Ok, not really... but this will be my last blog before coming home. I seriously cannot believe that this is my last full day in Gulu. I am quite sad. We leave for Murchenson Falls tomorrow at 2:00, will safari on Sunday morning and drive the dreadfully bumpy road back to Kampala in the afternoon. It's gonna suck! We will spnd one night in Kampala at Backpackers Hostel and then off to Jinja where we will raft down the Nile and for the brave - bungee jumping! I will be brave that day as it is one of the few (three?) places in the world you can still legally jump and touch the water.
I am wondering around the town on Gulu for now quietly reflecting and sucking down a Splash juice box - orange flavor. I'm not sure what to write about my time here... I'm much better at storytelling in person. Besides, the power is not here, hasn't been here for two days and internet is expensive because it is being run by generators. I will tell you this:
My trip here has been amazing and I have found myself comfortable here, even developing a routine that will be hard to shake. I will miss my school, my American roomates that are now my family and my new Ugandan friends. There is a happiness here that seeps into you - even through the stories of war and troubled times. I'm excited to come back and find a new place to live and start the school year, but this place will not be easy to leave. I will see you all soon with tons of pics and stories enough to drive you nuts. (750 at last count - but i won't make you sit through them all - I'll give you the 'good parts version') Wish you all could see the sky here today, it is open and full of cotton clouds like the ocean after a storm. I will see you all soon, hopefully over margaritas and mexican food! love you all! Jo
Dave - I would love to discuss the crazy arabic keyboards here and the trouble with typing at an internet cafe in Uganda, but I only have 6 minutes left. I can't wait to see you and exchange stories, hope Ireland and rugby were grand! WE need a dive bar hop soon!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Monday, July 21, 2008
oh... i have a confession
Ok... so I posted my last blog and a few days later I was looking through my pics and realized I lied to you all! I wasn't actually wearing my crocs for the big hike... I forgot I changed right before we went up. I wore my running shoes instead. Don't hate me... I still wear my crocs on a daily basis. They still rock.
Today is Monday and we got back yesterday from a Rhino Sanctuary. We hiked out to stand 35ish feet from 5 of them! It was like the Wild Animal Park with no gates, bars or being in the tram. It was kinda awesome, but hte ride was about an hour and a half longer then we expected. My butt was so numb! I am walking into the market to pick up a few things and my skirt i had made. I am not teaching this week because the Senoir 4 girl have O level exams. I am going to sit in on some other classes, observe the teaching college and primary school. (i feel like i wrote that last time?)
I joined our girls today to wash clothes and last night a few of us helped make chipati (like tortillas!) I can't believe it's only 10 days left. My tile is quickly running out yet again and i want to post a few pics. Love you all! Joyce, I had a stand up shower yesterday and actually used conditioner! You're right, can't wait for the bath... I'll be washing red dirt off of me for weeks!
See you in 10 days! love jo
Today is Monday and we got back yesterday from a Rhino Sanctuary. We hiked out to stand 35ish feet from 5 of them! It was like the Wild Animal Park with no gates, bars or being in the tram. It was kinda awesome, but hte ride was about an hour and a half longer then we expected. My butt was so numb! I am walking into the market to pick up a few things and my skirt i had made. I am not teaching this week because the Senoir 4 girl have O level exams. I am going to sit in on some other classes, observe the teaching college and primary school. (i feel like i wrote that last time?)
I joined our girls today to wash clothes and last night a few of us helped make chipati (like tortillas!) I can't believe it's only 10 days left. My tile is quickly running out yet again and i want to post a few pics. Love you all! Joyce, I had a stand up shower yesterday and actually used conditioner! You're right, can't wait for the bath... I'll be washing red dirt off of me for weeks!
See you in 10 days! love jo
Friday, July 18, 2008
It's raining!!
Hello all!
I just took my first bota ride in the rain! I had to sit side saddle because I'm wearing a skirt so my right side is soaked and my left is quite dry. It rocked! I was done teaching at 9:00 today so I am spending the rest of the day wandering around town... in my crocs! OH, and if you look closely at the pic of me and the Sacred Heart girls you will see my crocs in all their glory! I am wearing them now... in fact they are all that I wear. Last week I hiked up 3,000 feet in them and only slipped once! At one point I was pulling myself up the side of a rock with a vine. I wanted to do the Tarzan yell, but I feared I would fall.
We have only one week left here in Gulu and next week is the O level exams for Senior Four girls so I will not be teaching much. I am hoping to observe at the primary school and the teaching college on our compound. I have also volunteered to take pics of others teaching, which means I get to see them in action. I'm looking forward to that. We will be leaving tomorrow to visit a rhino sancuary 2 hours from here. We get to hike out and "find" the rhinos. They will point us in the right direction and we will walk up to them... we are so adventurous!
I got to meet my namesake on Wednesday... she looks just like me!!! (hehe) Actually she is quite beautiful, though I am biased. I cannot post pics very easily because my flashdrive had gotten a virus. I can post when I am with someone who has their computer with them, but today I am working formt the internet cafe's comp. I will try to post some before I leave, and I will be sharing them all when I get home.
I am going to the market today if the weather clears a little. I am looking for fabric to get a skirt made. They have so many tailors here, it was a program to train Ugandans, but now there are too many tailors and not enough business!
We are having a party at our house tonight with all of the teachers. It was going to be a small little meeting, but Sister offered us the dining commons as a dance hall. Should be fun!
I must run. Keep the comments coming, I love them! Can't wait to see you all in two weeks or so! Love Jo
I'll try to fix Casey's link! thanks Joann!
