PCT to PCV-The incredible nauseating journey

I am officially a Peace Corps Volunteer!!

Yesterday we all got up early in our swear in outfits and went to the ambassador's house for the ceremony. We had a police escort, which means for two buses and two land rovers we had one police on a motor cycle. Let me tell you Dakar Traffic leaves something to be desired. To survive on these roads you must be an aggressive driver, which luckily all of our amazing drivers for PC have this quality. However if possible I was more sick than I have ever been because we kept cutting in and out of traffic and the bus kept going from zero to thirty to zero in the span of twenty feet. The window had to be open partially for air circulation since the bus had no air conditioning and second, I didn't know if I would be able to open it fast enough if my stomach decided to practice its up chuck reflex.
We arrived and went in, btw the house is gorgeous, and sat down. The ceremony started late but proceeded without any hitch, except I almost biffed it in when I went up to get my laminated card and notice of service in front of the national TV cameras. Woops. My shoes had no traction.
When we were called to stand and take our oath, this amazing feeling came over me. That this was real, that I had made it, and I was about to serve my country in the pursuit of peace. It was to say the least an emtional and empowering moment.
Afterwords we had mini quiches, bread and cheese, mini hamburgers (yummy!) and brownies. The woman carrying the tray out the food table almost alawys never made it to the table with food on the plate. The ambassador said she thinks the cooks love cooking for PCVs and we said they will never find a more grateful group.
Returning to the center we ready for our host families to arrive for the party. Since our families weren't based in Thies we could only have one member come and so my host mother came. I would have loved it if my entire family came but still it was a fun filled night followed by dancing in the lunch hut.
Tomorrow the Kolda group goes down to Kolda and Emily and I will be installed on the 11th, meaning we will individually be taken to our sites, introduced to our families, the gendarme, and dropped off with our stuff. On a super note we got our passports back which in theory should make it easier to cross the borders but most likely nothing will change and I will be short a few dollars by the time I get on the other side.
I have no doubt my only thoughts at some point will be don't leave me and what have I gotten myself into (I actually had this thought when I was first dropped off at the original homestay so I'm ready for it this time.)

I want to thank everyone at home for the support I've gotten. The letters, packages, emails, and phone calls helped me get through the tough spots and made me more determined to not give up. Hopefully I will have reseau in my village so I can still call people and as soon as I have an address I will post it.
Congratulations to Barack Obama on a well run campaign and my best wishes for a bright and successful presidency. Congratulations top everyone at home for surviving another presidential elections!
Love always!