My Hub training in St Andrew hillside community

I seldom have Internet access so have not been able to upload photos however try this to get a quick overview of the first two weeks:
http://vimeo.com/39170093
full blog athttp://simplyintentional.wordpress.com/
Video produced by two fellow Peace Corps Trainees who are at different locations with their groups.

Photo of fellow Peace Corps trainee Autumn and myself as we shadowed a small coffee farmer growing Blue Mountain Coffee, clearing land to plant okra with gungo beans and group photo of our Sector (Greens).

If yuh go a trump afoot dance, yuh if dance trump afoot

if you go to a wooden foot dance You dance the wooden foot...or when in Rome, do as the Romans do...

I have arrived...
Life is good...is is 80 degrees back Home in WI, and warmER here...food and people wonderful. The language has a rythm. A great group of 36 people are in this together, with trainers administrators, nurses, and more support ...12 of the 36 volunteers/trainees are in my sector (environment/green)...

Week 2 in Jamaica...now that we are officially starting our training (rather than paper buffets and welcomes...we start the day with Patois Language training, after another great breakfast with my host family.

Ready...set...go!

Packed and re-packed...27 months in 4 bags. All that remains is to enjoy the great Madison (WI) weather...

We All Need Peace!

Kate Schachter RPCV 2004-2007 Ghana. 

Kate and another RPCV met with me for lunch back in 2011. 

Their enthusiasm and insights helped me make the decision to 

continue with my Peace Corps Volunteer pursuits.

Photo from: Volunteer Send-Off Celebration
  hosted by the Peace Corps at UW-Madison, 
the Chicago Peace Corps Office, 
and the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Madison. 
The reception was a great opportunity for Billee and me 
to meet and speak with others who are 
in the application process and 
former Volunteers living in the Madison area.

Peace Corps Jamaica departure nears

SUNDAY, MARCH 4, 2012

Additions made through March 8

The timeline before departure is compressing 
...days remain!

I have spent a fair amount of time traveling in the past weeks, from the east coast to the west coast to see family and friends. 

While on the west coast, I returned to Davis, CA to catch up on the 'Sustainable Agriculture' changes, growth and movement, and to see how projects started over two decades have grown and in some cases a new generation keeping this movement alive and growing. 

Photos here to highlight the journey(s):

New World Trace Center 

"One World Trade Center" NYC. Great friend and travelling companion, Jim Anderson and I took the train from NJ to NYC, where we had a rendezvous with Alicia Blegen. She and I worked together in Madison on a National Science Foundation Grant, but really had an instant bond that continues where ever we are.

While in NYC, another treat was to have lunch with Wes Jones - 

also a great friend (and artist) from Madison, WI. 

We worked together at UW-Madison, DoIT 

(Division of Information Technology, Communications Dept)

Some of my favorites - Son James on left, his daughter

(my granddaughter Keira, myself, and Jim). 

If there is a family resemblance, 

it is because this is three generations family.

Jim being awarded the first place 'blue ribbon' by Billee 

for his cranberry bars. 

This is another story, where the bars have won 

several blue ribbons, and Billee is reenacting the awards. 

Often, when Billee and I travel to NJ, 

we stay with Jim and Nancy, 

where we have a great time

and are always treated as royalty.

 Jim and James (father and son) 

examining a building in MD that has structural issues.

The fearless four - Billee and myself, 

with Nancy and Jim. 

James, with onlooking eyes of his son Jason and daughter Keira, 

showing Billee how to use her new 'device' 

 Snow play with granddaughter Keira while in NJ - 

what could be finer?

An outing with the Schmidts and Andersons at 5-guys Diner

 (a fun NJ happening) 

Before heading out to the east or to west coast - 

I stock up at Madison's Farmer's Market 

with the finest Wisconsin cheese. 

Bleu Mont Dairy, with Willi Lehner 

in Blue Mounds.

A slight pause - and then off again to the west coast.

Palo Alto with long time friend Martha Branner. 

We attended Community College together (back in the day). 

Martha is many wonderful things - 

one is an accomplished painter/collagist. 

I love it when I visit friends 

I have not seen for several years, 

and we pick up like it was yesterday.

While in California, I stopped by the 

World Ag Expo, in Tulare, 

and to see Alfonso Lago and Noelia Silva-del-Rio - who both are considered the Dairy experts in California and beyond.

What would a trip to CA be without a rendezvous 

with my dear friend Samara -

 who goes back many many years ... 

and true to the definition of a dear friend, 

we are able to bridge the years as though it was yesterday.

Off to UC Davis, my alma mater (for undergraduate degree)

Ande Bennett (front), Martha Branner, myself, 

and Alice Warrick on UC Davis campus. 

These are wonderful women who all have a history

with Davis and beyond

Picnic at Putah Creek, on UC  Daviscampus, 

joined by Angel Garcia Munoz, 

 from Universidad Cardenal Herrera in Spain

Mark Van Horn (Manager of Student Farm) and 

Ben Faber, Ventura County Farm Advisor. 

Mark, Ben and I have lived together at Davis, 

along with other amazing people.

The Student Farm at UC Davis has a new classroom!

It has come a long way since 1977, 

when I along with others helped start and grow it.

The Domes is another example of innovation out of the 70's. 

Recently the Domes were faced with closure.

Long live innovation ...

Martha Cain and Angel saying goodbye to a wonderful weekend.

