First Week Shenanigans and Fun

Hamjambo, everyone!
So, technically I've only been here at the Mismbazi Center for now four whole days, it feels like month! What a couple days without a cell phone, the- black-hole -that- is -facebook, and pants can feel like. But it's been a really great week. Meeting my fellow volunteers has been a great expierence and we've already had some bonding moments. Staging in Philly was a bit overwhelming, or so I thought, but when I landed, I saw a sign. I am a big believer in signs from God, signs about your path, just signs in general. So, when I grabbed all 80+ pounds of luggage and started to waddle down the airport to find the other volunteers, I saw a poster advertisement that said exactly, "Never have to say, I should have" ---Peace Corps.!!! Some of the many fears began to melt and I knew I was where I'm supposed to be. Meeting a few of the other volunteers was great, and we headed to downtown Philly for our staging. After all the meeting/activities/skits/everything else they had us to, we were able to grab a bite to eat (I got my cheesesteak--yummmm), and watch the Cards KILL the Brewers (lots of Wisconsin/Michigan volunteers). It was nice.
The flights to Amsterdam/Tanzania....not so nice. I have the swollen cankles to prove it. The first flight I was so excited and actually enjoyed, but the hour layover in Amsterdam (which btw, doesn't get light out til 8:30 am there, which freaked me out), and then the like 11 hour flight to TZ with a stop in Mt. Kilimanjaro then another hour to Dar Es Salaam, I was in a middle seat , and boy was I ready to get off the plane. But since we've arrived, I was much more at ease, and very excited about this whole process.
Now to the stuff you've all been waiting for:
 I have: sucessfully used the pit latrine...(didn't say it was fun, just that I was successful), eaten DELICIOUS Tanzanian food, learned some Swahili, received 2 shots (and got out of 2), worn long skirts and frizzy curly hair everyday, and played approx 10 games of Bananagrams, and as of an hour ago, washed my clothes in a bucket and tried to hang them around my room, and most importantly, tried my first Tanzanian beer-Mt. Kilamajaro, which was HUGE and around 1 USD!!, and started my malaira prophylactics. The list I'm sure could go on, but that's the fun stuff.
The other volunteers are really nice, and we all seem to get along pretty well for just meeting each other not too long ago. So, instead to of keep rambling, i'll give you an overview of my day:

6:00 am (which is 10:00 pm home time...makes for lots of jet lag)- wake up
7:00 Breakfast- Delish! Coffee, Chai, bananas, hard boiled eggs, breads
8:00 Start classes/lectures/medical briefings (how not to get malaria)
10:30- Chai break (and more food--- I have yet to be hungry in Africa)
11:00- More lessons/shots/speakers
12:30- Lunch (yummmm)
1:30- 3:30/4:30- More sessions. Today was our first language lesson! Hujambo? Sijambo!
7:00 - Dinner (also wayyy dark out)
9/10- Bed

It has flew by, and taken forever in the same breath. I, *knock on wood* haven't had too much homesickness yet, but I think all the love and support and pictures and MAIL (oh yeah, I got Danielle's letter and the guy said ,"wow you set a reccord" )haha, and the supportive staff and being around the other volunteers has really made it not so difficult, but Tuesday we head to our host families, and it will be a new transition. It willl really hit home then. Tomorrow we get to know who is in our CBT (community based training, a small group we learn with everyday), and that is really exciting. Ooo before I forget, I did have a disappointment today. Apparently, Hakuna Matata is more commonly used in Kenya and Hamna Shida means the same thing and that is what is used here. Guess that means I'll have to head to Kenya to tell Simba (really means lion though!) Hakuna Matata! Alright, my brain is still sleepy/jet-lagged and drained, so please excuse the random thoughts/sentences. I wish I could email everyone, but I have only paid for a set amount of time, so hopefully this will suffice for now. I'm on a mission for stamps tommorow to begin the Pen Pal Process!
Hope everyone is doing well back in Merikani (America), and be jealous of my 85 degree heat with humidity! Love you! <3

P.s. at the compound where we are staying, there have been at least one wedding reception everynight, and boy are they nice! Fancy, shmance. I love seeing the fancy tanzanaian dresses, can't wait to get some made.

It starts: TOMMOROW

Oye, this is really happening! So begins my new adventure/life change/job/quest/mission tomorrow morning. I'm about to embark on my Peace Corps adventure to Tanzania tomorrow morning as I leave St. Louis for staging in Philly. (First cheese steak while I'm there? I think so). I've been waiting and packing and worrying and shopping for this time since I got that glorious phone call at the end of June and accepted my invitation that first week of July. Well, here I am, still enjoying the comforting amenities of the good 'ol USA on my last night before I begin the process of becoming a PCV, (that's Peace Corps Volunteer for all my friends who don't know the lingo yet), soaking up some AC, sippin' some wine, and digesting some nachos with my family. For my friends/family/random people who find my blog, please excuse the random/goofy thoughts and inevitable spelling and grammatical errors. My brain works in mysterious ways, and I intend to post pretty much exactly as I am seeing things.

And the way I'm seeing things now is blurred through a bundle of nerves. Will my luggage (which by the way thanks to Danielle is zipped) weigh the required limit? Will I find the other volunteers in the labyrinth they call Philadelphia airport? Will I be able to handle this whole thing? I'm just going to chalk this up to jitters. The support/love/overwhelming belief in me from my friends, family, and the tiny town I'm from has been unbelievable and a comfort to me.

I could keep rambling, emotional  post going on forever, but I'll wrap this up for now. My motto [what's a motto? I dunno, what's a motto with you?! haha - 1st Lion King reference, oh just wait for more] has always been "Everything happens for a reason." I'm taking this phrase with me as I embark upon the greatest adventure of my life this far. I can't wait to share it all with you.