Peace Corps Mongolia

November 2008

Monthly Memo
Everythings Relative
I was walking to work last week; the temperature was -4 degrees Celsius. The ground was covered by a thin layer of snow and the sidewalks and roads were icy. As I walked, I remember thinking that it will soon be winter and Ill need to break out my winter coat, hats, gloves and long underwear. The walk took about 30 minutes. I arrived comfortably at the Peace Corps office and suddenly realized that last year, these same conditions would have had me in a woolen cap, insulated gloves, and a much heavier coat. It amused me to realize that this year I thought winter was on its way while at almost any other point in my life, these same conditions would have marked the dead of winter and quite possibly the coldest day of the year. However, when you know the temperature is still going to drop another 25 to 30 degrees C., -4 hardly seems like winter. Its all relative. I know that at your sites, you experience this in many other ways everyday. Think about some of the concepts that have changed for you relative to your situation in Mongolia. The one that PCVs all over the world tend to change first is their concept of whats clean and whats dirty, from clothes to hair. And how about your definition of lean meat? Does it now mean pretty much anything thats less than 50% fat? And then theres a good road, a well stocked store, being on time, or a fast internet connection. You probably dont think about any of these things the same way you would in the US. Its all relative. For many Volunteers, the hardest adjustment to make is work related, especially during their first year. You get frustrated when people say they will do something and then they dont or they agree to meet you and dont show up. Additional frustrations may result from a feeling that you are making no progress students dont seem to be learning, nobody knows quite what to do with you; they agree that your project ideas are good but no one seems willing to work with you on them. Well, just as youve developed a whole different concept of mass transit, you may also need to redefine your understanding of progress at work. It may come slower than you could have possibly imagined and in ways that you least expected. You may have to learn a lot more about your community and how things work in order to get them to work with you on projects. And you may need to redefine what it means when someone doesnt show up for a OPERATIONS____________ meeting. But as long as youre persistent and willing to learn how things work CD 1 in a Mongolian context, you will see progress and you may have left a little ADMIN 2 American work ethic behind as a result of leading by example. It may not PCVLs 6 be the level of progress that you would have expected for two years effort back home, but then, its all relative. MEDICAL 3-5 Stay healthy and safe. Jim
PROGRAMMING & TRAINING SAFETY & SECURITY 4-8 8-9

SUPPLEMENTS___________
VAC PEER SUPPORT TIP HIV/AIDS A VARIETY OF INFO NEWS 10 10 12 11 13 14

Medical emergencies - 24 hours a day Duty officer cell phone number Country Director cell phone number PTO cell phone number Out of Site Peace Corps office number

9907-2322 9901-6277 9901-7358 9901-3856 311628 311518 / Fax 311520

LISTS__________________
CONTACT ATT

FORMS_________________
Leave Request Language Reimbursement ATT ATT

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Thanksgiving Etiquette
On Saturday, November 29, Peace Corps staff will be hosting a Thanksgiving celebration in the Community Room at Star Apartments in UB from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. While staff will provide some soft drinks, Volunteers who want anything stronger will have to bring their own. However, I would like to remind any PCV who chooses to drink alcoholic beverages at this event that others present at this celebration will be US Embassy staff (including the Ambassador) and their families, and PC local staff and their families. While we want you to have a good time, please behave in a mature and responsible manner that will reflect well on all of you as Peace Corps Volunteers. While most of the PCVs at last years Thanksgiving did just this, there were 2 or 3 who drank to excess and did not behave appropriately. Thanks for your cooperation.

Security Reminder This is a reminder to all PCVs to be hyper-alert and aware of your surroundings especially if you are going to be in UB. The Regional Security Officer from the US Embassy has reported that street crime continues to rise. He recently met with representatives from other foreign missions and organizations who have reported similar findings. In addition to the customary pocket picking and bag slashing, the latest trend seems to be the grab and run. Likely targets are cell phones, cameras, i-pods, and shopping bags. This can happen in any part of the city and at any time of day. One recent incident involved a shopping bag that was grabbed off the counter as the customer was standing there paying for the contents. There are security guards at most large stores but remember that they are there to protect the store, not the customers. So please be careful, secure your belongings and be aware of your surroundings at all times. Also, last week there were two more unprovoked attacks on foreigners in UB. These occurred after dark (which now starts about 6:00 PM) and the motive was not robbery. Please be careful, spend as little time as possible on the streets of UB after dark and dont be alone.

Admin
Do you know what Administration means in the context of Peace Corps Mongolia? I expect you know it includes accounting and budgeting. Those are the tasks we perform that are most visible to Volunteers. Money is certainly important to our organization just as it is in any organization, but it isnt the only aspect of Administration. Basically Administration is the business function of Peace Corps. That means we manage facilities, property, supplies, vehicles, office security, procurement, negotiations and contracting, IT systems, IT security, human resources management, cash management, bank management, accounts payable, accounts receivable, timekeeping and payroll, budget management, financial project management, administrative volunteer support and liaison with PC/Washington, records management, reception, Volunteer & Staff travel planning and management and general transport planning and management. I probably left out a few management items but that gives you an idea of the broad scope of Administration. Every single one of these tasks has one ultimate purpose support to and for Peace Corps Mongolia Volunteers. There is nothing in our budget or on our to-do lists that doesnt focus on that one ultimate purpose. And perhaps more importantly, that is what we want our purpose to be. Because Admin is a business function it may not appear that we see this as our purpose but we definitely do and we do it happily. We wish you all an enjoyable Thanksgiving no matter where you may be. We are thankful that youve chosen to help the people of Mongolia. Important Admin Notices All tutoring, medical or misc. reimbursement receipts with dates prior to October 1 must be provided to Admin by December 1. Fiscal Year 2008 funding will no longer be available after December 1. Any submittals after December 1 should not expect reimbursement. All travel claims for travel through November 30 must be provided to Admin by January 1. Any submittals after January 1 should not expect reimbursement. The standard policy is that all claims for reimbursement be made within 30 days of incurring the expense (30 days from the date on the invoice). Administration is required to process expenses in a timely manner. You should not expect reimbursement for old expenses as there is no guarantee funds will be available. We are currently processing the quarterly rent allowance. For those Volunteers who have a rent agreement where you are responsible for rent, the funds will be deposited to your account sometime the week of November 17th. This rent payment is for the quarter Dec 1 Feb 28. In addition, most of you also have an adjustment amount for Nov 20 30. You will make a rent payment for 10 days in November, PLUS the quarterly period Dec 1 Feb 28. A few of you have other types of adjustments. In all cases we made adjustments so everyone would be provided rent allowance through Feb 28.

