Professional Documents
Culture Documents
LESOTHO
A P E A C E C O R P S P U B L I C ATI O N
FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS
January 2008
A W E L C O M E L E T TE R
Lumelang Bo ‘M’e le Bo Ntate (Greetings, ladies and
gentlemen):
Peace Corps has been in Lesotho since 1967 and has the
history of being one of the longest-running programs on the
continent. Peace Corps/Lesotho Volunteers work on projects
that respond to the needs of the people in communities
throughout the country. For example, they provide teacher
training and focus on improving education for young
girls. Volunteers work with entrepreneurs and women’s
cooperatives to develop small business opportunities. They
help communities protect their local environments and work
with farmers to introduce better farming techniques. In the
community health area, they focus on capacity building of
HIV/AIDS groups and communities. Volunteers are engaged in
HIV/AIDS awareness training, prevention, mitigation, and care
and support intervention activities.
Ted Mooney
Country Director
2 PEACE CORPS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Map of Lesotho
A Welcome Letter 1
Packing List 87
Pre-departure Checklist 95
8 PEACE CORPS
There are more than 40 Volunteers serving in this sector.
They work to establish better services for orphan and
vulnerable children in various villages; help organizations
and groups mobilize resources and community support for
needed food security and HIV/AIDS mitigation programs;
assist district level government in training local chiefs and
traditional healers on HIV/AIDS; help communities to develop
cultural tourism markets; assist in establishing pony-trecking
income-producing activities; and provide technical assistance
to producer groups on product diversification, qualty control,
and marketing.
Government
Economy
12 PEACE CORPS
People and Culture
Environment
14 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
www.countrywatch.com
On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in
Maseru to how to convert from the dollar to the loti. Just click
on Lesotho and go from there.
www.state.gov
The U.S. State Department’s website issues background notes
periodically about countries around the world. Find Lesotho
and learn more about its social and political history.
www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm
This site includes links to all the official sites for governments
worldwide.
www.geography.about.com/library/maps/blindex.htm
This online world atlas includes maps and geographical
information, and each country page contains links to
other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain
comprehensive historical, social, and political background.
www.cyberschoolbus.un.org/infonation/info.asp
This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical
information for member states of the U.N.
www.worldinformation.com
This site provides an additional source of current and
historical information about countries around the world.
www.wunderground.com
This weather site provides weather reports from remote places
around the world.
www.rpcv.org
This is the site of the National Peace Corps Association, made
up of returned Volunteers. On this site you can find links to all
18 PEACE CORPS
the Web pages of the “friends of” groups for most countries
of service, made up of former Volunteers who served in those
countries. There are also regional groups who frequently get
together for social events and local Volunteer activities. Or go
straight to the Friends of Lesotho site: www.friendsoflesotho.org.
http://rpcvwebring.org
This site is known as the Returned Peace Corps Volunteer
Web Ring. Browse the Web ring and see what former
Volunteers are saying about their service.
www.peacecorpswriters.org
This site is hosted by a group of returned Volunteer writers.
It is a monthly online publication of essays and Volunteer
accounts of their Peace Corps service.
http://allafrica.com/lesotho/
Website aggregates and indexes content from more than 125
African news organizations and more than 200 other sources.
?????????.
News wire stories about Lesotho
www.lena.gov.ls/
The Lesotho News Agency
http://www.mg.co.za/
The site of South Africa’s Mail and Guardian newspaper
Diplomatic Sites
http://maseru.usembassy.gov/
Site of the U.S. Embassy in Lesotho
www.care.org
CARE International
www.skillshare.org
Skillshare International
www.undp.org.ls/
The United Nations Development Programme in Lesotho
Recommended Books
1. Pinchuck, Tony. The Rough Guide to South Africa,
Lesotho, and Swaziland. London: Rough Guides,
2005.
20 PEACE CORPS
2. Rice, Gerald T. The Bold Experiment: JFK’s Peace
Corps. Notre Dame, Ind.: University of Notre Dame
Press, 1985.
Mail
Mail in Lesotho is fairly reliable. Volunteers find they
generally receive mail and packages from the United States
in two to three weeks. The same is true in sending mail from
Lesotho. Of course, there are exceptional cases in which a
letter or a package might arrive within a shorter period or
be substantially delayed. These cases are more apt to occur
during the holiday season rush—yes, the holiday rush applies
to life in Lesotho, too! Rarely, but occasionally, Volunteers
lose letters or packages altogether. It is a good idea to number
all letters and packages you send to the United States and to
encourage people sending you things to do the same. If you
do this consistently, you will always know when something has
gone missing.
