Welcome to the start of my new adventure! In just about 63 days on June 3, 2014, I will leave my home in Minnesota and begin my journey as a Peace Corps Volunteer serving in the Republic of Uganda as a Health Volunteer.
I have decided to keep a blog to provide information to family, friends, the general public, possible Peace Corps prospects, random persons, etc. on my daily life and adventures starting today April 1, 2014 (Happy April Fools' Day) and the events leading up to my departure date and throughout my time in Uganda. This way you will know what I am up to and can contact me and ask questions!
I have wanted to serve in the Peace Corps since I was very young. I wanted to join right out of high school but did the whole college thing instead but it was always sitting in the back of my mind and finally back in December of 2012, I finished and submitted the Peace Corps Application after about four months of filling it out (it takes a while). While I was living in Los Angeles in early 2013, I had my official interview at the West Coast Regional Office in LA and was nominated in March of 2013 with a tentative date to leave of August of 2013, but I declined because I was just getting into the film industry and I didn't want to stop everything. Well, the film industry did not go as planned and after moving back to Minnesota, I re-applied and after a short phone interview was re-nominated in August of 2013 for Sub-Saharan Africa. After filling out some forms and waiting for about five months, also called the "Black Hole," and another phone call, I finally received my invitation on January 17, 2014 to serve as a "Health Volunteer" in the Eastern African country of the Republic of Uganda with the focus being on HIV/AIDS education. Just yesterday, I finally received my Final Medical Clearance and in about a month I will receive my staging information (where I will be leaving from). I don't know yet what I will officially be doing while I am in country and won't know until the end of the 12 week in-country training starting in June. For the last nine months it has been a lot of "fill out this form" and a lot of waiting but that is how it is with the Peace Corps. I am thoroughly excited!
Winston Churchill called Uganda the "The Pearl of Africa." Uganda lies on the Equator in Eastern Africa, bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the south. As Uganda is on the equator, the temperature stays roughly about the same, there is no "winter" or "summer" (AKA NO SNOW!!!!). There are two wet seasons (mid- September to November and March to May) and two dry seasons (December to February and June to August). Temperature is roughly around 50-90 degrees year round. The British ruled indirectly over Uganda in 1894 when the Europeans carved up Africa giving, Uganda, Kenya, and Zanzibar to the British control. They favored the recruitment of the Ugandan people for their civil service. By 1962, Uganda gained its independence with the help of a schoolteacher, Dr. Milton Obote. Obote did not agree with the King of Uganda and his army chief of staff was ordered to storm the King's palace, Idi Amin was that chief of staff. Idi Amin took over in January of 1971 and began the first reign of terror in Uganda. The army could shoot anyone on sight who was suspected of opposition to his reign. Over an eight year period an estimated 300,000 people lost their lives. The economy collapsed and the infrastructure crumbled. In 1979, the Tanzanian army defeated the Ugandan army and Amin fled the country. To this day, politics in Uganda is unstable, since Amin's reign there have been four Presidents. Three of them have had terms lasting less than a year. Obote would served another five years. The current President Museveni originally put a two term limit on the presidency and then months before the election he changed his mind and thus has remained in power since 1986.
Uganda
lies astride the Equator in Eastern Africa between longitudes 29 ½°
East and 35° East and between latitudes 4 ½° North and ½° South, at an
average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea- level. The total area is
236,580sq.Km.
We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dpuf
We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dpuf
Uganda
lies astride the Equator in Eastern Africa between longitudes 29 ½°
East and 35° East and between latitudes 4 ½° North and ½° South, at an
average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea- level. The total area is
236,580sq.Km.
We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dpThe Republic of Uganda in 1958 was given internal self-government and gained its independence from the British in 1962 with Milton Obote as prime minister.
If you are looking for more information on Uganda The BBC is a great place to look - http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-14107906 We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dpThe Republic of Uganda in 1958 was given internal self-government and gained its independence from the British in 1962 with Milton Obote as prime minister.
Two years after Uganda's independence, Peace Corps sent their first Volunteers - secondary school teachers who arrived in November of 1964. A year later the education program doubled in size. The first health program was initiated in 1968 with 15 volunteers. However, in 1973 due to the civil unrest of Idi Amin, the Peace Corps terminated all programs. Almost 20 years later, volunteers returned in 1991 but eight years later was suspended due to security issues. Following the Government in Uganda requesting the return of Peace Corps and two assessment teams from the Peace Corps who evaluated the security and territory concerns, the decision was made to reopen programs in August of 2000. Peace Corp Uganda has around 122 Volunteers serving in Education, Health and Economic Development sectors in the country. You can find more information on Peace Corps Uganda at http://uganda.peacecorps.gov/content/history
Okay, enough with facts and such! I promise my blog posts will be slightly more interesting as the months go on! If you have any questions feel free to contact me.
I woke up this morning making mental list of what needs to be packed and what I should leave at home. AHHHHHHHHHH! So much to do in >63 days.
Cheers and Siiba bulungi! (Spend the day well)
Uganda
lies astride the Equator in Eastern Africa between longitudes 29 ½°
East and 35° East and between latitudes 4 ½° North and ½° South, at an
average altitude of 1,100 meters above sea- level. The total area is
236,580sq.Km.
We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South.
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dp
We are bordered by the Republic of South Sudan to the North, the Republic of Kenya to the East, the Democratic Republic of Congo to the West, and the United Republic of Tanzania and the Republic of Rwanda to the South.
- See more at: http://www.visituganda.com/about-uganda/#sthash.DxOcEnci.dp
