Happy Birthday Wilson Levi Laker!
Yesterday was awesome! I am so happy to be back in Lugazi!
In the morning, I worked on the extravaganza with Becca and Youth Outreach.
In the afternoon, I did teacher training and music lessons.
And in the evening, I partied it up with HELP-International and my favorite Youth Outreach boys. It was Wilsey-Poo's 21st birthday and we told him we were having a party (they almost NEVER celebrate birthdays here). He invited us to his house and it was so much fun! His family had been cooking for hours and fed us this beautiful and delicious African meal. Wils did try to force-feed all of us, but it was really good! Becca got him a cake and a picture framed of all of us. He was so happy...what a sweetie. He was crying almost the entire night just cause he was so happy! He had to keep on leaving the room. The hardest part about leaving the beautiful land of Uganda for me will be to leave my youth outreach friends, Mary, and David. I don't even know if I will be able to say goodbye. It will be too hard. I don't know when I will see these people next. I'm also going to have a horrid time trying to say goodbye to the Mukono branch. What amazing people they have here in East Africa.
Summing it all up...yesterday was a good day and I love Uganda.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Rwanda Rwanda
Wow! I can’t believe a whole week went by! Time is going faster and faster and I am over half-way till I come home now! I have so much to say and if this keyboard wasn’t ridiculously messed, then it would be quite a bit easier.
So, the highlight of last week was definitely Thursday! We were at the youth outreach office and they wanted to go do a home visit. Honestly, I was not very excited…at all. I was not feeling well and I still needed to pack for Rwanda and do ten million other things. But I went. We hop on boda’s, me, Becca, Wilson, and Godfrey and head up. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It’s about a 20 minute boda ride from Lugazi and in one of the rural areas of Mukono District. We got up to this adobe-mud house thing. It was about 10 feet by 10 feet and there’s a whole family that lives there. This lady is a widow, taking care of her whole family. We met her entire family, none of them speaking English, and brought them food and some things like soap and hygiene kits. We even brought some toys for the little kids. They were so grateful. Like on their hands and knees. It amazed me. We spent maybe like $10.00 on this family and they were down on the ground giving thanks. It’s kind of a wonderful feeling and a horrible feeling at the same time. I am so happy to help them, but I did hardly anything, you know? And I just wish I could give them everything I have. Everything they need. I am so blessed. I just bawled the entire time I was there. Wilson offered a prayer and we all held hands. Two little white girls and a bunch of Africans, all holding hands and thanking God. Asking Him to help this incredible family. The spirit was so strong.
Friday was a very very VERY long day. Up at six in the morning. Straight on our way to Kampala. Becca was so kind to go with me and spend half the day in THE SURGERY.
We did a blood count there and a thyroid test. The thyroid test came out totally fine. The blood count was weird. He said there was something weird about it. He said it is most likely just a virus and I need to just wait it out. I’ve just never had a virus last for a month before…oh well.
After the doctors, Becca and I went to the mall. And guess what we did? You will never guess. I promise. We got pedicures. And went to the Hannah Montana Movie!!!!!!! Oh how I love that movie. There’s not much to do in Kampala besides Americanized stuff or getting attacked by a random man who wants to marry you. We chose the Americanized stuff. We ate good food. Later on saw ANOTHER movie…Transformers II. Sick. I hate that movie so much. I hated the first one and in this one when Shia goes to robot heaven…I was done. But we had to wait for the bus to Rwanda which left at 1am. So we went and got no the bus to go to Rwanda. It was…horrid. I don’t think I slept at all. Maybe like an hour total. The road is so freakin bumpy. I thought the bus was going to tip over like last year. SCARY.
We got there and there was NO WHERE to get money…because…surprise! It was the national holiday of cleaning that they have EVERY last Saturday of the month. And EVERYTHING was closed. Eventually we worked it out, got to our hotel, and got settled in. We met up with the branch president, Eric Hyde at this mall place. He was super nice and took us to the Genocide museum. He’s done investigations on the genocide for over 2 years now and knows TONS about it. It was a beautiful memorial and I learned a lot. It’s so tragic what had to happen, but Rwanda has recovered and is an even greater country now.
Let me tell you a bit about Rwanda. It is SPOTLESS. I had kind of forgotten that paved roads and streetlights existed. But it is beautiful and clean..not an ounce of garbage on the road. The only thing that sucks is that maybe like 2 people speak English in the whole freaking country, but we worked it out! No big deal!
Sunday we went to church at the branch president’s house. I’ve never done that at a house before so it was pretty cool. Awesome branch. Then Sunday I met up with some friends of the family (mom! I met noella and her husband casimir! You’ll have to tell Gertrude so I can show her pics when I get home! They were so nice and bought me a soda and stuff! Soooo nice!). Dinner, then to the BP’s house again to watch the football (soccer) match….in which our poor team sucked the second half.
It was a good vacation and I’m glad I went. I am exhausted because I hardly slept, but it really was a good experience.
I still have tons to say, but I have to go…so…I’ll write more often now hopefully! Love you all!! Thank yu so much for your prayers and support, really. I am so blessed, especially with friends and family. And I am so grateful!
**BONNIE. SAVE $30 DOLLARS FOR WHEN I GET HOME. YOU ARE COMING WITH ME TO DO A PEDICURE. Just so you know. I think it’s only 20 but I’m not one hundred percent sure on that. I don’t know why I just typed out one hundred percent an didn’t just do 100% but I did. So…yeah. Save it girl.
**JESSI. I love you. Could you please do the newsletter? I got your e-mail and loved it and will write when I have more time!
So, the highlight of last week was definitely Thursday! We were at the youth outreach office and they wanted to go do a home visit. Honestly, I was not very excited…at all. I was not feeling well and I still needed to pack for Rwanda and do ten million other things. But I went. We hop on boda’s, me, Becca, Wilson, and Godfrey and head up. It was the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. It’s about a 20 minute boda ride from Lugazi and in one of the rural areas of Mukono District. We got up to this adobe-mud house thing. It was about 10 feet by 10 feet and there’s a whole family that lives there. This lady is a widow, taking care of her whole family. We met her entire family, none of them speaking English, and brought them food and some things like soap and hygiene kits. We even brought some toys for the little kids. They were so grateful. Like on their hands and knees. It amazed me. We spent maybe like $10.00 on this family and they were down on the ground giving thanks. It’s kind of a wonderful feeling and a horrible feeling at the same time. I am so happy to help them, but I did hardly anything, you know? And I just wish I could give them everything I have. Everything they need. I am so blessed. I just bawled the entire time I was there. Wilson offered a prayer and we all held hands. Two little white girls and a bunch of Africans, all holding hands and thanking God. Asking Him to help this incredible family. The spirit was so strong.
Friday was a very very VERY long day. Up at six in the morning. Straight on our way to Kampala. Becca was so kind to go with me and spend half the day in THE SURGERY.
We did a blood count there and a thyroid test. The thyroid test came out totally fine. The blood count was weird. He said there was something weird about it. He said it is most likely just a virus and I need to just wait it out. I’ve just never had a virus last for a month before…oh well.
After the doctors, Becca and I went to the mall. And guess what we did? You will never guess. I promise. We got pedicures. And went to the Hannah Montana Movie!!!!!!! Oh how I love that movie. There’s not much to do in Kampala besides Americanized stuff or getting attacked by a random man who wants to marry you. We chose the Americanized stuff. We ate good food. Later on saw ANOTHER movie…Transformers II. Sick. I hate that movie so much. I hated the first one and in this one when Shia goes to robot heaven…I was done. But we had to wait for the bus to Rwanda which left at 1am. So we went and got no the bus to go to Rwanda. It was…horrid. I don’t think I slept at all. Maybe like an hour total. The road is so freakin bumpy. I thought the bus was going to tip over like last year. SCARY.
