Keeping In Touch with J&M

Several folks have asked us how to stay in touch after we leave for South Africa. Here are a few tips and tricks:

Online Communications

• Follow Blog. At the bottom of our pages, you should see a form, stating, "Rather Read Our Blog Via Email? Enter Email Address Here:" By entering your email, you are subscribing to receive an email notification each time we post a new update. 
• Email. We will be keeping our personal email accounts from prior to our service. M promises to clean out the spam in her inbox so that you might actually get a response from her... ;) J is definitely more responsive to emails than M.
• Facebook. J&M are both on Facebook and will be updating when possible. M is definitely more active on Facebook than J.
• Facebook Group. At the suggestion of a good friend, we have created a Secret Group for folks who want to stay in the loop. The group will be moderated by friends and is a place for our community to link with one another. If you would like to be added to said group, please ask via Facebook message.

Phone Communication

• Download Whatsapp: http://www.whatsapp.com/
  Works like text messages except that it uses data.  WhatsApps is much cheaper for J&M to communicate with people in South Africa and around the world using it.  The only catch is that you need a smart phone.
• Calling cards are another option.  They are widely available in the US.  A $5 calling card gives you about 60 minutes of talking time.

Snail Mail Letters/Packages

Mail service within South Africa is not as efficient or reliable as we may be accustomed to in the US. There may be great variation in the time it takes for mail and packages to arrive, though it generally takes 4-8 weeks. Some mail simply may not arrive.

• Number each letter or package in the order that you send them. This will help us to know if/when one gets lost. 
• For packages, it is encouraged to use padded or bubble envelopes whenever possible. Big packages may be subject to greater taxes in customs. See the list below for "care package" ideas that do not take up much space.
• List the contents as religious materials (bibles, etc).

Mailing Addresses

• For regular letters/packages:

Joe or Michelle Harper Kowalczyk
George Caltex Primary School
PO Box 816
Kwa-Ngwanase 3973
SOUTH AFRICA

• For lightweight but important items (e.g. airline tickets), DHL (an express mail service) does operate in Pretoria. If you choose to send items through DHL, address the package to: 

Julie Burns, Country Director

c/o: U. S. Peace Corps

126 Verdoorn Street

Sunnyside 0028

Pretoria

SOUTH AFRICA

The phone number for the Peace Corps office in South Africa is (27) 12-344-4255, as DHL will need this information. If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed.

Care Package Ideas
Please read the suggestions above to make sure that the items get through customs with ease. Some care package ideas that are lightweight or deliverable online include:

• Girl Scout cookies (Samoa cookies are our favorite!)
• Tony Chachere's Creole Seasoning
• Dog toys for Charlie (especially ones that will keep a dog busy during the day while we're at school)
• Kindle gift cards
• Printed photos
• Flash drives with movies, music, etc.
• Travel-sized games
• Candy
• Lightweight craft supplies
• Stickers!!
• Ziplock bags... repackage things in these bags before sending. Two gifts in one!
• Dried fruits
• Pens/pencils

Emergency Communication
In the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden critical illness, etc.), please do not hesitate to call:

• Counseling and Outreach Unit (COU) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension 1470 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) 692-1470 and you will be transferred to an answering service. Tell the operator your name, telephone number, and the nature of the emergency and the Peace Corps Duty Officer will call you back.