Telephones
A large part of the country does not have land-line
telephones; however, cellphone coverage is readily available.
Opportunities to call the United States during pre-service
training will be limited. During the community-based training
portion of pre-service training, telephones are likely to be
unavailable because community sites are in rural settings.
24 PEACE CORPS
Notify family and friends that you will have very limited
access to the Internet while you are in training, and may have
limited access during your time as a Volunteer in Lesotho.
Many Volunteer sites will not have land-line telephone or
cellphone coverage either.
When training ends and you move to your work site, you
will receive a modest, one-time settling-in allowance. This
is meant to cover basic household supplies, including any
26 PEACE CORPS
Places that accept credit cards generally also accept traveler’s
checks, but it is difficult to purchase traveler’s checks in
Lesotho unless you have an airline ticket for leaving the
country.
Transportation
28 PEACE CORPS
transportation when shopping in camp towns to purchase food
supplies and to go out to participate in community activities
in different parts of the district. The fares for buses and taxis
are reasonable.
Social Activities
30 PEACE CORPS
If in doubt about what constitutes acceptable and appropriate
appearance, take note of what your Basotho co-workers and
counterparts wear and you will never go wrong.
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During the summer pre-service training (November-January),
women are expected to wear skirts or dresses to all training
sessions; pants or jeans may be worn only during free time.
During the winter pre-service training (June-August), women
are encouraged to wear skirts or dresses, but because of
the cold weather, dressy pants, jeans, or culottes are also
acceptable. Comfortable, professional shoes should be worn at
all times.
For men, wearing hair below the nape of the neck, ponytails,
and adornments are unacceptable. Hair should be no longer
than to the nape of the neck, clean, and neatly trimmed.
Beards and mustaches are acceptable if they are clean and
neatly trimmed. Though neatly groomed braids are becoming
more fashionable in Lesotho, you should avoid thick matted
braids because these tend to be associated with the drug
culture. Note that dreadlocks are often associated with drug
use or unprofessional behavior in Basotho culture and can be
unacceptable in some positions.
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With more than 35 years of operation in Lesotho, the Peace
Corps is a respected organization that is recognized for
performing an essential role in Lesotho’s development. The
people of Lesotho are very welcoming to Volunteers and do
their best to ensure Volunteers have everything they need
to work successfully. Basotho are very business-oriented
and professional and expect the same from Peace Corps
Volunteers. At the same time, most Basotho love a good party
with plenty of delicious food and good music.
36 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
Technical Training
Technical training refers to the specific job that you have been
invited to assist with, such as education, youth development,
community development, or health advising. While you should
already have some background and interest in the area of
your assignment, the training will prepare you to work in
Lesotho by building on the skills you already have and helping
you develop new skills in a manner appropriate to the needs
and issues of the country.
Language Training
As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you will find that language skills
are the key to personal and professional satisfaction during
your service. These skills are critical to your job performance,
they help you integrate into your host community, and they
can ease your personal adaptation to the new surroundings.
You will take part in structured Sesotho lessons given by
Basotho instructors. At the completion of pre-service training,
you will be tested by a certified language examiner, who will
rate your ability in spoken Sesotho. In order for you to be
sworn in as a Volunteer, you will need to attain a certain level
of language proficiency. This is critical for you to function at
the community level.
Cross-Cultural Training
As part of your pre-service training, you will live with a
Basotho host family. This experience is designed to ease
40 PEACE CORPS
your transition to life in Lesotho. Families go through an
orientation conducted by Peace Corps staff to explain the
purpose of pre-service training and to assist them in helping
you adapt to living in Lesotho. Many Volunteers form strong
and lasting friendships with their host families.
Health Training
During pre-service training, you will be given basic health
training and information. You will be expected to practice
preventive healthcare and to take responsibility for your
own health by adhering to all medical policies. Trainees are
required to attend all health sessions. The topics include
preventive health measures and minor and major health issues
that you might encounter while in Lesotho. Nutrition, mental
health, setting up a safe living compound, and how to avoid
HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are
also covered.
Safety Training
During the safety and security training sessions, you will
learn how to adopt a lifestyle that reduces your risks at your
home, at work, and during your travels. You will also learn
appropriate, effective strategies for coping with unwanted
attention and about your individual responsibility for
promoting safety throughout your service.
