Hi everyone,
Just a few updates…
Update 1:
I am still staying with Tusu and his family and it is very lovely, but as of Saturday I will be staying in my new flat (a.k.a. apartment). It is very open and comfortable. It has two small bedrooms, one of which I will use as an office/closet/storage/research room! There is a big living room, a kitchen with a nice size walk in pantry and of course a bathroom. NOW…I am very appreciative of my scholarship; however, those of us who chose developing countries to study in are faced with a bit of a disadvantage. My apartment comes with absolutely nothing. I have to buy a small fridge, things to cook with (but because electricity is expensive, I should stick with a small toaster over or cook with gas), a hot water heater (that special little chestnut that heats the water as it comes out of the tap-and please do not think because I am in Africa it is HOT…NO…it is not hot. It is warm during the day, from 11-4, and then it gets cool again. At night, when I go to bed, I sleep with a comforter! Then I have to buy a bed, a mattress, sheets, utensils, a desk, light bulbs, curtains, (so every little child in the area who sees that there is a Muzungu living in the area is not watching me sleep and study). Just a lot of things to purchase, it is costly and time consuming.
Anyway, my apartment is on the second floor and I have a nice view out of the front door. I guess we could call it an open-air apartment, because at home when you walk out of the apartment you would be in the hallway. Here when I open my front door I am outside on a balcony of sorts. (I will take pictures later when I actually have furniture). AND, the outside is painted a bright orange color! It is actually brand new and has just been built. It is located near a tourist site, Kasubi Tombs; it is the burial site of the ancient kings. The area seems quiet and hopefully I won’t be woken at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 am by the neighbor’s lovely roosters!
Update 2:
I have the joy of announcing that I have received my first African hospital visit-including blood test. WOW…I’ve only been here 2 weeks! I will let you know my predicament…when you visit someone’s home they will cook for you. It is very generous and kind, but not everyone realizes that my little system is not used to everything here YET. Water has to be boiled and food has to be carefully prepared…at least for a little while, so I can adapt. Anyway, I went to the countryside to view a potential Rotary project and afterwards we go to a local families home where they have prepared a feast for us. I ask myself…SHOULD I BE RUDE AND NOT ACCEPT THE FOOD…FOREVER BEING THE RUDE CANADIAN THAT WOULDN’T ACCEPT THE ACT OF KINDNESS OR DO I GRACIOUSLY ACCEPT, ENJOY, AND RISK GETTING VERY ILL FOR –I ESTIMATE A GOOD 5-7 DAYS???
Well as an ambassador of goodwill and just plain “JENNY” style…I accepted-gratefully. It is now Thursday and I am still hurting…the doctor ruled out Malaria and Typhoid and told me it was a simple bacterial infection, gave me 4 kinds of medicine, and sent me on my way! I love it!! Love it…
Update 3:
Classes have begun! I guess I have been spoiled by western ways because in Canada and the U.S.A. when one is in a classroom there is silence…presumably, so the students can focus and I guess HEAR THE TEACHER!
Here in Uganda you see, it’s a TAD different…the teacher has to compete with roosters, car alarms, torrential downpours, car horns, taxi horns, motorcycles, screaming students, birds, birds, birds, and how about a few more birds.
Lets turn this into a math equation…
NOISE X 50 (sources) + Ugandan accent = Muzungu without a CLUE
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
I have WIRELESS @ school!
If anyone wants to chat online we can do so from 10 am to 2pm your time... that is 5-9 my time...On M-Tues-Wed and Fridays.
Friday, August 24, 2007
FINALLY! I can upload pictures!
Hello:) I found out that the size of the pictures are too large..I will shrink up many pictures this weekend and show you more.
MISS YOU ALL VERY MUCH:'(
There is a first for everything!
I have never seen it with my eyes, nor have I ever heard of it, but I have found culture that refrains from polluting its lungs with cancer causing tars! Ugandans do not smoke! I have not seen one cigarette butt on the ground, an ashtray, cigarette vendors, or one single Ugandan smoking. I have seen TWO individuals puffing, but guess what? THEY were MUZUNGU’S! (Foreign).
I actually talked to Tusu about it this evening and he told me that it is now illegial to smoke in public places. He said years ago it was more common for people to smoke, but it has faded out. I am not one that enjoys going to bars, but apparently it is more common to see people smoking at night.
