By Admin1 (admin) (98.188.147.225) on Monday, August 17, 2009 - 11:24 am: Edit Post |
Peace Corps Volunteer "801 Mauritanian Nights" writes: The Peace Corps is leaving Mauritania because the security situation became too dangerous
"It's been a crazy past couple of weeks during the evacuation process as we were first all moved to Senegal while a security team evaluated the safety of Mauritania. We waited in limbo for a while not sure if we were going back to Mauritania or not. Last week they moved us to a really nice hotel and then scheduled a meeting. Some Peace Corps staff had come from D.C. to give us the news, and as soon as we saw the oreo's and cheez-it's that they had brought for us we all new Peace Corps in Mauritania was over. I will be transferring to Morocco and continuing my Peace Corps service with two more years in Morocco. I will be doing youth development continuing with my Arabic and I don't know a whole lot more than that."
Peace Corps Volunteer "801 Mauritanian Nights" writes: The Peace Corps is leaving Mauritania because the security situation became too dangerous
Monday, August 17, 2009
A few nights short
Caption: Children in Gorgol by Peace Corps Volunteer swimfast. Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic
So it looks like I won't quite make it to my 801st Mauritanian night. The Peace Corps is leaving Mauritania because the security situation became too dangerous. It's been a crazy past couple of weeks during the evacuation process as we were first all moved to Senegal while a security team evaluated the safety of Mauritania. We waited in limbo for a while not sure if we were going back to Mauritania or not. Last week they moved us to a really nice hotel and then scheduled a meeting. Some Peace Corps staff had come from D.C. to give us the news, and as soon as we saw the oreo's and cheez-it's that they had brought for us we all new Peace Corps in Mauritania was over.
I will be transferring to Morocco and continuing my Peace Corps service with two more years in Morocco. I will be doing youth development continuing with my Arabic and I don't know a whole lot more than that.
The good news also is that I will be coming home for a couple of weeks in the meantime. I will fly into New York August 18th. I will leave for Peace Corps September 8th. That leaves me about 2.5 weeks to enjoy all that makes America great, eat as much as I can, see everyone, and prepare for leaving again. I am excited to be going back to the States after over a year away.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: August, 2009; Peace Corps Mauritania; Directory of Mauritania RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Mauritania RPCVs; Blogs - Mauritania; Safety and Security of Volunteers
When this story was posted in August 2009, this was on the front page of PCOL:
Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Join Us Mr. President!
"We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .
Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director
Senator Dodd's Senate Subcommittee held confirmation hearings for Aaron Williams to become the 18th Peace Corps Director. "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," said Dodd as he put Williams on the fast track to be confirmed by the full Senate before the August recess. Read our exclusive coverage of the hearings and our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.
Director Ron Tschetter: The PCOL Interview
Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter sat down for an in-depth interview to discuss the evacuation from Bolivia, political appointees at Peace Corps headquarters, the five year rule, the Peace Corps Foundation, the internet and the Peace Corps, how the transition is going, and what the prospects are for doubling the size of the Peace Corps by 2011. Read the interview and you are sure to learn something new about the Peace Corps. PCOL previously did an interview with Director Gaddi Vasquez.
Read the stories and leave your comments.