RPCVSFs AprMay 2021 Newsletter.pdf

From Left to Right

Saif Ishoof, Vice President for Engagement, FIU

Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Miami Dade County, District 5

David Garcia, President, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida

Mark B. Rosenberg, President, FIU

Dr. Jill Beloff Farrell, Dean of the Adrian Dominican School of Education, Barry University

Dr. Hilary Landorf, Director of the Office of Global Learning Initiatives, FIU

Dr. Pablo Ortiz, Vice President, FIU Global

Glenn Blumhorst, President, National Peace Corps Association

MAY 21ST, 2021 10:30 AM CEREMONY FOR A HANDMADE GIFT BY RPCVSF PRESIDENT DAVID GARCIA

THE EVENT WAS A WOW!

New Version for the Next Installation

May 1, 2021 IN PERSON MEETING OF THE RPCVSF BOARD OF DIRECTORS

June 1, 2021 - Travel Tidbits - Lots of travel news in bits and pieces. No time to put it in a cohesive form so you are getting it as I got it: in tidbits.

1. Iceland is accepting fully vaccinated international tourists. Several of our members and friends made a pre-pandemic visit there and came back with excellent reviews. Quite an eyeful adventure.

2. Israel has vaccinated enough of its citizens so that masks in public are no longer required. Similarly, much of the USA; the EU too.

3. Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) is requiring proof of vaccination from all its travel customers. Its trip leaders and guides are all required to be vaccinated.

4. The rains came to southern Africa this year. Locals are hoping the drought that has plagued the region for nearly 10 years is broken. Parks and wildlife management agencies had to bore water holes to fill ponds and catchments. Rain means wildlife should be teeming and Victoria Falls in full glory when Travel’s birthday safaris are rescheduled.

5. When planning the air portion of international travel, look into Qatar Airways for fabulous service which encourages an overnight in Qatar, an emirate on the Arabian peninsula. This gives a break in your journey with enough time for a city tour of Qatar and a stay in a 4 star+ hotel for about $25 a night. The sidewalks are air conditioned from underground machinery! An Islamic country so it is not easy to get an adult beverage but there are specific hotels licensed for foreign tourists. Travel has been told Emirates air out of Dubai, a nearby emirate, has a similar program and great service but Travel has not used it.

6. Travelocity just announced air tickets purchased through them carry no change fees.

7. Paris is the most beautiful city in the world when the weather is good. April in Paris? Nice tune; crappy weather. Travel is seeking 2 or more virgins for a week in Paris sometime between June 10 and September 30. (A virgin is someone who has never been to Paris or someone who has been to Paris but does not speak French.) September is probably better in 2021. There are plenty of one week Paris bargain packages. We upgrade to the 4 star level. Planning starts by comparing the list of what you want to see with Travel’s suggestions. There are many options for you as to the amount of participation by Travel who pays his own way, an overall guide who costs you nothing. Most sights offer rental recorded self-serve tours which we avoid because they are too long. You are free to leave the group and use them.

8. Travel would like to lead a group to Belize with a member who served there as co-trip leader. A major activity is diving in the cayes (pronounced keys). We avoid that and only do the mainland. If you want diving, stay home. The sights are definitely on the small side but do not tell Belizeans that. They think this is a piece of heaven. It is a hoot.

9. Whenever travel opportunities are offered by RPCVSF, these are official activities of the group. Neither the volunteer Trip Leader nor the organization receives any compensation from the trip though. We just like to see the world. There’s such a lot of world to see.

10. A new cheap fare airline from the founder of Jet Blue has popped up. Breeze Airways has a base in Tampa which may mean opportunities for south Floridians.

11. Germany will pay Namibia $1.3b US as reparations for genocide against the Nama and Herero tribes from 1904-1907 in the colonial period. Bounties were paid for noses or ears of these people. It was thought these tribes might be hunted to extinction but they have managed to survive. Herero women, particularly, dress in elaborate gowns that make one think back to the Old American South. If you try to photograph them, they will raise their arms over their face or do something to spoil your picture. Give them a $20 N note and you get your photo for less than $2 US. Anthropologists describe the clothing style as memory fashion. This is how they recall the apparel of the original German colonists.

12. Air fares, particularly domestic fares, are rising rapidly. If you find a bargain, TAKE IT. Tell everyone, especially Travel. No apparent change in cancellation or other modifications fee policies. (Yet)

Is Your Passport Ready to Go?

Click Passport for Information

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: REALITY CHECK

Click Travel for the February 16th, 2021 Update

I knew we should have re-confirmed our return flight!  How many hours to Miami by this boat?

Peace Corps will be hiring soon for Recruiter positions in various locations across the United States. To be considered, an individual must have noncompetitive eligibility (NCE) and submit materials to the NCE job posting on USAjobs. Once you are added to the RPCV/RPCRV Non-Competitive certificate, you will receive notifications from hiring managers for open positions. Some of these are field-based positions, meaning you would work from your home, and others are office-based positions, which would require you to work from our HQ or one of the three regional offices. However, Peace Corps is currently in maximum telework flexibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Be sure to indicate “Volunteer Recruitment” as a job category for consideration.

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/590161000

 Click Want More Peace Corps for More Information

RPCVSF's Zoom Holiday Get-Together - Sunday, December 20th, 2020