in my community they don't understand why I would be in Morocco if not to become one with the religion.
2. Buddha isn't considered a prophet. Muslims consider Buddhists to be immoral (not amoral) and god-less. Though I don't identify as Buddhist, I was often told bluntly by complete strangers that I could still go to heaven if I converted to Muslim. I guess my share of 50 virgins will go to someone else.
- Moroccan: Peace, brother! May Allah bless us this day!
Me: Peace to you in return!
Moroccan: How do you like Morocco?
Me: I'm happy to be a guest here.
Moroccan: Are you Muslim?
Me: Not yet.
Moroccan: Islam is the best religion. We believe in all the great prophets!2
Me: Oh, that's good to know.
Moroccan: Say this with me, my brother, "I testify that there is no true god but Allah, and that Mohamed is the Messenger of Allah."
Me: "I testify that there is ..." hmmm what happens if I say this?
Moroccan: Just say it, you'll be a good Muslim. Repeat after me, "I testify that there is no true god but Allah, and that Mohamed is the Messenger of Allah."
Me: Thank you, but I should go now.
Moroccan: Allah protects you in your travel!
Me: Peace be with you!
1. Because to people in my community they don't understand why I would be in Morocco if not to become one with the religion.
2. Buddha isn't considered a prophet. Muslims consider Buddhists to be immoral (not amoral) and god-less. Though I don't identify as Buddhist, I was often told bluntly by complete strangers that I could still go to heaven if I converted to Muslim. I guess my share of 50 virgins will go to someone else.
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
Homebound - the short take
This the last SMS text message I sent in Morocco to some friends and volunteers:"Thank you Morocco! Boarding plane for an epic 36-hour, airport-hopping journey: Fes-Paris-New York-Los Angeles. See you out in the world! NL" - Fes airport, 18:12, 12 December, 2007
Getting out of Morocco was easy, but the security check in Paris was not easy. Because I had lived in Morocco for more than two years, there were many, DETAILED questions about my activities abroad. Unfortunately the non-American security check personnel for the American-based airline had never heard of the United States Peace Corps; I had to discuss in detail the mission and goals of the Peace Corps, my host-family, my Arabic language skill, etc.
I had been up practically all night so that I could catch the first AirFrance Coach bus from Orly airport ot Charles De Gaulle airport. In my sleep-deprived state, I managed to explain everything coherently if not slowly, and subconsciously throwing in Arabic phrases that confused the inquisitor; this only prolonged my detention with airport security.
All this was worth it to get on the plane, where it was a good feeling washed over me as the cabin crew treated like a human being.
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
Signing Off
I alluded to the fact that this blog is no longer flying under the radar, that it is actively being observed by forces beyond my comprehension. Spikes in site traffic from certain domains beg the question of why the increased traffic from said domains: does this blog have anything of value to offer think tanks?
The bottom-line to all this cloak-and-dagger is that some options surfaced, including:
1. Any Silicon Valley six-grader knows that Web pages are cached on many servers, and can take YEARS for edited and/or deleted pages to actually vanish on the World Wide Web; until then, these so called unwanted, abandoned and orphaned pages become part of the vast, expanding cobweb.
2. You're kidding, right?
3. Though I've tried to be sensitive about cultural and safety/security issues with each entry, I'm far from infallible. As Alexander Pope said, "To err is human." The other part of this quote is sorta boring, so I've leaving it out.
4. Thinking it through, this is not an option! If you think otherwise, then the Peace Corps might not be for you!
5. No, email SPAM is not an acceptable solution!
6. Complete plagiarism from the end of the sci-fi horror fest Alien (1979), where Ripley (played by then-unknown Sigourney Weaver) reports before going into deep sleep, "Final report of the commercial starship Nostromo, third officer reporting. The other members of the crew, Kane, Lambert, Parker, Brett, Ash and Captain Dallas, are dead. Cargo and ship destroyed. I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, the network will pick me up. This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off."
The bottom-line to all this cloak-and-dagger is that some options surfaced, including:
- A. Deleting my blog1.
B. Continuing to blog with a RADICALLY different tone2.
C. Suspending my blog3.
D. Do nothing4.
- Last blog entry during In-service, First-Year Peace Corps/Morocco Volunteer posting. Blogs of other Peace Corps Volunteers can be found on the left, under Blog Parade, and elsewhere on the Web. This blog has been suspended. Inshallah, my traditional, paper-based journal continues to record my experience until Close-Of-Service at the end of Nov '07. This is Nam LaMore, Peace Corps Volunteer in the Middle Atlas of Morocco, signing off.6
1. Any Silicon Valley six-grader knows that Web pages are cached on many servers, and can take YEARS for edited and/or deleted pages to actually vanish on the World Wide Web; until then, these so called unwanted, abandoned and orphaned pages become part of the vast, expanding cobweb.
2. You're kidding, right?
3. Though I've tried to be sensitive about cultural and safety/security issues with each entry, I'm far from infallible. As Alexander Pope said, "To err is human." The other part of this quote is sorta boring, so I've leaving it out.
