I've arrived!!! (+ mailing address)

I'm sitting at the training center in Santo Domingo looking out at the mango trees and tropical flowers.  This is a beautiful place.  We just finished our second day of Peace Corps training, during which I digested more information than I have in a LONG time.  I met my host family yesterday and will be living with them for the next 3 weeks here in the outskirts of Santo Domingo.  Running water comes sometimes, and electricity is intermittent, although my family uses a "car battery" (as they explained it) to light the house when the neighborhood loses electricity.  So, in that sense, I am very lucky.  I took my first bucket bath this morning.  It was really refreshing and saves a LOT of water!  Pouring a bucket of cold water over your head when you've been sweating in the 90 degree humidity is wonderful.

After the three weeks, I will be traveling to the interior of the country to a town called Constanza for our rural community based training, which lasts 5 weeks.  It's supposed to be beautiful, so I'm looking forward to that!

In case anyone wants to send me mail, I'm going to write my address below.  Snailmail letters and/or photos will be SO appreciated!  They discourage receiving big packages, because they usually get caught up in Dominican Post Office and you have to pay a bunch of fees.  However, large-ish padded envelopes shouldn't have a problem getting through.  Thanks!!

Address:

Natalie Ferrell, PCT (Peace Corps Trainee, starting in November this will be PCV-Peace Corps Vol)
Cuerpo de Paz
Avendia Bolivar 451, Gazcue
Apartado 1412
Santo Domingo
Dominican Republic

The adventure begins...

As I write this first post, I'm sitting at a Starbucks in D.C. awaiting the commencement of pre-departure orientation, known, in Peace Corps lingo, as "Staging".  In a few hours I will meet the fellow volunteers with whom I'll be spending the next 10 weeks in PST (Pre-Service Training...the first of dozens of acronyms that dominate Peace Corps speak).  I'm aiming to embark on this journey with very few expectations, and yet...I know I have many.  How many times have I envisioned myself in the Peace Corps over the last 10 years?  I guess the time has arrived!  How surreal.   
                                                                                                                                    I feel obliged to forewarn those who will be following this blog--this is my first attempt at online memory keeping.  It still feels rather new and foreign.  I pledge to keep my stories short and sweet, and hopefully, on occasion, they will provide you some insight or entertainment.  Mostly, I wanted a hassle free way to keep everyone in the loop over the next few years--so that you all can join me on this journey, and provide some of your own insights and feedback!  Thanks a bundle.  
Here's to some firsts and lasts--first blog post, first day in training, last Starbucks brew (for quite some time), and last day in this country that, despite my occasional complaints and criticisms, I am proud to call my home.