To your comment Brian, I am definitely bringing the dowry back to America and I am worth at least 20 cows. Not the skinny ones either, they have to be nice and plump! Don’t worry though, no Ugandan man has won my heart over. The Ugandans find it really weird that we can go to the store and buy pre-plucked and cut chicken, so I think it would definitely be a rip off if the gift was already cut up! It is much more valuable for them to have a live chicken running around and when they decide they want chicken for dinner, they slaughter. Take my homestay family for instance, we have two chickens, one turkey, two dogs, and a cat. These are our ‘pets’, if you can even call them that. The pets here are nothing like in the US. They all have a purpose. The chickens and turkey are for eventually eating, the dogs are let out of their cages at night and are for protection and the cat is to kill rats and insects. Yeah, its strange....I really miss Madison :(
Some really exciting news is that I found out my future site and met my supervisor yesterday! Things are really coming together and a lot of my questions are being answered. It’s a non governmental organization (NGO) and called ‘Foundation for Needy Communities’. The town office is located in Mbale town, which is the largest city in the east. My supervisor is a young woman, and I haven’t met my counterpart yet, but he is a community health worker there who I will be working close with. It’s an US/UK funded organization that primarily works with women and children. The executive director is an American from San Francisco, which is really crazy. They have two schools, one is a vocational school with about 50 students ranging from 13-25 years old and they teach carpentry, tailoring, agriculture, computers and brick laying. The other school is just up and running and it’s a special needs school. Right now they only have 15 students and the disabilities vary. There are students with physical and developmental disabilities. Another part of the NGO is going out into the community and educating mostly women and children about different health issues like Malaria, HIV/AIDS, hygiene/sanitation, nutrition and others. I’m really excited to work with this NGO and apparently they are used to working with Americans because they get many volunteers from American. I guess 20 volunteers from Colorado just left. Next week I am going to Mbale to visit it. I will be there for 5 days and get to see where I will be living, the NGO/schools, and Easter Uganda, which I haven’t been to yet.
Last Saturday we went on a field trip to Jinja, another large touristy city in Uganda. Thus far, I have only been to Luweero and Kampala. Going to Jinja was AMAZING! We had such a fun time. We saw the source of the Nile at Lake Victoria, some forest that I’m not sure of the name and then a really cool waterfall called Ssezibwa falls. It was really beautiful and made me really excited to see the eastern part of the country because it is very mountainous and I heard very beautiful as well. Another wonderful part of Jinja was lunch. A bunch of us found this Mexican restaurant and ate there. I had quesadillas with a margarita!! A frozen drink in Uganda!?! So crazy! But it was awesome and such a nice break to relax!
Oh and I have a really funny story about my homestay mother. So I have a 9 month old little brother and there is a ‘walker’ for him that my mom puts him in but up until the other day she has always referred to it as ‘prison’ because when she put him in it he couldn’t go anywhere. Well, recently he is getting bigger and his feet are touching the floor. He started walking and moving the other day and I seriously saw the light bulb go off in her head and she said “OH MY GOD!! HE’S WALKING!! IS THAT WHY YOU CALL IT A WALKER??” haha, it was really funny to see the connection from ‘prison’ to ‘walker’. Anyways, I hope all is well and wish me luck in Mbale and on my future site visit next week!! =)
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Thursday, September 13, 2007
Halfway through Training!
September 9th marked one month in Uganda for me and my other trainees. Things are going really well and the past two weeks have been very eventful. Overall, I am becoming much more confortable being here and actually doing things on my own instead of feeling helpless and like a child. I am a lot more independent at home and I feel like part of the family. I am really enjoying my home stay family.
On Wednesday (September 4th I think) we went to Kampala to see different income generating activities in the bigger city, and it was a great experience. We went to an organization called ‘Reach Out’ which is a non governmental organization (NGO) that trains women who are HIV positive to make beads and generate an income for them and their families. We ate at an Indian restaurant and everything was great until the ride home. Our bus, which was driven by a Peace Corps employee was hit. It was not our fault at all, and what happened was that a big trailer wanted to pass us, but when he tried, realized another large trailer was oncoming. So he didn’t make it and hit the side/back of our bus which pushed us off the side of the road and into a tree. Meanwhile, the two trailer hit headon. Everyone on our bus is okay, just some minor cuts and emotional trauma. I was sitting in the middle of the bus right by the door so I had bars in front of me, instead of a seat. My knees hit the bar and my neck/shoulders were sore for a couple days from whip lash, but overall, we were really lucky and our driver did a great job keeping the vehicle under control. It definitely could have been a lot worse. It was really strange to be part of it and felt surreal (almost like this whole experience so far!) but our training group and trainers all came together and were supportive of one another. I really felt close to them and that experience brought us even closer. The Peace Corps Safety and Security Regional Officer of Eastern Africa happened to be in Kampala that day and came to speak with us about the accident and how it could impact our individual feelings about Peace Corps. I feel lucky/blessed that everyone was alright, and I know accidents happen but I cant live my life in fear or quit Peace Corps because this happened to us. I'm just looking at it as another obstacle in training that I overcame and we are a stronger group because of it!
