On Thursday, I passed my two months in the village mark. I will be leaving my village on Sunday March 13th, and will spend Sunday thru Thursday in Pretoria filing paper work before officially ending my Peace Corps service on March 17th.
On the 18th a few friends and i will fly to Namibia for about a week. Namibia is the only country in the region I have yet to visit. We will see the sand dunes in Soussvlei, hang out in Swakopmund, and a few days in Windhoek (apparently more German than Germany) before coming back to South Africa on the 24th.
The 25th myself and a friend will go to Swaziland for a last hoorah, with about 2 days in Maputo (assuming the cheap visas at the Mozambiquan embassy in Mbabane are in fact real). I am planning on being back in Pretoria the 31st of March, as my flight off the continent is April 1st. I bought my ticket Friday, and it has definitely made everything seem real. I am in fact leaving. And very soon at that.
My plane ticket was decently cheap, but I have to lay over in the UAE (Heeeey Abu Dhabi!!).At least, inshallah, I will get to practice some Arabic. From there I am meeting a friend in Rome, hanging out with my Italian cousins that I haven’t seen in 14 years, then jetting up to Germany. My plans for Germany really only entail Munich for a bit, visiting an old friend outside Frankfurt, and of course Berlin. I am excited to see how much German I can dig out of the recesses of my brain.
After that it’s off to London! England is definitely in my top 5 countries to visit, because I am so fascinated with the history (especially early modern history). I am not sure what I will do yet, but the British museum is definitely on my radar. I need to check out some travel books next week when I am in Pretoria.
In the mean time, my org is planning a goodbye party for me, about which I am very excited. On our first day back at work for the year last week I started crying; I am going to miss everyone so much! Now I really have to focus on saying all of my goodbyes, and packing stuff.
Mary Ann Soden Said:
on 08/02/2011 at 01:13
Sharon, Leaving! I cannot believe you have been gone from FaCT for two years. What a journey you are on. I have lots of ideas for London and will send them over to you. Enjoy your last two months in the Peace Corps. It is a rare and noteworthy accomplishment. Congratulations Mary Ann