This is my last night in Des Moines for roughly 27 months. My bags are packed.
A few hours ago my parents hosted a goodbye party for me, which was wonderful. I was so grateful to everyone who came. I was especially touched by all of my friends who drove the 100 or so miles from Iowa City to see me off. So, once again, thank you so much. I know that thoughts of my friends and family will be a source of strength and pride for me in the next two years.
Speaking of the next two years…
Tomorrow I will wake up at 3:45 in the morning. I will then take the 6:00 a.m. flight to Philadelphia from Des Moines International Airport, via Detroit. Philadelphia is the location of what the Peace Corps calls a staging event. The staging event will take place over two days and will introduce me to some of the basics of what it is to be in the Peace Corps. During the staging event I will also meet some of the other volunteers I will be training and working with. On the 29th of January, 2008 I will depart for Johannesburg, via Frankfurt, Germany.
Once in South Africa, we will take a two hour drive to a city called Mokopane, in the Limpopo Province. For the first ten days I will live in dorms somewhat like those in the U.S. After this initial period I will begin living with a South African family. I am especially looking forward to living with a family. My family stay will last until April 3, 2008 when I am officially sworn in as a Volunteer, rather than the previous status of trainee.
During my training period I will learn one of five languages: Sepedi, IsiZulu, IsiSwati, Xitsonga, or Afrikaans. I am not sure which one I will learn or exactly how they would even decide such a thing. I will be happy learning any of them. I will also learn more about the culture of South Africa and the nature of my eventual assignment.
What exactly I will be doing after April 3rd is something of a mystery to me. It is my understanding that my performance during the training period will have an impact on the assignment I am given. What I do know is that my task will last for two years and will involve HIV/AIDS prevention. I also know that I will be working with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) that are dealing with HIV/AIDS in some form. It is very likely that I will move to some other part of South Africa after training.
My mailing address, at least until April, is:
Oliver Borzo
Peace Corps
PO Box 9536
Pretoria 0001
South Africa
Easier ways to get a hold of me include my email (oliverborzo@gmail.com), facebook, or the blog itself. My phone is now dead, my number lost to the wind.
So, that is the skinny. To say I am nervous or excited would be true but also a gross understatement. Mostly though, I think the overwhelming feeling I have is happiness. I am happy because I have incredible and supportive family and friends. I am also happy because Peace Corps is exactly what I want to be doing with my life right now. I feel blessed.
Thanks again for all of the support and encouragement I have been given over the last few months. It means more to me than I can properly express. And thanks for reading.
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10 comments:
hey oliver-good luck
what you are doing is awesome. i think that being in the peace corps will be a great experience for you. it will be a great oppurtunity for you to make a lot of new friends and memories.
have fun and good luck
Oliver, I am so proud of you. I told you about a million times that I'm nervous for you, but really, I'm not - this is going to be an amazing experience and a great adventure. You have always been so much to me: a friend and a cousin (even though I'll probably always look at you more like a brother) and I'm going to miss you like CRAZY but I know this is going to be an invaluable experience for you. I'm so happy that YOU are doing this because you have so much to offer to so many people... I can't imagine a better candidate for this journey than you. You truly are one in 6 billion.
Anyway, I love you and I am so excited for you! But don't go claiming to be king of the Peace Corps... :)
OH, and I can't tell you how glad I am that I came with you to the airport this morning. Thanks for letting me be a part of that. Even though I cried most of the way back to Ames, it really meant a lot to me to be there to see you off. Getting that last hug in... man, that was important.
Congratulations, man. All I can say is have fun and REPRESENT!! Keep writing, too.
Well Honey, I think you are probably having one more day in the states and then heading off for a long flight. I'm thinking good thoughts for you. Looking forward to your first official post from across the water.
Oliver - its been said before but I'll say it again - your Mother and I are so proud of you and all your accomplishments, equaled only by our happiness that you are finally on your Peace Corps journey. We look over the years and look at all you've done as you've grown up, and we see all that you have given to others. We see that the peace Corps is really a natural progression for you and your life. Take care of yourself and enjoy the next two years, and we know you will do good.
Mom & Pop
I sent you a message on facebook. Sometime in the near future I will send a long message or perhaps even a letter. We shall see. I hope you are doing well.
Oliver,
By this time, you are getting settled in South Africa. My wife and I have had many foreign exchange students, but none from South Africa. I will be anxious to read your comments. You have always been a winner, and it is really showing now!! We couldn't be prouder. Good luck, and have fun.
Biggie
Hi Oli,
Glad you survived "basic training." Next up: a few weeks to master a new language! Whew -- I don't know how you do it!
We'll be looking for some pics on this blog soon. Don't forget about us or we'll come and invade your facebook/space. Cheerio, Greg
For all at HOME....I saw Oliver a few wks ago at his training-- He is doing great! I will try to post pictures from his swearing in on April 3rd. We have heard that the US Ambassador to South Africa, Eric Bost -- will be at the swearing in-- It will be exciting!
OLIVER: Keep up the good work!
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