Training...

Oh wow... Where do i begin?! So much has happened since May...

I just want to say that I really really miss everyone!!! I have grown to appreciate all the things we have in America that we take for granted... they're privileges, not rights. But i've also learned that you can live without it...

I'm still in training and have been since i first arrived in Malawi (May 26th). Training has been intense and physically and emotionally draining. We've had maybe 2 days of rest since it started. Always something scheduled or in transition from one thing to the next. The food is simple but very good (rice, beans, soya, nsima (maize flour patties), chicken, goat, beef, greens, cabbage, potatoes). The country is absolutely beautiful... trees and fields and mountains... all "undeveloped"

Week 0 - In Dedza District (College of Forestry and Wildlife): Paperwork, medical sessions (i.e. immunizations) and brief introduction to language and culture, etc. We stayed in dorm like rooms (2 to a room) and had breakfast at 6:30am, tea at 10, lunch at 12, tea at 3, and dinner at 6pm in the cafeteria of the college.

Week 1-5- In Dedza District (Sukasuka Village homestay): Moved into a Malawian home in a village with no running water, electricity, or modern advances... I lived in a compound with 4 families (extended family to my host mother). We had a pit latrine ("permanent" portal potty), bath structure, kitchen (fire pit) structure, and a big container to hold water that my host mother got from the community water pump at 4:30am. Some houses were made of mud with thatched roofs, and others were made of clay bricks with tin roof. The sun sets around 6pm and it is pitched black. I have never experience darkness like that before... but with the darkness... you are able to see more stars. The night sky here is amazing! You can clearly see the Milky Way and a million stars. =0) I had a kerosene lantern and whatever flashlights i brought with them. While in the village, we had language training and technical training everyday from 8-4:30pm. At first, communication with the villagers and my family was very difficult.. but towards the end it was good. There's tons more things to say...

Week 6- Blantyre, Chikwawa District: Hitched a sweet ass ride with 2 girls from Zambia to Blantyre from Dedza. (Hitching is the mode of transportation here, hitching private vehicles, trucks, or buses) I finally got to see my site (where i'll be for the next 2 years). I am staying at a health center in Mfera in Chikwawa district. I have my own house with 2 rooms, living room, toilet, shower, kitchen, and a pantry. I also have running water and electricity.

In general, i am doing very well. This has been an experience of a lifetime... and i know the next 2 years will be amazing with good and bad experiences.. but i know that i will make it through and be a stronger person... and hopefully made a difference in some people's lives. =0)

I miss everyone so much!!! Please update me... Take care!!!

Today is my last day in California for the next 27 months. =0(

I leave first thing tomorrow Wednesday, May 21st for Philadelphia for my pre-departure orientation. I will be in Philly until Saturday, the 24th when we get bused to NY and depart from NY's JFK Airport for Africa. The flight to South Africa is 17 hours and 40 minutes and we will also be losing 6 hours EST (9 hours for PST) so we don't arrive until May 25th. Spending 1 night in Johannesburg, South Africa and then flying Lilongwe, Malawi. Finally arriving on the 26th.

I'm going to miss everyone so much! I am also going to miss California and everything that is here... but don't fret! I will be back in 2010! Until then... please stay in touch:
Email: sillykellynguyen@gmail.com
Snail Mail:
Kelly Nguyen, PCT
US Peace Corps
PO Box 208
Lilongwe, Malawi

Please take note that mail will take a long time to arrive in Africa. It takes at least 2 weeks to arrive in Africa, and at least another 2 weeks to get back to the States. And I won't have access to internet on a regular basis... so please be patient.

Take care everyone! I will miss you!