I'm here!

(No way you guys are getting a sweaty webcam picture right now!)

I’ve arrived!

It was very comforting to have another volunteer arrive at the same time as me so that we could be awestruck in the back of the car together! There are a couple of people here, some will leave soon, some will stay for another 10 months but people will be arriving too, so that’s fun. I’m gonna take some pictures later today, but as for right now I’m just trying to get used to the clammy heat.

Some thoughts so far:

• I actually like long flights! Sure it was my first, but it was fun to just sit there, watch movies, eat M&M’s (I shared with the kids sitting next to me, because they kept staring. They couldn’t stop smiling afterwards though) and get drinks served to me under my blanket. I even liked the food!
• Customs was scary and took a loooooooong time. We stood there in line for like an hour, and I was honestly nervous about having to answer questions. It went pretty smooth though, they wanted fingerprints a picture and BAM I was in Africa.
• Yes, it IS like on tv! We had a half hour drive from the airport yesterday, driving through both poorer parts and the touristy parts and it somehow felt unreal. Like a documentary. I’m going to get used to it, but it was just so different from anything I’ve ever experienced.
• The breakfasts are going to be HEAVY. And I normally either eat one sandwich or don’t eat at all. This morning we had fried egg sandwiched between two slices of very sweet bread and it was good, but such a heavy meal! I didn’t finish it, but I’ll probably get used to it after a while.

Later on today we’re gonna get an orientation, which is good because I need cash and just a general sense or where I am in the world, because all I’ve seen properly so far is the volunteer house!

For everybody wondering; my skype name is just mariekebrock and I’m all for skypedates! We can just set a time and date on facebook! I’m only two hours behind Norway and the Netherlands, so like right now it’s 10 o’clock in the morning here and 12 o’clock over there.