COS Conference

In a way it felt like PST again, except that Peace Corps was preparing us for our move back to the States instead of preparing us for our cultural journey in Macedonia.  COS (Close of Service) Conference was an emotional, information-packed set of days that, like the rest of our service, passed by too quickly.

From August 12-14, the MAK18 group met in Berovo at the Aurora Resort for the COS conference.  The main idea behind the conference is to prepare all of the volunteers for their return to the States, and how to best say goodbye to those we consider friends and family in Macedonia.  As the agenda below shows, the conference prepared us for reverse culture shock, how to conceptualize and share our experience with friends and family back home, and how to say farewell to those we met here.  In a practical sense, it also explained how we close our bank accounts in Macedonia, how to write our description of service, which options we have for medical insurance for when we return, and which resources are available for us in regards to graduate education and employment. 

The conference began with an exciting raffle for most of our group.  Even though our official COS date is November 28, volunteers in Macedonia are able to draw from a lottery, allowing them to COS for up to a month before the official date.  Thus, 15 or so volunteers drew from a pot to choose when they would return home.  Volunteers then have the option of letting Peace Corps pay for their ticket home, or to receive about $1300 to arrange their own travel.  Before officially COSing (and getting on that plane), volunteers are also required to be in the PC office three days before their departure, in order to close all of their accounts, verify their medical status, etc.  It is because these three days involve a lot of administrative work that Peace Corps Macedonia segments the COS process for all of its volunteers.  If each volunteer COSed on the same date, you can imagine how stressful it would be for the staff (especially since it would fall in the middle of PST)!

In a group of about 32 remaining PCVs, only 15 drew for COS dates because so many are either extending or continuing their service until December since they will be PST trainers.  According to the Country Director, our group has the highest number of extending volunteers among MAK groups, with 9 PCVs extending for a full year and three (including me) for 6 months. Thus, we were omitted from the lottery and were asked to put our memories into “full gear” so that we can use all of the information for the next year when we actually COS (year-long extendees will likely not be able to attend another COS conference). 

Otherwise, a lot of information was presented to help us “move on” from our service and prepare for life after Peace Corps.  For example, we learned that we are covered for medical insurance for one month after our COS date (with an option to pay for and extend that care for two additional months).  We also learned about Non-Competitive Eligibility, which for one year allows us to skip some processes of the hiring process when applying for federal jobs (it seemed natural, yet uncanny, that the Youtube video hyperlinked and that we watched during the conference, is hosted by BJ who started our PC experience in DC during Staging).  And of course, Peace Corps reminded us to return to them our heaters, fire extinguishers, and all other safety or household items.

Part of the conference was also geared to prepare us for reverse culture shock.  While many of us have integrated over the past two years, we will soon need to lose that integration so that we can adapt back to life in the States.  Of course, reverting back to a culture is easier than learning a new one, but nonetheless requires time for adjustment.  Based on my short trip back to Chicago this past winter, I can say that some things will be tough to adjust to.  My mannerisms have become much less polite, since social interaction in Macedonia is overall more “efficient”.  For example, I remember the day in January before returning back to Macedonia when my parents were ordering Chinese food, and I asked them to “Give me beef with broccoli”.  My stepfather told me to ask politely, saying “please”, and I quickly realized how differently and casually we order food in Macedonia.  Additionally, we learned from PCVs who had already returned to the States once (and are either currently working in Macedonia or serving again as PCV Response volunteers) that, beyond a certain point, people really don't care about how we spent our service here.  It became clear that some of our closest family and friends from home will only be able to listen to so much about our experience here before we bore or annoy them.  Understandably, these people will not be invested in hearing about our experiences because they have not experienced it themselves.  But many of us will be lucky to be near other PCVs in order to compare and relate our individual stories.

Arriving in Berovo

 

Excited!

Aurora Resort

Some crafts during COS 

Ready to play some American football

with a seventh player on the field...

Dance party

COS conference was also one of our last opportunities to hang out as a MAK18 group.  We were lucky to have the conference in Berovo, which marked a luxurious end to our 27 months in Peace Corps.  Aurora Resort is located in the mountains near Berovo, just next to a reservoir and dam. Even though the day was filled with sessions, we had opportunities in the mornings and evenings to run the nearby trails or to swim in the infinity pool.  The climate in Berovo is usually quite cooler than the rest of Macedonia, so nightly swims are a bit brisk.  Thus, a few of us decided on Thursday night to warm up for our swim while playing some American football.  Just as we were about to begin our game, a colt (not the Indianapolis kind, but an equine creature) decided to graze/ run around with us on the field.  Also, a few of us spent the first night gazing at the stars as a meteor shower glittered the night sky.  Even at the end of our service, we were creating lasting memories.

There were also parts of the conference that encouraged us to reflect on our own memories and experiences.  One of the most emotional sessions asked us to relate our “highs and lows” of Peace Corps service to the rest of our group.  A few volunteers broke down and shed tears for tough times or for people that they will miss when they return from service.  During our last session, our country director gave a final speech, but did so crying herself (I am not sure how she would feel about me sharing this on my blog, but hopefully she does not find out).  However, her tears were a sincere indication of the investment and love she has for our group.  She arrived in Macedonia during the middle of our training, and one of the first things she did as a PC Country Director was swear us in as volunteers.  Thus, her journey here was parallel to ours.  I doubt I will ever have a boss/ supervisor that will cry for us like our country director did, and it is with the utmost gratitude that we have a country director that cares so much about Peace Corps Macedonia.

Honestly, COS conference was an emotional experience for me.  I left Berovo with a lot on my mind, both reflecting on the past 2 years, thinking about the remainder of my service here, and on my life after Peace Corps.  COS conference was also the first time where I sort of “panicked” and thought, “Holy moly!  I am staying here for 6 months longer than many of my friends!”  In time, the work ahead will quickly overcome that reaction, but it was tough discussing about the end of service when I still have an autumn, winter, and spring in Macedonia ahead of me.  But I have come away from COS appreciating a great two years behind me, shared with an awesome group of Americans I never knew I could love so much.

MAK18s