Finally arriving...

August 19, 2010
I made it! I am in Namibia outside its capital! After a grueling 33 hours of traveling starting from the departure in Philly to here, I was so exhausted. I had to change into formal clothes at Johannesburg and I was so annoyed. I am like, seriously? After traveling for like 29 hours at that point you want me to look professional when I arrive? I felt like the Peace Corps is picking me up and should not expect us to look like business people. But here in Namibia, the way you dress is an expression of your respect for other people. Unlike in America, where how you dress is an expression of your individuality, in Namibia the way you dress is an expression of your respect for other people. So I got off the plane and finally into the hot, stuffy bus to go to this hostel-like place. Gasping for fresh air as I step off the bus, I hear the most beautiful voices singing in harmony. I start jogging over and see about 20 Namibian staff singing traditional African chants exactly the way it sounds in the Lion King or in African music you could buy. It was so moving I began to cry. This dream is becoming real.
On the bus from Windhoek to here, people saw wild baboons and wild giraffes! I never saw them because I was fast asleep but I’m sure it was awesome. The place we are staying at is really nice. I am now sitting on my bed underneath a mosquito net like a princess in a canopy, but there are no mosquitoes because it is winter. They tell us to do it anyway. It is briskly cold outside. The temperature really drops and rises here. I love it. Nice and cold at night and warm during the day. We have not learned too much about much besides safety and security. We don’t know where we will be assigned but we have interviews about our preferences. I have decided to say that I would like no electricity and running water. This to me is ideal, because the school has electricity so I would be able to charge my things and still use them, all while getting the real experience. If I end up with electricity, it won’t be so bad. A lot of the schools are looking for sports coaches which really excites me too. And they are looking for HIV/AIDS prevention educators! And some for gender issue educators! All things that I can’t wait to start doing. It is all so far away though. For instance I have to learn a new language first. Oh, also I have to find out what language I’m going to be learning and meet my host family, and the list goes on.
For now, I can’t seem to contain my excitement. The savannah is pretty barren and dead looking right now but it is unique. There is also beauty in the full -fledged, bright blue peacock cawing outside my door.