RPCVSFs JuneJuly Newsletter.pdf

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A is for Armenia, B is for Benin … and C is for Children. And also for this Calendar—our first “all-kids calendar,” in which we celebrate children worldwide by focusing on kids in the countries where Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have served. 

As the photos in the 2022 International All-kids Calendar show, childhood experiences are both culturally specific and universal—no matter where in the world you go. The 2022 calendar includes photos of children from 12 of the 142 countries where Peace Corps Volunteers have served in the 61 years since the founding of Peace Corps:  Niger, Afghanistan, Thailand, Uganda, Lesotho, Kenya, Ecuador, Haiti, India, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Armenia. The cover features a photo taken in Mongolia, along with smaller inset photos from Senegal, Togo, Ethiopia, and Panama.

Our Condolences

In Memoriam: Maria (Betty) Bruquetas  (9/24/54 – 8/12/21)

President, Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of the Gulf Coast of Florida, Sarasota, Florida

~ In Memoriam ~

World Affairs Council of Miami

 

The World Affairs Council of Miami will be similar to the 90 other chapters spread across the United States.  This network is one of the most well-respected international affairs organizations in the world.  You may learn more about the national organization at WACA | Main (worldaffairscouncils.org)

 

In just the past six months Miami lost out on several opportunities because it does not have a chapter.  When NATO wanted to reach out to cities across the United States they contacted the ITC but advised they would only work through the World Affairs Council network, so they went to six other cities with chapters.  When the U.S. Ambassador to Brazil wanted to address the Miami community, he would only do it through a World Affairs Council Chapter (he instead went to the Atlanta chapter), and currently the IDB wants to work through a World Affairs Chapter.  Bringing the "World Affairs Council" brand to Miami will help attract more international organizations and speakers to our community, strengthening all Miami-based international affairs groups.

 

The 90 World Affairs Council chapters are free to have slightly different priorities, but almost all arrange speaker series.  About fifty of them sponsor the Academic WorldQuestcompetition in their local communities' schools (we plan to do this).  Many also host the Great Decisions series (for example in Vermont) and/or actively promote travel opportunities, offered by the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia

 

As a "start-up" non-profit, we are looking for input and active involvement from the entire Miami international affairs community.  We plan on having monthly social gatherings along with monthly speaker/roundtable events.  We hope to work with local school districts to start the Academic WorldQuest program this Fall and will add other activities as individual and partner organizations propose them. 

 

For your reference, below are just a few more examples of what other leading and neighboring councils are doing:

 

Los Angeles World Affairs Council › Home (lawacth.org)

HOME | Wacatl (wacatlanta.org)

Naples Council on World Affairs - Home (ncwa-fl.org)

Sarasota World Affairs Council | Welcome (sarasotawac.org)

For more information, contact Jon Ward by e-mail at jward628@gmail.com,

or by phone 305-713-7922.

July 6th, 2021. -- Summary

These positions allow returning Peace Corps and certain Peace Corps Response volunteers the opportunity to gain experience in the Federal Government while continuing to support the Peace Corps mission. Applicants will be placed in a position, in the duty locations that they identify, and will be expected to perform the duties of the position, in that specific duty station. Please click on the following link for detailed information:

https://www.usajobs.gov/GetJob/ViewDetails/606385100

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

June 29, 21 Peace Corps Response has asked for our help! They are looking for 12 Literacy Support Specialists for late 2021 departure to Belize.

For information about these or other opportunities in the Peace Corps, please contact:

 

Taylor Majher, Regional Peace Corps Recruiter, Miami  tmajher@peacecorps.gov

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

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

August 24th, 2021 -  If you get on Jeopardy! and make a lot of money due to this article,

do make a large donation to RPCVSF for world peace.

Safari vehicles Modern safaris use Toyota SUVs or the like with 4 wheel drive and A/C. Traditional  safaris use modified Land Rover British military personnel carriers, roofed and quite comfy, no A/C. These can be a little tricky getting in or out of. There is always a large gentleman nearby to assist. Vehicles carry 7 passengers plus the driver/guide. This means the group is limited to 13 travelers plus the Trip Leader in 2 vehicles, 20 if a third vehicle is used.

The Gates You probably have heard the Gates (Bill and Melinda) are no longer in like and are not doing it with each other any more. The lack of bliss should not have any effect on the grand work being done by their foundation to develop a preventative vaccine against malaria. Trips sponsored by RPCVSF follow CDC guidelines for anti-malaria drugs.

