I'm back!!!

I'm back!!! In case you didn't already know lol

I have SO MANY updates...so please bear with me. My last week in Uganda was a nightmare and kinda disappointing becasue of the TASO person we went with. I will document all of it in detail. Rwanda was beautiful and I love that country. Pictures and stories to come...

Especially since I have good internet (Praise the Lord). I'll be able to share so much more with you guys. I hope I get to travel again soon so I can continue dosumenting my travels through the blog.

Thanks so much for all the encouragement and support and reading my blog!!

From the heart....

I will really miss Uganda and especially TASO. Yesterday we presented our gender based violence report and they were very grateful for all the work we put into it. Last night they even took us out to dinner and they all thanked us for everything we did. I truly appreciate the way they took us in and helped us get through this summer. I will miss them and I hope I get to come to Uganda sooner than later.

Stay tuned for my Lessons learned entry tomorrow.....

Day 75: What I will NOT miss about Uganda

1. Food (lack of choices, lack of flavor): Man this has made a major impact on my chronic homesickness I have felt. I truly believe if the food had been bangin (like Sierra Leonean food) would have not felt like I wanted to go back home as much. I have had some good Ugandan food but it highly depends on who makes it. For the most part food has either been tasteless or incredibly monotonous. I will pig out for at least two weeks after I get back.

2. People being enamored with Mzungus (white people): Now I just have to be straight up and speak my mind on this one. Every time I would go somewhere with the other fellow (she’s Asian) and other white ppl I was around here the people especially the little kids get so excited and yell “Mzungu! How are you?” or ask to be picked up. I literally will stand there while they completely ignore me. I am sure it’s because I look like everyone else (esp since I’m dark skinned) that they see on a daily basis but still it really makes me annoyed. Also when we go into town the boda boda (motorcycle) drivers will clamor over the white people to try and give them a ride. I mean I know its bc they assume they have more ney and can overcharge them but its more like this fascination with a person being white. Almost like they worship them. Like they feel they have to go out of their way for them. I think this mindset is really sad and it shows their lack of knowledge about what Muzungu countries have done to Africa as a whole. In the form of colonialism, pillaging of resources, and pitting tribal groups against each other, Muzungus have put Africa where it is now: incredibly under developed, lagging behind in nearly every health indicator and a cauldron of civil wars for decades. I know many “Muzungu nations” have provided vast amounts of aid to Africa in recent years, particularly for HIV/AIDS but I feel its like trying to get credit for helping someone up you pushed down in the first place. The mindset of many Africans only perpetuates the view that Muzungus will be the saviors for Africa. This really hurt me because I feel like African countries have to stop looking to the West for solutions, thinking they are better than them, and worshipping the ground they walk on. ::Ending rant and stepping off of soapbox::

3. Trash dumped everywhere: I mean its just not sanitary to be breathing in trash that’s been dumped on the side of nearly every road. If the trash has not been dumped and left then it is burned. Again, breathing in the smoke from burning trash is just not good.

4. Shady guesthouse people: I have come to the conclusion that they are all compulsive/pathological liars. They lie about dumb stuff. Like stuff there’s just no reason to lie about. For example I have asked couple of them their ages. Either another one will tell me the other one is lying or they come to be later and said they lied about their age so they could feel younger. WTF? Is it really that serious? To me that means that you are just accustomed to lies coming out your mouth…compulsively. Don’t forget about the things they stole….

5. Lack of timeliness: I know I put this in my what I will miss entry but I gotta include it here as well. I am a very schedule oriented person. I like making plans and having an agenda. Its okay if we divert from it a little bit but I need to at least have a tentative plan in place before I go or do something. Its gotten me this far in life. Here in Uganda, all of that has gone out of the window. Its hard to get people to commit to a certain time or place and following through on it. Very hard.

6. Treatment of women: Women are not fully appreciated. Plain and simple. Women work so hard here…I always see them out sweeping or digging (picking vegetables in the fields) and taking care of the children. Not to say men don’t work hard either but to not get the respect and equality they deserve just makes it worse. I have noticed that women are supposed to accept certain types of treatment here. (Our gender based violence report has highlighted the inequality within relationships women face) For example, when me and the other fellow are at the bus park men will come up to us and grab our arm. Or when we are trying to cross the street and a taxi bus goes by they will grab at us as if that will make us want a ride somewhere. They would NEVER do this to a man here. Regardless of his race. Men here treat women like they are below them and it pisses me off.

7. Cold showers: Man oh man how I have missed my hot showers. Even though its summertime. Its my main way of relaxing after a stressful day. Or if I get a headache many times I’ll just stand under a hot shower and it’ll help me feel better.


8. Corruption: This is probably the main reason why Africa will not progress. Corruption is so rampant it is the norm and is not the exception. As a third world country transparency and equal opportunity for everyone is needed to make strides. It will also make the country a safer place to live Two examples: 1) when doing research for our gender based violence report we learned that many women will not go to the police to report when they are violated bc if their husband has more money (typically the case) then he can just bribe the police officers or courts and they will rule in his favor. 2) So I don’t know if you remember WAAAAAY back when I first got here (See Day 9) when we took a taxi bus (See pics below) from Jinja and they packed 25 people in when its really only supposed to have no more than 15 in there. But last weekend when we were coming back from Jijna (again) in a taxi bus, there were clearly more than 15 people in the taxi. Its wasn;t a nightmare like before because the driver didn’t keep stopping along the way to pick up folks. But I did have to sit next to a lady who decided to breastfeed her child all along they way. But I digress. Anyway we were driving along and there was a police checkpoint on the road. The driver gets out the taxi and goes to the back and I see him slipping the police officer something. It was most likely money. Now what if we had crashed? However much you gave to that officer…would it have been worth our lives? Come on now safety first people.

9. No traffic laws: Ties into number 8. There are no street lights. Anywhere. There are no road signs. Anywhere. Not even in the capital city. Nope. Pedestrians DO NOT have the right of way. Ever. You will get ran over if you think this. The driver will not stop. I have been clipped on the shoulder and almost hit a few more times than I care to remember.

So these are the main things I know I will definitely NOT miss here in Uganda.

Here are the taxis that you ususally have to take to travel long distances

Here is what is painted on the side of most of these taxis....um....yeah thats a lie

Day 74: What I will miss about Uganda

So even though I have felt homesick many times while I’ve been here, I have truly enjoyed my time in Uganda. For all its beauty, incredibly friendly people, and yes even the randomness, Uganda will always have a special place in my heart. So in this entry I will list all the things I know I will miss about Uganda.

1. The people: Even though I have dealt with some real ignorant ish here, overall, the people are incredible. I mean, they are so nice, genuine (for the most part) and kind hearted. Mbale is a pretty small town. So we see a lot of the same people- the people who make chapatti, waitresses/waiters, people we’ve played volleyball with, people we’ve met through other volunteers and others around town. I would say 90% of the time, these people will stop us to say hi and ask how we are doing. And no they don’t ask me to leave them my cell phone (See Day53) or ask for money. They just stop to say hi. It’s so refreshing. Considering Uganda (even though it was mostly in the North) has been exposed to conflict, has rampant corruption, and the women are not always treated equally, the people are just so friendly.

