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.
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| Arriving in Berovo |
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| Excited! |
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| Aurora Resort |
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| Some crafts during COS |
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| Ready to play some American football |
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| with a seventh player on the field... |
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| 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.
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| MAK18s |
