September 6, 2014

I’m done with my language exam! At this point it doesn’t matter how I did because it is done and I don’t have to stress about it anymore (until the next one in week nine). I was somewhat able to hold my own until the very end. I was answering questions about what my friends and family do, both in Botswana and the United States. I talked about my education and work experience. The last part of the exam I had to read a situation from a notecard and act it out in Setswana. I’m horrible, awkward, and uncomfortable in role playing situations, so I immediately got nervous and stumbled over my words when I just needed to repeat a good deal of what was previously said. It’s done and that’s what matters.

I sat in the hallway after the exam and soaked up the internet as much as possible. While sitting in the hallway, Znela showed us a message from her previous boyfriend whom she broke up with when deciding to join the Peace Corps. The message read, “I still miss you.” Soon enough Znela is crying and then Maureen is crying and then I’m crying. We all have significant others and I think the tears were a combination of missing our partners and relief that the exam is over. We were a blubber mess and had to grou hug it out. There has been such a build up of stress and tension, so sometimes it is healthier to just let it out. We later went to get lunch and deemed days like today “two ice cream kind of days.”