I just took my first bota ride in the rain! I had to sit side saddle because I'm wearing a skirt so my right side is soaked and my left is quite dry. It rocked! I was done teaching at 9:00 today so I am spending the rest of the day wandering around town... in my crocs! OH, and if you look closely at the pic of me and the Sacred Heart girls you will see my crocs in all their glory! I am wearing them now... in fact they are all that I wear. Last week I hiked up 3,000 feet in them and only slipped once! At one point I was pulling myself up the side of a rock with a vine. I wanted to do the Tarzan yell, but I feared I would fall.
We have only one week left here in Gulu and next week is the O level exams for Senior Four girls so I will not be teaching much. I am hoping to observe at the primary school and the teaching college on our compound. I have also volunteered to take pics of others teaching, which means I get to see them in action. I'm looking forward to that. We will be leaving tomorrow to visit a rhino sancuary 2 hours from here. We get to hike out and "find" the rhinos. They will point us in the right direction and we will walk up to them... we are so adventurous!
I got to meet my namesake on Wednesday... she looks just like me!!! (hehe) Actually she is quite beautiful, though I am biased. I cannot post pics very easily because my flashdrive had gotten a virus. I can post when I am with someone who has their computer with them, but today I am working formt the internet cafe's comp. I will try to post some before I leave, and I will be sharing them all when I get home.
I am going to the market today if the weather clears a little. I am looking for fabric to get a skirt made. They have so many tailors here, it was a program to train Ugandans, but now there are too many tailors and not enough business!
We are having a party at our house tonight with all of the teachers. It was going to be a small little meeting, but Sister offered us the dining commons as a dance hall. Should be fun!
I must run. Keep the comments coming, I love them! Can't wait to see you all in two weeks or so! Love Jo
I'll try to fix Casey's link! thanks Joann!
Monday, July 14, 2008
1/2 Way Gone!
AHH!!! My time here is 1/2 way gone and I'm sad to think of leaving. My apple pie came out pretty good! I've promised to make another before we leave because not everyone got to taste it. Yesterday's BBQ was great! We improvised Enchiladas, antipasta, guacamole (the avocados here are amazing!, hot dogs, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and mac and cheese. We played volleyball and the dance group Heals came to perform traditional dances for the high schoolers! It was a pretty great day! I've got to run now, my time has slipped away from me and we are eating dinner at the Acholi Inn tonight with the high schoolers from America. Love you all! Aber Jolene
Friday, July 11, 2008
Crazy Strange Newness!!
Oh! I just linked the blogs of my fellow travelers so check them out. Many of them make it to the internet much more often then I do... some are even better writers, hard to believe, I know!
So I mentioned that my teacher, Sarah, had a baby girl, but here is the crazy news... she named the baby Jolene. So very cool, and strange and awesome! I have yet to meet this mini-me, but I will this weekend. I don’t know her Acholi name yet either. Everyone here has two names, their Acholi name and their Christian name. We were given names on our first night in Gulu, mine was Aber (pronounced Abay). It means pretty one or good one. I’ll take it! My teacher’s first daughter Winsey shares my Acholi name. Sarah says this makes us twins... except that I’m seven years older!
Tomorrow our school, Sacred Heart, is having a Homecoming celebration. Old students will be coming to celebrate and check out the school. The girls spent all day cleaning and getting the school ready. It is a boarding school, so all of the students live there as well. My new teacher Rosemary is a dorm teacher so she invited me to come and inspect the dorms. The dorms are basically one big airplane-hanger like building split into four sections by a wall that reaches ½ way up. Each section houses 36 bunk beds pushed two together, with trunks lining the walkway and mosquito nets and laundry hanging from the rafters.
Rosemary was not happy with the way that it looked because there were towels hanging from the end of the beds and the cobwebs had yet to be swept. She said she will come in early tomorrow to check again. We have to report tomorrow at 9:00 am for prayer. Christianity is taught in most schools here and is talked of often socially. It is assumed that everyone is religious here, most are Christian of some sort or Muslim. It is so strange to here it referenced in English class!
We have eaten a feast tonight... let me tell you about the food I have eaten! Tonight we ate a fish, I think it was Tilapia? I asked Nancy how she prepared it and she said they just set it out in the sun for a day or two and then salt and fry it. Picture the fish in piles, drying on the side of the road with the eyes blankly staring at you. It is so freaking good!! We ate this mixture of g-nut paste (peanut butter-ish) and vegetables, which was strangely good! Kasava, a bland version of potato, but really good warm with butter or hot sauce. Bo, tastes like spinach and other greens mixed. Rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans.... forever rice and beans! And not refried beans either – just beans. Of course, that is dinner. For lunch everyday at school we are offered Posho and beans. Posho is a mixture of millet and maize. It’s like a really thick, bland porridge. Today I had a peanut and jelly sandwich back at the house! It was soo good!
Actually, people keep feeding us here so I’m certainly not starving! Who ever said I would be loosing weight here was so very wrong. I’m going to come back heavier, gasier and smellier! I average one bath every three days... don’t get me wrong, I do baby wipe off every morning!! I also usually wash my feet every night before bed. Last night my roommates laughed at my feet because the bottoms were so red they looked black!!
Oh and for those of you who mocked my crocs, they rock!! I wear them everywhere and my feet are nice and comfortable... I do think they may be starting to smell a bit though. I can’t tell, the common smell is a mixture of baby wipe, deet and sunscreen. In fact we are going hiking this Saturday afternoon and I will be sporting my rocking crocs!! Those, and a long sleeve shirt and pants. I only have four bug bites and I got three in the last two days. I think it was from playing volleyball out on the lawn out front.
