Today marks a major milestone

PCA, PCI, PCT, PCV

I started this journey as a PCA, became a PCI, then a PCT and am now a PCV

Some people measure progress by the passage of time, the summary of successes, or the accumulation of assets. Our progress can be measured by acronyms: We started this journey as Peace Corps Applicants (PCAs) and after many months of interviews, paperwork, medical, dental and vision exams, plus other queries and re-checks for many of us, we then became Peace Corps Invitees (PCIs) and went to Staging and then on to training where we have been Peace Corps Trainees (PCTs). Now, after 11 weeks of training in the Macedonian language, technical skills related to our work assignments and seemingly endless hours of training sessions regarding medical procedures, safety & security practices, various administrative policies & procedures as well as cross – cultural issues, we have been sworn in as official Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). In terms of the conventional measure of time, that has been a 19 month journey to this point. We will maintain this designation through the next 102 weeks of our service. After that, we will go through a Close of Service (COS) process and thereafter be referred to as a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV). This has been an exciting, educational and rewarding journey so far. I am hoping and trusting that the journey ahead will be productive for me as far as successes might be achieved in my service to share skills and knowledge with the development of human services within this country.

The swearing in Ceremony took place today (11/24/2011) and the Oath of Service was officially administered by the American Ambassador to Macedonia.

PCTs accompanied by their host families met in Kratovo today (11/24/2011) for a swearing in ceremony.

The catering hall was spledidly decorated for the festivities.

 Following the ceremony, we were the honored guests at a display of traditional Macedonian folk dancing and then a traditional American Thanksgiving feast.

Wonderful music and dancing followed the official oath administered by the American Ambassador to Macedonia.

Since this was (American) Thanksgiving Day, the feast included Turkey.

The desert was beautiful as well as very deliscious!

I briught along my Macedonian and my American flags for the occasion. PCVs 1 and 2 years ahead of us also attended and welcomed us into their ranks and wished us well.

My host father, his daughter, the PC Director for Macedonia and me.

A map of Macedonia with photos of PCVs superimposed on it. This was displayed to celebrate the 50 years of Peace Corps in the world and 15 years of Peace Corps in Macedonia.

We returned to our host homes for the last time as cultural immersion guests and prepared for our travels to our assigned work sites scattered throughout this beautiful developing country. There is a wonderful interactive map identifying the work assignment sites for currently serving PCVs (MAK 14s & 15s) and the newly sworn in PCVs (MAK 16s).

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=216684700813669708015.0004affc2c24fc254e15c&msa=0

 

I have been assigned to work with a large NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in the small city of Negotino. The NGO (PORAKA – Negotino) is the anchor agency for several other NGOs with the same mission, which is assuring the “protection of the rights and dignity and the full integration of persons with intellectual disabilities and their families in all spheres of society.” The city of Negotino lies along the Vardar River in the southern area of Macedonia and along what is referred to as “The Wine Road.” The area around Negotino is mostly devoted to vineyards and wineries.

I’ll get by.

Visitors will always be welcome and I will have an apartment in which I can accommodate several people at a time.