We got there and there was NO WHERE to get money…because…surprise! It was the national holiday of cleaning that they have EVERY last Saturday of the month. And EVERYTHING was closed. Eventually we worked it out, got to our hotel, and got settled in. We met up with the branch president, Eric Hyde at this mall place. He was super nice and took us to the Genocide museum. He’s done investigations on the genocide for over 2 years now and knows TONS about it. It was a beautiful memorial and I learned a lot. It’s so tragic what had to happen, but Rwanda has recovered and is an even greater country now.
Let me tell you a bit about Rwanda. It is SPOTLESS. I had kind of forgotten that paved roads and streetlights existed. But it is beautiful and clean..not an ounce of garbage on the road. The only thing that sucks is that maybe like 2 people speak English in the whole freaking country, but we worked it out! No big deal!
Sunday we went to church at the branch president’s house. I’ve never done that at a house before so it was pretty cool. Awesome branch. Then Sunday I met up with some friends of the family (mom! I met noella and her husband casimir! You’ll have to tell Gertrude so I can show her pics when I get home! They were so nice and bought me a soda and stuff! Soooo nice!). Dinner, then to the BP’s house again to watch the football (soccer) match….in which our poor team sucked the second half.
It was a good vacation and I’m glad I went. I am exhausted because I hardly slept, but it really was a good experience.
I still have tons to say, but I have to go…so…I’ll write more often now hopefully! Love you all!! Thank yu so much for your prayers and support, really. I am so blessed, especially with friends and family. And I am so grateful!
**BONNIE. SAVE $30 DOLLARS FOR WHEN I GET HOME. YOU ARE COMING WITH ME TO DO A PEDICURE. Just so you know. I think it’s only 20 but I’m not one hundred percent sure on that. I don’t know why I just typed out one hundred percent an didn’t just do 100% but I did. So…yeah. Save it girl.
**JESSI. I love you. Could you please do the newsletter? I got your e-mail and loved it and will write when I have more time!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
The World Keeps Spinnin
So I left off yesterday in between my doctors appointments.
I got back to the doctors office and the hillarious british doctor, Dr. Stockley (who in fact has met the Queen of England and is like a Knight or something like that--freakin awesome), comes out. I am in the waiting room with like 10 other people and with a moderately loud voice says, "did you produce a sample?" Everyone turns and looks at me and I BURST out laughing. I am so immature. And Dr. Stockley just looks at me with a straight face..waiting for my answer. After about 15 seconds, I pull myself under control and muster out, "yeah, it's down in the lab."
The blood test, the...other test show nothing. We are in Dr. STockleys office now and he is just thinking ...he was so awesome. The best doctor I've ever had. He is looking over the symptoms. Over and over and over. He has this cup of water he's sipping out of occasionally. Then goes back to thinking. Thinking. He pops up his head, picks up his drinking cup, throws the water out the window over his left shoulder, puts the cup in my face and says, "give me a urine sample." Um....okay....
Nothing shows up from that. I'm even really hydrated, and the apprentice girl says she's proud of me for drinking so much water.
Eventually he decides he wants me to come in for more testing on Friday. He says, "It could be something like the beginnings of a horrible case of TB or it could be something to do with thyroid, come back on Friday." Yeah that was comforting. Haha.
But he was so awesome. THE best doctor I have ever seen. And if you know me, you know I've seen a lot of doctors in my life. He wants me to take my temp 4 times a day...and then we'll see on Friday.
Well, other than that, nothing exciting. I'll be heading to RWANDA on Friday which will be SUPA cool! I can't wait. I've bought a bus ticket and will be getting my hotel booked tonight.
I was just on facebook for a few minutes looking at what all my friends are up to and realized that I don't really want to go home. The only reason I want to go home is because I miss a few choice people. But other than that....there's no reason to. I forget how boring Utah is in comparison to my life here. Melissa and I were talking about ityesterday and there is NEVER a dull day here. Every day is weird.
I love it!
P.s. Melissa was SO awesome to come with me and be such a good friend while I was there. She is so so so cool.
I got back to the doctors office and the hillarious british doctor, Dr. Stockley (who in fact has met the Queen of England and is like a Knight or something like that--freakin awesome), comes out. I am in the waiting room with like 10 other people and with a moderately loud voice says, "did you produce a sample?" Everyone turns and looks at me and I BURST out laughing. I am so immature. And Dr. Stockley just looks at me with a straight face..waiting for my answer. After about 15 seconds, I pull myself under control and muster out, "yeah, it's down in the lab."
The blood test, the...other test show nothing. We are in Dr. STockleys office now and he is just thinking ...he was so awesome. The best doctor I've ever had. He is looking over the symptoms. Over and over and over. He has this cup of water he's sipping out of occasionally. Then goes back to thinking. Thinking. He pops up his head, picks up his drinking cup, throws the water out the window over his left shoulder, puts the cup in my face and says, "give me a urine sample." Um....okay....
Nothing shows up from that. I'm even really hydrated, and the apprentice girl says she's proud of me for drinking so much water.
Eventually he decides he wants me to come in for more testing on Friday. He says, "It could be something like the beginnings of a horrible case of TB or it could be something to do with thyroid, come back on Friday." Yeah that was comforting. Haha.
But he was so awesome. THE best doctor I have ever seen. And if you know me, you know I've seen a lot of doctors in my life. He wants me to take my temp 4 times a day...and then we'll see on Friday.
Well, other than that, nothing exciting. I'll be heading to RWANDA on Friday which will be SUPA cool! I can't wait. I've bought a bus ticket and will be getting my hotel booked tonight.
I was just on facebook for a few minutes looking at what all my friends are up to and realized that I don't really want to go home. The only reason I want to go home is because I miss a few choice people. But other than that....there's no reason to. I forget how boring Utah is in comparison to my life here. Melissa and I were talking about ityesterday and there is NEVER a dull day here. Every day is weird.
I love it!
P.s. Melissa was SO awesome to come with me and be such a good friend while I was there. She is so so so cool.
The Surgery
Warning: This blog will be very detailed dealing with my insides. I apologize in advance. Okay it's not really that bad, I just wanted to say that.
So....I swear I start every sentence off with so. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I still am not feeling well and I went to Nyombi (the doctor in Lugazi) who said I do not have malaria anymore...hm.... But I still have many similar symptoms. I am so freakin tired every day and have these mini cough attacks like 3 or 4 times a day that last for an hour (or sometimes in the middle of the night). I also get really bad headaches and some dizziness. My parents suggested to just go get it checked out because it's better to know than to risk it here in lovely East Africa.
There's this western medicine-practicing clinic in the middle of Kampala called THE SURGERY that Jake went to and said they were legit and they saved him from his parasite. Okay, THE SURGERY? Who want's to go to a clinic called the surgery? Well, I do okay? Melissa was sweet enough to take off a whole day to go with me to Kampala to get checked.
This clinic is hillarious! I was working with a British doctor and he kept saying the funniest things with his silly british accent. He wanted me to do a stool sample and he reaches into this huge drawer and it's empty. He was like, "well show's how much crap we look at. We're up to our ears in **** every day!" Then I really really tried to give him a sample and failed horribly. So I come out and was like, "hey, I can't give you any......poo right now. What do you want me to do?" "Well, come in the other room, we'll take your thumbs and wrap 'em with piano wire and hang you from the ceiling." Then this other creepy mzungu girl from the waiting room was like "AND WE'LL BEAT YA WITH A BROOMSTICK! AAAAHAHHA" With this freaky smile.
It was quite the experience.
So here I am.
In Kampala.
At Garden City Mall.
Waiting to produce a sample.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I just want to feel like myself again! I didn't come to Africa to lay in bed all day and feel sorry for myself.
So....I swear I start every sentence off with so. Sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo I still am not feeling well and I went to Nyombi (the doctor in Lugazi) who said I do not have malaria anymore...hm.... But I still have many similar symptoms. I am so freakin tired every day and have these mini cough attacks like 3 or 4 times a day that last for an hour (or sometimes in the middle of the night). I also get really bad headaches and some dizziness. My parents suggested to just go get it checked out because it's better to know than to risk it here in lovely East Africa.
