Good things Come to those who Wait, Right?

2:00 AM 

Packed and ready to leave for JFK Airport

9:00 AM 

Stand and try to move baggage in line awkwardly when your life for the next 27 months are packed in 2 suitcases packed (over the maximum weight), 1 traveling backpack that feels like it’s own suitcase, and 1 extremely packed backpack that my sister convinced me last minute to sneak on as carry-on (It worked, thanks Sis). Luckily all the advice from the previous Bots (Botswana) group had been spot on, all our checked in luggage went through and passed weight clearance.

11:00 AM 

Board flight to Johannesburg, pop melatonin, try to find sleep for the next what I hope at least 5-6 hours. But must wait till after lunch, because these international flights have "incredible" meals supposedly. They were alright to my findings. The breakfast later on was an interesting pancake gravy that I would not recommend to anyone.

After this point I honestly had no sense of time, but from what I gathered I had slept for a solid few hours and felt great. Then I proceeded to order an airplane bottle of Cabarnet Sauvignon (sorry Oma) that was 13%. What a deal. I felt super self-conscious and wanted a drinking partner, which coincidentally Graham* had been walking down the aisles asking how people were and sharing stashes of Amulura (this amazing fruit that elephants in the Southern region of Africa love to eat and get drunk from, and also what a hilarious and cute image of an elephant being wasted off of fruit), and proceeded to share with the rest of us. It’s these one of many small gestures that really made me appreciate the cohort that I was placed among, that seemed to care for others. So I wanted to stash a few to carry with me to preserve as a memento of my trip/flight, only to find I had drank my only one and gave one away to another PCT (Peace Corps Trainee). Go figure. But in the process sitting next to another PCT I met this amazing interesting woman, her name was Elaine*. Elaine was involved with an NGO that worked under the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in vaccine use. An exciting, independent, and very wise woman who seemed single and ready to mingle by her flirty winks at Markins (our supposedly only straight air steward) and enlightened us over a course of a few airplane bottles of wine of her years of experience and wisdom in public health, foreigners in South Africa and Botswana, and her extreme admiration for us Peace Corps Trainees and our service to other countries. She definitely made my heart glow and even took down our names, emails, and blogs for her personal interest. She also extended an invitation to her home in South Africa for some REAL good wine, which sounds absofuckinglutely amazing.

Jokes aside though I will never forget Elaine, she was one of those extremely personable role models in public health that I hope to aspire and become one day. Cue violins I know. 

Land in Johannesburg, South Africa. 

Finally, I have touched African soils. My first time ever. It still had not sunk in though that I was in a different place. I have been in airports before this is nothing new, and that had so far been my experience in Africa. Well the waiting game did not end there. 

Once we got in and began the strenuous process of security clearance, we came to an unexpected change in our flight. Thing number one that didn’t happen according to plan (most indubitably one of many to come). We were supposed to board at 11:45 AM only to find our flight was delayed to the next one at 3:00 PM. My desire at this point was to see South Africa and let my eyes just soak in the entire scenery that South Africa had to offer. Unfortunately, that sight was limited to the confinements of an airport with luggage, my fellow restless and trapped PCTs, and free 30 minutes of complimentary wifi that I greatly appreciated (for those of you that follow me on Snapchat- hence my avocado socked friend that appeared that one day). We were told to arrive dressed as business casual. And I took that into careful consideration knowing that throughout all our packets provided by Peace Corps in preparation of our service and PST, that professional attire was strict in Botswana. This was shocking to me, because I pictured Peace Corps volunteers in Chacos or Teva sandals with a random t-shirt and jeans every day. The best piece of advice my wonderful friend Alexis gave me was to BRING SEMI-PROFESSIONAL BUSINESS ATTIRE. Thanks girl! Luckily in my one suitcase packed with just clothes (which I supremely regret not bringing more snacks and food items that remind me of home), I had plenty of them.

Then when the time came, all 30ish of us eagerly boarded our little mini plane to Gabarone. The flight was incredibly short lasting only 45 minutes, which in contrast to our wait time seems extremely hilarious. Once we landed into Gabarone, the exhaustion and restless seemed to cloud my excitement, but nevertheless I knew this was monumental moment in my life. One of the many emotions and super deep thoughts I feel and try to process as I’m trying to move along like cattle herded by Peace Corps.

Note to my future visitors: the collection of our baggage was extremely sketchy, and I was warned by Elaine on our flight that often when flights are delayed it means that Customs are rifling through our luggage and stealing items in the process (luckily nothing of mine seemed stolen except for a few Hera face cream products that I had stashed in the front without a lock- a rookie mistake). It also seemed the first group that had arrived on time and earlier than us had luggage that was mixed with ours as well. However, in the end all our things came back to our possession. Yay!

Travelling on these major large and in charge combis (aka minivans/shuttles in Botswana), my fellow PCTs and I were packed in and shipped off to meet and greet our Peace Corps staff, faculty, and supervisors. We took a lovely picture that was sent to my family and I believe posted on that Facebook link that I provided my second blog post that we had all arrived safely to our site. Once we were greeted by the Peace Corps staff and faculty, we were then thrown into a whirlwind of expectations, multiple orientation sessions to assimilate ourselves into Botswana life and culture, and the transition into our PST in Molepolole (our home for the next 11 weeks) before we are assigned to our official site for service. 

==A side-note I am technically not in the Peace Corps serving, but am a Trainee until I pass PST. So if any of ya’ll who can pray and meditate for my success, endurance, perseverance that would be awesome.==

Over the course of three days from August 1 – August 3, I was being pampered at Ave Maria Pastoral Center located right next to Botho University. I had three meals a day, including tea times. Botswana people love their bush tea aka Rooibos. The coffee here was questionable to my standards (all instant stuff), but ya’ll know I love a good Americano! I had a working shower and functional toilet. I still couldn’t help feeling like my hand was being held. But looking back, I am so grateful for the transition that Peace Corps has provided so we can be comfortable during these awkward days of adjustment. I suppose those little things matter and they don’t matter as much to me, but I’m sure I’ll eat those words later on. I’ve waited 6 years to live in a complete, utter state of humility and what’s a few more days.

*Names have been changed for the confidentiality and protection of those I have interacted with.