It's Official! PC Uganda 2011

First and foremost, I GOT TO SEE MY FIRST FREE ROAMING ZEBRA!!! Oh my goodness, it was magical! I have never felt so giddy before, and I made sure everyone in my car new it too. Lol, Reumah (my co-teacher) and her husband think I am a goofball. Of course I couldn't get my camera out quick enough, but the image will be imprinted in my brain forever.

This last couple of weeks has been intense, lots of feelings going on. I had to say goodbye to my home-stay family, which was really sad. They kept telling me how much they loved me and were going to miss me, and vice versa. But in Uganda, you aren't supposed to cry, so I had to hold it all in. I really hope I get to stay in contact with them for a very long time. We had our home-stay thank you over the weekend and my family was over joyed that I included them in the video I made for the group. I am really glad I decided to do that, because they will remember that forever. I gave them all my gifts I brought from Chicago, and they were pretty stoked. Of course I didn't bring enough because they wanted more. The favorite was the American flag pin I brought. Go figure. Before I gave them gifts Galen and I cooked American Chinese food for them. Veggie fried rice, veggie stir fry and an Asian style salad. I thought it was delicious, they, on the other hand, aren't to into eating different foods. Oh well, we tried! The rest of the night was spent singing and dancing. My family made me a song and dance. I did cry there, it was beyond sweet. I will definitely miss them, but they said I am more then welcome to come stay with them again, and I hope they visit me in Bushenyi. When mom comes to visit, we will be stopping there for sure, because they talked to her on the phone and I talked about her all the time so they really want to meet her and see what an American mom is like.

(I'll upload my videos of my family and the one I made at a later point when I have more data for internet)

Handing out gifts from Chicago

My whole family after eating Chinese food I made them and gifts

Auntie, Momma and Mary

Mary and Joyce

We had a lot of tests and thangs to do the last week in Lweza so we were packed with studying and goodbyes. We had our Round Robbin to show what we have learned about the culture and things. That went fine, except for the medical portion! Haha, I knew all the answers but wasn't exact enough for how to react in Uganda... go figure, because I never paid attention in those sessions, along with all the other Biology people. We also took our LPI (language proficiency interview) and thankfully I passed. Pretty stoked on that, but I do have a lot of room to improve, which is always the case for language. We then moved into Kampala to do a bunch of logistic stuff. We got there on Monday and were immediately in stand-fast. And I don't think ANYONE complained. We stayed in a cush hotel and just swam and partied all day on Monday. I finally got to work on my tan! The next day we went to the embassy, PC office and met our supervisors. Reumah, my co-teacher came instead of Madam Jennifer. Also pretty awesome, because I love Reumah. I will be spending the rest of Easter weekend with her, attending church on Sunday 10-1 and then lunch with her family. Should be fun! We then had to sit through more meetings and finally got to swear in on Thursday! The long awaited moment. The ambassador swore us in at the DCM's house. We celebrated for a short while at her house then back at the hotel. It was bitter sweet to say goodbye to our training class and move out within the communities.

Stand-fast at the hotel while riots were going on in Kampala, it was brutal ;)

It's Official: PC UGANDA 2011 (best group ever!)

Enkoko Enkuru! I'll miss being with you guys everyday

The last weekend before we left for Kampala I spent with my other family at Ephie's apartment. We went to the beach and just hung out talking about her wedding and when they were going to come and visit. They got to meet my dog, Ninija Tambura, but weren't so impressed. Like most Ugandans, they don't really like dogs. Haha, this is part of the cross-culture learning I am going to really promote. He got a lot of bathes! First round didn't really get rid of the fleas, but I was able to find shampoo for that and the second set of warshings did the trick. (Don't worry Chel, he is no longer gross and can sleep in my bed now!) He is so super cute and pretty darn naughty. He is going to be a handful to train, but luckily I will be doing nothing for a month at site! Our car ride to Bushenyi was very interesting, it took 5 hours longer than it should have due to traffic in Kampala. Tamby slept most of the way, only went to the bathroom twice in the car, but I caught it...  Ugandans seriously think I am nuts! But "it's ok." I couldn't do anything but laugh, memory moments, as we say. I got to my home, I have a lot of personalizing to do over the next couple months. I can't wait! Tamby has already made it his own, he is pretty much a scaredy cat of every noise and movement. I can't wait to adjust with him.

Lake Victoria at sunset

My sisters

Tamby enjoying the car ride

TAMBY!

So I am all moved into site for the next two years and already missing lots of thangs from the States!

My address is: (This Post only takes about 2-3 weeks to get packages!)
Bailey Sanderson
Bweranyangi Girls' S.S.S.
P.O. Box 72
Bushenyi, Uganda

No one has to send anything, but if you have an urge to there are plenty of things I would love!

Any type of dry foods! Pasta/rice sauce mixes, cake mixes, soup mixes, veggie mixes, ect. MAC N CHEESE!!!!!!!!!
Breakfast bars & granola bars
Beef jerkey & cheese! (Oh my gosh I am going to miss my cheese while I am here!)
Spam (not kidding, I don't eat any of the meat here, so that would be wonderful to mix in)
Campbell soups
Candy (mostly chocolate is what I get a craving for)
Cookies
Hot sauce (Siracha, tapatio, ect)
Seasonings
BBQ sauce
Chicken & Tuna in the can
(Really anything you think I would miss, cause I miss the food a lot!)

I still need tampoons... (Pearl LITE) (they don't believe in them here)
Magazines (any kind really, but I am missing Time, Newsweek, Economist and the "garbage" ones)
I would love hard copies of pictures to hang up, so whatever you feel necessary
Dog toys
Dog treats

I would really just love anything, packages and letters are great! Help me reminisce about home and all my loved ones!

I will be able to update more when I have things to say now that I am at site and will have plenty of alone/down time. It will just be finding things to say that isn't repetitive! I miss and love everyone. I can't wait for people to come and visit so I can show off my beautiful new country!

Love and Kisses! Bail