I can’t believe it’s here! I leave for Botswana tomorrow! This has been the longest process ever, so it feels so surreal that it’s actually happening now and I’m starting training in the Peace Corps. I can’t get my mind around it, everything feels so hazy and unreal right now, but in a good way. I’ve had a few moments of feeling overwhelmed and questioning things, but it still feels right to go and I really am so excited!! I left Mercer Island almost 48 hours ago (which feels like forever ago) and let me just say that packing was the least fun thing I have ever done! I’m a girl, and at times can be a really big girly girl, so trying to pack for 27 months was not an easy task for me! I basically threw the task at my mom and she packed for me…aka…telling me when I was being excessive and bringing too much stuff. Which was good. I needed that! I hate packing now! I still feel like I packed everything wrong, but I think I’m just gonna feel like that no matter what. I stayed up all night and was basically in a hectic rage running through my house toward the end…but I survived and have the packed bags to prove it. I’m in Washington DC right now, I got here last night and have been spending my time meeting more people then I can even really recognize at this point. There are 60 people in my group, 9 married couples, one 70 year old, like 20 people in their 50’s and 60’s, and the rest are all 20’s and 30’s. We’re all working health jobs (b/c Botswana is the 2nd most affected country by HIV/AIDS in the world), but in 4 different major categories which being as tired as I am I can’t remember right now, but I know I’m Life Skills, so as long as I remember that than I think I’m good for right now. :) One of the women in my group told me that I was the “solution” to Botswana and the world being in Life Skills because I’m teaching young people how to stop the cycle and help themselves at a young age to prevent the horrible from happening. It was a really sweet thing to say, but a bit like the pressure it on. Haha….but I’m ready!
Anyways, last night, about 20 of us flew in to DC and then the other 40 came this morning right before staging started. The 20 first people and I went out for dinner last night to get to know one another and talk about, well, everything. This morning about 8 of us got up early and took the Metro to The Mall and walked to the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the World War ll Memorial, the Capital, and Vietnam memorial. It was really cool to see all the sights for a bit and get to know all the total strangers that I’m about to second 2 years with. Haha So far people have been really cool and everyone is extremely well travelled! Everyone has been everywhere. I thought I had been to a few places, but I’ve haven’t been anywhere compared to some of the others. It’s crazy! Then again I am 23 so I figure I have time.
When we all came back from sightseeing, all of the other 40 people had arrived, which was a bit overwhelming to say the least. Later I had my first staging/orientation for the Peace Corps which was 5 hours or going over policy, expectations, fears, aspirations, performing group activities (like skits, which I am really not a fan of doing) about what not to do in the PC’s, registering, managing risks, safety and health, etc…. The best part was getting our malaria pills and the huge list of side effects that come with taking them…so something to look forward to now. Yay! Haha After staging was over I than went out to dinner with a group of 10 other random people that I’ve never met and they all seemed really cool too. It’s the weirdest process…cause we all didn’t even know that one another existed till only a matter of hours ago, but we all have to kinda become best friends in a matter of minutes. We’re dealing with such an intense new life and job all about people with HIV/AIDS…and in many instances all we really have in one another to lean on at the moment. It’s great in a way because we all have a sense of like mindedness and are able to kind of quickly understand and relate to one another, but at the same time we all know absolutely nothing about one another. I guess I was expecting this, but it’s just kind of odd to know be doing this. BUT really amazing too!
In the morning the 60 of us get our new Peace Corps passports (that are crazy colorful and all government like) and head to Dulles in DC where we get to hang out at the airport for 5 hours and then take a 15 hour flight to Joburg, SA. We stay in Joburg for the night and then 9am on Monday we take a 6 hour bus ride to Gaborone, Botswana. OH!!! Exciting!! One really cool thing I finally figured out today, which yes, I admit I hadn’t figured it out until today…but better late than never!! I found out that the people of Botswana are called Batswana and a single person is called Matswana!!! I have been asked so many times by people over the last few months what people in Bots are called and I finally figured it out. Yay me! Haha I’m so freaked out about the language and it being so hard to learn, but apparently everyone is terrified too…so that makes me feel a little better. No one has really practiced it at all and doesn’t get it, which also makes me feel better. I was so worried that I would get here and hear everyone’s stories about how fast they have picked up the language and how much they have studied….but no! So, I’m good! I’m not getting kicked out just yet! Haha Well, I feel like I have so much to say, but can’t really think of it. So much has happened in such a short time and it’s only the beginning!!I still can’t believe it…. :)
"Don't be dismayed at goodbyes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetime, is certain for those who are friends...
Goodbyes are not forever. Goodbyes are not the end. They simply mean I'll miss you, until we meet again!"~Author Unknown
