Networking makes a difference, to be sure.

Since I moved to Mandeville at the start of August I have been flooded with work. (This is a very good thing.) Every sort of work. I've been rocking hardcore in the volunteer ambulance, teaching first aid / CPR classes, attending Red Cross executive meetings, preparing a grant proposal, and so forth.

I figured I could share three short stories about networking. Even though they are different in scope / intentions, each experience has helped me integrate into my new community in an efficient and effective way.

1. There is a country club in Mandeville. The term 'country club' here is used loosely, but nonetheless there is a club in Mandeville with a nine hole golf course, a squash court, weight room, billiards table, bar, and a few tennis courts. Its pretty bare bones beyond that, but the bones are all in place. ANYWAYS, I decided that in this whole ridiculous move scenario I might push my limits and see how much a membership would be for a random white dude, so I went to the club a few weeks back and met the manager. $40K/year. Ouch. After I explained that was too much, things started to get interesting. I explained that I was with the Peace Corps, and it turns out the manager knows / likes the Peace Corps and what they do. She has had a lot of PC friends in the past. Long story short, I managed to work out a situation where I can pay what I want, when I want for a country club membership. We set a general price at about 60% off the initial offer, and I can now play squash / lift whenever I want. I think I charmed her.

Moral 1: Doing volunteer work with the Peace Corps can help you out in ways you don't expect. Being chill and awesome helps too.

2. Part of my job is trying to establish income generation projects for the Manchester Red Cross in hopes that the branch may one day function at high enough a level to support a full time administrative worker to staff the office. The main way I plan on doing this is promotion of the volunteer ambulance service. More calls = more money = potential for administrative help. Additionally, I am teaching various health classes with a super competent first aid / CPR instructor named Andy. We get along great, and recently (about a week and a half ago) he had the idea to try and spin my expired EMT license from the states into a valid EMT-esque instructor license in Jamaica. I got an email over the weekend saying that my application had been received by ESCI, and today received a follow up email informing me that I had been approved for teaching up to the First Responder competency level. This is pretty much the highest level of certification currently held by any ambulance workers in Jamaica, so I am now a powerhouse of sorts in the training world. Andy and I will be teaching classes throughout the next year, and this increased level of training certification should help us bring in more cash for the branch while providing necessary training to interested individuals. All I did was scan my expired card and send it Andy's way, and less than a week later I find myself certified as a first responder instructor. Word.

Moral 2: The people working at the Red Cross in Mandeville are awesome, awesome people. The work I do over the next year should be very useful and right up my alley. Good relations are essential among coworkers, and cool stuff like this can come along randomly.

3. Last Wednesday, the Governor General of Jamaica made his first official visit to Manchester Parish. The Governor General is the figurehead of the country. While he has no voting power, he signs all legislation into law and acts as a gobetween for the two political parties. He is one of the three most powerful people in the country, and I got to chill with him. The Red Cross staffs a volunteer ambulance (as mentioned above). On Wednesday, my supervisor, a Red Cross first aid worker, myself, and my friend Emily (another Peace Corps EMT), drove the ambulance around the parish following the Governor General to three separate community forums. He spoke at each, and heard updates from community members in three different parts of the parish. My supervisor wisely took each opportunity to plug the Red Cross and Peace Corps, and he was right to do so. At the final of three stops, Emily and I were deemed guests of honor, and welcomed in turn along with the Custos of Manchester. The Governor General took a moment out of his stump speech to thank us for the work we are doing in this country, and asked for a response (as per Jamaican protocol). I spoke for two minutes or so to an enthusiastic crowd, doing my best to explain what Peace Corps is all about. The event was covered by national media, and yeah. Rad. The Peace Corps Country Director wants me to get my hands on a copy of the tape so that PC/Jamaica can use quotes as a means towards self-promotion. Word. Afterwards, it seemed like we got thank yous from just about everyone in the crowd, and we got to exchange words with the Governor General on a more personal level. It was sweet. Emily almost got a ride back to Kingston in his chopper, but alas... next time.

Moral 3: Self promotion in the right arena is highly effective. Over three meetings, the Governor General grew to appreciate the volunteer work we do as volunteers, and used us as an example for Jamaicans to follow. It was an amazing feeling to talk with such a powerful guy, and have him thank us for our work. Truly a standout day, as far as days here go.

Tomorrow I should be getting internet put in at my house, so I will try to upload some pictures.

That's about it... three stories, three awesome outcomes. A ton has been going on, and I have been way to busy to write about any of it. Email me with questions, or if you want to chat.

Miss you all,

TG