42 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
46 PEACE CORPS
make sure to bring at least a three-month supply with you,
as it may not be readily available in the medical unit here.
Consult with your medical officer soon after arriving in
Lesotho so he or she can begin the process of obtaining a
supply of your medication.
If you wear eyeglasses, bring two pairs with you—a pair and a
spare. Peace Corps will replace only one pair of glasses, using
the information your doctor in the United States provided on
the eyeglasses form during your examination. Sunglasses are
not provided, so you might want to bring a pair of prescription
sunglasses or clip-on glasses for the bright sunlight in
Lesotho. We discourage you from using contact lenses during
your Peace Corps service to reduce your risk of developing
a serious infection or other eye injuries. Most Peace Corps
countries do not have appropriate water and sanitation to
48 PEACE CORPS
bites, scratches from animals’ teeth, and contact with
animal saliva.
• Use of an effective means of birth control. Volunteers
are expected to adhere to an effective means of
birth control to prevent an unwanted pregnancy.
Your medical officer can help you decide on the most
appropriate method to suit your individual needs.
Contraceptive methods are available without charge
from the Peace Corps medical unit.
• Use of condoms to protect against the spread of HIV/
AIDS and other STDs. Volunteers are expected to use
condoms in every sexual encounter in which bodily
fluids might be transferred. Condoms will be provided
by the medical officer.
The items in this kit are intended for your own use and can be
periodically restocked at the Peace Corps medical office.
50 PEACE CORPS
Lozenges for cough
Scissors
Sterile gauze pads
Tetrahydrozaline eyedrops (Visine)
Water purification tablets
Tweezers
52 PEACE CORPS
you with training and tools to prepare for the unexpected,
but we teach you to identify and manage the risks you may
encounter.
54 PEACE CORPS
and Personnel Security; Emergency Preparedness, Plans,
Training and Exercise; and Crime Statistics and Analysis.
56 PEACE CORPS
1The average numbers of incidents are in parenthesis and equal the average
reported assaults for each year between 2002–2006.
2Incident rates equal the number of assaults per 100 Volunteers and trainees
per year (V/T years). Since most sexual assaults occur against females, only
female V/Ts are calculated in rapes and other sexual assaults. Numbers of
incidents are approximate due to rounding.
3Data collection for Lesotho began as of 2002; due to the small number of V/T
years, incidence rates should be interpreted with caution.
Sexual Assauts are termed Other Sexual Assault and Other Physical Assault
per CIRF definitions as of the year 2006. Prior to CIRF and prior to 2006,
Sexual Assaults were termed Minor Sexual Assault Assault and Minor
Physical Assault per ANSS definitions.
Source data on incidents are drawn from Assault Notification Surveillance
System (ANSS), Epidemiologic Surveillance System (ESS), and Crime
Incident Reporting Form (CIRF); the information is accurate as of 10/22/07.
58 PEACE CORPS
final disposition of the case. OIG staff is available 24 hours-a-
day, 7 days-a-week. We may be contacted through our 24-hour
violent crime hotline via telephone at 202.692.2911, or by e-
mail at violentcrimehotline@peacecorps.gov.
If you were in the United States, would you leave your house
unlocked while you were at work? Would you walk alone at
night in a new area? Would you get into a car with a drunken
driver? Would you invite strangers into your house? Use
common sense while at your site, in Lesotho, or traveling in
60 PEACE CORPS
Africa. After learning some more about the Basotho culture
during training, it will be your responsibility to draw your
personal boundaries with regard to your safety.
62 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
66 PEACE CORPS
may be seen as less knowledgeable than white Volunteers.
Volunteers of color also say it may be easier to form close
and lasting friendships and to gain community support.
African-American Volunteers may find that their features,
color, cultural attitudes, or language make it obvious to
Basotho they are not southern Africans. Until they make
close acquaintances and friendships, some African-American
Volunteers may feel like outsiders.
68 PEACE CORPS
pressure to act as the dominant member in the relationship
and make decisions apart from his wife’s views. Some spouses
experience differing levels of language ability, acceptance by
their community, or job satisfaction.
72 PEACE CORPS
These first months in your site are important for establishing
good relations with the community and host agency. For this
reason, you are encouraged to remain at your site. Volunteers
often state an interest in traveling and learning about other
cultures as one of the reasons for joining the Peace Corps.
