Actions come from deeply held values

So all those times I said that none of this really feels real….well, today it does. I think today it has finally sunk in that I moved to Africa, oh and that I will be living here for the next two years, serving as a Peace Corps volunteer. From the moment I stepped off the plane in Malawi, the smell of Africa surrounded me, and my brain was flowing with memories from the last time I was here. (If you don’t know I spent a month in Kenya at the beginning of 2013.) God reminded me why I applied for this journey in the first place, and I had a feeling of trust that everything I have been worrying about these past few weeks was going to be alright.

These last 2 days have been so overwhelming…but definitely in a good way. Starting with the first few minutes we were off the plane, and the crowd that was waiting for us to arrive. The welcoming we had from current volunteers, Malawians, and other Peace Corps staff was indescribable. There were big signs, and yelling, and cheering…so many smiles. I have by far never felt more welcomed in my entire life. Again, I had a feeling of confirmation that this was where I wanted to be in that exact moment. That feeling has continued since I stepped off the plane.

For the first 5 nights in Malawi we are staying at the MIM (Malawi Institute of Management) going through a crash course orientation that is set to prepare us for our PST (Pre-Service Training), that is our first 3 months in country. The place we are staying is beautiful. It reminds me of a place you would go for a yoga retreat; green and flowers everywhere. So far I feel like I have learned so much, and I know that this isn’t even close to the beginning. We’ve talked about everything from safety to health, child protection laws, and projects that other volunteers are currently working on. We have 2 current PCV’s here with us who have been awesome to talk to, as they give a very present view on what it’s live to live and serve in Malawi. Talking to both of these volunteers has only made me more excited for what is yet to come.

Besides the hours I feel like I’ve spent in an auditorium seat, my mind being filled with important information, I have also had a chance to meet some pretty awesome people. It’s amazing what happens when a group of like-minded people come together and are told they are going to be best friends, and even more, a family. I’ve already met a lot of people who I know I could build a pretty awesome relationship with, and I’m excited to become even closer with these people. (I mean there is a kid here with a partial tramp stamp tattoo that says “I EAT AMIMALS”…I died laughing as he showed me this, mainly because it was within seconds of meeting him, and yeah, I’m a vegetarian haha.) But on a serious note, when it comes down to it, everyone is here for the same purpose; they want to give what they have in order to help others. We may not have all came for the same reasons, but after talking to a lot of the 41 other Peace Corps Trainees (PCT’s) it has been made clear that we all just want to serve.

We are here in Lilongwe until Tuesday, March 10th, and then we will be headed to our home stay and PST in Kasungu. I have been pretty blessed here at the MIM as we have a little bit of Internet connection. This may not be the case in a few days, and will make blogging a tad bit harder. I will have data on my phone, but as for updating my blog I’m not exactly tech savy when it comes to using a smartphone....so yeah, I'm not sure when that'll happen. I’ll keep everyone posted. As for direct communication with me….if you have a device that you can download Whatsapp on, do it, and then add me (608-354-6069). I’d love to hear from you, and this is the easiest way for me to do it! And it's free for you :) Otherwise check out my contact page and send me some snail mail. I promise I will return a letter back to you. I love writing letters, and I'm sure by the time your letter gets here I will be needing some encouragement. I miss you all, and I am thankful to have the continuous support that I do! God Bless.

Until next time….

#peacecorps