Relaxation, Africa style

So I've been at site now for over a week. I still have to get some shelves, tables and couches made, but other than that I'm pretty moved in. I want to buy some paint and make it more cozy (read: it's still dingy and dark) but overall I feel very content with where I'll be living for the next 2 years. My puppy Snoop has a lot to do with making me feel less lonely, as does my cat Nala. I love them. Did you know I love animals?

Life in Africa is very relaxing. If you're not one to take pleasure in having nothing to do but read, go hiking, or talk with neighbors on verandas, then life in Africa is not for you. I, on the other hand, am loving it. It's simple and serene and my town is gorgeous; I couldn't ask for more. There are talks of a teacher's strike because the government hasn't been paying anyone, but I very much hope that doesn't happen. I'm really excited to start working. The 3 weeks of summer school during training made me realize how much I actually like teaching. School is supposed to start September 12th, so here's to hoping it does.

Until then you can find me under a palm tree reading.

T-minus 4 days

4 more days until I officially swear-in as a Peace Corps Volunteer! I realize it has been quite a long time since I've updated my blog, but I've been so busy and have been completely slacking. My apologies. Or ooshya in Krio.

So much has happened I'll give you a brief rundown: mango and avocado season is don-don, I'm very sad. I now exist on hard boiled eggs and plantains most days. Or acheke, which is the best street food ever. Get out your cookbooks folks, write this baby down - gari, which is pounded kassava; spaghetti; baked beans; hard boiled eggs; tomatoes; cucumber; mayo; ketchup; onions; and delicious love. Trust me, sounds disgusting, and in America I would've agreed. But in Africa? It's lasagna.

Also, I visited my site on my birthday back in July. It's bigger than I expected, and I'm very excited to just move to site and start setting up my house and start planning lesson plans. Speaking of, I move this Sunday! Then my official 2 year service starts and I can. not. wait. to be independent. Training is a very exhausting program and I'm excited to live on my own.

Okay, that's it for now. Miss you all! PS I saw the new Harry Potter (got a bootleg, obvs have my priorities straight) and it was awesome. Wish I could've seen it on the big screen.

26 more to go

I can't believe Ive been in Sierra Leone for a month now. I feel like I've been here for both an entire year, and just a few days. After a quick bout of homesickness right off the bat, I’m actually surprised how well I’m adjusting to my new life. I wake up around 630 to take my morning bucket bath, eat a breakfast of either mango or avocado with a cup of tea, and head to a long day of classes from 8 to 5. Then it's back to my host family to hang out and eat rice and more rice, then bedtime around 9 during the week. It's a pretty sweet setup I got going here, and all my fellow trainees are awesome. I could get used to this African life. 

Yesterday we all found out where we'll be living for the next 2 years! I'm going to be living in a town called Fadugu, population around 8,000, and north of Makeni where I am now. I'm really excited, I'll be teaching JSS Integrated Science, which is a mixture of bio, chem and physics for grades 7 through 9. I go to visit my site next weekend (on my birthday! hope those letters are in the mail...) and I can't wait to see my house. I'll take pictures and try and post them as soon as I can.

Alright that's all I got for now. Miss you all!

Apoto! Apoto!

So I've been in Africa for a little over a week now. Crazy. I don't have much time, but hopefully I can write a longer more interesting blog post later on this week. I just wanted to post and let you all know that I'm alive and well (& extremely hot). I miss you all! Write me letters!

Wi go si bak! (See you later!)

Closing Time

I'm currently sitting in the lobby of this swanky hotel in Chicago that the Peace Corps has set us up in, and have just finished a loooong day of orientation. Everyone seems real cool so far, and I've had a great time (apart from the airport goodbyes with my family). I just wanted to write a quick last post saying I'll love and miss you all, and next time you hear from me I'll be in Africa!

That's all folks.

C'est La Vie

Well it's official, I've dropped the ball on blogging.