There's this western medicine-practicing clinic in the middle of Kampala called THE SURGERY that Jake went to and said they were legit and they saved him from his parasite. Okay, THE SURGERY? Who want's to go to a clinic called the surgery? Well, I do okay? Melissa was sweet enough to take off a whole day to go with me to Kampala to get checked.
This clinic is hillarious! I was working with a British doctor and he kept saying the funniest things with his silly british accent. He wanted me to do a stool sample and he reaches into this huge drawer and it's empty. He was like, "well show's how much crap we look at. We're up to our ears in **** every day!" Then I really really tried to give him a sample and failed horribly. So I come out and was like, "hey, I can't give you any......poo right now. What do you want me to do?" "Well, come in the other room, we'll take your thumbs and wrap 'em with piano wire and hang you from the ceiling." Then this other creepy mzungu girl from the waiting room was like "AND WE'LL BEAT YA WITH A BROOMSTICK! AAAAHAHHA" With this freaky smile.
It was quite the experience.
So here I am.
In Kampala.
At Garden City Mall.
Waiting to produce a sample.
I'll let you know how it goes.
I just want to feel like myself again! I didn't come to Africa to lay in bed all day and feel sorry for myself.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Kitisa
Some things scare me here. I learned the word Kitisa today which means, "scary,"and is pronounced chee-tea-suh. This week has been awesome and horrid at the same time. So much homesickness, but so much feeling at home too...it's so hard to explain. This week was busy with teacher trainings and getting ready for a music fireside for all of the young adults in the district. Two of the schools I visited for the first time were AWESOME. St. Johns and Vincentalex...both boarding schools for primary age kids. The vincentalex one had all of the 700 students come out and greet us and we got to dance with them and of course they laughed at us. It was so fun and amazing!
Then yesterday AND today I was in Jinja. Yesterday I just went with the doc crew who are out here with Jackie and her sister and the "goals for girls" thing...we went to jinja to do shopping and I am officially the best bargain shopper. Seriously. There are two store owners who I love and who are the best to bargain with. David and Faith. I took Dani, Kara, and Nick (doc crew from BYU--they are so freakin awesome) to David's store. It was so funny. He kept trying to whisper prices to them and then I was like "No, come on David, I need to help these mzungus out!" and David kept telling me, "I know you are too good at bargaining!" It was so funny. In America, I LOATHE shopping. I hate the mall and "what, what" (that's what the africans would say instead of whatever), but HERE I LOOOOOOOOOVE IT! It is so fun to bargain...especially if you're good at it :) Dani and Nick and Abby kept having me bargain for them. It was so much freakin fun.
This morning, me, Abs and Leslie headed down to the Youth Outreach office to meet up with Luta and Wilson. They took us golfing on the Lugazi Metha Golf course. It's owned by the man who owns all of the sugar cane fields around here and many other industries in East Africa..an Indian Man. Let me tell you...he is LOADED. His house is on the golf course and his manager guy and the lady (Auntie Betty) told us we can golf there for free whenever and that we are welcome to stay in the guest house if we ever come back to Uganda. Dude. The 4 Million shillings it takes to get here would be worth it to stay in that guest house. Maybe my standards have gone down a little...but it is freakin awesome. Anyways, I didn't suck at golf ...not too bad. I actually was kinda good for my first time. Luta is amazing and gave me lessons. He's great.
Then we took Wilson and Luta to Jinja with us to go swimming at the Jinja Nile Resort (beautiful hotel). It was so funny cause they told us they swim and that the are not afraid of water...so....when Wilson jumped into the deep end, I wasn't too worried....until his eyes got really big and he started going to the bottom and didn't come up till a long time. So I did my best to rescue him. Then we gave him and Luta swimming lessons. We taught them the doggy-paddle and Luta kept on splashing ALL of the guests there...they were not very happy, but it was so funny. We taught them how to float and flip in the shallow end. So funny. I've never seen 20 year old men struggle with swimming so much.
After swimming, I brought stuff so I could shower in their showers there. Oh. My. Heaven. Above. This is the first shower I have taken since I have been here. I am tearing up just thinking about it. Not joking. FIRST SHOWER IN 6 WEEKS. I have always had to shower by pumping freezing water out of a well and trying to pour it on me. This was a HOT shower that came from a freakin showerhead. I got in and started to tear up. I'm not joking guys, this was amazing. Once the 5 minutes of bliss was over and I toweled off and started to get dressed, I realized that my hair still smells like the gross water, and my clothes are the same clothes I have worn for the past three days (new underwear...don't worry).....and I still smelled like sweat and nastiness....no matter how long I were to scrub, and my feet were still orange from dirt, and there was dirt under my nails, in my ears that might never go away.........then the magic was gone.
On the way home (keep in mind my friends this was like 20 minutes ago), I was crushed into this huge ugandan woman who spoke awesome english and barely had an accent. About halfway through the drive we dropped her off and apparently she is a famous Ugandan singer. She has an entire radio station dedicated to her and stuff. Her name is Sylvia. Isn't that AWESOME? Yeah.
I am feeling better by the way. I just am still really tired and I have a cough...but that's it. I'm just homesick. That's something that isn't cured with medicine. Don't get me wrong, I am SO glad that I am here. I love this place. And sometimes when I am here surrounded by friends and my temporary "family," I have this incredible feeling that I have only felt a few times in my life...a feeling like I'm home. And I have learned so much here. Last night talking to my mom I told her, the money we paid just for my flight would not even be enough money to pay for one of the great thigns I've learned here...does that make sense? I told her that if I have to, I will earn every dime for Gabi and Jess to have an experience like this. It has changed my life. And I still have a long time to go and even more to learn.
I have been taught the importance of family. Everyone is shocked here to know that I left my family to come. And seeing the sadness of people when they lose a family member and do not have the knowledge of eternal families...it breaks my heart. I am so blessed with my family and my incredible parents and with the knowledge of the gospel....wow. I can't even tell you how amazing it is that we have that so easy.
And there are so many things that I take for granted that I will never take for granted ever again. We are so blessed. How can people sit in their happy little houses in Happy Valley Utah and watch Happy TV and drive in their Happy cars and buy a happy little candy bar whenever they want ...and still not do anyone for anyone else. I am constantly explaining to people here why I came, like today to a very very very educated man, David, on the taxi. They don't understand why I would give up so much money and time to come here. First of all, I tell them we are all Gods children. It doesn't matter, David, that you are black and I am white. It doesn't make you better than me. It doesn't make me better than you. God loves us all the exact same. I was blessed with a nice home and a family and parents who work hard for my benefit. I may not be a super rich American like everyone thinks I am, but I am blessed and I want to give the rest of God's children all I have and do everything I can to make their life better. If I can assist in making their life better, maybe they will go out and help someone else in need. It creates a circle. Second of all, my dear David friend, I didn't come here to just do a whole bunch of stuff that I think will benefit Uganda greatly and make me awesome because I'm such a giving person. No no no no, Neda neda neda neda. I have gotten more than I have given here. I have gotten so much more. Then david asks me, "How can we do anything for you americans? You have everything." This is the exact convo today. And then I explain to him the beauty of their culture and daily life that has affected me so much. Okay I have to go cause I have like 50 seconds left. Peace homies.
P.s. Celine Dion is super famous here. It is so funny to hear her playing everywhere
p.p.s. HAPPY FATHERS DAY DADDY!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
Then yesterday AND today I was in Jinja. Yesterday I just went with the doc crew who are out here with Jackie and her sister and the "goals for girls" thing...we went to jinja to do shopping and I am officially the best bargain shopper. Seriously. There are two store owners who I love and who are the best to bargain with. David and Faith. I took Dani, Kara, and Nick (doc crew from BYU--they are so freakin awesome) to David's store. It was so funny. He kept trying to whisper prices to them and then I was like "No, come on David, I need to help these mzungus out!" and David kept telling me, "I know you are too good at bargaining!" It was so funny. In America, I LOATHE shopping. I hate the mall and "what, what" (that's what the africans would say instead of whatever), but HERE I LOOOOOOOOOVE IT! It is so fun to bargain...especially if you're good at it :) Dani and Nick and Abby kept having me bargain for them. It was so much freakin fun.
