From Trainees to Volunteers

On April 27th, myself and 33 other Peace Corps Volunteers walked into the United States Ambassador's house in Lusaka, Zambia, as trainees.  A few hours later we walked out as volunteers.  This was our Swearing-In Ceremony and after 11 weeks of training in cross-cultural topics, improved farming and gardening practices, and (every trainee's favorite) language - we had come to the end of training and it was time for the ceremony that would mark our official start as Volunteers in the United States Peace Corps.

This was the first time I had ever been to an Ambassador's house and let me tell you, it is an incredibly nice place.  When we arrived we had some small snacks set out for us with tea and coffee.  All the plates, cups, and saucers had the seal of the United States emblazoned on them - even the napkins!  The incredibly well dressed and groomed staff served our every needs while we explored all of the compound's grounds.  Needless to say an Ambassador's job has perks... this place was proof of that.

Next came the actual ceremony which involved speeches - lots and lots of speeches.  Speeches from myself and 5 other trainees, about our program and work.  The catch was that they had to be given in the local language that we had been studying for the last 11 weeks.  A big task and a little overwhelming.  There were speeches given by Peace Corps staff (the Country Director and the Training Director), The United States Ambassador to Zambia (Mark Storella), His Royal Highness Chief Chamuka (the man that manages the area where our training was held), and the Guest of Honor - the Zambian Minister of Lands, Natural Resources, and Environmental Protection (Wilbur Simuusa).

Tom Kennedy (Country Director for PC), myself, and Tom Storella (US Ambassador to Zambia)

The Entire Training Group, Guests of Honor, and PC Staff

Leaving training has been a really surreal experience because after just 11 weeks you manage to get really close to all of the people in your training intake, then you go through a ceremony, and it is more or less over.  Everyone becomes scattered to the wind and placed in different provinces throughout the country.  It is both very exciting to be going on to something new, but also sad to know that you won't get to see these people that you have developed such close ties with over the past few months everyday.

With that being said, the Swearing-In Ceremony was a great experience and one that I won't soon forget, and I'm sure my fellow, new volunteers won't forget either.  Now it is up to my placement in the North-West where I'll be for the next two years... one journey ends and the next adventure starts right away.