Ok, so here it goes.....even though no one reads this!
Our swearing in ceremony is tomorrow morning, Jan. 10, 2008....and then we'll all be official volunteers and not just trainees!!! Yippee!!! But, this is a double edged sword because that means that we have to really stay at our sites in our seperate districts of the country until Phase 3 of our training for 3 whole months...alone and apart from each other, which sucks!
It will be an exciting day, but a sad one! We will get our passports back and our PC ids also...which is really cool. We just got access to use the VRC which has computers with free internet access a couple of days ago....so now we can use the computer and not have to pay at the internet cafe in town! And all of us have for sure been taking advantage of it!
Alrighty, that's about it. We just went on site visit to our own homes and it was a lot of fun. I have a cute little rondaval up on the side of a mountain...with a bright blue door...and it's pimpin'!
Ok, I've been on here too long and need to get back to the training center. We'll be leaving Maseru on Friday to take the long drive back to site (Qacha's Nek), which takes about 7 hrs. in a car!!! It's far!!!! So, I won't be updating for awhile. Sorry.
Love all ya'll,
Kylie or Kamohelo
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Friday, December 14, 2007
New information
Hey everyone! Sorry it's been so long since I've updated this, but I just haven't had time! Training has been rigorous! It's almost over now though.
I found out where I'll be staying in Lesotho today after training is over....in Malimong which is in the district of Qachas'Nek...way down south next to the border! I'm very happy about this since I'll be close to the camptown and close to resources!!! My site is a new site, but there are 2 other volunteers I'll be very close to living there already....which is great!
Ok, that's about all for now. Send me emails! Thanks for all of your support thus far, keep it coming!
Toodles,
Ky
I found out where I'll be staying in Lesotho today after training is over....in Malimong which is in the district of Qachas'Nek...way down south next to the border! I'm very happy about this since I'll be close to the camptown and close to resources!!! My site is a new site, but there are 2 other volunteers I'll be very close to living there already....which is great!
Ok, that's about all for now. Send me emails! Thanks for all of your support thus far, keep it coming!
Toodles,
Ky
Saturday, November 17, 2007
"Lumela!" that means "Hello!"
Hey everyone!
Just wanted to give you all an update real quick like....I am in Lesotho and staying at the Peace Corps Training Center in the capital city of Maseru. It's a pretty big city and our compound has tall walls with barbed wire fence on top and security guards at the gate 24/7. Anytime we want to go out of there we have to sign out and be back before dusk. So far things are going really great! We have class everyday except Sunday starting at 8am and we don't get finished until about 9pm...so we're pretty tired at the end of the day! I am learning how to speak Sesotho SLOWLY, but it's coming to me. I am not as good at it as some of the others in my group, but I'm trying. It's very different from English in that they don't use all of the English letters and some of the letters we use make different sounds in Sesotho. I am also learning how to play Chess from one of the guys in my group...it's interesting and fun, but harder than I thought it would be to learn. We're practicing everyday, but I'm still not very good. It passes the time. We have visited some of the schools where all of us will be doing our community based training in a couple of weeks.....that was fun! The kids all sang and danced for us...it was amazing! In Lesotho they sing and dance a lot...it's great! I wish I had a video camera so that everyone back home could see and hear it instead of just pictures of it. Tomorrow (Sun. 17th of Nov.) another guy trainee and myself are going with Kyla (current volunteer who's been here a year) to her site in Mohale's Hoek for 3 nights to visit. Everyone else in my group is going with a partner and with different volunteers too...these are called site visits....they're part of our training, but it's better than sitting in class! Sam and I are looking forward to seeing Mohale's Hoek as it is supposed to be gorgeous there! I probably won't be updating again for awhile since we'll be out of town and won't have Internet access...so take care everyone and write me please! Love ya all!
