This past eight days I have been living in Sanga and going to classes in Leo, about 10 km from
the Ghanian border. We are currently in the beginning stages of Stage (the training
to become a Peace Corps Volunteer [PCV]). As part of our cultural training, we
are living with a host family (photos to follow I hope… we’ll see if the
internet cooperates…). I got VERY lucky. First my home is above and beyond
nice. Most are very bare and basic; my home, however, has flooring, painted
walls, couch, posters, and a mirror. My host father even has electricity; the
other night, I am almost POSITIVE I heard the intro song to Family Matters
playing… I’ll have to check it out sometime this week and report back, but
possibly getting to watch Steve Erkel dubbed in French is way better than I was
ever hoping for. I am also very fortunate because when I first arrived, my host
father’s sister, Mimi, was visiting. She spoke wonderful French and was a warm
and friendly face in such an awkward situation; additionally, my host father
speaks very good French as well and even a little English! Some Peace Corps
Trainees’ (PCT) families don’t even speak French.
Training is pretty intensive. It is a little less than an
hour bike ride into the main town we have our classes, which go from 8am-5pm. I
am pretty exhausted most of the time, but the rest of the PCT definitely make
the experience more bearable. It is hard- I am not loving it- but it is what
one should realistically expect. A lot of work. Hot. But a pretty incredible experience
none the less… living in a rural, agricultural community, with no electricity or
running water, biking through BEAUTIFUL landscapes… (hopefully next blog post I’ll
have photos to share).
And- through all the times when I think- what… this heat…
this food… for TWO years?! There are luckily current PCVs here who are at our
trainings to facilitate the whole thing, and they seem so adjusted and
comfortable and have really impressive stories that I remind myself to be
patient and hopefully I will be where they are… just have to take everything
day by day.
So- this is a little intro to what Staging has been like. I
will be here for 8 more weeks and will give more info as the weeks pass.
And thank you LIZ SHANNON for the wonderful Mt. Adams
postcard. It made my day. And I did just what you said I would: boast to everyone that I climbed that mountain
during the summer, which was completely necessary considering I fainted
(another story but I am fine) during the first bike ride and had to make sure
my team didn’t think I was this delicate creature that was going to call it
quits at any moment.
Until next time- I miss you all and air conditioning and
delivery pizza more than I knew was possible!