No Smokey smell, no disgusting cigarette pollution, no hacking, no coughing when walking through a crowd…hummm could I get used to this?
Could North American learn a thing or two from Uganda?
I actually talked to Tusu about it this evening and he told me that it is now illegial to smoke in public places. He said years ago it was more common for people to smoke, but it has faded out. I am not one that enjoys going to bars, but apparently it is more common to see people smoking at night.
No Smokey smell, no disgusting cigarette pollution, no hacking, no coughing when walking through a crowd…hummm could I get used to this?
Could North American learn a thing or two from Uganda?
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Uganda and Marriage!
In the morning when I leave Tusu’s home I take a short cut to the main road. Along this short cut I seem to have acquired a group of, perhaps I could call them followers! These little children range from the ages of 3 to 10. They have huge smiles on there face and loud, carrying little voices. They scream “Hello! Muzungu! How are you? Where are you going? See you, Muzungu!” Now, heaven forbid I forget to say hi to one of them or not see another off in the distance, they say hello over and over again!
This morning, someone even asked me “Hello Muzungu, where is your mother?”
I have begun to notice some similarities among Ugandan life and married life! (I think my Ugandan friends will find this comical!)
Life in Uganda, so far, seems quite relaxed…things happen on African time. (As I mentioned earlier…that means tomorrow, the next day, something like that, maybe!)
As you all know by now, I have been anxiously awaiting to move into my Ugandan home…and I keep asking people if they know of any self contained flats, apartments or houses. Many people eagerly respond and tell me that they will call me tomorrow with news…I am still waiting...this is not only with the apartment hunting, its with school too…but I am completely fine with it because when I miss a “deadline” I am going to say oh, I promise, it will come tomorrow!!
NOW---how is this like marriage? Laundry, dishes, dinner, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, getting the mail, groceries, etc…The answer is the same “later”…but guess what? It never happens!!!!!
This morning, someone even asked me “Hello Muzungu, where is your mother?”
I have begun to notice some similarities among Ugandan life and married life! (I think my Ugandan friends will find this comical!)
Life in Uganda, so far, seems quite relaxed…things happen on African time. (As I mentioned earlier…that means tomorrow, the next day, something like that, maybe!)
As you all know by now, I have been anxiously awaiting to move into my Ugandan home…and I keep asking people if they know of any self contained flats, apartments or houses. Many people eagerly respond and tell me that they will call me tomorrow with news…I am still waiting...this is not only with the apartment hunting, its with school too…but I am completely fine with it because when I miss a “deadline” I am going to say oh, I promise, it will come tomorrow!!
NOW---how is this like marriage? Laundry, dishes, dinner, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, getting the mail, groceries, etc…The answer is the same “later”…but guess what? It never happens!!!!!
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Oh where oh where is my apartment?
I thought I would share a little about how fun things are here...
I went to see the head of my department the other day. I asked him when classes were starting and this is what he told me...
"Jenny, you are in Africa now, things happen slowly. There is not a rush to get things done. DON'T WORRY...CLASSES WILL START SOON...SOMETIME TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, OR SO...MAYBE"
Ok...that is fine...things happen slower:) I am still waiting to find out when the orientation is, where the classes are, when they begin, how is teaching them, what time they are...and the official day to start classes was yesterday. It's ok, I am waiting...
As for my apartment...I was so strong on stating that I want to live alone...and everywhere I go I see apartments that are $800-$1000 and I can't come to terms with that. Now, I am looking for a house...that has 2 rooms that I can share with Elle, the other Rotary Scholar...because houses are more common-and local Ugandas are paying around 150-200$ a month for them. BUT, if I show up...HAHAHA the price becomes 400-500-600-700$$$$ love it:)
Then there are the taxi's and boda-boda's (a motorcycle taxi) imagine traffic, bikes, people, chickens, cows, and whatever on the street going fast, slow, all over the place...then picture me sitting on the back of this motorcyle, whose driver could very well be an Olympian or F-1 driver, dodging in and out of the cars, trucks, chickens...it is a hair raising experience that is highly additive...although I am worried that my leg will get ripped off if he happened to get just a sliver closer to anything/one else...
