Letter 6A, Arusha November 24, 2002

Dear Fam,

Just four more days, and I will officially be sworn in as a Peace Corp Volunteer Officer. I can't believe how quickly the last ten weeks have gone by. I'm busy packing up my room at my homestay today. I already came here with too much stuff, and it's amazing how much more I've accummulated.

Last night Peace Corps put on a farewell dinner for our homestay families. My Mama Stella and Kaka(brother) Kevin(the 7 yr, old) came. The PCT'S put on skits, told funny homestay stories, and we sang both the Tanzanian and U.S. National Anthems. PC also paid to have a local drumming group come to. To play drums and do traditional dances,I took pictures. My host family then surprised me by giving me a zawadi(present). I was given 4 meters of this beautiful green kitenge fabric. I'm not sure if my host Mom Stella knew my favorite color was green, but she certainly made a great choice. We're all going out to dinner tommorrow night for my last night here, I'll give them the gifts I brought from home then. I have to tell you it made me a little homesick though when I saw the calendar with the pictures of Mount Shasta today. Maybe when we go to Dar on Tuesday, the clouds will have lifted from Kilimanjaro and I'll be able to see it.

Training seems to have both flown by and dragged on. I have to say that I'm not sorry to see the end of it though. I'm excited to get to my site and really START my two years. They say that those first 6 weeks will drag on though. Hopefully, I'll be able to find enough around the house to keep me busy.

Sorry this is so short, but there's so much I've got to do packing and all. I love you all!

Love Jessica.