Therefore, the Peace Corps encourages Volunteers to use
their vacation time to travel around Lesotho and other
countries in the region, rather than vacationing in the
United States.
74 PEACE CORPS
that you will not have quick or easy access to a telephone, and
as a result, you may not be able to receive calls from home
while at your site. (Note: Please tell your family that most calls
will automatically cut off at 30 minutes.)
78 PEACE CORPS
For those of you who haven’t taught before, visit a teacher
and get ideas—ideally a teacher who has taught in less
economically developed countries. Collect addresses of
people outside Lesotho in countries you might like to visit
on a vacation--Peace Corps Volunteers do travel. South
Africa surrounds us on all sides. I hope to visit Madagascar,
Namibia, and Botswana. Collect websites and research
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that are working in
Lesotho and South Africa. Networking and Internet research
that’s easy to do in the States becomes more cumbersome
here.
Think about what you might like to do post-Peace Corps. It
comes fast. Grad school tests, addresses, websites, deadlines?
A list of NGOs where you might like to work? If you want to
do a website while you’re here, set it up while you’re still in
the States, and pre-link it to some basic information about
Lesotho, southern Africa or about you. Volunteers here prefer
“gmail” to “hotmail” or “yahoo” for their e-mail accounts.
The Peace Corps sent us some great ICE resources in e-
format before we came: I wish I’d printed the ones relevant to
me before I left.
There are lots of junky books to read here, novels pass from
Volunteer to Volunteer. But you might ask someone to send
you a selection of books six months before your mid-point, or
you might collect the books to be sent in advance, or leave a
list. My sister is sending me novels by African writers. There
is nothing better than reading about Africa in Africa. Find an
African film fest or an African studies outreach center (try big
universities) for advice, inspiration, and resources.
A well-educated person is someone who can entertain
himself or herself. I’m not sure who said that, but here I’m
often reflecting how true it is. Congratulations for choosing
the Peace Corps! We look forward to meeting you, and I know
you’ll look forward to exploring Lesotho and meeting the
Basotho and Xhosa people who will be your new friends.
— Madeline Uraneck, 2007-2009
80 PEACE CORPS
As you prepare to leave, and you are stressing over small
decisions (Down or synthetic sleeping bag?! I’d say down, but
my friend Ursula would say synthetic), and big ones (Am I
really going to get on that plane?), remember the answers will
come to you, even if some of them come at 2:30 a.m. the night
before you leave for staging.
If I can advise you in any way, I would say: Bring things
which make you comfortable in the U.S. now. Your music,
your favorite book, an instrument you play, or photos of your
friends. If you aren’t a huge hiker in the States, don’t feel like
you need to outfit yourself with new equipment. Bring things
that will make your house feel like a home. Bring pictures of
your home and your family--Basotho will love to see those.
Here’s a list of my “can’t-live-withouts”--stuff I use almost
daily: headlamp, raincoat, French press, iPod, shortwave
radio, Nalgene, and a Swiss army knife. I hope maybe it’s
given you a new idea or two. You don’t need to bring books to
read--we have hundreds that circulate around the country, so
lighten your load.
Alright, you have lots of letters to read, information to pour
over, and final weeks at home to plan. So, I will leave you
with this: Enjoy time with your friends and family; they will
help and support you so much over the next two years. Don’t
stress about having double of everything, things can always be
sent. Don’t feel the need to have all the answers now, it may
be scary, but eventually, all your questions will be answered.
And most importantly, load up on Mexican food. You’ll need
the quesadillas to sustain you for two years.
Good luck in all your preparations. I remember how
nervous, excited, and busy I was, and I wish you the best with
all of your emotions. You will be welcomed here with open
arms--by the Basotho and by the Peace Corps Volunteers and
staff--and you will have the time of your life. Get psyched! See
you soon!
— Claire Dennison, 2005-2007
82 PEACE CORPS
cultural faux pas easily. What seems to matter most is that
I show some genuine care and friendliness to those around
me, and that I make a genuine effort to do my work with
compassion and integrity.
Two years ago, I thought I was arriving with "no
expectations," but I soon realized that I was full of hopes
and worries about having some kind of "perfect Peace Corps
experience." What I have found is that each site offers its
own set of gifts and difficulties, and we really are capable of
adjusting to them, even embracing them. Again and again, I
feel amazed and grateful to find myself here, on the other side
of the world, wholly welcomed into my new life.
