Letter from PC Kiribati director June 16, 2008

Today the current country director of Peace Corps/Kiribati wrote a letter to the members of what would have been training group K39. Here are the reasons for suspending the program straight from the source:

June 16, 2008

Group K39 Invitees

It saddens me to report that Pre-Service Training for your group, K39, has been cancelled and that the Peace Corps Kiribati program will be suspended later this year. The Peace Corps has struggled for some time with the challenge of infrequent and sometimes erratic air services to the outer islands that have hosted many of our Peace Corps Volunteers in Kiribati. Reliable air transportation is absolutely crucial for the Peace Corps to meet its obligation to safeguard your health and well-being in this island setting. Consequently, Peace Corps has made the very difficult decision to find another program in which you may enjoy a safe and productive Peace Corps experience.

We at Peace Corps Kiribati share your disappointment. We were excited about your expected arrival. We understand that by accepting our invitation you began to make an emotional investment in our Program. In fact, our Volunteers have shared stories of the enthusiasm that they observed in corresponding with many of you during recent weeks. Please know that we here in Kiribati hope that you decide to pursue another Peace Corps placement with the enthusiasm and sense of adventure that made Kiribati an attractive option.

Thank you for your patience and your understanding and for your willingness to experience Peace Corps Kiribati. Good luck in your new program.

Sincerely,

Michael Koffman
Director, Peace Corps/Kiribati

edit: uh-oh! conspiracy!! according to a RPCV from Kiribati:

they only got the 2nd plane sometime after my group got there (K28)! before that, pcv’s had been on outer islands with only one plane that most definitely was not “reliable”. i cannott believe that this “evacuation safety” reason could be the *real* one.

Latin America June 16, 2008

Bright eyed and bushy tailed… started calling the Inter-America and Pacific Unit country desk at 8am. Around 9am, I got a hold of my placement officer. She said that she wouldn’t have anything definite to tell me until later this week (surprise, surprise) and she would give me a call when she knew more. And then she told me that the program she was looking at for me leaves in September for Latin America.
I immediately rushed to the Peace Corps Wikipedia Timeline page, which has a list of all the known programs leaving, by expected departure date. The only three Latin American country programs leaving in September are:

September 1: Nicaragua

September 10: Peru (All volunteers live with a family their entire service)

September 16: El Salvador

(Click the picture to zoom)

So now we wait again… but it already feels better at least knowing this much.

The more I think about it, the more I’m sure this was a blessing in disguise. Although I would have LOVED the Kiribati PC experience, Spanish is a much more useful language than I-Kiribati for future endeavors (better start brushing up!). By the time I get back, I will be fluent and mostly literate in three useful languages. I can’t wait! Also, Kiribati has been referred to as “the butthole of the world” by some – there is very little chance that any of my friends would have been able to afford to come visit me and family visits would be much more infrequent. In the Latin countries, there is at least a possibility of communication – maybe cell phone, maybe internet. I might possibly have electricity and running water. The temperature is much more moderate since it’s not on the equator. They are also likely to be less conservative which will be a lot easier for me to handle. Moreover, volunteers in these countries are placed in much closer proximity to each other. Oh! And not to mention the food variety!

Also, leaving in September means that I don’t have to say goodbye to Jason next Monday – he’ll be back from Madagascar before I leave! So that makes my next week a lot less depressing

And that means that I can go to lollapalooza with my sister this year!

Downsides: My dad thinks Central America is far too dangerous; malarial countries – and the anti-malarial provided by the PC is Mefloquine; SNAKES.

I was a little disappointed when I found out the Kiribati program had been canceled, but now I am excited all over again! Now I’m just dying to know what my placement officer has to say later this week.