Kea Leboha (thank you),
Kylie
Just wanted to give you all an update real quick like....I am in Lesotho and staying at the Peace Corps Training Center in the capital city of Maseru. It's a pretty big city and our compound has tall walls with barbed wire fence on top and security guards at the gate 24/7. Anytime we want to go out of there we have to sign out and be back before dusk. So far things are going really great! We have class everyday except Sunday starting at 8am and we don't get finished until about 9pm...so we're pretty tired at the end of the day! I am learning how to speak Sesotho SLOWLY, but it's coming to me. I am not as good at it as some of the others in my group, but I'm trying. It's very different from English in that they don't use all of the English letters and some of the letters we use make different sounds in Sesotho. I am also learning how to play Chess from one of the guys in my group...it's interesting and fun, but harder than I thought it would be to learn. We're practicing everyday, but I'm still not very good. It passes the time. We have visited some of the schools where all of us will be doing our community based training in a couple of weeks.....that was fun! The kids all sang and danced for us...it was amazing! In Lesotho they sing and dance a lot...it's great! I wish I had a video camera so that everyone back home could see and hear it instead of just pictures of it. Tomorrow (Sun. 17th of Nov.) another guy trainee and myself are going with Kyla (current volunteer who's been here a year) to her site in Mohale's Hoek for 3 nights to visit. Everyone else in my group is going with a partner and with different volunteers too...these are called site visits....they're part of our training, but it's better than sitting in class! Sam and I are looking forward to seeing Mohale's Hoek as it is supposed to be gorgeous there! I probably won't be updating again for awhile since we'll be out of town and won't have Internet access...so take care everyone and write me please! Love ya all!
Kea Leboha (thank you),
Kylie
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
What an awesome weekend!
Hello to all!
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that either came to my going away party on Sunday and anyone else that has sent me cards and letters! These have all been such wonderful, encouraging gifts and are truly appreciated!
Fall Follies was a huge success once again this year and an incredibly good time! The food, band competition, parade, and seeing familiar faces back in town was wonderful all day long!!!!
Ok, back to making lists and checking things off my packing lists...6 days to go! Scary.
Smiles, hugs, and kisses!
Kylie
I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone that either came to my going away party on Sunday and anyone else that has sent me cards and letters! These have all been such wonderful, encouraging gifts and are truly appreciated!
Fall Follies was a huge success once again this year and an incredibly good time! The food, band competition, parade, and seeing familiar faces back in town was wonderful all day long!!!!
Ok, back to making lists and checking things off my packing lists...6 days to go! Scary.
Smiles, hugs, and kisses!
Kylie
Friday, October 26, 2007
ObLoNg FaLl FoLlieS
Today is the Fall Follies in my hometown...yay! Let's see what my schedule is going to be like:
1. Go uptown with the parents to browse around the boothes and look at crafts.
2. Come home and make some more goodies for my party tomorrow.
3. Meet up with some old friends to go watch the Spooktacular band fest at the high school.
4. Watch the field show competition...depending on if it's raining and how cold it is.
5. Back home to help in the kitchen with the party goodies again.
6. Back uptown to mingle with some friends at the festival.
7. To the high school to watch the drumline exhibitions at the band fest.
8. Go to the Firehouse for the pancake and sausage supper.
9. Watch the nighttime parade uptown in lawn chairs, while it's freezing outside! BUT, it is totally worth it because there are 25 bands performing in it this year...it's always amazing!
Wow, that's a jam-packed day...I should be sleeping now instead of writing this!
Fall is by far my favorite time of the year in Illinois...it is so pretty here this time of year!!!! I hate to leave it and go to Africa, but I can't wait to live on the other side of the world, again. It's been awhile since I've been away from home, but I'll be fine.
Oh yeah, my going away party is this Sunday (day after tomorrow) and it's going to rock everyone's socks off!!! Can't wait!
I ONLY HAVE 1O DAYS LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES....EEK!!! THE COUNTDOWN IS TRULY ON NOW! WHOA...
1. Go uptown with the parents to browse around the boothes and look at crafts.
2. Come home and make some more goodies for my party tomorrow.
3. Meet up with some old friends to go watch the Spooktacular band fest at the high school.
4. Watch the field show competition...depending on if it's raining and how cold it is.
5. Back home to help in the kitchen with the party goodies again.
6. Back uptown to mingle with some friends at the festival.
7. To the high school to watch the drumline exhibitions at the band fest.
8. Go to the Firehouse for the pancake and sausage supper.
9. Watch the nighttime parade uptown in lawn chairs, while it's freezing outside! BUT, it is totally worth it because there are 25 bands performing in it this year...it's always amazing!
Wow, that's a jam-packed day...I should be sleeping now instead of writing this!
Fall is by far my favorite time of the year in Illinois...it is so pretty here this time of year!!!! I hate to leave it and go to Africa, but I can't wait to live on the other side of the world, again. It's been awhile since I've been away from home, but I'll be fine.
Oh yeah, my going away party is this Sunday (day after tomorrow) and it's going to rock everyone's socks off!!! Can't wait!
I ONLY HAVE 1O DAYS LEFT IN THE UNITED STATES....EEK!!! THE COUNTDOWN IS TRULY ON NOW! WHOA...
