My challenges...

I have always considered myself to be a very independent person. I like to think that I can make anything a reality. I have realized that in order to truly be that person, I have to test myself and push the limits. This experience is truly that test. Before I left I stated that I hoped to be completely out of my comfort zone and boy am I ever! The food is very different but fresh and I will learn to love not eating processed, boxed, and microwaved nastiness! We have one computer for about 30 people and the internet is very slow – if you know me at all you’ll know I’m on my computer probably 60% of my day, so being cut off from “media” as my Dad would say, has been a welcome shock to the system. My crackberry can be added to this category. The power goes out A LOT so electricity is hit or miss and I haven’t had a hot shower since I’ve been here. My mom was laughing at the airport because I was talking about going on Safari where we’ll be camping out. The idea of me camping in Africa was one no one ever expected! All of this sounds pretty negative but it isn’t. This is a part of my journey here. I set out to challenge myself and every aspect of this experience is a welcome challenge. Nothing worth doing is easy! I realized my freshman year of college when I left home for the first time that my family is VERY important to me. I love them more than I can possibly say so not being able to share this experience with them is perhaps my biggest challenge. Every second I see or experience something that makes me want to pick up my phone and tell them all about it! I have to actively try to not think about what I might be missing back home or I know the homesickness will kick in. So far, I’ve been in pretty high albeit, exhausted spirits. The veteran volunteers have all said the first week is the hardest between the culture shock, orientation, and the fact that everything is new and different. I feel pretty good about my experience so far so I know that once I get passed this initial week and settle into a routine, I will be elated at the adventure I’m in! I’m starting to get used to sleeping in a mosquito net and so far I haven’t been bit (knock on wood)! When I see the way people here live, how modest their lives and living conditions are, how few resources they have at their disposal, I feel unbelievable blessed. This is a very surreal place… I don’t know how else to describe it.