Getting out the vote

Sanibonani!

We enjoyed a great party at our country director’s house for the election. Some people stayed up all night to watch returns start coming in. I slept from about 10:30 p.m. to 3:30 a.m. and then got up. There were already some East Coast states on the map by then.

It was pretty exciting watching it all happen. Most of the group seemed to support Obama, but there was a handful of crestfallen Republicans among us as well. I don’t think either president would have made much of a difference for Peace Corps, but volunteers do get a year of preferred status for government jobs when we return. People certainly have thoughts about what type of president they’d want to serve under. For me, in the maternal/reproductive health field, the president in control could really make a difference. For example, Mitt Romney at one point said he wanted to eliminate Title X, the only dedicated federal funding for contraceptive services (am I right on that, MCH Legislation friends?). That type of cut could affect how easy or difficult it would be for me to find a job if that’s the direction I wanted to go.

Anyway, the results are in, so we’re all moving forward.

The election reminded me again of the interesting rumors that make their way around here. Someone asked me if Obama were really the Antichrist. I had to say I didn’t know, but I told her I didn’t think so. She also had heard — someone read something to her about it — that the U.S. Congress passed new legislation requiring microchips to be inserted into all Americans’ foreheads for some health-care-related purpose. Americans, is that happening? I said it wasn’t. This was also read as a sign of the apocalypse/Obama as Antichrist because of something in the Bible about marks on the forehead.

These are very real perceptions of America here. Not everyone thinks them, of course, but they aren’t considered as surprising as they are to American ears. It’s interesting.

Jack comes on Wednesday! I’m excited and also nervous for him. It’s tough to move to a new country (obviously), and it’s even tougher when you don’t have the Peace Corps holding your hand. They really do a good job. So he’ll just have me holding his hand, and I’ll do my best. And I know he’ll have support from you guys as well.

I spent some time at the high school yesterday, talking to the head teacher about what he needs help with. I think we’re looking at reviving a health club and a blood donation club, and they’d like some assistance with computer literacy. I’m no computer genius, but I think I can help.

My counterpart is back in my village after her training, which is really exciting for me. I look forward to working and making more plans with her. The training is also a great deal for her. It opens up a lot more job opportunities.

I also have a potential public health project brewing, but I want to wait till I have more concrete information before I tell y'all what's up. It could be a great opportunity to get involved in some HIV-related field work.