Namibia, Kili, then COS

Just so people don't think I've fallen off the face of the planet... I'm going on annual leave this week and will be back in my office March 19 and will have limited internet and phone access until then.

I'll be renting a car and road tripping to Namibia. After studying abroad in Maastricht, next to the Belgian & German borders, and not spending any proper time in either country, I've learned my lesson. Before lock down (after March 12, where Peace Corps Volunteers are not allowed to leave the country, and thus must stay local to close down their projects), I'll be heading to Namibia, which is too close by to pass up.

The first night I drive to Windhoek to have some German Eisbein and good beer. The second day, I go to Sossusvlei to camp at Sesriem, where early the next morning, I'll go hiking along the sand dunes, one of the most remote places on earth. The third day, I'll head to Swakopmund, the town along the west coast of Namibia, where to the north is the skeleton coast, and the south, the national park. There, I'll be enjoying Swakopmund's cold beaches, cold beers, and cold sushi.

After heading back to Maun, I'll be going down to Johannesburg, to fly out to Kilimanjaro International Airport. We spend 1 day/night on the ground to finish up payment and try on hiking gear. The 2nd day, we start the ascent up to Uhuru Peak. After 6 days of hiking and staying in huts, we'll come back to Moshi to spend a night relaxing our sore muscles and sleeping in beds.

After Tanzania, I return to Gaborone, Botswana, where we will have out Close of Service Conference for Peace Corps. Here, we prepare our selves for the last 3 months of service, have a ceremonial lunch with the ambassador celebrating our 2 years of service, spend time with our friends, and take extra time to complete medical exams and produce 3 consecutive stool samples to ensure I am worm and parasite free. If all goes well, I'll be back in Maun March 16. Almost a solid month from now.

Ta ta for now.