Regional Leader

I like Panama. I like Peace Corps. So I applied for a job. And I got it! You are reading the blog of Herrera and Los Santos's newest regional leader for 2013-2014! 

Here is what it means....

Peace Corps/Panama understands that the Volunteers are our greatest resource and in this spirit, in May 2003, implemented a Regional Leader (RL) system that enhances Volunteer support, site development and agency relations.  RLs are outstanding third-year or high-performing second-year Volunteers who ideally serve for a period of one year and are selected by the Country Director (CD) to act as a liaison between Peace Corps and partner organizations in each region.  RLs play a primary role in Volunteer support as a mentor and by helping to make sure Volunteers have the resources and contacts they need to be productive.  RLs are also members of the Site Development Team and support the Associate Peace Corps Directors (APCDs) and PTSs in identifying and developing sites and placing Volunteers.

Regional Leader duties include: 1) volunteer support, 2) site development, 3) regional meetings, 4) trainings, 5) inter- institutional coordination, 6) picking up the pieces, 7) safety coordination and 8) regional handbook 9) 25% of the time devoted to a specific project.

Another year in Azuero!

This is why we don't have nice things.

Peace Corps Volunteers become used to living with no amenities. So when you give them too many nice things at once, for example doors, someone is bound to get locked in. And that someone happened to be me. At our close of service conference in Panama City, I got locked in the bathroom. The door handle was broken and when I shut the door to use the bathroom, it did not re-open. After a hot half hour, and some PC ingenuity, a butter knife, and some pliers...I was free! Luckily they saved me a plate of lasagna :)