We are having an American picnic on Sunday and we invited all of the Ugandan teachers to come. We will be trying to make American food in Uganda which is not always easy! Most of our food is cooked over a wood fire out back. Bre made Chipati (like a thick tortilla) yesterday morning for breakfast. I took pics! I’m going to try and make an apple pie. I don’t even know if we have a pie pan! This should be an adventure!
I miss you all, but am enjoying my time here! Can’t wait to share stories with you all!
Love and apwoyo!
Jolene
So I mentioned that my teacher, Sarah, had a baby girl, but here is the crazy news... she named the baby Jolene. So very cool, and strange and awesome! I have yet to meet this mini-me, but I will this weekend. I don’t know her Acholi name yet either. Everyone here has two names, their Acholi name and their Christian name. We were given names on our first night in Gulu, mine was Aber (pronounced Abay). It means pretty one or good one. I’ll take it! My teacher’s first daughter Winsey shares my Acholi name. Sarah says this makes us twins... except that I’m seven years older!
Tomorrow our school, Sacred Heart, is having a Homecoming celebration. Old students will be coming to celebrate and check out the school. The girls spent all day cleaning and getting the school ready. It is a boarding school, so all of the students live there as well. My new teacher Rosemary is a dorm teacher so she invited me to come and inspect the dorms. The dorms are basically one big airplane-hanger like building split into four sections by a wall that reaches ½ way up. Each section houses 36 bunk beds pushed two together, with trunks lining the walkway and mosquito nets and laundry hanging from the rafters.
Rosemary was not happy with the way that it looked because there were towels hanging from the end of the beds and the cobwebs had yet to be swept. She said she will come in early tomorrow to check again. We have to report tomorrow at 9:00 am for prayer. Christianity is taught in most schools here and is talked of often socially. It is assumed that everyone is religious here, most are Christian of some sort or Muslim. It is so strange to here it referenced in English class!
We have eaten a feast tonight... let me tell you about the food I have eaten! Tonight we ate a fish, I think it was Tilapia? I asked Nancy how she prepared it and she said they just set it out in the sun for a day or two and then salt and fry it. Picture the fish in piles, drying on the side of the road with the eyes blankly staring at you. It is so freaking good!! We ate this mixture of g-nut paste (peanut butter-ish) and vegetables, which was strangely good! Kasava, a bland version of potato, but really good warm with butter or hot sauce. Bo, tastes like spinach and other greens mixed. Rice and beans, rice and beans, rice and beans.... forever rice and beans! And not refried beans either – just beans. Of course, that is dinner. For lunch everyday at school we are offered Posho and beans. Posho is a mixture of millet and maize. It’s like a really thick, bland porridge. Today I had a peanut and jelly sandwich back at the house! It was soo good!
Actually, people keep feeding us here so I’m certainly not starving! Who ever said I would be loosing weight here was so very wrong. I’m going to come back heavier, gasier and smellier! I average one bath every three days... don’t get me wrong, I do baby wipe off every morning!! I also usually wash my feet every night before bed. Last night my roommates laughed at my feet because the bottoms were so red they looked black!!
Oh and for those of you who mocked my crocs, they rock!! I wear them everywhere and my feet are nice and comfortable... I do think they may be starting to smell a bit though. I can’t tell, the common smell is a mixture of baby wipe, deet and sunscreen. In fact we are going hiking this Saturday afternoon and I will be sporting my rocking crocs!! Those, and a long sleeve shirt and pants. I only have four bug bites and I got three in the last two days. I think it was from playing volleyball out on the lawn out front.
We are having an American picnic on Sunday and we invited all of the Ugandan teachers to come. We will be trying to make American food in Uganda which is not always easy! Most of our food is cooked over a wood fire out back. Bre made Chipati (like a thick tortilla) yesterday morning for breakfast. I took pics! I’m going to try and make an apple pie. I don’t even know if we have a pie pan! This should be an adventure!
I miss you all, but am enjoying my time here! Can’t wait to share stories with you all!
Love and apwoyo!
Jolene
Monday, July 7, 2008
Happy 4th of July!! (belated)
It is Sunday!! Happy belated 4th of July all! We all almost forgot here, until we saw Aaron’s nametag at the conference which had the message along with little fireworks drawn in. I missed celebrating on Friday but we had the teaching conference with all of the American teachers and Ugandan teachers that morning and an article review discussion right afterwards at 5, we were all talked out and just ended up coming home and playing cards. I don’t even miss tv here because it feels like we are camping. There are 11 of us staying here and we are getting along pretty well for people who have been out of the dorms for quite a few years!
We ended up having a mini-celebration Sat. afternoon after the 2nd day of the conference. We all went over to the IC house, where everyone else is staying and played volleyball, cards, hung out, napped in front of the fan! (We don’t have one and it gets pretty humid here right before the rain… at least for the west coast people it’s humid!) We looked into buying one, but it was going to cost around 50,000 shillings which is like $55.00 for a really basic fan. We decided against it.
My teacher, Amono Sarah, gave birth on Wednesday night to a baby girl! Which is awesome and not. This means that I will have to find a new teacher to work with. So far I plan to stay with one of Sarah’s classes, work with another geography teacher, and hopefully get involved with the teacher training college that we live next door to. I observed on of their classes last week and I am going again on Monday. I really would like to know how teachers are trained here, because what we IC peeps have noticed is that lecture is the main method of teaching.
