With love from Okahandja

Hey everyone I am sitting in a Internet cafe in Okahandja, a town outside of Windhoek, waiting for afternoon training to start. We had our site interviews and we will soon find out what language we will be learning and in a few weeks where we will be living. Tomorrow night we move into our host family's for the remainder of training. I can't wait to find out my language and job there are so many different things during the interview they asked me questions that made about kids to working on chicken and fish farms. So I guess we will see what develops.

The training center has been so good to us breakfast lunch and dinner everyday. Something I am excited about is tea time... twice a day we break for about 20 minutes to drink tea. Traditionally Namibians drink their hot tea with two scoops of sugar... its perfect!! The coffee is a little different it powered but with a little milk and sugar until I get used to it will be great. We have four pcv's here who are helping us understand a lot in these transition days where we are not given much information. We have been asking non stop questions since they met us at the airport two and a half days ago.

When we landed in Windhoek we found that over half of our group was missing their luggage and it was left behind back in the states , but as of this morning EVERYONE now has their luggage!! So good news all around. I will try to write more once we get our phones and I can connect to the Internet instead of coming to the cafe but if any of you are interested in sending packages we have found a few good tips

1. Write Bible verses on the outside of the box
2. When filling out the label put things like used books, toiletries, Learning material, Religious stuff, tampons
3. Tampons and deodorant are very expensive here so any time some one feels like sending some I will be totally grateful.

The Begining

I can not say thank you enough to all of my family and friends who came to see me or called me right before I left. You have no idea how much it means to have all of your support and prayers. I have my scrapbook that Amanda put together and have already bragged to everyone in the group about the letters and pictures from everyone. I will have that to look at when ever I need something to brighten my day. I typed this next part in the airport when I didn't have internet so I am going to attach it ...

I am now sitting in the JFK airport getting ready to get on the plane. I do have my People Magazine for the 18 hour plane ride!! I never really thought this day would come but here I am getting ready for my first international flight. I love the group and I can easily see how we are already becoming a close family I am looking forward to some more time to get to know each person a little more. I will say after talking to alot of the volunteers I found out what a great recruiter I have. Amy did so much to help me though the process listening to everyone’s stories I realize how much she did for me and how I may not gotten through this process with out her. She seriously is the BEST recruiter ever!!!! We are about to get on the plane so this is pretty short but I will let you know that everything has worked out for the best …. My luggage rolls better with out the handle, my laptop turned on once I took the battery out, and my blisters on my heels are not a problem J

Things Accomplished Today

1. Laptop Fixed

2. Yellowfever Shot

3. 1^st Malaria pill of MANY

4. Saw the statue of liberty and NY for the first time

5. 1^st international flight!!!!

There are two Gators representing and preparing to spread the GatorNation to Namibia. I have already made my football friend and we have made a wager ... when FL wins he will wear a Gator shirt and when Texas wins I will wear something Texas (so whenever FL and Texas play each other whether it be golf, swimming, volleyball, tennis, basketball only tell me if we win!!) We landed in Johannesburg after the rainstorm. I stepped off the plane to the smell of fresh rain in on the hot asphalt, it was a reminder of home.

We are spending the night in a beautiful hotel where there happened to be not one but three weddings (it was like a three-in-one) if you know me you know how much I love weddings so I waited downstairs to see the brides get out of the limo. Watching all the guests come in and stand around the brides and grooms was absolutely breathtaking I could not stop smiling as I looked at all their colors and designs. It was so modern and sophisticated while being traditional and trendy. I can barely being to describe the culture I saw just standing in the lobby of the hotel.

We are leaving for Namibia tomorrow and I don't think I will be able to write for a little while so I thought I would give you an update about what is going on. I will write as soon as I can.

Stay Safe and God Bless!!!