Posts
Hey everyone,
Just wanted to update you all on what Ive been doing. These past 2 weeks(?) have been super hectic for me because I am now doing my practicum/ISP. After my meeting with UWOPA I was able to have one interview with a female MP, which was awesome. After much calling around and etc. I was able to arrange a meeting with another honorable. It was so funny I thought she was just giving me the run around when she told me to call back tomorrow...and I especially was sad when I called her at 11am and her phone was off. Thankfully I stayed @ parliament and she later called me at about 12:30 and told me to meet her because she was taking me to lunch and then we could do the interview. Talk about good luck! Anywho, while I was with her another honorable, who I had previously contacted, called me and told me that we should meet soon so I could interview her as well.
I interviewed both women and got some really neat information. Then on Monday (this week) I had an interview with a Male MP who is also the leader of the opposition party. He was really nice and gave me some good info. too. Anyways, I still have more interviews that I will be conducting this week...about 4....and then I think Ill start doing other things.
Well, still enjoying life in Uganda. Talk later Bye
P.s. none of my pics will load onto flickr for some reason...but there are about 3 new pics on there. :)
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
Guess what....!!!!!
Hey everyone!
Life these past few weeks in Uganda has been very very busy but also very very exciting!
Last weekend I visited my host family. We went to visit my host sister Leirah (Leila) at her boarding school St. Lawrence. It was my first time seeing her since she went away to school 4 weeks ago…so I really enjoyed seeing her. Her school is really nice it looks like a college campus no-lie. I took a couple of pictures which ill upload at some point in time.
This week (Monday to Wednesday) I was busy with my organization. We traveled to Lira, which is in Northern Uganda for a training-dialogue for women in government. Most of the women who attended the session were district chairwomen – so not involved in parliament but listening to them describe the challenges they face while campaigning and how they circumvent the challenges was so awesome. I really love my organization they are all so friendly and make me feel like I’ve been part of the team forever. For instance on the way up we stopped to buy snacks on the road – and they had me try roasted cassava (which is good), roasted plantain and meat on a stick! Then during the dialogue they had me take the pictures during and man the microphone. This may seem like small things but it’s these little things that make a person feel wanted and needed in a host organization. Anyways it was highly enjoyable and I do have pictures from this amazing workshop. *P.S. the former MP Miria Matembe who started my org. is so nice and listening to her tell stories about her time in parliament is so awesome – hearing her speak is enough to make anyone want to join politics! Lol
In a random case of good-luck?? I bumped into Sharon Stone, the actress, who is here with an organization called Dropinthebucket that digs wells. She has become really interested in poverty in Africa…. Especially how it impacts girls education. She was interesting to meet but I didn’t get a picture because I’m a dork
Anywho, when I got back to Kampala my organization took me to a meeting with UWOPA (Uganda Women’s parliamentary Association). The meeting was about women in post-conflict situations and how female MPs and NGOs can work together to improve their lives. The meeting was really nice and I used the opportunity to collect the information of some female MPs I hope to interview in the future.
Oh yeah…so yesterday was Easter Sunday and I visited my host family for the day. They rented out a small place and all the family came and ate good food, listened to good music and etc. It was nice But what was not so nice was the fact that my camera decided to mess up!! Seriously guys why do I have such bad luck with cameras?? Anywho what happened was the lens kept sticking and then the memory card lost all my data and then finally stopped working all together. The good thing is that all my pictures were safely backed up on my computer. I know think it is best that I spend some serious time in an internet café and try to upload all my pics….just in case my computer deciedes it hates me too (Tufiakwa). Anyways I looked up tech support and found out that I had two problems…number one is that my memory card was corrupted and so I had to buy a new one (thankfully the price was reasonable at $20) the second problem is that my lens is messing up. The only way I can fix this one is to send it in when I get home But the guy who sold me a memory card said it should be okay until I get home…so Ill still be taking pictures.
That’s pretty much all that been happening in my life.
Siiba bulungi (Have a good day)
Cynthia
Life these past few weeks in Uganda has been very very busy but also very very exciting!
Last weekend I visited my host family. We went to visit my host sister Leirah (Leila) at her boarding school St. Lawrence. It was my first time seeing her since she went away to school 4 weeks ago…so I really enjoyed seeing her. Her school is really nice it looks like a college campus no-lie. I took a couple of pictures which ill upload at some point in time.
This week (Monday to Wednesday) I was busy with my organization. We traveled to Lira, which is in Northern Uganda for a training-dialogue for women in government. Most of the women who attended the session were district chairwomen – so not involved in parliament but listening to them describe the challenges they face while campaigning and how they circumvent the challenges was so awesome. I really love my organization they are all so friendly and make me feel like I’ve been part of the team forever. For instance on the way up we stopped to buy snacks on the road – and they had me try roasted cassava (which is good), roasted plantain and meat on a stick! Then during the dialogue they had me take the pictures during and man the microphone. This may seem like small things but it’s these little things that make a person feel wanted and needed in a host organization. Anyways it was highly enjoyable and I do have pictures from this amazing workshop. *P.S. the former MP Miria Matembe who started my org. is so nice and listening to her tell stories about her time in parliament is so awesome – hearing her speak is enough to make anyone want to join politics! Lol
In a random case of good-luck?? I bumped into Sharon Stone, the actress, who is here with an organization called Dropinthebucket that digs wells. She has become really interested in poverty in Africa…. Especially how it impacts girls education. She was interesting to meet but I didn’t get a picture because I’m a dork
Anywho, when I got back to Kampala my organization took me to a meeting with UWOPA (Uganda Women’s parliamentary Association). The meeting was about women in post-conflict situations and how female MPs and NGOs can work together to improve their lives. The meeting was really nice and I used the opportunity to collect the information of some female MPs I hope to interview in the future.
