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This email was received by Michael from the Country Desk in Washington, DC, on 15 December 2004. The accompanying letter said, "If you think that other family members or friends may want to visit you in Niger , please make copies of the travel information and distribute them before you leave the United States ," so I'm putting this information up on the site. I've edited out email addresses and other identifying information for security; email or call my parents if you need any of the information that's been removed. Dear Prospective Volunteer:  Please give this letter to your family and ask them to hold on to it for as long as you are in Niger                                                                                                           December 15, 2004 Dear Families: Greetings from the Niger Desk in Washington, D.C. It is with great pleasure that we welcome your family member to the 2005 Niger Winter training program. During the past year we have received many requests from Volunteers and family members alike regarding travel plans, sending money, relaying messages and mail, etc.  As we are unable to involve ourselves in the personal arrangements of Volunteers, we would like to offer you advice and assistance in advance by providing specific examples of situations and how we suggest they be handled. 1.  Irregular Communication Please be advised that during the two months of pre-service training, Volunteers do not have access to email or phone.  The best method of communication during this period is via international mail.  Once Volunteers are assigned to their sites they will have regular, although not always frequent, access to both phone and email.  You may not get an immediate response to an e-mail and it is important to be patient.  Volunteers do not have the opportunity to check their email everyday as we do here!  International mail is perhaps the best method of communication, and certainly the most gratifying for the Volunteer.  Receiving a letter is always the high point of a Volunteer’s day.  It is important to remember, however, that the postal service in Niger is not as efficient as the U.S. Postal Service.  It can take three to four weeks for mail coming from Niger to arrive in the United States via the Nigerien postal system.  From a Volunteer’s post, mail might take 1-2 months to reach the United States.  Sometimes mail is hand-carried to the U.S. by a traveler and mailed through the U.S. postal system.  This leg of the trip can take another several weeks as it is also dependent on the frequency of travelers to the U.S. (Please see #3 for the mailing address to Peace Corps’ office in Niamey, the capital of Niger.)  Postcards should be sent in envelopes–otherwise they may be found on the wall of the local post office! Volunteers often enjoy telling their “war” stories when they contact you.  Letters, emails, or phone calls might describe recent illnesses, lack of good food, isolation, etc.  This information is often misinterpreted on the home front.  Please do not assume that if your family member had a malaria attack that he/she has been unattended.  There are two Peace Corps medical officers at the Peace Corps office in Niamey .  Through a short wave radio network, as well as telephones, Peace Corps monitors the safety of the Volunteers.  In the event of a serious illness, the Volunteer is sent to Niamey and is cared for by our medical staff.  If the Volunteer requires medical care that is not available in Niger , he/she will be medically evacuated to Dakar , Senegal or the United States .  Fortunately, these are rare circumstances. If for some reason your communication pattern is broken and you do not hear from your family member for three months, you may want to contact the Office of Special Services (OSS) at Peace Corps Washington at 1-800-424-8580, extension XXXX. OSS will then contact the Peace Corps Director in Niamey and ask him to check up on the Volunteer.  Also, in the case of an emergency at home (death in the family, sudden illness, etc), please do not hesitate to call OSS immediately, so that we can inform the Volunteer. 2.  Telephone Calls.  The telephone system in Niger is relatively good.  Service in and out of Niamey to the U.S. is somewhat reliable, although it is very difficult to send a fax to the Peace Corps office.  In the interior of the country, where most of the Volunteers are located, there are no phones.  Sometimes Volunteers plan to be in Niamey or a regional capital on a certain date to receive calls from home.  This can usually work, but there are also innumerable factors that can make the best-laid plans fall apart.  Please be aware that the Peace Corps staff in Niamey and Washington do not have the time to assist in arranging these calls.  Your family member will be able to inform you of the actual telephone numbers once they arrive in country. 3.  Sending packages.  Parents and Volunteers like to send and receive care packages through the mail, however be aware there is no estimate as to how long packages will take to arrive, and sometimes things can go missing.  We do not recommend sending costly items through the mail.  Some Volunteers choose to get a local post office box closer to where they are posted in country and if they do, they should relay that address to you. Note that you may always use the following address to send letters and/or packages to your family member:                                                 John Doe, PCV                                                 Corps de la Paix                                                 B. P. 10537                                                 Niamey, Niger                                                 West Africa It is recommended that packages be sent in padded envelopes if possible, as boxes tend to be taxed more heavily.  Custom fees can sometimes add up to $100.  For lightweight but important items (e.g. airline tickets), DHL (an express mail service) does operate in Niamey.  If you choose to send items through DHL, you must address the package to the Country Director, c/o Corps de la Paix, Niamey , Niger .  