In Philly!

Well, I made it to Philly! I'm in the hotel room right now, and they have nice computers in all the rooms with free internet. I actually didn't know until today, although I arrived yesterday. But yeah, I arrived yesterday at about 4:30 and met two other PCV's at the airport. Granted, I never met anyone in person before...but it was actually incredibly easy to spot a PeaceCorps Volunteer. Just look for the over-stuffed travel backpack and hiking sandals of some sort - keen's, teva's, chaco's, etc...One of the volunteers actually spotted me first right after I claimed my baggage, she comes up to me and asks "PeaceCorps?" Yes, it's that obvious. Then another girl spotted the both of us and came up and asked "PeaceCorps?"

All in all about 9 of us arrived (that we know about) last night and 7 of us went out and explored Philadelphia for a bit. Unfortunately by the time we took the subway to the historic downtown district everything was closed and I forgot my camera anyways - sorry Dad, didn't see the Liberty Bell or Decleration of Indipendence...but did see Liberty Hall from the outside. But we wandered the streets of Philadelphia for an hour or two until we decided to grab some food. I was surprised how small the streets here are though. Barely enough for two cars to get by. After I had my chinese food dinner we got back on the Subway and headed back to the hotel, but as we were walking we saw a Bar right across the street from our place and a few of us decided to go there for a cold beer. It's really nice just to sit back with other future PCV's and express our feelings/concerns/etc... We all talk about what we're anxious for and not looking forward to. Everyone is awesome though to say the least. All excited and looking forward to most of it.

Today we're checking in at 1:00 then will be busy doing some orientation until 7 then I'm sure another group of us will go off and find a bar or restaurant. Oh! The best part about this hotel though is that their is a starbucks about a one minute walk away! So I woke up at around 7:30 this morning with my hotel roomate and we both went there and sat down and enjoyed a bagel and coffee. I will try to update this blog one last time before I leave - depending on how much free time I have...but who knows when I will be able to update it again once I leave for Africa at 6:30 on Thursday. We'll see! Au Revoir!