Reflections and Future Plans

It's hard to believe that I only have a little less than two weeks left in Uganda. The days can drag on sometimes, but the weeks seem to fly by. It's a peculiar phenomenon.

I've spent most of my time here working on CBHC's website, which you can access at http://www.kyetumecbhcp.org/. Now I just need to train resource center staff how to manage and update it. I've also found myself teaching people here how to use the internet, search on google, and use e-mail. It's hard for me to understand how overjoyed people become after I've taught them these skills that seem rudimentary to me. I think they are happy because somebody is taking the time to sit down with them and teach them something, which makes them feel cared about.

The most important thing a person do while doing any kind service is to relate to people on a personal level. For work abroad, it's especially necessary to immerse oneself in the local culture. Whenever we say even the most ordinary phrases in Luganda, local community members become very excited. Once I got a traditional Ugandan dress made, my co-workers were thrilled that I tried it on for them and took pictures. I've only integrated on a superficial level because I've been here for just two months, but people appreciate that I am trying.

On the 24th I'm going to Kampala to meet with Katosi Women's Development Trust, a CBO that works to ensure that vulnerable women become economically self sufficient. Hopefully AGRADU will be able to work with this organization next summer.

What I'm most excited about is that on 27th we've been invited to attend sports day at Rina Junior Academy, which is sort of like field day. We're not supposed to wear red, blue, yellow, or green because those are representative of the different school houses. We don't want to accidentally show our support for only one of them.

Until next week.