attempting to finally upload some pics....not sure if they'll be able to load in time. but we'll see.

zambia is amazing! i have just two more weeks left of training and then i'll be on my own in mulilima! my new village is in central province, right near the drc and my hut is just 1 k off the main road. yay!

the last week or so has been really hard on me but im hoping that its just the frustration of trainining that's gettting to me.

anyways, i miss everyone!! i'll be back in lusaka in two weeks so hopefully i can update you all more then. and as for the photos, well they aren't cooperating....sorry. next time!

love, tori

Well, im here! Three weeks in and im loving it! Right now im chilling in my hut under my mosquito net, listening to bbc, and loving my internet phone. My days are spent learning bemba, going to technical training classes, biking many a kilometer, sweeping my dirt floor, hanging out with my zam fam, eating ubwali, sunset bucket baths, and hours of late night reading. Miss u all! More to come soon. Oh and i find out where my permanent site is on wed, and then get to check it out on sat for 5 days...by myself. Im not gonna lie im a bit nervous! Please email me. I love getting emails! And promise i will be better about replying. Sendamenipo! Sleep well!

ok people...it's official. i check out of my hotel in 30 minutes to board the bus and head off to jfk. i haven't slept in what seems like days so hopefully i'll be able to sleep on the plane.

staging has been amazing! it's been so nice to finally meet everyone that i will be working with and share our fears and excitement. my nerves have settled a bit now that this is all getting started.

anyways, i have to go now. i'll miss you all so much!

So I'm sitting here in bed at 5 in the morning, listening to India Arie, with an upset/anxious stomach, while squinting at my computer through glasses that are in desperate need of a good cleaning. I've spent the past few hours staring up at my ceiling, anxiously running through the list of things I want to do before I leave for Zambia next week, while concurrently trying to convince myself that is actually, finally happening...in less than ten days I will be on a plane back to Africa, to experience what will surely be the most defining two years of my life.

Needless to say, I have been a bit of a wreck lately. My mood seems to change with every minute, as I constantly teeter between utter excitement and complete panic. While I certainly have fears about my assignment, deep down I know that this is what I am supposed to be doing with my life right now. I wanted to be challenged and pushed to become someone better, and well, I think being sent to live in a mud hut in the middle of Africa will probably accomplish that goal.

And so...the journey begins!

Side note: The photos below are remnants of my failed attempt at a blog when I was in Cape Town. I'm too lazy/technologically-challenged to create a new blog, so I'm just adding to what's already been started. Hopefully, this time around I'll be a little more consistent and detailed with my entries.

kacie and i after paragliding (with kacie's instructor-----who was far nicer than mine)

me with the nemos

my home: while i love it here...living with 30 people is starting to get a bit draining!

cloe and her hula hoop

cloe and bella hugging just after hitting eachother

my love...miles

bella, cowen, and yolanda amazed by the gardener and his weedwacker

bella being naughty...climbing UP the slide

immanual mopping the slide

miles looking up at me....i'm taking him home with me

robben island.....windy

a few of us on the way to see robben island

me

me and penguins

farewell dinner numero uno

my first safari!