Eventyr

There are a handful of important things I’ve learned during my weeks prior to leaving for Liberia:

1. No matter how many times I tell people I’m going to Liberia, they will think I’m going to Libya. Or, occasionally, Lebanon.

2. Fitting 100 lbs of luggage in two suitcases is physically possible, contrary to what many may believe.

3. The fear of going two years without drinking a good beer is a real thing. I call it Lackabeeraphobia. 

4. Saying the word Liberia is hard, so sometimes friends will substitute it with words that roll off the tongue a little easier, such as “Libraria,” which implies I’m going to be a librarian in a made-up country for two years. This is not the case (ahem, Braden).

5. It’s not always sunny in Philadelphia. In fact, it’s humid, raining, and I’ve been sweating non-stop for 48 hours.

6. Regardless of how many times I defend my decision, people will think I’m crazy for voluntarily living in Liberia for two years and not making any money doing it. I can’t describe how wonderful it is to finally be in a roomful of people who get it. I’ve gone an entire three days without having to defend myself to anyone, and it’s refreshing.

7. I’m going to be in an African country that is nuts about soccer during the World Cup! How freaking cool is that?!? Answer: super cool.

So at 2:30 we’re all boarding a bus to New York. Then at 10:55 tonight we board a fourteen hour flight to Monrovia. From there we take another bus to drive the two hours to the Peace Corps headquarters in Kakata. So at approximately 8pm tomorrow night (Liberian time) I will arrive at my home for the next couple of weeks.

So bon voyage, my friends! I’m off to drink one more good beer while there’s still time.

Also, here’s the address for those who are interested in mailing letters/packages:

Katie Kozowski/Peace Corps Volunteer/PO Box 707/Liberia, Monrovia/West Africa. Disclaimer: Once I’m permanently placed at a school in Liberia I will likely be a several hour car ride from the post office in the capital. So if you send me a letter and don’t hear back from me for a couple weeks, it’s because I haven’t made the trip into the city yet, not because I’m ignoring you 😉

Also, here’s the crew! (Well, half of them at least.)