2. The beauty of nature: I have mentioned it time and time again. But the natural beauty of this country is amazing. No wonder it’s known as the “Pearl of Africa”. I have lived in the city or a semi-suburb (In NJ) the majority of my life. I have never been exposed to this type of nature for this long before. It’s so nice to watch a sun set and see how the colors paint the sky. It’s so nice to sit on a mountain and look over a city. To see all that God created and see how small a lot of things I stress are in the grand scheme of life.

3. TASO: This organization is amazing! With all the challenges of being in a low income country the staff always greet you with a warm “good morning” or “Milembe (hello in Luganda) everyday. The staff here are incredibly friendly and always willing to help. It’s inspiring to see them do their work day in and day out, when sometimes they don’t have all the supplies, or they’re hungry, or they’ve been in a village at outreach for over 6 hours. I have learned so much while I’ve been here and so glad I was with TASO.

4. Just being in Africa: As many of you know my family (Mom and Dad’s side) are from Sierra Leone. Yet this is my first time in Africa. I kinda had this romantic view of Africa as the origin of civilization and the epitome of all we as black people have to be proud of. Now it has been all that and more -- calming, peaceful, resilient people, and SO beautiful…. BUT it’s also jarring and a reality check. Despite everything there is to appreciate about the continent, they have so much further to go. They have so many strides to make in their mindset and what it will take for true progress to be made. s beautiful and the people are so nice and friendly, but there’s corruption and discrimination and many more strides to be made. Despite all of this there is a level of serenity and peace I have found by being here. When I get older and I’m married and have kids and such I will definitely take mad trips here just to get away from the hectic-ness of the US.

5. Slow pace: This ties in with #4. Early on it was frustrating but now I have come to embrace it. I have grown accustomed to AP (African people for you slow ppl) time. I have learned when someone says I’ll be there in 30 mins…that means an hour. Food takes over an hour to be prepared here. For example, when someone at TASO said they would be back in 5 mins and didn’t come for 2 hours. Things just go along at a turtle’s pace. I’m kinda (emphasis on the kinda) that I don’t have a job waiting on me because I would show up late for that whole first week. It’ll take time to get back into the swing of things but I’m sure I’ll manage.

6. The cheap prices: Now I know I paid $1300+ dollars to get here so it all evens out in the end but everytime I go grocery shopping in the US I will think about how much it woulda cost in Uganda. Mangoes for 4 cents, Avocados for 10 cents, coconut oil (all my natural sistahs stand up) for 75 cents….man it will definitely be on my mind

7. The randomness: Yet another thing that frustrated me at time, but hey it made the trip so much more entertaining. I have tons of stories to tell when I get back and each day it was something different. When I get back something will trigger yet another random Ugandan moment that I will be able to crack up at when looking back.

I know I know this list seems short especially since my next entry will be focusing on the negatives. Ah well…give me a break.

Day 72: Plans ahead....

So it is winding down to the last two weeks I am in Uganda. I can’t believe how quickly this time has gone by. Some weeks were painfully slow and others went by in a flash. I feel like I’ve been here for 6 months and not 3, and yet I feel like the summer went by so quickly. Not sure how that’s possible. But anyway, this is our last week in Mbale, so we’ll be spending it presenting our report to the staff here, saying goodbye, and getting people’s contact info and stuff like that. I will truly miss the TASO staff bc they are so genuine, hardworking and just all around good people. They work so hard!! In the US, there’s no way we’d work until 7pm after coming in at 8:30 am…or at least you’d have to pay us for the overtime. And forget about weekends. The staff here do that. A lot. And for a couple weeks they couldn’t pay staff bc there had been some accounting issues. I mean…what?? Let that happen in the US…there would be a strike before anybody would even set foot on the premises. And if someone did, they would a half-assed job until that check rolled in. They are so inspiring with their dedication.

We’ll be heading to the capital, Kampala, this upcoming Sunday. Here’s how our week (after this one) will go:

Monday: Presentation of our gender based violence report to TASO HQ in Kampala (may get my hair re-braided later in the day or go to the movies!)

Tuesday: Heading to Western Uganda with one of the TASO staff we became good friends with

Wednesday: Heading to Rwanda early in the morning. Going to see the Genocide museum there and spend time in the capital Kibale. While I’ve been in Uganda, I’ve read 2 books about the Rwandan genocide, “Shake hands with the devil” by General Romeo Dallaire (UN General) and “An Ordinary Man” by Paul Rusesabagina (the hotel manager in Hotel Rwanda). These books were incredibly great testimonies and gave different perspectives on what happened. It’s going to be so moving to step foot in the country and even places where many of the massacres happened. Really looking forward to it.

Thursday: Head to Kibale, in Western Uganda …we’ve heard it’s very beautiful there

Friday: Back to our TASO friend's family's house, spend a few nights there

Saturday: Friend's House

Sunday: Back to Kampala, might get my hair done today instead. Packing and getting ready to go home!

Monday (the 24th): Entebbe airport, heading home!

I’m not sure how much access to internet I’ll get next week so this week, so in addition to writing about the randomness I encounter each day, I’ll also wrap up my final thoughts on this trip. I know that when I get back home and I’m not going through homesickness I’ll be able to reflect on and comprehend everything I’ve experienced. So these reflections are just the tip of the iceberg.

Day 69: Another Random Day in Uganda

SO this week has gone by with lightening speed. I just realized I haven't updated in a week. Ah well...thank God this time is moving!

Anyways, yesterday (Thursday) was so random but yet typical for a Uganda day

In guesthouse foolishness: The guy at the guesthouse, the one who was eyeing my phone, was up to his pathological lying ways. He had excuses for why our breakfast was terrible as usual. So we usually get eggs (fried), fruit (bananas, mangoes, or pineapple), chapatti (a flat bread) and tea. So he comes to room, the bananas are black and some are split open and the chappatti is clearly a day old because its hard and cold. So I eat the eggs and we give him the rest back. Here's the conversation that ensues:

My roommate: "We can't eat that chapatti, its stale"
Guy: "oh" and mumbles under his breathe some excuse.
Me: "What?" so he can speak up (I know he has no valid excuse but I just want to hear what he has to say this time)
Guy: "Um...(stuttering and clearly lying)...the chapatti man deceived me"
Me: "huh?"
Guy: "The chapatti man told me they were fresh, but I don't know where to get fresh chappatti from. The boy (a teenage boy that helps clean the guesthouse and who he blames everything that goes wrong) knows where the fresh chapatti is"
Boy: (who happened to be standing within ear shot) "This man is a fake" laughs
Me: (laughing) What?
Boy: This man is a fake. He doesn't know where the fresh chapatti is.

