Almost 4 weeks in

So, now I've been here for about 4 weeks and I'm definitely starting to get used to things in Uganda.  Like I've said, a lot before, it is very different but I am beginning to really starting to like it out here.

Cooking so far is still the most challenging thing for me to do because I'm not the best cook at home, but I am certainly trying.  There isn't like a one stop shop for food here like there is at home so that is taking some getting used to. However, I have discovered some good places to go and get the food that I need.  Everything is so fresh, or too fresh, so I'm learning quickly how to tell if fruits and veggies are good or not.

Recently, I made the decision to just start riding boda bodas, which are a motorcycle taxi.  The key is to find one that is nice, reliable, and safe. There are some numbers of boda drivers on the fridge in the house that I'm staying at and I called one last night to take me to town.  It is the cheapest and fastest way to get around town.  Not having a car has been challenging because I'm used to just being able to go wherever I want whenever I want.  Now I'm having to rely on others outside of myself to help me get around.  At first I was using special hires, which are personal drivers.  They are very useful but are a much more expensive way to have to get around town.  I'd say they are good if you are going out in a large group or doing some serious grocery shopping.

So last night, I went to the National Theater and attended the Bayimba Festival.  It was an international festival that was in Kampala.  The musicians that were there were from all over Africa and there was one from Brazil.  It was a really interesting event and I was impressed that something that big was planned and executed well.  I made my Israeli friend, Hagit, go with me.  We also discovered what Silent Disco is, which was actually quite fun.  The festival had crafts and food for sale.  It was really cheap.  Only 1000 Ugandan shillings which is $0.40 to enter.

I'm glad to be feeling more comfortable in Uganda and it feels good to have found a boda driver that is reliable and safe.

Hopefully more from me later!

Exploring and teaching

Well, hello everyone that reads my posts about Uganda.

This post will be about some exploration that I've done and about my first mini-lesson that I just taught.

So, let's start with last weekend.  There is an Israeli girl that is staying at the same place where I am staying.  She's a bit adventurous and convinced me to take a bodaboda (motorcycle taxi) out to Ggaba and check out a local market.  With little hesitation, I said yes and grabbed a helmet and we were off.  Luckily, haggling is like her full time job so I let her do most of the talking.  She had me try a rolex which is flatbread, egg, tomatoes, and onion all cooked and fried up together.  They are really delicious but they should only be a once a week snack.

Here is the guy that we got our rolex from...

  I have never seen food prepared so openly on the street.  It was quite an experience.

Then we looked around Lake Victoria and the local market for second hand clothes.

Here is Lake Victoria

The local people fish out of the lake and then sell what they catch to the highest bidder

The whole market was really interesting and I enjoyed getting to witness something very different from what I have at home.

Today, I taught a mini-lesson using BrainPop which can be quite inconvenient when the internet goes down (which is often in Uganda).  Overall the lesson covered the human organ systems and both of my collaborating teachers thought that I did very well.  I'm glad that I have taught a mini-lesson and gotten my feet wet with teaching so now the kids will learn that I am also a teacher in the room.

Well, gotta go teach 7th period!

Saturday Morning Post

Well, I'm not really sure how many days that I have been here in Kampala and it's early so I don't plan on doing that math.

First week at school has been a really big success.  The teachers at the Senior School are all really helpful and very willing to do what they can.  On Wednesday, my computer cord had fried and I had no access to my financial aid (which is all my money!).  I felt defeated and like everything that could go wrong, was going wrong.  It was a very helpless feeling.  But, I told my collaborating teacher, and others at the school about my situation and everyone had wonderful advice to give.  Apparently, when you first live out here, nothing is very easy but with time you can gradually figure everything out.  Needless to say, my computer cord is fixed and now I have a spare with a Ugandan plug.

My students are the sweetest.  I'm really enjoying having 6th and 7th graders.  There are several of my students that are very limited on English but I'm working with them to try to build up their confidence.  There is this adorable French boy who is very limited in English.  We were having a class discussion about different organs, and I walked up to him quietly and asked him if he could name an organ.  He could and he gave me one that had not already been said so I raised his hand in the air so he could also participate in the class discussion.  My goodness, the look of pride and joy on his face made it worth it.

So... I guess I could review previous stuff that has happened.

1. Visited the equator.

and 2. Saw a leopard

Those have the biggest adventures so far but trust me.... there will be more.

Uganda Day 5

Today is our 5^th day in Uganda.  It is pretty exciting that we finally adventured out to Coffee at Last place right down the road from our house.  We needed to get out of the house and adventure around the town that we live in.

The last few days have felt like a total dream.  We went to Lake Mburo for a safari trip.  We had a drive through the national park and saw zebras, bushbucks, and black faced monkeys.  Then we took a boat ride around the lake and were able to view a wide variety of birds, hippos, crocodiles, and a water buffalo.  After the boat ride, we sat down and were able to relax before our night safari.  We were on the lookout for leopards.  Dr. Bryan’s friend said that he knew of a leopard and her baby near the lake.  All of us were hoping to see the baby leopard.  The first animal that we saw was a hippo out of the water.  Of course I took a picture even though it did not turn out very well.  Then after what felt like forever we spotted the leopard.  I was able to capture the moment in a picture but everyone was so excited, the driver, our tour guide, and of course all of us girls.  After we saw the leopard, everyone was ready to go and get some dinner.

The resort that we stayed in was amazing.  It was called the Eagle’s Nest and the staff was so amazingly nice.  The food was delicious and so was the view.  Everything about the trip just seemed surreal.  I mean, I went on a safari in Uganda.  I’m still thinking about how in the world I got this lucky to come and experience this life.

Last night, we went out for a night on the town.  Natalie picked us up from Claire’s and we went to a very delicious dinner.  Then we went to a few dance clubs.  The first one that we went to made Brittney and I a little uncomfortable.  I think Natalie and Paul could sense that so we went to another place and there we felt like we were home.  There was a wide variety of people and it was a lot of fun.

Today, we are spending the day with Natalie and exploring more of the city.  I’m so excited and I really look forward to staying.