Art or food? 

A gathering of friends and great food 

at Mark and Scarlet's home in Davis.

Food aplenty, 

and our spirits soared 

when Scarlet and daughter Julia

harmonized for after dinner treats.

Off to more of Davis past ...

Annie Main, Good Humus and 

Dru Rivers, Full Belly Farm

have been farming organically since the 70's and early 80's.

These are two of the best farmers in all of the world (IMHO).

Dru giving me a tour of Full Belly Farm, seedlings, and more.

Dru and her daughter Hallie. 

Hallie is an inspiration and follows in her mother's path.

Hallie is the Outreach and Education Coordinator for Full Belly 

Early photo of Full Belly - beginnings (with Hallie in Paul's arms)

Fresh asparagus (first harvest), and the makings of a meal that is extraordinary.

Another stop, Winters, CA

Center for Land-Based Learning. 

With 40 acres of prime farmland on Putah Creek in Winters, California, 

the Farm on Putah Creek (FPC) is where the principles underlying all of the education programs are practices, 

and is the home of the California Farm Academy

Showing me the Center/Farm is Betsy (others were at a retreat)

Toby Hastings, Free Spirit Farm and 

Betsy Ballash (giving me a tour)

The beginnings of a walnut grove, Winters, CA .. 

rich land indeed!

Back to Davis, CA

The Alice's (or Alice, Alice and Ms Allis) - again, 

after years, we pick up where we left off.

Meet Isao Fujimoto, my mentor, friend, and amazing person.

After many interruptions and 50 years, 

Isao was awarded his Ph.D, from Cornell University.

It would take an additional blog to share all of

  Isao Fujimoto's work and accomplishments.

Back to Wisconsin! - 

resume packing for Peace Corps, Jamaica

Another long time friend and mentor, 

Dolores Kamm, Kamms Bakery, and her son Joe. 

Dolores has been baking the most amazing bread for 40 years. 

BACK TO PACKING!

Pack less!

A few more celebrations and farewells to  friends, 

and a few more cancellations, 

as time has a way of moving quickly

and unplanned events continue to creep in.

Food, Laughter and Friends

(a recipe for warm memories)

W/ Pam and Linda - reliving the
many times we met to do
'strategic planning'

W/Billee ... what could be finer ...

Brinly (sweetness maximized) and
let's have one more chip please?

Jim and Brenda with Lisa
(Carol in foreground) ...
a wonderful history with each at
UW-Madison and UW Extension.

Linda and Brinly ... likely a tale worth hearing!

W/(Christopher) Blaire rear
Mike and Neal front
Recalling the many times we met at
Neals Bar and Grill to solve most of the
accessibility challenges and more ...

Neal, Blaire, Carol and Don
(the blurr is because the camera
was set to Mountain (duh!) ...
thanks to Todd for fixing later.

Todd and Brinly
and this is the way life should be ...
people loving people,
being kind, caring and sharing!

Thank you family and friends!



Back to unpacking - lightening the load!

Adding to the pack - the

 'LUCKY COW' ... all of Wisconsin's goodness ... an eraser cheesehead, UW-Madson pendant, green and gold ribbon, Green Bay Packer earrings ...

and of course - a heart ... the very best part!      

Peace Corps thoughts...date back

My Peace Corps Journey – How did it start?

I recall the seeds for my curiosity, and desire to serve in the Peace Corps, date back to the 1960’s. John F. Kennedy, as both Senator and President spoke eloquently of the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. What resonated with me was hearing the Peace Corps Volunteer Program is devoted to world peace and friendship.

Fast forward 50 years to 2011, as the Peace Corps commemorated 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world.

While the Peace Corps web site states “On average, the application to invitation process takes from six to 12 months to complete, but can take longer in certain cases.” – my application process took nearly three years. The process is well documented, and includes:

-  Step One: Application
-  Step Two: Interview
-  Step Three: Nomination
-  Step Four: Medical, Legal, Suitability, and Competitive Reviews
-  Step Five: Invitation
-  Step Six: Preparation for Departure

I finished my on-line application, which I readily admit, I procrastinated doing by starting and stopping several times, and then finally hit the submit button.

Next came an interview (which I scheduled on my birthday, as my gift to myself) followed by a nomination (or two, as the first nomination was my first choice location, however, the timing was premature). Also needed was a series of medical and legal forms. Finally, I was cleared and ready to go. An official invitation to join the Peace Corps followed, with just 10 days to decide whether to accept or decline.

The invitation included general information on the deployment – no specifics, just a region (i.e. Caribbean) and a volunteer job. When I accept - more specific information was promised, including a departure date, an appointment for a pre-departure orientation (three-month, in-country training period).

I am now at step six – preparation for departure - (March 2012) when I (and the other Volunteers in my training group) will be on my way to my country of service – Jamaica.

AND ... I am taking some time to travel to to NJ, NY, MD and CA to see family and friends. 

Stay tuned for a photo recall of those travels ...     

       

Will I be number 3001 UW-Madison volunteer?

50 Years of Peace Corps: How UW-Madison Alumni Have Helped Change the World

From: Wisconsin Alumni Association 

Since the creation of the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 3,000 UW alumni have volunteered their services, ranking Wisconsin number two on the all-time producer list behind University of California-Berkely.

Over the agency’s history, 5,630 Wisconsin residents have served as volunteers, with 229 currently in the field.