So I kinda left the conversation at that. Because the boy's english isn't too good so I think he was trying to say the guesthouse guy is a liar. Also its a shame because remember how our stuff was getting stolen? (See Day 53) The guy was tryna blame the boy then too. Knowing he can't speak good english and defend himself or even understand what we are saying half the time. This dude is shady I tell ya...straight shady....

So right after this happened, we're walking down the street and we see these guys being led by a police officer....in handcuffs. Yup just walking down the street in groups of two with a police officer holding his rifle to keep them in line.

Right as we saw this we see a group of three goats...one pregnant just coming down the street. Yup...typical...random Ugandan Day

Day 63: Better...

I'm doing much better than I was a few days ago. Hormones are partially to blame for my emotional state :-/ .....partially......

Anyway great news....We are finished with our gender based violence report! All we have to do now is do our final presentation and we are done!! WHoo hooo! So Glad!

Also I have yet to hear back from my advisor but all I have to do is finish my final presentation for that and you might as well call me Ms. Sombo Pujeh, MPH...holla!

I am truly looking forward to coming home. I have a little more than 3 weeks now and my last week here is going to be a blast. I plan on going to Rwanda to see the capital and the genocide museum, going to Kibale to see some of the natural beauty there, and then Kampala the capital of Uganda before heading back to DC. It should be fun and there's so much to look forward to. I can't wait!

Day 60: Homesickness setting in again...

So its been a little over two months here and I have a little less than a month (27 days to be exact) until I come back to the US. I was doing good for the longest time but now longer and more frequent bouts of sadness are starting to plague me each day. I have TRULY appreciated this experience because I have learned so much and experienced natural beauty as I have never done so before. Africa has a ways to go but it is just so beautiful!



With that being said. Home is home. And I miss my friends, my own room, food that I like, hot showers, no malaria scares, and my life back in the States. I now know the limits of what I can stand as far as international travel goes. I said it once and I'll say it again, I will appreciate everything I have SO much more.



Also its tough because even though I am very grateful for coming with another fellow, it gets hard sometimes. She is great and I like her and all but its tough to live with, work with, go out to eat with, and almost everything else with the SAME person EVERYDAY. I get annoyed from time to time and I wish I had more alone time to just reflect on things and hell bust out crying if I so wish. I do try to take walks by myself on the weekends from time to time but its but for only so long. I miss my alone time. And because I have to live with her I have to suck it up. Don't get me wrong I feel blessed to have had her on this trip and I will definitely keep in touch with her afterwards but I long for my me time.



Sorry for all this bitching and moaning yet again....but I've been getting sad a lot :-(

But I know God has a lot in store for me......I need to lean on faith right now....

Day 59: Hard Work Pays off!

So me and my roommate spend the majority of our weekends in our cave aka our guesthouse room. We both have to complete our thesis before this summer in order to get our MPH degrees but also avoid a $1,000 charge that GW greedily makes you pay if your thesis isn't completed by your last semester.



But I can announce that I have officially finished my Master's thesis draft!! :-) I sent it to my advisor so pretty much after he reviews it and gives me his input and then I make those changes I will be pretty much done. September 1st is the date when I will present it and officially have my MPH! I'll be 24 with my Masters!! Go me...Go me...its my birthday...get busy! lol


My Response to Comments:
Thanks Lenny! And Tina that's why I didn't even go to the graduation ceremony. I just want to get this thesis over and done with! Just mail me my degree!

Sorry I Can't respond to Comments

Hey everyone,

For some reason this week I haven't been able to respond to comments :-( I appreciate all of you reading my blog and helping me get through this homesickness. Hopefully the internet will gets its life together shortly here. Thanks again. Love you!

~Som

Day 53: Guesthouse shenannigans

So I had to take some time out to tell y'all about some of the foolishness going down at the guestouse we're staying at. So waaay back when I first got here I explained how they were trying to raise the price on us even after we were already paying higher than a Ugandan would. So ok....we resolved that.... so I thought everything was all good. But...no....little things have been happening that just make me so anxious to go back to my house with my own room and my own bed etc. Here they are (in no particularly foolish order):


1. I know I need to just suck it up but the random bugs and other creatures are so f'n disgusting. Now this isn't really the guesthouse's fault...and it is Africa...but we all have something in life that we're afraid of or especially makes our skin crawl. Bugs are it for me. (See Day 29) So last week I was so scared when we came home and found some nasty little creatures that I will refer to as roid roaches from now on. I will call them such because they had clearly been fed some type of steroids to be that damn big. I mean look at this pic and tell me them jawns aint on some eat-me-on-the-fear- factor-show type mess....Ugh....

Roid Roaches...cold chillin in my room

2. Things have been stolen from our room. Ok now nothing too major like my phone or laptop (y'all woulda seen me on CNN for killing everyone in this house if that were the case) but little stuff that really makes me suspicious of the people here. So at first it was these candies that we had sitting out on the side table. We would slowly see them disappear and then even the wrappers on the floor. Then one day I noticed that about 4-5 of the mangoes I had bought were gone and only one was left. It was pretty blatant and it was the principle of the matter that I was mad. The mangoes didnt cost that much (See Day 47) but to know someone was taking things without asking pissed me off. So I talked to the two guys that work here and they said they didnt do it, but the young guy that cleans the bathroom must have. They seemed pretty upset about it so I just kinda chalked it up. But then maybe a week later, the other fellow's converter went missing. It was in the powerstrip they gave us and when they took it back that's when the converter just disappeared. They say they don't have it but what the hell else happened to it? It didn't grow legs and walk away. We searched the whole room (i mean it aint that big) and it was nowhere to be found. So now we are careful to put away our valuables whenever we leave and check all our belongings to see if anything else gets taken.



3. I'm still kinda mad about how much they are charging us. So we recently told another TASO member about how much we pay and he was very shocked and even asked what services they were giving us. We said they give us breakfast 4 days a week and clean the room. He said thats rediculous. That we should def get breakfast everyday and even dinner for that price. Now I know I'm from the US and the cost is not much in our terms but I am a student who's working here for free and has no job waitin on me when I get back. I mean I'll get over it but its still annoying. And this leads me to number 4....



4. The fact that they think I am made of money and moreover they should get a piece of my "fortune". So two quick stories. One time one of the guys at the guesthouse was walking me to the local market in town. On the way back I asked him does he have an address so I can (and I quote) "send him something" when I get back home (i.e. a letter or a card). This man had the nerve to say well we have Western Unions in town. Slow ur roll homie.....I aint sendin u no money (this is what I was thinking). And these guys are living very nice here in Uganda...they are not struggling by ANY strecth of the word. Story number 2: So this weekend he comes into the room to change our sheets. I had a lot of stuff on the bed so I began to move my things. He sees my Palm Treo cell phone and here is the conversation that ensues:



Him: "What is that?" (As he picks it up)

Me: "It's a cell phone" After I notice him eyeing it a lil too long, "But you can't use it here in Uganda, it doesn't use a sim card"

Him: "Oh there's people that can break the code on it" (Continues to look at it and starts pressing buttons)

Me "Oh really?" (Not really caring...just kinda making conversation)

Him: "Yeah, how about you leave this one for me and you buy another one at home?"

