Swearing-In, Standing-fast

(from Domingo, 5/16/10)

We’re officially Peace Corps volunteers! Our Swearing-In was last Wednesday, and everyone looked so nice. It was a beautiful day, and marked one of the last times that the 39 of us will be at Entrena all together before we start service. Also, the staff told us that we are the only PCDR group so far to have gone through all of training without having anyone move back to the States. Pretty awesome, but then again, so is the group. Congrats, friends! :-)

On Thursday we had the All Volunteer Conference and later that night a Peace Corps Prom! Now it is the weekend, and we’re on standfast for elections. We can’t leave, or do anything too exciting and have been told to keep a “low profile.” Entrena has painted pictures of possible post-election gun shots, violence, and loud, noisy crowds in the calles, but so far this has been the quietest weekend yet in my barrio. There are no political desfiles, or music, and hardly anyone is even around at all. I can hear the distant Aventura bachata at a colmado up the street, and at times, American music (songs in English, what?). Overall, a very tranquillo day that has allotted me ample time to read, find out what I’m missing in the news, run, email, descansar (rest), hang with my host family and develop only a mild case of cabin fever. All in all - no complaints.

This week our ICT group will be staying in the capital for an extra week for In-Service Literacy Training. Which means I’ll have an extra week with friends before moving back to Mao. I think everyone is pretty pumped about getting out and finally starting their service, and I am too, but it is nice to have these last few days together before we depart. Training has been awesome, and our first weekend as volunteers was memorable - I will miss everyone.

Enjoy the photos!

Mayelin, my host sister

New Volunteers (Jenn’s Photo!)

All 39 New Volunteers!

Peace Corps Prom (Jenn’s photo, again!)

Miss you all at home!

xo,

Emma