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Admin

Going forward all rent allowance will be provided on a quarterly basis for 3 full calendar months. Mar 1 May 31; Jun 1 Aug 31; Sept 1 Nov 30 You will receive the quarterly rent allowance along with your living allowance of the first month of the quarter, e.g. Mar, June

Medical
November Medical News
The Influenza vaccine is herea mixed blessing from all the rumblings we have been hearing! Here is the story as we know it from years gone by. The Influenza vaccine has always been offered as an optional immunization for many years to Peace Corps Volunteers. No pressureonly if requested by the Volunteer. Then came the dreaded Bird flu information and epidemic warnings. Washington then decided to make the vaccine mandatory so if, IF, anyone came down with flu like symptoms it could be fairly well understood it wasnt the regular fluit could be Bird Influenza! The first year of mandatory influenza vaccinations were difficult for the Volunteers and medical alike. No one wanted to be pressured to take the flu shot. So, to make it easier to takeeveryone was given the shot during any gathering of Volunteerseither an IST or during a Holiday get together such as Thanksgiving or Christmas. As a last resort the trip into the medical office was paid for by us and considered a free ride into town for the vaccine. Now, Washington has us back to the former option since the threat of endemic Bird flu has not materialized. It is no longer mandatory, therefore we cannot pay for a trip into the office just for the shot. We will have the vaccine available for anyone who shows up and requests the flu shot, but we cannot subsidize the trip. For the M-19s the Influenza vaccine will be offered during the ISTs along with the mandated Hepatitis A and B final shots in the series. All of the M-18 immunizations have been completed, so anyone wanting the flu shot will have to come in on their dime. Sorry. The medical office first heard about the Influenza information at the end of June through an email from OMS in Washington. I shared this information with the M-19s at the PST when we talked about the mandatory vs optional vaccinesthe 'flu shot being the one of two options, and at the same time also talked openly about the non-mandatory Influenza vaccine at the time to anyone who asked. I know I was just thinking how nice it was not to have the big "shot clinic" like we did last year on the Friday after Thanksgiving. It was never a "secret" or suppressed information, therefore I was very surprised to hear at the VAC meeting that the rest of the senior staff did not know about this memo. I know Paul and I never really thought about the ramifications in the budget for the M18s since we think "medical"; we were just glad not to have to worry about all those shots. I wrote this Addendum because I do not think it fair to criticize staff for something they knew nothing about until the VAC meeting. I had no idea they were not aware of this information. Budgeting for travel for Volunteers is not in our "mind set" so the travel costs just did not come up in any conversations. We are sorry for any of this confusion. I have written to Washington to request a policy change specifically for Mongolia, but they declined the request. (It was worth a try.)

Here is some information I picked up from my email this week. It is copied from REI, a well known clothier and sportswear source; the information is welcome in this cold climate.
Layering your clothing is a tried-and-true way to ensure your comfort in the outdoors. The beauty of this simple concept is that it allows you to make quick adjustments based on your activity level and changes in the weather. Quick Read Each layer has a function: the innermost layer (against your skin) manages moisture; the middle layer insulates you from the cold; the outer layer shields you from wind and precipitation.

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Your choices in an outer layer range from high-performance waterproof/breathable shell to a basic water-resistant wind jacket. As a layering alternative, soft-shell outerwear, insulated shells and windproof fleece jackets offer characteristics of two or more layers in one garment.

Your Base Layer: Moisture Management

This is your next-to-skin layer. More than any other layer, the base layer helps regulate your body temperature. If you've ever worn a cotton Tshirt under your raincoat while you hiked, you probably remember feeling wet and clammy, even though you weren't getting wet from the rain itself. Trapped inside your clothing, perspiration can leave you chilled or damp, no matter how well your outer shell fends off rain and snow. Cotton is an example of a fabric that retains perspiration and can leave you vulnerable to unwanted chills. If you're active, your next-to-skin layer should be materials such as silk, wool or synthetic fabrics such as REI MTS, Patagonia Capilene, Polartec PowerDry and CoolMax polyester. Rather than absorbing moisture, these fabrics transport (or "wick") perspiration away from your skin, dispersing it on the outer surface, where it can evaporate. The result: You stay drier even when you sweat, and your shirt dries faster afterwards. Examples: Keeping dry is important for maintaining a cool body temperature in the summer and avoiding hypothermia in the winter. Base layers can be anything from briefs and sports bras to long underwear sets (tops and bottoms) to tights and sport shirts. Thermal underwear is available in light-, mid- and expedition-weights. You can select the right weight to match your activity and the temperature. Some base-layer garments are designed to fit snugly for better performance, range of motion and easier layering. For hot weather, the wicking layer often consists of a loose fitting, mesh garment.