4. Thinking it through, this is not an option! If you think otherwise, then the Peace Corps might not be for you!
5. No, email SPAM is not an acceptable solution!
6. Complete plagiarism from the end of the sci-fi horror fest Alien (1979), where Ripley (played by then-unknown Sigourney Weaver) reports before going into deep sleep, "Final report of the commercial starship Nostromo, third officer reporting. The other members of the crew, Kane, Lambert, Parker, Brett, Ash and Captain Dallas, are dead. Cargo and ship destroyed. I should reach the frontier in about six weeks. With a little luck, the network will pick me up. This is Ripley, last survivor of the Nostromo, signing off."
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
I HEART San Francisco
I'm feeling a bit homesick, specifically for San Francisco, California.
Aside from staging all-night Ramadan movie marathons of bootleg DVD movies with the City by the Bay San Francisco as the location set, this Peace Corps Morocco Volunteer looked through his photo archive and created the following heart-arts postcard. More about the 130+ heart-arts at the website Hearts in San Francisco.
Here's a partial list of movies I'm watching1 with San Francisco (or the Bay Area) as the set location ...
This post is dedicated to all the Peace Corps Volunteers, past, current and inspired, who call San Francisco, and the Bay Area, home.
1. Listing and watching these movies is in no way my endorsement of their entertainment value; I simply have them in my DVD collection.
2. She's moving out of the Bay Area to be closer to her niece.
3. He's been keeping me updated on Hollywood's gossips & rumours; but he's been MIA for a couple of months, so I've no idea what that crack-smoking Whitney's been up to or if Britney's popping out another swamp rat.
4. He's moving back to NY, saying that the City by the Bay is a bit too laid-back for him; exactly the reason why I HEART San Francisco.
Aside from staging all-night Ramadan movie marathons of bootleg DVD movies with the City by the Bay San Francisco as the location set, this Peace Corps Morocco Volunteer looked through his photo archive and created the following heart-arts postcard. More about the 130+ heart-arts at the website Hearts in San Francisco.
Here's a partial list of movies I'm watching1 with San Francisco (or the Bay Area) as the set location ...
- The Maltese Falcon - Humphrey Bogart at his best; wonder if there's a remake in the works.
Vertigo - An Alfred Hitchock's classic with the beautiful, sexy Kim Novak - hawt!
Birdman of Alcatraz - Current crop of movies based on real stories don't even come this close.
The Graduate - Who was your Mr./Mrs. Robinson?
American Graffiti - This movie is great for its soundtrack.
Invasion of the Body Snatcher - No, the movie's not about the guys lurking in gay ghetto Castro District.
Sister Act - Whoopi Goldberg's antics, go girl! Isn't she due for another good comedy?
The Joy Luck Club - Hmmm, I've told all my Moroccan friends watching this movie with me that I am not in the movie, and none of the actors are my relatives. They still don't believe me. Is Amy Tan working on a new novel? I hope she makes it available for download, or at least send a few copies to Peace Corps offices!
Mrs. Doubtfire - Robin Williams and a dress. Yes, I've run into Mr. Funny hiking around town; he's a genuinely nice guy.
Basic Instinct - Yeah, the movie where Sharen Shone's "snatch" helped launched her career.
Interview with the Vampire - Never was an Anne Rice fan until I saw the movie.
Forest Gump - A great film with a great soundtrack.
Koyaanisqatsi: Life Out of Balance - Amazing cinematography set to music.
Star Trek: The Voyage Home - Yeah, the one with the whales in it.
What Dreams May Come - Robin Williams and the after-life. Put away the voodoo doll, crucifix cross, rosary prayer beads, ankh, spirit peace pipe, ouija board, dreamcatcher, totem pole, mandrake root, deadly nightshade brew, graveyard soil for pentacle circles, sun disc and holy grail.
The Princess Diary - No, it's not about any of my friends.
Armistead Maupin's More Tales of the City - I really get homesick watching this because the characters remind me of some of friends, especially my girl-pal SH2, and guy-buddies JB3 and AA4. If anyone runs into Armistead, then please let him know that there is at least one Peace Corps Volunteer, assigned to a Berber town in the Middle Atlas of Morocco, who really appreciates his stories/movies.
This post is dedicated to all the Peace Corps Volunteers, past, current and inspired, who call San Francisco, and the Bay Area, home.
1. Listing and watching these movies is in no way my endorsement of their entertainment value; I simply have them in my DVD collection.
2. She's moving out of the Bay Area to be closer to her niece.
3. He's been keeping me updated on Hollywood's gossips & rumours; but he's been MIA for a couple of months, so I've no idea what that crack-smoking Whitney's been up to or if Britney's popping out another swamp rat.
4. He's moving back to NY, saying that the City by the Bay is a bit too laid-back for him; exactly the reason why I HEART San Francisco.
tags: peace corps.africa.morocco
previous 10 posts:
- Volunteer Life
- Come Into the Light
- Homebound - the short take
- Signing Off
- I HEART San Francisco
- The Joy of Ramadan
- Weekly Shopping at the Souk
- Call to Prayer
- Boujad Fantasia, Part II
- Boujad Fantasia, Part I
