Keeping in Contact
Posted By Sika on May 2, 2007
First of all, for photos of my journeys, please continue to check in to flickr. Same as with my posts, I will be friendslocking some photos if I’m worried about them being associated with my name in the eyes of the Peace Corps or the Malawian government. So, go ahead and add me if you’ve already got an account there. I will also continue to oh so innocently lead you to my flickr page like so:
I have a request that everybody who gets this email and doesn’t see a photo of themselves on flickr (or a photo that they like) please send me a photo or a link to one that I can take with me to Malawi.
For my first 8 weeks in Malawi (that’s June 2-August 2) I will have no internet access. After the first 8 weeks, my internet access will continue to be sporadic. I would love to receive letters, especially in those first 8 weeks when I will be dealing with culture shock. Letters take 6 weeks to get to Lilongwe and a couple weeks longer to get to me, depending on where I get placed exactly. It is recommended that we number correspondence so as to know if any letters get lost. If you are mailing postcards, send them in envelopes or they will end up decorating the post office walls instead of mine. The address to send correspondence to is as follows:
Jessica Holman, PCT (after 8/02, it’s PCV)
PEACE CORPS/MALAWI
BOX 208
LILONGWE
MALAWI
SOUTHERN AFRICA
At the end of training I will learn where exactly I am going and will update my address, but this address will continue to be good until I come home.
Edited to add: Now that I am in Zomba, my address is
Jessica Holman
Zomba School of Nursing
P.O. Box 122
Zomba
Malawi
Southern Africa
I still like getting mail 
The next bit is copied from the Peace Corps manual for family members:
3. Sending packages. Family members and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail. Please be advised that packages can often take 1-2 months, but sometimes as long as 4-6 months. Unfortunately,
For lightweight, but important or time sensitive items (e.g. airline tickets), we would recommend using an express mail service. DHL is one possibility and other courier services may operate in Lilongwe. For more information about DHL, please call their toll free number, 1-800-CALL-DHL, or visit their web site at www.dhl.com. We advise you to shop around to find the best prices and service options.
If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package as follows:
Jessica Holman, PCT
c/o U. S. Peace Corps Malawi
AREA 4 PLOT 70
ACROSS FROM OILCOM DEPOT
LILONGWE
MALAWI
SOUTHERN AFRICA
In case of an emergency occuring at home that I need to know about, you may send me a message by contacting the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470 . The handbook says:
Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that we can inform the Volunteer. Use the above number during regular business hours (9:00 am to 5:00 pm Eastern time, Monday through Friday). After hours, or during weekends, the Peace Corps Duty Officer may be reached at (202) 638-2574. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency, and the Duty Officer will call you back
I will also be getting a cell phone at some point, and text messaging will be available then.
OK, I think that’s it. If there’s any other information you feel like I’m missing, let me know now so I can update/edit as necessary.
When do you leave again?
wow…i’m just really impressed! I hope you’ll have time to see some sites in South Africa during your training weeks. Best wishes and safe travels!