This morning, me, Abs and Leslie headed down to the Youth Outreach office to meet up with Luta and Wilson. They took us golfing on the Lugazi Metha Golf course. It's owned by the man who owns all of the sugar cane fields around here and many other industries in East Africa..an Indian Man. Let me tell you...he is LOADED. His house is on the golf course and his manager guy and the lady (Auntie Betty) told us we can golf there for free whenever and that we are welcome to stay in the guest house if we ever come back to Uganda. Dude. The 4 Million shillings it takes to get here would be worth it to stay in that guest house. Maybe my standards have gone down a little...but it is freakin awesome. Anyways, I didn't suck at golf ...not too bad. I actually was kinda good for my first time. Luta is amazing and gave me lessons. He's great.
Then we took Wilson and Luta to Jinja with us to go swimming at the Jinja Nile Resort (beautiful hotel). It was so funny cause they told us they swim and that the are not afraid of water...so....when Wilson jumped into the deep end, I wasn't too worried....until his eyes got really big and he started going to the bottom and didn't come up till a long time. So I did my best to rescue him. Then we gave him and Luta swimming lessons. We taught them the doggy-paddle and Luta kept on splashing ALL of the guests there...they were not very happy, but it was so funny. We taught them how to float and flip in the shallow end. So funny. I've never seen 20 year old men struggle with swimming so much.
After swimming, I brought stuff so I could shower in their showers there. Oh. My. Heaven. Above. This is the first shower I have taken since I have been here. I am tearing up just thinking about it. Not joking. FIRST SHOWER IN 6 WEEKS. I have always had to shower by pumping freezing water out of a well and trying to pour it on me. This was a HOT shower that came from a freakin showerhead. I got in and started to tear up. I'm not joking guys, this was amazing. Once the 5 minutes of bliss was over and I toweled off and started to get dressed, I realized that my hair still smells like the gross water, and my clothes are the same clothes I have worn for the past three days (new underwear...don't worry).....and I still smelled like sweat and nastiness....no matter how long I were to scrub, and my feet were still orange from dirt, and there was dirt under my nails, in my ears that might never go away.........then the magic was gone.
On the way home (keep in mind my friends this was like 20 minutes ago), I was crushed into this huge ugandan woman who spoke awesome english and barely had an accent. About halfway through the drive we dropped her off and apparently she is a famous Ugandan singer. She has an entire radio station dedicated to her and stuff. Her name is Sylvia. Isn't that AWESOME? Yeah.
I am feeling better by the way. I just am still really tired and I have a cough...but that's it. I'm just homesick. That's something that isn't cured with medicine. Don't get me wrong, I am SO glad that I am here. I love this place. And sometimes when I am here surrounded by friends and my temporary "family," I have this incredible feeling that I have only felt a few times in my life...a feeling like I'm home. And I have learned so much here. Last night talking to my mom I told her, the money we paid just for my flight would not even be enough money to pay for one of the great thigns I've learned here...does that make sense? I told her that if I have to, I will earn every dime for Gabi and Jess to have an experience like this. It has changed my life. And I still have a long time to go and even more to learn.
I have been taught the importance of family. Everyone is shocked here to know that I left my family to come. And seeing the sadness of people when they lose a family member and do not have the knowledge of eternal families...it breaks my heart. I am so blessed with my family and my incredible parents and with the knowledge of the gospel....wow. I can't even tell you how amazing it is that we have that so easy.
And there are so many things that I take for granted that I will never take for granted ever again. We are so blessed. How can people sit in their happy little houses in Happy Valley Utah and watch Happy TV and drive in their Happy cars and buy a happy little candy bar whenever they want ...and still not do anyone for anyone else. I am constantly explaining to people here why I came, like today to a very very very educated man, David, on the taxi. They don't understand why I would give up so much money and time to come here. First of all, I tell them we are all Gods children. It doesn't matter, David, that you are black and I am white. It doesn't make you better than me. It doesn't make me better than you. God loves us all the exact same. I was blessed with a nice home and a family and parents who work hard for my benefit. I may not be a super rich American like everyone thinks I am, but I am blessed and I want to give the rest of God's children all I have and do everything I can to make their life better. If I can assist in making their life better, maybe they will go out and help someone else in need. It creates a circle. Second of all, my dear David friend, I didn't come here to just do a whole bunch of stuff that I think will benefit Uganda greatly and make me awesome because I'm such a giving person. No no no no, Neda neda neda neda. I have gotten more than I have given here. I have gotten so much more. Then david asks me, "How can we do anything for you americans? You have everything." This is the exact convo today. And then I explain to him the beauty of their culture and daily life that has affected me so much. Okay I have to go cause I have like 50 seconds left. Peace homies.
P.s. Celine Dion is super famous here. It is so funny to hear her playing everywhere
p.p.s. HAPPY FATHERS DAY DADDY!!! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Signs and Symptoms
Another blood test at Dr. Nyombi's yesterday confirmed I have malaria. SERIOUSLY. Yeah it's so weird. But I'm okay. I am just exhausted.
I FORGOT TO TELL SOMETHING AWESOME ABOUT LAST WEEK...and kinda sick. So Ryan had this like mosquito bite looking thing on his arm but it started hurting, so he started to pop it like a zit and guess what came out (after some pain and quite a few minutes of squeezing)? A WORM. I know. That's when I was like...oh my gosh. I'm in africa. This is real. Hahahha. But he's totally fine. I just heard that we all have to take "de-worming medicine" when we get home just to make SURE we don't have worms. SICK. The worm was so gross. I saw it. He put it on a napkin and I saw it. Legit. Sick.
Also, today I saw a chicken be killed. NOt only killed but violently killed. Kat and Drew bought some chickens to chop their heads off because it was their goal before they left Africa (they are leaving tonight). So they took each chicken and laid it on a brick (alive at this point), tied it around the neck so it wouldn't leave the brick, and...WHAM. Blood everywhere...but the chicken didn't move....for about 5 seconds...then it starts going CRAZY! Like all over the place, flapping its wings, squirting blood everywhere. Then it would almost die....freak out again....and evnentually die. That happened both times. Yum, huh? Yep. That was my morning.
I don't have anything else to say except thank you for your love and support and prayers. I know so many of you have been keeping me in your prayers all the time, and I can feel it. Thank you so much. I have never experienced this kind of homesickness...it's at a different depth than any homesickness I have ever felt, yet I am so happy that I'm here. Anyways, thank you! I have the best friends and family in the whole world...seriously! So many of the other volunteers here had to come without any familial support and very few friends support, but I am so blessed. I have loved ones who really love me and care about me and support me in every dream I have. So thank you SO MUCH. I love you all, really and truly!
Love, Dani Diz
Just a side-note...wow...that is the most random blog I think I have ever written. Goes from malaria to worms to blood squirting to prayers....best. blog. ever. hahahha.
I FORGOT TO TELL SOMETHING AWESOME ABOUT LAST WEEK...and kinda sick. So Ryan had this like mosquito bite looking thing on his arm but it started hurting, so he started to pop it like a zit and guess what came out (after some pain and quite a few minutes of squeezing)? A WORM. I know. That's when I was like...oh my gosh. I'm in africa. This is real. Hahahha. But he's totally fine. I just heard that we all have to take "de-worming medicine" when we get home just to make SURE we don't have worms. SICK. The worm was so gross. I saw it. He put it on a napkin and I saw it. Legit. Sick.
Also, today I saw a chicken be killed. NOt only killed but violently killed. Kat and Drew bought some chickens to chop their heads off because it was their goal before they left Africa (they are leaving tonight). So they took each chicken and laid it on a brick (alive at this point), tied it around the neck so it wouldn't leave the brick, and...WHAM. Blood everywhere...but the chicken didn't move....for about 5 seconds...then it starts going CRAZY! Like all over the place, flapping its wings, squirting blood everywhere. Then it would almost die....freak out again....and evnentually die. That happened both times. Yum, huh? Yep. That was my morning.
