E-mail address · Mail information · Mailing address · Suggestions for things to send · Questions?

Mike still uses the e-mail address he used in Guinea, so you can contact him here: NOSPAMmanskeguinea@yahoo.com (remove NOSPAM when sending your e-mail).

Although Mike is back, I am keeping this information here because it probably still holds true for some Peace Corps Volunteers...

E-Mail Address

Mike has an e-mail address that he was able to access in Africa on a fairly often basis.  As with any Peace Corps Volunteer, do not use email in emergency situations; instead, go through the regular Peace Corps channels. 

Mail Information

Please be aware that when you send Mike mail, you will probably not receive a reply from him for at least two months.  From what we've gathered so far, mail can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 months just to reach where he is Guinea.

Remember, Mike's going to be away for over two years, so don't forget about him!  Even a short letter would be a nice way to let him know you're thinking about him.

Mail Suggestions from the Peace Corps

When sending a letter and not a care package, one inexpensive type of letter to send is an 'aerogram', which is available at US Post Offices and some stationery stores.   Usually, they're a blue sheet of paper which folds into an envelope.  One aerogram costs just .60-some odd cents (the price went up recently but I can't remember what it is).  Often they come in packages of 5 (so one package of 5 letters will cost around $3.00).  The Peace Corps has stated that volunteers have had good success in receiving their mail in this form. As far as we know, Mike received every letter we sent via aerogram.

Number your letters so Mike will know if he's missed one.  I write the number on my calendar so I will remember the last time I wrote, and which 'number' letter it was.

If sending a postcard, send it in an envelope.

If sending a package, pay the extra couple bucks to send it via air mail, instead of by boat.  At least two packages mailed to Mike via boat in late August/early October 1999 never got to him.

INSURE any package you send via mail...everyone has had very good luck getting packages to Mike, as long as they were insured.  It costs only a dollar or two more to insure, and if he doesn't get it, you'll actually be reimbursed for the contents of the package!

Care packages are very welcome, but do not send anything of great value. Suggestions on care package materials are located below.

Marking a package "Educational Materials" may increase the odds that a given item may get to him intact, but this type of labeling should be reserved for books, magazines and the like.

Sending cash and checks is very risky, and is never recommended.

If valuable items must be sent to Mike in Guinea, they should be mailed via UPS, DHL, or some other express mail service; these services are the quickest, safest means possible for sending things to Guinea from the U.S.

Mike's Mail Address in Africa (1999-2001)

Mike Manske
Corps de la Paix Americain
B.P. 1927
Conakry, Guinea
West Africa

Suggestions for Things to Send Mike

• Letters, letters, letters!
• West African wildlife books (mammals, monkeys/chimps, plants, trees, insects, etc.)
• Vladimir Nabokov books: Bend Sinister, Look at the Harlequins, The Gift, Invitation to a Beheading, Pain
• Meditation and/or Yoga books
• Pictures
• Good pens for writing (example: Pilot Razor Point)
• Coffee
• Ear plugs
• Candles (long burning ones)
• Magazines, newspapers, books
• Tapes of you talking, classical music tapes
• Batteries and film (35mm)
• Junk food (no chocolate except Almond M&M's - they apparently ship well)
• Gatorade mix, Kool-Aid packets
• Gardening supplies...gloves, small shovel, small hoe, etc.

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