Me: (nervous laughter) "Um.. no"

Him: "It is powerful!"

Me: "Yeah" (Reach over and slowly take phone away from him)....

This dude had the nerve to tell me to leave him my $600 (I didnt pay that much for it ...but still thats how much its worth) phone. Are u F'n kidding me?! What do you need a palm for? He literally sits in the guesthouse all day watching TV...maybe changing the sheets every few days. And what makes u think I can afford to be giving phones away all will nilly? You are not family or a needy person (he has a cell phone). You take my money for me to live in your guesthouse...thats the basis of our relationship...why the heck would I give u my phone??

Ok sorry I had to go off there for a bit....but that ish ticked me off. So that is a snapshot of what I'm dealin with here...LOL

Response to Comments:
Wendy: Wow @ the phone proposition and Yeah Ted told me :-/
Tina: Its crazy how rich they really think I am. I am a broke grad student that desperately needs a job when I get back....it def all evens out

Day 52: I got my hair did!

I got my hair did! It took about 4.5 hours and I only paid 10,000 shillings. Thats $5!! Are u F'n kidding me?

Me on the floor getting my hair done....

Me with the African outfit I bought with my hair done. Man I wish I could have my eyebrows done (lol)....that always goes great with a new hairdo....ah well....

Day 51: A bit of randomness

I thought I would take the time post this entry to show some of the randomness that is Uganda:

An ad on a building: Testes tho? Really? Spell check please....

A wooden dildo TASO uses to show clients how to use condoms

YES that is an Ostrich....with NO type of fence in between us....next to the road in a neighborhood (There are also camels at the Mosque around the corner)


Two Ken dolls and T rex in front of a store...posed.....like this...

I guess this is their brand name...at least there's no tree (=copyright infringement)

When u add y to end of words doesnt it mean full of ___(the word)? Help me out I'm not a grammar genius... So does this mean the store is full of ass?

A chicken with its chicks at one of the hotels we stayed at early on...cows, goats, and turkeys also roam the streets everywhere

There's really not even a need for captions for some of these pics...they are hilarious on their own...


Note: This is just a fraction of the random things I see, hear and experience everyday

Day 47: The Price is Right

So here in Africa the cost of living is hella cheap. When I really take the time to convert the shillings (Ugandan currency) into US Dollars its crazy how little you can spend to get by. Here are some examples of prices of things:







This case which I use to carry my camera in was 1500 shillings (75 cents)












These ear bud headphones were 3,000 shillings ($1.50)











This bunch of mangoes was 500 shillings (25 cents- about 4 cents each!). You can get a pineapple for 30 cents, a head of cabbage for 15 cents













This traditional Ugandan meal was about 2,000 shillings (1 dollar)








A meal when we go out to a nice Indian restaurant including an appetizer, an entree, nan (flat bread), rice, and a soda is no more than $6.50.


You can buy a pair of shoes or a 1.5 liter bottle of water for 1,000 shillings (50 cents)

This lady at TASO got micro braids for $6! I am going to get my hair braided twice before I leave...



I could really go on and on....

Day 43: Learning so much....

I am learning so much here at TASO! So pretty much we met with the center manager here and told him that there’s was no way we’d be able to finish this project AND 2 other ones with the 6+ weeks we have left. So we asked him if we could just focus on this Gender Based Violence project and then work on rolling out their Leadership training course at the center. He agreed and I am so glad! Finally I feel at ease because we are really going to produce a great report that they can use to improve their gender mainstreaming programming.

So between me and the other fellow, we already looked through 350 files’ counseling sessions from now back to 2004 for instances of Gender Based Violence (GBV). Now that we have the remaining weeks to work on this project we are going to interview counselors and clients about what they think is needed to address GBV at TASO. I am learning so much through this project because we looked through the files and we interviewed all the counselors we need to today. It is so interesting how the inequality of women in Africa affects their ability to seek out effective HIV/AIDS information. Many of the women’s husbands refuse to use condoms, force them into sex, have numerous co-wives or partners and abuse them. The husband will blame the wife for bringing HIV to the home even though he refuses to get testing and is the one that most likely gave her the virus.

And much of this is accepted as the norm. Its truly sad how little power many women have over here to protect themselves. Some women believe their husbands only loves them if they beat them (A sad and sobering thought that some women even have in the US). Or that it your fault you got raped just because you didnt feel like having sex with your husband. Women have so much farther to go in this world.....

I am grateful I was raised in a family full of strong women who all have their own opinions and don't take shit from anybody. Clearly it rubbed off on me...lol Ironically, the only woman (considering Mom, Aunts, and older female cousins) in my family that's still married is my sister. Is it that an African/Black man cannot handle a strong woman? Does he feel his manhood is threatened when a woman wants to take charge? Or can we really be that overbearing and controlling? Hmmmm.....

Day 42: I hate goodbyes

So yesterday was the last day the BC girls were here in Uganda. I was genuinely sad to see them go. We spent like every day and most weekend with them. They were some really cool ladies. I respected them because even though they are both really different from me they maintain who they are and what they think no matter what. I respect that alot. I got so many different perspectives from them on so many issues and it really made me realize that I need to open my mind to being friends more kinds of people.

I will miss them!

Also just wanted to share that on Tuesday I went to this store where they sell traditional African outfits and fabrics. I got one! Its so pretty and it was like $20. Thats crazy bc I know that people in MD that sell those outfits for like $150-200!! Go me!

Day 38 and 39: Rafting!

OMG! Rafting was WAAAAAY too much fun! I have never done anything like it before. I was so scared at certain times but I would definitely do it again!

I went on the grade 5 course but of course my raft ended up flipping on a grade 3 rapid :-? It was so SCARY! I though I was gonna drown or at least swallow a hellevu alot of water. But neither happened. LOL. I just almost had a heart attack...that's all. Me and the people I went with split a DVD and we're gonna try and burn it so we each have a copy. If you are my friend and live in the DC area...you WILL see this evidence of my rafting experience MANY times.

Me in my helmet and safety jacket before going rafting....I have no other evidence b/c I wasn't going to have my camera destroyed while falling in the water.

So besides the scary rapids, there was alot of calm time on the Nile just floating along. And man we did SO much rowing .....my arms are still sore (I know I'm outta shape). The natural beauty again is just so breathtaking. There were also alot of birds and even a gang of bats along the way. Man I am so glad I got to have that experience.

Pic of the Nile from the Bus :-/...still beautiful tho....

Also while in Jinja I got to do so much souveneir (sp?) shopping. I wanted to get like everything I saw. But I had to use self control but I think I'll be going back there before I come back to get more stuff.

All in all it was a great July 4th and we even had a BBQ the next day! Still can't wait to be back home but all these experiences have made this trip all the while!

We were gonna celebrate July 4th no matter what continent we're on!

Day 37: Rafting in Jinja this Weekend!