If you send the item to the Country Director, no liability can be assumed.  Please call a DHL office nearest you for more information.  Their toll free number is 1-800-CALL-DHL, or access more information online at www.dhl.com. Peace Corps Volunteers must pay for handling fees for all DHL or other express mail items. This cost usually amounts to CFA 10,000 (roughly USD $20.00), which is a sizeable fee for a Volunteer. Sending airplane tickets via international mail is not recommended.  Certain airlines will allow you to buy a pre-paid ticket in the U.S. ; they will telex their Niamey office to have the ticket ready.  Unfortunately, this system is not always reliable.  Currently Air Maroc, and Air France fly into Niamey, but each has its own policy on pre-paid tickets.  Please call the airline of your choice for more information.  You can also send tickets via DHL as mentioned previously.  However, Peace Corps will assume no liability in the event of a lost or stolen airline ticket. Trying to send cash or checks is very risky and is discouraged.  If your Volunteer family member requests money from you, it is his/her responsibility to arrange receipt of it.  Volunteers will be aware of people visiting the U.S. and can request that they call his/her family when they arrive in the U.S. should airline tickets or cash need to be sent back to Niger.  The Volunteer living allowance does provide Volunteers with a very sufficient amount of money to live comfortably in Niger. We have also enclosed some information which may help if you, or any friends, wish to visit your family member in Niger.  We hope this information is helpful to you during the time your family member is serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Niger.  We understand how frustrating it is to communicate with your family member overseas and we appreciate your using this information as a guideline.  Please feel free to contact us at the Niger Desk in Washington , D.C. if you have any further questions.  Our phone number is 1-800-424-8580, extension XXXX or XXXX, or e-mail XXXXXXX@peacecorps.gov or XXXXXXX@peacecorps.gov. Sincerely,                           Angus Martin                                                Patricia Butron                              Niger Desk Officer                                                       Niger Desk Assistant XXXXXXX@peacecorps.gov                                          XXXXXXX@peacecorps.gov   Information and Advice for Families and Friends Planning to Visit Niger The following points of information and advice have been compiled from various sources (previous visitors, former Volunteers, staff, etc.) for people planning to visit Peace Corps Volunteers in Niger.  Visitors and Volunteers have learned that advance planning, communication between the Volunteer and visitor, and flexibility are very important aspects of a successful and satisfying trip.  We hope that the suggestions and information below will be helpful. You may also wish to consult various travel books such as The Lonely Planet’s Africa on a Shoestring, or West Africa on a Shoestring. Please note that Trainees are not allowed to have visitors during pre-service training, which takes place during the first few months in Niger .  After swearing-in as Volunteers, they should not take leave from their post for vacation for the first three months.  Visits from family members and others during this time often have a negative impact on the Volunteer's successful settling-in and integration into their community and their work.  Thus, visits should be planned to occur well into the Volunteer's service and not during peak work seasons.  We recommend a visit at some point during the second year of service. 1.  Planning.  Start planning at least six months before departure since several things have to be done sequentially which can add up to several weeks/months.  Keep in mind that communication takes a long time, so arranging the logistics through the mail will require a lot of lead time.  Make sure that the timing of your visit is convenient for the Volunteer you are visiting.  A Volunteer's primary obligation is to her/his job assignment, so be sure that your visit will not disrupt any work plans. 2.  Passport.  If you do not already have a passport, obtain a passport application and application instructions from a post office or a travel agent. To apply for a passport, you will need the completed application with two passport photos and the application fee. 3.  Visa.  To apply for a visa to Niger, obtain an application from the Nigerien Embassy, 2204 R Street, NW, Washington, DC 20008; website at http://www.nigerembassyusa.org/embassy.html; their phone number is (202) 483-4224/7, and their fax number is (202) 483-3169.  After completing the application, send it to the Embassy with your passport, two passport photos, W.H.O. records showing the required yellow fever vaccination (see below), the application fee, and a copy of either your tickets or your detailed flight itinerary.  You will be issued a single entry visa only, unless you specifically request multiple entry.  You must have a multiple entry visa if you plan to leave Niger and return during the period of the visa’s validity.  Be sure to call the Embassy and verify with them that procedures have not changed since this mailing. It is our understanding that the Embassy does not have the means to return your passport to you and you must send a pre-paid express mail envelope.  If you are in the D.C. area, you can pickup your passport at the Embassy. Separate visas are required for almost all African countries you may plan to visit, except for intermediate stops where you will not go outside the terminal while en route to or from Niger.  Each embassy requires that you send your passport with the visa application, so you can only apply for one visa at a time. You can consolidate and expedite your passport and visa applications if necessary by going through a private company that handles it for you for an additional fee. (Ask a travel agent for details.) 4.  Health.  In order to enter Niger, you must get a yellow fever shot and have it logged in a World Health Organization (W.H.O.) medical card.  