Peace Corps 50th Anniversary: "Honoring Our Public Health Legacy, Inspiring Future Generations"

Hello Dear Reader,

I'm excited to announce that Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, in honor and celebration of Peace Corps' 50th Anniversary, is facilitating a panel discussion entitled:

"Peace Corps 50th Anniversary: Honoring Our Public Health Legacy,
Inspiring Future Generations"

Thursday, September 8th
13:00 to 14:35 (1pm to 2:23pm EST)

...and guess what?? I've been asked to serve as a panelist to speak about my Peace Corps service and my work in international public health! Too bad I won't be there in person, but I'll be Skyped in (just one more reason I looooove Skype)!

Here's a description of the event:

This event exemplifies the legacy of Peace Corps partnerships and the impact that the Peace Corps has made on global health through the eyes of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have made their careers in public health.

The event also marks Peace Corps’ commitment to the future and demonstrates the importance of ongoing partnerships with a signing ceremony to recognize the Rollins School of Public Health Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Fellows Program.

RPCVs representing the five decades of Peace Corps service and public health organizations including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Carter Center, and the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University will address the following topics:

1960's - Laying the Foundation – Kathy Parker

1970's - Responding to the Call – Deborah McFarland

1980's - The impact of Peace Corps on a Career in Public Health – Stephen Dorage

1990's - Partnerships – Kelly Callahan

2000's - Shaping One's Perspective – Danielle Morris

Remarks will be provided by Peace Corps Director Mr. Aaron Williams (RPCV- Dominican Republic, 1967-1970), and Georgia State Senator Mr. Jason Carter (of the Jimmy Carter- Carters) who served as a PCV in South Africa from 1998 to 2001!

The event is being co-sponsored by Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health and the Atlanta Area Returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Pretty cool, huh? Yeah, I agree!

For more details, contact Emory University.

Wish me luck kids!

Dani

I am a product of "The Third Goal"

Hello Dear Reader,

If you've been researching the Peace Corps, you probably know of or at least have heard a little something about the organization's 3 goals:

1) Do good in the hood (I know JFK didn't put it like that);

2) Represent the diversity that is America in "host countries" (no, we're not all like the people you see on "Jerry Springer" or "Keeping up with the Kardashians"); and

3) Bringing the world to America (but that happens already...cue the song "We are the world")...but seriously, (Returned) Peace Corps Volunteers are uniquely positioned to bring their individual experiences home to big city/small town America (no, the world isn't full of terrorists).

Goal #1 (check...and beyond...or so I'd like to think): The importance of/obligation to live a life of service was instilled in me from day 1 outside of the womb (thanks mom and dad). I'd like to think that my Peace Corps service merely added to my volunteer resume and now, over three years post service, I am continuing to building on that amazing foundation.

Goal #2 (ongoing): The awesome thing about my service was that I was one of two African American PCVs in PC-South Africa at that time. Being in this unique position, I was not only able to show South Africans that not all American Black people are rap stars playing out a looped episode of "The Wire", but I was given the opportunity to demonstrate that to my fellow PCVs as well. Sure, this was frustrating at times- I was brought to tears by it, expressed my anger and frustration about it, and made some of the most amazing friends who will forever been in my life (both South African and American).

I say "ongoing", because I am fortunate enough to be able to continue representing who I am...as an American...out in the world. I have grown tremendously from my experiences, and through these experiences, I've become both more patriotic and more broad-minded than ever. I've learned to drop the labels we as Americans cling to so tightly to define ourselves. I.Am.American.

Goal #3 (a lifetime): Better known amongst the PC set as "The Third Goal". The Third Goal- Bring the world to America (but this has taken place from our great nation's inception). Sometimes, however, we tend to forget that we all came from somewhere "out in the world". As it relates to PC, like I said, RPCVs are uniquely positioned to serve as America's constant reminder that the world is not always how it is depicted on CNN/BBC/Fox News/Al Jazeera. No, the world is not to be feared. Instead of confirming our fears of "it's us against them", PCVs are able to put a diverse face to the "Us" and help their fellow Americans see that the "Us" looks/feels/thinks/desires/hopes/dreams/loves/fears/hates/wants change just like "Them".

You see, I am the result of two RPCV's quest to achieve "The 3rd Goal". As I've mentioned before (I'm sure you're sick of hearing it by now), but in the 3rd grade during "International Day", my teacher invited two RPCVs (a couple) who served in PC- Morocco, to share their experiences with me and my classmates. Little did those (now) nameless, faceless RPCVs know, but, by sharing their experiences, they forever shaped mine. Every.single.thing that I did from that day on inspired me to want to see the world beyond the library books, tv programs, and newspapers. And now, it is through my little PC/RPCV blog, that I hope to pass that quiet light of inspiration that was handed to me over twenty years ago, to you.

Happy 50th Birthday Peace Corps!

With love,

Dani (RPCV South Africa 2006-2008)

Black Girls' Special: What am I going to do with my hair when I'm in the Peace Corps?

Hello Dear Reader,

This special blog post is dedicated to all of the Black Girls out there who have considered joining the Peace Corps, but thought to themselves, "What am I going to do with my hair in the middle of nowhere?" For all of you non-Black Girls, don't worry, we all have something to learn in this post!

If you are a Black Girl or happen to know a Black Girl, you will know that hair is, shall I say, a 'sensitive' issue. Let's be honest- for many of us, our hair plays a major role in how we feel about ourselves.