The weather here in Uganda is actually pretty nice. It hasn’t been too hot, although there has been a few hot days, and technically it's not the rainy season, but it rains an awful lot. At least once a day, but only for a little while then it will be nice again.
So the electricity in Uganda is not consistent at all, and when we do have electricity my host family is sitting in front of the tv. We watch Big Brother Africa (which is very strange!), and they love their Nigerian Films, which is basically a really, really bad soap opera. They love it! Last night I was talking to my host mother and her friend about America and the difference in culture. They were asking me tons of questions including if we pay the wifes family a dowry when a couple gets married, and who does the chores around the house, and how the women get away with wearing pants all the time. Its so interesting to see their faces when I tell them that men actually do chores, and cook, and that the husband does not pay the wifes family in cows when she wants to get married. The two cultures are very different but I think I am fitting in well and trying to explain America as best as I can, although it does make me a little sad to think about....i miss it!!
Things are going well in training, we are in week 5 (almost the end) which is the half way point. Really crazy to think about. Tomorrow the APCD (Assistant Peace Corps Director) is coming to talk to us and give us our future site placements. So tomorrow I will actually know what my host organization will be! Im really excited to find that out and I think it will make it all real...maybe.
On Wednesday (September 4th I think) we went to Kampala to see different income generating activities in the bigger city, and it was a great experience. We went to an organization called ‘Reach Out’ which is a non governmental organization (NGO) that trains women who are HIV positive to make beads and generate an income for them and their families. We ate at an Indian restaurant and everything was great until the ride home. Our bus, which was driven by a Peace Corps employee was hit. It was not our fault at all, and what happened was that a big trailer wanted to pass us, but when he tried, realized another large trailer was oncoming. So he didn’t make it and hit the side/back of our bus which pushed us off the side of the road and into a tree. Meanwhile, the two trailer hit headon. Everyone on our bus is okay, just some minor cuts and emotional trauma. I was sitting in the middle of the bus right by the door so I had bars in front of me, instead of a seat. My knees hit the bar and my neck/shoulders were sore for a couple days from whip lash, but overall, we were really lucky and our driver did a great job keeping the vehicle under control. It definitely could have been a lot worse. It was really strange to be part of it and felt surreal (almost like this whole experience so far!) but our training group and trainers all came together and were supportive of one another. I really felt close to them and that experience brought us even closer. The Peace Corps Safety and Security Regional Officer of Eastern Africa happened to be in Kampala that day and came to speak with us about the accident and how it could impact our individual feelings about Peace Corps. I feel lucky/blessed that everyone was alright, and I know accidents happen but I cant live my life in fear or quit Peace Corps because this happened to us. I'm just looking at it as another obstacle in training that I overcame and we are a stronger group because of it!
The weather here in Uganda is actually pretty nice. It hasn’t been too hot, although there has been a few hot days, and technically it's not the rainy season, but it rains an awful lot. At least once a day, but only for a little while then it will be nice again.
So the electricity in Uganda is not consistent at all, and when we do have electricity my host family is sitting in front of the tv. We watch Big Brother Africa (which is very strange!), and they love their Nigerian Films, which is basically a really, really bad soap opera. They love it! Last night I was talking to my host mother and her friend about America and the difference in culture. They were asking me tons of questions including if we pay the wifes family a dowry when a couple gets married, and who does the chores around the house, and how the women get away with wearing pants all the time. Its so interesting to see their faces when I tell them that men actually do chores, and cook, and that the husband does not pay the wifes family in cows when she wants to get married. The two cultures are very different but I think I am fitting in well and trying to explain America as best as I can, although it does make me a little sad to think about....i miss it!!
Things are going well in training, we are in week 5 (almost the end) which is the half way point. Really crazy to think about. Tomorrow the APCD (Assistant Peace Corps Director) is coming to talk to us and give us our future site placements. So tomorrow I will actually know what my host organization will be! Im really excited to find that out and I think it will make it all real...maybe.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Training Continues...
First of all, thank you all so much for all the messages! They are so encouraging and definitely great to hear!
Training last week went well, Wednesday and Thursday we were in Kampala to listen to speakers from 'The Hunger Project', which is an international organization started in New York in 1977 and began in Uganda in 1999. It has been doing some really great things here in Uganda like community gardens, womens groups selling baskets, mats and fabrics for side income generating projects. It gave me some good ideas for things that I could help out with and how to go about secondary projects when I get to my site.