I don't have anything else to say except thank you for your love and support and prayers. I know so many of you have been keeping me in your prayers all the time, and I can feel it. Thank you so much. I have never experienced this kind of homesickness...it's at a different depth than any homesickness I have ever felt, yet I am so happy that I'm here. Anyways, thank you! I have the best friends and family in the whole world...seriously! So many of the other volunteers here had to come without any familial support and very few friends support, but I am so blessed. I have loved ones who really love me and care about me and support me in every dream I have. So thank you SO MUCH. I love you all, really and truly!
Love, Dani Diz
Just a side-note...wow...that is the most random blog I think I have ever written. Goes from malaria to worms to blood squirting to prayers....best. blog. ever. hahahha.
Monday, June 15, 2009
I have not been feeling very well again...but this time it's a sore throat, headache, head cold type thing. So around 7:20 this morning, I was dreaming about my mommy taking care of me because I was sick. Then I woke up to Jake screaming "YOU LAZY BUTTS, WHAT ARE YOU DOING STILL IN BED? GET ON DOWN THERE, YOU HAVE 10 MINUTES" And I wanted to cry. Haha....but really.
Last week, I just went to IOL training and prepared for teacher training. It wasn't SUPER exciting, but it was fun and very interesting. I absolutely love Lilian Odiero with my whole heart. She is incredible. Oh and okay this is freaking awesome. On...Wednesday I think, at training, I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of one of the lessons, so I snuck out. As I'm coming out of the bathroom (this is at the church building in Mukono), An elder (missionary) is coming out of the boys. I say, "hey elder," then keep walking. But my eye catches his nametag and it says...."ELDER ISRAELSEN: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS"...There are not that many freakin israelsens around...well anywhere and IN THE MIDDLE OF EAST AFRICA! Wow. So I am like, "Uh...Elder Israelsen?" And he's like "Yeah???" And I point to my name tag and it says, "Dani Israelsen." He's like..."uh..." So it turns out he is my second cousin who dated my RS President from last year and (his) freshman year roomed with a bunch of my guy friends from high school in Heritage Halls. WEIRD. Oh and he goes home in 2 weeks. Paul, If you see this, welcome home haha. So randomly awesome!
4 new people came last week, Mandy & Taylor (married couple)and Catherine and Melissa. Awesome people! They're way fun! And some leave tomorrow....so we're just inm and out like crazy.
Saturday we went to Jinja to go swimming and that was sooooooooo wonderful. I just got to chill for a while. It was way nice. Then we went shopping and stuff. Awesome. I have way too many freaking souveniers so all you better be grateful when I get home :)
We also went on Friday night to Luta's comedy act in which he pulled Becca and I onto stage to dance in front of a whole bunch of Lugazians. Weird things always happen to me and becca. But it was super fun.
Then Sunday I sang in church, I know that my Redeemer Lives. I wish my sisters were there to sing with me :( But I LOVE the Mukono branch. Way cooler than the Jinja branch. My new favorite people are Christopher Mugimu, Daniel, Frank, Julius, and a guy named Ivan. A different Ivan. They rock.
Okay well I am done today.
PEACE HOMIES
Last week, I just went to IOL training and prepared for teacher training. It wasn't SUPER exciting, but it was fun and very interesting. I absolutely love Lilian Odiero with my whole heart. She is incredible. Oh and okay this is freaking awesome. On...Wednesday I think, at training, I had to go to the bathroom in the middle of one of the lessons, so I snuck out. As I'm coming out of the bathroom (this is at the church building in Mukono), An elder (missionary) is coming out of the boys. I say, "hey elder," then keep walking. But my eye catches his nametag and it says...."ELDER ISRAELSEN: THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS"...There are not that many freakin israelsens around...well anywhere and IN THE MIDDLE OF EAST AFRICA! Wow. So I am like, "Uh...Elder Israelsen?" And he's like "Yeah???" And I point to my name tag and it says, "Dani Israelsen." He's like..."uh..." So it turns out he is my second cousin who dated my RS President from last year and (his) freshman year roomed with a bunch of my guy friends from high school in Heritage Halls. WEIRD. Oh and he goes home in 2 weeks. Paul, If you see this, welcome home haha. So randomly awesome!
4 new people came last week, Mandy & Taylor (married couple)and Catherine and Melissa. Awesome people! They're way fun! And some leave tomorrow....so we're just inm and out like crazy.
Saturday we went to Jinja to go swimming and that was sooooooooo wonderful. I just got to chill for a while. It was way nice. Then we went shopping and stuff. Awesome. I have way too many freaking souveniers so all you better be grateful when I get home :)
We also went on Friday night to Luta's comedy act in which he pulled Becca and I onto stage to dance in front of a whole bunch of Lugazians. Weird things always happen to me and becca. But it was super fun.
Then Sunday I sang in church, I know that my Redeemer Lives. I wish my sisters were there to sing with me :( But I LOVE the Mukono branch. Way cooler than the Jinja branch. My new favorite people are Christopher Mugimu, Daniel, Frank, Julius, and a guy named Ivan. A different Ivan. They rock.
Okay well I am done today.
PEACE HOMIES
Monday, June 8, 2009
I Hope They Call Me On A Mission
Friday night. Ryan and I ride a boda all the way to Mukono. BAD IDEA. I rode it to Jinja and back once...and Mukono is closer so I figured I would be fine...but it was deathly. It should be a 45-60 minute ride and it took us about25 minutes. And I quote Ryan, "This is scarier than bungee jumping."
So we finally get there and we meet up with some ofthe elders! We went to some appointments with them, then went out to dinner. It was SO FUN! And I have officially decided I will be turning in my papers in May of2010. So everyone be ready! I'm going on splits with the sisters all day saturday so I can really see what mission life is like. It's so weird cause I never really thought about going on a full-time mission. But the last couple weeks it has been constantly on my mind. After praying about it, I've decided I am going. I could leave as early as August 23, 2010!!!!!! Yay!
So, I forgot to tell a story about last sunday and I told my sisters and they were peeing their pants (by the way jess and gab, I just barely bought you THE most awesome souvenier ever. Like you guys are gonna pee your pants. You'd better love me forever and buy me good american food when I come home). So I'm walking home from church last sunday (well from the bus) and I get up my street and see about 50 of the neighborhood children standing outside my gate with a pile 30 feet long of bricks on the road. What the heck, right? Yeah. So I get closer and notice that OUR GATE ...OUR BRICK AND CEMENT GATE...IS BROKEN.....30 FREAKIN FEET OF IT. Yeah. So I move through the red sea...black sea...of children and climb up the pile of bricks ot see Shaun and Brian just chillin reading a book. My eyes are as big as they ever have been and my mouth is dropped open..."Uhhhh????" "Oh, yeah our wall fell down," Shaun says. NO???!! DID IT??!!! "Uh....?????Yeah???" "Erosion. It fell because of erosion." EROSION? I think it is safe to say that is one of the weirdest things ever. It took about 6 days to build the wall back up but it is up now.
So TODAY I went to do immunizations in Jinja. It has been a crazy day. I am still here in Jinja. Oh! And we saw Jackie and the Timpview soccer team! Wahoo! But Anyways...so we walk into town in Lugazi to try and find a bus to Jinja right? And we get on this bus but it's taking for4ever so we decided to just try and find one on the road. So we're out there for about 5 minutes when these TWO taxi's show up. These guys are crazy. All of the sudden...
"MZUNGU WHA AW YOU GOING?"
"MZUNGU, HERE"
"MZUNGU, MZUNGU, MZUNGU."
They start grabbing and pulling and shoving. I start pushing back. Now these african men are pretty skinny and short, so I just push with all my strengh and about three fall over. I was getting so angry. They started pushing around Hilary and Leslie and by this time I am screaming.
"GET OFF ME! STOP TOUCHING ME!"
