Surprising how many popular American songs I hear on a regular basis. At the hotel, we have cable TV. We have two channels in English: CNN UK and MTV. I also saw a commercial for
"Big Brother: Africa". It actually looks interesting...
Right now, we're concurrently having language placement interviews, medical interviews and receiving more vaccinations. While Im waiting for my medical interview time, I snuck a chance to update my blog! (Yay!) We move in with our host families on saturday in Namaacha, and I wont have much internet access, so I'm trying to suck it all up while I can. Today, we learned how to use our water filters, got HUGE medical kits, and went over a few safety and security points. All in all, my experience so far is very interesting. The hotel is like an oasis, so we're all really spoiled right now. We get 3 buffet syle meals a day and two snack/coffee breaks a day, catered by the hotel. And the food is GOOD!!! Fresh fruit, Delicious salads, seafood, roasted meats, fish, potatoes....oh, and we had this chocolate mousse the other day....it was the MOST delicious food....for breakfast this morning, we had made to order omlettes, turkey, fresh fruit, fresh mango and papaya juice, etc etc. Our snack breaks are usually coffee, juice, tea, muffins, patries, and sandwiches. All delightful.
Once we move in with our families in Namaacha, our meals will be provided by our host families. So, all of the special catering will be gone, but hopefully I'll have some great home cooked meals to rave about. I'm excited to move to Namaacha to start training, because being here in this hotel in Maputo is kinda like I'm just on vacation. A really nice vacation. Where the weather is PERFECT (its sunny and about 80 right now) and the mosquitos arent very bothersome (I havent been bitten yet...then again, I dont get bitten very often in the first place) I feel like I'll get more of a "true Mozambique experience" once we move on Saturday. It will be pretty awkward at first, since I dont speak Portuguese...guess I'll be faking it. Thankfully, the host families are aware, so I'm sure there will be a lot of pointing and smiling and nodding...
There are 4 current volunteers here with us now who are helping the training staff in getting us acclimated. They are great for stories, and it's so interesting to hear their experiences. The other volunteers will be coming to Namaacha in the coming weeks to meet us and share more.
Oh yeah...today the US Ambassador to Mozambique came to meet us and speak with us and pretty much welcome us to Mozambique. She's really nice. It was really inspiring to hear her speak, and for her to stress the importance of our presence in Mozambique.
I start my malaria meds today. Should be interesting. They supposedly give you very vivid, crazy dreams and hallucinations. We'll see how that goes.
Last night, some people said they saw a monkey running around. I also think I saw a bat fly over my head. Thats pretty much it for wildlife encounters so far. Then again, I'm in the capital city, so I don't expect to see much.
It's so interesting interacting with the people here. Everyone is so different. We have a volunteer who actually heard President Kennedy make the speech in 1961 about Peace Corps. She jokes about watching all of us "kids" trying to contact our parents to let them know we're ok, and she has to do the same, only she's the parent trying to contact her children! We actually have 2 older volunteers, as well as 3 volunteers who served in other countries, and finished their 27 months, then came here to Moz. A few of the current volunteers we've met have extended their services, and are now in their 3rd years. There are about 20 something men and 45-50 women...and most of the people are education volunteers.
So far, training has been full of laughter and interesting information. Once we get to Namaacha, it will be 6 days a week, from 730am to about 5:30pm everyday of non-stop training, so I will probably be entirely too tired to even get online or try to communicate, so if I dont update as often, dont worry. I'll be sure to stay in touch :)
Well...I'm here!!!
September 29, 2010
After a 15 hour flight, I'm finally in Mozambique. And I must say...it's great to be here. Mozambique is about 7 hours ahead of Chicago time. So it's about 6pm here. The weather right now is beautiful. It was about 50 degrees in Johannesburg, South Africa at 8:30am when we landed to change to our flight to Maputo. One we made it here, it was about 80-85 and sunny. I'm sitting by the pool at the hotel and it's about 60-65.
For the first few days, we're staying at this hotel in Maputo (the capital). Its really nice. It's more of a collection of individual villas on a property lined with gorgeous palm trees and landscaping than your normal idea of a hotel. We arent allowed to leave the hotel grounds, since the surrounding area is considered a popular hangout spot for the locals and its not safe for any of us to go there.
As it turns out, this weekend is supposedly a big "holiday weekend" so a lot of people from South Africa and Mozambique are heading to the many beaches in Mozambique. That explains why our hotel is full of younger people just hanging out. Also, since we're a group of 71 people, they had to split our group in half, and the other half is staying at another hotel across the city.
