The land of a thousand hills

(images from Wikipedia)
Wow its already Friday and Tuesday is when i meet everyone in Phili! I am so excited and super stressed at the same time. I have a 3 page packing list and way too much stuff that i want to bring and can't. I am so happy that I got to visit friends this week though. Went on a little trip to Gettysburg to see Maria. Met Kim in Baltimore and saw Kimmy over in Delaware yesterday. It is so hard to say goodbye to someone who you won't see again for over 2 years.
Rwanda is said to be one of the prettiest countries in Africa. A land of a thousand hills. The silver-back gorillas live here and are only 700 mountain gorillas left in existence and most live in Rwanda, Uganda and the Congo. They get up to 6 feet and are 300 to 425 pounds. Rwanda is also full of volcanoes. Mount Gahinga, inactive, 3,474 meters (11,398 feet. Mount Karisimbi, also inactive, 4,507 metres (14,787 ft). The name of this volcano, comes a word in Kinyarwanda meaning little white shell. This is an allusion to the white snow cap that can sometimes be found on the volcano. Mount Muhabura, 4,127 metres (13,540 ft, name means The Guide, derives from a historical use of the mountain to aid navigation. These volcanoes as well as many others are havens for the mountain gorillas.
So excited to be able to live in such a beautiful country.

Things are coming together and I am so excited to be leaving in 29 days. Paperwork seems to be never ending and I have no idea what to pack. I am not sure how much access to electricity or even ATM machines I will have. I have also just gotten the e-mail to call and confirm a flight to Phili where the staging event will be occurring. Staging takes place in America where all the volunteers about to leave for a country get together to collect paperwork, meet other volunteers and peace corps staff and get ready to leave for the 27 month journey. I will be volunteering with other health organizations in expanding already exiting AIDS/HIV programs to reach more people and provide support to those living with AIDS. 3.1% of Rwandans are living with AIDS and it is expected to be a much higher percentage in rural areas.

My Address until May 2010 will be:

Sonya Alexander, PCV

PC/Rwanda

B.P. 5657

Kigali, Rwanda

AIRMAIL

I would love letters from anyone and everyone!!

Thank you all for your support!!

Well i got my invitation packet last Thursday and am so excited. It will be Rwanda. I am planning on accepting tomorrow morning. Its so complicated with everything going on right now with moving and packing and I also have to take my EMT test before I leave this state so that will be on Thursday afternoon. Nick is only working until 11:00am this week since he has already completed everything he needed to complete for his ELT training. And since we just found out that he does not have to be in Washington until March 5th we decided to stay with our parents for the month. His part of the time and mine the other part of the time.

33 days until I leave for Rwanda!!

To Do:

Accept invitation

Fedex Passport

study and take EMT test

finish packing

fill out all rwanda paperwork

wait till the 22nd...

Invitataion Feb 22nd for AFRICA

Today I got a phone call and have an invitation. I will be going to Sub-Saharan Africa on February 22, 2009. My Invitation packet will be here on Friday to let me know the exact country but I was told I will be doing AIDS awareness in a newly reopened country which i have narrowed down to 4 possible choices. Sierra Leone reopening in 2010,Liberia reopened in 2008, Rwanda reopened in 2008, and Ethiopia reopened in 2007. I'm thinking Rwanda!! After reading through the peace corps facebook group it seems people on Feb. 22nd are all going to Rwanda so now I think thats the place I'm headed!! French and English are the official languages making it that much more likely!! The land of a thousand hills they call it and from the research and pictures I see online it looks beautiful. The first volunteers since 1994 were sworn in on April 15, 2009. They are still there now and the next batch of volunteers will be my group on February 22nd. There are currently 29 volunteers and that amount will likely double in Feb. That is if I am correct about my speculations in my invitation being to Rwanda. only time (and the mail) will tell!!

Nick was happier than I expected about all this. We are still doing our road trip just leaving earlier and cutting it a bit short so I can get home just in time to pack say goodbye to friends and family and head off to wherever it is they are taking me! Ironic how nick reports to duty on Feb 22. the exact date I'm leaving for PC. Crazy how the world can work out in you favor!!

Congratulations! You have been invited to become a Peace Corps Volunteer.

much to do, little time left in Charleston

Well there are 12 days left until we leave. nothing is packed up yet. I still have to take and pass my multiple choice emt exam, which i have to take at a testing center. I am working until jan 20th to save money for the cross country trip. and we have very minimal plans for where we want to visit.

For now to brainstorm:

Tampa, FL- Nick's grandma

New Orleans- My uncle Tom

Texas- Nick's Uncles' Ranch

Las Vegas, Nevada

Grand Canyon in Arizona

As well as spending a week and a half between our parents houses in virgina and maryland.

I am excited for this awesome time we will get to have together. But sad knowing this adventure together is going to have to be put on hold for a bit. Knowing that Feb 22nd may be the last time we see each other for 2 1/2 years is so sad and scary. If only I could find out when and where I am headed for the peace corps, then i can at least get busy with learning the language and talking to others who have been or are going to that country. Its so frustrating waiting around. But i've heard thats life with the peace corps!

Bangor, Washington...

Ok so officially, I want to begin this blog and keep up with it every week. The first couple of entries we just testers really.

I begin by knowing that Nick, my finance, has been assigned to the USS Henry M. Jackson in Bangor, Washington. This is good and bad. He gets 30 days leave before then to move and get situated. This brings us to February, 22 together. So hopefully i'll be leaving for the peace corps in March sometime. This is a ballistic submarine in which 2 crews switch off 3 months on and 3 months off. He will be spending 4-5 years hear, in which i will be joining after my 2 years stay in the peace corps. This is both very exciting and very scary at the same time.

Well it is already September!
This weekend I had an engagement party at Nick's house and it went great. Nick's mom bought me a beautiful dress to wear to it. and all my friends showed up who could make it. I even got a little candlelight from my Zeta friends. All in all a great time!
I also got word that I have been medically cleared for the peace corps!! YEAH!!! this is what I have been waiting for since March!
Nick found out that he will be an ELT and staying in Charleston until January, before he is sent out on a submarine. Originally he was to be leaving in October and I would not be able to go with him since we are not yet married.
I am still working at ihop, its almost been a month now. And I really do enjoy it, the people who work there are very interesting, but I love seeing a different side to the world through their eyes.
Nick and my one year anniversary is coming up on September 18th. I'm very excited to see what Nick has in store for the day!
So until I write again, tata!!!