Hey everyone, hope the week has been well! I’m preparing for my last week in Uganda now—I can’t believe its gone so quickly. At times 2 months has seemed like forever, but overall this trip has flown by! And as cheesy as this sounds (and you all know I’m not really a sentimental person or anything…), as I miss home more and more towards the end of the trip, the more I feel at home in Katosi with all the incredible people that are here.
The week started rocky—Rhea had been feeling sick since before rafting and it was getting worse so she went to get some tests done with a doctor in Keytume and found out that she had malaria AND typhoid! I felt horrible for her but I know she felt worse… I can’t even imagine…but now she’s finished treatment and feeling a lot better!
Anyway, while she was getting treated I was alone in Katosi but everyone knew I was by myself and they were super nice. The staff in Kampala called everyday, Mama made me meals, and I hung out with my friend Dora in the dairy a ton for company.
It was so exiting…one night early in the week I was watching Ugandan news with Mama and KWDT was featured. We had a huge ceremony on Sunday to open a new well up the road and although I didn’t see them, there must have been reporters covering the event and it was on national tv. Margaret the director and Rehema, one of the office staff were interviewed and they showed footage from the event. Of course we all cheered when it came on and it was so cool to see my little organization with that sort of legitimacy and publicity!
On Tuesday after health club at the secondary school I was walking home with Patience and Rose, 2 girls in the club and they invited me to their house to meet their mother and the rest of their family. Their mother is one of the most inspiring people I’ve met…she’s really young but her and her sisters live together and take in orphans from surrounding towns and give them a place to live and send them to school. So there were like 15 young kids living at their house, most of had been orphaned. I stayed there for a really long time and we showed each other pictures of our families and they cooked me a huge dinner with pineapple juice and sugar cane for dessert. Then since it was dark Patience and Rose walked me home and we hung out in the apartment for a while. It sure beat going back to the apartment by myself since Rhea was gone! Once again, I’m completely amazed by the people I meet here and there’s so much I want to do for them but I can’t figure out what would be the most help.
One of the other things I did this week was bring the letters from the girls at Orchard House to one of my schools and have the kids write back. They turned out great and it was a really fun activity but it was kind of disturbing to see just how much of the creative thought process the children lacked since all they do in school is repetition and copying. At first it was really hard to get them to do their own work instead of copying the examples I gave them straight from the board. I think that’s definitely an education/development issue I want to look into more once I get home.
Then finally on Thursday, KWDT had visitors from a prep school in England that has been a major donor to the organization. Margaret, Val, and everyone else from Kampala came to Katosi to show them around and we had a big celebration with dancing and music. And I got to talk to people my age in English…which is always exciting :)
After that, Margaret took us back to her house in Kampala since we are going to her graduation party in the city tonight. Her house was really nice and in the suburbs and it was fun to meet her children who are about our age and the rest of her relatives since they’re in town for the party. She really made us feel like part of the family, plus we got to watch American tv in really comfortable chairs and take a hot shower with running water! It was a good night!
So tonight we’ve got Margaret’s party, and then we’re cooking an “American” lunch for everyone we work with at our place on Sunday…after I’ll finish up the work in schools during the week and then head home after a weekend full of goodbye parties. I’m sure this last week will fly by and I’ll be home in no time!
I can’t wait to see everyone!
Love,
Kate
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sunday, July 12, 2009
The Mighty Nile
Hey everyone! Hope everyone’s week is going well!
I just got back to Mukono after spending the weekend rafting in Jinja at the source of the Nile!
Last week was a really fun week in terms of work. I taught a bunch of health seminars in the primary schools and while they were exhausting, I think they went really well. When I get frustrated with how the kids are listening or talking I just have to keep in mind that it probably wouldn’t be any different in a class full of fifth graders at home! Once the kids open up and feel comfortable being asked to participate and play games, versus just repetition and copying, we have a good time and hopefully, they learn a lot. I also went around with our boss Leonard to one of the new schools that KWDT is building a tank at and met with the headmaster about starting a school health committee. Its incredible to hear how much a rain tank will change the quality of education for the students at the schools. The headmaster explained that now (before the tank) the kids have to walk down a hill for about 2 km to a creek when water is needed for the school, since its their duty to collect water for all the school’s functioning. That’s a ton of class to miss and energy that could be spent learning!
In health club at St. Joseph’s Secondary we got into some really good discussions about some pretty sensitive subjects. We talked a lot about HIV/AIDS and homosexuality this week, both of which are huge stigmas in Uganda and have tons of rumors circulating about them. Its interesting but really disheartening to hear some of the things that people have told these kids about those issues. For example that HIV was a plot by a white scientist to kill Africans, and that homosexuality also came from white westerners because there are more gays in America and Europe. From those, we jumped into a discussion about the biology behind disease and how they jump from animals to people, and then from people to people so that they spread, and about how homosexuality probably any more common in the West, just more accepted. I could write for hours about our talks this week…I’ll really miss meeting with these kids in a few weeks.
