Swearing-In Ceremony pictures!

A short update!

Training is finally over all the hard work and frustration is somewhat over. It was very hard to say goodbye to all my family and friends in Forecariah. I’ve grown so close to them and so fond of them. So my last day went pretty awesome I bought my family a chicken for the family and also game them a puzzle along with connect four and some other little trickets I thought they’d like. I had bought a jewelry set, a necklace and matching earrings and I wasn’t sure who would like them. And today at the ceremony I saw my mom wearing them and it matched wonderfully with a complet she had and that made me really happy that she liked them and it looked awesome.
My family gave me a complet which I had to absolutely wear at the ceremony. My sister and I were twins and she definitely looked better in it but I still think it was very cute. I liked that we matched, I was very close with my host sister. I think we would have been closer with my language skills were better but we have some time, I’m not too far away. I miss my host family already. Who is going to kill the spiders in my room? LOL. Yes I have called my sister in to kill the huge spider in my room but that was during the first two -three weeks.
My family seemed just as sad as I did. I didn’t want to cry but I knew that I would have trouble stopping if I started to cry. My brothers were being brothers and were just saying, au revoir, a beintot and such. My little sister and cousin said goodbye earlier because they had to go off to school and I gave them huge hugs. They are so cute. I have so many pictures of my host family now. My sister LOVED taking random pictures so I have plenty of photos of them and I also need to develop some and send those to them.
So the agenda for the next month or so involves me shopping and preparing for my service. I will be heading out to my site sometimes next week and I’m very nervous and also very excited. My only worry is what will I eat my first night there, I hope I can find a family to eat with.
Today was the ceremony and now I’m officially a Peace Corps Volunteer and it feels wonderful.

Picture Time!

So not many words I'm trying to finally get some pictures on my blog and here I am preparing my last sensibilatzation presentation for the hosiptol. love the drawing?

Below is a pic with me and my youngest siblings marissa and mourocoo. they are so awesome.

Well it was hard but recently we sadi our farewells to our host families and i was very very sad but i think my sister was even sadder. Below on the left is a pic of my most of my family I'm missing my oldest brothers who are at university. And on the right id me and adam and my family.









And then there is me and my host sister. ISn't she so pretty? And then the other picture is our last french class.

voyage to mamou

I thought id try to get in a quick blog while im here. right now im at counterpart workshop and i just met who im going to be working with for the next two years. its all very exciting and also a lot to take in all at once. i never thought i could have so much anxiety but its possible. things are well in guinea. my health is good, the weather is beautiful and Im learning more and more everyday.

Christmas time in Guinea

Well I've been in country for three weeks now and so far i've been sick twice and have had pink eye. I've been working on my french and been profusely sweating at all times. Training is draining and demanding at least it is for me. I spend days in classes and after class I spend time with other volunteers, my host family or just studying. So after that, by the end of the day I have no energy left for anything else.
My host famliy is treating me very well. I have a big family five brothers and two sisters and two cousins that also live with us. I've never had a sister before so it feels kinda cool to have two sisters. I have two older brothers and three younger. My mom is a teacher and she helps me with my french. . .she tries to help me. I'm a little reluctant right now but I'm working on it. The thing I like most about my family is that my singing and dancing amusing them. (My speaking Susu amuses them too) But they enjoy Akon so my siblings ask me to sing for them all the time. And my sisters love to dance so they are constantly asking me to dance a swell. I'm glad that I can amuse them easily.
Site announcements was last week. I'm going to the tiny village of Toutournoun. It's about outside north of Labe. (if you want to google it) This is where i'll be for the next two years after training. I'm looking forward to seeing my village but it won't be for another three weeks. By then I'll know more details, most importantly whether or not i'll have a toilet or not. lol. My swearing in date is set for Febrauary 8th which I am very excited about. Also by then I should have a phone on which to call home and tell people how much I miss them.
Well for now my address remains the same and I am looking forward to recieving lots of "kim I miss you" letters.

By the way Merry christmas everyone and hope you have a safe and happy holiday and a happy new year. I miss you all and I'm always thinking about you.

First Impressions

My french is terrible and surprisingly enough I'm enjoying it and taking it all in. I really miss home but at the same time I am very glad I left. I am looking forward to spending the next two years here.

Orientation Anxiety

I'm in philly. Our orientation is finally over and we are off tomorrow, and i'm excited. I'm really happy that i decided to come, I had so many last minute jitters. They are still there but a lot less intense. So i said my farewells to my family , my friends and my boyfriend and now I'm on my own and it feels scary. I cried a bit when my bro dropped me off but I think I'm gonna start crying when I leave for Guinea. I know thats when I'm really gonna start realizing how much I miss home. sad face.