Wackyfish

We got back from the training village early Saturday morning. It is really nice to be back in town but I feel like I have so much yet to do before Wednesday when we Swear In. They throw us a big ceremony and we all become real official Peace Corps Volunteers. Eeep! I get little butterflies in my tummy just thinking about it. I have wanted to be a PCV for so long now, that it almost seems a little unreal.
The last village stay seemed to drag on forever, as every day seemed to be as long as a week. However in hindsight it seems like it went by really quickly. Funny how perspective and time are relative and contradictory sometimes. In fact our time in the village was full of contradictory feelings and emotions. For instance I felt constantly overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things we had to do or learn or work on, and at the same time I was often bored out of my mind. I was hungry all the time (probably because of all the walking) and yet I never wanted to eat. (Speaking of which I just went and saw the tailor this morning to be measured for my swearing in outfit and I have lost 3 inches since we got here, wacky eh!) I was exhausted but could never sleep. And knowing that I needed to rest, I would lay down and get restless and antsy after about ten min. The whole experience was an adventure in new, strange and contradictory states of being.
I really enjoyed spending a lot of time with Lotu (my 8 year old “little sister”) and Mary (my 16 year old “sister”). Mary knew some English and was really the only one I could ask questions like “what does this or that mean” or “where am I supposed to be” and “what am I supposed to be doing” right now. She was very helpful and loved my CD walkman. Lotu spoke no English at all but looked at me with these eyes of adoration, and followed me wherever I went. She also insisted that we go swimming every day after class and that was a lot of fun. Other than these tow I didn’t bond with my family a whole lot but I think I am going to go back to the village on Christmas day anyway and see them. We won’t be able to say much to each other but at least I won’t be alone in a big empty house by myself on the holiday. And it will be nice for them to have someone around to laugh at, when she tries to speak Samoa.
Anyway, on Thursday I move into my new house. I have seen the outside but not the inside. It looks HUGE and I know it has a few bedrooms. I can’t wait to get settled. I have been thinking about things I want to do with the house and I think I will start with paint for the inside and maybe look into have a desk made. I want a nice comfortable place to set up my laptop and write.
Ok, more tomorrow I promise.
Have a great evening.