Your Middle Layer: Insulation

The insulating layer helps you retain heat by trapping air close to your body. Polyester fleece vests, jackets and tights are classic examples of insulation ideal for outdoor activities. They not only trap air but are also made with moisture-wicking fibers to help keep you dry. Natural fibers such as wool and goose down are excellent insulators. Wool sweaters and shirts (especially the new generation of merino wool products) offer soft, reliable warmth and keep on insulating even when wet. For very cold and dry conditions, goose down is still an excellent choice. It offers an unbeatable warmth-to-weight ratio and is highly compressible. Down's one drawback is that it must be kept dry to maintain its insulating ability. Classic fleece such as Polartec 100, 200 or Thermal Pro polyester and synthetic insulations such as Thinsulate provides warmth for a variety of conditions. These are popular insulators because they're lightweight, breathable and insulate even when wet. They also dry faster and have a higher warmth-to-weight ratio than even wool. Classic fleece's main drawbacks are wind permeability and bulk (it's less compressible than other fabrics). Like thermal underwear, fleece garments are available in 3 weights for different uses: Lightweight for aerobic activity or mild climate Midweight for moderate activity or climate Expedition-weight for low activity or cold climate Examples For high-energy activities such as cross-country skiing, biking or running, choose lighter-weight fleece to avoid overheating. Tights or tops made of Polartec 100 or Polartec PowerDry are excellent for this. For very cold conditions, try thicker fleece such as Polartec 200 or 300. Wind fleece such as Polartec Wind Pro polyester or Gore WindStopper adds a high level of wind resistance to fleece. It accomplishes this via a hidden membrane that does not affect breathability or the other things we love most about fleece.

Your Shell Layer: Weather Protection

The shell (outer) layer protects you from wind, rain or snow. Shells range from pricey mountaineering jackets to simple windproof jackets, but most are designed to block precipitation and hold in your body heat while allowing water vapor to escape. This is an important piece when you're active, because if wind and water are allowed to penetrate to your inner layers, you begin to cool off. Furthermore, without proper ventilation, perspiration can't evaporate but instead condenses on the inside of your shell. Fit is another consideration. Your shell layer should be roomy enough to fit easily over other layers and not restrict your movement. Shells can be lumped into the following categories: Waterproof/Breathable ShellsThese are usually the most functional (and more expensive) choices. They'll keep you comfortable in any weather, and are especially suited to wet, cold climates and alpine activities. Fabrics (usually a laminated membrane or sometimes a fabric coating) include Gore-Tex, REI Elements and a wide variety of other branded choices. These shells are categorized by REI as rainwear, which emphasizes low weight and packability, or mountaineering wear, which is more abrasion-resistant and has additional features. Water-Resistant/Breathable ShellsThese are best for mild weather, light precipitation and high activity levels. They're usually made of tightly woven fabrics (such as mini ripstop nylon) that block the wind and treated with a Durable Water Repellent outer finish to make water bead and roll off. Soft ShellsWhile many offer good wind and rain resistance, soft shells emphasize breathability. They are usually designed to offer both shell and insulative properties, so they in effect combine two layers into one. Most feature stretch fabric or fabric panels for added comfort during

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Medical
aerobic activities. As this category has grown in popularity, styles have become specialized by season, so you'll now find cold- and mild-weather options. Waterproof/Non-BreathableTypically made of a durable, polyurethane-coated nylon, which is water- and windproof, these economical shells are ideal for rainy days with light activity. Insulated ShellsSome outer shells have a layer of insulation built in, making them suitable for cold conditions, but not as versatile for layering in a variety of temperatures.

Mental Health update: Winter is certainly the time to keep busy and plan projects that can be done either alone or with others. The weather is not much fun here and the long nights and short days can lead to some sleeping problems or situational depression. We would like all of you to know we certainly know the winters are long and sometimes a break is needed from the routine if it is getting depressive or just plain not so much fun as usual. Call us. We may not have all the answers to assist you with your Mental Health problems, but we can at least talk it over and decide what needs to be implemented to make it less miserable. That is about it for this month. Stay warm, call us as needed, and remember, it is always OK to call us during the day just to say Hi and tell us how you are doing. We like to hear from you when you are healthy too! We have interviewed and hired a new (actually she was here for four years before Tunga) Medical Assistant. As soon as the paperwork and security items are completed, we will include an introduction in the next newsletter. This process will probably take a month or more before she can begin to catch up on the routine duties around here. I will be sure to save her some work so she will feel needed right away. Stay healthy! Lyn and Paul

Programming & Training

Cultural Theories and other random stuff
Over the last 6 months I have spent a lot of time and sneaker rubber tromping the mostly uncared for sidewalks (to even rest such a moniker on some of the dirt I scuffle across rings of illusions of grandeur) of UB between the PC office and my house in the SE. The route was chosen to make full use of the back alley and Apt. access paths that litter UB and thus avoid the most crowded and noisy streets and cut down walking time. The 35 minute walk gives me a lot of time to wake up in the morning, decompress in the evening and basically just think. Im already prone to hypothesize and ponder simplified theories of life, the world and everything in it and this walk is the perfect breeding ground of such whimsies. Indulge me as I spread one such musing here before you. Now, when I walk I tend towards the efficiency side of things. Like an urban orienteer, if I am crossing an open space like Sukhbaatar square, I fix my eye on the distant goal of my route and make a beeline for it, only diverting a little to give the red hero his respected berth. I also tend to follow the walk-like-you-drive right side rule. This makes for interesting games of chicken when I encounter a dogged left-sider. Usually, I spot a lefty fanatic early on and I gauge their commitment to the path. If I dont see a waver in the stride then I will flow over to my left and give them their way while they are still some meters distant. A pattern that I have seen repeated on these walks has been that people will sometimes occupy the middle of the sidewalk and not seem to notice, or care, when I am coming towards them until at the last minute they have to veer aside, pull back their shoulder, or just brush me. From my perspective, this is a slowly occurring collision that seems perfectly and easily avoidable at an early stage. I am not sure of the other perspective and so I can only theorize. My theories go something like this: The sparsely populated past of Mongolia has developed a culture that doesnt account for limited space and many people; or many Mongolians, like most people in predominantly rural societies are not future planners. OK. I realize that connecting not preemptively walking to avoid oncomers into not planning for the future is a stretch worthy of a yogi, but lets run with it. In reality, and many of you may already know this, that in their work, many of your co-workers have not been taught the value of planning. In our trainings involving counterparts or supervisors, the planning session is consistently rated one of the most useful. In the US, all of us are taught (and most of us learn by necessity) the value of planning during our college years, at the latest. The myriad of classes, tasks, and deadlines forces us into thinking ahead and prioritizing and we even have workshops on these themes. So whatever your technical skills may be, simply by understanding the value and methods of good planning you have a precious gift to share with your co-workers. Try it out, ask your co-workers if they are interested in a workshop on planning. Not only will it help them be more efficient and effective, it will certainly help you in your work with them. It will ease some of those frustrations that can emerge when our Western future-focused culture meets a more present-focused environment. I look forward to seeing many of you at the thanksgiving celebration or the upcoming IST. But in case I dont get to wish it to you personally, Happy Thanksgiving! - Your Neighborhood PTO

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PCVLs
Hi everyone, This is Maureen, checking in from the huduu. These last few days of autumn have been putting me in a reflective mood, so I apologize for the following cheesy ponderings. After living out of a suitcase for almost three months, I finally moved into my new ger yesterday. As I was unpacking and arrangining the furniture, I got that warm feeling of being home. It was strange; while I was in Mongolia, I referred to America as home. Thats where my family and cheeseburgers are. Yet while I was in America for six weeks (eating seafood, drinking beer with flavor, using more than one appliance at a time), I found myself referring to Mongolia as home, much to the dismay of my mom. Its hard to pinpoint when Mongolia becomes home to us. I remember being in UB after IST my first year, and missing my home in Arvaiheer. But its hard to recall when I started thinking Mongolia is more my home than my motherland. I think for most people its a gradual transition, rather than a defining moment. What makes a home? Some say home is where the heart is, others home is where you hang your hat. Whatever the answer is, were here in Mongolia for over two years, and I say home is more of a feeling than a place. Unpack your bags. Make your home your personal space, not just a place youre staying for two years. Spend a little time and money redecorating your ger or room. It doesnt take much to add a few personal accents, but it makes a big difference. In the bigger picture, make Mongolia home. Yes, were here to help our agency and community develop. But goal number 2 is pretty important, too. Try to get to know the local delguur owners, the jijuur at your work, those annoying little hi kids that can be so cute sometimes- not just the people you have a reason to talk to. Give them a chance to form a deeper picture of you, and learn more about them. These are the opportunities where each of us can become a normal person, rather than an oddity, some gadaad hun thats living in their town for a while, eating strange things and acting all funny. I think getting to know the locals better is what helps me to think of Mongolia as home. M19s, I hope you are all settling in well, getting used to your new towns and work. M18s, I hope you are having a good second year, learning from last years mistakes and feeling productive. M17s, you are most likely either happy to be recently returned from the states, or salivating at the thought of your upcoming trip. If any of you are having any issues with life or work, want to check out the validity of some rumor you heard, or just want to chat for any reason, Dylan or I would love to talk (as Im sure Luke will when he returns ). I have a new Peace Corps business cell phone number- 9907-0449. Ill keep my old number (9932-9904) for personal use. Take care, Maureen

Programming & Training TeamTraining

Greetings from the Training Unit. ? It is nice to hear from programmers that you are doing well at your sites especially in your language and cultural learning. The Training Unit are taking their leave in the fall to get new full energy for the next training after PST which makes them busy and hardworking. We have already started working on preparation of M19 IST. Id like to give you some information about Mongolian holidays just for your interest. Almost each month starting November Mongolians celebrate holidays and special days and they spend a lot of time on their preparation and activities for them. November 26 December /second Sunday December 31 and Jan 1 February/ first Sunday January 13 February 25 March 8 March 18 - Independence Day - Financial workers and economists Day - New Years Day - Teachers Day - Constitution Day - Lunar New Year (The date may change according to the local Astrologers decision) - International Womans Day - Soldiers Day etc.

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June 1 July 11

- Mothers and Childrens Day - Naadam

One of the biggest upcoming holidays is the New Years Day. . This day people greet each other: / ! This holiday came from Russia. There is an Old Winter Man ( ), a snow girl ( ), animals () and Christmas tree ( ) at the New Year party. They give gifts to children and help everyone to find happiness as they welcome the coming year. New Year preparations involve not only food, decorating places, and new clothes but it is also a time for schools, government and non-government organizations and agencies, and companies to evaluate and assess their performance of the past year. They have parties. The moment of greeting the New Year and saying farewell to the old year is very exciting. All family members are at home together at midnight on December 31 and they usually open of a bottle of champagne and share a toast, wishing everyone the best for the new upcoming year. Ganaa.