I'm excited becasue this weekend will be a major trip for me. I'm going rafting on the river Nile in Jinja, Uganda. Please pray for me because this is the first time I've done anything like this so it should be an experience I'll never forget! It will be a group of like 17 of us from the US and British Columbia so we're also going to be celebrating Independence Day and Canada Day. So the BBQ should be good times as well. You'll get updates and pictures on everything on Monday :-)

Day 32: Progress!

Sunday was pretty boring but I’m so happy because I’m making headway with my thesis (Culminating Experience). One of the TASO staff downloaded SPSS (statistical software) onto the work laptops for me! God Bless him. I have entered all of my data in there and even made like 12 graphs today. I have a couple more analyses to run and then I can get right into discussing the results. I already know many of the point I’m going to be writing and I plan to have a complete draft done in the next few weeks. I feel so great that I know I’ll be getting this damn thing over and done with this summer. J

Also its confirmed that on July 4th (this coming Saturday) I’m going to go to Jinja and go white water rafting on the Nile! I’ve never done anything like this so I’m sure it will be an experience and I’ll have lots of fun! Also another GW student who’s in Jinja wants to have a BBQ to celebrate July 4th even though we’re in Uganda. It should be a good time!

Two random comments:



1. In addition to Nigerian movies we watch Telemundo soap operas that have been dubbed in English and are all the rave in Uganda. My favorite is called El Cuerpo Deseo (Second Chance). They are very funny and actually quite addicting.



2. I want to go to South Africa next year for FIFA 2010 World Cup. They are always showing soccer here and it seems like it would be so much fun to go. Maybe for like a week or so and a couple games sounds good. Imma try and recruit you people to come with me….you’ve been warned… lol

Day 31:Ugandan “Wedding”

So I’m sure you’re wondering what’s the “ ” for? I’ll get to that in a little bit…. So we went to the “wedding” the guys’ sister from the guesthouse had on Saturday. Around 12:15 noon we leave with a driver and a few family members that live at the guest house gave us a ride at about 12:15 noon to the village about 20 mins away. When we get there we are clearly one of the few people that have arrived. Mind you the invitation says that it starts at 12 noon and they were expecting about 300 people. So we’re sitting around kinda just knowing that we will be sitting around for at least a couple more hours. We meet the bride and some other folks there and just kinda sit there. Here a few photos of the place:

There were at least 500 people there! See...we were the first people there lol

So here are the lovely restrooms. lol Its funny becasue there's not even a hole behind there. Its literally just grass behind them...I will never complain about a porta potty or public bathroom again!

So we’re waiting, waiting and waiting some more. Just chillin. Not getting mad or frustrated bc if you’ve read my previous entries you know that I have found it pointless to even get mad at stuff like that here. So around 2:30 I’m getting really hunry bc I only ate around 10 that morning (I knew I shoulda brought a granola bar or something). Still waiting. At about 4:30 the place is looking more packed people are waiting around (patiently might I add) for the ceremony to start. Most of the ceremony was in Luganda so I couldn’t understand some things. But long story short the whole thing was more like a play than weddings I’m used to. In fact, we found out by the end that it wasn’t even the wedding, this was just the introduction of the couple to the village. So it started off with the grrom’s family standing by the entrance and one of the bride’s family members (who was the MC on the mic) was giving him a hard time and asking him why it took so long for him to get there. Then there were several (and by several I mean at least 8 ) skits that were acted out that revolved around the man acting like he was going to pick from a group of girls who the bride should be to one of the bride’s aunt’s looking in the crowd for who the groom would be. It was cool because when the women came out they were dancing in a line and it reminded me of strolling lol. Imma try to post the video that I took of it at some point. So it was like a whole play acted out for the marrying couple. It was really interesting from what I could actually understand. But it was dragging on and on and on and I was getting hungrier and more lightheaded by the second.

These are the bride's maids coming through...strolling!

Another skit....They strollin it out...hard! Thats the bride towards the back in the teal outfit

So by the time the real bride and groom eventually “picked” each other out it was around 6:30 or so. Then the groom’s family presented the other family with gifts. Which was so cool. I have a video of that too. It was mad stuff!!

This was then followed by several other things like them introducing some people from each side of the family, exchanging engagement rings, feeding each other cake and taking bites from an apple. We ended up getting to eat at about 8 and I wish I wasn’t so hungry otherwise I woulda been able to enjoy the tail end of every thing better. But 10 hrs of not eating kinda got to me :-/

So we ended up eating in the house with the groom and he goes “You are most welcome and please come to the wedding. Its August 8th.” In my mind I was thinking I think I’ve had enough Ugandan weddings for a summer with this experience. I would love to go but I can’t sit through a 7 hr ceremony knowing I’m going to be starving. I’m glad to got to see the introduction ceremony though.


**DAMMIT THE VIDEOS WON'T LOAD :-( ...files are too big

Day 30: RIP Micheal Jackson :-(

I am in complete and total shock. I CANNOT believe Micheal Jackson is dead. When I was 9 years old I would always tell my mom that he was going to be my husband. I loved him. He is the greatest artist of our lifetime and has inspired countless of artists around the world. This totally came out of nowhere. My roommate’s husband told us at 7am our time (about 12 midnight Eastern US time) that he was dead. I am still in disbelief.

When I listen to anyone of his songs it reminds me of an event in my life. "Man in the Mirror" is my favorite song of all time and the entire Thriller and Dangerous albums are in my mp3 player. I feel like sudden deaths like these of people we look at as legends show us how precious life is. Live life to the fullest because you never know when it will be your time to go!

There will never be another artist like him in our lifetime...RIP MJ :-(

Day 29: Creepy Crawlies

Now there are very few things that I hate in this world. But bugs and other nasty little creatures are on my hate list. Anyone that’s been around me when a roach, centipede, or mouse is in the vicinity, has seen me freak out and scream the highest pitched scream you’ve ever heard in your life. So y’all know I am going through it in Africa!! lol

Here is a list of the nasty little bastards that have decided to leave nature and come into my bedroom, hotel room or TASO office since I’ve been here in Uganda:
- Cockroach/Water bugs
- Moths
- Grasshopper (screamed my head off)
- Mosquitoes (of course)
- Daddy Long Leg spiders
- Other spiders
- Chameleons
- Lizards

A Lizard outside/in nature where its supposed to be…

To me the Chameleons are the nastiest of them all. They are so ugly looking and they wiggle along the wall when they move (side to side…like a snake with legs) and stare at you with their beedy eyes. I just hate them! Last night I was screaming so loud when I saw one in the bathroom when I was showering. My roommate just laughed and said I sounded like someone was attacking me. Ugh!

Here’s one that was in our hotel room like the first night we were in Mbale. (it looks just like the one in our bathroom last night) Ewww…go back outside with the rest of nature!! >:-{

I know there are many more of these encounters to come so I gotta get it together and stop complaining :-/

Day 28:The Grand Tour

The title of this post is total sarcasm by the way. lol But I just realized I haven’t posted any pictures on where I’m living. So we are living in a guesthouse. Since we’ve gotten the whole money issue squared away they have been nothing but sweet to us. Rogers (one of the guys who runs the place) even invited us to his sister’s wedding on Saturday. You’ll definitely be seeing pics of that.

