Welcome ot Guinea

June 6, 2013

I have made it safe to Guinea with all of my fellow volunteers and thus far nothing disastrous has happened.  We are all still having normal bowel movements, but that will probably change within the next couple weeks.  Though there have been groups of volunteers in the past who have completed their entire assignment, there have been no individuals who have made it through without getting sick at least once, even with following every single recommendation from the Peace Corps Medical Office (PCMO).

Speaking of the PCMO, (and the rest of the staff), they really want us to succeed here.  Despite the belief by some that the Peace Corps is a waste of time and resources, most people in the Peace Corps, administrative and volunteers, feel that they are making a difference.  The support so far from the staff has been tremendous, and we are all busy getting prepared to be elevated to Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs), which happens the beginning of February. 

Preparing ourselves for the challenges of being a PCV not only includes learning and getting training in our area of expertise (as it relates to Guinea), but also language training.  The official language of Guinea is French, yet there are at least 4 other major languages spoken in the country.  The African language we will end up learning depends on where we will be posted once our training is complete.  In addition, everyone must learn a survival level of Susu, which is the language of our host families during training.  Most of us will likely also learn a second African language for life with in our host site. So when I return to the States in 2+ years, I could know five language… fluent in three (English, French, and yet to be determined African language), and have notions of two (Spanish, Susu).

It is a bit overwhelming to have to learn new language skills, and I already understand and empathize with those that decide to “early terminate” (the technical term for quitting your service early).  Though my French language skills still need a lot of improving, I already feel that the French have it easy (with their language). There are sounds in Susu that I am not yet used to creating.   Of course, learning the local languages is the foundation for creating success in your village, and so it is a major focal point in our pre-service training.

 

The Peace Corps headquarters in Guinea is in Conakry, the capital city.  It is where we have been living since arriving, and is situated right next to a beach, but the prevalence of garbage in the water  (and on the beach) presents a health risk.  I hear, though, that Peace Corps will be taking us to a suitable (meaning clean) beach later in our training for a day of rest and relaxation.  In addition, the streets are very dirty and dilapidated.  It’s not a place where a white person from America should be without a decent size group of his friends, and even then, it’s not recommended, especially if you don’t speak the local language.  Visiting the local market to pick up food for dinner, I was reminded of how real this is… Yes, this is what the third world really like… As I passed through the market with my fellow PC trainees (PCT), one vendor tried to sell me a live chicken.  Problem was, they he had only roosters.  Sorry, but I need a few hens first! 

This is very different from the street markets where I was in France just few weeks before. Of course, France also has grocery stores.  In Guinea, these street markets are the only source for purchasing food and daily necessities.  I can also understand why getting sick is not a matter of “if,” but “when”.  A public health department doesn’t exist here in Guinea, and food (including meat) that doesn’t sell one day is kept until it does.  (That’s the impression that I and others have when walking through these markets).  Fish, and whatever has grown on the fish since it was caught, is the main source of protein here in Guinea.  I have never been a huge fan of either.  It’s going to take some getting used to, as I will be living with a host family during training, and sharing in the family meals.  To the local Guinean, this state of affairs is completely normal.  I, however, can’t wait to get to my site and have more freedom to harvest my own supper.

Tomorrow the group leaves Conakry for Dubreka, a town 2 hours away.  Once in Dubreka, we will be placed with a host family, who will take care of our basic living needs (housing, meals, and bucket baths) while we continue our training.

Some pictures of Guinea, all from the safety of Peace Corps headquarters:

Of course, the Peace Corp logo:

A picture of the building where we stayed for the first week:

An ocean view from the roof of PC HQ:

A  view of Conakry, the capital of Guinea:

and finallly, a mural one of the inner walls of Peace Corps headquarters: