Life abroad: As Robert sees it

So now that we are finished with Peace Corps the big question of what’s next is upon us. Having already had one interview with ACTED, which I bombed, got me motivated to start really looking. So far we have seen promise in Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Sudan, Indonesia, India and now Honduras.

Most recently, Pure Water for the World has shown some interest. We are not sure about moving to Honduras but it would be great experience. Don’t know how much the offer will be for but I’m guessing around $1,000 per month, which will be a fortune there and allow us to save a nice nest egg for our next Peace Corps service. It would be managing the construction of concrete water filters for 5000 households. It’s a good next step experience-wise and would get me some much needed management experience. The total project is only 9 months and would dovetail nicely with our plans to rejoin PC early next year.

We are now living in Sagada, Philippines and working out our next move. If the job comes through than we would leave in May. If not we will be traveling to Thailand to meet our friend Sabrina there for 2 weeks. We would then travel to India to live for awhile. Rasa is calling me for lunch…

I was just offered a job in Aceh, Indonesia doing Tsunami reconstruction. It was not what Rasa and I were planning on but it would be good experience. We really wanted to go live in India. With only a month left before Peace Corps is over there seem to be more options than we can possibly consider.

The job would require me to do reconstruction of roads, bridges, harbors, canals and buildings. And all the structures will have to have the ability to withstand future earthquakes. It would be possible to do but I am nervous about building something that has the responsibility of someone’s life. I have done all this in school classes but to do it in the real world is entirely different. I’m not sure. I still need to have an interview so my perception might change a little after that.

It also takes us away from India, which is where we really would like to be this next year.

On the other hand Rasa and I would both love the opportunity to help with the relief effort there. I am especially interested in seeing how the corruption is different than here. Rasa would have plenty to do at the community level and I have already been offered names of friends who are there. The pay is about 1500 euro a month plus incidentals, health, transport, security, and lodging. And the all important resume filler!

I would be working in Meulaboh which is really close to Gunung Leuser national park. Meulaboh is the city that was entirely wiped out except for the mosque. Here is a link: http://media.apn.co.nz/webcontent/image/jpg/2meulaboh.JPG

In Manila now filling out my paperwork for COS. Then we will be back again in 3 weeks to leave the country. I’m sure ACTED would want me to start ASAP so there would be no time to finish our medical here. We would have to do it in Bandar Aceh, Indonesia.

I’ll know more in 2 weeks…