Hi Family and Friends,
Training is almost done and I will be sworn in tomorrow as a volunteer. Training was good but long and I can't wait to get to my new site. I have been placed in the district of Mchinji in the village of Nyoka. My site is brand new and wonderful, I am right next to a mountain and only two hours away from Lilongwe.

I wish I had the time to tell you all about the two months of training but I just don't have the time. I will try to upload photos of training and of swearing in before I head to my site for the next three months.

Love you all, Namaste

Lauren has arrived in Malawi

Lauren arrived in Malawi last Sunday. Her family received a conformational email and a photo of the trainee group.  It is Snail Mail now in order to communicate with her.  when I hear more I will write.

In Africa

Hey All

I just wanted to let you know that I made it to Africa safe and sound. We are staying in Johannesburg for the night and then heading for Malawi in the morning. We had a 17+ hour flight from New York and I can not wait to sleep in a bed tonight. Much love to all.

Off To Africa

The Adventure has started! Yesterday I met my fellow volunteers in Philly for some pre-departure staging and today we get on a plane for Africa! There are 20 of us going and it is a fun and energetic group. I am very excited to be part of this great group and program. Lots of love to all and stay in touch. Namaste.

Hi Everyone,

Tomorrow morning I get on a plane to start my adventure.  The time really did fly!  At christmas I though that the middle of February would never come and now it is here.  Today I am running around trying to make sure that I have everything while making sure that I have not over my 80lb weight limit.  That is hard, packing for two years while keeping it under 80lb.

My first stop will be in Philly to meet my fellow volunteers and get some pre-service information.  As a group we then fly out of JFK airport for Africa.  We will get to Lilongwe, Malawi on the 22nd.  Then what sounds like a very intense training starts.  The training will last for about three months and we will officially be sworn in as volunteers in the middle of April.

This starts the time when my internet access will be very limited.  I will be sending snail mail letters to my parents and my mom has kindly agreed to send out updates over the internet.  I will also post photos when I can.

Hello Family and Friends,

I have about a week and a half until I head out for Africa.  WOW! Were did the time go!  I will be flying out of Billings on the 18 and arrive in Philadelphia that evening.  I will then spend the next day in Philly meeting my fellow volunteers and getting some pre-service information.  The next day we get into vans and head for JFK airport.  We then have 17 hour flight to Johannesburg and from there we fly down to Lilongwe.

XOXOXO to all and I will try to write one more post before I get into Africa.

Hi Friends,

Well I now have less than a month before I leave.  I will be flying out of Billings on the 18th of February and head for Philadelphia, PA for a three day staging event.  From Philadelphia I will fly to Malawi.  That is going to be a long flight:{

As the departure date gets closer I get more and more nervous.  I can't believe that I am really going!!  

I would love to hear from friends and family while I am gone so hear is a snail mail address;

Lauren Lindquist, PCV

Peace Corps/Malawi

Box 208

Lilongwe

Malawi

Letters could take up to a month or more to reach me, so if you don't hear back from me right away don't worry.

Just before Christmas I accepted an invitation to serve in Malawi, Africa with the Peace Corps!  I will be leaving February 19th and will be gone for 27 months.  The first three months of my time in Malawi will be a training period.  during this time I will be living with a host family and they will be helping me to learn the language and the culture.  I will also go through some medical and safety training.  After the first three months I will be put into a community to start work as a NRM/Forestry and Park Extension volunteer.  I won't know what I will be doing exactly until I get into my community.

My living conditions will be very rustic for the next two years.  I will be living in a mud brick hut with a grass or tin roof with no electricity or plumbing.  The Peace Corps will give me a living allowance to use for living expenses.  I will also be given a mountain bike to get around on, other wise I will be walking or taking a mini bus.

This is going to be a great adventure and I can't wait for it to start.  Until my next post, Namaste.