Anyway, I have to go. I'll update later!
September 28, 2010
I'm sitting on the plane, and I wonder if I can blog from my phone....hmm...
Anyway, we're all on the plane right now, about to take off soon. I can't believe I'm actually moving overseas!! Thankfully, I'm not alone...
The group I'm with is VERY diverse. There are more education volunteers (teaching chemistry, biology, math, and training english teachers) than health volunteers, and WAY more women than men. But the volunteers come from all over the country (including Puerto Rico), and are a mix of white, black, asian, hispanic, gay, straight, and everything in between. Its really cool, and I really like the mix of people I'm with. We're all excited to get to Mozambique and learn, and do great things.
So...they're about to close the plane doors, meaning I have to turn my phone off....but hey....guess what?
IM GOING TO AFRICA!!
I'm sitting on the plane, and I wonder if I can blog from my phone....hmm...
Anyway, we're all on the plane right now, about to take off soon. I can't believe I'm actually moving overseas!! Thankfully, I'm not alone...
The group I'm with is VERY diverse. There are more education volunteers (teaching chemistry, biology, math, and training english teachers) than health volunteers, and WAY more women than men. But the volunteers come from all over the country (including Puerto Rico), and are a mix of white, black, asian, hispanic, gay, straight, and everything in between. Its really cool, and I really like the mix of people I'm with. We're all excited to get to Mozambique and learn, and do great things.
So...they're about to close the plane doors, meaning I have to turn my phone off....but hey....guess what?
IM GOING TO AFRICA!!
Leaving on a Jetplane....
September 28, 2010
It's 2:14am. I, along with the other 70 volunteers, am about to get on the bus to JFK airport. I decided not to sleep, so I can try to sleep through this 15 hour flight...lets see how well that works....
I'll update later once I make it to Mozambique...I'm on my way!
It's 2:14am. I, along with the other 70 volunteers, am about to get on the bus to JFK airport. I decided not to sleep, so I can try to sleep through this 15 hour flight...lets see how well that works....
I'll update later once I make it to Mozambique...I'm on my way!
Here Goes Nothing...
September 26, 2010
I've packed up and left Chicago. Here I am...8 hours away from stepping on a plane to Philly to meet 70 other people for our pre-service orientation. Fun times indeed, especially since people are already making plans to have their last USA-style night on the town tomorrow. On Tuesday, we all pack up, head to JFK airport, and hop on a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. After that, we split into two groups, and take another flight to Maputo, Mozambique. After a day or two there (filled with more orientation style activities, vaccinations, and icebreakers), we head to a village named Namaacha, where we meet our host families with whom we will be staying with for our 10 weeks of training. Training is 6 days a week, ALL day long....needless to say, my days of sleeping in are long gone.
Somehow I've managed to pack my entire life into a large travel pack, a medium sized rolling suitcase, and two carryons. I'm pretty sure that I will be taking some things out at the airport...my bags are pretty heavy. It's ok though, whatever I dont bring, I can get it there, or have it sent to me.
So start saving up your stamps, folks :)
The general responses I've gotten from people are all positive. Of course, my mom is worried that I'll end up with some incurable disease. My grandmother is worried I might get married and never come back. At this point, I've heard it all... and yes, I'm still going. And yes, that probably makes me a little bit crazy.
But crazy people are the most fun, right?
I've packed up and left Chicago. Here I am...8 hours away from stepping on a plane to Philly to meet 70 other people for our pre-service orientation. Fun times indeed, especially since people are already making plans to have their last USA-style night on the town tomorrow. On Tuesday, we all pack up, head to JFK airport, and hop on a flight to Johannesburg, South Africa. After that, we split into two groups, and take another flight to Maputo, Mozambique. After a day or two there (filled with more orientation style activities, vaccinations, and icebreakers), we head to a village named Namaacha, where we meet our host families with whom we will be staying with for our 10 weeks of training. Training is 6 days a week, ALL day long....needless to say, my days of sleeping in are long gone.
Somehow I've managed to pack my entire life into a large travel pack, a medium sized rolling suitcase, and two carryons. I'm pretty sure that I will be taking some things out at the airport...my bags are pretty heavy. It's ok though, whatever I dont bring, I can get it there, or have it sent to me.
So start saving up your stamps, folks :)
The general responses I've gotten from people are all positive. Of course, my mom is worried that I'll end up with some incurable disease. My grandmother is worried I might get married and never come back. At this point, I've heard it all... and yes, I'm still going. And yes, that probably makes me a little bit crazy.
But crazy people are the most fun, right?
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