Monday, August 22, 2011

Livin the Village Life

I am now an official Peace Corps Volunteer! The Swearing In Ceremony was a blast. Everyone dressed up in full Africana, I sported a crazy blue and gold shiny ensemble and it was great. When I arrived to the training center my Language teacher told me that I had been chosen to give the vote of thanks in Limba, the local language that I'm learning. So I quickly memorized four sentences in Limba and recited them to the entire audience. It was actually pretty cool to be greeted by the entire room in Limba. After swearing in we all went out and enjoyed our last night all together in Makeni. I left for Kamabai on Sunday and packing up and leaving my host family and friends was like leaving for the Peace Corps all over again. My mom was just sitting outside my room, looking at all of my bags and saying how much she was going to miss me. At least Kamabai is only an hour away from Makeni so I will be able to visit them often.

This week has just been a lot of hanging out at my house, unpacking, napping with my cat, reading and meeting people in town. Living in the village is kind of like being in a time warp. In order to get furniture made I talk with a carpenter, I visit the general store to buy everything from soap to eggs and everyone is so friendly and welcoming. It's kind of fantastic.

Yesterday I was able to go to my first Catholic mass while in Sierra Leone. It was beautiful. For as many things that I struggle with in the Catholic church, one of the things that I love the most is its universality. Here I was in a completely different part of the world then where I normally worship and yet I was able to be in community with everyone in that parish . The music was great and I can't wait to  learn those songs and maybe bring some of them back to the states :)

Well  that's all that I can really think of, if you have any specific questions feel free to email  or facebook me, I will try my best to reply at least within a month. Sorry I can't be faster than that, such is life in Salone.  I love and miss you all!