Programming & Training TeamTEFL

Dear PCVs, The TEFL team has finished this year's spring site visit recently. Bayar, APCD-Govisumber, Dundgovi and Dornogovi Jargal-Khentii, Dornod and Sukhbaatar Bolor-Darkhan, Selenge and Erdenet We visited all the PCVs in above mentioned places and are happy to see that all of you are doing well and specially new ones are adjusting into their communities well. Supervisors faction with PCVs performance and are enthusiastic to do more work PCVs.

and counterparts expressed their satis-

As all of you know, IST is coming soon in December 16-19. Unfortunately, this year we are having 2 separate ISTs for TEFLer and NonTEFLers, which means you won't have chance to meet other sector PCVs and enjoy time together. TEFL sessions will be designed based on your needs and interests expressed on your questionnaire. PCV trainers will be your beloved and most experienced trainers:

Andy Cullen Peter Gerlach If you have any other questions about IST sessions and some logistical questions such as travel and Maureen Scanlin per diem, you can contact training team or PCVCs. Luke Meinzen Dylan Bosch On Oct 31 we submitted Project Status Report to Washington after we have finished compiling all pro- PC TEFL team gress reports that you guys sent to us. We are very satisfied with the results and outcomes that PCVs have done previous year. Here is the result about how many people we, PCVs, worked with. This is may be a small number comparing to the total population of Mongolia but it is a huge number for PCVs who are working in Mongolia.
Number of individuals and service providers assisted Number of organizations and communities assisted Assisted Number Men Individuals 416 Service providers 90 Women 938 686 Boys Girls under Organizations Communities under 25 25 4531 6231 88 30

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Programming & Training TeamTEFL

Thank you all of you for what you have done. That is almost all for the TEFL team. But we would like to share some information about projects that are done by PCVs successfully. M18 PCVs Julie Moulton and Kevin Johnston are working on English song CD now and planning to finish and distribute the CDs during IST to M19 TEFL PCVs. The CD will contain children's camp songs and the handbook with lyrics will be printed out as well. We are very thankful to them for their contribution to English teaching and learning resources in Mongolia. This will be a great resource for PCVs and encourage PCVs to use songs for teaching English to students. And you will have less classroom management. Take care, TEFL team.

Programming & Training TeamCYD

CYD is silent this month.

Programming & Training TeamCED

As is CED.

Programming & Training TeamHealth

Arkhangai PCVs recently put on an English Games Competition in Tsetserleg. The seven teams in attendance competed in Scrabble, Taboo, Pictionary and Boggle. The competition was very successful and by the teamwork of all the PCVs in the aimag, schools and students who dont have a volunteer were able to participate. Find attached to the memo a detailed account of what happened at the competition, directions for each game and files that will help you create Scrabble and Taboo games. Useful for TEFLers and Non-TEFLers alike. Thanks to Zaneta, Emily, Christy, Ashlee, Greg and Jeff for their hard work and motivation.

Safety and Security

Hi everyone, Are you enjoying your winter life? It is not real winter time yet. J Maybe it will start in December. Financial Assistant Zamilan & I just came back from the Philippines. The weather was very hot and humid. For the first time in my life, I saw the ocean, islands and ate seafood such as crawfish and shrimp. I liked the trees and green nature. I stayed there for a week and worked with fellow SSC John Borja. He is a very experienced SSC, so it was very helpful, experiential learning for me. On the first day, we talked about our daily work, common incidents in both posts and its mitigation, and opinions. The next day we flew to the beautiful island Busuanga, Palawan by local airplane for an hour, drove by mikr for 2 hours, and then arrived at the small town which was called Salvacion because one Volunteer had a safety-related issue there. I had a chance to observe how to solve the problem. We stayed there 2.5 days. Regional Manager Carmen, SSC John and I worked with a PCV who lives in the isolated island with no other PCVs. She is popular in her town and everyone knows her and greets her on the street. She is in her second year in the health sector and has fluent local language. I was proud of her. The last day, we talked about S&S sessions and other matters. We spent such a wonderful & unforgettable time with the PC Philippines staff. Some Safety Advice: Winter time is coming, so heres some advice about safety -

Roads will be icy and more dangerous for traveling, so limit your traveling. In the last 6 months, even without icy roads,

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Safety and Security

there were several big intercity transportation accidents on the paved roads. Over 15 people died and some were badly injured. It is getting dark earlier, just after 5 or 6, and it is unsafe walking on the dark streets. Some people use this situation to attack or rob people. In October, three PCVs were victims of incidents, two thefts and one robbery. Always be careful and dont lose your common sense. The Police reported that the number of crimes in UB have been increasing since September, especially robbery, pick-pocketing, and aggravated assault. Be careful, especially when you are in UB. Always be aware of your surroundings and keep in mind the three As.

Try to avoid night travel

About pets Dogs can be your best friend and good guard for you. They can protect you from strangers any time even during night, but if you want to keep pets (dog, cat) at your home especially in your apartments you need to do it properly You have to have permission from your land lord first (see housing agreement) You need to take your pet to the veterinarian for tests, shots, vaccines, and a passport for your pet. Every month you are required to pay a tax for your pet. Check with your supervisor and landlord. I think you know better than me how to train your pets like a person from the beginning. (How to use toilet, how to protect your furniture from them, etc). If your pets are trained well, it will be easier for you to take care of them. In addition: Most Mongolian landlords do not like pets in their apartments, because they often believe that they will go to the bathroom everywhere and make it dirty.

About locks If you feel uncomfortable that your land lord enters your home without asking/knocking whether you are in or out, you need to ask them to give you all extra keys, or change your lock When you go out and come in always lock your door. Do not open your door without knowing who is there. Especially during the night, do not open your door. Make good friends with your khashaa family or your neighbors and take their phone numbers. If someone knocks on your door at night and makes trouble at your home, call them and they will quickly help you when you are in a difficult/unsafe situation because they live very close to you and can come immediately. Police may take longer. I just want you to understand the real situation about our police here.

