The Peace Corps Process (Conitinued)
Some of you may remember my first post about the Peace Corps application process.
I just received a phone call from the placement office (my placement got really delayed, and that is a whole other set of issues that I don't feel like getting into) and she told me that I should really consider other strategies that I could use if I were getting into the Peace Corps. She claimed that some host families will not understand this alternative diet in Africa and that produce may be very limited in whatever community I am in and my diet will be very based on starches or something. She also said that if my health is affected by the dietary choices I make I will be sent home. She also stressed that since some of the families cook over a fire, cooking may be a day long process and it may be very difficult for them to make me a side meal like I may be used to.
She said that maybe I would have to eat food that is cooked in the same pot as meat or come up with other ways to figure out how to go about this.
I have some other issues with the Peace Corps that I have learned about this summer, so I am really conflicted. I don't think I would have a problem emerging myself into another culture that would require me to sacrifice veganism (vegetarianism is another whole issue though, I don't know how I would deal with that). Especially since there is one volunteer getting placed there, whether it is this other person or me, I will not be making a net change, and maybe what little I can grasp onto my diet can make an influence on a community out there.
There aren't really any questions in this post, I am just letting you guys know what is going on with that. The placement officer said there is a position starting in November and that I should call her back at the beginning of next week with a response with whether or not I want to move forward.
EDIT: Has anyone here volunteered (through Peace Corps, or not) in Sub-Saharan Africa with a host family and can you share what that experience was like?
I just received a phone call from the placement office (my placement got really delayed, and that is a whole other set of issues that I don't feel like getting into) and she told me that I should really consider other strategies that I could use if I were getting into the Peace Corps. She claimed that some host families will not understand this alternative diet in Africa and that produce may be very limited in whatever community I am in and my diet will be very based on starches or something. She also said that if my health is affected by the dietary choices I make I will be sent home. She also stressed that since some of the families cook over a fire, cooking may be a day long process and it may be very difficult for them to make me a side meal like I may be used to.
She said that maybe I would have to eat food that is cooked in the same pot as meat or come up with other ways to figure out how to go about this.
I have some other issues with the Peace Corps that I have learned about this summer, so I am really conflicted. I don't think I would have a problem emerging myself into another culture that would require me to sacrifice veganism (vegetarianism is another whole issue though, I don't know how I would deal with that). Especially since there is one volunteer getting placed there, whether it is this other person or me, I will not be making a net change, and maybe what little I can grasp onto my diet can make an influence on a community out there.
There aren't really any questions in this post, I am just letting you guys know what is going on with that. The placement officer said there is a position starting in November and that I should call her back at the beginning of next week with a response with whether or not I want to move forward.
EDIT: Has anyone here volunteered (through Peace Corps, or not) in Sub-Saharan Africa with a host family and can you share what that experience was like?