Most of our teachers lecture and give notes and the students copy notes, there is very little participation from the students in most classes. The students are extremely respectful to all teachers but the student-teacher relationship we enjoy in the states is lacking in the classroom here. It will be interesting to see how this develops as I get to work more with all of the teachers. I miss you all, but am loving it here! I will have so many stories to tell when I return I will bore you all to tears!
By the way!
I haven’t showered in three days… you’d be surprised how fresh you feel with a baby wipe bath! Jealous I couldn’t hang out with you all for July 4th! Love the comments! Will answer the questions as I can, but I’m on Allison’s computer and she is waiting for it back!
Talk soon!
Apwoyo!
Jolene
We ended up having a mini-celebration Sat. afternoon after the 2nd day of the conference. We all went over to the IC house, where everyone else is staying and played volleyball, cards, hung out, napped in front of the fan! (We don’t have one and it gets pretty humid here right before the rain… at least for the west coast people it’s humid!) We looked into buying one, but it was going to cost around 50,000 shillings which is like $55.00 for a really basic fan. We decided against it.
My teacher, Amono Sarah, gave birth on Wednesday night to a baby girl! Which is awesome and not. This means that I will have to find a new teacher to work with. So far I plan to stay with one of Sarah’s classes, work with another geography teacher, and hopefully get involved with the teacher training college that we live next door to. I observed on of their classes last week and I am going again on Monday. I really would like to know how teachers are trained here, because what we IC peeps have noticed is that lecture is the main method of teaching.
Most of our teachers lecture and give notes and the students copy notes, there is very little participation from the students in most classes. The students are extremely respectful to all teachers but the student-teacher relationship we enjoy in the states is lacking in the classroom here. It will be interesting to see how this develops as I get to work more with all of the teachers. I miss you all, but am loving it here! I will have so many stories to tell when I return I will bore you all to tears!
By the way!
I haven’t showered in three days… you’d be surprised how fresh you feel with a baby wipe bath! Jealous I couldn’t hang out with you all for July 4th! Love the comments! Will answer the questions as I can, but I’m on Allison’s computer and she is waiting for it back!
Talk soon!
Apwoyo!
Jolene
Happy 4th of July!! (belated)
It is Sunday!! Happy belated 4th of July all! We all almost forgot here, until we saw Aaron’s nametag at the conference which had the message along with little fireworks drawn in. I missed celebrating on Friday but we had the teaching conference with all of the American teachers and Ugandan teachers that morning and an article review discussion right afterwards at 5, we were all talked out and just ended up coming home and playing cards. I don’t even miss tv here because it feels like we are camping. There are 11 of us staying here and we are getting along pretty well for people who have been out of the dorms for quite a few years!
We ended up having a mini-celebration Sat. afternoon after the 2nd day of the conference. We all went over to the IC house, where everyone else is staying and played volleyball, cards, hung out, napped in front of the fan! (We don’t have one and it gets pretty humid here right before the rain… at least for the west coast people it’s humid!) We looked into buying one, but it was going to cost around 50,000 shillings which is like $55.00 for a really basic fan. We decided against it.
My teacher, Amono Sarah, gave birth on Wednesday night to a baby girl! Which is awesome and not. This means that I will have to find a new teacher to work with. So far I plan to stay with one of Sarah’s classes, work with another geography teacher, and hopefully get involved with the teacher training college that we live next door to. I observed on of their classes last week and I am going again on Monday. I really would like to know how teachers are trained here, because what we IC peeps have noticed is that lecture is the main method of teaching.
Most of our teachers lecture and give notes and the students copy notes, there is very little participation from the students in most classes. The students are extremely respectful to all teachers but the student-teacher relationship we enjoy in the states is lacking in the classroom here. It will be interesting to see how this develops as I get to work more with all of the teachers. I miss you all, but am loving it here! I will have so many stories to tell when I return I will bore you all to tears!
By the way!
I haven’t showered in three days… you’d be surprised how fresh you feel with a baby wipe bath! Jealous I couldn’t hang out with you all for July 4th! Love the comments! Will answer the questions as I can, but I’m on Allison’s computer and she is waiting for it back!
Talk soon!
Apwoyo!
Jolene
We ended up having a mini-celebration Sat. afternoon after the 2nd day of the conference. We all went over to the IC house, where everyone else is staying and played volleyball, cards, hung out, napped in front of the fan! (We don’t have one and it gets pretty humid here right before the rain… at least for the west coast people it’s humid!) We looked into buying one, but it was going to cost around 50,000 shillings which is like $55.00 for a really basic fan. We decided against it.
My teacher, Amono Sarah, gave birth on Wednesday night to a baby girl! Which is awesome and not. This means that I will have to find a new teacher to work with. So far I plan to stay with one of Sarah’s classes, work with another geography teacher, and hopefully get involved with the teacher training college that we live next door to. I observed on of their classes last week and I am going again on Monday. I really would like to know how teachers are trained here, because what we IC peeps have noticed is that lecture is the main method of teaching.
Most of our teachers lecture and give notes and the students copy notes, there is very little participation from the students in most classes. The students are extremely respectful to all teachers but the student-teacher relationship we enjoy in the states is lacking in the classroom here. It will be interesting to see how this develops as I get to work more with all of the teachers. I miss you all, but am loving it here! I will have so many stories to tell when I return I will bore you all to tears!
By the way!
