All about Swear in...At the Presidential Palace

All About Swear-In...At the President of Mali's palace!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 my stage, "The Kennedys," as our PCVTrainers named us, 61 Peace Corps trainees, swore in by taking an oath administered by the US Ambassador to Mali, Gillian Milovanovic, and became official, US federal government-recognized, Peace Corps volunteers. 

Me at swear in in front of the US, Mali and Peace Corps flags

Our oath, and about the oath: 

An individual, except the President, elected or appointed to an office of honor or profit in the civil service or uniformed services, shall take the following oath: “I, AB, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God.” This section does not affect other oaths required by law.

This is the opening speech by Bocar, our training coordinator

First Time to Swear In at the President's Palace

We dressed up in our finest, tailored Malian outfits and went to the President of Mali's palace. This was, for the first time ever, in Peace Corps' 40 long years of service to Mali, the first swear in hosted by a Malian President. In fact, President Amadou Toumani Troure, even spoke many kind words about Peace Corps and the work it does. The full Presidental cabinet attended our ceremony, as well as hundreds of employees of other NGOs, Returned Peace Corps volunteers, Peace Corps staff and US Embassy staff. 

Notable Speeches!

Our Peace Corps Country Director, Mike Simsik, also spoke, in addition to the US Ambassador to Mali. 

“During these last 40 years in Mali, Peace Corps volunteers have worked at the grassroots level to assist communities throughout the country. Volunteers bring their energy, interest in other cultures, and desire to help others to create sustainable solutions for communities that they serve,” said Peace Corps/Mali Country Director Michael J. Simsik. “I am grateful for the generosity of the President of the Republic of Mali for hosting the ceremony. It speaks to the strong friendship between the Peace Corps and Mali, which continues to strengthen with each passing year (Courtesy of Peace Corps, http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1762).” 

The Ambassador, who went out of her way a few weeks ago to visit us during training, also had some incredibly kind words to say about the work of Peace Corps in Mali. "They are the best that America has to offer the world,” said Ambassador Milovanovic. “I salute their courage, their enthusiasm, and generosity. I cannot imagine a better way to show the American people’s collective commitment to working hand-in-hand with the people of Mali.” 

US Ambassador to Mali giving her speech

Volunteers Speaking in the Local Language

The ceremony was beautiful. Right before the President spoke, selected Peace Corps volunteers who were swearing in, gave speeches in their local languages. Our stage (the group of trainees I came in with in January), had individuals learn a total of four languages during PSt: Fulfulde, Malike, Dunnoso and Bambara. My language is Bambara, the language that 80% of Malians speak. The volunteers learn these local languages and are placed in specific sites in which the vol's community speaks the language learned. These languages represent the people in the regions of Mopti, Kaye, Mopti and Sikasso/Koulikoro/Kaye/Mopti.

Swearing in volunteers, Giving the speech in Dunnoso

Giving a speech in Bambara

Meeting the President after joking with him that he was a bean eater.

The President Spoke at our Swear In Too!

The President of Mali spoke for about five to 10 minutes about his appreciation for the work PC does in Mali, and the importance of our work there. After the President's speech, we went outside for a small ceremony and food. The food was so delicious! There are kabobs, appetizers, and cakes and cookies. There was a Peace Corps Mali 50th Anniversary cake awarded to Peace Corps by the President as well.

The President, Amadou Toumani Toure, or ATT. He said he would be in the PC if he were American!

Our Stage Name: The Kennedys

The night before our swear in, all the Peace Corps trainees, and almost all the other 200-ish volunteers in Mali, got together for our swear in celebration. We stayed in Bamako, in the nicest hotel I've seen thus far, with functioning toilets and showers, and AIR CONDITIONING! (That made us all sick because we're not used to it). The PCVs planned the entire excursion, and we went to two separate clubs that played Ameriki music all night. Dancing in Mali is a big workout, because you sweat so much, but it was a blast! Anyway, at the first bar, our fellow Peace Corps Volunteer Trainers, who have been with us from the start, answering our questions and concerns during PST, finally gave us our stage name. 

The tradition of the stage name has existed in Mali for decades now. The trainers name the new stage, based on the personality and events that took place, during that stage's PST. Our name is The Kennedys! They said this was because of the 

1) 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps, initiated by President John F. Kennedy, (and extremely notable 40 years of Peace Corps service in Mali, 2) Haha, special treatment our stage received, having rique talent show, getting Peace Corps rides, having our swear in at the President's palace

Unofficial Stage Name: The Moustage

Although our official Stage name will always be The Kennedys, our unofficial stage name is the Moustage. The reason why, is because most of the guys in our stage grew out mustaches to meet the president. There were handlebars, and a bunch of other mustaches that apparently have names. It was pretty ridiculous, and we all bought T-shirts with a huge mustache on the front and "Moustage 2011" on the back. Our stage has personality, guts and a sense of humor too!

This is my friend John, one of the many dudes who wore ridiculous mustaches for swear in

Some of us from Djialakorobugu, Marlow, Josh and me. Note Josh's ridiculous mustache. 

The Moustage!

Big Thank Yous

It was a beautiful ceremony, and I am grateful to be where I am today. Mali is an amazing place, but its people are what makes it so special here. Gotta give a shout out and Thank you to the US taxpayers, for supporting such a wonderful program, that changes thousands of Americans' lives for the better each year, and thus, makes America a better, more enriched place. 

The outside of ATT's palace

If I were to go straight from this point, you'd be able to see all of Bamako on his overlook

A big thank you should go to our LCFs, who are the backbone of our cultural and language learning, and thus the backbone of our success here in Mali. Thank you to family and friends back home who have offered up so much support, there is not enough I could say to thank you. It means A LOT. 

And a big thank you to the Peace Corps staff, in Washington and Mali, who worked tirelessly to place us in our sites, make this experience special for us, and train us to be successful volunteers. 

More about the Swear in ceremony: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.media.press.view&news_id=1762

Official Peace Corps Volunteer, 

Laura