The drivers try to make money out of the Muzungu's...(white tourists) so it should cost about 1,500 (90cents u.s) BUT when I try to get on them they tell me its 5,000 (3.00) OK so I admit its not going to make me poor, but I get bothered by the fact that I am constantly expected to single handly raise the economy of Uganda...Atleast hey try...I just laugh and shake my head...I wont even bargin...I just move on to the next one. Now, I always go to the same spot to get on the boda boda and one of the men is very nice...he takes me where I want to go and doesn't seem to be ripping me off! so I give him tips:)
I am just so anxious to get into my new home...I want to be able to go shopping and buy some little decorations and make my place my own. I have seen these woven carpets that are so beautiful, these wooden masks, wall hangings ...etc... Then I get to go food shopping and find new fun vegetables and fruits to experiment with. I heard that they even have the food network here...wow that would be so much fun:) I cant wait to be baking and trying new concoctions!
Oh...so I was asking how much it costs for food....beef is $2.00 a KILO
3 Mango's cost 1000 shillings (60cents)
Bananas -the short sweet ones for a huge bunch with like 20 of them costs about 75 cents.
What is really nice is that here (unlike China) it is very easy to buy flour, baking soda, baking powder...so i can make cakes and muffins and breads....
ummmmmmmmmmmmm...now I am hungry.
Is anyone coming to visit me, so I can cook for them?
Till next time,
P.S. I will upload pictures as soon as I can get my apartment and use my laptop. I can't upload from here. So, because I am in Africa that might be...sometime soon, next week or something...maybe.HAHA
I went to see the head of my department the other day. I asked him when classes were starting and this is what he told me...
"Jenny, you are in Africa now, things happen slowly. There is not a rush to get things done. DON'T WORRY...CLASSES WILL START SOON...SOMETIME TOMORROW, NEXT WEEK, OR SO...MAYBE"
Ok...that is fine...things happen slower:) I am still waiting to find out when the orientation is, where the classes are, when they begin, how is teaching them, what time they are...and the official day to start classes was yesterday. It's ok, I am waiting...
As for my apartment...I was so strong on stating that I want to live alone...and everywhere I go I see apartments that are $800-$1000 and I can't come to terms with that. Now, I am looking for a house...that has 2 rooms that I can share with Elle, the other Rotary Scholar...because houses are more common-and local Ugandas are paying around 150-200$ a month for them. BUT, if I show up...HAHAHA the price becomes 400-500-600-700$$$$ love it:)
Then there are the taxi's and boda-boda's (a motorcycle taxi) imagine traffic, bikes, people, chickens, cows, and whatever on the street going fast, slow, all over the place...then picture me sitting on the back of this motorcyle, whose driver could very well be an Olympian or F-1 driver, dodging in and out of the cars, trucks, chickens...it is a hair raising experience that is highly additive...although I am worried that my leg will get ripped off if he happened to get just a sliver closer to anything/one else...
The drivers try to make money out of the Muzungu's...(white tourists) so it should cost about 1,500 (90cents u.s) BUT when I try to get on them they tell me its 5,000 (3.00) OK so I admit its not going to make me poor, but I get bothered by the fact that I am constantly expected to single handly raise the economy of Uganda...Atleast hey try...I just laugh and shake my head...I wont even bargin...I just move on to the next one. Now, I always go to the same spot to get on the boda boda and one of the men is very nice...he takes me where I want to go and doesn't seem to be ripping me off! so I give him tips:)
I am just so anxious to get into my new home...I want to be able to go shopping and buy some little decorations and make my place my own. I have seen these woven carpets that are so beautiful, these wooden masks, wall hangings ...etc... Then I get to go food shopping and find new fun vegetables and fruits to experiment with. I heard that they even have the food network here...wow that would be so much fun:) I cant wait to be baking and trying new concoctions!
Oh...so I was asking how much it costs for food....beef is $2.00 a KILO
3 Mango's cost 1000 shillings (60cents)
Bananas -the short sweet ones for a huge bunch with like 20 of them costs about 75 cents.
What is really nice is that here (unlike China) it is very easy to buy flour, baking soda, baking powder...so i can make cakes and muffins and breads....
ummmmmmmmmmmmm...now I am hungry.
Is anyone coming to visit me, so I can cook for them?
