3/4/96 Note from Carla:
Trey,
John wrote this memo to me and I am passing it on to you. John obviously believes that there is a problem with the way that you are either riding the bike or maintaining it.
Please take care of this one! If you have questions see Natty or John or Rob. I'm afraid this is the last one!
Carla
3/4/96 Letter to Carla:
Carla Hunt, APCD
Peace Corps Mauritania
Dear Carla, (somehow restraining myself from saying what first came to mind!)
I received your note today, as well as the Memorandum from John McKenney, APCD/Admin, to which it was attached. I have enclosed a copy of his letter, as well as some underlined items I felt deserved illumination and a note I took before writing this letter.
I have been slandered, and I will not remain part of an organization which allows this.
Though Mr. McKenney did not say it as clearly as he implied, he has accused me of deliberately destroying government property. In his letter, he and Naty have provided one possible explanation for the damage to the bike. That explanation is that: "The spark plug had been changed...This not only destroyed the piston but caused the destruction of the cylinder...The feeling here and with Naty is that Mr. Carr is determined to get a new bike...The bikes we have sent are in good order." Mr. McKenney, in making these statements, has directly implied that I changed the spark plug to deliberately destroy the bike so I could get anew one. I see no other way to read it.
It would appear at first glance that Mr. McKenney offers two possible explanations for the damage done to the moto: "The spark plug had been changed...and/or...Excessive speed caused the cylinder to crack due to overheating, but that would not create the hole in the piston." In other words, Mr. McKenney's only possible explanation for the damage done to the cylinder and the piston is that the wrong spark plug was installed. Because Mr. McKenney states that "The bikes we have sent are in good order," he has determined that I changed the spark plug, for the previously mentioned reason that I was "determined to get a new bike."
Furthermore, Mr. McKenney states that "We have not had any of the same problems with any other bikes." I believe I recently heard of serious damage to the motor of Jen Rierson's Suzuki 125, which has been in service less than a year. And, his statement that "there are volunteers using older bikes which would be more prone to breakdowns." Who are these volunteers? What bikes are they using? The last I heard, I was the only volunteer in country assigned a Honda 50.
The rest of the volunteers are currently using 125's, ranging from Kawasakis, less than 4 years old, to Yamahas, less than 6 months old. I am unaware that any Honda MT-5's have been purchased in that time.
In January of 1995, my group of volunteers was given moto training by a Malian, whose name I have forgotten. At the end of the training, I assisted him in translating his final report into English. He stated in that report that Honda 50's were inappropriate for this program, because the bikes are not robust enough to endure this sandy terrain and climate.
Mr. McKenney states that I have "proven (myself) unable to maintain the bikes" I have been given, and that I have "abused the ones" I have been given.
I find it ridiculous that I am issued old, unsuitable equipment in an African village, where it is nearly impossible to find 2-cycle oil and spark plugs, much less parts to repair engine problems caused by incompetent Peace Corps staff who sent the inappropriate moto with a spark plug that would destroy the motor.
In my brief Peace Corps experience, I have had two Honda 50's, both of which lasted approximately two weeks apiece. In addition, I was a issued a 1981 Suzuki 125, that I had asked not to be given because I didn't trust the bike, as it had known problems and had been sitting in storage at Peace Corps for several years because of those problems. At Naty's request, I test drove the bike last September 5th before I returned to site the next day. The motor sounded funny, so I informed Peace Corps that I did not want that bike, and we did not bring it to site the next day. I wrote a letter to Director Rob Hanawalt on the 12th of September, complaining that I did not have safe, reliable transportation, and that Dieuk volunteers Samantha Martin and Elisabeth Freeman were visiting outlying villages on an old Honda 125 whose chain was in serious danger of slipping off a destroyed sprocket, and posed a threat to the safety of anyone riding. According to Miss Freeman, Naty had seen the bike on the sixth of September, specifically the sprocket whose teeth were wearing down, and was not concerned with it. I have been riding motorcycles since I was eleven, and I know that one of the biggest treats to a motorcycle rider is a chain that slips off. In addition, the Honda 125 was not equipped with the chain guard, a safety feature designed to prevent or lessen the danger of a slipping chain to the riders of the bike.