As for the weekend, Rhea and I met up with the rest of the group in Kampala on Thursday for a tour of Parliament. We even got to sit in on a debate! Then on Friday the rafting company picked us up and took us to Jinja to hit the Nile. It was INSANE! After a pretty in depth safety briefing (I know mom will appreciate that..), we spent 2 days on class 5 rapids, I’ve never done something quite that intense. At night we stayed at the company’s campsite which was overlooking some of the rapids. I’ve never been in water that intense. When we tried to “surf”, which is to keep the raft in the middle of a rapid with water rushing around I even got the face sucked right out of the band of my watch…a huge bummer actually. Our guide Moses was incredible too, he was from the area and had some really funny and terrifying stories about kayaking the Nile and even riding over some of the falls floating on a jerry can. We’ve got a video of the trip so you guys can check it out when I’m back.
At the end of the second day we went during sunset on a boat ride up to where Lake Victoria stops and the Nile begins, so at the source of Nile. It was beautiful and another reminder of how crazy it is that I’m actually here!
Well that’s all for this week. I can’t believe there are only 2 left…time has flown by. See you all soon!
Love,
Kate
I just got back to Mukono after spending the weekend rafting in Jinja at the source of the Nile!
Last week was a really fun week in terms of work. I taught a bunch of health seminars in the primary schools and while they were exhausting, I think they went really well. When I get frustrated with how the kids are listening or talking I just have to keep in mind that it probably wouldn’t be any different in a class full of fifth graders at home! Once the kids open up and feel comfortable being asked to participate and play games, versus just repetition and copying, we have a good time and hopefully, they learn a lot. I also went around with our boss Leonard to one of the new schools that KWDT is building a tank at and met with the headmaster about starting a school health committee. Its incredible to hear how much a rain tank will change the quality of education for the students at the schools. The headmaster explained that now (before the tank) the kids have to walk down a hill for about 2 km to a creek when water is needed for the school, since its their duty to collect water for all the school’s functioning. That’s a ton of class to miss and energy that could be spent learning!
In health club at St. Joseph’s Secondary we got into some really good discussions about some pretty sensitive subjects. We talked a lot about HIV/AIDS and homosexuality this week, both of which are huge stigmas in Uganda and have tons of rumors circulating about them. Its interesting but really disheartening to hear some of the things that people have told these kids about those issues. For example that HIV was a plot by a white scientist to kill Africans, and that homosexuality also came from white westerners because there are more gays in America and Europe. From those, we jumped into a discussion about the biology behind disease and how they jump from animals to people, and then from people to people so that they spread, and about how homosexuality probably any more common in the West, just more accepted. I could write for hours about our talks this week…I’ll really miss meeting with these kids in a few weeks.
As for the weekend, Rhea and I met up with the rest of the group in Kampala on Thursday for a tour of Parliament. We even got to sit in on a debate! Then on Friday the rafting company picked us up and took us to Jinja to hit the Nile. It was INSANE! After a pretty in depth safety briefing (I know mom will appreciate that..), we spent 2 days on class 5 rapids, I’ve never done something quite that intense. At night we stayed at the company’s campsite which was overlooking some of the rapids. I’ve never been in water that intense. When we tried to “surf”, which is to keep the raft in the middle of a rapid with water rushing around I even got the face sucked right out of the band of my watch…a huge bummer actually. Our guide Moses was incredible too, he was from the area and had some really funny and terrifying stories about kayaking the Nile and even riding over some of the falls floating on a jerry can. We’ve got a video of the trip so you guys can check it out when I’m back.
At the end of the second day we went during sunset on a boat ride up to where Lake Victoria stops and the Nile begins, so at the source of Nile. It was beautiful and another reminder of how crazy it is that I’m actually here!
Well that’s all for this week. I can’t believe there are only 2 left…time has flown by. See you all soon!
Love,
Kate
Sunday, July 5, 2009
What does it mean to be American?
Hey everyone! Happy 4th of July! Here’s an update on the past week:
After the safari, 2 of our friends working in western Uganda came back to visit Katosi and see how Rhea and I are living. We took them back up to monkey hill where a monkey literally almost took off my arm for a banana, and even found a fisherman who took us out on his boat around lake Victoria! It was the first time I’ve been out on the water since I’ve been here and after spending so many summers on the Severn I definitely have missed it! That night we got creative (ie. Had really bad cravings for “American food”) so we made burritos. we bought some avacados, onions, and tomatos to make guacamole, stir fried some veggies and beans, and rolled it all up in a chapatti--...ironic because they were actually a mix of Indian, African, and Mexican I guess, but anyway, it was delicious.
So besides cooking, I actually did do some work this week… I started teaching the health program I designed for primary schools. Basically I’m going to all of the primary schools that KWDT works with (4 schools) as a guest speaker during 5th, 6th, and 7th grade science classes and teaching a seminar on health. I got some help from a peace corps volunteer on the curriculum and came up with some games and it’s a lot of fun because it’s a break for the kids from typical Ugandan schooling, which is a lot of repetition and not a lot of participation. I’ve really developed a love for teaching, and I already loved working with kids so its been great!