This goes on for about three minutes. Also during this time we are discussing a price. We are yelling, "ONE FIVE." Which means 1500 shillings, which is what the africans pay. The mzungu price is 2500. So one guy is saying "NO, YOU PAY TWO." And I am screaming "WE WILL ONLY PAY ONE FIVE WHEN YOU ARE SO RUDE!" And another guy tells us we will pay one-five, so we get in. As we start driving, the conductor and I are still arguing and I am so angry...Like...I have never cared so much about a quarter in my entire life. Finally he gives up and I am just fuming. I try listening to Taylor Swift and it does NOT help. Anyways, we worked out that we would pay 2 if they would take us to the church building where we needed to go. But that is like every day here. I was so mad haha.
Then at immunizations, we all got separated and I got lost in the middle of Jinja for a while, but finally found Andrew L. Then we watched a bunch of kids get their lives saved and helped give kids polio vaccines. It was actually really cool! And we listened to kids scream and parents say, "LOOK AT THAT BABY. THAT BABY IS NOT CRYING. WHY ARE YOU CRYING? ARE YOU A BABY?" "IT IS NOT GOING TO KILL YOU. STOP SCREAMING!" Hahaha. But their lives were saved. So I'm happy. I wish we could go throughout africa and do immunizations. So awesome that two little drops and one shot can save a child's life. Apparently Uganda was a polio-free country until very recently when they discovered a few cases on the border of sudan.
I am becoming SO awesome at bargaining. Like...my friends say they're really proud of me. I have bought basically all of my souveniers so that I can spend the rest on vacations and I did so well. I argue with every store owner and get the best prices. I rock. Haha. I just get super mad when they try and charge me the "mzungu price" and then I tell them what he african price is and they give it to me...after a little arguing. I hate shopping in the US. But shopping here ...is AWESOME.
ANd I'm really really so FREAKING excited to go on a mission.
So we finally get there and we meet up with some ofthe elders! We went to some appointments with them, then went out to dinner. It was SO FUN! And I have officially decided I will be turning in my papers in May of2010. So everyone be ready! I'm going on splits with the sisters all day saturday so I can really see what mission life is like. It's so weird cause I never really thought about going on a full-time mission. But the last couple weeks it has been constantly on my mind. After praying about it, I've decided I am going. I could leave as early as August 23, 2010!!!!!! Yay!
So, I forgot to tell a story about last sunday and I told my sisters and they were peeing their pants (by the way jess and gab, I just barely bought you THE most awesome souvenier ever. Like you guys are gonna pee your pants. You'd better love me forever and buy me good american food when I come home). So I'm walking home from church last sunday (well from the bus) and I get up my street and see about 50 of the neighborhood children standing outside my gate with a pile 30 feet long of bricks on the road. What the heck, right? Yeah. So I get closer and notice that OUR GATE ...OUR BRICK AND CEMENT GATE...IS BROKEN.....30 FREAKIN FEET OF IT. Yeah. So I move through the red sea...black sea...of children and climb up the pile of bricks ot see Shaun and Brian just chillin reading a book. My eyes are as big as they ever have been and my mouth is dropped open..."Uhhhh????" "Oh, yeah our wall fell down," Shaun says. NO???!! DID IT??!!! "Uh....?????Yeah???" "Erosion. It fell because of erosion." EROSION? I think it is safe to say that is one of the weirdest things ever. It took about 6 days to build the wall back up but it is up now.
So TODAY I went to do immunizations in Jinja. It has been a crazy day. I am still here in Jinja. Oh! And we saw Jackie and the Timpview soccer team! Wahoo! But Anyways...so we walk into town in Lugazi to try and find a bus to Jinja right? And we get on this bus but it's taking for4ever so we decided to just try and find one on the road. So we're out there for about 5 minutes when these TWO taxi's show up. These guys are crazy. All of the sudden...
"MZUNGU WHA AW YOU GOING?"
"MZUNGU, HERE"
"MZUNGU, MZUNGU, MZUNGU."
They start grabbing and pulling and shoving. I start pushing back. Now these african men are pretty skinny and short, so I just push with all my strengh and about three fall over. I was getting so angry. They started pushing around Hilary and Leslie and by this time I am screaming.
"GET OFF ME! STOP TOUCHING ME!"
This goes on for about three minutes. Also during this time we are discussing a price. We are yelling, "ONE FIVE." Which means 1500 shillings, which is what the africans pay. The mzungu price is 2500. So one guy is saying "NO, YOU PAY TWO." And I am screaming "WE WILL ONLY PAY ONE FIVE WHEN YOU ARE SO RUDE!" And another guy tells us we will pay one-five, so we get in. As we start driving, the conductor and I are still arguing and I am so angry...Like...I have never cared so much about a quarter in my entire life. Finally he gives up and I am just fuming. I try listening to Taylor Swift and it does NOT help. Anyways, we worked out that we would pay 2 if they would take us to the church building where we needed to go. But that is like every day here. I was so mad haha.
Then at immunizations, we all got separated and I got lost in the middle of Jinja for a while, but finally found Andrew L. Then we watched a bunch of kids get their lives saved and helped give kids polio vaccines. It was actually really cool! And we listened to kids scream and parents say, "LOOK AT THAT BABY. THAT BABY IS NOT CRYING. WHY ARE YOU CRYING? ARE YOU A BABY?" "IT IS NOT GOING TO KILL YOU. STOP SCREAMING!" Hahaha. But their lives were saved. So I'm happy. I wish we could go throughout africa and do immunizations. So awesome that two little drops and one shot can save a child's life. Apparently Uganda was a polio-free country until very recently when they discovered a few cases on the border of sudan.
I am becoming SO awesome at bargaining. Like...my friends say they're really proud of me. I have bought basically all of my souveniers so that I can spend the rest on vacations and I did so well. I argue with every store owner and get the best prices. I rock. Haha. I just get super mad when they try and charge me the "mzungu price" and then I tell them what he african price is and they give it to me...after a little arguing. I hate shopping in the US. But shopping here ...is AWESOME.
ANd I'm really really so FREAKING excited to go on a mission.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Dreaded Diseases
Malaria...Typhoid...All just a part of life here in Lugazi, Uganda.
So a few weeks ago, one of the Andrew's (there's two here) was diagnosed with Malaria. Then yesterday, three people who keep getting SUPER sick, Becca, Shaun, and Drew, went to the doctor. All three were diagnosed with Malaria, and Becca a slight case of typhoid. Ridiculous! So...Melissa and Kristen last night highly recommended each of us go to the doctor to get tested. It was a little scary because ...well...they are sticking NEEDLES into our BLOOD in the middle of Africa. I don't know if you all realize but the chances of getting HIV...very high. But, the doctor is Dr. Nyombi who is practiced in western medicine and a very trustworthy doctor, so...we all are spending an hour of our day here in the doctors office.
I went this morning and incredibly, I didn't pass out (I always pass out). I am clear of Malaria, but I have TYPHOID............................................
............................................................................
.......................................................................
BAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH. No I'm not joking. I'm completely serious but for some reason it is so funny to me. Don't worry I'll start taking medication soon. But parents, you had better call me today. If I die while I'm here, I'd better at least get to talk to ya'll on the phone one more time.
So...I have to go. That is all I have to say. But...I love you all, and happy typhoiding!
P.s. This test is legit...many people have turned up negative as well....so....yeah....BHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
So a few weeks ago, one of the Andrew's (there's two here) was diagnosed with Malaria. Then yesterday, three people who keep getting SUPER sick, Becca, Shaun, and Drew, went to the doctor. All three were diagnosed with Malaria, and Becca a slight case of typhoid. Ridiculous! So...Melissa and Kristen last night highly recommended each of us go to the doctor to get tested. It was a little scary because ...well...they are sticking NEEDLES into our BLOOD in the middle of Africa. I don't know if you all realize but the chances of getting HIV...very high. But, the doctor is Dr. Nyombi who is practiced in western medicine and a very trustworthy doctor, so...we all are spending an hour of our day here in the doctors office.
I went this morning and incredibly, I didn't pass out (I always pass out). I am clear of Malaria, but I have TYPHOID............................................
............................................................................
.......................................................................
BAHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAH. No I'm not joking. I'm completely serious but for some reason it is so funny to me. Don't worry I'll start taking medication soon. But parents, you had better call me today. If I die while I'm here, I'd better at least get to talk to ya'll on the phone one more time.
