From PCT to PCV and Thoughts on the Matter

Today I write to you from my new home in the Warm Heart of Africa. I finally have some peace after shooing away the plethora of children hanging outside my house watching my every move. I just finished eating lunch and am taking a break from the daunting process of moving in. 

Yesterday was Swearing-in and it was an incredible day. Like I mentioned in my last post, I had some national wear made and it turned out pretty well so I rocked an authentic Malawian look as I became an official Peace Corps Volunteer.

I felt elated as I held up my right hand, swearing an oath to work on foreign soil for the US Government. The whole event was the end of my trials and training to do this next big thing in my life, as well as the beginning of this fantastic journey ahead of me. It was held at the American Ambassador’s estate, which was soooo beautiful, which a lush landscape of trees and flowers I could only barely recognize. All our trainers and other PC staff were there, including the country director and Charges d’Affairs of the US. Also present were representatives of the Ministry of Education and Health from Malawi. Fellow trainees (now PCVs) gave a speech in the various languages we’ve been learning and Madame Charges performed the swearing-in. After the ceremony we ate snacks and had cake. Lots of pictures were taken and if I can some time I will try to post them all on Facebook one day. But here’s a few:

Chloe, Me and Brianna

 
Our entire group as the newest PC Malawi volunteers, and cake!

 
Me and my language trainer Agatha. She was awesome!

Later we went to Vic’s house (the country director) and had an awesome lunch. There was macaroni and cheese, pulled pork and roast beef BBQ, potatoes au gratin, salads, and other goodies, plus cookies, brownies and beer! Vic’s house is unbelievable, it’s huge and beautiful and filled with interesting artifacts he and his wife have collected thru the years. I would love to live in a house like that in the states, it was amazing. He also had two dogs, a weenie dogs and a Norwegian ridgeback, which is an insanley massive dog.

 
The big boy is Romeo and the weenie dog is Lucy. Yup, cute.

Now I’m officially a Peace Corps Volunteer. Whoa. Taking the oath to protect from enemies both foreign and domestic was fairly intense, but reminded me that this is no small feat. I am so happy that Peace Corps exists, for those people like me who are very proud to be Americans, but would never even dream of joining the military. This is such an incredible way for me and others to serve our country as well as the good of mankind. I feel privileged to be here.

And now I’m really here. In Africa. All by myself! It’s incredibly surreal that I am sitting in the house I will be living in for the next two years and that I am here in a Malawian village all by myself. Mom! I need a hug! hahaha, am I ready for this? I still don’t feel like a grown-up but this experience is quickly changing that. Now the next 2 years lays ahead and to be frank, I’m a little intimidated. I still wonder what I have to off these people and if I’m strong enough to do it, but then I remind myself that I am here. That is really the first step. Taking this journey day-by-day. Remembering to laugh and to breathe and that it’s ok to be freaked out and cry. Not that that is happening a lot (yet) but just that this really will be the toughest job I’ll ever love and I need to keep reminding myself that there will be ups and downs and in the end it’s just okay.

I’m sitting here now thinking about how quickly the last year of my life has gone by. Almost exactly a year ago I was learning about Peace Corps and making the decision to apply and on September 21, 2009 I submitted my application to Peace Corps. Now September 2, 2010, I’ve come to Malawi in Southern Africa, I’ve completed Pre-Service Training, have been sworn-in as an official Peace Corps volunteer, and just a matter of hours ago was dropped off at my new house in the village that will now be my home. Wow. It’s a consolation to my worry about the two years to come. Last September still feels like yesterday and so I can only imagine how quickly the next two years will go by.

For the first 3 months we’re on what other PCVs term as “lock-down”. Which is when we’re not supposed to leave our site now start any projects. The sole purpose of the first 3 months is: integration, observation and doing a community needs assessment. At the end of the 3 months we will have In-Service Training (IST) where we will all come back together and go over the 3 months and talk about possible projects, how to get started and what exactly we need to know for specific projects. We will also be taking our counterparts to IST with us. A counterpart is a person in your community whom you trust and think will be helpful in completing your major project(s). Health volunteers get to choose a counterpart (Education is assigned them) so I will also be spending the first 3 months deciding who I want to work with and who could really benefit from all the trainings they will attend with me.

I’ve been contemplating teaching Life Skills at the secondary school in my area, but I’m not sure yet. It wouldn’t a full time thing, just a couple times a week, and maybe just give me something to do during these first 3 months. It may give me a little more structure than just doing observation and assessments, which I think may be beneficial to my productiveness. But we’ll see, I’m still mulling it over.

Oh, also, last weekend was our final LPI. I thought I rocked it and I did make Advanced-Low which is good score, but I honestly thought I did a little better than that, but oh well, I think the interview and how it’s scored is very subjective and not the most accurate reflection of your language competency. Every one in my training class passed, so there weren’t any issues there. I’m really proud of everyone in my class and am excited to see how we all do as volunteers.

I will especially miss Chloe, who is placed in the South, a good distance from me. We’ve become really close friends during training and even though I know I will see her again, it just kinda sucks that she’s so far. Oh well, we can talk on the phone and visit each other, so all is not lost, and I know we will be good friends for a long time

Speaking of missing people, I really miss home. Mom, I wasn’t kidding when I said I needed a hug. I miss my family so much. I can’t believe it’s been so long since I’ve seen any other them. Being such a “momma’s girl” is not conducive to long-term stints overseas. I’m managing though, and it helps that I have a phone now and am able to talk to them regularly. I can’t wait till my family comes to visit me and see what an amazing place Malawi is and how wonderful the people are here.

And of course I miss Matt… *sigh* It’s been hard being separated from him but overall I think we both are fairing better then either of us expected. I’m proud of both of us and excited about the future and what making it through this time will mean for us as a couple. I love him so very much and am so very thankful that he is supporting me so much in the crazy journey and being so patient with me and with Africa. I am happy he is in my life and really can’t wait for him to visit me! I know he will love Malawi. This is no easy task, such a ridiculously long-distance relationship, but in 2 months we will have been together for 3 years and making it through the next 2 in one piece will prove that we can make it through anything. Matthew, I love you.

Sorry for the cheese fest everyone Well I’ll wrap this up. I need to finish getting settled, cuz those of you who know me well, know that I will not sleep until I feel settled. I miss you all very much! And please feel free to keep writing me letters and sending them to the same address, I am not going to change it because I’m too close to Lilongwe. Even with quasi internest access and a phone, letters from home are wonderful.

Till next time, tiwonana!