Tiwonana Alaska and Minnesota

I have had the best intentions of writing my first post for what feels like months. In true procrastinator fashion, I pen my first entry merely hours before I depart for Malawi. The past month has been a whirlwind of saying tiwonana (see you later in Chichewa) to friends and family in Alaska and Minnesota. I am grateful for the time I was able to spend in Alaska with the family. Rural Alaska prepared me for some of the challenges I will face in Malawi: water shortages, sometimes slow internet, dustiness, and large, potentially dangerous, mammals (hippos are the moose of Africa). However, the sense of community in rural Alaska is akin to what I anticipate finding in Malawi. Leaving Minnesota was definitely harder this go round thanks to an amazing group of individuals I am honored to call friends and family. A special shout-out to my zouk family- I expect you guys to grow our community by the time I get back!

On the river in Alaska

When I arrived in DC over one week ago, my first action was to study the bios of my fellow volunteers and the staff at Peace Corps and Seed Global Health. I am humbled and honored to work with such an extraordinary group of individuals with the shared mission of strengthening the health systems in Malawi, Tanzania, and Uganda through education. It has been an amazing experience getting to know everyone- I look forward to sharing this journey with you.

GHSP 2015-2016 Team

I realize that I am lacking detail on the program and what I will be doing in Malawi. This is something I plan to tackle on my 15 hour flight to Johannesburg. Stay-tuned for my next installment- coming to you from Malawi.