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Countdown....to Lesotho!
Okay, I have 12 days left in Illinois with my family now...wow, that's not very long!
I am not even sure where to start packing for this trip! There are so many things that I want to take with me...but I am SURE that they will NOT fit into my suitcase and be under the weight limit of 50 lbs. per checked bag! So, needless to say, I'm a little flustered with this!
That being said though, this is my absolute FAVORITE time of year here in Illinois...FALL!!! It is so pretty with all the leaves changing colors and falling down to the ground; I love it so much and I'm enjoying it all I can before I have to leave.
This Saturday, Oct. 27th is the Oblong Fall Follies and OHS Band Spooktacular event at my alma mater and I'm so excited!! I'm going to be uptown looking around at the booths in the morning with my Mom, like we always do every year. Then, down at the band competition watching all of the amazing field shows, which is also a yearly tradition. After that, we'll walk back uptown to see everyone who's made it into town and visit with people on Main St. At around 5pm or so, we'll go to the Firehouse to the annual pancake and sausage dinner, and then watch the night parade...which is stunning! It's going to be a great Saturday...it always is at the Fall Follies!
On Sunday, Oct. 28th from 2pm-4pm my parents are hosting a going away party for me at our house! Everyone's invited, practically the whole town of Oblong, and it's going to be a good time. If you're in town, stop by.
All in all, it's going to be a FANTASTIC last weekend at home with my family and friends and I can't wait to see everyone one last time!
Time for bed, that's all for now.
Cheers! :0)
I am not even sure where to start packing for this trip! There are so many things that I want to take with me...but I am SURE that they will NOT fit into my suitcase and be under the weight limit of 50 lbs. per checked bag! So, needless to say, I'm a little flustered with this!
That being said though, this is my absolute FAVORITE time of year here in Illinois...FALL!!! It is so pretty with all the leaves changing colors and falling down to the ground; I love it so much and I'm enjoying it all I can before I have to leave.
This Saturday, Oct. 27th is the Oblong Fall Follies and OHS Band Spooktacular event at my alma mater and I'm so excited!! I'm going to be uptown looking around at the booths in the morning with my Mom, like we always do every year. Then, down at the band competition watching all of the amazing field shows, which is also a yearly tradition. After that, we'll walk back uptown to see everyone who's made it into town and visit with people on Main St. At around 5pm or so, we'll go to the Firehouse to the annual pancake and sausage dinner, and then watch the night parade...which is stunning! It's going to be a great Saturday...it always is at the Fall Follies!
On Sunday, Oct. 28th from 2pm-4pm my parents are hosting a going away party for me at our house! Everyone's invited, practically the whole town of Oblong, and it's going to be a good time. If you're in town, stop by.
All in all, it's going to be a FANTASTIC last weekend at home with my family and friends and I can't wait to see everyone one last time!
Time for bed, that's all for now.
Cheers! :0)
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Just the beginning...
So, if you don't know this...I'm going to Africa on Nov. 5th! I've accepted my invitation to serve in Lesotho; a small country within the borders of South Africa. Lesotho is called "The Mountain Kingdom" and it is the highest elevated country in the world...pretty cool right?!
At first I was, of course, super excited about this new adventure! Then, I went into "shock" and "disbelief" that all of this was really happening. Once I realized it was real, I was very excited. After reaching this phase, I came to realize that I needed to get it together and meet some other people that were doing the same thing and going to the same place, since there are 25 of us total going in November. As you can guess, I did meet some people and have made some new "Peace Corps friends" already online and we have all decided that no matter how much we prepare, we really are not sure of what we're getting ourselves into :) I guess there could be worse things...truly.
I have since moved into the phase of beginning to buy the things I'm going to need over "across the pond." This phase has been rather costly. I'll keep you all updated on my status as my departure time nears, but until then...take care.
At first I was, of course, super excited about this new adventure! Then, I went into "shock" and "disbelief" that all of this was really happening. Once I realized it was real, I was very excited. After reaching this phase, I came to realize that I needed to get it together and meet some other people that were doing the same thing and going to the same place, since there are 25 of us total going in November. As you can guess, I did meet some people and have made some new "Peace Corps friends" already online and we have all decided that no matter how much we prepare, we really are not sure of what we're getting ourselves into :) I guess there could be worse things...truly.
I have since moved into the phase of beginning to buy the things I'm going to need over "across the pond." This phase has been rather costly. I'll keep you all updated on my status as my departure time nears, but until then...take care.
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