My life as a peace corps trainee is about to come to an end. I started packing today and reflected a little bit of my journey so far. I have learned enough conversational Swahili to pass the Peace corps required level, I am getting pretty good at washing a large load of laundry by hand, and I can bake a batch of brownies over a charcoal fire. Yup, I think i'm ready for the real life Peace corps volunteer experience. We will have one last host-family appreciation party next saturday and then we will all head back to Nairobi to prepare for our swearing in celebration at the US ambassadors house. It all seems a little bittersweet. I have gotten so close with my host mama (she promises she will call me once a month after I leave). I am so excited to start the real peace corps service, to start projects, set up my own house, and cook my own foods! However, I went to the market yesterday to do a little shopping and meet up with a friend. I chatted with Mama Mauwa (my favorite clothing seller) in Kiswahili, greeted several people on the streets, informed a group of heckling men that I wasn't a "muzungu" and that I had a name, did some shopping and bargained a blanket down to the best price. I then checked my phone and it was time to meet my friend at the gas station. I was feeling great and thinking to myself... this is what life is going to be like when I get to my site! EXCEPT for the part where I get to meet my friend or share my day with someone. I didn't expect I was going to become so close with so many people in a few short weeks that I was going to miss them as much as I miss my friends at home. I plan on making the most of the next few days with them before I head off to Rongo, Kenya on August 18th!
On a second note... I had an amazing 25th birthday! My wonderful friend Breezie gave me some easy cheese along with cheez-its that she had gotten from the states. I can't explain to you how wonderful cheddar-bacon easy cheese is on a bowl of lentils! I had messages and phone calls from home! I got a pair of grape-chinese socks from my friend Jo! I even got a brownie with sprinkles (my birthday cake) from Lussia and Ryan. I cooked KRAFT macaroni and cheese for dinner with my friend Breezie and my host mama sat and watched us intently throughout the entire process. It could be because she has never seen food cooked out of a box before, or maybe because she has no idea what "cheese" is. She followed us into the sitting room to watch us eat our concoction. We then asked her to take a picture for us and handed over the digital camera, after about 5 minutes of trying to explain, we ended up with a picture of our knees and part of the table. Mama has never seen a digital camera (or maybe any camera) before. I went to bed with a belly full of cheese, twislers, and oreos! I can't remember those things ever making me so happy at home. Thanks again everyone for all the wonderful birthday wishes. I can't wait to update you again once I am a sworn-in Peace corps volunteer.
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