Close Of Service = COS

To all-
I will be coming home very shortly. I was picked up from my village at 5:45am March 27th and was driven to Banjul from there with all of my stuff. My host family took it well. My host mom started to cry but turned away and acted like she was washing her face with water. My host father just sat there looking angry. I was later told that Gambians save face and make it easier from them to cope with loss by showing anger towards the person that is going/passing. No biggy, I understand. I got what I wanted out of them. I didn't come here to live with a host family so I could feel like I was actually a part of their family, I already have a family in America. I respect my host family here, they did a great job of taking care of me, being patient, making me meals, doing my laundry, and keeping me safe for two good years. The tie was severed when I drove away, time for all parties to move on. The fact that I am not coming back mostly likely ever to see my host family here ever again wont hit me til I am home, I'm still pretty numb at the moment. Prior to leaving I attempted to say last minute goodbyes to all of my friends and people I've worked with in my community, as well as wrapping up projects and buying gifts and cultural souvenirs from local markets. Yes mom, I took pictures and had my friend take pictures and videos of me my last few days at site, but still no pictures of birds. I got a lot of support from my PCV friends who live near my village, I stayed with a few the weeks before leaving, had a few brews with a few in Basse for the last time, and then had a friend stay with me a few days before getting picked up. I feel fortunate to have found great people here you understand and support me, knowing that we all need that support when making another huge transition in our lives. All volunteers leave here at some point, either earlier then expected or after 27 months of service, it is the way it goes.
I now live at the PC hostel house in the greater Banjul-area until I fly home for good. Now, there is amble paperwork, last minute reports to type, and final project hand-over. Overall, I will walk away from The Gambia with a great sense of accomplishment and knowledge that Peace Corps paved the way towards my future career in international development abroad.
Looking at jobs now for the spring and summer, hope to make some money for grad school and to support myself so I'm not another college grad living with her/his parent's couch (which will most likely happen more or less when I first get home, ha. Terrified to come home, but excited to simultaneously. Having to re-tell my tale to the many people back home without upsetting folks (unlike Aug) will be difficult. I will practice my story telling abilities on the flight home, I am sure there will be a lot of people asking questions after I am detoxing from rice and peanut sauce.

Dakar, Senegal

URGENT!-- Ill come home some time in April. Between that time and the fall, I would love a job so I can support myself for grad school. I know there a handful of people who read this. Shoot my name out there to whoever. Return PCVs have many skills. Now to the actual blog: By the way, I am currently typing this while at site on my internet phone. I just ate some of my super mac-n-cheese, and am sitting full in my local chair, which i hope to saw into pieces soon so I can take it home to America with me and maybe have my dad enjoy it. Lets see how much I can type before the phone wont upload any more. Last blog read I was being sent to Dakar. I made it there and back safely. I am sure if one types in 'dakar' into google they will find enough images to fulfill their interests, for I didnt take any pictures. (I think my future wife will have to like photography). I was going to take up my bike machine with me but I could not seem to get it put back together for the trip, thus I presented the device to volunteers from all over West Africa thru PowerPoint and a projector. I presented to 6 small groups for 10 minutes a piece =talking fast and some good times. My liaison project was not presented due to lack of time but the info was given to all volunteers who attended this conference. After the event, 40 volunteers from The Gam and many more from other countries near by traveled also to Dakar for the annual Waist softball tournament. Three days of games on American style fields on the water, complete with hot dogs and cheap beer. Pc/The Gambia had two teams: one serious and one non-serious. Our serious team took first place in our division, my team- -the non-serious one-- did not win a game, maybe that is because I had a brew in my hand playing short-stop every game. . .it happens. Overall good trip. Good food, good people, and being in Dakar makes you feel like you are in a major city in America or Europe. Too bad they all spoke French. Hope this blog will upload now. With much love and peace. T ps: no more packages or letters please, i dont want them to be sent here and me gone. Love all your support over the last two years. Thank you again!

Dakar, Senegal

URGENT!-- Ill come home some time in April. Between that time and the fall, I would love a job so I can support myself for grad school. I know there a handful of people who read this. Shoot my name out there to whoever. Return PCVs have many skills. Now to the actual blog: By the way, I am currently typing this while at site on my internet phone. I just ate some of my super mac-n-cheese, and am sitting full in my local chair, which i hope to saw into pieces soon so I can take it home to America with me and maybe have my dad enjoy it. Lets see how much I can type before the phone wont upload any more. Last blog read I was being sent to Dakar. I made it there and back safely. I am sure if one types in 'dakar' into google they will find enough images to fulfill their interests, for I didnt take any pictures. (I think my future wife will have to like photography). I was going to take up my bike machine with me but I could not seem to get it put back together for the trip, thus I presented the device to volunteers from all over West Africa thru PowerPoint and a projector. I presented to 6 small groups for 10 minutes a piece =talking fast and some good times. My liaison project was not presented due to lack of time but the info was given to all volunteers who attended this conference. After the event, 40 volunteers from The Gam and many more from other countries near by traveled also to Dakar for the annual Waist softball tournament. Three days of games on American style fields on the water, complete with hot dogs and cheap beer. Pc/The Gambia had two teams: one serious and one non-serious. Our serious team took first place in our division, my team- -the non-serious one-- did not win a game, maybe that is because I had a brew in my hand playing short-stop every game. . .it happens. Overall good trip. Good food, good people, and being in Dakar makes you feel like you are in a major city in America or Europe. Too bad they all spoke French. Hope this blog will upload now. With much love and peace. T ps: no more packages or letters please, i dont want them to be sent here and me gone. Love all your support over the last two years. Thank you again!

