It's TIme For Africa!

As I write this my heart is pounding with excitement and anxiousness! With Namtunes station playing in the background I am getting hyped for what is ahead of me! We just finished our first webinar that was hosted by WorldTeach. This was a chance for us to talk to 2 girls that previously volunteered in Namibia and ask them any questions we had. They were very thorough and answered every single question that I was worried about. There were about 10 of us participating in the webinar. Each and every day I find that I am learning something new or accomplishing one more thing in order to prepare for my time apart. During the seminar I learned a whole lot of somethings new.

1. Don't buy or bring anything in bulk
• Namibia has more available than what people think. There will be stores in the capital and hopefully fairly close to our sites that we will be able to get things from.
2. Our main modes of transportation will be a Combie or hitchhiking
• Never be in a rush or have set travel plans as they will always be delayed.
3. Packing a sleeping bag for traveling and overnight stays is essential!
4. Living is really cheap. The stipend will be more than enough to get me through the year and maybe save a little extra.
5. It takes over 10 hours to get from Southern Namibia to Northern Namibia
• We could be placed that far from other volunteers. If that is the case, traveling will be taking up a lot of my time BUT I will become pro at it :)
6. Corporal punishment in the classroom is an everyday occurrence.
• I don't think I will be comfortable using corporal punishment so I will have to come up with new ways of dealing with bad behavior. 
• I bought incentive charts so hopefully positive reinforcement will do the trick.
7. Communication is going to be rough.
• internet is sort of a "pay as you go" idea. You buy MB and load them onto a device that gives you internet. 
• I will be able to chat but won't be able to do much with video or pictures.
• I am hoping that there will be internet cafes in the city that I will be able to get internet that will be cheaper and faster.

There was a lot more that was relayed but for now those are the ones I am focusing on. It is crazy to think that Thanksgiving is here and Christmas is just right around the corner. Usually these are glorious holidays and still are but this year they bring a whole new feeling. The feeling that my time here in the U.S. is counting down even more rapidly.

My shots are complete, prescriptions are filled, suitcases are beginning to be packed and the occasional tears are beginning to escape.

Happy a Happy Thanksgiving!