Beware of the "wiggly finger"

 Habarini!  So I finally made it! After so long it is still amazing to me that I am actually here.   I haven't been able to blog much with all the traveling and lack of internet so let's just start from the beginning.

I flew out of Tulsa airport on Sept. 21st and flew to Philadelphia via Chicago.  Chicago was not the best experience.  When I got there, I had to drag my carry-on and "personal item" all the way across the airport without the assistance of maybe my favorite invention, the moving sidewalk.  When I finally arrive, I am sliding my bag off my now separated shoulder when they come over the intercom and announce that the departure gate has moved.  So I loaded back up and hauled my pack mule self all the way across the terminal to the new gate.  I finally take a seat and they tell us that the gate has moved again.  Other than that, my trip was pretty uneventful except for a terrifying trip on a shuttle from the airport to the hotel.

Staging began on Sept. 22nd, but not until around noon, so I decided to tour the great city of Philly.   I went on a tour of Independence Hall, Betsy Ross's house, saw Ben Franklin's grave, and the Liberty Bell.  Then I headed back to the hotel for the unknown.  My roommate, Eula, and I headed to the lobby to wait for staging to begin.  We handed in all our forms and other really fun stuff.  Meeting everyone went very smoothly.  Everyone was really great and got along well.  For our last supper, a group of us headed to China Town to have supper.  I have the adventurous choice of Ox Tail's Soup; maybe the wrong choice for a last dinner.  We then went on a quest for a final ice cream to discover that the store was closed.  We opted for beer instead.  The next morning, we checked out and hopped on a bus to JFK in NYC, and to make a long story short took a plane to Dar es Salaam, with stops in Zurich and Nairobi.  When we made it to Dar es Salaam, we hopped on a daladala (a bus) and drove to hostel we are staying at. 

Our days now are filled with endless seminars trying to teach us how to not get robbed, go to the bathroom, and other knowledge we are expected to absorb.  One of the best talks was about the "wiggly finger."  Apparently if a female shakes a man's hand and he wiggles his finger against her hand, this does not equal good things.  Basically, he is propositioning you and you must immediately put an end to this awkward situation.  We have also gotten so many shots that we have trouble raising our arms and had to stop playing frisbee because it simply caused too much pain.  We are also trying desperately to pick up the language.  We even wrote a different vocab word on each card of a playing deck and played drinking games with them.  If you knew the word you saved yourself from drinking.  The Security guy from the U.S. Embassy also scared the bejeezus out of us about staying safe in Tanzania.  For my mother's sake I will not touch on these too much.  If you are really that interested just email me.  I only have one word for the food: interesting.  We have the same foods for every meal, ranging from chicken gizzard and liver to hot dogs. 

I am saving the best story for last though.  The other day, I was playing soccer with a two kids, probably around 3 and 5.  After a while of playing, the 3-year-old and I started playing chase.  It was hilarious because it made him laugh really hard and it was possibly the cutest laugh ever.  Well this was all good and well until I finally made him laugh so hard that he wet himself, which was really actually funny until he ran up to me and hugged my leg. Whelp, no re-wearing those pants.

And just so you know, I counted and I have more than 30 mosquito from my knees down.

Jet Setting...

So today was the big day that we have all been looking forward to/dreading for so long.  I left.  My entire family took off of work and school to see me off at the airport.  Saying goodbye to them may have been the hardest thing I've ever done in my life.  If you know me at all you know that I do not cry.  Well that changed today...I cried all the way through security, all the way to the gate, and until be took off.  Then I passed out.  What made it even worse was that it was the smallest plane EVER!  I was the only chair in my row and then there were only 2 chairs across the aisle from me, my knees touched the back of the chair in front on me, and the flight attendant brushed me every time she walked past.  In other words, the entire plane could see me blubber.
So after finishing up my sob-fest, I woke up when we were landing in Chicago.  I get off the plane and hike what felt like 7 miles with bags that felt like they were about 50 pounds.  It was great.  I finally made it to my gate, VICTORY.  Just as a find a chair to sit down, they come over the loud speaker and say that there has been a change of gates.  I then have to drag myself all the way down to the opposite end of the terminal.  When I get there, I sit and and realize the plane is delayed, so I decide to pull out my computer and watch Modern Family Season 1 (which I just got for the plane!!).  During this process, they switch the gate again.  All in all Chicago is not my favorite.
I finally get into Philadelphia, collect my bags, and in the process meet some people in my group.  We then venture onto the death trap they call a shuttle and make it to the hotel.  My friend from college, Elizabeth, was waiting there when I rolled in!  It was such a relief to see her friendly face and go have dinner with her.  All in all its been an eventful day and I am completely worn out.  I have no idea what to expect tomorrow, but think I am ready for whatever comes.