I haven’t showered in three days… you’d be surprised how fresh you feel with a baby wipe bath! Jealous I couldn’t hang out with you all for July 4th! Love the comments! Will answer the questions as I can, but I’m on Allison’s computer and she is waiting for it back!
Talk soon!
Apwoyo!
Jolene
Monday, June 30, 2008
8 days in Uganda!
Irii Maber! (good afternoon!)
It is Monday now and I’ve been in Uganda for an entire week now! I’ve been so busy it seems like I’ve been here for 6 weeks already! We watched Spain vs. Germany last night at a café in the center of town. We had to leave early in order to catch our ride, but we got to see the only goal scored in the game. Rock on Spain!
I’ve just finished my first day of observing in class. It is much like observing during student teaching. I am sitting in the back and falling asleep while trying to look awake and interested! My classroom is slightly smaller than a portable in CA and has a chalkboard across the front and cement floors. The rest of the room is filled with desks. We had 82 students in class this morning and will have 84 in class tomorrow.
It is strange, but sometimes I forget that I’m in Africa. Last night we watched a movie at the café owned by an Invisible Children worker. (Charlie Wilson’s war) We bought the town out of popcorn and had slightly cool beer. It was awesome! Other times, like in the shower it is hard to forget. Our shower is a tub, a bucket of sometimes warm water and a cup to throw it over your head. I’ve washed my hair only three times since I have been here, and I don’t even care! (Emma think of the shower in Paris, but without running water!)
The eleven of us staying at Christ the King, or C the K, (Joann don’t you love it?!?!) consider ourselves quite lucky. We actually have a working toilet! At the IC house where some of the others are staying, they have a toilet but you cannot flush the paper. So it ends up in a bucket that sits on the side of the toilet. Of course we both have the option of the latrines, the kind with the hole in the ground that you squat over... it’s harder than you think!
Why is it when you travel you always describe the toilets first?!
My schoolmates Wendy and I are resting now, but plan to go into town later so that we can use the internet and find a few things we need. It costs us 1,500 shillings to get to town, which comes out to about 90 cents. We ride on the back of motorcycles, called botas... I think I already wrote that didn’t I! If we ride in skirts we have to ride side saddle, not an easy thing to do with a heavy backpack on. It’s all about balance!
It looks like my other teachers Sarah and Ashley are home now and we will be heading into town so that I can actually post this and say hello to you.
And now I will say goodbye to you, until next time!
Apwoyo matek,
Jolene
It is Monday now and I’ve been in Uganda for an entire week now! I’ve been so busy it seems like I’ve been here for 6 weeks already! We watched Spain vs. Germany last night at a café in the center of town. We had to leave early in order to catch our ride, but we got to see the only goal scored in the game. Rock on Spain!
I’ve just finished my first day of observing in class. It is much like observing during student teaching. I am sitting in the back and falling asleep while trying to look awake and interested! My classroom is slightly smaller than a portable in CA and has a chalkboard across the front and cement floors. The rest of the room is filled with desks. We had 82 students in class this morning and will have 84 in class tomorrow.
It is strange, but sometimes I forget that I’m in Africa. Last night we watched a movie at the café owned by an Invisible Children worker. (Charlie Wilson’s war) We bought the town out of popcorn and had slightly cool beer. It was awesome! Other times, like in the shower it is hard to forget. Our shower is a tub, a bucket of sometimes warm water and a cup to throw it over your head. I’ve washed my hair only three times since I have been here, and I don’t even care! (Emma think of the shower in Paris, but without running water!)
The eleven of us staying at Christ the King, or C the K, (Joann don’t you love it?!?!) consider ourselves quite lucky. We actually have a working toilet! At the IC house where some of the others are staying, they have a toilet but you cannot flush the paper. So it ends up in a bucket that sits on the side of the toilet. Of course we both have the option of the latrines, the kind with the hole in the ground that you squat over... it’s harder than you think!
Why is it when you travel you always describe the toilets first?!
My schoolmates Wendy and I are resting now, but plan to go into town later so that we can use the internet and find a few things we need. It costs us 1,500 shillings to get to town, which comes out to about 90 cents. We ride on the back of motorcycles, called botas... I think I already wrote that didn’t I! If we ride in skirts we have to ride side saddle, not an easy thing to do with a heavy backpack on. It’s all about balance!
It looks like my other teachers Sarah and Ashley are home now and we will be heading into town so that I can actually post this and say hello to you.
And now I will say goodbye to you, until next time!
Apwoyo matek,
Jolene
Let me catch you up!
Ok people, I have just arrived back home from a graduation party that a bishop threw down the way from Christ the King where we are staying. We danced for a couple of hours with the Ugandan children, were invited in to a hut for dinner (my fifth meal for the day!) and now we are relaxing at home and sharing all of the pictures we have taken over the past week. I honestly cannot explain this experience so far. I will do my best, but bear with me if I am leaving gaps... I will fill them in when I return and make you sit through the thousands of pics I am gathering. I’m going to break this into a few entries, so check to be sure you have read them all!! You will be tested on this!
Made it to NY just fine. Waited for far too long in JFK with my 45 pound bag, little packpack and purse. Imagine trying to fit that and myself into an airport stall! I did it three times... cause I rock!
I spotted an amazingly tall man wearing an Invisible Children shirt. I followed him throughout the airport and met up with the IC peeps. Seriously, John is 6 foot 11 inches... amazing!
