ESC (Early Service Conference)

September 27^th to October 1^st was early service conference.  The 81^st Peace Corps Jamaica group has been on the island for 6 months and serving as volunteers for 4.  Time has flown, it seems like just yesterday we were meeting and greeting in Miami.  I remember being so nervous to meet the other volunteers and unsure of what Peace Corps or Jamaica will actually be. 

After four months of being away from each other it was nice to regroup to share hugs, stories, laughs and encouragement.  The first three days of conference was project development with someone from the communities that volunteers serve.  This was a great time to share with project partners the roles of a PCV (Peace Corps Volunteer), to learn skills such as steps in developing a project plan and grant writing.  After the community members left we separated into our sector groups (Youth and Environment) to go over our CASI (Community and Sector Inventory) reports.  These reports help a volunteer to get to know crucial information about their communities that help to make them effective in their community.  This was a great time for story and project plan telling within the sector groups. 

One question asked at ESC was, “What keeps you going?”  There were many answers from the Peace Corps Family (volunteers and staff) to the kids in the schools that volunteers are working.  It is hard to know just how many people one Peace Corps Volunteer will touch in ones service, but as a group, we keep each other going another day.  Each and every day we are here we touch more lives and hopefully make a positive impact in Jamaica.  Impact is what Peace Corps in all about.  ESC helped me realize why I am here and my PC family has kept me motivated to continue go another day.  I thank Jerry & Kathy, all of the other volunteers who share their inspiration and kind words along with the support of the staff who help the process of integrating and feeling comfortable that much easier!