Official PC Trainee

After a threatening east-coast huricane, I was shipped off to the tourist friendly capitol, D.C. I was immediately at ease and comforted when I met all of the other volunteers. There is almost this unexplainable commonality in the air and finally... there are 54 other people that have been freaking out, questioning as well as answering concerned questions from family, and meandering between the excitement of a journey in a completely new environment and the equal fear of this new place, Senegal.

We had a surprisingly laidback orientation at the capitol, to which I have never been before. Between our group ice breaker activities, shots! (no, no, I mean the needle), and stuffing ourselves full of the last fatty American food for a while, we were actually able to relax and walk around D.C. The botanical gardens were the perfect that sight before departure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gt4VYGd178I&feature=channel_video_title

3 hours in the airport + 8 hours on the plane + 2 hours driving to the Thies Training center = a long and confusing day for my body. I for the first time ever took 2 naps in the same DAY.

What I've learned about Senegal:
1. Its the most muggy country Ive ever been in (rainy season)
2. People will do/sell anything for money
3. They know the way around the kitchen! mmm.
4. I would die if I tried to drive here.

Contact Information:

Here is my training address:
PCT Jessica Cochran
Corps de la Paix
B.P. 299
Thies, Senegal
West Africa

MagicJack Phone Number:
(254) 742-6044
This is a local Texas number that you can reach me at OR leave a pleasant voice-mail for me to find! The trick is that I will have to have a steady internet connection to place calls, so we will soon see how reliable it is!

Senegalese Number:
" 011 (221) 77 360 5903 "

E-mail Address:
txangel_07@hotmail.com

and find me on Skype!

Locks of LOVE

I did it!! I may have lost a few pounds in a few minutes!! After investing years and slaving over two-a-day maintanance calls at the mercy of my brush, shampoo, and showerhead, I decided to donating more than a foot of my hard-grown hair.
I've been googling images of short/pixie hair for the last six months, but finally got the nerve up to try it myself now that my departure date is less than a month away! Africa!

Donate & prospective haircuts

I have a full head of hair that reaches down to my bellybutton. I think now would be an opportune time to donate a good foot of it, to allow a few wigs to a few lucky people if I do say so myself. It might also be the only time that I get enough nerve up to go through with it!
Here are a few ideas:
me.

1. 2.

Facebook Group: Peace Corps Senegal 2011!

I recently joined a Facebook group for volunteers that are focused in agriculture, departing for Senegal in August! I'm happy to have communication with the group members, but I think Ill have plenty of time to get cozy with them during training. ^-^
I have also been a very important ebay/amazon customer during the last month. I have invested in the following:
USB Cable for Camera
12 Cell Battery for my lappy
Columbia Jacket
Cotton TravelSheet
Nalgene Stainless Bottle
Backup Battery Charger for iPhone4
USB Cable Power Adapter
Moleskine notebook
Gerber Mini Pliers Tool
I'm still having a dilemma with solar chargers. 1.) will I actually use it? 2.) will it work adequately? 3.) ugh, I dont know about this.

When all of these items and countless more walmart purchases have to be crammed into 2 suitcases with piles of outdoorsy clothes, Im really going to be in a pickle. An update to follow!

Mail: CHACOS

I love finding exciting little packages in that little shiny box with a key. Obviously I received my CHACOS today, which I already adore. They are truly the first shoes that provide adequate arch support. I can hardly wait to use them in the field!
I also made my last dental rounds to see about getting my monstrous wisdom teeth out before embarking to Africa. It sounds like a solid plan to me.

Farewell Party!

I'll be leaving the "South" to go back to Texas in a month to visit my family, so I've sent out my going away invitations (that I proudly made in photoshop!). I've asked everyone to bring a photo gift that I can carry with me to Senegal to decorate my hut!