Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Lesotho Canceled. Dreams Smashed.

Worst day ever. Just got the call about an hour ago, with the
"Unfortunate"News: The November Lesotho program is CANCELED!
Reason: Conducting a Reassessment of the Country and it's Safety/Security.
My Reaction: CRY CRY CRY CRY CRY

I can't believe this happened NOW, 20 days before departure! How can they do this so close to us leaving! Peace Corps, I want you to know that I, along with all the others in our group, am absolutely and totally shocked and crushed!

I don't feel up to going into much more detail right now, but I will try to update later tonight or tomorrow. I am supposed to call a placement officer in the morning to discuss my next steps and options...

9 comments:

  1. I was reading your blog earlier and thinking I would come back and leave a comment about my friend Mike who is a PCV there and how you should totally be his friend! I am so so sorry that this happened to you. I am sure it has something to do with the PCV that passed away, but it is crazy that they did it less than a month before :( I really hope for the best for you and look forward to hearing about your next assignment which I'm sure will be coming soon!

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  2. I'm so sorry girl! I don't know what to say other than I can't imagine how confusing and upsetting this must be, I'm crossing my fingers that you get another invitation soon to somewhere equally as awesome with equally as amazing people!

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  3. Wow, that is such a bummer! I am so sorry, you were so stoked to go. I am sure you will wind up loving where ever you end up.

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  4. All this over one random Murder? I'm curious as to what the real reason was. Still, don't lose hope, a good placement will come, I promise. I'm a South Africa PCV and was shocked by the murder, but the fact is SA is far more dangerous then Lesotho so I'm scratching my head here. Hopefully they will simply restructure and relaunch later.

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  5. Are the current Lesotho volunteers being sent anywhere different? Evacuated? Is the whole program cancelled or it's just being put on hold while things are investigated?

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  6. As far as I know, the current PCVs in Lesotho are staying put so far. Also a few of them that have been back here in the U.S. for the past month (recouping after the murder), are getting to return to Lesotho as we speak. But, my group (ED 11- leaving November 1st) has been canceled for good (i.e. not just on hold or delayed). So, I guess if they reassess Security and it turns out things are fine, that would mean the next group to go would be the June 2011 CHED group.

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  8. I actually talked to my friend who is a Lesotho PCV today and told him that I heard about it- he said it had to do with a few things, including two important job posts being empty and that they want to do some evaluating of the volunteers who are currently there before they bring in new ones. It seemed justified the way he put it with all the details he had. I'm sorry Jessica!

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  9. Thanks for that information Renee (and Mike:-). Yeah, we are starting to hear rumors trickling in about some staff issues going on as well. Whatever the reasons, I think they just were not totally ready for another new group to come in right now.

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