Overdue
I can’t believe that it’s already been a month. Emotionally, I feel like I have been dragged in every concievable direction, as if there was a roller coaster on a roller coaster. In this way, I felt partially prepared, but how can one be ready for culture shock on repeat? I have two host families in two very different parts of Namibia. In Okahanja, where I have been doing my training, I live with a small family in town. After just three weeks, I feel as though I am one of them. Being taken in by strangers, and feeling like a part of the family within a month is a truely amazing feeling. Honestly, I feel as though I have been a part of the family for months not weeks.
Yesterday I found out that my site for the next two years is in Gobabis, which is about two hours from the capital, and an hour from Botswana. Today I left Okahanja for a week long site visit, which serves the purpose of really getting an idea of what I will be doing for my service. I met my host family here, whom I will live with for the first three months. However, as I said before, I am only here for a week right now, but will be moving here in a month after my training is done.
My training has been teaching me about various technical aspects of my position, including topics like HIV/AIDS, safety and security, the Peace Corps rules, and more general health topics as well. I have also been learning to speak Africaans, and have felt both struggles and successes. I passed my mid language test with a novice high score, which I was very happy with.
This has been a very strange post in my mind, but know that I’m safe and pushing through what many have said is the hardest part of service. I will write more very soon. This time I will be better! Totsiens.
1 year ago - read more...