A Black Girl's Hair:

• Determines if we're going to get in the pool on a hot.as.hell.day, or not.
• Determines if we're going to get our exercise on, in fear that our hair-do will not last until our next salon appointment.
• Determines who and how we let someone touch us in fear that our hair might 'get messed up'.
• Determines our Friday and Saturday schedule. I mean we need to make our regularly scheduled, hours long salon appointments.
• Determines where we live. A good hair stylist is hard to find. Will you trust a stylist in D.C. the same way you trust your 13-year long relationship with your current stylist?
• Determines our nightly bedtime routine. Moisturize, comb, wrap, scarf, satin pillow...
• Determines how we feel about ourselves. Is it long enough? Straight enough? Styled just right? Is it the right texture? Will it behave today? I hope it doesn't rain, otherwise I'm in for a bad day. I hope it's not too hot, because I don't want to sweat out my style.

The list goes on.

I bet that if you're considering joining the Peace Corps (or living abroad), you've given pause to what you'll do with your hair. I'm sure that there are plenty of other Black Girls who wouldn't even consider joining or considered PC, but the well-being (etc) of their hair was was found to be too great of a barrier.

Don't worry, I too had this internal discussion! I knew that, first thing out of college, come hell or high water, I was going to join the Peace Corps...so I needed to make a plan for the queen's crown! My vision of my PC experience was to be in the middle of the bush somewhere and figured that I'd look pretty crazy searching high and low for a box of PCJ (little did I know that, even in that 'bush' experience I'd been dreaming of, a home perm kit or salon is never out of reach). Mind you, I was also a budding womanist and figured that I needed to get in touch with my ruuts (roots)! When I finally came to a conclusion, I was in Cape Town, South Africa attending a summer-long human rights program and in serious need of a touch-up. It was going to be now or never...so I did the best I could and threw a French braid at my mane. That summer, my new friends grew to hate the French braid. So did I. It wasn't until just after my Senior pictures that I cut the permed ends off of my hair and became fully "natural". Oh My! And the funny thing is that I didn't end up joining PC until three years later!

Black Girls...I should have probably prefaced my story by saying that this was my journey, and mine alone. Doing the 'natural' thing has served me well...10 years strong. But Black Girl, don't despair if you can't imagine giving up your luscious locs. During my time in PC, I served with Black ladies who had locs, perms, presses, home cuts (me), beauty shop do's, shaved heads, braids, twist outs, and everything in between. So fret none (yes, very country, I know!). Your hair does not have to stand in your way from you too living your Peace Corps dreams!

That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

From one Black Queen to another...

Yours Truly,

Dani

Staying connected to home while living abroad

Hello Dear Reader,

I hope that this blog post finds you well!

When I served in the Peace Corps from 2006 to 2008, staying connected with my friends and family back home was, well let's just say...expensive! If I wanted to communicate with my friends and family back home, I could 1) write an email if and when the internet was on its best behavior; 2) do what we in Southern Africa call a 'missed call', meaning let the phone ring a couple of times so caller ID would register your number, and hang up before anyone on the other side picked up or 3) Hope that someone on the other side would pick up the home sickness in the atmosphere and like you enough to call. Back then, I knew nothing about Skype and the internet speed wasn't fast enough to have reliable access to AOL instant messenger or gchat. Sad face.

During my service, I relied very heavily on option #2- the missed call. The challenge with this option was that my parents were often the only ones who could afford to call me back on a regular basis. As a result, my parents learned more about my personal and work life than they probably would have otherwise...boyfriend problems and all.

When I accepted my position in Lesotho, my parents were not too thrilled at the thought of gazillion dollar monthly phone bills (+/- $800/month) for the duration of my employment. Luckily, somehow, Skype came into my life...the single greatest invention for improving the quality of life for expats, only second to SOS insurance!

Ahh Skype! I (heart) Skype! With Skype, combined with 'fast and reliable' internet access, I'm able to keep up with everyone. I not only have the program, but a US number that people without Skype can contact me on (i.e. grandparents, my bank when I have fraud alerts on my accounts after using it in some random country, etc.), Skype calls forwarded to my Lesotho cell phone, group video chats, and low cost international calling rates when my fiance is on site visits and away from his...Skype! No, I'm not getting paid by Skype, don't worry. It's just that Skype has revolutionized my life abroad...don't even get me started on Facebook (although I think it's the devil!)!

Speaking of the Devil (not FB), but my dad is actually calling me right now. Hold please....

No fathers were harmed in the taking of this Skype screen shot

As you can see, Skype just allowed me to have a brief conversation with my daddy-o for a quick hello...and to tell him about my up-coming trips to Ethiopia and the US of A! Awesome, huh?!

I told him that he'd be making a guest appearance on my lil' ole RPCV blog, specifically talking about how the addition of Skype in our lives has allowed both them and me to be more comfortable with their only daughter living abroad and away from home for extended periods of time. He also wanted me to highlight the fact that, Skype is free, thus eliminating the need to keep calls to me as a line item on his budget!

On another note, with the advent of FB, smart phones, and inexpensive internet service on cellphones, currently serving PCVs are also able to afford to and are able to keep up with friends and family back home! For instance, PCVs in Lesotho, some of whom are so remote that, in order to get cellphone reception have to walk up the tallest hill, can even keep in touch on the regular! (P.S. That's something you can tell your 'nay-saying' parents when they bring that up as a reason why you should not serve in the Peace Corps.)

Oops...I need to cut this blog post short, I see that my BFF (an RPCV- South Africa) currently living in South Sudan just popped on Skype...gotta run!!!

Gchat with you later!

Dani