So, what do you do out there…

I got a call from a friend last week and realized I had not put much information about what I do here in the Peace Corps. Sorry about that, between emails, phone calls, and this, I forget who knows what. So, here is my attempt for an update.

Last time I did this type of email, I had my weeks cleanly broken down by day. That has since been highly jumbled. So, here is the new list, more by category than by days.

• English classes: I’ve got about four of them a week. They can be divided fairly cleanly into either the Robin Williams in ‘Good Morning Vietnam’ category or the Robin Williams in ‘Dead Poets Society’ category. No, really.

• Rotary Club: I meet once a week with the local Rotary Club (yea, the same as in the states). This is HUGE because it gives me some real face time with the big businesspeople of my town. Plus, it is a guaranteed good meal a week.

• Village Tourism: This is my big, long term project. My hope is to develop ‘bed and breakfast’ type tourism here. We already have the large resort traffic and I am hoping to pull off of that. This project could include some big players (ie, European Union, World Bank, USAID.) So, if you are wondering where all that international aid money you hear about goes…it’s me, it’s me – or people like me.

• Book Project: This will most likely be something that goes on the whole time. It is really amazing at the response so far (special thanks to Susan, who has mobilized a couple college campuses). It is amazing how such a small thing can get people to help.

• Computer Project: The high school I teach at does not have ANY computers. This is especially sad because they focus on mathematics. Plus, most of them want to attend university – some in other countries – and they do not have any academic exposure to computers. So, I am trying to get the kids to raise some of the money themselves. Once they do that, I will try and find donors to help finish the project.

• Menu Translations: I am hoping to prime the local restaurants and hotels for tourism by getting their menus/rates translated into English. It is small but, it could help someday.

• Disabled and Unemployed Services: I am working with an organization that specializes in training disabled and unemployed people. They usually either teach handicrafts or work to develop other concrete skills. Right now, they are close to losing funding and I am working to teach them English and find a new source on income.

I guess I refrained from doing this type of journal because, it sounds much more impressive than my day-to-day routine really is; but, I also want people to know what keeps me going these days. So, that is that. Hope all is well.

~~Mark

PS: I still love getting emails from you guys…

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