& so it begins...
Sitting in the outdoor, palm-tree-filled veranda in our hotel with seven fellow amigos... This is our last night in Maputo before we depart to site.
The last two days have been characterized by gluttonous indulgence- mostly indulging in limitless quantities of cheese… I never realized how much I liked cheese until I found myself on the other side of the world with limited access to dairy products.
We left Namaacha early on Wednesday morning and went directly to the PC office. We took care of some logistics and then headed to the hotel to check-in. When we got to the hotel, we only had an hour to run up and get ready/dressed for our swear-in ceremony. Our ceremony took place in the afternoon and it was attended by some Mozambican government officials, Mozambican health professionals, and Americans working here in Mozambique (“ex-pats”). To our surprise, the new U.S. ambassador to Mozambique was able to attend our ceremony and swear us in… he recently arrived in country so this ceremony was actually his first official act as ambassador. Special, I know ;D ahaha. Jk… But it was cool.
Thursday was our first FREE day, without a schedule and without Sunday chores and (host) familial obligations. The volunteers that are stationed in the North left early in the morning to catch their flights and make it to their conferences up in Nampula. The volunteers that are remaining in the south & little ol’ me stayed down here in Maputo. I am the only volunteer from Moz18 stationed in the central part of the country, but I think that catching a flight from Maputo to Chimoio is easier than catching a flight from Nampula to Chimoio. Not sure, but I think this is why I stayed down here.
Anyway, Friday and today were dedicated to Supervisor’s Conferences. As some of you may already know, in order to carry out our work as volunteers, we are linked with a Mozambican counterpart- be it a Mozambican NGO, Community Based Org, Faith Based Org, or an International NGOs. The chefes (‘chief’/director/supervisor) from our organizations came into Maputo for this two day conference where we talked about policies, procedures, expectations, and so on. It was a productive, but also drawn-out part of this last transitionary phase. During the day I would sometimes find myself thinking, “Ahhhh…. ANOTHER power point,” … a part of me is just so tired of pondering hypothetical situations…
To date, I have been waiting and talking about being a volunteer (over 20+ months) LONGER than I have actually been a Volunteer (2-3 days). I am excited to get to site, get settled in…. and FINALLY start this adventure and claim my place among Mozambique’s PCVs.
As for now, I have to run and enjoy my last shower with hot, running water (well, until I find myself in another one of these snazzy hotels for our reconnect conference in 3 months).
Boa Noite!
The last two days have been characterized by gluttonous indulgence- mostly indulging in limitless quantities of cheese… I never realized how much I liked cheese until I found myself on the other side of the world with limited access to dairy products.
We left Namaacha early on Wednesday morning and went directly to the PC office. We took care of some logistics and then headed to the hotel to check-in. When we got to the hotel, we only had an hour to run up and get ready/dressed for our swear-in ceremony. Our ceremony took place in the afternoon and it was attended by some Mozambican government officials, Mozambican health professionals, and Americans working here in Mozambique (“ex-pats”). To our surprise, the new U.S. ambassador to Mozambique was able to attend our ceremony and swear us in… he recently arrived in country so this ceremony was actually his first official act as ambassador. Special, I know ;D ahaha. Jk… But it was cool.
Thursday was our first FREE day, without a schedule and without Sunday chores and (host) familial obligations. The volunteers that are stationed in the North left early in the morning to catch their flights and make it to their conferences up in Nampula. The volunteers that are remaining in the south & little ol’ me stayed down here in Maputo. I am the only volunteer from Moz18 stationed in the central part of the country, but I think that catching a flight from Maputo to Chimoio is easier than catching a flight from Nampula to Chimoio. Not sure, but I think this is why I stayed down here.
Anyway, Friday and today were dedicated to Supervisor’s Conferences. As some of you may already know, in order to carry out our work as volunteers, we are linked with a Mozambican counterpart- be it a Mozambican NGO, Community Based Org, Faith Based Org, or an International NGOs. The chefes (‘chief’/director/supervisor) from our organizations came into Maputo for this two day conference where we talked about policies, procedures, expectations, and so on. It was a productive, but also drawn-out part of this last transitionary phase. During the day I would sometimes find myself thinking, “Ahhhh…. ANOTHER power point,” … a part of me is just so tired of pondering hypothetical situations…
To date, I have been waiting and talking about being a volunteer (over 20+ months) LONGER than I have actually been a Volunteer (2-3 days). I am excited to get to site, get settled in…. and FINALLY start this adventure and claim my place among Mozambique’s PCVs.
As for now, I have to run and enjoy my last shower with hot, running water (well, until I find myself in another one of these snazzy hotels for our reconnect conference in 3 months).
Boa Noite!
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