I called the Peace Corps today to officially decline the Bangladesh assignment. It really was hard for me to do, since I have tried so hard and waited so long to get an assignment. I felt as if I had failed somewhere.
They told me that I had to write a letter to the Placement Office explaining my reasons, which I will do tonight. The good news is that we will be considered for other assignments. We are still officially in the pool of candidates, and the Placement officer said a single declination will not likely hurt our chances of getting another assignment- people apparently decline more than once. We won't be doing that. The next assignment we get, we will accept.
So, all we need to do now is wait again. Hopefully, we will get an invitation soon, and we may even get to leave in August still. I was dreading the possibility of not going at all, but it doesn't look like it will be that bad.
Tuesday, June 14, 2005
Friday, June 10, 2005
sigh...Bangladesh
Bangladesh? This is what we have been waiting six months to hear? The one country in the world that we would even consider declining, and we get it. I don't know.
This is but my initial reaction to the news, perhaps it will change with a little more information. We kind of knew it would be Bangladesh, as the programs that we were selected for are emphasized there. It was the bottom of both of our lists of preferences though, and we are still adjusting to the idea of having to choose to go there or not. As it stands right now, Malinda is more enthusiastic about it than I am- maybe she should be writing this post.
Both of us would be teaching English it seems. We won't know exactly where we will be assigned in Bangladesh, that will come after a three month language instruction period and cultural immersion period. From what the PC has said, Bangladesh is "hot, humid, flat and very green." It is the size of Wisconsin, but has half the population of the entire United States. That's 140 million people crammed into Wisconsin, making it one of the most densely populated countries on Earth. It is also among the very poorest.
It is a primarily Muslim country, breaking off from India along with Pakistan (Bangladesh was once politically East Pakistan but became independent in 1971). Approximately 85% of Bangladeshis are Muslim, 10% Hindu, the rest Buddhist or other faiths. It is very conservative, but Islam is considered moderate there.
Electricity is common, especially in the cities, telephones are not reliable, but cell phones are very much in use. The internet is availbale in urban centers, usually in internet cafés. Pollution is severe, disease a serious problem, and cyclones and flooding are likely to occur at some point while we are there.
The steets of Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh
This is but my initial reaction to the news, perhaps it will change with a little more information. We kind of knew it would be Bangladesh, as the programs that we were selected for are emphasized there. It was the bottom of both of our lists of preferences though, and we are still adjusting to the idea of having to choose to go there or not. As it stands right now, Malinda is more enthusiastic about it than I am- maybe she should be writing this post.
Both of us would be teaching English it seems. We won't know exactly where we will be assigned in Bangladesh, that will come after a three month language instruction period and cultural immersion period. From what the PC has said, Bangladesh is "hot, humid, flat and very green." It is the size of Wisconsin, but has half the population of the entire United States. That's 140 million people crammed into Wisconsin, making it one of the most densely populated countries on Earth. It is also among the very poorest.
It is a primarily Muslim country, breaking off from India along with Pakistan (Bangladesh was once politically East Pakistan but became independent in 1971). Approximately 85% of Bangladeshis are Muslim, 10% Hindu, the rest Buddhist or other faiths. It is very conservative, but Islam is considered moderate there.
Electricity is common, especially in the cities, telephones are not reliable, but cell phones are very much in use. The internet is availbale in urban centers, usually in internet cafés. Pollution is severe, disease a serious problem, and cyclones and flooding are likely to occur at some point while we are there.
Thursday, June 09, 2005
Invitation
I just got off the phone with my assignment coordinator in D.C. She says that Malinda and I have been accepted and will be issued an invitation to serve!! I pressed her for some clues about where the assignment will be, but she would not offer any. She said the Peace Corps like to have couples open their assignment invitation together, and I guess I can understand that. But man! I'm just dying to find out!
Now at least I know what lies ahead of me in the next two years though. I can at least breathe a little easier now that we are no longer in limbo as far as our plans go. So much will be happening in the next few weeks here, it's going to be crazy. Bernie and Chris will be moving to their new house, we have to find a place for all of our stuff for 2 years, it will be hectic.
We will receive a packet in the mail tomorrow that will detail our assignment. We have 10 days to accept it or reject it. I don't think we'll be rejecting it though. So, you will all know tomorrow or Monday (I hope it doesn't take that long to get here) where we will be going. Until then!
Weeks until we leave: 9
Now at least I know what lies ahead of me in the next two years though. I can at least breathe a little easier now that we are no longer in limbo as far as our plans go. So much will be happening in the next few weeks here, it's going to be crazy. Bernie and Chris will be moving to their new house, we have to find a place for all of our stuff for 2 years, it will be hectic.
We will receive a packet in the mail tomorrow that will detail our assignment. We have 10 days to accept it or reject it. I don't think we'll be rejecting it though. So, you will all know tomorrow or Monday (I hope it doesn't take that long to get here) where we will be going. Until then!
Weeks until we leave: 9
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)