Transition Conference

The transition conference in Rabat was held over the course of one work week. In that week we had to...

• Process being ripped from our homes, friends, pets, and work.
• Process the eventual goodbyes as we would part from Peace Corps staff and fellow volunteers.
• Medical Clearance: physical exam, TB test, three stool/one urine/two blood samples, mental health exam, and dental for some.
• Paperwork: Administrative/Money stuff; health insurance; settling any in-country debt; personal “tell your story” stuff; description of our site in Niger for future volunteers; site close-out for Niger staff; what should PC do with the stuff you left behind
• Description of Service: only record PC keeps of your service and what you did (essentially the official narrative of my work in Niger should employers wish to see it)
• Sessions: Exit interviews with Country Director; Readjustment to life in America; Resumes and Networking
• Explore Rabat and purchase warmer clothing (CLOSED TOED SHOES!)
• Figure out a Plan A, Plan B, Plan C, and possibly Plan F for FML nothing is going right.
• Future options based on your time in Niger:
• 1.5 years in Niger [ME]: Direct transfer pending availability/medical clearance/being an acceptable candidate; go home and re-enroll for another two years; Peace Corps Response; Done with Peace Corps with full RPCV benefits.
• 6 months in Niger: Direct transfer pending availability/medical clearance/being an acceptable candidate; go home and re-enroll for another two years; done with Peace Corps with partial RPCV benefits.
• 3 months in Niger: Get directly transferred into a new program leaving between Feb-Apr for a full two years; direct transfer pending availability/medical clearance/being an acceptable candidate; done with Peace Corps with partial or no RPCV benefits (I didn’t pay attention to their status really).

Very few people knew they wanted to go straight home after the conference. Most of us wanted very much to continue directly with our Peace Corps service…we were all committed for two full years and wanted to serve! None of the continuation options were available until Wednesday of the conference, a short list of acceptable applicants was posted Thursday morning and final direct transfers were posted Friday. Many hopes and dreams were dashed in the span of 72 hours, emotions ran high and mistakes were made. By Tuesday, I had already decided that the direct transfer option was not for me as they required a minimum of a full year commitment. I was not prepared to put off my masters program for another year! I desperately contacted Peace Corps Response about a few positions for which I thought I qualified. By Thursday I had an interview done, and looked forward to decompressing from the stressful week, flying back to America and waiting to hear about the Response position.

I arrived home Tuesday, January 25th and the next day received an invitation to serve in Tonga for six months starting late February.