Cultural Day, Swear-in, and Southern Province!

Within the last week I have passed all my exams, finished training, bid farewell to my host family, took the oath to become a Peace Corps Volunteer (which I am fairly certain is the same oath that military members take), gotten lost in Lusaka, traveled to Southern Province (SoPro), and gotten most of my house shopping done for posting (when I get dropped at my village!). 

What do you get when you have 22 PCTs camping out a day before graduating?  A very hectic morning (don't worry, I know my jokes aren't humorous but they make someone smile anyway...Mom at least)!  In preparation for cultural day the PCTs had to cook and bake food for 100 people (our host families and village and PC officials as well as the chief).  There was dancing that everyone participated in - even if we weren't prepared ::cough cough::  (me, I wasn't prepared but if I  had known I would have to dance around and sing in front of my family and 100 people I would have practiced so as not to be as embarrassed).  There was an exchange of gifts and then farewells.  It was back to The Barn Motel thereafter, but not until our bus broke down - radiator trouble.  We eventually made it after the PCTs valiantly sacrificed their water for the cause.

Two days later, we became official Peace Corps Volunteers - basically a graduation for us.  It was held at the ambassador's house and consisted of a light breakfast, swear-in, and a light lunch of samosas.  This was the last night for all of the PCVs to be together after 12 weeks of seeing each other every day, supporting each other through sickness and aggravation, and just being in our protective American bubble with people that share our culture and are experiencing the same roller-coaster that is Peace Corps service.

So now, I am at the Provincial House (Peace Corps house) in SoPro waiting to be posted.  Has been nice to relax, read, eat familiar food, and take showers.  I am excited to be at my site, though.  Being stuck in a something like Limbo since being in country has been stressful and I am ready to be somewhere on a semi-permanent basis (2 years if fairly permanent I suppose).  Building relationships with the Zambians in my village, gaining development experience, and basically constructing a life in the African bush has been a long time in coming.  Hopefully posting will be Wednesday (when I get Napoleon, my cat!)!  Then it is 3 months of isolation in my village!