About fire safety: Dont plug many things in one outlet or extension cord. It will be dangerous and may start fires. Do not plug many high wattage appliances together such as oven, electric heater, iron, and washing machines. If the cable of the extension cord becomes hot, unplug all things immediately If your outlet was burnt, get a new one Always keep your fire extinguisher where you can get it quickly for emergencies. Again, if you dont have a fire extinguisher or it is expired, let me know!!! How to check your fire extinguisher The meter on the extinguisher should point to green. If it is has a sealing wax. It is difficult sometimes to see its seal. If you feel with your finger, there is a very slim wire on the handle on right side of the #1 Stay Safe and Secure!!! SSC, Naraa

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VAC
VAC members for 2008-2009 M18s: Brian Offenther, Julie Moulton, and Fahd Reyaz M19s: Travis Hellstrom, Patrick Hamilton, Darren Roth Alternates: Charlene Barina, Carina Wells, Zaneta Balentac, Elaine Law PCVLs: Maureen Scanlin, Luke Meinzen, Dylan Bosch VAC Mission: The Volunteer Advisory Committee ("VAC") serves as a liaison between PCVs and PC staff to address broad issues and concerns, including those specific to Peace Corps Mongolia and generally to Peace Corps worldwide. Additionally, both the VAC representatives and staff will work together to search for solutions and follow up on the issues addressed. VAC can also handle problems or issues on behalf of individual PCVs who do not feel comfortable doing so on their own.

Peer Support
As we approach America's holiday season, I wanted to share with you all a story that had an enormous impact on me when I first heard it 20 years ago, and continues to do so to this day. If you have never heard the song mentioned here in relation to the story, I'd be happy to play it for you some day. Even after singing it dozens of times, I still find it difficult to get through the song without crying from the power of its message. The Christmas Truce by David G. Stratman From his book We Can Change the World
It was December 25, 1914, only 5 months into World War I. German, British, and French soldiers, already sick and tired of the senseless killing, disobeyed their superiors and fraternized with "the enemy" along two-thirds of the Western Front (a crime punishable by death in times of war). German troops held Christmas trees up out of the trenches with signs, "Merry Christmas." Stefan Allen-Hickey 95292841 John Flynn 95292864 Travis Hellstrom 95292872 Dwan Adams 95742334 Emily Holekamp 95742346 Cady Sinnwell 95742373 Carina Wells 95742381 Lindsay Holmes 91192109 Leslie Chamberlain 95292854 Judy Gates 95292865 Darren Roth 95292895 Andy Cullen 99438893 Julie Moulton 95742363 Rachel Stonecipher 95742377 Amber Book 95836154

"You no shoot, we no shoot." Thousands of troops streamed across a no-man's land strewn with rotting corpses. They sang Christmas carols, exchanged photographs of loved ones back home, shared rations, played football, even roasted some pigs. Soldiers embraced men they had been trying to kill a few short hours before. They agreed to warn each other if the top brass forced them to fire their weapons, and to aim high. A shudder ran through the high command on either side. Here was disaster in the making: soldiers declaring their brotherhood with each other and refusing to fight. Generals on both sides declared this spontaneous peacemaking to be treasonous and subject to court martial. By March 1915 the fraternization movement had been eradicated and the killing machine put back in full operation. By the time of the armistice in 1918, fifteen million would be slaughtered. Not many people have heard the story of the Christmas Truce. On Christmas Day, 1988, a story in the Boston Globe mentioned that a local FM radio host played "Christmas in the Trenches," a ballad about the Christmas Truce, several times and was startled by the effect. The song became the most requested recording during the holidays in Boston on several FM stations. "Even more startling than the number of requests I get is the reaction to the ballad afterward by callers who hadn't heard it before," said the radio host. "They telephone me deeply moved, sometimes in tears, asking, `What the hell did I just hear?' " I think I know why the callers were in tears. The Christmas Truce story goes against most of what we have been taught about people. It gives us a glimpse of the world as we wish it could be and says, "This really happened once." It reminds us of those thoughts we keep hidden away, out of range of the TV and newspaper stories that tell us how trivial and mean human life is. It is like hearing that our deepest wishes really are true: the world really could be different.

I hope that all of you fellow PCV dreamers and doers can use this story to inspire you through this potentially homesick time. We all miss our family and friends terribly, but you will be home before you know it. In the meantime, keep those dreams of a better world working for you and all of those people in Mongolia lucky enough to know you. Happy Thanksgiving and anything else you celebrate at this time of year.

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HIV/AIDS
For this months HIV/AIDS section, here is an activity you can do to teach about the transmission of AIDS/HIV at your site.
Materials Needed: Cards or small pieces of paper (chits) half will read Your test result is positive. and half will read Your test result is negative. (There should be the same number of slips of paper as there are participants.)