In his response to me, the Director replied, among other things, that "We (the Peace Corps bureau) prefer to keep the non-roadworthy bikes here at the office." Also, he said that "we are concerned about the Volunteers' safety. Motorcycles are very dangerous." I took this to mean that I was wrong in thinking that a toothless sprocket and lack of chain guard posed a danger to riders of the motorcycle. In essence, "We, the Peace Crops Bureau, know what we are talking about, whereas you, the Peace Corps volunteer, do not."
I have been ridiculed by the Director, I have been accused of willful destruction of U.S. Government property by the APCD, and at the very least, I have never been given the same opportunity that every village PCV in Mauritania has at this time: a motorcycle to facilitate my work that is in good working order and is suitable to this climate and terrain.
Carla, you know very well my ideas for work and how badly I do want to do good work here that will make a difference. I will not be able to effectively follow the introduction of our Peace Corps', appropriate technology pumps in the Rosso region if I have no reliable transport. To say that I don't need/deserve a good moto, whereas every other village PCV in country does, is scandalous. The last line, in your letter, "I'm afraid this is the last one!" shows me that you have taken Mr. McKenney's accusation as truth, and have decided my fate without bothering to consult with me. I am truly disappointed.
I must say that I am again seriously questioning whether I want to be a Peace Corps Volunteer. This letter should make the reasons obvious to all. I ask myself, "Just what is it that the Peace Corps is for me?" Well, you've shipped me here, I was taught for three months that I should just stay in my village, I should concentrate my work efforts on getting people to wash their hands, and that I should always be careful never to ever do something that might offend a native Mauritanian. In addition, I am paid a total of nearly thirteen dollars a day, I am allowed to reunite with my coworkers every three to four months, and I am not allowed to own a vehicle. Is my work here as effective as it could possibly be? Am I striving ahead with the backing of the Peace Corps? Or is Peace Corps currently restricting me from my full potential?
I believe that the
program here is experiencing some truly remarkable changes for the better. I hear tell that our cross-sector collaboration on the introduction of appropriate technology pumps is revolutionary in Peace Corps. A new age is coming in
development, and Peace Corps has begun to take a few steps to become a part of it. I will be a part of it, with or without Peace Corps. I would prefer to be a pat of Peace Corps through the end of my
two year service, but I will not stay if some things are not made right with me. I deserve better than the lot I have been given, and I will do what it takes to reach my potential, and get the respect that I deserve.
PS: Ms. Hungerbuhler did not wish to keep the repaired Honda 50 at her house, so I have transported it to Breun. As I do not trust the bike, I will not be driving it again. It will rest in front of my house until Peace Corps comes to get it.
PPS: To set the record absolutely straight, with the last 50 that broke I: cleaned the dirty air filter, tightened the chain, replaced the bent handlebar, replaced the neutral light, took apart and cleaned the horn button so it would work consistently, adjusted the brakes, and was able to install only one mirror because the threads on the other were stripped. I did nothing with the spark plug. Also, I injected a liquid (purchased in the states) into the tires designed to help prevent flats.
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Update: I just got back from In Service Training in Kaedi, and it was hot as hell. Temperatures have been around 120 degrees F, and still in the hundreds till early in the morning. I'm not ET'ing, but we still haven't completely sorted out my problems yet. We're trying. Anyway, I think Betsy and I will spend the rest of this year planting a great garden, buying beads, and enjoying ourselves. What else is there?
I've been really depressed for a couple
of weeks because of these problems, but hopefully we'll get 'em resolved soon. I'm already in a better mood, if nothing else because I'm tired of worrying about the stuff. I'm happy about getting a computer, and especially about Mom and Wes
coming soon, and possibly Keith. I miss everybody.
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