PCT to PCV in Two Days

New Years in Namibia meant pancakes for breakfast, real orange juice and French pressed coffee. It also meant the perfect start to 2008, and a trend I hope will hold. But ever since we arrived back in Okahandja the reality of our situation has really begun to set in. We’ve been together nearly non-stop for more than two months, and in just two days we’ll be swearing in, packing up, and heading out to our permanent sites. We won’t see each other again until reconnect in May.

Sure, the trainers have prepared us with four-hour language sessions, as well as cultural and technical sessions, too. But volunteers say service is different than training, so the 69 of us really have no idea what to expect. Despite this fact—the undefined jobs and lack of direction—we’re eager to start working. We signed up to volunteer, and that’s what we’re ready to do.

The last few have days felt more like summer camp than final preparations for swear in. Friday night’s highlight was a hilarious talent show—a pre service training tradition—that included slam poetry, dance and musical numbers, a traditional dress fashion show and a CATJAR shout out during a Britney Spears cover. The grand finale was a braai in the courtyard by a handful of PCTs filled with BBQ chicken, garlic bread, vegetable kabobs, green beans, cool drink, grilled pineapple, cinnamon apples and yes, even ice. More produce in a single meal than most of us have seen over the past two months.

The last of our language exams take place today (I had mine yesterday, and let’s just say it’s too bad tape recorders don’t register confused looks and blank stares. Is it possible to do worse the second time around?). Tomorrow we’ll head to Windhoek to shop for supplies for our future homes and visit the Peace Corps office. But as is often the case, we’re still waiting on the check from Washington. It’s unlikely we’ll receive our settling-in allowance or our first paycheck until well after we arrive at permanent site. My living situation is still unclear, and my Peace Corps supervisor told me I’ll just have to figure it out when I arrive in Khorixas (something I’m getting used to hearing/doing.) I’ll either be living on my own, or with a newlywed couple. (One guess as to which I’d prefer.)

The swear-in ceremony is Wednesday morning here in Okahandja. We’ve been practicing our pledges all week. My mama and Amanda’s mama will both be coming in from Tsumeb, and hopefully bringing Cecil along for the ride. Those of us who are station in nearby villages and towns will be leaving immediately following, while volunteers in the Kavango, Caprivi, and places in the far south, will head out early Thursday morning.

We’re all ready to go. But it will still be sad to leave.