The beginning of an adventure...

WOW...so much has happened in the last few days it's hard to know where to start so I can think of no better place than the beginning. Side note: for the sake of time and efficiency I wont bore you w. endless details.

PHILLY
I arrived in Philly 23 September and met up with the 68 other volunteers going to MOZ. It was pretty exciting to meet so many new people. SO far everyone has been absolutely fabulous. The hotel was sehr presh and more than accommodating. Even though staging was pretty packed with seminars and meetings we still had the night free and did we ever use that "free" time. We went out both Sunday and MOnday nights. We all bonded over food and copious amounts of beer. It was an enriching time had by all! Well we left Tuesday morning to go to JFK in NYC...what an emotional trip...people called me and thats all it took for me just to loose it.

Most people still have their game faces on but everyone knows that we all are feeling the same way. Sad about leaving home but overwhelmingly happy/excited. Onto AFRICA...

AFRICA
We had two back to back 8.5 hr flights and stoped midpoint in Dakhar, Senegal. yayy. It was along ass flight but had awesome peopel all around me. The South Afrucan man in frnt of me reassured us that MOZ was an awesome place to be...he said "it's so much fun, and you will have it too!" SWEET!
Arrived in Jo'burg, S. Africa at roughly 4:30 am your time. We stayed at a 5 star luxury hotel that immediately served us wine and cheese from the country. Let it be known that S. Africa wine is absolutely delish. We also had a buffet that was at least 5 courses and world class food. The best last meal I could ever think of. PS - just to give you a sense of what this place was like, for the breakfast they had make your own bloody mary's w. Skyy vodka...which of course I helped myself to!

The next morning/today we left for Mozambique! When we arrived myself and 9 other lucky people got sent to another hotel bc there wasn't enough room for us. It really sucks bc we are separated from the group but at least we have this brief internet stitch! Today we had dinner, talked about issues/ questions we had, got vaccines, and say a tribal dance w. music! It was so awesome...words cant describe! Now we are at the hotel in the cty of Maputo and just chillin out before bed...its about 10:30 pm here aka 3:30 pm in the US. More is yet to come tomorrow and the day after and day after. On Sunday we get separated into very small groups and dropped off at our homestay. It's sad to be separated from all these great people b.c thats just what they are great people that i have fallen in love with in a very very very (muito muito muito) short period of time. Such is life...but it sucks! lol.

I love and miss you all! I am thinking about you all.

Cheers/Salud!
Jon
xoxp

2 days!!

I leave in 2 days

and have so much still left to do!



excited
nervous

just two of the many emotions fluttering through my mind right now.


I need sleep. More packing tomorrow. Last time going out tomorrow too. Better make it a good one!

Cheers!

Jon