So who knows. As you settle in here, and keep open to
what is around you--the people, the beauty, as well as the
painful realities and tough, unanswerable questions--your own
expectations, those self-imposed restrictions, may fall away,
and you may find yourself at home in your life here. As I do.
— Libby Bachhuber, 2005-2007
..............................................
I know that at this time you have many questions about
Lesotho. Nothing I or any other Peace Corps Volunteer say
will help you to fully understand Lesotho and the experience
you are going to have here. So pack your bags and prepare
for the ride of your life. A ride that will give you your highest
highs and your lowest lows. A ride that will not only make
you laugh, sing, and dance, but also a ride that will sometimes
make you frustrated and make you cry.
Lesotho is a marvelous place, the Basotho are great
people. Generally, they are very welcoming to Peace Corps
Volunteers. Everyone is going to have a different experience
in Lesotho as they work to positively impact the country,
to stay true to themselves and to their beliefs. As well,
you will oftentimes find yourself thinking about the idea of
compromise as it relates to your expectations from the people
with whom you are assigned to work. You will have to ask
yourself what you are willing to compromise in order to keep
a positive attitude and to work well within the group.
84 PEACE CORPS
NOTES
There are many things that you can get in Lesotho and
especially in South Africa (though you won’t be allowed to
go to South Africa for the first five months). You will be in
training for the first two months, and the following three
months you are not permitted to travel outside of the district
where your site is.
2) Rain jacket
General Clothing
• Comfortable shoes (sandals, tennis shoes, etc.), durable
walking shoes (with good tread), sturdy, good-quality
waterproof/Gore-Tex hiking boots, and flip-flops or
slippers for lounging around the house
• Sweatshirts and sweaters (hoodies and zip-ups are
good)
• Shorts (for vacations and lounging in the house)
• Warm jacket or coat and light jacket (try to combine
jackets by getting a jacket with a waterproof shell and
fleece liner)
• Items for cold weather (e.g., long underwear, tights,
hat, gloves, scarf, and fleece tops)
• Lots of underwear and socks (harsh detergent and
scrubbing are rough on underwear)
• Rain gear (don’t skimp on a raincoat; you will get wet.
You can easily buy rain boots here, but bring waterproof
shoes or boots)
88 PEACE CORPS
• Swimwear and light gym wear (for vacations and days
at the pool when you’re in Maseru or Mohale’s Hoek)
• Bandannas
For Men
• Dressy outfit for swearing in, weddings, funerals, and
close-of-service conference (dress shirt, tie, nice pants,
and shoes or hiking boots that look nice)
• Button-down shirts and T-shirts (polo shirts are good
for everything)
• Comfortable and durable trousers and/or jeans) and
pants for hiking or gardening
• Dark colored socks (white ones are difficult to keep
clean)
For Women
• At least one dressy outfit for swearing in, weddings,
funerals, and close-of-service conference (a nice dress)
• Dress shoes that you can walk in on uneven and rocky
paths (there are few sidewalks in Lesotho outside of
Maseru)
• Dresses and skirts for work; knee length or longer
(make sure you can walk easily in the skirts; and
consider elastic waistbands--weight loss/gain does
happen!)
• Blouses (wash and wear) and casual tops such as tank
tops and T-shirts
• Two slips
• Two or three pairs of pants (many people can wear
pants in their workplace, but there are no guarantees.
You MUST wear skirts during training); also one pair of
pants for hiking or gardening)
Kitchen
• Favorite recipes (remember that some ingredients may
be hard to find, particularly refrigerated items)
• Knives (they are not good here; bring one good one to
cook with; don’t just depend on your Leatherman)
• Spices (if you love to cook, bring some of your
favorite spices; some are available here, but bring your
favorites)
• Herbal and specialty teas
• Ground coffee (French presses are available locally)
• Sugar-free drink mixes (you get very tired of water)
• Good hand-operated can opener
• Good vegetable peeler (this is an awesome gift for your
host mother in the village during training; they typically
scrape vegetables with knives)
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• Garlic press (if you use one now)
• Sturdy water bottles like Nalgene (they’ll be your best
friend); also bring a splashguard for the bottle as it’s
hard to drink on a bumpy taxi without it
Miscellaneous
• Sleeping bag (for a cold climate, preferably one that
packs into a small stuff sack because you’ll be traveling
with it a lot to see other Volunteers); some Volunteers
prefer down bags because of their warmth, while others
advise against down, as it can be hard to keep clean and
dry)
• Lightweight foam or air sleeping pad, e.g., Therm-a-
Rest, because sleeping on the floor is tough
• Sleep sack (easy to carry and travel with; prevents bed
bugs at hostels and in villages)
• Sheets/pillowcases (unfortunately you won’t know your
bed size until you get here, but sheets are available
locally and you can use your sleeping bag; if you do
decide to bring sheets flannel or light colored sheets are
harder to wash)
• Two backpacks (a large, internal-frame camping pack
and a smaller day/weekend pack because you won’t
want to carry your big pack everywhere)
• Two additional passport pictures (for visas to other
countries) If you are planning on traveling extensively,
then bring more.
