I'm here!

So, I arrived in Windhoek last Wednesday, and have been incredibly busy since then.  The travel time was incredible to get here.  Besides the 2 flights to get to Philly, we took a 2hour bus ride at 3 in the morning to get to JFK.  We then sat at the airport for 5 hours until could even check in and  move past security.  That was followed by a 15 hour flight to Joberg, and then a 2 hour flight to Windhoek.  We immediately got in a bus and drove for an hour to Okahandja, where we will complete our 8 weeks of training.

So, it's been almost a week now.  We have learned many things.  Sessions usually last from 7:30 to 4:30.  We talk about how to emotionally survive without having a breakdown ( apparently after a time we will al start to go crazy and argue with cows and chat with goats).  We have more serious talks about how to be healthy, through making sure that our water is clean and that we eat more than meat and starch ( apparently that is a normal meal for Namibians. Veggies? What are those?).  This morning we started learning the local language for our site.  I will be attempting to learn Otjiherero, a major language here.  Despite this, we still don't know where we will be living for the next 2 years.  Kinda crazy.  I've been able to narrow it down s bit based on my language.  I do know for sure that I won't be in the south, along the Angolan border, or in Caprivi.  I may be somewhere in the Kalahari or west near the Skeleton Coast.  I'll tell you in a few weeks when they tell us.

Here are a few photos from our hike to Pride Rock (no, not from the Lion King!)

Peace and friendship,

Christina