Till next time,
P.S. I will upload pictures as soon as I can get my apartment and use my laptop. I can't upload from here. So, because I am in Africa that might be...sometime soon, next week or something...maybe.HAHA
Friday, August 17, 2007
Food For Thought!
I think it is safe to say that the jet lag is just about over. It is a bit of a hard adjustment because this summer in Shilo it got dark at around 10:30 pm and the sun came up around 6:00. Here in Kampala, it gets dark around 6 p.m. and the sun is rising at around 6 am. I find myself going to sleep around 9pm and waking with the sun at 6am.
It is hard to write these blogs because there are so many things that are fun and interesting to write about, and well as you all know, I am a talker…so if I could I would tell you EVERYTHING!
I think, I will start with the basics…so PLEASE, if there is a “topic” that you would like me to inform you about don’t hesitate…(I am sure Dad and uncle Doug have great ideas!) Leslie…recipes to send you soon!
Tonight, I am going to tell you about FOOD!
Many differences here: (Based on what I have eaten so far!)
Breakfast (although I am not sure if typical because both Tusu and his wife Dorca work, so this might vary from family to family)
I have coffee, toast, and FRESH fruit. Just delicious! Mango, Pineapple, Bananas and Popo…that local for Papaya!
***Side note***---THERE ARE OVER 25 VARITIES OF BANANAS (well I think that should be a blog entry in itself!)
Lunch and Dinner are usual quite similar, but lunch is served at around 1pm and dinner is at 9pm…YES, that is NOT a typo. Here in Uganda, families eat dinner at 9pm and then go to bed!!!! My dreams have been wild.
Ugandans eat a lot of Matoke…Matoke is from the banana family. The fruit is taken from the peeling and placed in banana leaves, wrapped up tight, steamed for a while, then smashed and pressed while still in the leaves, and then steamed some more. Now, it is very delicious, but it takes some getting used to because it is very thick.
Then, there is either rice or potatoes (served in various forms mashed or “Irish”)
A dish that has a broth or juice such as baked beans or peas in a broth.
Then meat, so far I have had chicken stew, beef stew, and fried chicken (not battered). ***another side note*** the chicken meat is not purchased all cut up…you actually buy the whole chicken, naked or with feathers, and then the butcher/hacker just cuts up the entire bird…so you are left with pieces of the chicken that still have the bone attached…so nothing is really wasted.
They also have squash (yum), plantains (a sweet form of banana cut into chunks…cooked), Chapat (Sp??) formed like a pancake, without the rising…perhaps just flour and water than fried, cabbage cut thin, greens, sweet potatoes etc…
The broth of the stews, beans, peas etc… is used to pour over the Matoke, potatoes/rice to cut up the starchiness, used like we would a gravy at home.
The purple sauce I mentioned the other day are actually peanuts that are ground and smashed until they form a liquid. It is very good.
Delicious? Absolutely! Carb conscious? Absolutely not! This food is amazing and I have asked the lady who cooks dinner at Tusu’s home to teach me, so this weekend, I am going to take some cooking lessons from Mama Roca
I guarantee you would love Ugandan food (especially men)…it is very hearty and full of flavor.
Oh and drinks! Fresh juice…passion fruit, lime, lemon, orange…picked, squeezed, and served.
Have a great day and please leave me a comment as to what I should write next!
(Sorry..I have tried to 2 hours to uplaod pictures and it is not working...I will try again later)
It is hard to write these blogs because there are so many things that are fun and interesting to write about, and well as you all know, I am a talker…so if I could I would tell you EVERYTHING!
I think, I will start with the basics…so PLEASE, if there is a “topic” that you would like me to inform you about don’t hesitate…(I am sure Dad and uncle Doug have great ideas!) Leslie…recipes to send you soon!
Tonight, I am going to tell you about FOOD!
Many differences here: (Based on what I have eaten so far!)
Breakfast (although I am not sure if typical because both Tusu and his wife Dorca work, so this might vary from family to family)
I have coffee, toast, and FRESH fruit. Just delicious! Mango, Pineapple, Bananas and Popo…that local for Papaya!