Wildfire Activity

(40 minutes)

Note to Facilitator: Wildfire is a very powerful sensitizing activity; some participants may feel varying degrees of distress at being put in the role of an HIV positive person. This is a simulation for learning purposes and in no way implies or suggests anything about peoples real lives and HIV status. To permit the discussion of sensitive issues with complete trust, observers are not allowed. Those who do not wish to participate in the exercise should be given the opportunity to leave the room.
Everyone please stand up and listen carefully to the following instructions. I want all of you to form a circle. I am going to ask you to close your eyes. While your eyes are closed I will go around and shake each of your hands. While I am doing this I will scratch the palm of one persons hand. You can demonstrate how you will use your middle finger to scratch the palm of another persons hand while shaking hands. If I scratch your hand please do not giggle or make any indication that I scratched your hand. Its a secret. Are you ready? Please close your eyes and keep them closed until I tell you to open them. You will shake every participants hand but lightly scratch the hand of ONLY ONE participant. Make sure that no one else can identify who this person is. You may open your eyes. All of you should mingle around shaking hands with each other. The person whose hand I scratched should then scratch the hands of two other people. If your hand is scratched you should then scratch the hands of two people these dont necessarily have to be the next two people you shake hands with. Again, remember that if your hand is scratched its a secret, dont let anyone know. Some of you may have your hand scratched twice. If you have your hand scratched a second time, you should then scratch two more peoples hands. Give the participants a little time to mingle around and shake hands, not more than a couple of minutes. Lets all form a circle again. All of those whose hands were scratched please take a step forward and form an inner circle. All of you in the inner circle have been exposed to the HIV virus. Processing Questions: How do you feel having been exposed? What was your reaction when your palm was scratched? Those of you in the outer circle, how do you feel having not been exposed to the virus? For those of you who have been exposed, is there anything you would like to do at this point? What about going for an HIV test? What do you need to consider before having the test? Who would you tell the result to and how might they react? How would it feel to be negative? Positive? Would any of you, who have been exposed to HIV, like to be tested? Those who want to be tested should be given a slip of paper that shows either a positive or a negative result. For those of you who tested positive, how do you feel about your test results? For those of you who tested negative, how do you feel about your test results? Do all of you trust your test results? Do any of you want to be re-tested? (Adapted from 1st Caribbean HIV and Development Workshop, Facilitators Manual, UNDP) Discussion Questions: How does this exercise relate to risk of infection? Why did we do this exercise? What was the purpose? To create awareness of how quickly and silently the virus spreads To experience intimately the feelings and reactions of a person living with HIV as well as those of others who are not infected. To develop empathy for people who test positive. To understand the deep emotional rifts (and bonds) HIV can create between people. Conclude the session by discussing personal and social factors that may affect (positively or negatively) individuals decisions about testing. Note to Facilitator: Apart from your personal reflections and comments on participants contributions, here are some other observations you may add: The exercise shows that in a small community, one HIV infected person can possibly lead to the infection of a great many. The exercise shows that a relatively small number of infected persons can start an epidemic. Everyone who is sexually active is at risk -- not just promiscuous people. It is not just about whom I have sex with; it is also about whom he or she has sex with; and whom they (the partners of the partner) have sex with. All of us, including girls and women, girlfriends and wives, need to start taking active responsibility for our sexual health and sex life. Only children and persons who are raped may be considered innocent victims.

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Trafficking in Persons
TIP Task Force Information: TIP DVDs are back! We have 10 extra copies of the TIP DVD produced by the Asia Foundation, so if you're interested in the DVD for your TIP Seminar, please send me an e-mail at cady.sinnwell@gmail.com or text 95742373. I can send it out with the programmers doing site visits if you catch them in time. TIP in the Mongolian News: Human Trafficking Affects Mongolians at Home, Abroad Thursday, August 28, 2008 ACCORDING to information from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a Mongolian woman was found unconscious in the streets of the Istanbul, Turkish last week. She was a victim of a human trafficking and violence. Authorities believe that she currently suffers not only emotionally and physically, but also mentally, due to the trauma of her experiences. About ten Mongolian citizens went to Turkish in order to work for high salary under the auspices of a Mongolian labor-broker company on December, 2007. According to an interview with victims who escaped from Istanbul and fled to Ankara in order to seek help from the Mongolian Embassy there, however, at least some of these people have fallen victim to human traffickers after they were unable to find work in Istanbul. The escapees went to Moscow with the help of the Embassy and arrived back in Mongolia on August 13. The woman who was found unconscious has yet to return to Mongolia, but Embassy officials are currently working to send her home. In a related news item, US Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) released a statement saying they are working to combat human trafficking. The organization writes that PCVs and their Mongolian counterparts have raised awareness of the threat of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) to more than 1,800 at-risk Mongolians since this spring in seven aimags. At-risk Mongolians such as sex workers, orphans, and high school and university students have all learned of the risks associated with TIP during comprehensive trainings in seven aimags. Most trainings were co-planned and presented by a Peace Corps Volunteer and a Mongolian counterpart while others were solely presented by Mongolians, including high school students. "PCVs provide a valuable service by raising awareness about the dangers of TIP," US Ambassador Mark Minton said. "The information and training they give help at-risk Mongolians protect themselves." Presentations have been held this spring in Bayankhongor, Darkhan-Uul, Dorngov, Dornod, Khovd, Khuvsgul, and Tov aimags. "Being aware of trafficking dangers will make them safer and more vigilant," Peace Corps Volunteer Elizabeth Durkin said of the 40 sex workers who attended a March TIP and HIV/AIDS seminar co-hosted by Peace Corps, World Vision, and the Red Cross in Murun, Khuvsgul. "It was especially important to educate sex workers because almost all of them knew nothing about TIP and they are at high risk for being trafficked." Three PCVs partnered with Save the Children and the Global Leadership Foundation to organize a TIP training for outstanding eleventh grade students from each of Choibalsans eight secondary schools in March in Choibalsan, Dornod. "Although we are young, we are the future of Mongolia and have a responsibility to protect our peers, including our friends and families," according to T. Gerelmaa, an eleventh grade student at Secondary School #5 who participated in the event. "The lessons about trafficking that we learned at the seminar will help ensure the safety of ourselves and Mongolians from the dangers of human trafficking." Peace Corps Mongolia has been focusing on the threat of TIP in Mongolia since 2005 when Peace Corps Mongolia founded its Trafficking in Persons Task Force. There are currently 84 Peace Corps Volunteers working in 18 aimags.

