finally, a new post after two months!

so sorry to all for not being a very diligent blogger. my internet access has been less than easily accessible and when it is, there are thirty five other eager individuals vying for some time. once i get to site though, my access will hopefully be more regular, less rushed, and i will be able to use my own computer.
oh, but so much has happened, the biggest news being that today i was sworn in as an official peace corps volunteer! we all wore red white and blue corsages and received special pins to commemorate the occasion. pictures to come, i promise.
in the meantime, i will be traveling to my village, Nandumbo, in the district of Balaka on friday. for those of you with a map, it is located between the town of Ulongwe and Liwonde national park, meaning i am close to the Shire River which is home to hippos, crocodiles, elephants, and a million kinds of birds. on my week long site visit i was even able to take a boat safari! however, the landscape around the park is as flat as a table, very hot and dry, and even the boreholes pump salty water. needless the say, the mosquitoes love it.
as for my site details; i am the first pcv to serve at this site and the health center i will be working at is just opening this week (or so they say). my presence in Nandumbo was requested by a NGO; Help Malawi, whose headquarters is located inside the park at Mvuu (hippo) camp. i have been told that malnutrition and malaria are problems within the community as well as maternal health and, of course, HIV/AIDS. my position as a brand new volunteer whose presence is coinciding with the opening of a new health center is unique, and i am excited at this opportunity, despite the daunting nature of the challenge that lay ahead.
my house, at the moment, is being worked on and will hopefully be finished in a couple weeks. it was pretty much in shambles when i saw it for the first time, but i believe that once it has been fixed up it will be a pretty sweet spot. the house is big with three bedrooms and a living room, plus a separate kitchen, covered batha and storage room in the backyard, not to mention my very own chimbutzi. i hope to start a garden as soon as possible and i will be lugging a couple of how to garden books, among many others, with me to site. in the meantime, though, while my house is being finished, i will be staying with Katharina, a young austrian teacher working for Help Malawi at a local primary school.
i am sending you all my love and hope all is well stateside. i swear to you my blogging will become more regular as my life becomes more of a routine and i look forward to your comments. i have love love loved getting emails, letters, and messages from you all, even if i have yet to respond. you make me feel so awesome and loved and i wouldn't mind if you kept it up.
talk soon and cheers! C