***Side note***---THERE ARE OVER 25 VARITIES OF BANANAS (well I think that should be a blog entry in itself!)
Lunch and Dinner are usual quite similar, but lunch is served at around 1pm and dinner is at 9pm…YES, that is NOT a typo. Here in Uganda, families eat dinner at 9pm and then go to bed!!!! My dreams have been wild.
Ugandans eat a lot of Matoke…Matoke is from the banana family. The fruit is taken from the peeling and placed in banana leaves, wrapped up tight, steamed for a while, then smashed and pressed while still in the leaves, and then steamed some more. Now, it is very delicious, but it takes some getting used to because it is very thick.
Then, there is either rice or potatoes (served in various forms mashed or “Irish”)
A dish that has a broth or juice such as baked beans or peas in a broth.
Then meat, so far I have had chicken stew, beef stew, and fried chicken (not battered). ***another side note*** the chicken meat is not purchased all cut up…you actually buy the whole chicken, naked or with feathers, and then the butcher/hacker just cuts up the entire bird…so you are left with pieces of the chicken that still have the bone attached…so nothing is really wasted.
They also have squash (yum), plantains (a sweet form of banana cut into chunks…cooked), Chapat (Sp??) formed like a pancake, without the rising…perhaps just flour and water than fried, cabbage cut thin, greens, sweet potatoes etc…
The broth of the stews, beans, peas etc… is used to pour over the Matoke, potatoes/rice to cut up the starchiness, used like we would a gravy at home.
The purple sauce I mentioned the other day are actually peanuts that are ground and smashed until they form a liquid. It is very good.
Delicious? Absolutely! Carb conscious? Absolutely not! This food is amazing and I have asked the lady who cooks dinner at Tusu’s home to teach me, so this weekend, I am going to take some cooking lessons from Mama Roca
I guarantee you would love Ugandan food (especially men)…it is very hearty and full of flavor.
Oh and drinks! Fresh juice…passion fruit, lime, lemon, orange…picked, squeezed, and served.
Have a great day and please leave me a comment as to what I should write next!
(Sorry..I have tried to 2 hours to uplaod pictures and it is not working...I will try again later)
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Lovely, Lovely, Lovely!
This is going to be one amazing journey because I am in love with it already.
I went apartment hunting today, it was quite interesting and I want to share a little bit of the dialogue with you all.
After looking at one location I was taken to a group of flats that were furnished. I will admit they were very nice, but I still keep in my that I am in Africa…why should I be living in American/Canadian standards…so I go of the apartment and I say to the agent…
Me: This is a very nice flat; however, I am not able to afford 600 usd/month
Agent: Yes, but it is furnished with very nice furniture
Me: Oh, I agree! But I am not working here I am a student and I have to live on a budget, like students do.
Agent: You are a student? Where?
Me: Makerere University
Agent: It is great. I have a good place for you.
Me: Great, how much does it cost?
Agent: 8
Me: (still completely unaware of the exchange rate) 80, 000 shillings?
Agent: NO! 800 US Dollars…
Me: huh????? -------------------- (Picture me just standing there scratching my head)
As you can imagine…NO I didn’t find a place yet.
Maybe I am completely out of it, but I can’t imagine paying 800 bucks in Africa for rent…that’s like rent in American/Canadian cities.
I attended a Rotaract meeting today (Rotary for University students) and well that was quite comical for two reasons:
First one: Tusu, my host introduces me: This is Jenny Johnson Mathers-the new addition to my family, she is from Quebec, she is going to study Peace and Conflict at Makerere, and she just arrived here on Sunday night. Now…don’t get excited because she is a married woman! (See Josh, I think you will really like him!)
Second reason: The guest speaker was talking about how to get along with your boss…especially if they are sexually harassing you or not treating you correctly. I think the comedy came from his knowledge of women bosses who are TOO friendly with the male workers.
***This is good*** Tusu was informing me today of some upcoming events that he thinks I should participate in.
Rotary presidents meeting…the catch…it is in Nairobi, Kenya!!!
District Conference…the catch…Dar es Salaam, Tanzania… (on the beach I might add)
My reply “Tusu, I am not sure if I can handle all this travel!!!!!!!’
I went apartment hunting today, it was quite interesting and I want to share a little bit of the dialogue with you all.
