Beckoned Again By Far Away Lands!

I know, I know...I said I would NEVER go abroad again! But, honestly, who was I kidding?? ha!

OK, here's the latest: I have been offered a 10-month contract by the US State Department in Cape Verde, starting in late September!!

While there, I will be training Peace Corps volunteers and university students on teaching techniques and tourism development. Should be an interesting experience.

So, once I return from my summer gig in El Salvador (August 13), I will put on my Cesaria Evora CD's (she a famous Cape Verdean singer) and start the process of packing up again! Call me crazy, but those island breezes are calling out to me! (And truthfully, the job prospects here in Colorado haven't been all that promising, given today's economic climate.)

More details to come, so stay tuned!

Lots of love,

Daniel

P.S. For those of you who have NO idea where Cape Verde is (don't be ashamed, I didn't either!), here is some more information from the Peace Corps website:

The Cape Verde archipelago is located approximately 375 miles off the coast of West Africa. It is composed of nine inhabited islands and eight islets. The islands have a combined size of just over 4,000 square kilometers (roughly the size of Rhode Island ). Of volcanic origin, the spectacular islands, which boast some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, vary widely in terrain. Cape Verde was a former Portuguese colony, and retains much influence from that European nation (trade, language, religion, food, customs, etc). In 1988, Peace Corps sent its first group of Volunteers to Cape Verde. Since then there have been over 300 Volunteers who have served in Cape Verde. Peace Corps Volunteers have served on all nine inhabited islands; presently, 46 Volunteers serve on all islands except Brava and Boavista. Over the past fifteen years the Peace Corps program in Cape Verde has grown in the number of Volunteers serving and its scope of intervention. To help the local government address its myriad development needs, the program has adapted its focus and objectives to keep in step with the country's development initiatives. Volunteers work closely with educational institutions, local government offices and nongovernmental agencies (NGOs) assisting communities in identifying their needs and resources and developing projects that help communities best use local resources to meet their needs.