We boarded the plane, which was decorated nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in, and settled in for our the painful 13 hour flight. They fed us three times, I watched two movies (Jenn I finally watched Vantage Point... it was ok) and the stewardess changed outfits three times as well. It was so surreal... but not as surreal as the fact that when we landed in Dubai five of our group went skiing in the mall. They actually built a ski slope inside the mall!! It only cost around 30 dollars to ski for 2 hours. I did not ski. Last time I hit a tree. I didn’t feel like starting off my vacation with broken bones.
We spent the night in Dubai and then boarded a short 6 hour flight to Entebbe. Then we hopped on a Mutatu (minivan) for the 30 minute drive to Kampala. We stayed at the Backpackers hostel for two nights and on Wed. left for Gulu.
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, so it is like any city. Busy and full of cars, mutatas, bota botas (motorcycles) and bikes. Dirty and crowded, but as we drove around I loved to see all of the colorfully painted houses and storefronts.
While we were there we visited the U.S. Embassy, a school that had a nicer computer lab than my old school, though the dorms were so overcrowded. Students lived in bunk beds that were three high and hung their stuff from the rafters. They slept with their suitcases/trunks on their beds due to lack of space. We visited a mall that was strangely similar to American malls. Our last morning was spent at a wonderful place called Buvubuka. A Ugandan rapper named Silas started Buvubuka as a community center to teach music, dance and knitting to children from the local community. Such a good vibe to the place!
Gulu –
We have been really busy here. Every day seems to be full of new and ever-more eye opening experiences. I have met my teacher, she is called Amono Sarah Priscilla and just about to pop a baby out... like in 4 weeks! I spent the day with her and she took me to her house and her in-laws house, fed me three times and wouldn’t let me leave without taking 4 ears of maize.
Ok peeps, my brain is drained for now. I will continue later.
Apwoyo matek. (Thank you very much in Lwo, the local language)
Jolene
Made it to NY just fine. Waited for far too long in JFK with my 45 pound bag, little packpack and purse. Imagine trying to fit that and myself into an airport stall! I did it three times... cause I rock!
I spotted an amazingly tall man wearing an Invisible Children shirt. I followed him throughout the airport and met up with the IC peeps. Seriously, John is 6 foot 11 inches... amazing!
We boarded the plane, which was decorated nicer than some hotels I’ve stayed in, and settled in for our the painful 13 hour flight. They fed us three times, I watched two movies (Jenn I finally watched Vantage Point... it was ok) and the stewardess changed outfits three times as well. It was so surreal... but not as surreal as the fact that when we landed in Dubai five of our group went skiing in the mall. They actually built a ski slope inside the mall!! It only cost around 30 dollars to ski for 2 hours. I did not ski. Last time I hit a tree. I didn’t feel like starting off my vacation with broken bones.
We spent the night in Dubai and then boarded a short 6 hour flight to Entebbe. Then we hopped on a Mutatu (minivan) for the 30 minute drive to Kampala. We stayed at the Backpackers hostel for two nights and on Wed. left for Gulu.
Kampala is the capital city of Uganda, so it is like any city. Busy and full of cars, mutatas, bota botas (motorcycles) and bikes. Dirty and crowded, but as we drove around I loved to see all of the colorfully painted houses and storefronts.
While we were there we visited the U.S. Embassy, a school that had a nicer computer lab than my old school, though the dorms were so overcrowded. Students lived in bunk beds that were three high and hung their stuff from the rafters. They slept with their suitcases/trunks on their beds due to lack of space. We visited a mall that was strangely similar to American malls. Our last morning was spent at a wonderful place called Buvubuka. A Ugandan rapper named Silas started Buvubuka as a community center to teach music, dance and knitting to children from the local community. Such a good vibe to the place!
Gulu –
We have been really busy here. Every day seems to be full of new and ever-more eye opening experiences. I have met my teacher, she is called Amono Sarah Priscilla and just about to pop a baby out... like in 4 weeks! I spent the day with her and she took me to her house and her in-laws house, fed me three times and wouldn’t let me leave without taking 4 ears of maize.
Ok peeps, my brain is drained for now. I will continue later.
Apwoyo matek. (Thank you very much in Lwo, the local language)
Jolene
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Greetings from Gulu!!
Hello all!!!
I'm actually in Gulu!! It is amazing here. i feel that i will be at a loss for words to describe this experience so far, but I am in an internet cafe so my time is money!!
We arrived in Gulu last night after a 6 hour ride on a bus with 24 of us 4 to a row, over the bumpiest rodes you have ever seen! We are staying at a place called Christ the King compound. It is made up of a primary school, secondary school and to our surprise a teacher training school. Everyone is Uganda is so kind to eachother, sying hello to everyone you pass. And yes, Kathie the dirt is quite red! It hasn't rained in a week and a half, a record for this time of year, and dust is everywhere. I was beginning to think I actually had a tan until I took a shower! I can't write much more because we are ex[ected at dinner soon. My cheeks hurt from smiling so often here, but yes, I do miss you all too... a bit!
I promise to write more soon, now that I have found the cafe.
I'm off to enjoy my first bota ride. (it's a motorcycle that we ride onthe back of)
Talk soon! JO
I'm actually in Gulu!! It is amazing here. i feel that i will be at a loss for words to describe this experience so far, but I am in an internet cafe so my time is money!!
We arrived in Gulu last night after a 6 hour ride on a bus with 24 of us 4 to a row, over the bumpiest rodes you have ever seen! We are staying at a place called Christ the King compound. It is made up of a primary school, secondary school and to our surprise a teacher training school. Everyone is Uganda is so kind to eachother, sying hello to everyone you pass. And yes, Kathie the dirt is quite red! It hasn't rained in a week and a half, a record for this time of year, and dust is everywhere. I was beginning to think I actually had a tan until I took a shower! I can't write much more because we are ex[ected at dinner soon. My cheeks hurt from smiling so often here, but yes, I do miss you all too... a bit!