Dakar, Senegal

URGENT!-- Ill come home some time in April. Between that time and the fall, I would love a job so I can support myself for grad school. I know there a handful of people who read this. Shoot my name out there to whoever. Return PCVs have many skills. Now to the actual blog: By the way, I am currently typing this while at site on my internet phone. I just ate some of my super mac-n-cheese, and am sitting full in my local chair, which i hope to saw into pieces soon so I can take it home to America with me and maybe have my dad enjoy it. Lets see how much I can type before the phone wont upload any more. Last blog read I was being sent to Dakar. I made it there and back safely. I am sure if one types in 'dakar' into google they will find enough images to fulfill their interests, for I didnt take any pictures. (I think my future wife will have to like photography). I was going to take up my bike machine with me but I could not seem to get it put back together for the trip, thus I presented the device to volunteers from all over West Africa thru PowerPoint and a projector. I presented to 6 small groups for 10 minutes a piece =talking fast and some good times. My liaison project was not presented due to lack of time but the info was given to all volunteers who attended this conference. After the event, 40 volunteers from The Gam and many more from other countries near by traveled also to Dakar for the annual Waist softball tournament. Three days of games on American style fields on the water, complete with hot dogs and cheap beer. Pc/The Gambia had two teams: one serious and one non-serious. Our serious team took first place in our division, my team- -the non-serious one-- did not win a game, maybe that is because I had a brew in my hand playing short-stop every game. . .it happens. Overall good trip. Good food, good people, and being in Dakar makes you feel like you are in a major city in America or Europe. Too bad they all spoke French. Hope this blog will upload now. With much love and peace. T ps: no more packages or letters please, i dont want them to be sent here and me gone. Love all your support over the last two years. Thank you again!

Grad school programs

University of Denver: Master of Arts- - International Development
-Location: Denver
American University- -MA International Development
-Location: DC
Brandeis University- -Dual Master of Arts in Sustainable International Development
& Coexistence and Conflict Dual Degree
-Location: near Boston
George Washington U- - MA International Development Studies
-Location: DC

International Development= "International development or global development[1] is a concept that lacks a universally accepted definition, but it is most used in a holistic and multi-disciplinary context of human development – the development of greater quality of life for animals They like to stral (i.e developed healthcare means longer life which is greater quality of life). It therefore encompasses foreign aid, governance, healthcare, education, gender equality, disaster preparedness, infrastructure, economics, human rights, environment and issues associated with these.[2] International Development is different from simple development in that it is specifically composed of institutions and policies that arose after the Second World War. These institutions focus on alleviating poverty and improving living conditions in Third World decolonized countries.[3]

International development is related to the concept of international aid, but is distinct from, though conceptually related to, disaster relief and humanitarian aid. While these two forms of international support seek to alleviate some of the problems associated with a lack of development, they are most often short term fixes - they are not necessarily long-term solutions. International development, on the other hand, seeks to implement long-term solutions to problems by helping developing countries create the necessary capacity needed to provide such sustainable solutions to their problems. A truly sustainable development project is one which will be able to carry on indefinitely with no further international involvement or support, whether it be financial or otherwise.

International development projects may consist of a single, transformative project to address a specific problem or a series of projects targeted at several aspects of society. Promoted projects are ones which involve problem solving that reflects the unique culture, politics, geography, and economy of a region. More recently, the focus in this field has been projects that aim towards empowering women, building local economies, and caring for the environment.[4]"


I will hear back from the schools as soon as beginning of Feb or latest by March
Wish me luck
T

countdown begins, ask my parents how many days.....

