ChuckLudlam (196.207.203.67)
| Posted on Saturday, December 24, 2005 - 9:16 am: | |
Foot Locker Safe for Peace Corps Volunteers We’re run across what seems to be an effective solution to the problem of theft of valuables of Peace Corps Volunteers. Before we departed to serve in Senegal, we bought a foot locker – purchased from Trunk Outlet. It’s the smallest one they offer, so it is not oversized baggage on a plane. The one we bought has wheels and a hasp. We painted “Corps de la Paix” on the outside. We have a combination lock for the hasp. Then we drilled holes in the bottom of the trunk before we left and when we got to our village had a small table made to fit under it. We’d brought screw bolts (with no threads on the head) and washers and used them to affix the trunk to the table so they become one unit. We also bought a motion detector from Trunk Outlet to go with the trunk. As a result, we have a solid metal and wood container in which to keep our valuables. It’s sealed with a hasp lock. The trunk is attached to the table. And we have the motion detector in the trunk. So, we think it’d be rather difficult for a thief to open it or cart the whole piece away (he’d have to take the table as well). It’s an attractive piece of furniture and a very useful table. The trunk weight did take up a good portion of the Peace Corps/airline baggage allowance, but see my different report on that issue – the Peace Corps substantially understates how much baggage you can take. The airlines permit you to take more. Comments welcome on this scheme for safekeeping ones valuables. In our case the valuables include a laptop, digital camera, shortwave radio, and iPod, and, of course, our passports, identity papers and different types of money. My wife and I are both RPCVs serving again, this time together and this time in Senegal, 37 years after we served the first time (in Nepal and Kenya). Chuck Ludlam Chuck.ludlam@gmail.com Cire Dieng, Phamarcie Rasul-Lilih Cher Sow, Voluntaire, Corps de la Paix Americain B.P. 31, Guinguinéo, Senegal, West Africa |