COS Conference & Extension

Peace Corps flew me into Port Vila for my Close of Service (COS) conference this week. Can't believe that two years have passed since my arrival in Vanuatu. Time is flying now, but it definitely seemed to stand still throughout numerous stretches of my service.

The COS conference is the last time my training group will be together. We have a close connection because of our shared experience. We struggled to adapt to a new culture together: fumbling with our Bislama, sitting through tedious hours of lecture, battling home sickness and exploring a new tropical world.

There were 21 volunteers in our training group to start with. Two years later, only 13 of us remain. (Some left early because of medical problems, to pursue work / school plans or just due to frustrations with life here). The survivors in our group sat through two days of presentations this week by PC staff members intended to gather the necessary paperwork and info needed to provide some closure to our work here in Vanuatu. They put us up in a nice bungalow though, much nicer than the standard rooms resembling prison cells that we normally inhabit. There was even a washer / dryer in one of the rooms. Luxury.

We went on a karaoke / booze cruise dinner to mark our last evening spent together. Singing "Fulsom Prison Blues" loudly into the night under the influence of Jack Daniel's almost made me forget that I was in the South Pacific.

We will leave this country one by one over the next three months. I will not see many of the faces in our group again. Four PCV's, including myself, are considering extending our service for one more year. If we do extend, this will entitle us to a Peace Corps funded flight back to the USA and over a month's vacation time before starting another year.

My extension was just approved officially yesterday. Below is the application letter I sent to the Country Director which should provide a little more insight as to why I wanted to spend another year in Vanuatu.

"To Whom it May Concern,

With a desire to assist the people of Vanuatu, challenge myself and contribute to a noble cause, I seek to extend my Peace Corps service by an additional year.

My Peace Corps service to date has been the most rewarding and humbling experience of my life. Integrating into a new culture and sharing with my community has taught me invaluable life lessons. There have moments of joy, successful projects and good relationships built with villagers. There have also been frustrations and difficulties along the way, as would accompany any rigorous undertaking. At the end of the day though, I believe that I have had a positive influence in my community and have become a better, more determined person throughout the process. Thus, I strongly desire to extend 3 months at my current site in Aneityum and then 9 months in the village of Epau.

The justification behind a three month extension on Aneityum is twofold. First, an additional three months will allow me to compensate for lost time experienced during medical evacuations to Brisbane and Washington, DC. A year ago, I was experiencing medical problems which had a drastic impact on my productivity. Between being sick at site, Port Vila, Brisbane and DC- I was sidelined from my service for about three months. I returned to site with a renewed passion to make the most of my time in Vanuatu, having almost lost the opportunity. I am currently experiencing zero medical problems and am confident that I have made a full recovery.

Secondly, three more months at site would give me the chance to finish some unresolved business in the community. My former counter-part, the manager of our community timber project, was recently embroiled in a sexual scandal involving the rape of a minor and incest. We later discovered that he had also stolen significant moneys from the project. The Board of Directors for the project has just issued his termination- and a replacement for his position has been named. As a business volunteer, most of my work takes place in an office setting with management. Even three extra months would help provide sufficient time to work with this new management. My presence during this transition time at the community project could make an important difference.

Also in wake of the recent abuse and controversy in the community, I am left wanting to take some sort of action. I have already started a woman's football league here on the island, the first of its kind. But I would like to organize a "Woman's Weekend" here on the island- and have guest speakers visit to discuss important issues relating to empowerment of women, abuse and family issues. I have presented this idea to the Area Secretary and Area Councilor and have their full support. I plan to request help from the GAD committee in organizing these events. The "Woman's Weekend" would correspond with the end of season women's soccer tournament. I would only be able to organize the weekend with an additional three months on the island, otherwise I will hard-pressed for time.

I have also recently been able to acquire a new tractor and saw mill engine for the timber project through requests to the government of Vanuatu. They should be arriving in a shipment to Aneityum sometime towards the end of this year. I would love to be here at their arrival and assist in their implementation at Aneityum Forest Timba.

I would like to serve 9 months in Epau Village in north Efate for many reasons. I already have an intimate knowledge of the community because it was my training village. This will give me an advantage as I am already well known and have established relationships. I am aware that the community desperately wants a Peace Corps Volunteer, they mentioned this even back in 2008. Bob Kelley, Jeremiah Johnson and a trainee from the new group were all slated to serve there at one time, but it never worked out for various reasons. The conservation area in Epau is of great importance to the community. Having the full support of the community is extremely important to me.

My background in both business administration and forestry will aid me in assisting the Area Secretary in Epau Village. Exploring new territory and changing my work place would be refreshing. It would also be nice to experience service somewhere less remote. I sometimes feel extremely isolated as the only Westerner on Aneityum now, especially when communication lines are down.

Thank you for your consideration to this request to extend and I eagerly await your answer.

Matthew Hardwick"