I promise to write more soon, now that I have found the cafe.
I'm off to enjoy my first bota ride. (it's a motorcycle that we ride onthe back of)
Talk soon! JO
Monday, June 9, 2008
11 more days!!!!
Holy Crap!!
I only have 11 more days until I jump ship!
I'm feeling pretty good about being ready. I still have to fill my malaria prescription, but it's on my list for tomorrow!
New fun fact about Uganda. Clothes.
The way Ugandans percieve clothing is vastly different than Americans do. We view clothing as a way to express ourselves. You can dress up to be anyone, preppy or goth or laid back or skater. When Ugandans dress they have others in mind. Ugandans view the way they dress as a reflection of respect for those they are visiting. It is considered inappropriate for women to show their underarms in formal situations. (school is considered a formal situation, as is visiting anyone's house) Women may NEVER show thier thighs. The men were asked to bring slacks and polos for school, the women skirts and leggings.
I think I will be dressing better for work in Uganda than I do here!
Many thanks again to those who donated! I cannot express how amazing you all are!
I leave on the night of the 21st and won't arrive in Uganda until the 23rd. I have no idea when I'll be near a computer so give me about a week to check in! I'll post again before I leave. Till then! Jo
I only have 11 more days until I jump ship!
I'm feeling pretty good about being ready. I still have to fill my malaria prescription, but it's on my list for tomorrow!
New fun fact about Uganda. Clothes.
The way Ugandans percieve clothing is vastly different than Americans do. We view clothing as a way to express ourselves. You can dress up to be anyone, preppy or goth or laid back or skater. When Ugandans dress they have others in mind. Ugandans view the way they dress as a reflection of respect for those they are visiting. It is considered inappropriate for women to show their underarms in formal situations. (school is considered a formal situation, as is visiting anyone's house) Women may NEVER show thier thighs. The men were asked to bring slacks and polos for school, the women skirts and leggings.
I think I will be dressing better for work in Uganda than I do here!
Many thanks again to those who donated! I cannot express how amazing you all are!
I leave on the night of the 21st and won't arrive in Uganda until the 23rd. I have no idea when I'll be near a computer so give me about a week to check in! I'll post again before I leave. Till then! Jo
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Exactly one month!
Exactly one month from today I will be sitting on a plane... well, actually I will be getting off a plane in New York at 6am, wondering around JFK for 12 hours or so, making my way through security, customs, screening and whatever else is required before settling in for my second-in-a-row, overnight flight to Dubai. I've got to find room for a couple of good books!
Point being - Only one month until I leave. This both excites me and makes me break out in a panicky sweat. The good thing is that I am swamped at work right now, so my mind is occupied for the first half of the day. However, at night I start to think about all of the things I still need, how on Earth I'm going to fit all of my stuff into my backpack, and most of all the African animal planet programs my roommate seems obsessed with lately. Lions and crocodiles fighting over land near a river. Hyenas searching for food during the dry season. As if the mosquitoes weren't scary enough!! Mostly though, I'm just excited! I can't wait to pack my bag and get this adventure started!
You rock if you read this!
Jolene
OH, I almost forgot the joke for Joann.
I'm sorry for this:
What has antlers and sucks blood?
A moose-quito!
Point being - Only one month until I leave. This both excites me and makes me break out in a panicky sweat. The good thing is that I am swamped at work right now, so my mind is occupied for the first half of the day. However, at night I start to think about all of the things I still need, how on Earth I'm going to fit all of my stuff into my backpack, and most of all the African animal planet programs my roommate seems obsessed with lately. Lions and crocodiles fighting over land near a river. Hyenas searching for food during the dry season. As if the mosquitoes weren't scary enough!! Mostly though, I'm just excited! I can't wait to pack my bag and get this adventure started!
You rock if you read this!
Jolene
OH, I almost forgot the joke for Joann.
I'm sorry for this:
What has antlers and sucks blood?
A moose-quito!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
7 more weeks!
EEEKK!!! only 7 more weeks until I leave!
I have way too much to do.
So my shots went well. 3 in the left arm and 2 in the right. I had a sore arm for two days, a slight fever for a night. On the whole not a big deal. However, when my doctor offered me a cheaper and longer lasting pill version of the Typhoid shot, I was singing "Oh, Happy Day!" I will choose a pill over a shot any day! Then she told me that it was a live vaccine. I shrugged, who cares? It's still one less shot in my arm! Then she explained that they (4 pills) had to be kept refrigerated, I had to take them with cold liquid, I couldn't eat for 2 hours before and 2 hours after and remember to take one ever other day. It's still better than a shot!
Or so I thought... I took my first one with ice water and for some reason all I could think of was tiny little Typhoid bugs crawling around in my empty stomach. I almost threw up. repeatedly. Tonight I take my third out of four pills. I'm willing myself to picture happy Typhoid bugs. Ones that are wearing full Roman battle gear and are ready to fight any angry African Typhoid bugs that get into my system. I'm not normally squeamish, but this has been the hardest part of the shots. Can't wait until I try the local Ugandan food!! I'm screwed!
On my list of things to do that I never thought I would do:
buy travel toilet paper
buy crocs (Don't mock me!)
register with the American embassy
wear leggings under my skirts (woman are not allowed to show thighs, EVER!)