So its just one room that we share and a bathroom. We both have mosquito nets and they have been pretty good for us to not get bitten during the night.

That's my bed on the left

Also here is our bathroom. It tripped me out at first how the shower isn’t separate from the toilet area. But the fellow I’m with said its like that in Korea (where she’s from) too. So its not the Waldorf Astoria but I’m glad I have a decent and safe place to lay my head at night.

Our bathroom

Here’s a pic that we took today with other fellows from Nigeria and Sierra Leone who were here for about 4 weeks (Today was their last day). I have no clue why homeboy is not looking at the camera. No one else was taking a picture. LoL…Don’t it look like we’re related tho?…he’s the one from Sierra Leone.

Us Fellows at TASO

Also I apologize in advance for this disgusting random moment but I have to share it with y’all. So why did we see two stray dogs that grabbed wrapped up, used pads from a trash pile and were shredding them to pieces? I mean they were actin like it was sirloin steak….I could see blood (I know TMI) :-/ Yuck.

Day 25: Blasé

For the record: Hand washing numerous loads of clothes sucks ass….and makes my back and legs hurt….the end L

In other news, things are coming along slowly but surely at TASO. Me and the other fellow are getting through the client files and making progress. It’s so crazy sometimes to read through the counseling notes on some of the HIV/AIDS clients here. I mean the issues they face health wise and socially are really sad. From itchy skin, to their spouses refusing to use condoms…I even read about a client who said his wife hired someone to kill him and the guy ended up telling him about it! It’s just crazy. But I am learning so much working here at TASO (The AIDS Support Organization). I think this experience is really going to help me understand my work when I get back to the US. When I start an international development job I’ll be more aware of the challenges that are going on here and I know I’ll be able to do better at whatever job I end up getting.

Emotionally I’m still up and down. Its not anything that I wouldn’t be feeling in the US but I just have more time to think about everything. Most of y’all know it’s the usual…Family/Ex issues. I just wish we could wave a magic wand and get over any issues we had. But of course I know that’s the path of life…..dealing with and learning from our issues and hopefully becoming better people from what we learn. I’m praying that I can get over some of these things much sooner than later.

Tonight I’m supposed to be going to a nightclub called Club Oasis. I gotta see if Im still in the mood around 10. My body hurts and I’m just not feeling in a clubbing type mood. We’ll see though….if not tonight another night I’ll go with some TASO ppl. You’ll hear about the experience if I do go tho…. ;-)

Edited to Add: I ended up getting a major headache after washing all them clothes so I didn’t go out last night. My thighs are killing me too :-/ Maybe I’ll end up losing weight from washing my clothes….

Day 21: Stalled...

So there isn't much to update on b/c I still haven't gotten started on a project at TASO. Its always one thing after the other. It's our third week here and either people aren't at their offices to meet us (b/c they're "out in the field", at "outreach" or "on lunch), we don't get feedack on the next steps we're supposed to take, or someone forgot to tell us a crucial step in getting a certain task and we have more work to do. Don't get me wrong. People here at TASO are very sweet and super helpful. But everyone has so much on their plate that they aren't making enough time to get us started on our project. We are trying to review files of clients to identify instances of gender based violence to compile a report and hopefully help TASO tailor their HIV/AIDS programming more to this issue. BUT, we have have issue after issue after issue and still haven't been able to get any files to start looking through them! Grrrr....its frustrating sometimes. But honestly, I am just gonna go with the flow and if they don't help me help them there's not much else I can do.

The TASO Mbale Building where I work each day!

Yesterday was pretty fun bc we played volley ball with the BC girls and TASO staff...that was fun and definitely a stress reliever. I haven;t played volleyball since I was in High School! But I Still got it!

Other than that I'm trying to keep my spirits up and not think too much about all the things I miss. I have however started a mental list of all the foods I will be pigging out on once I get back. They are as follows:

1. Gladys Kinight's Chicken and Waffles (Specifically a "Midnight Train" with an "Uptown"...and scrambled eggs with cheese...look it up! lol)

2. Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuits

3. Bottom of the Sea (in Philly)- King Crab Legs with Broccoli, Baked Potato, and Corn on the Cob with lots of garlic butter and Old Bay Seasoning

4. Chipotle Burritto (Baracoa, Black Beans, Rice, Mild Salsa, Corn, Lots of Cheese, Lettuce , and Guacamole)

5. My Homemade Spagetti with Spinach, Zucchini, Onions, Garlic, a touch of sugar, and lots of Cheese on it

There is more to come.....stay tuned...lol

Day 17: Certain Realizations

With so much time to think and reflect on life I have come to a few realizations in the few weeks I have been here in Africa. My family is from Sierra Leone (in West Africa) and even though its quite a ways from Uganda (in East Africa) I am beginning to understand so many things about my family based on the way life is here. Suddenly I get why I never saw my Mom and Dad kiss or be lovey dovey with each other while growing up. I understand why my Aunt tells me to stop crying instead of holding me and letting me cry out my feelings when I talk to her about certain things. I understand why they can be harsh in some of the things they say and even lack emotion at times. Life is hard in Africa….point blank. The simplest things take 10 times the effort that it would in the US. Washing clothes, cooking food, transporting heavy items, travelling, getting clean water…I mean I could go on and on. And to do all this with the sun beating down on you at all times. There is no time to cry and think about your feelings when the physical labor is so tough. There is no time to ask about your emotions when there is so much to get done and its takes so long. I appreciate so much more the fact that my parents busted their asses to grow up in Africa and then come to the US which is so culturally different (and expensive and racist) to them to make a way for their children. I really wish I could tell both of them how proud I am for everything they sacrificed for me. And that I’m finally beginning to understand what it took for them to do so.

This trip is also solidifying the pride I have in being African and Black. There is no other people on the face of this earth that could’ve endured slavery and all that it entailed. African people are so strong and hard working….and can even put a smile on their face when doing so. I am so happy to be here and it makes this trip even more special to me to come to all these understandings while here.

Day 14: Yet another lesson in patience

At first the change of pace in Africa was refreshing but now its getting ridiculous at times. In the US, we are always in a rush and we always have to get things done at warp speed. Well here it doesn’t quite work that way.

So yesterday we decided to have lunch at a restaurant called Oasis of Life, a “British-European Cuisine” place. I really wanted to just have a regular meal and something that was fulfilling and tasted good. So we get there at about 1:30pm…..The other 3 girls ordered spaghetti/pasta dishes and I ordered a chicken/potatoes/vegetable meal. Why did it take an hour and a half for our food to come? And it’s not like we had bread or a salad to munch on in the meantime. I was like did they go out back kill the chicken and then bring it to the table? It was so ridiculous because we had to get back to work…but again there was no point in even being mad. In the US you could complain and maybe they’ll discount your food or even make it free. Here they would probably smile or laugh at you if you got mad for that. And to add insult to injury the food wasn’t even good. The pasta was mad overcooked and sticky and my dish didn’t really have any flavor. Oasis of Life my ass…..Never again.

