Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Hello all and happy Thanksgiving!! I cannot believe that the holiday season is starting already. We are in Lilongwe now because tomorrow the US Ambassador is hosting all the PCVs at his house for Thanksgiving dinner. It does not seem like the end of november. It is hot here and getting hotter every day, and we are entering the rainy season, so it is now starting to get humid as well. Yuck! Although today we got to spend a little more time in Lilongwe for the 1st time and we found an actual grocery store. They had a Christmas tree up and were selling Christmas decorations. It was like walking back into the States for a few minutes. Of course we couldn't afford anything in there. It was the equivilent of about $12 for a stick of deodorant! Although I did splurge on a chocolate bar for 500 kwacha (a little over $3).
So anyway, training is still going well. We have finished up our homestay and are stationed back at the Malawi College of Forestry (for the most part) for the time being. The most exciting news so far-- we learned our sites!!! Last week we had site announcements and then Saturday thru today we went to visit our sites. We are going to be teaching at Kacheche Community Day Seconday School, which is near Rhumphi, just north of Mzuzu. We love our site! Our headmaster (principal) just took over at the school halfway through last year and is already doing a lot of great things with the school. We are in a river vally which means that we can grow crops even in the dry season, although it also means lots of mosquitoes. We definitly have our work cut out for us though. I will be teaching forms 1 and 3 biology (instead of grades 9-12 it is forms 1-4), form 3 math, and form 1 physical science (ps). The school previously did not have a ps teacher and so did not offer that class, even though it is required for students to go on to any type of post-secondayr education or training. So, even though I will be teaching only the form 1 class, I will be doing intensive after school ps clubs to catch up other students who are interested. Also, Zeb is teaching not only english, but form 1 math and forms 1 and 2 life skills! It looks like we are going to focus a lot on teaching rather than any type of secondary projects (atleast for this first year), but that is what the school and the students really need. It will be hard but we are excited. The other teachers seem pretty good so far too. They previously had 5 teachers at the school, and in addition to Zeb and I they are hiring another, which will make a total of 8. AND, there will be 4 women teachers (including the deputy headmaster) and 4 men, which is very exciting here! Over all we are quite pleased wtih our site. We have been raving about it since we returned to Lilongwe this afternoon.
Well, once again I am in quite a hurry, so I will have to cut it short again. We have so little free time as trainees! That will change soon though (Dec 9!!). I also apologize for the lack of pictures. I have not had the camera with me both times I've gotten to use the computer. In a couple of weeks though we'll have a chance to write more and post pictures. I can't wait to show you all what Malawi looks like!! So in closing I will say have a great Thanksgiving, stay warm and safe on the roads, and take care!

Yewo Chomene ndipo tiwononenge!