The house in which I live in Mackinaw City. Dick Moehl hosts us.
St. Helena Light Station, on an island in the Straits of Mackinac, where I have volunteered for the last 8 summers. I am with my friend, Pan Godchaux.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Phase One--Mackinaw City
One problem with going into the Peace Corps as an adult is what to do with your home. Luckily my son-in law was accepted to Law School in the Detroit area. His studies will be three years. My stint in the Peace Corps, which begins on Feb. 19, 2008 is 2 years and 3 months. The timing is about right. So my daughter, Emily and her husband, Noel Villajuan moved into my house in August of 2008. That same month, Noel began Law School.
I moved out of my house when he started school and moved up to Mackinaw City where I am living and volunteering with the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. I am trading my volunteerism for a roof over my head. I go down to the Birmingham area at least once a month to finish up previous Board responsibilities I have and will be there for the Christmas holidays.
Coming to Mackinaw City allowed Emily and Noel to settle in while I was still in the country and they could ask plenty of household type questions. During this time, I waited to hear from the Peace Corps as to my assignment. In mid October I was informed I will be posted in Romania working with schools, local governments and/or NGOs in the environmental area.
I go for 10 weeks of training in the country on Feb. 19. During this training, my language skills will be assessed and I will then be given a post where I will live for the next two years. Romania has applied for EU status and is going through the process. Their EU survey showed they were weak in the area of the environment, much due to rapid industrialization under Communism.
I will probably have electricity and internet use. There will probably not be central heating and I might not have running water. As they say, you might have TV, but no running water. Even though the size of Romania is about the size of Oregon, it takes 12 hours by train to go from one side to the other of this country. Transportation is reliable, but fairly slow.
Living in Mackinaw City has allowed me to to try out my long underwear, hats, coats, mittens, etc. to make sure they can handle the cold weather. Parts of Romania are like Michigan and other parts are closer in climate to Minnesota--cold winters, hot summers and nice falls and autumns. The winds in Mackinaw City coming off the Straits are similar to the Siberian winds to the north in Romania.
I will be posting at least monthly except for training time. I may not have time to access the internet for 10 weeks from Feb. 19 to May 2. Since I will not have time to communicate with everyone individually, this is the best way I can keep all of you informed. Please stay on the ride with me through this adventure. I will love to hear your thoughts and hear what is going on in your lives. Susie
I moved out of my house when he started school and moved up to Mackinaw City where I am living and volunteering with the Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association. I am trading my volunteerism for a roof over my head. I go down to the Birmingham area at least once a month to finish up previous Board responsibilities I have and will be there for the Christmas holidays.
Coming to Mackinaw City allowed Emily and Noel to settle in while I was still in the country and they could ask plenty of household type questions. During this time, I waited to hear from the Peace Corps as to my assignment. In mid October I was informed I will be posted in Romania working with schools, local governments and/or NGOs in the environmental area.
I go for 10 weeks of training in the country on Feb. 19. During this training, my language skills will be assessed and I will then be given a post where I will live for the next two years. Romania has applied for EU status and is going through the process. Their EU survey showed they were weak in the area of the environment, much due to rapid industrialization under Communism.
I will probably have electricity and internet use. There will probably not be central heating and I might not have running water. As they say, you might have TV, but no running water. Even though the size of Romania is about the size of Oregon, it takes 12 hours by train to go from one side to the other of this country. Transportation is reliable, but fairly slow.
Living in Mackinaw City has allowed me to to try out my long underwear, hats, coats, mittens, etc. to make sure they can handle the cold weather. Parts of Romania are like Michigan and other parts are closer in climate to Minnesota--cold winters, hot summers and nice falls and autumns. The winds in Mackinaw City coming off the Straits are similar to the Siberian winds to the north in Romania.
I will be posting at least monthly except for training time. I may not have time to access the internet for 10 weeks from Feb. 19 to May 2. Since I will not have time to communicate with everyone individually, this is the best way I can keep all of you informed. Please stay on the ride with me through this adventure. I will love to hear your thoughts and hear what is going on in your lives. Susie
Susan Safford and Peace Corps Experiences
The Icebreaker Mackinaw where I was a docent for the fall. Dick Moehl, President of Great Lakes Lighthouse Keeper Association is with me.
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