p.s. i rocked my lpi

Hello people from my former life…
Shannon here. I’m writing this update on the 22nd of September, though I cannot currently comment on when this will actually appear online…
Today was sad because our group of 33 is now just 32. One of the volunteers decided to go home. It was the best decision for her, but we will miss her terribly! (if you are out there, here’s my shout out). I guess group 30 won’t be the first group to have 100% of our group survive through the end. Oh well.
I’m in my room at my homestay and being treated to beautiful music in the background. My ouma (grandma) is hosting the church choir practice in the other room. Why is everyone in Namibia the most amazing singer ever? It doesn’t make sense. I need to tell ouma she can host practice whenever she so desires. I love it. It’s like my own private show. This house is so happening. Everytime I turn around there is something else going down. Sometimes it’s just the kids having to go to the hospital because they fell off the motorbike, but whatever.
We’re essentially spending this whole week debriefing from our permanent site visits. The more I think about it, the most anxious and worried I become about various things in Bethanie. There are just a lot of immediately evident remnants of apartheid, and I was only there for a week, so I imagine things go a lot deeper than I am currently aware. It’s going to be challenging, but I think I’m up for it. The people of bethanie are GREAT, especially the learners. So obviously this excites me. Also, did I tell you they have a public library in bethanie?! I was very very happy to find out this fact.
One of my favorite things about Namibians is this: they always say “I’m coming right now” or “I come now” instead of “I’m coming right back.” It’s so funny. Now that I write it though, it doesn’t seem so funny. But take my word for it.
We are having what they call “mid-LPI” interviews on Friday, which is the peace corps’ way of determining how we are doing with our language training. I am really nervous, because even though I feel like I have a pretty good grasp of Afrikaans right now, in talking with my language trainer, hamata, about the pseudo-exam, I will be very lost. We’ll see how it goes. I want to impress them!
I’m now going to post some pictures. These will mostly be of bethanie/my classroom . Please notice that we have an overhead projector in my classroom, and don’t get jealous. Get so excited!!!!!!!!!!! Because I am.

update: i'm going to post the pictures later. it will cost me a lot less money. love you all. stay tuned.

p.s. from this point on, you should probably start sending mail to bethanie, because I’ll be moving there in less than 4 weeks. Ahh!!! I can’t wait

love you all