Black… except I don’t.

Here’s the issue: I hear that dairy products are a luxury in the rural parts of Malawi. So, today I decided I should start to get used to black coffee. Ew. But really. Ew. I realize that I live in the US and I am a privileged white girl and I am pathetic. However, coffee without creamer is not very enjoyable. Hashtag FirstWorldProbs? Yikes. I tried coffee with just milk and that wasn’t much better. There is A LOT of sugar in flavored creamer and it is DELICIOUS. You know I’m right. SO GOOD. I have eight months to get used to bitter black coffee and I need to because coffee is life.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way… Hi. I’m Erin and I am going to Malawi in June to be a Peace Corps volunteer. I will be teaching English and I am super excited. Basically, I am willingly subjecting myself to 27 months without electricity or running water. FUN! Right? Well, maybe not that part. But, I am really excited to be forced to live a minimalistic lifestyle and help the people of Malawi in any way that I can. I believe that volunteering is an incredibly selfless and selfish act. While, yes, I will be helping others, I am excited to see how this experience will help me to be a better version of myself. Don’t get me wrong… I am TERRIFIED. Have you seen the creepy crawly things that live in Africa??? Yeah… I hate bugs. But, I love the idea of changing lives for the better and, hopefully, that is what I will be doing.

Here’s the plan: I’m going to update this blog as frequently as possible. I want to use it as a sort of diary/update/checklist/AWayToMakeSureMyMomHearsFromMeAsMuchAsPossible because “snail mail” is really a thing in Malawi and I figure this way she won’t have to worry… as much. I hope this will be a way that you all can enjoy this journey with me and experience all that I am going through without, actually, having to be there. Also, I over-use commas and I think I’m funny. Hashtag FairWarning.

Here goes nothin’!