one oath later...

last Friday, August 5 2011, the newest Malian stage officially swore in as Peace Corps Volunteers...that's right WE DID IT!

due to Embassy regulations, we weren't allowed to take pictures during the ceremony or at the Embassy itself (though I am hoping to get my hands on some copies eventually). as plan B, we took a bunch of photos at the American Club, where stage 1 of the party took place. 

We are all still dressed in our Malian outfits. It's a tradition here to get swore in wearing the tradition formal dress of Mali. We were a big hit all dolled up and it was great and inspiring to have such love and hope from the Embassy, Peace Corps, and all the staff we got the pleasure to work with on a daily basis. 

on to the people!

the ladies of BCamp all dressed up. Brooke, me, Taz, Jamie, Amy

BCamp Bambara Class, or E and the Ladies. Whichever. Brooke, me, E, Amy, Jamie

what i think is just a really cool picture of Lucas

Marcy and me! with Pam posing in the background

the twins! ok, so they are not really twins, but people in BCamp always got Amy and Taz confused. We think it was a blond hair thing

ok, so i love these girls, but hate this picture of me! what horrible posture! but anywho, the ladies of H2! we made it! me, Taz, and Jamie

besties. E and Metting. they just ooze street cool, don't you think?

just like at prom, i kicked off the shoes early, so you can even see my chaco tan if you look close enough. just had to include a picture of the whole outfit, and this one is a bonus because it's me and amy. love.that.girl.

the boys of BCamp. looking quite dashing. sean, metting, manny

me and taz!

ok, so in mali no one smiles in pictures. so this is the boys taking on that tradition. or trying.
(e, lucas,sean, zach, metting, lyle, monte, vince, mccoy, pat)

HAHAHAHA
Ashton and Sean
Ashton: "Sean we NEED to have a Kentucky picture."
Sean: "Ok"
Ashton: "But we are going to spell KY, so you stand there and I stand here. Ready?"
and this is what resulted.

bad picture. so sorry, but here are some of the stage ladies.
(brooke, ashton, taz, me, maria, amy, marcy, jamie)

it's like a boy band only better because they are so serious and in malian outfits.
(zach, vince, metting, lyle, monte)

i think we all have futures in the modeling industry, right? we had a lot of fun, and the stress of the last weeks was melting away, we had just enough time to relish in the joy before the anxiety of site hit. And so, in blissful ignorance, we soaked it all in.