For more information on what additional shots are required or recommended, contact your local health board or the Division of Immunization at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, (404) 639-1870, (www.cdc.gov). You should also plan to take anti-malarial prophylactic drugs (such as mephloquine) during your stay in Niger.  Contact the Malaria Hotline at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia, (404) 639-1610 or (www.cdc.gov) for information on what drug(s) to take and where you can get them. While in Niger, precautions must be taken with food preparation and water treatment.  Drink only water that has been filtered and chlorinated or boiled.  Vegetables should also be soaked in a dilute iodine or chlorine solution if they are not being cooked.  Your Volunteer family member will receive extensive training on how to prepare food and treat water and will be able to advise you once you arrive in country. You should be aware that there are some health risks related to traveling in Niger , and medical facilities there are not comparable to facilities in the U.S. By law, Peace Corps medical staff cannot care for family members or friends who require medical attention while in Niger.  We strongly suggest that you consider extra insurance with emergency evacuation coverage from a company such as International SOS Assistance, Inc. (P.O. Box 11568, Philadelphia, PA  19116, 1-800-523-8930 or 215-244-1500 in PA). 5.  Money.  The unit of currency in Niger is the CFA (1 USD=~500 CFA). Travelers’ checks are recommended.  You may want to take at least some travelers checks in Euros, since switching US dollars to CFA in Niamey can be more expensive than switching dollars to Euros in the U.S. and then Euros to CFA in Niamey.  Some of the big (and expensive) hotels in Niamey will accept credit cards. Note: There is no American Express office in Niger. The best person to answer questions about money (and how much to take) is the Volunteer whom you are planning to visit or the Administrative Officer at post (best reached by email: XX@peacecorps.gov). Individual circumstances differ and practices change, therefore post can provide better information on a case-by-case basis. 6.  Baggage. Have all your suitcases locked. On most airlines, you are allowed 80 pounds of baggage per passenger for trips from the United States to Europe, but only 20 kg (44 lbs) for intra-European or African flights.  Therefore, you may be charged an excess baggage fee for anything over 44 lbs from Europe to Africa unless you check your baggage through to Africa directly from the U.S. (If you check baggage all the way through, be sure the baggage ticket has all appropriate code letters for the trip; the code for the airport in Niamey is NIM, and the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris is CDG.) Consult your airline/travel agent for further info. 7.  Flight Check-In.  If you fly through Paris, arrive at the check-in counter for the flight to Niamey at least two hours before scheduled departure.  Airlines start checking passengers in then and you may not be able to get a seat assignment until this time.  The check-in process goes very slowly, so be prepared to stand in line for a long time.  Most airlines will not allow large carry-on bags. 8.  Arrival in Niamey.  You must have both your passport and W.H.O. card for immigration when arriving at the Niamey airport.  Only French and local languages are spoken at the airport, so ask the Volunteer you are visiting to try to have someone meet you at the airport.  You may have to open all bags for inspection.  Each bag will be marked with an “X” in chalk to show it has been inspected.  Be sure that they mark it plainly since this “X” will be verified again at the exit.  Try to keep all your bags in sight once they come into the baggage area.  There will be men pressing to carry your bags for payment.  Carry your bags yourself if you can.  If not, negotiate a price with one person before allowing anyone to take your bags.  If no one is going to meet you at the airport, get instructions ahead of time from the Volunteer on how to take a taxi to your next destination.  Above all, try to be prepared for a very hectic airport scene. 9.  Accommodations.  Your best source of information about where to stay is the Volunteer whom you are planning to visit.  The Hotel Sofitel Gaweye is recommended by Peace Corps staff in country. 10.  Photos. Picture taking is highly restricted in Niamey and you should ask permission before taking any photos.  Photos are never allowed at the airport or any military installation. The same policy applies to camcorders. 11.  Identification and Registration. During the course of your stay in Niger, you may have to show your passport to the police several times, therefore you should carry it with you in a safe place at all times.  If you stay in any village, you must register with the local police where they will check your passport and stamp it with the local seal just like most countries do when you enter or exit the country.  This should not be a big inconvenience; it just takes time and patience. 12.  Other Resources. www.countrywatch.com On this site, you can learn anything from what time it is in Niamey to information about converting currency from the dollar to the CFA franc. Just click on Niger and go from there. www.lonelyplanet.com/destinations Visit this site to learn all you need to know about any country in the world from a traveler’s perspective. www.psr.keele.ac.uk/official.htm This site includes links to all the official sites for governments of countries around the world. www.geography.about.com/science/geography/library/maps/ This online World Atlas includes maps and geographical information about countries around the world. Each country page contains links to other sites, such as the Library of Congress, that contain comprehensive historical, social, and political backgrounds.  www.un.org/pubs/cyberschoolbus/infonation/e_glance.htm This United Nations site allows you to search for statistical information for member states. www.worldinformation.com This site provides an additional source of current and historical information about 225 countries worldwide.