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Hey everyone!
I feel like its been weeks since I last posted on here. Here are a few updates on what I have been doing:
As part of my study abroad program, I am going to be doing either an ISP (Independent Study Project) or Practicum (basically an internship). I have chosen to do a combination of the two. Anyhow, two weeks ago I was busy meeting with my AD Martha to discuss my idea and meeting with some people who could make my ISP/practicum dream a reality.
Last week (the true reason I’m blogging today) was a week long excursion to Eastern Uganda. On Sunday we all piled into 3 vans and traveled 4 hours away from Kampala to the eastern city of Mbale. But before reaching Jinja we passed over the Nile River! Unfortunately we didn’t know that we couldn’t take pictures at this particular site (due to there being some government buildings there) and so we were delayed by some army men who wanted to take one of the kids on the program to the army barracks! After about 10 minutes of intense discussion the army men decided to let us go so long as we deleted the pictures taken from our camera.
The next day we visited the TASO Mbale site (TASO is a nationwide organization for Aids patients in Uganda) and the Child Restoration Organization (CRO), an organization for street children. We first went to the CRO where we learned about the work of the organization. Basically what they do is they take in street children aged 5 to 18. They provide education, health education, counseling and etc. to the kids before attempting to resettle them with family members or foster families from their community. An interesting fact about some of the street kids is that some come from Kenya (Mbale is basically a border town) but the CRO takes them in nonetheless. We then toured the facility: I saw some kids in class, the kitchen where they cook the children’s food and the playground that receives much love from the kids!
After visiting the CRO we then visited TASO Mbale. Like the CRO we started our visit to TASO Mbale by having the director of the facility explain the history and mission of the organization. After listening to his lecture we went outside where the TASO Mbale music/dance group performed some songs/skits on issues like family planning, staying safe and etc. They were so good. By the time they did two songs we had a very big crowd of kids and adults who also decided to listen in. At the end of their performance we were asked to dance with them and I’m proud to say that we “danced very well”
On Tuesday we traveled to Sipi Falls. We slept in very nice log cabins and hiked to a really pretty waterfall. Ever mindful of my camera (my last one broke at a waterfall site) I wisely choose not to trek down to the waterfall but instead enjoyed the view. That next afternoon we traveled to Busia (another town in Eastern Uganda) and our rural home stay!
We were all partnered up and sent out to various home stays in rural villages around Busia town. Hopefully the pictures will post so you can see…but I basically slept in this really neat hut for three nights and got to experience life in a very rural African village. My only regret from my rural home stay is that I got sick on the last day because it got really cold at night and I didn’t have adequate clothing or bedding. What I really enjoyed about my rural home stay was meeting the local women’s representative for the LC1 (the smallest level of government) and playing soccer with my host siblings.
After our stay in the rural home stay. We traveled to Buyengo where one of our directors is from and camped out at their family home. That night we had an amazing dance party and lots of people from the area came to dance with us. It was sooo much fun!!! I wish I had pictures but my camera was dead (lack of electricity for 3 days) and so I only have my memories.
On the way back to Kampala we stopped at this resort on the Nile and so we finally got to take legal pictures of the Nile. Yay lol.
Anyways, I’m back at my urban home stay in Kampala now. It’s my last week with my family before I move to a hostel to begin my practicum. So this week will be very hectic as I not only try to register for classes back home but also try to tie together the last strings for my ISP/practicum.
5 Things I love about Uganda!
I love the weather – not too hot and not too cold
I love the food – Matooke is great. I eat it everyday by choice!!
I love being able to walk around Kampala with a sense of familiarity
I love learning Luganda and speaking it with my home stay family (Muli Mutya! How are ya’ll)
I love love love the music – my favorite songs are: Yoyo, Zuena, Bbusu and etc.
5 Things I don’t love about Uganda…
When I come up with one I’ll let you know…lol
***Okay I meant to upload this blog on Monday but I couldn't until today. I don't have much time to write but I do want to say that today I visited the Ugandan parliament and got to sit in on a session of parliament. It was sooo amazing! Ill try to post a blog about that experience later. Tata for now
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Pictures Pictures Pictures!!!
Hey Everyone!
I finally gave up on trying to post pictures to this blog. Instead I have re-opened my Flickr account and have uploaded a few pictures to that website. Here is the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17020646@N02/sets/72157614788506141
Look in the future for more pics from my time in Uganda in the same set.
Other than the pictures everything is going well. Today I had my ACTL test in Luganda. I was surprised at how much Luganda I was able to understand and speak! In the next few days I will learn what I was rated (novice low, novice mid or high). Next Sunday I will be going to Jinja (another town in Uganda) which is exciting.
Last week was my first time taking the taxi home instead of riding home with my host mom. The first time was an adventure since I kept having to ask for directions from boda-boda men (they drive people around on motorcycles). But I eventually found my way and succesfully made my way home.
Alright hope ya'll enjoy the pics
Cynthia
I finally gave up on trying to post pictures to this blog. Instead I have re-opened my Flickr account and have uploaded a few pictures to that website. Here is the link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/17020646@N02/sets/72157614788506141
Look in the future for more pics from my time in Uganda in the same set.
Other than the pictures everything is going well. Today I had my ACTL test in Luganda. I was surprised at how much Luganda I was able to understand and speak! In the next few days I will learn what I was rated (novice low, novice mid or high). Next Sunday I will be going to Jinja (another town in Uganda) which is exciting.