Names Trip leaders and guides often have names rooted in their native languages which are very difficult for westerners to pronounce so they adopt noms de travaille (work names}. Rosie in Namibia had a name that began with r-o-s and went on for many more letters. The mother of Stewart, a Zimbabwean working in Namibia, just liked the name Stewart. He did not have an African name but all his brothers and sisters had one. Anna in Thailand really wanted to be Ann but another woman in her office was Ann. God only knows how Sean in Laos came up with that name. Travel answers to the name Greg.

Libations: Singapore Sling When in Singapore you must try a Sling, preferably at Raffles, one of the great colonial hotels in the world. If you are refused entry to the Long Bar because of the truly Byzantine dress code, go around the building to the entrance of the pool bar. You better like cherries because cherry brandy provides the dominant flavor with a splash of gin to add kick. Pisco Sour When in Chile or Peru, this grape brandy cocktail is a must. A splash of egg white insures a frothy head. In Peru, the head features a couple of drops of Angostura Bitters. Caipirinha In Brazil, this is the drink of choice. Made from cachaca (unaged rum) and muddled lime wedges, it tastes like a daiquiri relative. Travel prefers caipirinha maracuja made with passion fruit.

Libations: wine Did you know France dumps its lower grade wines in Southeast Asia? The natives drink very little imported wine so this is for the tourists. You do not need to know a lot about wine when you order a glass and then say to yourself after finishing it, “That was really not distinguished.” No such problem in southern or east Africa due to competition from South Africa.

Libations: South Africa sparkling wine El cheapo is about $12 US a bottle; the good stuff is about $17 US a bottle. Spring for it.

Libations: whiskey and whisky If you ask for whiskey outside the States, expect to get Scotch whisky. Very little American bourbon is exported beyond Europe. The  Commonwealth is everywhere so you might find Canadian whisky available upon request.

Libations: mojitos The rum producing countries have made this drink very popular. Mint leaves grow close to the ground so they must by thoroughly washed. The question comes up in countries where one does not drink tap water was the mint washed in purified water?

Libations: water The modern approach in countries where tap water should not be drunk is for each traveler to be given a plastic bottle with the traveler’s name embossed on it. It is filled from a purified water fount usually located in the reception or lobby area. The traveler keeps it with him at all times. DO NOT BRUSH YOUR TEETH WITH TAP WATER. This is also an effort to solve the world-wide plastic pollution problem. In every instance, the trip leader is in charge of water distribution.

Libations: gin and tonic In the early 1960s, the British Empire was transforming into the British Commonwealth. There was no need for the dedicated servants in the Colonial Service. It was folded into the Foreign Service where the colonials were treated as rubes and pariahs by the elitists. On top of that, their turf was being invaded by American Peace Corps volunteers in what were countries within the British sphere of influence. There was only one thing to do: Be nice to the Yanks. And helpful.

Make sure you drink plenty of gin and tonics. For the malaria, you know. If .the “kwih neen” doesn’t kill the malaria parasite, the gin will.

“No way!” said the Peace Corps doctor. There is not enough quinine in tonic to do more that tickle the parasite; the gin will only make it happy.

The Brits invented gin (Beefeater) and discovered quinine in cinchona bark.

Libations: beer Most countries have entered into foreign assistance agreements with European breweries so the beer around the world is generally very good and on the heavy side.

Libations: martini; manhattan Request a martini and you will get a glass of vermouth. You need to ask for a glass of gin shaken with ice straight up with olives if they have them. As for Manhattan, do not press your luck.

Libations: Islamic countries Those seeking a tourism industry have specially licensed facilities for foreign tourists. Their own citizens are not allowed in them to enforce the prohibition of alcohol for Muslims. My principal and I had a beer every day at lunch. He said he was not taking alcohol, just washing down his burger. Besides, the government owned the brewery so he was helping the economy.

New CDC guidelines There are new CDC guidelines for 61 countries as of June 9. In fact, the international travel scene is a mass of contradictions. The virus is raging everywhere so most places require masks. UK now welcomes fully vaccinated tourists without mandatory quarantine. New Zealand, too.

BBC reports the World Health Organization has declared China to be a malaria-free country.

Spirit Airlines probably should be avoided based on news reports. American Airlines has some of the same problems but is a much larger operation and can handle them better.

Travel is busy planning a super tour of Belize including an optional package in the cayes (pronounced “keys”) for divers and an excursion to the major Mayan ruins at Tikal in Guatemala. Stay tuned. You better Belize it.

INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL: REALITY CHECK

Click Travel for the February 16th, 2021 Update

I knew we should have re-confirmed our return flight!

 Click Want More Peace Corps for More Information

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