Description of United States Peace Corps Service

I had to write up this description of service to send to Peace Corps headquarters and I thought I'd share it with you all. It summarizes my experience quite well, but I had to edit it a little for the blog, taking out any information indicating the location of my town. It might be a little dry too, but it's supposed to be, its a government document!

After a competitive application process stressing applicant’s skills, adaptability and willingness to immerse in another culture and language, cross-cultural sensitivity, and the desire to serve underprivileged communities, Jennifer Bentley began Peace Corps training on September 9th, 2006 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She then completed the eleven week training program: one week in Rabat at the Chellah Hotel and ten weeks in the community-based training (CBT) site of Boulmane. During this time, Jennifer lived with a Moroccan family in order to experience Moroccan culture and family life first-hand, as well as to immerse herself in the language. Ms. Bentley joined other trainees at the training seminar site in Immouzer, where they participated in cross-cultural and technical sessions organized by Peace Corps staff. During the training period, the following was accomplished:

CROSS CULTURAL TRAINING	Study of Arab and Islamic values and traditions with an emphasis on Moroccan history and culture. (14 hours of formal training sessions plus an additional 35 days of cross-cultural experience during a “home stay” with a Moroccan family.)
TECHNICAL TRAINING	General introduction to participatory community analysis and development methodologies and the Moroccan Education System through lectures, hands-on activities stressing language, teaching methods and techniques and youth development activities, including girls education (59 hours of formal training). As part of the Community Based Training experience, practice taught, planned and organized youth-related activities in a youth center (97 hours).
LANGUAGE TRAINING	General introduction to and intensive study of the Moroccan Arabic dialect (Darija), including reading, writing and speaking, (160 formal hours). Additionally, many informal hours practicing language skills with host family and applying language tasks in a Moroccan community context.
HEALTH AND PERSONAL SAFETY TRAINING	Health care in Morocco; first aid and safety; preventive medicine and nutrition. Safety and Security including both formal sessions and competencies integrated into Language and Cross Culture training (40 formal hours of training plus additional time during language and cross culture classes).

At the completion of pre-service training, Jennifer was tested by a certified LPI tester and at that time was rated as Intermediate-Low in spoken Darija. She was sworn-in with Peace Corps on November 25th, 2005 and served as a Youth Development Volunteer for the Moroccan Ministry in Charge of Youth and Sport. Her primary assignment was in a Youth Center in ???, Morocco. She arrived in her site and lived with a host family there for two months.

During Jennifer Bentley’s volunteer service her main responsibilities included:

PRIMARY DUTIES

As a Youth Developer based at the Youth Center in ???, Jennifer initiated projects aimed at creating and enhancing developmental assets among youth and adults, including both young women and men. Jennifer’s main projects included:

English Language Instruction: Jennifer taught English as a Foreign Language to beginner, intermediate, advanced and adult students at the Youth Center. Jennifer designed a curriculum that used English language instruction as a forum to teach other developmental topics and skills including tolerance, environmental responsibility, gender equality, self-esteem, nutrition, and career planning.

Girls’ and Women’s Education and Empowerment: Through weekly gatherings involving English classes and discussions centered on cultural-exchange, Jennifer emphasized self-awareness, self-esteem, decision-making skills, and education and career planning for female students at the Women’s Center and Girls’ Boarding Home. Jennifer taught weekly aerobics classes to women and girls at the Youth Center. With her encouragement, the women organized the activity into an independent club under the direction of the women.

Children’s Education and Development: Jennifer led weekly activities based on cognitive skills, motor skills, health, social and emotional development as well as some English.

Boys’ Education and Empowerment: Through weekly gatherings involving English classes and activities centered on empowerment, Jennifer stressed the importance of self-awareness, self-esteem, decision-making skills, and education and career planning for male students at the Dar Chebab and Boys’ Boarding Home.

Intercultural Exchange: Jennifer fostered dialogue between Moroccan and American students through the exchange of letters as part of the World Wise Schools program.

Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sport English Language Camps

Jennifer collaborated with the Moroccan Ministry of Youth and Sport at the regional and national levels at English Language Camps. Her roles included:

Coordination of Spring Language Camp: As PCV coordinator of the 2008 Spring Language Camp for 120 students in the El Jadida region, Jennifer and a Moroccan counterpart organized activities, established rules, and addressed campers’ concerns. Jennifer acted as a liaison between PCV and Moroccan staff.

