Wednesday we leave for Kigali and Friday is official swear in as Peace Corps volunteers so training is officially over!! To say I'm thrilled training is done does not even begin to describe how happy I am. It has been a REALLY long 9 weeks. Being in a classroom like setting for 8 hours a day is really draining. I am really sad to be leaving my host family though: they are amazing and I love them a ton. Some days after training I would be in a bad mood and they would always get me laughing. I don't know if I would have made it this far without their help. (And obviously the support from family back home!)
So next week I will be at my site. And instead of having my entire life planned down to the minute (like in training) I will have literally no schedule and nothing planned. That is the awesome/frustrating part about being a health volunteer. You really have to make an effort to find jobs for yourself and figure out what to do. A little daunting, but I'm ready to actually get started doing what I came here to do!
With all that said, a few highlights of training:
I got a jigger (a tiny bug that burrows under your skin). I got to go all the way to Kigali to have the Peace Corps doctor cut it out from under my toe nail. That was fun.
Wonderful/awkward encounters each and every day with the people in my village. I am a pro at going for the handshake when they go for the hug and vice versa. (Today's mix up ended up with my boob being grabbed. Excellent.)
Apparently caterpillars here are not cute and fluffy. They have spikes. Which I found out when 20 got lodged in my arm. Luckily it's not painful and they are easy to get out. Nice rash though!
Like I said, laughing with my family always makes my day. We laugh a lot about anything and everything. I'm gonna miss coming home to that.
Living in Karama. It's a super small town but it's beautiful here and I feel like I am just starting to know the people. Also, I was lucky to be put here with other volunteers I really like. They are awesome and it's going to be weird to not see them every day.
The dog. Karama has one dog. It is a stray and has dreadlocks on its tail. Its pretty pathetic cause they are so long and heavy they drag on the ground. He's basically Karama's unofficial mascot. Hopefully someone cuts his tail, we wanted to but rabies is not the next disease I want to add to my list of African ailments.
Hugs. Three little girls hug me everyday when I walk home from class. They are super cute and it's an awesome way to end the day. They always sprint towards me with arms out wide, and of course huge smiles across their faces. Hopefully my new neighbors will be just as friendly.
Well Karama, it's been real. I know I will be visiting soon, but it won't be the same. Goodbyes are never easy and I'm really dreading saying goodbye to my host family. Especially my mom. She really reminds me of my real mom. (When those two meet its gonna be ridiculous- I have no doubt in my mind that even with the language barrier they will be best friends).
Anyways, sorry this was long-winded and had no pictures. Amahoro.
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