I also have been going back to the secondary school (St. Josephs) a lot because in addition to the health club, I’ve started tutoring some of the kids in biology and English. I’m getting to know them really well and since they speak English the best out of anyone else here, its great to have real conversations with them. They’re so smart and have such big hopes for the future—and they’re really funny too! On Thursday we started talking about music so they made me sing some of their favorites with them…jo jo and chris brown mostly so thanks southie and liney for keeping me up to date :)
This weekend we came to Kampala because there was a 4th of july party at the embassy…complete with cake and fireworks!! It was a really neat experience, but talking with Ugandans about our 4th of july celebration was really interesting too. Here, they don’t really celebrate Uganda’s independence day on October 9th. They told us that even still, the country doesn’t feel united enough to come together to celebrate and there is so much corruption in the government that most people aren’t proud enough. That was really surprising to me, especially because as an outsider, the country seems really homogenous. Some of the kids at St. Josephs also asked me how you know that someone is American if their roots are Indian, Italian, Mexican, etc…which really got me thinking. Its hard to understand how as Americans we can feel so united most of the time, even with a lot of diversity. I know America isn’t perfect, but that perspective gave me a lot of appreciation for life here.
And on a lighter note, I figured out this week why they pack the taxis so much here (remember, like 25 people in a 14 passenger van) its because the roads are SO bumpy here that when they aren’t over capacity, there isn’t enough weight in the taxi for it to remain on the ground. Last weekend on my way back to Katosi most of the other riders got out a few villages before Katosi which is at the end of the line, so for the last 20 minutes there were only a few people. I literally spent the entire time airborne and smashing my head on the roof as the taxi that was too light kept hitting the bumps..ouch!
Ok that’s all for now. More teaching this week and then rafting on the nile this weekend so I’m sure I’ll have stories! Have a great week, I miss all of you!
Love,
Kate
After the safari, 2 of our friends working in western Uganda came back to visit Katosi and see how Rhea and I are living. We took them back up to monkey hill where a monkey literally almost took off my arm for a banana, and even found a fisherman who took us out on his boat around lake Victoria! It was the first time I’ve been out on the water since I’ve been here and after spending so many summers on the Severn I definitely have missed it! That night we got creative (ie. Had really bad cravings for “American food”) so we made burritos. we bought some avacados, onions, and tomatos to make guacamole, stir fried some veggies and beans, and rolled it all up in a chapatti--...ironic because they were actually a mix of Indian, African, and Mexican I guess, but anyway, it was delicious.
So besides cooking, I actually did do some work this week… I started teaching the health program I designed for primary schools. Basically I’m going to all of the primary schools that KWDT works with (4 schools) as a guest speaker during 5th, 6th, and 7th grade science classes and teaching a seminar on health. I got some help from a peace corps volunteer on the curriculum and came up with some games and it’s a lot of fun because it’s a break for the kids from typical Ugandan schooling, which is a lot of repetition and not a lot of participation. I’ve really developed a love for teaching, and I already loved working with kids so its been great!
I also have been going back to the secondary school (St. Josephs) a lot because in addition to the health club, I’ve started tutoring some of the kids in biology and English. I’m getting to know them really well and since they speak English the best out of anyone else here, its great to have real conversations with them. They’re so smart and have such big hopes for the future—and they’re really funny too! On Thursday we started talking about music so they made me sing some of their favorites with them…jo jo and chris brown mostly so thanks southie and liney for keeping me up to date :)
This weekend we came to Kampala because there was a 4th of july party at the embassy…complete with cake and fireworks!! It was a really neat experience, but talking with Ugandans about our 4th of july celebration was really interesting too. Here, they don’t really celebrate Uganda’s independence day on October 9th. They told us that even still, the country doesn’t feel united enough to come together to celebrate and there is so much corruption in the government that most people aren’t proud enough. That was really surprising to me, especially because as an outsider, the country seems really homogenous. Some of the kids at St. Josephs also asked me how you know that someone is American if their roots are Indian, Italian, Mexican, etc…which really got me thinking. Its hard to understand how as Americans we can feel so united most of the time, even with a lot of diversity. I know America isn’t perfect, but that perspective gave me a lot of appreciation for life here.
And on a lighter note, I figured out this week why they pack the taxis so much here (remember, like 25 people in a 14 passenger van) its because the roads are SO bumpy here that when they aren’t over capacity, there isn’t enough weight in the taxi for it to remain on the ground. Last weekend on my way back to Katosi most of the other riders got out a few villages before Katosi which is at the end of the line, so for the last 20 minutes there were only a few people. I literally spent the entire time airborne and smashing my head on the roof as the taxi that was too light kept hitting the bumps..ouch!
Ok that’s all for now. More teaching this week and then rafting on the nile this weekend so I’m sure I’ll have stories! Have a great week, I miss all of you!
Love,
Kate
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