My new site

Well...on September 30, I finally swore in as a volunteer! Training usually consists of 11 weeks of PST and FBT; however, we spent 13.5 weeks in training-3 in the DR, 1 in Miami, 1 in Zarabanda before leaving for FBT, 6.5 in Talanga for FBT, and 2 in Zarabanda waiting to be sworn in. It was definitely a long trip but we did it and it was worth it after all. I think I was most worried about completing more than three months of training for no reason. Meaning--I would not like my community or my community would not like me. Well, it is actually the exact opposite. I love my community and they seem to really like me. I have heard a lot about the old volunteer but I expected that. My community has had volunteers for the past 12 years so I frequently hear about the past volunteers. I enjoy hearing about them because it shows the community really accepts and loves their volunteers. I have already felt this acceptance. One of my counterparts came into Zarabanda to bring me to my site. She treats me like her daughter (I would even say that she is a good comparison to my mom). She is awesome. She loves to cook for me, invite me to her house, talk to me, show me around the community, scare people into taking care of me, dance with me, take me to church, invite me to other people^s parties, etc. All of these things have happened since I arrived here on Thursday afternoon. She told me that when she saw me she knew I was going to be her daughter for two years. I cannot express my gratitude enough for this woman. She is the perfect example of why I came to this country to help its people.

I have many stories written down but I do not have the wireless code so that I can log my laptop into the wireless internet here. Yep...wireless internet and airconditioning all in one office. If you need to find me, you know where to look!

Another update coming soon since I have no excuses anymore! Well, the electricity does go out about three times a week but I have no complaints.