Humbled

I continue to be humbled by those around me-- the other night, for example, we were talking about the situation with Kony and his whereabouts. One sister from the north was telling us about how he cut off people's ears and lips, if not more. She was laughing lightly when she started telling us about when the LRA abducted her and her counsins. She talked about the bush and about running, about fear. She was seated under the dining room light, where insects enjoy gathering, and swatting them off of her habit-- something I usually joke with her about-- somehow I couldn't.

Wildflowers

Sister Christine brought flowers to our school. She did it a while ago, scattering wild flower seeds over corners and in areas where nothing else was growing. The other sisters, too, love flowers-- their bowls, their cups, their pots, all adorned with different patterns of flowers. Their prayer room, separated from my living quarters only by a thin wall, has a vase with those wild flowers inside. They themselves are varied, planted in Kazo, and beautifying the girls' lives and mine. Sister Christine says that being a sister does not change you, instead you are used to beautify in your uniqueness.

Sister Act III

Site: A girls secondary school, vocational college, and primary school run by seven nuns = heaven. I have to say that some people have difficulties with their sites, but I think mine is perfect for me. There are about 500 people on the compound because the secondary school and technical college girls are boarding. Of course there are also other teachers and staff members. We are very close to a SMALL trading center but quite self sufficient (they garden for much of their own food, collect rainwater, and use solar electricity).
I live in two rooms that are connected to the sisters’ dining room and facing (with 10 feet between) the place that the sisters live. They are quite multicultural among themselves (from Tanzania, Kenya, northern Uganda, and southwestern Uganda). They are very welcoming and encouraging as I practice my language words and learn the place. I have been eating with them and enjoying their company. If I am bored, I need only to travel a few feet to the boarding area of one of the schools! So far, they want someone to start teaching life skills (HIV/AIDS prevention, sanitation, nutrition) at all schools, along with business skills, basic math and English, and some computers at the vocational college. The sisters are involved in multiple community and womens’ groups, which they want me to work with in health education and economic empowerment (nutrition, agriculture, income generation and village savings and loans are all options).

NO UHAUL-- HOW ABOUT A CROWDED MINIBUS?

So, I met my counterpart, a lovely nun named Sister Christine from Tanzania, she is full of life and ideas and I am quite excited to work with her. We met at the Peace Corps workshop/ swearing in.
The part of my peace corps experience that I have been dreading for months arrived: after being introduced and swearing in, we had to get to site. This is the part where all the stuff you lovingly packed, all of the books the Peace Corps gave you, along with your big bucket, lantern, blanket, etc, must all find a way out of the lovely hotel at which you have been for the week to your site—through public transport. Now, if public transport in Uganda brings pictures of overcrowded buses and 14 passenger vans (with many more than 14 passengers inside) you are correct!!
If the taxi park to find such vehicles brings thousands of people and vehicles of various conditions and dispositions, crowded in an incomprehensible jumble, you are again correct!
So, how did we do it? We relied on a priest’s charity to take us to the taxi park in Kampala, (they don’t take vows of poverty : ); we had three men then hoist my suitcases on their heads to get into the park; the sister then knew the men operating the taxis to our small trading center; and, guess what, we reached!!!
This makes me think; we often see people living on so little as a kind of incomprehensible magic. It is not. Furthermore, we should not be so comfortable with an inability to understand how others survive. What we thought was magic is actually in relationships (with the priest, the drivers, the many people who helped us get from A to B).

Strength

People keep talking about the Banyancore women (ethnic group in my future home) that they are very strong women. My host mother, that holds her own and takes care of her family’s farm, my future co- workers and supervisor, they are examples. One trainer told me that they are aware all Americans, no matter the age, are babies. That same trainer took a college exam the day after giving birth; many others, no doubt are back in the fields soon after.
Yesterday, we watched the film War Dance. It is a documentary filmed in Uganda about children from the war zone in the north. Two years ago, peace resumed in the north, but Kony’s rebel army is still terrorizing neighboring countries. To see a woman who was forced to bury her husband’s mutilated body; to see children who were forced to kill, was sombering. It was also encouraging, however, to see the way people can change and can heal. It was inspiring to see the strength of the parents, of the children, of the people. I am reminded that in our prayers, we should remember the children and the survivors of war, of the people still living with violence in other countries, or people with memories in northern Uganda. I am also reminded that we can stop complaining as Americans and being babies.

