Transitioning...

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Since we haven't had internet for a couple months, we're kind of behind with our blog posts. To avoid an overwhelming amount of writing, I (Elizabeth) am skipping to the end of our training and starting from there. Suffice it to say, training was long and intense -- comprised of 10 hour days, 6 days a week -- and we were ready to have it over and get to our sites! Before we were set to graduate, we had a host family braai at our training college -- here's a shot of me stirring a giant pot of pap/umbraata/lipalishi.


Shortly after that event, as many of you know, Perry got sick -- just a few days before we were supposed to swear in. He spent a couple of days in the hospital recuperating and then we both spent a few more days at Khayalethu backpacker's (a guest house that Peace Corps uses a lot) waiting for his medical hold to be lifted. It was very nice, though sleeping in bunk beds took some getting used to. They served a delicious hot breakfast everyday and wood-fired pizza on Tuesday's. We also really enjoyed sitting in the courtyard and watching the weavers build their nests.







Last Tuesday, our PCMO (medical officer) cleared him for service and we swore in as Peace Corps volunteers in a private ceremony at PCHQ. Unfortunately, I don't have the photos yet. On Wednesday, bright and early, Peace Corps drove us to our site. Our actual site is in a flat farming area -- they grow a lot of sugar cane here -- but the area we're in is lovely and we are only about 30 kilometers from Kruger National Park. Below is a photo that Perry took on the drive to our site -- a little east of Nelspruit. Gorgeous.



I'll end here and start a new post describing our new home!
- Elizabeth

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