After looking at one location I was taken to a group of flats that were furnished. I will admit they were very nice, but I still keep in my that I am in Africa…why should I be living in American/Canadian standards…so I go of the apartment and I say to the agent…
Me: This is a very nice flat; however, I am not able to afford 600 usd/month
Agent: Yes, but it is furnished with very nice furniture
Me: Oh, I agree! But I am not working here I am a student and I have to live on a budget, like students do.
Agent: You are a student? Where?
Me: Makerere University
Agent: It is great. I have a good place for you.
Me: Great, how much does it cost?
Agent: 8
Me: (still completely unaware of the exchange rate) 80, 000 shillings?
Agent: NO! 800 US Dollars…
Me: huh????? -------------------- (Picture me just standing there scratching my head)
As you can imagine…NO I didn’t find a place yet.
Maybe I am completely out of it, but I can’t imagine paying 800 bucks in Africa for rent…that’s like rent in American/Canadian cities.
I attended a Rotaract meeting today (Rotary for University students) and well that was quite comical for two reasons:
First one: Tusu, my host introduces me: This is Jenny Johnson Mathers-the new addition to my family, she is from Quebec, she is going to study Peace and Conflict at Makerere, and she just arrived here on Sunday night. Now…don’t get excited because she is a married woman! (See Josh, I think you will really like him!)
Second reason: The guest speaker was talking about how to get along with your boss…especially if they are sexually harassing you or not treating you correctly. I think the comedy came from his knowledge of women bosses who are TOO friendly with the male workers.
***This is good*** Tusu was informing me today of some upcoming events that he thinks I should participate in.
Rotary presidents meeting…the catch…it is in Nairobi, Kenya!!!
District Conference…the catch…Dar es Salaam, Tanzania… (on the beach I might add)
My reply “Tusu, I am not sure if I can handle all this travel!!!!!!!’
Tuesday, August 14, 2007
HERE I AM!
Sorry for the length of the first Ugandan posting.
I arrived last night after 4 flights to find that they lost one of my bags…the one with all my clothes! Luckily, Josh gave me one of his shirts (and that came on my carry on baggage for safe keeping!), so I have something to wear to bed atleast.
I am staying with my host Rotarian, Tusu and his wonderful family. I am already know as their new daughter! The ride to his home was rather bumpy, to say the least, but once we entered the gate to his home it was lovely. We had “dinner” at 1:30 in the morning and it was very interesting and new, but rather tasty! We had matoke (mashed bananas/plantains) with a purple colored sauce made of peanuts, beef stew, and a leafy vegetable. It was good, although I had sort of a dinner malfunction…due to the fact that I had just be flying and en route for 28 hours and NOT slept my emotions were a little touchy, so every time I would swallow my eyes would fill up with water. Unfortunately, after about 8 bites the tears were streaming down
After a much needed sleep…I was ready to explore.
On the way to see Tusu at the university I was able to witness the wonderfully chaotic street life! It’s absolutely amazing and the vendors at the roadside markets reminded me why I love the developing world so much. Huge piles of pineapples and bananas just covered their tables. A whole year of amazing fresh fresh FRESH food! I was telling the driver that I loved to cook and he was amazed…he asked me “cook what prepared boxed food!”
I got a SIM card, so my cell phone works…email me if you want my number…text messaging is very cheap compared to calling…$1/per minute…have to stick to skype!
I went to TWO rotary meetings today and learned that the 9 of the local clubs have organized four days of medical clinics for the people in the North of Uganda. Many of these people have been displaced by rebels and do not have proper housing, adequate amounts of food, and insufficient access medical personnel, so from Aug 27th to 31st, I will be in the North helping out with registration, meals, and/or anything they need me to do.
I am going apartment hunting tomorrow…then hopefully learn a little more about my program at school…and HOPEFULLY find out if the rumors that I have been hearing are true…by that I mean- Apparently, my first year of school is for class work and studying and my second year is to write my dissertation and do research. If that is true, I can do that ANYWHERE
AND…GETTING INTERNET SET UP IN MY APARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASY WHOOO HOOO….
More to come…
I arrived last night after 4 flights to find that they lost one of my bags…the one with all my clothes! Luckily, Josh gave me one of his shirts (and that came on my carry on baggage for safe keeping!), so I have something to wear to bed atleast.