Strength

People keep talking about the Banyancore women (ethnic group in my future home) that they are very strong women. My host mother, that holds her own and takes care of her family’s farm, my future co- workers and supervisor, they are examples. One trainer told me that they are aware all Americans, no matter the age, are babies. That same trainer took a college exam the day after giving birth; many others, no doubt are back in the fields soon after.
Yesterday, we watched the film War Dance. It is a documentary filmed in Uganda about children from the war zone in the north. Two years ago, peace resumed in the north, but Kony’s rebel army is still terrorizing neighboring countries. To see a woman who was forced to bury her husband’s mutilated body; to see children who were forced to kill, was sombering. It was also encouraging, however, to see the way people can change and can heal. It was inspiring to see the strength of the parents, of the children, of the people. I am reminded that in our prayers, we should remember the children and the survivors of war, of the people still living with violence in other countries, or people with memories in northern Uganda. I am also reminded that we can stop complaining as Americans and being babies.

Strength

People keep talking about the Banyancore women (ethnic group in my future home) that they are very strong women. My host mother, that holds her own and takes care of her family’s farm, my future co- workers and supervisor, they are examples. One trainer told me that they are aware all Americans, no matter the age, are babies. That same trainer took a college exam the day after giving birth; many others, no doubt are back in the fields soon after.
Yesterday, we watched the film War Dance. It is a documentary filmed in Uganda about children from the war zone in the north. Two years ago, peace resumed in the north, but Kony’s rebel army is still terrorizing neighboring countries. To see a woman who was forced to bury her husband’s mutilated body; to see children who were forced to kill, was sombering. It was also encouraging, however, to see the way people can change and can heal. It was inspiring to see the strength of the parents, of the children, of the people. I am reminded that in our prayers, we should remember the children and the survivors of war, of the people still living with violence in other countries, or people with memories in northern Uganda. I am also reminded that we can stop complaining as Americans and being babies.

MY SITE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I found out what my site is!!!!! I am going to be near Bushenye in the southwest of Uganda working at a girls' secondary school and a girls' vocational school. They are run by four nuns and I will live in a small house on compound. (Yes I am bringing Sister Act II : ) They requested that I teach life skills (specifically in relation to HIV prevention) and computers in both schools. The other component of my job description is community work with women and girls who do not/ can not/ could not go to school. Development of income generating activities, visiting people living with HIV/AIDS, and doing HIV prevention programs with those groups will be important.
I am quite excited about the site; I wanted to be in a safe compound, I wanted to do something based on what I have done but that stretched my skills, and I wanted to be working with hard working, sincere people. I don't know what it will be like because I'm going next week, but I am very very happy with the site. I was quite impressed with the nuns in Lesotho; they worked so hard but were so sincerely dedicated-- they also did not abuse the funds of their orgs. for personal benefits. I hope to learn and grow; spiritually, personally, and professionally!
About where I am going; it is green, a land of milk (farmers) and vegetables. The nuns garden vegetables and want me to teach the school and community about nutrition. So many things grow here and are eaten but knowledge is lacking about the necessity of a variety of vegetables and their uses. I hope to do a lot of blended agriculture and nutrition!

Food and Dirt in one day

The rains have begun!!!!! Imagine walking 4 kilometers on hilly, wet clay and then having an unfortunate incident involving a big puddle and a big truck. No I’m not dead, but I was head to toe RED!!!! The kids walking to school (SO CLEAN) were looking at this dirty muzungu in utter amazement. They tell you that Uganda is dirty but Ugandans are clean – so true!

Last night, however, made up for it; we had chapattis (which Ugandans eat plain, with beans or with eggs—but not much curry) and I showed my host mom how to make guacamole-----mmmmmm!

To put the two together; my friend’s host mom does not clean food properly and she finds quite a bit of dirt. Now it is stuck in her gut and we’ve decided it to be a new weight loss solution—fill up on dirt and you feel full, it’s not fatty, and it will probably work like fiber!

Long time no write

Sorry guys; there were some riots in Kampala and I was stuck at home, then the internet wasn't working, then etc, etc; anyway I'm in Peace Corps and this is what the booklet said to expect!
1. I am safe! If you want to hear more about the recent violence; look on BBC but things are fine both where I am and where I am going. well------ except for H1N1; as there are about 200 cases in the area where I am going in 3 weeks. I guess I will have newfound urgency in the teaching of sanitation and handwashing : )
2. The real viruses in Uganda are not Ebola or even H1N1 but computer viruses! People talk about having lost computers, flash drives, etc, to them. I wonder what the mortality rate of technical equipment is. Luckily we have some great techy guys and have recommended a virus control and firewall for my laptop.
3. Peace Corps is like a box of chocolates; first you wait for your country, then for your group, then for the language you will learn in your country, then for your host family, and now I am waiting for my site.