Tomorrow, we swear in as official Peace Corps Volunteers. I've been waiting for this since September of 2012. A year's worth of paperwork, vaccinations, blood tests, and patience. And then months of language, training and more preparation (I got intermediate mid on my language proficiency interview, by the way..woohoo!). We've sacrificed jobs, cars, homes, and relationships for this. And it's actually happening. I'm not going to lie...part of me always thought something would get in the way...that something would keep me from coming to Africa. But I think that was just part of me holding on to what's comfortable.
There's absolutely nothing comfortable about any of this. And that's why I love it.
Just as we start to get cozy in a new country and comfortable with new faces, we are being ripped out again by our roots, which are still mending their previous wounds inflicted by the claws of American soil.
(Sorry. That was a little dramatic...)
Yesterday, I met my supervisor. The principal of Gunkwe Primary School. He has already began developing a father figure role to me. He's protective of me and excited to have a PCV for the first time. There comes a lot of responsibility for a volunteer going to a place that has yet to experience the Peace Corps. But I'm willing to take on the challenge. Out of 800 people it's safe to say I'm going to stick out like a sore thumb. But I got this, yo.
Tomorrow, we hold a ceremony where we pledge our service to Peace Corps/Namibia. Some of us leave right after the ceremony, and others (myself included) head out bright n' early Friday morning. We Zambezi folk have about a 12+ hour drive. After that we'll be in the "jungle" of Africa. My principal asked me if I liked big animals. I don't suppose I have a choice.
I won't have access to Internet for a while...so I just want to fill the rest of this up with random Sara thought.
1. I almost cried with excitement when I saw my first giraffe that wasn't behind zoo bars.
2. My host mom killed a bug tonight that she claims eats her hair while she sleeps. Whether that's true or not, the bug was terrifying.
3. I'm going to miss her and the rest of my host family tremendously.
4. I talked about my friends in the states for too long today. Come visit Africa, guys :) it'll change a lot of things in your life, I swear. Same goes for you, family.
5. I'm so excited to move into my mud hut.
6. I'm nervous to leave Okahandja and the other trainees.
7. I think I should set a daily alarm for my don't-get-malaria meds....because I've been horrible at remembering to take it. I'm in a malaria-free zone right now in Namibia, but my site is definitely not.
8. I'm doing a thing with my iPod where I put all 8,538 songs on shuffle. My goal is to listen to every single song, no skipping allowed. I've had to start over a few times by now, but now I'm in it for good. I'm on #96.
9. I need to go to bed. Good night, everyone.
We passed PST...like a boss. :)
I'm feeling all kinds of nostalgia now. In short, five things:
ReplyDelete1) You scored higher than I did on my first LPI!
2) I wasn't the first PCV at my site, so I'll be interested to hear how things develop for you.
3) I'm super envious of the wildlife you get to see. One thing I wanted to see in Mongolia but never did was a mountain leopard (although the Bactrian camel an inch away from my face was awesome).
4) You're going to site with the right mindset, trust me. You can do this!
5) Maybe, just maybe, I'll visit Africa within the next couple of years. I've always wanted to go!
Incessantly proud of you,
Andrew