So...I have to go. That is all I have to say. But...I love you all, and happy typhoiding!
P.s. This test is legit...many people have turned up negative as well....so....yeah....BHAHAHAHHAHAHAHHA
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Chocolate Milk
I am addicted. I love it. TOO much.
There is this store here called "Gap Co" Which is what WE call, "the Costco of Lugazi." Really it is about 10 feet by 12 feet large and has nothing...but comparatively it has EVERYTHING. It is owned by some sweet Indian men who make fun of me for getting a chocolate milk every day.
Yesterday was a national holiday. HAPPY MARTYRS DAY EVERYONE! So they celebrate this in a random place in the middle of NOWHERE that is technically in "Kampala" but like...super far from the city. In the middle. Of Nowhere. Seriously. So we drive from Lugazi to Mukono yesterday in order to go celebrate this blessed holiday. We get to Mukono and everyone says, "Oh yes, it is a forty-five minute walk." More like forty-five years. Like the pioneer children, we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked. We walked up and down these hills of orange dirt for THREE HOURS. It wasn't too bad...a few blisters but I ran part of the way, cause I'd rather run than walk. It was good excercise, that's for sure! We walked from MUKONO to KAMPALA!!! Do you people realize how far that is? Check a map. It was at LEAST 10 miles. AT LEAST is what we calculated. And by the time we got there, we were coated in red dirt. Like our eyelashes were not black anymore...they were orangey red. Our hair...my dark black braids where ORANGEY RED. Same with the rest of my body. I definitely showered last night...don't worry. So...Finally we get there and it starts POURING rain. So we have to hide under some tarp for like a half hour. We got to eat a rolex and some soda..real sprite! It was wonderful. Then we just hung out, watched this parade, then took 2 hours to drive back in a boda because of traffic. Oh in the parade it was super funny...some priest guy comes up to one of the boys in our group, Matty pants, grabs his hand, and says "Well, this young man!" And we're all like...."yeah?? what about him??" haha. Then he just starts rambling off for a while...it was funny. Guess ya had to be there :)
Then we had chicken for dinner last night. My dearest american friends...DO NOT TAKE PROTEIN FOR GRANTED. Hahaha. We got chicken..like FRESH chicken and it was sick. It was so hard, it took me like 10 minutes to chew one bite. Plus, we bought like a whole bunch and all we had was about a half inch thick by 2 inches long worth of meat. Then a lot of bone. My friends, eat protein for me. Thank you.
I love you like a mango.
There is this store here called "Gap Co" Which is what WE call, "the Costco of Lugazi." Really it is about 10 feet by 12 feet large and has nothing...but comparatively it has EVERYTHING. It is owned by some sweet Indian men who make fun of me for getting a chocolate milk every day.
Yesterday was a national holiday. HAPPY MARTYRS DAY EVERYONE! So they celebrate this in a random place in the middle of NOWHERE that is technically in "Kampala" but like...super far from the city. In the middle. Of Nowhere. Seriously. So we drive from Lugazi to Mukono yesterday in order to go celebrate this blessed holiday. We get to Mukono and everyone says, "Oh yes, it is a forty-five minute walk." More like forty-five years. Like the pioneer children, we walked, and walked, and walked, and walked. We walked up and down these hills of orange dirt for THREE HOURS. It wasn't too bad...a few blisters but I ran part of the way, cause I'd rather run than walk. It was good excercise, that's for sure! We walked from MUKONO to KAMPALA!!! Do you people realize how far that is? Check a map. It was at LEAST 10 miles. AT LEAST is what we calculated. And by the time we got there, we were coated in red dirt. Like our eyelashes were not black anymore...they were orangey red. Our hair...my dark black braids where ORANGEY RED. Same with the rest of my body. I definitely showered last night...don't worry. So...Finally we get there and it starts POURING rain. So we have to hide under some tarp for like a half hour. We got to eat a rolex and some soda..real sprite! It was wonderful. Then we just hung out, watched this parade, then took 2 hours to drive back in a boda because of traffic. Oh in the parade it was super funny...some priest guy comes up to one of the boys in our group, Matty pants, grabs his hand, and says "Well, this young man!" And we're all like...."yeah?? what about him??" haha. Then he just starts rambling off for a while...it was funny. Guess ya had to be there :)
Then we had chicken for dinner last night. My dearest american friends...DO NOT TAKE PROTEIN FOR GRANTED. Hahaha. We got chicken..like FRESH chicken and it was sick. It was so hard, it took me like 10 minutes to chew one bite. Plus, we bought like a whole bunch and all we had was about a half inch thick by 2 inches long worth of meat. Then a lot of bone. My friends, eat protein for me. Thank you.
I love you like a mango.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Ahhhhhhhh...You're My Best Friend
So...I TALKED TO BONNIE BOO YESTERDAAAAAAAAAY!!! It made me so happy and it was so good to hear her voice. Yay Bonnie! I miss her.
But now I have a little more time to write the stuff that I wanted to!
So...yesterday morning, I went to this school. It was about a 15 minute boda drive away up in the hills of Mukono district. It was Abby and I and this guy named Jefferson who has been involved with HELP for a while and is over Mamatoto's Choir! So this school is seriously made of sticks and tin. If there were to be a rainstorm, the kids would get SOAKED. It's a nursery school for 3-6 year olds. They built this school because these kids had to walk 2.5 Kilometers to get to the closest nursery school and they were getting kidnapped and sacrificed by some tribe who believes God will bless them with income if they sacrifice little children. SCARY. And people...this is like JANUARY that they built this school. This isn't 10 years ago. This is a few months ago that this happened. One of the guys over Mamatoto's choir owns this land and the mamatoto guys gathered ALL the money they could to put into this school...the structure, the school supplies, etc. The parents only pay 5000 UG shillings each semester (a little under $2.50) to send their kids to this school and that money is only to pay the teachers. The rest is funded by the good of these Mamatoto guys hearts. There are three teachers in this one "room" trying to teach and talk over each other. They do not get ANY funding for the government and are doing everything they can. They want to build a one-room schoolhouse in order to use it for the nursery school AND as a community center where women's groups can meet..english classes...etc. If ANY of you reading this have any ideas for funds, PLEASE let me know! If anyone needs a fundraising project, we would love to get started on this asap! Anyways, let me know! Of all of the projects I am doing, this is one that I am so excited about and that really really need the help. They will be providing the labor and everything...so this is not just us giving them something. Cause that would be pointless. Love you all!
But now I have a little more time to write the stuff that I wanted to!
So...yesterday morning, I went to this school. It was about a 15 minute boda drive away up in the hills of Mukono district. It was Abby and I and this guy named Jefferson who has been involved with HELP for a while and is over Mamatoto's Choir! So this school is seriously made of sticks and tin. If there were to be a rainstorm, the kids would get SOAKED. It's a nursery school for 3-6 year olds. They built this school because these kids had to walk 2.5 Kilometers to get to the closest nursery school and they were getting kidnapped and sacrificed by some tribe who believes God will bless them with income if they sacrifice little children. SCARY. And people...this is like JANUARY that they built this school. This isn't 10 years ago. This is a few months ago that this happened. One of the guys over Mamatoto's choir owns this land and the mamatoto guys gathered ALL the money they could to put into this school...the structure, the school supplies, etc. The parents only pay 5000 UG shillings each semester (a little under $2.50) to send their kids to this school and that money is only to pay the teachers. The rest is funded by the good of these Mamatoto guys hearts. There are three teachers in this one "room" trying to teach and talk over each other. They do not get ANY funding for the government and are doing everything they can. They want to build a one-room schoolhouse in order to use it for the nursery school AND as a community center where women's groups can meet..english classes...etc. If ANY of you reading this have any ideas for funds, PLEASE let me know! If anyone needs a fundraising project, we would love to get started on this asap! Anyways, let me know! Of all of the projects I am doing, this is one that I am so excited about and that really really need the help. They will be providing the labor and everything...so this is not just us giving them something. Cause that would be pointless. Love you all!
