Links about Nathaniel, the Peace Corps, Chad, and more...


I wanted to put in a plug for a few sites that I think might be interesting... Some of them were done by friends of mine, others are good for general information about the Peace Corps or Chad, and still others are simply places on the internet that I think are cool. As I discover more this list will grow- it is fairly limited at the moment. All of these links will open in a new window, so you will not lose your place here- happy browsing.

Information about the Peace Corps

The Peace Corps Official Website- This is the first step for any potential volunteer. Take a look around, read some of the stories about what voluteers do and why, the history of the program, and much more. Who knows, maybe you're the next volunteer?

The Peace Corps Program in Chad- A more detailed explanation of what the Peace Corps is doing is Chad, the history of the projects in progress, the number of volunteers currently and historically, information on supporting the program, and more.

Peace Corps- Why Volunteer? Some information on why people choose to become Peace Corps Volunteers, and the financial, educational, and other benefits that can be earned by volunteering.

AbbyRowe.com- This is an excellent site, put together by Abigail Rowe, another Peace Corps Volunteer in Chad, who arrived one year before I did. In particular, check out her journals and photography; I learned so much about Chad before I left just by exploring here.

Jonathan Vessey's 'Chadroadhawks' Yahoo Group- This Listserv was put together by another volunteer who arrived at the same time Abby did. He has all sorts of great advice on the Peace Corps, traveling and working in Chad, and much more. (Registration w/Yahoo required)

Information about Chad

Lonely Planet- One of the best travel guides for those on a budget (Peace Corps Volunteers, or Study Abroad students, for example). Lonely Planet offers great tips on where to go, what to see, and how to live cheap while you're doing it. This information is more of a general background on Chad, as there really isn't all that much in the way of tourist stuff to see.

State Department Background Notes on Chad- A slightly more official statistical portrait of the country, with a lot of detail on religious groups, ethnic populations, and more. This report was my primary basis for the About Chad page.

State Department Consular Information Sheet- Still more information, but from a more diplomatic perspective, and includes data about visas, customs, etc.

CIA World Factbook Entry: Chad- Just the facts, but very much from an intelligence-related point of view, with information on military info, maps, and more.

Canadian Government Cultural Profiles Project- A small Chadian population has begun to arrive in Canada within the past few years, particularly in the French-speaking province of Quebec. This page is full of information about Chadian culture, food, customs, history and much more.

UN CyberSchoolBus Information on Chad- This is a report from the United Nations about Chad, aimed more at younger audiences, but filled with excellent information for people of all ages.

Tchad.org- An excellent independent resource on everything Chadian, everything from a typical day, to recipes, artwork and more. The site is in both English and French, and contains several pictures of daily life.

Chadian News

Panapress- A Pan-African news portal, with sections focusing specifically on each country in the region. A link from the homepage will take you directly to the Chadian section, although other news is available elsewhere.

AllAfrica.com- Another news and information portal, which offers up-to-the-minute information on the latest headlines in Chad and around North-Central Africa. This link goes directly to the Chad section.

Miscellaneous Chad-related links

Buy a Phone Card for Chad- As I said on the contact page, it is ridiculously expensive to make a direct call to anywhere in Chad, maybe $3-4/min. The phone cards available here offer rates anywhere from .17-.25¢/min, and cost usually between $5-$20.

Weather Forecast for Various Places in Chad- See how hot, rainy, humid, or dusty it happens to be today, in a number of areas throughout the country.

The Chadian National Anthem- This probably falls under the 'random trivia' category, but if you're curious.

Other Links: Pages I've Developed, and Friend's Sites

Czech Point 101- David Showalter, a friend of mine from Arcata started this business a few years ago when he moved to the Czech Republic. He helps individuals and companies navigate through the maze of red tape and bureaucracy involved in setting up a company, getting a residence permit, even getting married.

Zia Chaparral- My stepmother's desginer handbag business in Sarasota, Florida.

Bayou Metal Company- My grandmother's business in Tampa, FL; they do silver refining, document destruction, environmental services, and more.

San Francisco Hillel- The nonprofit I worked for in San Francisco my senior year at SFSU. I also did most of the graphic design for their site.

A few of my Europe in the World Classmates Websites:

Jason Bedient- An American who was also in the EitW program with me, and a great photographer.

Christine Drud- One of my Danish classmates who is working as a successful freelancer for a number of publications in Denmark, and across Europe.

Lene Dalsgaard Jensen- Another Danish classmate currently working on her Masters degree, but also doing freelance work.

Simon Kruse Rasmussen- One of my friends from the EitW program living in Århus, I believe, and writing for a number of community papers. Be forewarned that his website is almost entirely in Danish.

Other Links: News & Info

BBC News- Although no media is completely unbiased, BBC seems to be mostly impartial, and focuses on news which is actually important...

The Guardian- One of the most influential and highest quality British newspapers. It has a more left-wing slant editorially, and I don't always agree with everything they say, but it's informative either way.

International Herald Tribune- An excellent source for world news, gathered from local editions in countries from the US, France, Israel, Korea, and everywhere in between.

The New York Times- Generally considered to be the US' most influential and highest quality newspaper.

Mother Jones Magazine- A great magazine in the tradition of liberal muckrakers; they offer excellent investigative journalism, exposés on environmental and civil rights issues, and much more.

The Atlantic Monthly- One of the best magazines for long-form narrative journalism, I believe.

Salon.com- One of my favorite websites for investigative, political journalism.