Off to take my Roman-clad Typhoid protector bugs. Wish me luck!
Jolene
I have way too much to do.
So my shots went well. 3 in the left arm and 2 in the right. I had a sore arm for two days, a slight fever for a night. On the whole not a big deal. However, when my doctor offered me a cheaper and longer lasting pill version of the Typhoid shot, I was singing "Oh, Happy Day!" I will choose a pill over a shot any day! Then she told me that it was a live vaccine. I shrugged, who cares? It's still one less shot in my arm! Then she explained that they (4 pills) had to be kept refrigerated, I had to take them with cold liquid, I couldn't eat for 2 hours before and 2 hours after and remember to take one ever other day. It's still better than a shot!
Or so I thought... I took my first one with ice water and for some reason all I could think of was tiny little Typhoid bugs crawling around in my empty stomach. I almost threw up. repeatedly. Tonight I take my third out of four pills. I'm willing myself to picture happy Typhoid bugs. Ones that are wearing full Roman battle gear and are ready to fight any angry African Typhoid bugs that get into my system. I'm not normally squeamish, but this has been the hardest part of the shots. Can't wait until I try the local Ugandan food!! I'm screwed!
On my list of things to do that I never thought I would do:
buy travel toilet paper
buy crocs (Don't mock me!)
register with the American embassy
wear leggings under my skirts (woman are not allowed to show thighs, EVER!)
Off to take my Roman-clad Typhoid protector bugs. Wish me luck!
Jolene
Thursday, April 17, 2008
AAHHHHH!! needles.
Ok. I finally shceduled my shots. I have to get 5 shots and take malaria pills. I'm going next Tuesday and I'm a little nervous about how I'm going to feel afterward, I use my arms a lot and i like them to be pain free!
I realize that I didn't give a lot of detail last time. Here are the basics:
Fly to New York on June 20th. New York to Dubai on the 21st. Dubai to Entebbe on the 22nd. Then to Kampala. (the capital of Uganda) We stay there for a few days at the Backpackers Hostel. ( http://www.backpackers.co.ug/)
We then travel up North to Gulu, which is where we will be teaching. There are about 25 of us teaching. We will be split up between 10 different schools and three different dwellings. Most have generators, and pit latrines... the one I'm sceduled to stay at has a bore-hole shower and a generator in the front room. The assignments could change, but I've been placed at Pabbo School. (http://s4s.invisiblechildren.com/school/pabbo-secondary-school) Sorry, I'm not sure how to add links yet!
We live and teach up north until the last week-ish. I think 4 days. We will take a day safari to Murcheson Falls (you can see pics on the backpackers website) and a river rafting trip down the Albert Nile. Then we reverse our trip back thorough Kampala, Entebbe, Dubai and New York. I land in New York on the 31st and then back to lovely San Diego!
Ok, peeps. Hope that was enough for tonight. It's late and I've got to get to bed, tomorrow I'm playing a penguin in the talent show and I need my beauty sleep!
Wish me luck! Jo
I realize that I didn't give a lot of detail last time. Here are the basics:
Fly to New York on June 20th. New York to Dubai on the 21st. Dubai to Entebbe on the 22nd. Then to Kampala. (the capital of Uganda) We stay there for a few days at the Backpackers Hostel. ( http://www.backpackers.co.ug/)
We then travel up North to Gulu, which is where we will be teaching. There are about 25 of us teaching. We will be split up between 10 different schools and three different dwellings. Most have generators, and pit latrines... the one I'm sceduled to stay at has a bore-hole shower and a generator in the front room. The assignments could change, but I've been placed at Pabbo School. (http://s4s.invisiblechildren.com/school/pabbo-secondary-school) Sorry, I'm not sure how to add links yet!
We live and teach up north until the last week-ish. I think 4 days. We will take a day safari to Murcheson Falls (you can see pics on the backpackers website) and a river rafting trip down the Albert Nile. Then we reverse our trip back thorough Kampala, Entebbe, Dubai and New York. I land in New York on the 31st and then back to lovely San Diego!
Ok, peeps. Hope that was enough for tonight. It's late and I've got to get to bed, tomorrow I'm playing a penguin in the talent show and I need my beauty sleep!
Wish me luck! Jo
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Dude! What am I doing going to Uganda?!?
This is the thought that has been sneaking into my brain more and more as June nears. I'll be at the copier, staring at the OSHA poster and there it is. I'm in the middle of the leg press at the gym and there it is. I'm researching places to get my travel shots and it popped up in big, screaming letters. (five large needles and a bottle of Malaria pills)
So yes, I would say I'm a bit nervous about going, but the amazing thing is that after that thought pops up it's followed by this: Dude! That's so freaking awesome! I'm going to UGANDA!!! (yes, in my head I'm still a blond Valley Girl)
So if you think you might enjoy reading my insane inner monologue, by all means come on back! I'll share with you all my thoughts as I prepare to go to Gulu, and internet cafe willing, my thoughts as I learn to bathe in a bore-hole shower!
even I think I'm insane, Jolene
So yes, I would say I'm a bit nervous about going, but the amazing thing is that after that thought pops up it's followed by this: Dude! That's so freaking awesome! I'm going to UGANDA!!! (yes, in my head I'm still a blond Valley Girl)
So if you think you might enjoy reading my insane inner monologue, by all means come on back! I'll share with you all my thoughts as I prepare to go to Gulu, and internet cafe willing, my thoughts as I learn to bathe in a bore-hole shower!
even I think I'm insane, Jolene
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