Fur Elise
I just want to say one more thing. Cell Phones. Everyone here has way ghetto Cell phones and like the ghetto rings like fur elise or the entertainer...it's just really funny. Love it. And you know the chicken man from 33 chickens? Emma was his name. He had the same phone that I have at home and that's like the nicest phone that they have here...and it really made me miss my phone. That's all.
Mucaga
Okay, so I always hear this word when people are talking...and I think to myself, WHAT THE HECK IS MUCAGA and my co-volunteer told me today it is "six"...so...Six. Mucaga. Yeeeeeep. This weekend was SUPER crazy.
First, an update on my pal Ivan Koretta. He's now just chillin in Lugazi, the police could not keep him any longer. No one's stuff was recovered except for an mp3 player. It just breaks my heart. I know I keep saying that...but it's true. No matter what has happened or what he did or didn't do, I still want the best for him and hope he can see how much we all still love him. He's our friend. He is not allowed to communicate with us, but my prayers are always with him.
Secondly, HOLY CRAP IT'S JUNE!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? SEVENTEEN DAYS FROM NOW, CHRISTIAN DEE PAGE WILL HAVE BEEN OUT FOR ONE FREAKIN YEAR! YEAAAAAAAAAAAH AND ONE WEEK LATER...ANDRES ANTONIO GONZALEZ!!!!!!!!!!! BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I love June. I especially love June 2010. GAH. Okay....
Let's see...I have to remember what happened on Friday. Oh...nothing super exciting. We worked with my favorite Youth Outreach peeps to make a soccer game...after we taught them about HIV/AIDS. Oh AND I got my hair braided.
Wow. Okay so I'm sitting here at the internet cafe and the sweetest woman next to me just started talking to me and she offered me a necklace as a gift that usually costs 8000 shillings...that is a LOT of money for these people. But she runs a women's group and I told her I want to help her with teaching the women English and with generating income. She told me they will be so excited to meet me! YAY! I'm so excited! Okay so...I have so much to say. So friday...hair braided. It's awesome. People keep calling me, "African Queen" or saying "You look smart!" Which is kind of like saying you look cool. So...I like it :)
Saturday was the weirdest and funnest day of my life. A bunch of people stayed at Sipi falls for the weekend, but I decided to stay with some people here. So we went to Kampala for the day. We left in teh morning...OH and we went with the Youth Outreach people. I LOVE THEM! Robert, Wilson, Luta, Godfrey, Patrick, the whole bunch. I LOOOOOOOOOVE them. They're such good wholesome boys. None are mormon, but we're hoping they will be. ;) So...we went to Kampala and to this MALL. Guys, it was like...AMERICA. God bless America. Seriously. There was a mini Wal-Mart in there.....like everything you could ever imagine to be in Africa was there. I even got cold cereal and milk. Blessed blessed cold cereal. Yum. So then we hugn out in Kampala and went to the "pentagon of Uganda"...parliament...beautiful building and really cool. Then we Just walked around and got DOMINOS. It started to rain when we were like a half mile from it and we thought What the heck, we are running. The africans looked at us like yeah right, but we dragged them along. It wasn't just raining my friends it was a freakin Hurricane. Okaynot really, but it felt like it. We wereSOAKED but the pizza was worth it. And a chocolate milkshake. yuuuuuuuuuuum.
Just a sidenote mostly for Bonnie, Mal, Jess, and Gabaroo...I know how to braid hair now, so if you want me to when i get home, I will. Letr me kknow cause you have to buy extensions. Also, for anyone, if anyone wants to buy me billy joel/elton john tickets for my birthday...I'm definitely fine with that.
Geez, I have no time. I will write more tomorrow probably, but yeah...Saturday was crazy...danced at African Paradise with the Youth Outreach guys. Then...Sunday I sang Todd's song and eveyrone LOVED it. They all want to learn it. And they all said I have a voice of an angel, thank you Kyle Hanson.
And this morning I went to this nursery school (like kindergarten) and it was made of a bunch of sticks and tin basically. I really hope we can do something for them! GAH! I just am so excited about all of the projects! I walked into this school and said to the 70+ kids, "Hey guys! How are you?" and they all stood up and responded in unison, "I am fine, Thank you Madame!" SOOOOOOOOOO cute. Okay. I love you all. And African men love white girls. Peace out Mzungus.
First, an update on my pal Ivan Koretta. He's now just chillin in Lugazi, the police could not keep him any longer. No one's stuff was recovered except for an mp3 player. It just breaks my heart. I know I keep saying that...but it's true. No matter what has happened or what he did or didn't do, I still want the best for him and hope he can see how much we all still love him. He's our friend. He is not allowed to communicate with us, but my prayers are always with him.
Secondly, HOLY CRAP IT'S JUNE!! DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS MEANS? SEVENTEEN DAYS FROM NOW, CHRISTIAN DEE PAGE WILL HAVE BEEN OUT FOR ONE FREAKIN YEAR! YEAAAAAAAAAAAH AND ONE WEEK LATER...ANDRES ANTONIO GONZALEZ!!!!!!!!!!! BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH. I love June. I especially love June 2010. GAH. Okay....
Let's see...I have to remember what happened on Friday. Oh...nothing super exciting. We worked with my favorite Youth Outreach peeps to make a soccer game...after we taught them about HIV/AIDS. Oh AND I got my hair braided.
Wow. Okay so I'm sitting here at the internet cafe and the sweetest woman next to me just started talking to me and she offered me a necklace as a gift that usually costs 8000 shillings...that is a LOT of money for these people. But she runs a women's group and I told her I want to help her with teaching the women English and with generating income. She told me they will be so excited to meet me! YAY! I'm so excited! Okay so...I have so much to say. So friday...hair braided. It's awesome. People keep calling me, "African Queen" or saying "You look smart!" Which is kind of like saying you look cool. So...I like it :)
Saturday was the weirdest and funnest day of my life. A bunch of people stayed at Sipi falls for the weekend, but I decided to stay with some people here. So we went to Kampala for the day. We left in teh morning...OH and we went with the Youth Outreach people. I LOVE THEM! Robert, Wilson, Luta, Godfrey, Patrick, the whole bunch. I LOOOOOOOOOVE them. They're such good wholesome boys. None are mormon, but we're hoping they will be. ;) So...we went to Kampala and to this MALL. Guys, it was like...AMERICA. God bless America. Seriously. There was a mini Wal-Mart in there.....like everything you could ever imagine to be in Africa was there. I even got cold cereal and milk. Blessed blessed cold cereal. Yum. So then we hugn out in Kampala and went to the "pentagon of Uganda"...parliament...beautiful building and really cool. Then we Just walked around and got DOMINOS. It started to rain when we were like a half mile from it and we thought What the heck, we are running. The africans looked at us like yeah right, but we dragged them along. It wasn't just raining my friends it was a freakin Hurricane. Okaynot really, but it felt like it. We wereSOAKED but the pizza was worth it. And a chocolate milkshake. yuuuuuuuuuuum.
Just a sidenote mostly for Bonnie, Mal, Jess, and Gabaroo...I know how to braid hair now, so if you want me to when i get home, I will. Letr me kknow cause you have to buy extensions. Also, for anyone, if anyone wants to buy me billy joel/elton john tickets for my birthday...I'm definitely fine with that.
Geez, I have no time. I will write more tomorrow probably, but yeah...Saturday was crazy...danced at African Paradise with the Youth Outreach guys. Then...Sunday I sang Todd's song and eveyrone LOVED it. They all want to learn it. And they all said I have a voice of an angel, thank you Kyle Hanson.
And this morning I went to this nursery school (like kindergarten) and it was made of a bunch of sticks and tin basically. I really hope we can do something for them! GAH! I just am so excited about all of the projects! I walked into this school and said to the 70+ kids, "Hey guys! How are you?" and they all stood up and responded in unison, "I am fine, Thank you Madame!" SOOOOOOOOOO cute. Okay. I love you all. And African men love white girls. Peace out Mzungus.
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