Packing List

So packing 2 years worth of stuff into 2 checked bags and 1 carry-on has proved difficult.  Combined, the dimensions of my checked luggage cannot exceed 107"or more than 80 pounds.  I have combed over numerous blogs with packing lists from previous PC volunteers hoping to pick up tips on what to take and what not to take.  Although this proved to be tremendously helpful, this was still probably the most frustrated experience ever, considering I hate packing under normal circumstances.  What all I have packed is as follows:

What I need to fit into my bags

Clothing

3 skirts (mid-calf length)

3 pairs light-weight pants

3 nice shirts (to teach in)

1 pair nice shoes (to teach in)

Jogging pants (not tight)

1 Modest swimsuit

1 pair jeans

1 Hoodie/jacket, for cold season

Rain Jacket

1 pair sturdy sandals (reefs)

1 pair chacos

3 Regular bras

4 Sports Bras

25 pairs underwear

2 Slips

1 Pair leggings (to wear under kangas)

Electronics

Camera gear

2 head lamps

Calculator

Travel clock

Travel speakers for ipod

Ipod (with otterbox case)

Solio solar charger with adapter tips

Flip camcorder

Kindle (with preloaded books)

External Hard drive

Rechargeable batteries and charger

Kitchen and House Supplies

Cutting board

3 paring knifes (giving one as present to host mom)

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Spices

Leatherman knife

Toiletries (solid shampoo, razors, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, facewash)

Small sewing kit

Dramadine (I get car sick)

Hair-cutting scissors

2 pairs glasses

Sunglasses

3 months worth of prescriptions

2 Pack towels

Other Supplies

Camping Gear

Soccer Ball (deflated)

Small Water filter for hiking

Large USA wall map

Large World wall map

Bannanagrams

Deck of cards/Uno

Travel Apples to Apples game

Bible

3 Moleskin journals

Binoculars

Pocket Dictionary

Knitting needles

Passport and money belt

National Audobon Society Field Guide to African Wildlife

Travel Map for Tanzania

Guide for Birds of East Africa

Lonely Planet guide for Tanzania

Swahili translation dictionary

Hammock

Picture Album, with pictures from home

Command sticky hooks (for my house)

Office supplies (stapler, tape, scissors, pens, pencils)

Peace corps paperwork

Copies of passport, credit card, etc. (also left a copy with my Mom)

Extra passport photos

Gifts for Host Family

Hard Candy for children

Post Cards

Calendar

Paring knife for Host mom

After Packing

These are a few of my favorite things...

As my departure date gets closer, the reality that I am going to be gone for two years is really setting in.  I feel like I am about to jump out of a plane and just hope my parachute opens.  I know very little about what to expect which makes me even more anxious about this process.  I am starting to realize how much I will go without over the next 27 months and thought I would share some of those with you (mainly because I am bored and just sitting thinking these depressing thoughts):

1. My family                                14. The cooking channel
2. My friends                               15. Visiting Freedom, OK
3. My pets                                    16. My Pledge Class
4. Text messaging                        17. Chick-fil-a
5. Frozen yogurt                           18. Oklahoma State University Homecoming!!
6. Movies                                      19. Electricity
7. Barnes and Noble                     20. Running water
8. Internet Shopping                      21. "Date nights" with my little brother
9. Tailgating                                  22. The lake
10. College Football                      23. Thanksgiving
11. Astro's Baseball                       24. Pina Colada night with my sisters
12. Driving
13. Murphy's hot hamburger (if you haven't been there you need to visit Bartlesville, OK and discover the awesomeness)


These are just a few that I've been thinking about, but what I need to remind myself is how many new things I will have the opportunity to experience and the lives I will touch.  When I think about the difference I can make it makes it a little easier to say goodbye to these things for that time.