Last week was my first time taking the taxi home instead of riding home with my host mom. The first time was an adventure since I kept having to ask for directions from boda-boda men (they drive people around on motorcycles). But I eventually found my way and succesfully made my way home.
Alright hope ya'll enjoy the pics
Cynthia
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
My trip to Rwanda
Hey Everyone!
Sorry it’s been so long since I last updated my blog but I was on a week long excursion to eastern Uganda and Rwanda, and so access to the internet was very difficult.
Anywho, I really enjoyed my time in western Uganda and Rwanda. While in western Uganda I was staying in Mbarara (President Museveni’s home town) and my group and I visited one of the 12 millennium village sites that are in sub-Saharan Africa. The one in Uganda is located in Isingiro district and started in 2006. During the visit we got to see one of the local primary schools that benefited from energy-efficient stoves, the village bank (that urges community groups to establish bank accounts), an environmental organization, and the community hospital. The hospital was the best part of the trip to me. I have some pictures from my visit (hopefully they post).
We stayed in Mbarara for 2 days and then journeyed to Rwanda. Rwanda has really made strides towards development (at least in its capital city) since the 1994 genocide and this fact is most noticeable through the quality of its roads. While in Rwanda we visited the Kigali memorial center which documents the history of the genocide. Outside the center is about 5 mass graves that surviving relatives place flowers on. Inside is a museum type exhibit. Going through the history of the genocide is really sad and frustrating – especially since the “ethnic groups” were created by the colonists. Beyond that realizing the culpability of international players was disheartening. The saddest portion was the last exhibit. The door to this room has a dedication to the children victims of the genocide who would have been the countries future leaders. Reading about the horrendous ways some of these children died was just horrible. After going through the memorial I bought a view book and so if anyone wants a better glimpse into what the genocide was about and what the memorial documents just let me know when I return home.
After 2 days in Rwanda we went back to Mbarara for one night before returning to our home stays.
Okay on to other news:
Nancy – Uganda is an amazing country and I am so happy to be here. I’ve only gotten a slight stomach upset so far but I think I’m being pretty cautious so I doubt Ill get sick. And if I do I will definitely go straight to the hospital --- no need to repeat past mistakes! So far the mosquitoes here have not been as bad as the ones in Nicaragua. But I think that’s because the rainy season has not really started.
Having fun in Uganda is just like having fun in America. All the youths (people our age) go to clubs/dancehalls or concerts on the weekend. An interesting fact about there clubs is that all the people dance in front of mirrors. At first I thought it was weird but it’s grown on me and last time I went out I found myself dancing in the mirror!!! Also, they love to play 90s music or music from even earlier decades. But its all good.
Okay, I think this post is long enough. Hopefully the pictures will post successfully!!
The pictures have not been uploading. But ill try later on today!
Sorry it’s been so long since I last updated my blog but I was on a week long excursion to eastern Uganda and Rwanda, and so access to the internet was very difficult.
Anywho, I really enjoyed my time in western Uganda and Rwanda. While in western Uganda I was staying in Mbarara (President Museveni’s home town) and my group and I visited one of the 12 millennium village sites that are in sub-Saharan Africa. The one in Uganda is located in Isingiro district and started in 2006. During the visit we got to see one of the local primary schools that benefited from energy-efficient stoves, the village bank (that urges community groups to establish bank accounts), an environmental organization, and the community hospital. The hospital was the best part of the trip to me. I have some pictures from my visit (hopefully they post).
We stayed in Mbarara for 2 days and then journeyed to Rwanda. Rwanda has really made strides towards development (at least in its capital city) since the 1994 genocide and this fact is most noticeable through the quality of its roads. While in Rwanda we visited the Kigali memorial center which documents the history of the genocide. Outside the center is about 5 mass graves that surviving relatives place flowers on. Inside is a museum type exhibit. Going through the history of the genocide is really sad and frustrating – especially since the “ethnic groups” were created by the colonists. Beyond that realizing the culpability of international players was disheartening. The saddest portion was the last exhibit. The door to this room has a dedication to the children victims of the genocide who would have been the countries future leaders. Reading about the horrendous ways some of these children died was just horrible. After going through the memorial I bought a view book and so if anyone wants a better glimpse into what the genocide was about and what the memorial documents just let me know when I return home.
After 2 days in Rwanda we went back to Mbarara for one night before returning to our home stays.
Okay on to other news:
Nancy – Uganda is an amazing country and I am so happy to be here. I’ve only gotten a slight stomach upset so far but I think I’m being pretty cautious so I doubt Ill get sick. And if I do I will definitely go straight to the hospital --- no need to repeat past mistakes! So far the mosquitoes here have not been as bad as the ones in Nicaragua. But I think that’s because the rainy season has not really started.
Having fun in Uganda is just like having fun in America. All the youths (people our age) go to clubs/dancehalls or concerts on the weekend. An interesting fact about there clubs is that all the people dance in front of mirrors. At first I thought it was weird but it’s grown on me and last time I went out I found myself dancing in the mirror!!! Also, they love to play 90s music or music from even earlier decades. But its all good.
Okay, I think this post is long enough. Hopefully the pictures will post successfully!!
The pictures have not been uploading. But ill try later on today!
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