Andrew Williamson
| Name | Andrew Williamson |
|---|---|
| Host and/or Supervisor Name | Ellee Igoe |
| I am satisfied with my placement site | 5 |
| I am starting to meet training objectives | 5 |
| I am learning new skills | 5 |
| Building on my existing skills | 5 |
| I am clear about my responsibilities as a Steward | 5 |
| I am clear about my J-1 visa obligations | 5 |
| I am clear about contacting MESA first if I need to use my medical insurance | 5 |
| I am clear about the reports I send MESA | 5 |
| i am happy with my living situation | 5 |
| I am receiving the stipend I agreed to | 5 |
| I am training the hours I expected | 5 |
| I am not having problems with my English | 5 |
| I am not feeling homesick! | 5 |
| Meets all my expectations | 5 |
| Had a good arrival and/or Skype orientation | 5 |
| Answers my questions clearly | 5 |
| Is giving me the help I need to get started | 5 |
| Is well organized | 5 |
| Administers a high quality program | 5 |
| Understands his/her role as a Host | 5 |
| Understands why I came to the USA | 5 |
| Knows my personal training objectives | 5 |
| Gaves me a good orientation for my placement | 5 |
| Gives me a good introduction to other interns/staff/employees | 5 |
| Clearly explained my training schedule | 5 |
| Is a good trainer/mentor | 5 |
| Involves me in a diversity of activities | 5 |
| Gives me responsibility | 5 |
| Respects my opinion | 5 |
| Has good communication skills | 5 |
| Has a well run business | 4 |
| Is safety conscious | 4 |
| Provides good working conditions | 5 |
| Provides personal protective equipment | 5 |
| Maintains machinery in good condition | 4 |
| Maintains buildings and work areas well | 4 |
| Has helped me get settled in | 5 |
| Helped me integrate into the community | 5 |
| Is interested in my culture | 5 |
| Was the MESA information you received in your home country clear? Was the description of your training site accurate? What more would you have liked MESA to send you before you left you home country? | The information was clear and I felt I had all the information necessary |
| If you worked with a Program Representative in your home country, was he/she helpful? Is there anything more the Representative could have done to help you complete your application or to better understand MESA's program? | N/A |
| Any problems with housing, electricity, heat, phone, driver's license, bank account, transportation? Other problems? | I haven't yet received the information and instructions necessary for obtaining a social security number, but this was discussed during my skype orientation. |
| Describe the training you have received since getting to your placement site. What have you learned so far? Have you attended any special training, workshops, conferences, classes, etc.? | Since I arrived at solidarity I have learned to lay and maintain irrigation systems; how to use a seeding machine to sow seed; how to use a hoe to do weeding; how produce needs to be harvested, cleaned and stored; how the farm uses different marketing strategies and distribution channels to sell it's products; how to set up and run a market stand; what the main pests and weed problems are on the farm and how to control many of them; how to maintain a strawberry bed depending on the variety of strawberry being grown. I also attended a workshop at singing frogs farm in Sebastopol to learn about no dig farming. |
| Have you been involved in an cultural activities since your arrival? (examples : farmers' workshop, library event, soccer games, family activities, etc) | I have been out to bars and restaurants, and been involved in family activities with Ellie, Nan and their children. I have also spent a lot of time with my girlfriend and her family in San Diego on the weekends. |
| Any suggestions to improve MESA's program? | It's all working very well for me, so I can't think of anything that needs to be improved at the moment. |
| By checking "YES" you confirm that you are the person listed on the top of this survey and that all information is accurate and truthful | Yes |