A Variety of Information
In this aptly titled section, please find the following: 1. 2. 3. Giving thanks with Peace Corps Foreign Service Exam dates announced, almost Seeds!

1.

While we may be short on falling leaves and football games, the Peace Corps will, as per tradition, celebrate together on Saturday, Nov 29 at 2 pm. Everyone is welcome, with or without RSVP. Please come and join the staf

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and their families at the Star Apartments community center. Turkeys and some sodapop will be provided through the generosity of the staff. Everything else will be potluck by region. If you hail from out west, please bring a side. If youre from the central region, please bring deserts. Those from the east will please bring salads. Adult beverages are your responsibility, and please be responsible. Please also bring something to eat with, unless you dont mind using plastic. 2. 3. The Foreign Service Exam will be offered this February on either the 7th or 14th at the US Embassy. More details are to come for those interested. Obtaining Seeds for Your Project

Are you looking for seeds? Here is information on two seed sources projects have worked with in the past. Seed Programs Inc., SPI, is a non-profit, tax exempt, non-governmental humanitarian organization. From their web site: We work through other humanitarian organizations, church groups, service clubs and individual donors, to provide quality seed to impoverished communities in developing countries enabling them to grow some of their own food. In addition to seed, SPI provides critical seed expertise and experience operating seed based self help programs. [From: http://www.seedquest.org/spi/ ] SPI principally provides vegetable seed. Charge is minimal ($.17 per packet plus shipping). Posts would have to negotiate the customs. Please note: in most cases, vegetables grown with SPI seeds will not produce viable seeds themselves. This is a sustainability issue posts need to take into consideration when encouraging Volunteers to promote these seeds. For more information about SPI see: http://www.seedquest.org/spi ECHO: ECHO provides small quantities of seeds at no charge. This is a useful service for Volunteers who may not otherwise have access to agricultural or tree seeds. The amount of seeds distributed by ECHO is small and not appropriate for major or even midsize interventions. However, distributing seeds on this scale is useful for Volunteers who, along with their communities, have decided to experiment with new varieties or species. If successful, seeds can then be propagated from the source material provided by ECHO. ECHO provides small packets of seed with which to experiment from many species and varieties of under-utilized food plants which are likely to grow well under difficult growing conditions. It is expected that if the crop succeeds, recipients of seeds will save and multiply enough seeds for project needs. If larger quantities are needed, ECHO may be able to put people in contact with bulk suppliers or commercial companies. Network members may request, free of charge, one packet each of up to 10 varieties of seed. For more information on ordering seeds, go to: http://www.echotech.org/mambo/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=63&Itemid=106 And for more information on ECHO generally, go to: http://echonet.org/

News
Peace Corps Reopens Program in Liberia October 22, 2008 Peace Corps Response Volunteers Will Serve in Education and Health Washington, D.C., October 22, 2008 - Peace Corps is pleased to officially announce its return to Liberia. On Monday, October 27th, in a ceremony attended by Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter will swear in 12 new Volunteers to work on education and health projects. The ceremony will be held in Monrovia at the Liberian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will also be attended by United States Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Peace Corps Liberia Country Director Lucianne Phillips, Liberian Education Minster Joseph Korto, Liberian Health Minister Walter Gweningale, and World Food Program Representative Louis Imbleau. After an absence of nearly two decades, experienced Volunteers will be serving in the country through a program called Peace Corps Response, a unique Peace Corps program that mobilizes Returned Peace Corps Volunteers for short-term humanitarian service assignments worldwide. The Volunteers, ranging in age from 24 to 68, bring a variety of professional expertise and experience to their service in Liberia. Some Volunteers will be assigned to rural teacher training institutes where they will mentor administrators charged with revitalizing

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News

Liberia's teacher training infrastructure, while others will work with local libraries, parent teacher associations, local high schools, and health training programs. Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter said, "Liberia has faced great challenges and shown the world its strong spirit. I want to thank President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for welcoming the Peace Corps back to work with the Liberian people. We're proud to continue the American legacy of providing education Volunteers to Liberia, and to be able to contribute to the country's development efforts." Over 4,400 Peace Corps Volunteers served in Liberia from 1962 to 1990, until the program was suspended due to the Liberian civil war. With the country enjoying a new period of stability and at the request of President Sirleaf, the Peace Corps has reestablished a program in Liberia. President Sirleaf said in her request, "Such short-term projects aimed at raising the capacities and capabilities of Liberian teachers would have a profound impact upon civil society as a whole." The first group of Volunteers will serve for eight months and will close out their service in June, 2009. By the end of 2009, a total of 22 Volunteers are expected to join the program, bringing the total number of Volunteers up to approximately 34 by the end of 2009. Peace Corps will follow the evolution of the program over the next few years to see if it can be transformed from a Peace Corps Response program into a regular two-year program for Peace Corps Volunteers. Peace Corps Volunteers who have completed their Peace Corps service are eligible to apply for Peace Corps Response and serve short-term assignments at any time following their regular Peace Corps service. Since 1996, Peace Corps Response Volunteers have served in more than 40 countries, including 74 Volunteers who helped communities rebuild in Sri Lanka and Thailand after the tsunami in 2004, and 272 Volunteers who served along the Gulf coast following Hurricane Katrina. As the Peace Corps approaches its 50th anniversary, its service legacy continues to promote peace and friendship around the world. Historically, over 195,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries in which they have served. Applications to serve in the Peace Corps have increased 16 percent this past year, the largest boost in the last five years. Currently, 7,876 Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in 75 countries, including Liberia. Peace Corps Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.