Swearing In!!!!

We sworn in on Thursday, April 16th. It was amazing! All of our host families from our two host villages came. They were all standing outside waiting for us as we pulled up. Our host Mama's made us a mama's dress that matched. I actually got two different dresses. The brown and pink one matched everyone. Then the group that was up in Mere (you remember the mountain I had to climb) we got another dress that is yellow and green. So we made a costume change like five or six times in the matter of three hours. It was great. The ceremony was wonderful. We had a few guest speakers. Then, we said the Peace Corps Oath! Finally, they called us up one by one for our certificate. I am officially a PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER!!!!

Reading the Oath

The Malakula Crew!!!

We did it!!!

My girl from the very beginning! 

My Twin!! She is from G24 and will be leaving soon.

These past three months have been amazing and hard. I sometimes cannot believe that I am actually doing this. I have already learned so much about myself and can't imagine what else I will learn. I am excited to see what the future holds. Right now I am so excited to go to my island and get started. My new island is called Uripiv. It is off of one of the bigger islands named Malakula. My island is very small and I will be the first education volunteer. They have done a lot in the last two weeks to get it ready for me. The people on my island are really excited that they are getting a volunteer. I have seen pictures but do not have any to upload. I will post some when I get internet the next time. My island does not have electricity, so I will not be able to access the internet unless I go to the capital. I plan to go to the capital about once a month.

Well that is all for now. I will not be posting for a while because I will not have internet. My address has changed. So if you would like to send me a letter please send it to:
Shannon Tomlinson 
Peace Corps Volunteer
Urpiv School 
P.O. Box 11
Lakatoro Post Office
North Malekula
Republic of Vanuatu

I would love letters!!!!!!

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts and prayers. I miss you all dearly.