To all-
So I have been here in The Gambia for almost two years (it will be two years beginning of Feb).Crazy to think that I am living and working in Africa, still to this day I have surreal moments where it dawns on my again again that I am here. I am currently attending a 3 full day Close of Service (COS) Conference here in Banjul, regarding what I can do in the future with my experience and reflecting on the past two years. Crazy. Where did this time go? I know my parents are happy the time has gone by fast. After the conference I am supposed to wrap up all my current projects, hand over projects to other PCVs or my Gambian counterparts, and not start any new work or continue working. Hard to go from working nonstop for two years, no weekends, working on project plans and presentations write-ups til 10pm, and dreaming in Pulaar about work or my host family--to not working and just chilling. This will be tough. My father raised me with a strong work ethic, sitting and breathing will not be easy. But I am sure I can utilize that time to do some personal research for myself for grad school and personal curiosity (eg sitting in my village reading).
I had the Engineers Without Borders come to my area again this month to work on the bush road reconstruction project I took over a year ago from the PCV who applied for this project. The engineers altered their plan to focusing on well/water pumps in the area. Their road project proposal was not approved by the EWB big bosses, and the NGO on the ground we are 'lacing' with seemed to have taken over the road project to take credit for themselves. Overall the EWB's visit was a positive one. Together we taught 8 villages how to repair their bush road after it was fixed, as well as surveyed all water sources in those 8 villages. EWB will now attempt to find a way to bring up water from the ground easier and in a cleaner way. It was that time that a new PCV was posted in that area, so I handed the project over to her.

Another new volunteer is posted near my village, only 8k away. I got her started playing HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention films at her local middle school. The films are made by Africans for Africans in local language, so we showed the films in Pulaar and English for the students. We had our local nurse facilitate and explain the material, as well as field questions. The school's headmaster assisted as well. "But Travis, how do you play educational films in a rural area with no electricity?" you ask yourselves. A willing and motivated Gambian who has a tv, dvd player, and a small generator allowed us to borrow his prized possessions to show these films for free, as long as we provided fuel. "But Travis, who paid for the fuel, I bet that is costly?! And we know you make only $250 a month there" you now ask. Well, this headmaster is VERY motivated to assist both the school and the community he works in, so he bought the fuel out of his own pocket (equiv of $4 for two litres = 2 hours of film time)(and the usually never EVER happens here). Overall, we showed 2 short films in both languages and had many questions from the students. I feel that knowledge is as sustainable as one can get, as no one can take that away from a person, so this project went well. We then did a similar undertaking with the films but showed it to representatives from 3-or so surrounding village members and younger kids. The adults took well to the material, as we showed it in local language, and discussed with them in local language the material to ensure they understood. Cute to see young men ask question, and you can tell they are blushing. ha. Overall, I got my new sitemate started on sustainable work in her area.

I planned a grass-weaving bee hive demo in my village for Feb 9th for 3 PCVs in my area to do in my village, I hope that goes well.
During that time I will be en route to Dakar, Senegal because my head boss (country director) is sending me and 2 other PCVs from The Gambia to attend the annual West African All-Volunteer meeting in Dakar. (I was nominated to go) There, I will be presenting my bike-pedaled powered millet milling machine as an 'applied technology', and my liaisoning project between PC/The Gambia and PC/Senegal...which I hope after this meeting could spread to West Africa-wide! fingers cross. If this happens, I may have started a link between all PC West African countries.
Grad schools applications are done on my end, just waiting for all materials to be sent from other sources, and then waiting to hear back. Scary, my entire future rides on 4 schools accepting me or not, for all careers I want to get into require a MA degree.
The picture above is from when the EWB team was here. The NGO we are working(ed) with found an orphan monkey, and we tried to find it a new family in the bush. Being a fellow primate, it was friendly. Luckily, PC requires that I have all my rabies shots. I think it's a good pic.
I'll try to write more soon.
love you all
t

To all who read this- many thanks and greetings to the students at Arcadia school, I hope you read the letter/email I sent your teacher. I hope all your questions were answered, if not please ask more. To the rest of America, I figured out how to write blogs on my internet phone. I just want to write a small small note while I am thinking of you all, as the holiday season is coming now now. This, inshallah, will be my last christmas in Africa, or for at least a while. (forgive my english, I've been gone far too long and have adapted Gambian english). I know Thanksgiving was the time of giving. We, as people living and working in Western societies, would like to give to others who are in need. But how to give and what to give is often the problem, am I right? (As i type this, I have a young man asking me for lunch, which is kinda funny.) Where to send the money or what organization to give to to assure your hard earned money goes to the actual people in need? Do I give domestically or abroad? All good questions to ponder, which leaves some of us not giving at all, because of the many questions to ponder prior to the act is even made. Well, Ill give you my opinion. I have seen where aid goes, if it is UNDP or World Food Program or USAID, here in The Gambia. This Christmas season, if you want to give, give to the UN or Peace Corps. From what I gather these two major organizations will utilize your donations more effectively then others. So enough talk about money. How are you all doing back home? I am well, hanging in there. Holidays are not fun when you are hot and away from people who love you. Still trying to get my work in a position that is stable so when I leave it will continue. Also I am still trucking along planning out my future after pc. Anybody out there want to offer me a full-time job in April til end of summer?? Almost every night now I must use a blanket to stay warm enough to be able to sleep. It is nice to have that option to alter the temp of my surrounding, if only just a little. Ill make this short so I am able to up-load this via my phone. With much peace and love. Trav