3 weeks

It's almost been three weeks since I left home... Wow. It seems so much longer than that. Currently I'm sitting at a internet cafe in Bo with my host brother Emmanuel.

Let me tell you all, It has been a great three weeks. I live with a wonderful family that takes very good care of me. I have a mother, grandmother, and many aunties and uncles at my house. There are also many children. At home I spend most of my time hanging out with the family on the veranda or teaching Spanish which my brother Emmanuel is picking up very quickly. It's nice to utilize my Spanish here because I'm concerned about losing it, so I'm more than thrilled to teach it. We also play cards and occasionally watch video and throw the Frisbee.

Training has been fine. The day can be very long sometimes, but I really enjoy getting to know all the other trainees and the other volunteers that come here to support us during training. Learning the language has also been fun. I do not speak it perfectly, but I'm slowly picking it up.

The staff has been incredible. All the Sierra Leoneans have been so welcoming that it is hard (basically impossible) to feel uncomfortable.

The weather also hasn't been too bad either. I mean, I sweat a lot, but it is not as hot as I thought it would be! (Even though I haven't even experienced the "hot" season yet).

This will be a brief post (sorry), but I just wanted to let you all know that I'm doing just fine! My stomach hurts once in a while, but that's small to the other problems I could have.

I promise I will include some more insightful posts later, but during training my time is filled and it's hard to sit down and type everything out.

Miss you all! Also, send me a package or letter! My host brother would like to see a book about Wisconsin so send me one if you have it.

Here a some highlights of the past three weeks:

-Meeting the Ambassador of Sierra Leone to the U.S.
-Meeting the Ambassador of the U.S. to Sierra Leone
-Meeting the President of Sierra Leone
-The short five minute conversation with my parents on the cell phone.
-Eating a lot of good Sierra Leonean food (Groundnut Soup and Kasada Leaf and too many others to list are great).
-Slowly building up my tolerance for spicy food
-Celebrating independence day with an epic football (soccer) game.
-Jogging up mountains
-Meeting so many incredible people.

Wi Go Si Bak!! (See you all later)

PS. I will find out my site within the next couple of weeks. I'll keep you posted!