I'll be leaving Erie late Friday (the 30th) afternoon to spend the next couple days in Lancaster with one of my Grandmothers. From there my parents and I will be heading to Philadelphia to turn me in. I report on Tuesday (the 3rd) and fly out Wednesday (flight info below). It's looking like a good group of volunteers. Several married couples, an older woman (more common in the Peace Corps than you'd think) and a bunch of girls. I'm sure there will be more to meet upon arrival in Philly! I feel very ready to begin, I guess I should since I'll be leaving a year and 3 days after I received my first official assignment packet! Of course there are the clump of nerves that accompany a big life change/adventure, so continued prayers are still very much welcomed!
Also included in this post are a few Gambia related websites (some sent in previous updates) and a link to the USPS website for anyone looking to send mail (address below). Mail will always be welcomed and I will do my very best to send you something in return! Mind you, though, the process of getting mail to a volunteer is slow so don't send anything that can spoil. Trust me, stale cookies are just about as bad as no cookies!
My estimated return to the States is early January 2012 (maybe for your birthday Erin Georgic!).
I really enjoyed one more East Coast fall and am happy to skip winter and go right into 90 degree weather! Thank you to everyone for your support and encouragement. I will miss you all and am already excited to catch up when I get back. BUT I do want to know how YOU are doing too. Keeping up on folks back home will help me feel more normal and happy.
Take Care!
Katie
Flight Info:
Nov 4th
Depart Newark 6:35p
(7hr 15 min flight)
Nov 5th
Arrive Brussels 7:50a (1:50a EST*)
Depart Brussels 11:35a (5:35a EST)
Stop in Dakar, Senegal
(8 hr flight)
Arrive Banjul, Gambia 6:35p (1:35p EST)
*I think these times are right and adjusted for daylight savings
Mailing Address:
Katie Cahoon, (PCT or PCV)**
C/O Peace Corps/The Gambia
P.O. Box 582
Banjul, The Gambia
West Africa
**PCT goes after my name from Nov-Jan while I'm in training.
From January on, PCV goes after my name.
Websites:
Mail: http://www.usps.com/prices/
Gambia:
- Time, weather, and other random tidbits http://www.timeanddate.com/
worldclock/city.html?n=30 - Time Converter for anyone like me who has trouble switching time zones: http://www.worldtimeserver.
com/convert_time_in_GM.aspx - (unofficial) Peace Corps Volunteer website for the Gambia. Lots of pictures, language lessons if you'd like to give it a try, and other day to day information http://gamlangs.googlepages.
com/ - Official PC Welcome Book for the Gambia. Pretty much anything you'd want to know about the history, the programs, and volunteer topics http://www.peacecorps.gov/
welcomebooks/gmwb635.pdf - Other informational websiteshttp://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Gambia , http://www.gambia.gm/, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/the-gambia
