What will I do in Africa?

It has come to my attention that I will have to make all new relationships once I leave the US of A... Seems obvious right? Well it is hard to grasp just how drastic of a change that is until you are counting down the days before you leave the country you have grown up in. It is an exciting and nerve racking thought that can consume your mind day in and day out. How will I make new friends? How will I trust anyone I meet? How will anyone trust me? These questions have no single answer, but I have found a possible solution for all of them. The easiest way to trust people and to meet new friends is by opening up with them. I want them to know who I am and where I come from. I want to share with them my experiences and stories. I want them to know my life. This is where I can use some help from each and every one of you. I am asking upon my friends and family to send me pictures. A picture is worth a thousand words. So if I have 100 pictures, then I have 100,000 words to share with my new friends in Mozambique. This is a significant conversation starter. You can send me links to pictures on facebook, or email pictures to me nad0004@tigermail.auburn.edu . I will print these pictures and share the stories with everyone. Please send me some help in starting anew in Mozambique.

Bom Dia

I believe in Auburn and love it

This past weekend I visited Auburn for one last time. I had a good weekend full of Marco Polo, some chess, taco night, wings at halftimes, and of course dunkin donuts! It was tough moving out of my apartment and saying bye to all my friends that were still in town for the summer. I honestly probably looked like this while driving past toomers corner on my way out of town http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qS7nqwGt4-I. Im going to leave you with a few parting words from George Petrie. They are a strong set of words that can help you make decisions in your life. These words are meant for everyone. It is better known as the Auburn Creed.

I believe that this is a practical world and that I can count only on what I earn. Therefore, I believe in work, hard work.
I believe in education, which gives me the knowledge to work wisely and trains my mind and my hands to work skillfully.
I believe in honesty and truthfulness, without which I cannot win the respect and confidence of my fellow men.
I believe in a sound mind, in a sound body and a spirit that is not afraid, and in clean sports that develop these qualities.
I believe in obedience to law because it protects the rights of all.
I believe in the human touch, which cultivates sympathy with my fellow men and mutual helpfulness and brings happiness for all.
I believe in my Country, because it is a land of freedom and because it is my own home, and that I can best serve that country by "doing justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with my God."
And because Auburn men and women believe in these things, I believe in Auburn and love it.

Mozambique, so close yet so far.

I graduated, I visited the Southern Caribbean on Carnival (all the toilets worked), I've laughed, I've cried, and I have decided I am so ready for Mozambique. These next 4 months are going to be a struggle to get through. I can enjoy every moment of the day, but in the end my mind is constantly focused on moving to Africa. I have even transferred the Lion King Soundtrack onto my I-Tunes in preparation.
For those of you who do now know, I have been accepted to the Peace Corps and will be leaving for Mozambique Africa. It is situated just north of South Africa. I have found it most helpful to tell everyone that it is across the Indian Ocean from Madagascar. This gets the location correct in most peoples minds, however it also leads them to believe I will be hanging out with some talking animals.
I am ready to finish all my tedious paperwork, medical stuff, and get on to my staging date. We will meet for staging on September 24th, leave for Africa on September 26th, and return to the USofA on December 5th of 2015. It is so far away, but I know these next few months are going to fly by as I begin to learn Portuguese. I am curious to see how my 27 months in Mozambique are.

I have become aware that another Auburn graduate from the College of Science and Mathematics has the same staging date for the same program as myself. I encourage you to follow her blog as well for the next few years. carainafrica.blogspot.com

Pura Vida