Highlights from recent phone calls with Alex

This is a compilation of notes taken from phone calls with Alex. He does have a cell phone and we (the parents) use Skype to keep in contact.

Alex has been settling in to his new environment. One of his first assignments or duties as a Peace Corp Volunteer was to sign a release for getting wood for students desks. The person he was replacing actually had done the leg work (getting a woman’s group to raise the money) and all Alex needed to do was sign the form so the wood could be delivered. He did “win” a solar shower while at the training center and has been enjoying it greatly as it is much better than using a cup to pour water over one’s head during shower time.

Alex had his first taste of sugar cane. It is much sweeter than he thought it would be. Wednesday is market day in his town and they have a variety of items for sale. Some of these items include different fabrics, pottery, jewelry, and spices. He has had other Peace Corp Volunteers come to market day and they are able to meet and discuss life with one another. It is interesting to note that other volunteers see Alex’s humble life and think that he really has it made. For instance, there are generators that get turned on around 4pm until midnight in Alex’s town. Other towns or villages where some of the visiting Peace Corp Volunteers reside don’t have generators and thus there is no electricity. This means that all jobs; such as getting water are by manual means (i.e. pulling up a bucket of water from a well).

Alex’s job in the Peace Corps is a Community Youth Educator. Hausa is the local language, but French is what they teach in schools. He has been meeting with the other teachers and school started this week. Last week was a sort of orientation or sign-up for the students. They also received some limited supplies at that time. So it is a good thing that Alex does know French, but the local language is an additional hurdle that he has been working on. Subjects that they teach are Math/Chemistry, Physical Science, Philosophy, and grammar. There are two primary schools, one middle school and one higher level school in Alex’s town.

He remains in good spirits and has many stories. We are waiting until he has his own computer access so the stories are first hand.