• Sewing kit/safety pins
• Sunglasses and a hat for the sun
• Ear plugs for LOUD music in taxis or for getting a good
night’s rest
• Swiss Army/Leatherman knife
• Pictures of your home, family, and friends (these are
precious commodities)
Technology
• Battery-operated, solar, and/or crank shortwave AM/FM
radio (in some areas only shortwave stations come in
well),and/or tape player
• Music tapes, books, children’s songs, and blank cassettes
• Batteries (they are available in-country, but are
expensive and not long lasting; many Volunteers use
rechargeable batteries and a solar charger)
• iPod or mp3 player and speakers (worth the investment
if you love music; be sure to load it up--many Volunteers
share music this way)
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• Laptop (if you love your laptop, bring it; you also may
want to load software that reduces photo sizes for easy
e-mail)
• Flashdrives (nice to have; they are very expensive here)
• Camera/film (expensive here, but prints can be
processed locally); consider digital as you can burn
pictures to a CD, print in Maseru, or send the CD home
to family and friends
• Solar or battery-operated calculator (useful for teachers
to grade papers; can be purchased here)
• Flashlight/headlamp (choose a flashlight with a long
battery life/LED; headlamps, which free your hands, are
great for cooking and latrine visits)
• Electrical adapters (make sure they are for 110V-240V)
Communication
• Cellphones (widely available in Lesotho)
• Calling cards (for loved ones in the U.S. to call you; they
are available online, but some don’t work well and the
lines are often busy)
• Internet (available in Maseru and some camp towns;
make sure your e-mail service has quick-loading pages
because connections are slow here)
Family
❒ Notify family that they can call the Peace Corps’ Office
of Special Services at any time if there is a critical
illness or death of a family member (24-hour telephone
number: 800.424.8580, extension 1470).
❒ Give the Peace Corps’ On the Home Front handbook to
family and friends.
Passport/Travel
❒ Forward to the Peace Corps travel office all paperwork
for the Peace Corps passport and visas.
❒ Verify that luggage meets the size and weight limits for
international travel.
❒ Obtain a personal passport if you plan to travel after
your service ends. (Your Peace Corps passport will
expire three months after you finish your service, so
if you plan to travel longer, you will need a regular
passport.)
Medical/Health
❒ Complete any needed dental and medical work.
❒ If you wear glasses, bring two pairs.
❒ Arrange to bring a three-month supply of all
medications (including birth control pills) you are
currently taking.
Personal Papers
❒ Bring a copy of your certificate of marriage or divorce.
Voting
❒ Register to vote in the state of your home of record.
(Many state universities consider voting and payment
of state taxes as evidence of residence in that state.)
❒ Obtain a voter registration card and take it with you
overseas.
❒ Arrange to have an absentee ballot forwarded to you
overseas.
Personal Effects
❒ Purchase personal property insurance to extend from
the time you leave your home for service overseas until
the time you complete your service and return to the
United States.
96 PEACE CORPS
Financial Management
❒ Obtain student loan deferment forms from the lender or
loan service.
❒ Execute a power of attorney for the management of
your property and business.
❒ Arrange for deductions from your readjustment
allowance to pay alimony, child support, and other
debts through the Office of Volunteer Financial
Operations at 800.424.8580, extension 1770.
❒ Place all important papers—mortgages, deeds, stocks,
and bonds—in a safe deposit box or with an attorney or
other caretaker.
For Direct/
Questions Toll-free Local
About: Staff Extension Number
Responding to Office of
an Invitation Placement
Africa
Region Ext. 1850 202.692.1850
Medical Handled by a
Reimbursements Subcontractor 800.818.8772