PCV Status

Almost three years of waiting, I was finally sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer last Tuesday. As cheesey as it is, it really was a childhood dream come true. So far throughout the process, reality has far exceeded any expectations I had beforehand.  I had never really thought about the swearing process, but it was a formal ceremony at a U.S. diplomat’s house in Maputo across from the ocean. All of the Peace Corps staff, a few current volunteers and RPCVs, representatives from our organizations and some governmental officials were all in attendance. The ceremony was in the backyard around the pool. We were in our own little bubble surrounded by the bustling city of Maputo. The hum of a jackhammer from a neighboring concrete building made it difficult to hear the speakers but was also a reminder of the developing state of Mozambique. Our work lies outside the bubble in the communities we are moving to for the next two years.

 The ceremony started on time and was extremely brief by Mozambican standards—just under an hour. We were sworn in by the new U.S. Ambassador Douglas M. Griffiths. It was actually his first official duty in Mozambique because he was just sworn in himself a few days before. The ceremony had a rough start when we had to sing the national anthems of both Mozambique and America. We were told that we just had to start singing and everyone would follow along. False.  We were also told that we would be getting the words beforehand. Also false. Our first formal introduction to Mozambique was an embarrassing rendition of their anthem. We all knew the chorus, but the verses were less than spectacular. Not exactly culturally sensitive. When the representative from the Mozambican government spoke at the end of the ceremony, he remarked how hopefully in the next two years we can learn the lyrics. Eek. Not exactly the best first impression, but I guess our reputation can only better from here.

For future reference, here’s the lyrics:

Na memória de África e do Mundo

Pátria bela dos que ousaram lutar

Moçambique, o teu nome é liberdade

O Sol de Junho para sempre brilhará

Coro: (2x)

Moçambique nossa terra gloriosa

Pedra a pedra construindo um novo dia

Milhões de braços, uma só força

Oh pátria amada, vamos vencer

Povo unido do Rovuma ao Maputo

Colhe os frutos do combate pela paz

Cresce o sonho ondulando na bandeira

E vai lavrando na certeza do amanhã

Coro (2x)

Flores brotando do chão do teu suor

Pelos montes, pelos rios, pelo mar

Nós juramos por ti, oh Moçambique

Nenhum tirano nos irá escravizar

Coro (2x)

Linda, Dona Agueda, Adela and I at the Swearing In Ceremony. Dona Agueda was our homestay coordinator in Namaacha and helped us get all our capalana outfits made for the day!

Alden, Adela and I with the Peace Corps Mozambique Country Director Carl Swartz.

Kyle, Adela, Lauren, Alden and me. PCV Status!!

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