hello bazungu

Oli otya? (How are you)
My blog post yesterday was pretty short, so I thought I would let you all know a little more of how life has been the last four days. In a few words... its been great!

Uganda is beautiful. The people are beautiful, Mukono is beautiful, the university is beautiful, and even the red dirt is beautiful... although it really isn't when it gets all over everything. And while I wouldn't lie to you all to say that I loved everything about it here, I will definitely say I like a lot.

My family is wonderful. I haven't exactly figured out how many people are really in my family because Ugandan homes are very open. People come in and out all the time. Its a lot of fun that way because you get to meet a lot of people, but it does make it hard to figure out what is going on. Even out of the people living in my house I have no idea who is really family. Mama Robina just always says, "this is another one of your brothers" or "this is another one of your sisters." The people that I have actually gotten to know are William, Peter, Robert, Jeffery, and my sister Silvia, but I think there are at least several others. A lot of our time is spent with our sister Silvia, who I would guess is about 16. She is reserved, like many Ugandan women, but she is great to have around. I am really looking forward to getting to know her more. A lot of Ugandans go to boarding school, and I was really sad when she said that her holiday ended at the beginning of February, but I was happy when she showed us how close her school was to our house and said that she lives at home and walks. All of the boys are also older, so there are no little kids in the house, but there are definitely plenty of kids in the streets who smile, wave, follow you, and scream "muzungu, muzungu" in the streets. The other day Laura and I played with a bunch of them in the street while we were waiting for Silvia to get done with a meeting. My favorite part is when they ramble off things in Luganda like we know what they are talking about.

I should go because this blog post is only helping me procrastinate longer on my paper thats due tomorrow (my mind is not in this whole school thing quite yet). After I finish my paper we're headed off for a scavenger hunt in Mukono before walking back home for time with my family, supper, and bed.

p.s. bazungu= the plural of muzungu, or white person :)

welcome to uganda

I only have about 10 minutes, so this will have to be a very quick update, but I wanted to let you all know what was going on. We got to Entebbe, Uganda by about 10 on Friday, and after making it through customs we piled onto one of USU's buses to drive the hour or so to the university. After a night in the guest house on campus, the other 14 or so IMME students and I got dropped off at our host families. Living with my family has been great. I don't have time to tell you all about them, but I will say that I was shocked at how nice the house was. We don't have running water, but we do have electricity, and I share my room with another IMME student, Laura, who is from California.

Classes started today, and I have already had three, with one more this afternoon, and then another orientation meeting before I walk back home. The Ugandan professors are all great, and I think I will enjoy all of the classes.

Sorry I don't have more time, but I'll let you know more later!

Its actually happening

Well, this is it. I'm actually packed. I'm actually ready. I'm actually leaving. My day starts early tomorrow, around 5, so I figured I would say a last good-bye (sadly, an electronic good-bye will have to work for all of you that I didn't get to see!) before I pack up my laptop along with everything else. The next time you hear from me... I will be half-way around the world, soaking up some equator-sun and beginning another great adventure :)

Happy New Year!

Last night we celebrated the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009. Its crazy how fast a year goes by. More than a year ago I was starting to think and pray about studying abroad in Uganda, and now it is only one week away. I know this week will also go fast and before I know it I'll be sitting on a plane flying across the Atlantic.

(Which, if anyone is interested, my flights look like this:
Depart: Indianapolis, IN 10:11 AM/ Arrive: Washington, DC 11:43 AM
Depart: Washington, DC 6:00 PM/ Arrive: Amsterdam 7:30 AM
Depart: Amsterdam 11:00 AM/ Arrive: Entebbe, Uganda 9:00 PM
Hurray for 2 full days of flying!)

But until then, I am packing and unpacking and repacking again, trying to figure out what I am planning on bringing that I really don't need at all. The plan is to fit it all into one 50 lb suitcase... hopefully it works out!

The countdown

One month, one month, one month :)

If you are reading this I am guessing you already know why I am so excited, BUT if not... here's why: I'll be in Africa one month from today! I am spending a semester in Mukono, Uganda at Uganda Christian University. I feel like I don't know at all what to expect, but I love that. I don't think I could possibly be more excited about this adventure.

I'm a little ahead of things because I have already made this blog, but I'm excited, and it sounded like more fun than studying for my last tests and finals. So yeah... here's my blog. I don't know how much I will be able to update it during the semester, but hopefully I will do a better job than when I was in Mexico and stopped writing a full month before I came back to the states. We will have to wait and see.