Teaching at Language Camps: Jennifer taught English, art, science, and other developmental topics and skills to students at several national Language Camps.

SECONDARY DUTIES

In addition to these duties, Jennifer Bentley worked closely with PC/Morocco staff on several PC/Morocco initiatives, including:

YD Pre-Service Training (PST): In collaboration with another PCV, Jennifer conducted the community assessment portion of PST for incoming YD PCVs in 2007. Jennifer designed and led 2 participatory training sessions, addressing topics and skills such as community entry and assessment.

YD In-Service Training (IST): Jennifer presented, with the assistance of another PCV, a participatory training session focusing on active-listening skills for mid-service YD PCVs in 2008.

Volunteer Support Network (VSN): After participating in a training session emphasizing peer counseling skills, Jennifer became an official member in the Volunteer Support Network. Once elected as representative to her YD 2006 staging group, Jennifer served on the VSN Council. As part of her duties in the Council, she successfully planned and led three training sessions for 18 newly sworn-in volunteers from 2007-2008.

Jennifer successfully integrated into her community, allowing her to gain the respect of Directors of Youth and Women’s Centers, as well as counterparts in the Ministry of Youth and Sport. Through her diligence, hard work and perseverance, Ms. Bentley has helped the Youth Development program make improvements as well as brought to her local community sustainable projects and ideas, allowing for the growth and development of the community with whom she worked.

Jennifer Bentley successfully completed her service with the Peace Corps in Morocco on November 26, 2008. She will fulfill the final Peace Corps goal by sharing Morocco with Americans upon her return to the United States.

Two Cockroaches on my Head...and other experiences

Well, I was delusional to believe I solved the cockroach problem last month. Apparently, insecticide cannot compete with Mother Nature. I'm still without water and I believe this is the root of the cockroach problem. Last night was the last straw (I always say that) and today I began a major cleaning campaign in my house.

Last night I was drifting off to sleep and dreaming this recurring dream I have here where I am confused about where I am and if I am alone or with people. I hate this dream. I always wake up searching with my hands for a person. Let's not psychoanalyze this one too much... Anyway, last night while searching with my hands, I grazed an insect crawling toward my face. I jumped out of "bed" (a thin mat on the floor) and grabbed my sandal, found and killed a large spider. I have never seen this spider before. It had long legs, of varying sizes and was very springy. Then, I heard a rustling sound on the other side of the room and after investigating, found a large cockroach desperately attempting to find a way out of the room. I killed that one as well.

This incident follows a more disturbing one that occurred just last week. Here is a rundown of that evening:

1. 9:30 pm: Resting on ponj (mattress that acts as couch), talking with Abdslam on phone, when I feel a cockroach crawling on my head. Scream, want to die, etc, kill the cockroach. For the rest of the evening wonder why cockroach walked on my head. Am disturbed.

2. 2:30 am: sleeping on "bed" when I hear someone pounding on my door downstairs. Sweating, I hear a man yelling in Arabic "Where is the American woman? Where is the white girl? Is this her door? Is this it?" Peek out window to find man with towel on his face, spitting a lot. (he was high on some chemicals) Half an hour passes with him pounding on my door and then three other men join him and try to coax him away from my door. One man convinces him to go somewhere with him on his motorcycle. They leave. I am scared. (at the time it didn't occur to me to call the gendarmes, but I was in that frozen, make-no-sudden-movements mode)

3. 5:00 am: sleeping again on "bed" when I hear and feel something crawling near my face. I jump out of bed, turn on the lights and see nothing. Then, I hear some rustling sounds coming from INSIDE my pillow. I beat the pillow with my sandal, fearing a mouse will come out, instead just another big cockroach scurries out. I kill it.


So, whatever, I guess I just have to deal with the fact that I must share my house with cockroaches. I have a feeling that as soon as the water comes back on, this problem will solve itself. Inshallah.

In other news, we passed the midway mark of Ramadan. Only half a month left of fasting! I'm not fasting this year, but that doesn't mean that I'm still not incredibly bored. I lead a training session this past weekend on active-listening skills, so that got me out of my house and active for a while. The group was really great and I enjoyed meeting new people and talking about the People magazine my grandparents sent me.

I passed my two-year mark September 12 while at the training. Two years in Morocco. I can hardly believe my service is coming to an end. The next two months I will spend saying my goodbyes and preparing for my replacement's transition into my community. It's weird to think that he or she is here now in Morocco, training for service in my town. November 26 is the official day for my closing of service.