Let the Training Begin

Well, week "zero" has come to an end and now it's time to begin intense training.  I still feel like I have been superimposed into a movie set and that I'm not actually in Africa. Tomorrow we leave the capital to go a smaller village where we will be adopted into host families during training for the next three months.  Once we're out of the isolation of the compound, I think reality will finally set in!  With one mere French lesson through, tomorrow evening should be interesting.  I'm writing this post to let you know that this same little village has minimal if no internet, so there will most likely be no posts/emails/Facebook.  If you have time to send me letters I would love you forever and I would write back!  Any news is always good news!  I do have a cell phone, so with time permitting I may be able to dictate to the fam to pass info along.  I hope everyone is enjoying the summer and wish me luck!  Peace

Ready or not here I come!

After a three-hour delay at JFK (no hard feelings as this led to free wine and the ability to get some rest), and an unnecessary dash across the Brussels airport, I have arrived in Ouagadougou, and Burkina Faso is officially my home for the next two years!  I was the first to step off the plane into the humid heat and I couldn’t be more excited.  Leaving the airport we all piled into vans; mine proceeded to reverse full speed into the truck behind us in the parking lot…no big deal, with a little maneuvering we were quickly on our way again…only in Africa.  As we were driving, it began to rain – here in Burkina Faso, it is a sign of good luck if it rains during an arrival; the perfect start to this adventure!

For the first week (“Week Zero”) we are staying at a compound/hotel with running water, electricity and AC in the rooms…we’re really roughing it.  Most of our days are spent outside or in un-air conditioned rooms, aka sweat 24/7.  I already feel like 90 degrees is a cool day.  It is rainy season, so every so often we get a ten-minute dust storm followed by a torrential downpour for several minutes.

On our first night, my wonderful roommate Leigh was putting down her mosquito net in the dark when its cord got caught in the fan, not a pleasant sound to say the least.  After endless giggles, awkwardly standing on chairs, we finally had to untie the four corners of the net to get it down and then struggle to put it back up (= standing on top of chair on top of bed, real stable). 

Anywho, days are filled with hanging out, exploring (I can't even begin to describe it, hopefully I’ll take some pictures soon), vaccinations, sessions on health, and interviews (including an oral French exam – definitely more silence than speaking).  Walking around, we get stared at a lot and all the kids shout “Nasara! Nasara!” (“White person! White person!”), adorable.  We’re on our own for dinner most nights, a real adventure since “restaurants” are outside stands with little tables and plastic chairs, you eat what they’re making for the night and don’t ask what the meat is.  Most of it is pleasant to the palette and everything is so cheap by our standards!  Now we all wait to see who gets sick first…

Friday we get adopted by our host families, so let the immersion begin!  I don’t know the Internet situation yet, but hopefully I’ll be able to update again soon!  Miss you all!

Day One and We're On the Run!

Quick little background: eight months ago I applied to the Peace Corps.  I was initially nominated for a September departure, secondary science teaching in Sub-Saharan Africa.  April comes around, my medical clearance goes through, and next thing I know I'm receiving an email if I'd be willing to leave the first week of June and dedicate some time to learning French.  After mucho freaking out, I said why not?  I've been talking about the Peace Corps for a couple years, I'll have graduated school, there's nothing holding me back, and the time is now, right?

Now, here I am sitting in a hotel in Philadelphia, about to leave on a twenty seventh month escapade in Burkina Faso.  Two months ago, I couldn't have told you where Burkina Faso is, let alone that it was a country.  You would think my nerves would be running high, but I am surprisingly calm.  I think for the first time in the long time everything has fallen into the right place and I know it's going to work out (including lot's of illness, heat, and the biggest challenges I will ever have to face). 

Today I flew to Philly for Staging - the initial orientation, are you sure you know what you are getting into?  We have a group of 50 as they combined several programs into one.  Everyone is open, friendly and ready to bond!  Attending orientation was like attending a class where everyone wants to participate and learn; after sixteen years in school, it's a new experience.  Tomorrow we head to the doctors clinic for some shots, before heading to JFK to fly out!  Peace America, you and everyone you hold will be missed.  I don't know the next time I'll be able to post, but hopefully I'll have a good story to share!

I love you all!