I know, I know, no excuses... but I'm just SO BUSY! I leave for Chicago in exactly 5 days, and I'm still not fully packed, on top of having to get ready for my going away party this Saturday. I know, woe is me. It's gonna be a blast though, I can't wait. Especially to be able to hang out with my college roommates all weekend. I may or may not cry... jury is out. I'm normally the most emotional cliche of a girl, but lately I've been getting what I like to think of as stage fright. I get the feeling everyone is expecting me to cry and just waiting for it to start.. and I just haven't. Ha, we'll see how the weekend goes.

So anyway, the idea of my new home being Sierra Leone in about a week is finally beginning to hit me. It comes and goes in waves, and mostly I'm super excited, but every once in a while a small nervousness grows in the bottom of my stomach and I can't seem to get rid of it. This is what I've wanted for over a year now. I know it's going to be the most challenging and rewarding experience I'll have in my entire life... but I'm also aware that it will be exactly that: challenging. I've read all I can possibly read on what to expect while volunteering in a third world country, and all about the different cultural traditions, and etc. But reading something and living through it are two different things. I'm nervous that everything I'm expecting is completely wrong, and the thing I least expected is in actuality what I should be worried about.

You get the point.

I'm just gonna focus on the next few days and enjoy my time with family and friends (not to mention, my time with favorite foods that I've wholeheartedly consumed with no concern over weight gain...). Sierra Leone will come soon enough, as will homesickness, loneliness, frustration, and complete contentment.

C'est la vie.

Guess who's back, back again

Sorry for my MIA status recently, I've been busy...

you know, just loungin around.

It's Mother's Day though, so enough about me! (More pictures & stories to come)

In honor of this lovely day, and my even lovelier mother, enjoy a song

Un Más Día

This time tomorrow I'll be laying here

With this in my hand

I can't wait to be in Spain! And then Ireland! And then Scotland!

I can't believe in a matter of a few months I'll be a world traveler. This is my dream come true, pinch me?

See you all in May :)

Save Yourself

Slightly melancholy, but I'm into it right now

This is Africa

Hello friends, I'm sorry I've been a little MIA lately!

I'm leaving for Spain on Monday night, and on top of planning for that trip, I've been trying to get as much done for Africa as I possibly can. I'll be gone until May 2nd, and I know once I get back the month of May will fly by and before I know it I'll be leaving!

I certainly hope I don't fall in love with a hot Irishman while I'm abroad...

Kidding. Sorta.

In other news, I gave my little blog a makeover. I hope you like it. It seems more appropriate for my upcoming life adventure in the land of elephants (yes, I know elephants aren't really in Sierra Leone, but a girl can dream).

I was bored last night and decided to watch Blood Diamond again. I'm not sure if that was a good or bad decision. I already knew the history of Sierra Leone and am well aware of all the diamond trade issues they have had. But... I cried throughout the whole movie. I mean, me crying is no shock of course. But I just can't believe the people of Sierra Leone have lived through so much unrest and suffered in ways I can't even comprehend. It broke my heart. It solidified my decision to serve in the Peace Corps even more. So, I guess it's good I watched it after all. I think I'll have my mom stay away from it though...

Songbird



Padi Kusheh-O

That's Krio for 'Friend, Hello'

I know, I'm a natural

Lately I've been very overwhelmed with a ton of mixed feelings that vary hour to hour between being excited/nervous/unqualified/stressed (about how much I need to get done before I leave)/excited, again.

I can't sleep.. So I figured, why not write a blog with some interesting facts about Sierra Leone? I hope you find them as fascinating as I do.

• There are two seasons, rainy season from May to November and dry season from December to May- the average temperature is around 81° F
• 50% of the population is under the age of 15
• One of the top 10 diamond producing nations in the world (Pssh, knew that one already)
• The country is slightly smaller than South Carolina, and is bordered by Liberia, Guinea, and the Atlantic
• They have an abundance of pineapples, bananas, papaya, coconuts, and mangos (Mmmm YES)
• The average woman bears 6 children in her lifetime
• The government recognizes at least 16 different ethnic groups- while each speaks its own language, the majority speak either Mende or Temne, and almost everyone speaks Krio, as well as English
• Religious makeup is mainly split between Muslims (55%) and Christians (35%)
• The palm tree and the rice grain are symbols recognized nationally - there are over 20 different words to describe rice in Mende

 Ok, this hour I'm back to being excited