For the next two years I will be teaching at Mphomwa CDSS. I moved here on Friday the 25th of August. On the 24th, myself and 64 other trainees became Peace Corps Volunteers and swore to uphold the constitution. It was pretty incredible. 

We are coming into hot season. Mphomwa is quieter than Njombwa was and it makes it difficult to sleep at night. I got so used to having all of the noises around me and having my family and neighbors so close. My house is humungous and there are so many bugs. It feels safe even with all of the creepy crawly things. For the next three months I will be staying in my village and trying me best to effectively integrate into this new community. I miss my host family and all of the other now-volunteers. This will definitely take some getting used to. 

On a happier note: my amazing language and cultural facilitator brought my dog to my house on Friday afternoon and so I have the cutest companion. His name is Kuwala and he has already made himself at home in my house and in my heart. 

I’m looking forward to starting my work at the school. I’m waiting for furniture so that I can get my house organized and make it into more of a home. 

Also, I’m getting a cat. (Sorry Mom!)

The cat will kill all of the creepy crawly things and also they are so cute. I hope that the cat will be a fun friend for Kuwala when I have to be at work every day. So, safe to say, this house will be no different than my home that I left back in California. 

I am happy but I am also very homesick. Some days more than others. I know that it will pass but when you’re in the homesick stage of a journey, it’s hard to see the other side where you know you will feel better. Trying to keep busy and meet all of my neighbors. But, wanted to share all of my feelings because the whole point of this blog was to share my journey. Good. Bad. Ugly. 

Speaking of ugly, there are so many cockroaches in my new home. ALL. THE. TIME. Working on getting poison to put around the outside of my house to keep them away. Pray for me? Kuwala isn’t phased by any of this. He’s lucky he’s so cute.