Getting Ready

Here starts the blogging...


My itinerary for the first couple days/weeks when I finally take off:


I'll leave at 4:20 pm from O'hare and fly into Philly at 7:15 pm on Tuesday, February 8th.
   -Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn
   -Staging at the hotel from 7 am - 6 pm. A day filled with shots, orientation and what not.
Depart from hotel at 2 am and bussed to JFK for a 10:40 am flight on February 10 to Johannesburg, South Africa at 8 am the next day.
Depart from Johannesburg at 2 pm on the 11th and land in Entebbe, Uganda at 7 pm.


Because elections are going to be taking place when we land in Uganda, our first week of orientation will take place in Lweza Training and Conference Centre, which is about 30 minutes from the airport. There is a lot of Peace Corps history at this Training Centre, so hopefully it will be a great start to our training. Here we will meet the country director/s and start to learn safety, the school structure, Ugandan history and Luganda, the "main" language spoken in Uganda. When things settle down after elections we will be placed with our host family for the duration of the 3 months of training. 


The first 3 months are going to be filled with intense language training, and field based training. I have a feeling that I won't be able to get online much or have much contact due to the long days. It is pertinent that we focus these first 3 months because what we learn is going to be the foundation of the rest of our 2 year volunteer stint. There will be a competency test at the end of the 3 months to make sure we are ready to take on our large task. It will be comprised of Cross Culture, Community Development, Language, Safety and Security, Technical knowledge and skills, Administration, and Medical aspects. If (and I will say when) we pass the test we will be placed in a rural area in Uganda. That will be when I find out more details about my living conditions, my address and everything else that comes along with being placed in my new home for the next 2 years.


I will be able to buy a phone the first couple weeks I am in Uganda, so I will post my number and the best times to get ahold of me. The time difference on the side of my blog compares Chicago to Kampala to help coordinate times. Ultimately the best way to get ahold of me is going to be through emailing me. But be aware my first couple days in Lweza I will not have internet or phone access. Please don't be offended if I don't get back to your right away, I will try my hardest.


Packing has been a pain in my tuckess, which most people know that I hate packing in general, so packing for 2 years would be no different, but multiplied. My last week at home, I am trying to spend as much time with my loved ones as possible. I have my going away party with friends tonight and next Sunday I have a church ceremony that includes Laying on of the Hands at First Lutheran church for my family and friends. It is too bad that the Bears didn't make it to the SuperBowl so I have the ultimate gift before I take off, but I am sure we will enjoy watching the Packers beat the Steelers at Jim and Dani's. (Ya I said Packers, I hate the Steelers. That is for you Jenkins, Dale, and Cory ;) ) 


Basically, I have no clue what to truly expect, which I think is the best way to go into the Peace Corps. This leaves me the most open minded as possible and I will be ready to handle anything that comes my way. I have every emotion possible, but very excited to embark on this life changing journey.