I am staying with my host Rotarian, Tusu and his wonderful family. I am already know as their new daughter! The ride to his home was rather bumpy, to say the least, but once we entered the gate to his home it was lovely. We had “dinner” at 1:30 in the morning and it was very interesting and new, but rather tasty! We had matoke (mashed bananas/plantains) with a purple colored sauce made of peanuts, beef stew, and a leafy vegetable. It was good, although I had sort of a dinner malfunction…due to the fact that I had just be flying and en route for 28 hours and NOT slept my emotions were a little touchy, so every time I would swallow my eyes would fill up with water. Unfortunately, after about 8 bites the tears were streaming down
After a much needed sleep…I was ready to explore.
On the way to see Tusu at the university I was able to witness the wonderfully chaotic street life! It’s absolutely amazing and the vendors at the roadside markets reminded me why I love the developing world so much. Huge piles of pineapples and bananas just covered their tables. A whole year of amazing fresh fresh FRESH food! I was telling the driver that I loved to cook and he was amazed…he asked me “cook what prepared boxed food!”
I got a SIM card, so my cell phone works…email me if you want my number…text messaging is very cheap compared to calling…$1/per minute…have to stick to skype!
I went to TWO rotary meetings today and learned that the 9 of the local clubs have organized four days of medical clinics for the people in the North of Uganda. Many of these people have been displaced by rebels and do not have proper housing, adequate amounts of food, and insufficient access medical personnel, so from Aug 27th to 31st, I will be in the North helping out with registration, meals, and/or anything they need me to do.
I am going apartment hunting tomorrow…then hopefully learn a little more about my program at school…and HOPEFULLY find out if the rumors that I have been hearing are true…by that I mean- Apparently, my first year of school is for class work and studying and my second year is to write my dissertation and do research. If that is true, I can do that ANYWHERE
AND…GETTING INTERNET SET UP IN MY APARTMENT IS SUPPOSED TO BE EASY WHOOO HOOO….
More to come…
Monday, August 13, 2007
UGANDA Here I am:)
I am here!
Safe and almost sound.
After arriving on the wost flight of my life..never again will I fly so much in one day...I arrived to find out that they lost my backpack..so I get to ear my same clothes till they find it!
I had a crying fit until I finally fell asleep....but I am better now:)
I am going to write more, but I wanted to tell everyone that I am here and fine. I was greeted by a group of children this morning, waving frantically and wearing HUGE smiles.
When I got to the University, I looked out the window and saw a stork that looked like those dinosaur birds in Jurassic Park (sorry cant spell that word!)...I hope I dont get flown away:)
Till next time...
Safe and almost sound.
After arriving on the wost flight of my life..never again will I fly so much in one day...I arrived to find out that they lost my backpack..so I get to ear my same clothes till they find it!
I had a crying fit until I finally fell asleep....but I am better now:)
I am going to write more, but I wanted to tell everyone that I am here and fine. I was greeted by a group of children this morning, waving frantically and wearing HUGE smiles.
When I got to the University, I looked out the window and saw a stork that looked like those dinosaur birds in Jurassic Park (sorry cant spell that word!)...I hope I dont get flown away:)
Till next time...
Monday, August 6, 2007
Saturday at 3pm...
By the end of the day I will have my plane ticket!! WOW..HOW EXCITING...
Also, last night I found out that I have a host Rotarian!! YEAH....everything is falling into place.
Also, last night I found out that I have a host Rotarian!! YEAH....everything is falling into place.
Friday, August 3, 2007
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Africa Bound!
I have submitted all the pre-departure documents FINALLY! (My passport took an amazing 5 1/2 months to get to me.)
School starts on the 12th of August and I was informed today by the Rotary travel agent that I will most likely fly next Thursday or Friday. WOW...so fast...I knew I was going, but it hit me like a ton of bricks...phew...in one week I will be on my way to
A-F-R-I-C-A.
Still no news on the apartment or my host Rotarian...
I will post more as I know more...
School starts on the 12th of August and I was informed today by the Rotary travel agent that I will most likely fly next Thursday or Friday. WOW...so fast...I knew I was going, but it hit me like a ton of bricks...phew...in one week I will be on my way to
A-F-R-I-C-A.
Still no news on the apartment or my host Rotarian...
I will post more as I know more...
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