Quick Update after the first few
days:
I have only been a
Peace Corps trainee for a few days, but things are moving very fast already. So
far I have been through staging in DC, the flight to El Salvador, and TAE
(Training Arrival Event), not to mention tomorrow I will be meeting my host
family for training. Right now I have internet so it’s as good as time as any
to write up a blog post, and try and catch everyone up on what’s going on in my
life.
Staging:
Staging
took place in Washington DC and was a long 5 hours full of ice breakers and
activities about the Peace Corps Core Values, Safety and Security, and the
logistics of getting to El Salvador. After barely sleeping the night before I
was not ready to have so much information thrown at me in such a short period
of time. It has only been a day since we left from the states and I honestly
don’t remember much of anything from staging. For me the best part was meeting
all of the other volunteers. It was refreshing to hear other people expressing
the same concerns, and aspirations that I have myself.
Easily
the worst part of staging was the 2 am check out on Wednesday morning. The 30
of us must have looked like the walking dead with tons of luggage. We got to
the airport about 5 hours ahead of our flight. We were so early no one was even
working at the Delta terminal to check us in to the flight to Atlanta.
Eventually we checked in, checked the bags, made our way through security, and
were on our way to Atlanta. Once in the ATL we used the tram (aka the most
reliable train system in Atlanta) to get from gate B to gate E. We waited about
15 minutes at the terminal before boarding the flight to El Salvador.
TAE in El Salvador:
After
landing in El Salvador we were immediately greeted by the PC Staff and ushered
through immigration and costumes. Once everyone had made it threw we took a bus
over to the retreat area that TAE has been held at. Training so far has been a
more specific extension of staging. I’ve learned about acute diarrhea, how to
make clean water, and what is expected out of PCVs (Peace Corps Volunteers). On
top of training I had my language interview, and received my NIT card. Plus I
have had time to meet most of the other volunteers here. Everyone is awesome
and seems wicked stoked to finally be in El Salvador. The staff has thrown so
much information at us I can’t even try to fit it all in this post.
What
has been the most helpful aspect of TAE are the current volunteers that have
given us the legitimate scoop on what being a PCV in El Salvador is like. They
all really seem to be in love with the country, their host families, and each
other, which is great to see. The volunteers also said El Tunco is a great spot
to go when we have a free weekend so I am excited to check it out in a few
weeks.
Tomorrow
begins the next chapter of training. We are all going to our training
communities and meeting our host families. I’m pumped to finally see whom I
will be staying with and where I will be staying for the next 10 weeks. I am also ready to begin language
training because my Spanish has suffered over the last few months before
leaving the states. All in all I just want to really get going with everything.