Just in general the theme here seems to be waiting for someone. Like one time at work a guys told us he’d be back in 5 minutes. 2 hours later he showed up to talk to us about TASO stuff. We told the guy here at the guesthouse that we’d need our breakfast by 8am (latest) so we could get to work by 8:30….here he comes at 8:25 (only after we asked him about breakfast around 8:05) with eggs, fruit and tea….not even a Continental breakfast. It’s clearly a cultural thing and this is why black people have CP time so ingrained in our culture. But this is like another level of CP time. Its gonna take much more time to get used to.

Day 12 and 13: Money Talks and More Beauty

Monday I got an understanding of how no matter what cultural differences there may be…money speaks the same language and changes things. So when we got to this guesthouse we came to an agreement that we would be paying 25,000 shillings per day (a little more than $6 each per day) to stay here these 3 months. Now me and the other fellow are sharing a room so we asked if they could bring another bed into the room for us. They said ‘no problem’…but apparently it was. So they said their boss said bc we needed an extra bed they needed to raise the price to 30,000 per day. Despite the fact that we already agreed to 25, 000 per day. So that would be about $45 extra for each of us each month. Now I know it doesn’t seem like a lot but in Uganda that could be someone’s weekly salary and for 2 broke grad students who are volunteering in Africa that is not chump change! So to make a long story short we decided we didn’t want to pay that amount and we were also afraid that they might try to bring up another reason to increase the price down the line if we agreed to pay more this time. Many people here think just because we are from America that we are rich. If I transferred all my money from the US and chose to live here I would be well off, but I do have to go back to DC where I am far from rich and don’t have a job yet and need to get one…. FAST! So to make a long story short we told the guys that run the house we are students and we really can’t pay extra and they talked to the owner and he says that we can just keep paying the 25,000. Also the guys told the owner that they like us and we have been good guests here. So that possible stress of having to move and find another place has been avoided. I’m glad (and truly hope) that our housing is finally finalized bc I honestly didn’t feel like having to go through the whole process of finding another place and having to resettle and have a new routine. So…. whew!

Yesterday was a public holiday (Hero’s Day) so we had the day off again. We along with the other students from the British Columbia and TASO staff went to Sipi Falls and Kapchorwo (a town outside of Mbale) to take in the sights there.

The Crew of British Columbia Students, TASO staff and I

Again, I am so blown away at the natural beauty I am so privileged to witness here. It’s incredible to see what God has created and has been for the most part undisturbed by man. I swear the pictures don’t even do it justice. The vibrant sight of the trees and birds, the sounds of the waterfall, the clean and pure smell of the air…..I just can’t capture all that in a photo. It is so beautiful in person and truly peaceful to be in the midst of it all. I wish I could magically teleport to these places whenever I felt stressed or sad about anything. Random….I know. But it is really that amazing. All in all a pretty peaceful day. Also I’m pretty sure I’m going to Jinja to go white water rafting on the Nile river this weekend….so that should be fun and more pictures to come!

The Beauty of Sipi Falls is not even fully captured in this pic!

This man made bridge was sturdy yet rickety at the same time and kinda reminded me of that bridge in Indiana Jones (the old one)

I wish I could teleport here whenever I’m stressed!! Uganda is SO beautiful!

Day 11: Slow Pace and a Glimpse at Beauty

So last night I wrote a To Do list for today (Saturday) which I often do back in the US. So why was it only 2 items long? lol One was wash my underwear and the other was work on my CE (aka Culminating Experience- the thesis I have to complete to officially finish my MPH). So hand washing my draws wasn’t too bad but yet again I will appreciate having a washing machine at home so much more! For my CE I am going to analyze data from the internship I worked at in MD. I’m glad I brought all the information I need for that because I didn’t want to wait for TASO to give me data. Things work at a VERY SLOW pace over here! So I have to write up a 30 page paper to finish up my thesis which I feel pretty confident I will get done.

**The Waterfalls on the mountain were beautiful!**

Today I also got a chance to go to Nkokojeru aka Wanale Ridge, a part of the Mount Elgon mountain range. It was so beautiful and helps me appreciate this trip so much more. Yes I miss the comforts of home, but there is nothing like this in DC. I really hope to add some pictures when I get extended time on a computer here. I swear it looked like we were getting a glimpse of heaven at the top of that mountain. It was just so breathtakingly beautiful. I also took some video of it because photos just didn’t do it justice. It was so peaceful and the natural beauty of the landscape just helps me realize just how gorgeous Africa and particularly Uganda is. I am so grateful to be able to see things like this. I was a bit sad before we went here and all my worries just went away when I stood on top of that mountain. I’m also thinking I want to go to Jinja to go rafting on the Nile at some time on this trip. Even though its not in my budget its not too expensive (less than $100), and it a once in a lifetime opportunity for me, so I might as well do it. I’m hoping I get to experience even more of the natural surroundings while I’m here.

**The view was so peaceful and it felt serene**

Day 9: The Authentic experience

OMG! What a nightmare of a day. I was really starting to love this country and then today happened. Don’t get me wrong. I still appreciate all the natural beauty of the country and the nice people and all that but damn there ain’t nothing like the US of A. Now my frat brother Lenny has been basically telling me to stop skatin and suck it up while I’m here. But the Africans here go hard! Too hard for my taste….lol


So anyway today me and the other fellow had to go to the TASO Jinja center (about an hour and a half from Mbale) to attend a workshop. We pretty much got there on our own (with some guidance from TASO staff) through one of the buses that leaves town to head there. The ride was ok even tho the bus was mad rickety and bootleg. I also got a chance to ride a boda-boda (motorbike) when we got to Jinja on our way to the TASO center. It was pretty fun and not as scary as I thought it would be. **


The first part of the workshop was interesting because I got to learn about a study they conducted seeing whether there was any differences between their facility and home based HIV/AIDS care. I also got to learn about how I will be helping with rolling out their Leadership Training course in Mbale, also among their 11 centers around Uganda.


The funniest part of the day was when the managers of TASO Jinja were recognized for all their hard work in the organization. It was so hilarious because instead of a plaque or certificate or a pat on the back they gave each lady a chicken. Like a live chicken still clucking and feathered in a plastic bag! LOL It was so cute and was just so unexpected. **I Have pics I swear I will upload them as soo as possible!!

Hilarious!!

