Time sure is flying by! It seems like just yesterday we arrived in Mozambique. However, we're now approaching week eight of training which means we're over the halfway point...crazy!
It's been chilly the last week or so which means I broke out my winter coat...yuck. The good news is July is the coldest month of the year which is almost over. The last couple weeks has been pretty much the same routine as before besides starting our new language groups and we visited local health organizations. The organization visit was a good way to see in what areas we may be able to help out counterparts and communities at our sites.
Next week, I fly to Nampula in the north with my fellow northern trainees (Norte forte!) for our supervisor's conference. After the conference, we will make our way to our individual sites for phase two. Phase two consists of living at our future site for two weeks. We will live with another host family during this time which will help us with learning about our communities. We will also meet all of the leaders (chefes) of the community, health center, NGO, etc. These two weeks will be super busy with adjusting, learning, doing assignments, thinking about the future, and preparing for phase three.
An abrupt 180
While writing this post I received a phone call from Peace Corps staff that would change the next two years of my life.
After our first session of local language class, I received a phone call from Peace Corps that I would no longer be going to my future community in Zambezia. This came as a complete shock to me as the day before I was at the main office in Maputo where I received my flight information and logistics information. I will now be going to a community in the province of Nampula...one province north of my prior site. I have very little information about my new site as it's a last minute change and all the details are being worked out as we speak. I do know that my experience will be completely different than I had now prepared myself for. I will have sitemates from the education sector, electricity, paved roads, etc.
If you ask me how I feel at this point about going to phase two, my answer will be complicated. There's an abundance of emotions; everything from excitement to nervousness and anxiousness to sadness. I'm excited to finally get a glimpse of my community I'll be living in for the next two years and to begin to determine the areas I'll be able to help and serve alongside my counterparts. While I'm excited for this next step in my journey, this will be the first time our cohort of 45, which has grown closer together by the day, will be separated.
Needless to say, on top of the usual emotions going into phase two, today has been filled with lots of emotions, unknowns, and questions. Luckily, my best friend here, fellow cohort members, and my friends and family back home and around the world have been supportive and encouraging. Without these people and their support, I wouldn't be where I am today.
These next few weeks will be quite busy, but once I return I will post an update about phase two and my site visit.
It's official. After swearing in on August 29th, I will be moving north to a village in the Macubela district of Zambezia province. I will be living and working in a small community about 3 miles from the beach! There are a ton of palm trees, limitless seafood options, and I'm also excited to be in a hot area (I've worn my winter coat several times so far down here in the south). This is a brand new site that I will be opening so there a ton of unknowns that only the future will tell. My future home is currently undergoing final improvements and modifications. From the information I've received thus far, it's a beautiful house, in a beautiful area, and I'll have room for visitors 😉