Oh yeah…so yesterday was Easter Sunday and I visited my host family for the day. They rented out a small place and all the family came and ate good food, listened to good music and etc. It was nice But what was not so nice was the fact that my camera decided to mess up!! Seriously guys why do I have such bad luck with cameras?? Anywho what happened was the lens kept sticking and then the memory card lost all my data and then finally stopped working all together. The good thing is that all my pictures were safely backed up on my computer. I know think it is best that I spend some serious time in an internet café and try to upload all my pics….just in case my computer deciedes it hates me too (Tufiakwa). Anyways I looked up tech support and found out that I had two problems…number one is that my memory card was corrupted and so I had to buy a new one (thankfully the price was reasonable at $20) the second problem is that my lens is messing up. The only way I can fix this one is to send it in when I get home But the guy who sold me a memory card said it should be okay until I get home…so Ill still be taking pictures.
That’s pretty much all that been happening in my life.
Siiba bulungi (Have a good day)
Cynthia
Friday, April 3, 2009
Dears! I'm an independent woman!!
hey all - this post will not have any caps since the keyboard im using is extra weird.
Anyways....I just finished getting my hair done it took nine hours but it was well worth the wait. These braids are the tiniest things you'll ever see and im so excited that it only cost me 18 bucks!! That price includes washing my hair, the actual hair and the three women who braided my hair!! Ahh the joys of Uganda :)
Anyways! I started my practicum/ISP on March 30 (or whatever day was Monday). I am working at an organization called the centre for women in governance. It was started by a former female MP named Miria Matemebe and basically what they hope to do is to ensure that the women who elected into government positions are empowered to work on the behalf of women in Uganda.
The organization is relatively new (about 2 years old) but it has already done so much! They have published 3 reports on the actual work of women in gov. and are currently working on creating a training manual for women in government and those women who are interested in joining politics. next week we are going to Lira (northern Uganda) to hold a workshop with womein government up there to brainstorm ideas for the training manual. Then the following week ill be going to Bushenyi (eastern Uganda) to do the same there.
Im am currently working on my ISP as well. Ive been researching land rights in Uganda and composing questions for interviews with parliamentarians. Im hoping that I get the chance to either interview or network with female MPs when I travel to both Lira and Bushenyi.
In other news.... ive moved out of my home stay house. No it was not because I did not like my home stay family....its becuase the program rules state that you can't live with your host family during practicum. I think its b/c they want us to experience different aspects of life in Uganda. Right now im living in a hostel that is located right near the university. Its a nice place...ill take pictures and post them when i get the chance. Anywho since i am now living on my own (minus all the kids from my program who decided to stay in Kampala) I feel like an independent woman. I cook dinner (with all the other kids) and have to negotiate my way around town.
Funny story but not really --- To get to my internship I have to take two different taxis going in two different ways. I didn't want to be late so i decided to take a diff. taxi that leaves my neighborhood. I thought this taxi was going to take me to my stop but once i got on it turned around and went some funky short cut. i was really getting worried but finally i heard the name of my stage (or bus stop). I decided to get down. But when i got out i had no clue how to get to the next stage which is where i pick the taxi that takes me to work. Thankfully im not shy at asking directions so i asked and finally made my way to the stage. i was extra late to work (oops) but now i know that if my taxi is running late....just wait the other way is def. longer and more confusing.
Alright - ill post more next week after ive returned from my trip to lira
Cynthia
Anyways....I just finished getting my hair done it took nine hours but it was well worth the wait. These braids are the tiniest things you'll ever see and im so excited that it only cost me 18 bucks!! That price includes washing my hair, the actual hair and the three women who braided my hair!! Ahh the joys of Uganda :)
Anyways! I started my practicum/ISP on March 30 (or whatever day was Monday). I am working at an organization called the centre for women in governance. It was started by a former female MP named Miria Matemebe and basically what they hope to do is to ensure that the women who elected into government positions are empowered to work on the behalf of women in Uganda.
The organization is relatively new (about 2 years old) but it has already done so much! They have published 3 reports on the actual work of women in gov. and are currently working on creating a training manual for women in government and those women who are interested in joining politics. next week we are going to Lira (northern Uganda) to hold a workshop with womein government up there to brainstorm ideas for the training manual. Then the following week ill be going to Bushenyi (eastern Uganda) to do the same there.
Im am currently working on my ISP as well. Ive been researching land rights in Uganda and composing questions for interviews with parliamentarians. Im hoping that I get the chance to either interview or network with female MPs when I travel to both Lira and Bushenyi.
In other news.... ive moved out of my home stay house. No it was not because I did not like my home stay family....its becuase the program rules state that you can't live with your host family during practicum. I think its b/c they want us to experience different aspects of life in Uganda. Right now im living in a hostel that is located right near the university. Its a nice place...ill take pictures and post them when i get the chance. Anywho since i am now living on my own (minus all the kids from my program who decided to stay in Kampala) I feel like an independent woman. I cook dinner (with all the other kids) and have to negotiate my way around town.
Funny story but not really --- To get to my internship I have to take two different taxis going in two different ways. I didn't want to be late so i decided to take a diff. taxi that leaves my neighborhood. I thought this taxi was going to take me to my stop but once i got on it turned around and went some funky short cut. i was really getting worried but finally i heard the name of my stage (or bus stop). I decided to get down. But when i got out i had no clue how to get to the next stage which is where i pick the taxi that takes me to work. Thankfully im not shy at asking directions so i asked and finally made my way to the stage. i was extra late to work (oops) but now i know that if my taxi is running late....just wait the other way is def. longer and more confusing.
Alright - ill post more next week after ive returned from my trip to lira
Cynthia
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)