It is official

Yesterday, Friday, September 12, 2008 we offically became Peace Corps Volunteers. We were sworn-in at the US Embasay with 71 other Peace Corps Trainees. We had to take the same oath that members of the military and congress take. It was quite cool!

Ashley and I with our language instructors at the swear-in ceremony
On the grounds of the US Embassy (possibly the nicest building in all of Mali)


Ashley looking Malian

After the ceremony all "us" new volunteers headed to the American Club (a walled oasis) in Bamako to swim, play sand volleyball, BBQ (hotdogs and hamburgers) and hang out with this giant turtle.

Tomorrow, we are headed off to our regoinal capitol, where we will sit tight for a few days until a Peace Corps vehicle comes to pick us up and then they will bring us to our new home. It's go time, 24 months and counting!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fun New Facts from AFRICA-LAND:

-Joe and I both passed our French Language exams!!!!!!!

-We have 3 days left of training at Tubaniso.

-Tubaniso means Dove House in the native tongue of Mali, it is also the name of our training center.

-We look sweet in our new African Garb-pics to come....

-Our official swear-in ceremony is on Friday at the US Embassy-go us!

-I am better than any of you at doing laundry by hand-and enjoy it- it is kind of relaxing.

-We start our lessons in "Donoso" tonight, the African dialect spoken at our village where we will live.

-We have awesome family members who have sent us incredible packages. (Thanks to all of you-Moms, Dads, Grandma, Jessica), I think that we have gotten the most packages out of all then new volunteers----GO FAMILY!

- Joe has consumed more candy in the last two days than he has in the two months that we have been here, due to the amount of packages we have received.

-We were able to watch the new Batman Movie-The Dark Night.

-I had my first Snickers candy bar today since being in Africa-it was pricey but worth it!

-We have a NEW postal address, it is for our new house, we have posted it above.

-Joe has read way too many books since being here-take note, he is posting them on the side of the blog.


Keep checkin' our blog and we promise to keep updating it. We love you all and miss you. Keep us updated with you also by emailing us, we love emails!!!! Let's just be honest, we love any connection we can have to America!

Our New Niece

We want to welcome Anna Faith Behnke into the world.

She was born on Aug. 30th 2008 at 1:45 in the afternoon.

Pictology of Mali