Lots of people have been asking us questions about the Peace Corps and what our service will entail. Truth be told, there's a ton of info Aaron and I don't know ourselves - we've been told we'll get more details once we're in pre-service training in Morocco.
What we do know:
Duration:
27 months. Our first three months will be spent in training, where we'll learn more about our new positions, and undergo intensive language courses in Darija. Yes, we're required to learn a new language. Darija is an Arabic dialect that is spoken all over the country. French is the business language of Morocco. Our first three months will be homestay, meaning Aaron and I will live with a gracious Moroccan family. We will leave September 8th, 2019, and return December 11th, 2021.
Job:
Aaron and I have been hired as Youth Development Specialists. According to the Peace Corps website, our job description is:
"Volunteers work with youth in communities to promote engagement and active citizenship, including gender awareness, employability, health and HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, sports and fitness programs, and information technology."
Culture:
Morocco is a Muslim country, and as such, gender roles are quite different than what we're used to in the United States. Women often wear conservative clothing, and it's more shameful be alone with men outside of their family or husband. Subscribing to these different and more firm gender norms is definitely going to be an adjustment - especially since we've made an effort to split up domestic and financial responsibilities as equally as possible. During our interviews, our interviewer specifically told me during our home stay, I'd likely be expected to cook, clean and serve the men in the house, while Aaron won't have the same responsibilities imposed. This will definitely be an adjustment for me, but we're prepared to take on the challenge.
Finalization:
For our service to be totally official, Aaron and I have to get medically cleared. This entails going to a number of doctors, and making sure we're in top-notch health before our departure. For me, it also means going to a cardiologist, to address heart flutters that I have, and make sure they're not serious.
What we don't know:
Job:
We really don't know any of the specifics of our job, other than what I've listed above. I do know that every Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco currently is a Youth Development Specialist, because it's an area the Moroccan government has identified wanting support with. With that in mind, the kind of projects we develop will vary completely depending on what community we're placed in and what their needs are.
Location:
We're going to be in Morocco. That's literally all we know. We might end up living near or in a city, in the desert, or in a rural mountain town, braving the freezing winters. Yes, it actually does get cold in parts of Morocco. Once we're in our initial 3 month training, we'll get informed of our permanent placement location.
love you two!