Friday we had an assessment, and I actually thought language was part of it, but thankfully it was not and we only discussed any concerns I had about training. So far, I have been impressed with the Pre-Service Training (PST). I love all of our trainers and the only concern I had was with myself and learning the language in the short amount of time that we have. My language teacher Rachel was very supportive and encouraging to me and told me that I am doing well, I just need to be more confident when I speak.
On Saturday, we had a cooking session with our language groups. Rachel taught us how to cook some Ugandan dishes and we taught her some American ones (or Mexican!) . It was such a relaxing day and so yummy! She taught us how to make matooke and bamboo shoots...very interesting but not something I plan on making when I am at my site. We made chicken/cheese quesadillas and killed the chicken ourselves!! (holy cow) Only once I got over the killing of the chicken could I actually enjoy my quesadilla and it was delicious! It reminded me of Momma's! We also made banana bread for her too. Its really strange how there is such an abundance of bananas here but Rachel had never heard of it. We made the bread like a cake in a dutch oven and she loved it, she plans on making it for her four boys!
There are lots of very delicious/interesting fruits here too. Right now pineapples are in season and fresh cut pineapple is sooo good! They also have passion fruit, which you cut open and scoop out the insides. Some people eat the seeds but most people make it into a juice. It is also very tasty! Jackfruit is another fruit that I tried the other day for the first time. Im not really a fan. The texture is oyster-like and it is very sticky. It wasnt awful, but not that great either...at least I tried it!
So besides training and being busy with my homestay family, I do have somewhat of a life with my fellow trainees. We started a 'journal club' and meet once a week at the local bar. Its a great time! We all hung out on friday night and drank a beverage of choice. Let me just say that they dont have a very good variety of beer, but its beer. Its a time where we can relax away from training and take a break from it. We need that at least once a week!! (And the name of one of the beer is called "Nile Special"... funny name!)
I just made the connection the other day that it is September, and for the first time in my life that I can remember, I am not going to classes. Its really weird, and I am almost jealous of you guys that are. I hope you all are enjoying your last few days before classes start and things are well with everyone!! I miss you!
Training last week went well, Wednesday and Thursday we were in Kampala to listen to speakers from 'The Hunger Project', which is an international organization started in New York in 1977 and began in Uganda in 1999. It has been doing some really great things here in Uganda like community gardens, womens groups selling baskets, mats and fabrics for side income generating projects. It gave me some good ideas for things that I could help out with and how to go about secondary projects when I get to my site.
Friday we had an assessment, and I actually thought language was part of it, but thankfully it was not and we only discussed any concerns I had about training. So far, I have been impressed with the Pre-Service Training (PST). I love all of our trainers and the only concern I had was with myself and learning the language in the short amount of time that we have. My language teacher Rachel was very supportive and encouraging to me and told me that I am doing well, I just need to be more confident when I speak.
On Saturday, we had a cooking session with our language groups. Rachel taught us how to cook some Ugandan dishes and we taught her some American ones (or Mexican!) . It was such a relaxing day and so yummy! She taught us how to make matooke and bamboo shoots...very interesting but not something I plan on making when I am at my site. We made chicken/cheese quesadillas and killed the chicken ourselves!! (holy cow) Only once I got over the killing of the chicken could I actually enjoy my quesadilla and it was delicious! It reminded me of Momma's! We also made banana bread for her too. Its really strange how there is such an abundance of bananas here but Rachel had never heard of it. We made the bread like a cake in a dutch oven and she loved it, she plans on making it for her four boys!
There are lots of very delicious/interesting fruits here too. Right now pineapples are in season and fresh cut pineapple is sooo good! They also have passion fruit, which you cut open and scoop out the insides. Some people eat the seeds but most people make it into a juice. It is also very tasty! Jackfruit is another fruit that I tried the other day for the first time. Im not really a fan. The texture is oyster-like and it is very sticky. It wasnt awful, but not that great either...at least I tried it!
So besides training and being busy with my homestay family, I do have somewhat of a life with my fellow trainees. We started a 'journal club' and meet once a week at the local bar. Its a great time! We all hung out on friday night and drank a beverage of choice. Let me just say that they dont have a very good variety of beer, but its beer. Its a time where we can relax away from training and take a break from it. We need that at least once a week!! (And the name of one of the beer is called "Nile Special"... funny name!)
I just made the connection the other day that it is September, and for the first time in my life that I can remember, I am not going to classes. Its really weird, and I am almost jealous of you guys that are. I hope you all are enjoying your last few days before classes start and things are well with everyone!! I miss you!
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