But let me skip real quick to the evening’s events to explain why Africa is hazing the hell outta me. So after the workshop we were trying to figure out how we were going to get back to Mbale. One of the TASO staff from Tororro (a town about 2 hours north of Mbale) was like let’s go to the taxi (mini buses) park to see if you guys can catch one back to Mbale. So we get to the park and there is a taxi waiting there under the Mbale sign. We don’t get on bc the guy from TASO said that they may stop before they reach Mbale so we’d be stranded and the people in whatever random town/village may not speak good English and be able to help us. So then homeboy tries to say we may need to spend the night in Jinja. Um….hell no! I was like I’m sorry we don’t have money for accommodations so we can’t do that. I really didn’t bring enough money for that, clothes for that and just wanted to head back to Mbale. So then he said lets walk up to the main road and see if we can stop a taxi that could be on its way to Mbale. So after about 15 mins of walking a taxi stops and we tell them we’re going to Mbale and they pick us up. So I feel a bit better cuz I’m like yay we’re heading back to our room now. Um….no. So we’re stopping like every 2 minutes to see whether people along the road want to get on because the taxi was only about half way full when we got on. Which is ok bc I understand they are trying to get as many passengers as possible . But then we get to a town called Iganga (about 20 mins from Jinja, still an hour and some change from Mbale) and the taxi stops. The guys (about 3) get out of the taxi (which fits about 15 people comfortably) and start yelling “Mbale! Mbale!” Which I’m like ok go ahead y’all...get ur hustle on for about the first 25 mins. In the meantime I bought some roasted corn and meat (goat I believe) on a stick from some kids selling it around the taxi. Then after about 45 mins I was starting to get restless and my butt was getting numb from sitting in this cramped vehicle. The full blown anger set in after about 1.5 hrs of waiting there. However there was nothing I could do. So I just sat there and was thinking the whole time “Never again… Never again…” Now our full taxi was becoming over full and they were still calling people to get on. By the time we rolled away I counted 25 people/kids in that van altogether. I know they are trying to make their money but goodness gracious God forbid something happened on the road… Anyway that 1.5 hr trip ended up taking 4 hrs, was mad uncomfortable and I will never do it again. I’m really mad TASO made us go on a work related trip like that with no guaranteed mode of transportation back. Imma have to speak my mind to them on that later on. But yeah I am exhausted and just realizing that there are so many things I will appreciate much more back in the states. (Bus schedules (that the drivers stick to), One butt per seat on said buses, and no random detours on a given route). Lord willing I get a good job when I get back and I can buy a car…but on this trip NO MORE TAXIS!!!

Day 7 and 8: Settling in

I have felt so much better these past few days. I owe many thanks to my friends that have kept my spirits up in this first week. J You guys will never know how much the comments and facebook messages meant to me during this adjustment phase. It was rough but I know it will only get better from here. I have felt so much better since starting at TASO on Monday. The 3 things I will be focusing on during these 3 months are: gender based violence programming, post-conflict programming and discordant couple (google it) reporting. The people here at TASO and Uganda in general are SO friendly and helpful. They are quick to help and make sure we feel welcome at all times.

**

Tuesday, one of the program officers Robert Kidando went through what they need us to do in order to help them report on gender based violence among their HIV clients. So we’ll be focusing on that topic during the month of June. I really feel we will be able to contribute to their goal of exposing the fact that some women are having trouble accessing TASO’s services because of pressure and violence from their spouses. I’ve also loved coming into work because our office in TASO is also right next to where the Drama group practices their songs, dances, and plays that are therapeutic for them and also help educate people about HIV/AIDS. I’m going to ask if I can record them one day and post that. They are so talented and I love the traditional music.

**

Today was a national holiday in Uganda (Martyr’s Day), so we didn’t have to work. There are two other girls from the Biritsh Columbia University (in Vancouver, Canada) who are doing a program through their school that brings them to work with TASO for 6 weeks in Mbale. They live with a host family here and so the young guy (Alan) who lives in the house took us around Mbale a bit today. It was pretty fun because we went to the Sports club in town played some pool and chilled out a bit. The view from there was gorgeous (like it is everywhere in this country)

After that we went back to the house and the ladies there cooked for us. It was SO delicious! The best Ugandan food I’ve had since I’ve been here! After watching DVDs of The Secret Life of American Teenagers (an ABC family show that apparently Alan is obsessed with watching) for a couple of hours, Alan took us down to the river that runs through town. It was so so hot but it was beautiful to see more of the town and its natural beauty.

He said he would go to Mt. Elgon with us and take us to the waterfalls that are there..I can’t wait!! It was cool getting to talk to Alan about Ugandan culture and their views about a lot of things. HE also asked me a lot of questions like whether I ever met David Beckham (lol), why Usher, Jay-Z, and Beyonce don’t ever some to perform in Uganda (lol), and why some ignorant people think Africa is one big country instead of continent, I am really starting to feel like I am going to love this place and even miss it when I’m ready to leave. I even think I’m getting used to the cold showers. It feels great after walking in the hot sun during the day. I’m just going to remain positive, relish this experience and grow from it. I know I’m going to return to the US with a whole new perspective on EVERYTHING.

Random thought: Another thing that has been highly entertaining during this time is the Nigerian movies and TV shows they show here in the guesthouse. I mean they are pure comedy. I know everybody has at least one Nigerian friend. You MUST ask them to watch one of these movies. The acting is so extra (like people are always yelling lol), the video and sound quality is terrible, the music is so random (like it doesn’t match the scene going on), and the story lines are hilarious. I have thoroughly enjoyed watching these here. lol

Day 5: More clarity

Yesterday we went out with a counselor from TASO named Peter to look for our housing. This man is a God send! He showed us a couple houses but we didn't feel too comfortable with their security and the fact that we'd have to buy beds, a fridge, and major household stuff like that. So we asked if we could talk to a manager of a guesthouse (like a hostel) and work a deal out to stay for the 3 months. Man....Peter went to bat for us! He got us a deal where we'd be paying 25,000 shillings (about $7) a day each....that's about $190 per month! Also we'd get breakfast 4 days out of the week. I'm gonna be sharing the room with the other fellow I came with but its okay. I can deal with sharing a room for just 3 months. Although it would be nice to just be by myself sometimes. So that is handled and I'm very glad we don't have to worry about that other stuff. The place is also about 1/2 mile from TASO so I can walk to and from work, hopefully contributing to some weight loss lol Anyway things are coming together better and that is taking some anxiety away. I am still having trouble sleeping bc I keep thinking about my issues and also crying alot. I hope its not side effects of any medication I'm taking :-/ Hopefully things will get better once we start working steadily....

Day 4: Ups and Downs

Saturday was good and rough at the same time. We made our way from Kampala the capital to Mbale where we'll be staying. I was kinda scared bc the driver was going 130km/hr! lol But we made it there in one piece. The natural beauty of the country was overwhelming. I had never been around that man y trees and they just seemed so much more vibrantly green than I've seen before (stay tuned for pics!). That night though, I got pretty sad bc of ex and family issues and the fact I didn't have friends or tv/internet to distract me made me face and feel all my emotions head on. After crying it all out I felt relieved and hope I'll feel better as the summer goes on.

That night we also got to talk to Mr Kimera (project manager in TASO Mbale) about our interests ans also what type of projects we might work on. I'm excited because I'll most likely get to visit the refugee camps they have in Gulu (Northern Uganda). He also said they have a psychiatirc unit near the TASO center where I could learn more about the psychosocial programming and other mental health programs.