Hello Family and Friends,

Sipra has reached Kazakhstan safely. She and 9 other volunteers have moved in with their host families. Once Sipra has her internet set-up she will write more in detail.

Sipra's Mom

The Journey Begins!

Written 8/19 in Washington, D.C. It's short because I'm posting this from expensive German internet that a fellow volunteer purchased.

Yesterday I said my goodbyes to my family and left Jacksonville for D.C. where orientation was held. We spent our time filling out paper work, meeting each other and getting tons of information from the Peace Corps. We discussed our fears, aspirations, safety, and Peace Corps policy. It was nice to meet the 65 other trainees who are thinking, feeling and going through the same thing I am.

Today we are heading out for the international leg of our journey. We fly to Almaty, Kazakhstan via Frankfurt. I can't say I'm too excited about the long flights, but I do feel prepared from my previous travels to India. For the first day or so we will be staying together but soon we will meet our host families and move in with them for the 3 month training period. Let's see how it goes!