Camel Rides

After taking a much-needed break from Uganda to ride some camels named Obama and Mohamed, play some beach coconut botchy-ball and have plenty of festive drinks with good food, I feel refreshed and ready to conquer my second year!

As I’m getting underway with the second term, I finally feel at peace with the work I am doing. Although my class load has dwindled to 2 hours per week, I have maintained my sanity by starting to do “supplementary” work. I am starting to teach the teachers at my school how to type properly and how to correctly use some key Microsoft Office programs. My “students” are eager to learn and show a lot of enthusiasm. I almost wish I could video tape them how to type without actual computers. Although they are older than myself, I feel like I am teaching a group of fifth graders from 1990 (or my mom) that know absolutely nothing. (Which is ironic because today’s fifth graders could probably teach me more than I know!)

Some of the other things I am doing now now ouside of school is helping fellow PCVs with their projects: RUMPS (Re-Usable Menstrual PadS) with Emily, designing billboards with Nick at Health Partners and helping malaria outreach with Nick and Andrew by helping set up the painting of murals in the villages. I will hopefully be starting at Compassion International, a local orphanage and at Reproductive Health Uganda with HIV/AIDS and malaria patients. I am going to be staff at the western regional Camp GLOW in August and I am co-directing national Camp GLOW that will occur in January. So I can say I am attempting to keep myself busy with work!

But of course the most fun is always had outside of work! My family is ever growing; Remy has two sisters now (both who hate him at this point in time!). I have a cute but commie kitten named Moo Cow and the most recent addition, Gertrude the baby goat. I obtained these other two children in hopes that Remmy will have a friend, but I guess not so surprisingly they have bonded together to keep their rambunctious 8-month-old brother at a distance. Basically the majority of my free time is spent keeping the clan away from each other, which is quite humorous because Remmy is already a good 50 to 70 pounds and growing! I can spend ALL day watching my 3 little goofballs who are aspiring to be 2012 Olympic athletes, albeit special Olympic athletes!  Moo Cow with the standing long jump; it doesn’t matter where she is in the house because she will be able to launch her body in your direction and latch on to the pant legs of your jeans! Mohammed Al Remmy with his boxing abilities; he practices by opening all the shut doors in the house and escaping (working on some cardio). And Gertrude with the hurdles, she is mastered jumping over anything and everything to get away from the dog.


 

I spend my weekends with the Bushenyi crew (mostly CBU, Nick and Andrew) cooking and relaxing. We are starting to finally decorate Nick’s house with some necessary paint and a large world map painted on his wall. I have designed furniture for him and we’re making a garden in his enormous back yard. Soon soon I get to go to Dubai (thanks dad!) with my good friend Peter from highschool and he will be coming back to travel Uganda with me for 2 weeks. I have an exciting couple of months ahead of me (and it is OK if you’re jealous, I want you to be!)

But there is always room for more… Come visit!! 

After seeing all the things that I intend to do it is only natural to look back at my last year of service and reflecting on the things that I did accomplish and the things I couldn’t. This tends to be a battle of my feelings. Short term I feel like I did little for this country, but I believe my thoughts are misguided and still on the level of American terms. Internally I can say I have gained and grown tremendously. I have been through a lot this last year and it’s created a lot of highs and lows in my life that I will never forget.

I have gotten to see new creative sides to myself I didn’t think existed before. I love to do crafts, paint, create, garden and cook now! My fam. would be so ever impressed to say the least. And I finally have time to read! It’s almost like heaven.

My mother came to visit me for a month and I was so privileged to experience things in Eastern Africa with her that I couldn’t have done without her. (And don’t worry I have not forgotten the Tales of Sweet T and Pixi. I am just making you wait in dire anticipation like people who were waiting for the next Harry Potter or Game of Thrones book to be released.) She breathed life into me and really made me see how beautiful this country and its people are.

I have made amazing friends who are like family (inside Peace Corps and out) who I hope will stay with me forever. I know I am already planning Gillian’s trip back to America in hopes to steal her. I got to be in an amazing relationship with a young gentleman, which unfortunately did not work out. But it has made me really reflect and look deep inside myself and see where I stand in life. (Especially in areas that I previously did not think were so important to me.) I have gotten to experience the feeling of an older sister to some unforgettable young girls. We have gotten to both laugh and cry through challenges and prosperous events. I have created and lost some new family members.  One of which I will be lucky enough to take home with me to meet his brothers from another dog mother in Illinois. And most importantly I have gotten to maintain and I think strengthen my relationships from back home. I have always loved my friends and family more than anything, but I have never cherished them like I do now. It is an absolutely great feeling!

Yes, I can say I am stronger! Yes, I can say I am not truly Ugandan! (Thanks to all of you who have helped me get where I am today!)