A Killer of Technology

Wow it is already almost the middle of February. These last couple of weeks have been packed with planning and activities. I’ve been back and forth between Kampala for was known as Youth Think Tank but is now called Youth Camp volunteerism Think Tank and I was also in for medical. Of course Peace Corps Medical has no idea what is wrong with me as my tests came back negative which I guess is good but also frustrating their solution is I stop eating okay great will get on that. The new Education sector volunteers arrived at their sites a couple weeks ago and one is at a site right up the road from me in Kigarama at Kigarama Primary School and we also have one at another KFSP school of course they did not tell KFSP about getting volunteers so there is drama and such surrounding that but by the end of their two years KFSP will love them and not want them to leave this is very typical when something is not communicated to the heads of KFSP which is understandable but also frustrating. 

On a sad note, my computer died this past week, I did have a feeling it would and was just waiting for it to crap out and of course I had backed everything up (NOT!) and I lost most everything. This is normal for me to not back anything up. Lesson for future and current PCV’s back everything up at least two times a week. To be honest I dropped my hardrive on the floor and it will not work since probably October and then I forgot, actually I didn’t forget, my Tablet forgot its passcode so I have not been able to use it since getting here. I dropped my smartphone and broke that then made sure it was finished by throwing it across the room at the wall. I guess you could call me technologically challenged when it comes to keeping things alive and functioning. So currently I am using one of the organizations laptops which is okay so far just been a frustrating couple of days trying to figure out such and such of the computer it is a Windows 7 and my other computer was a Windows 8 which made it challenging to jump back in time. I had a freak out over that computer but after a week or so I am okay with it I just want to make sure I can get my photos off of it which is eight months worth of photos!

This week has been packed with planning and prepping for the Patrons Meeting with all 13 schools (normally 14 but one of them got grounded for bad behavior), patrons from the Environmental Conservation Program came, Head Boy and Girl Teachers came for the Health meeting and also all the head teachers attended. It was a good day busy but had lots of information to share about this coming. I am happy to report I got nine of the 13 schools to sign up for possible trainings on Reusable Menstrual Pads (RUMPS) and also two of the schools currently receiving monthly pads requested information on them! Big day! Slowly slowly bring some new ideas to the table. The Boys Program was received with much support and all of our programs will start tomorrow (Monday!) which I am very excited about should be a good busy week ahead. I am happy and content with how things are going which is a good sign.

Saturday Morning

Woke up this morning to a few bees in my kitchen and by a few I mean a large amount that you do not want anywhere near yourself or your kitchen especially African bees. I killed a bunch but they kept coming and this morning was a lot of stress and calling bee people in town and my father back in the USA (sorry about that – I woke them up around 11:45PM oops). I even put a tray of honey right outside my window… nope would not touch it, put a mosquito net over the window and vent no luck. So finally I stopped freaking out, cleared out of the kitchen with my food, closed up the kitchen with the bees inside and just went and did other things and waited for them to swarm with the Queen. Well, after about three hours, for the most part they have left my kitchen, guess they did not like being locked inside, there are one or two left which will most likely meet the bottom of my shoe after I post this but not my idea of starting the morning off and all I wanted was a cup of tea.

Oh Roma!

Well thankfully a couple days ago after I finished taking a nap, I woke up with the excitement that I am going back to Africa! My experience here in Rome has been amazing and it has been a dream/bucket list come true for me to finally have travel to Europe. I've learned so much over the last couple weeks but to be honest, I am ready to head back and hit the ground running and get back to my life in Uganda (mainly because its cold here in Rome - I don't do well in the cold) but also I have a lot to do in Uganda with my org, Peace Corps and I want to go back. However, I will be coming back to Rome and Italy in general over the years. I want to plan a motorcycle trip up and down Italy's coast (both coasts) in the near future (after COS) or even when I have my honeymoon (my future husband has to go where I say - hehe). There is so much history and so many amazing places to visit that it would take years and years to know everything and see everything. Just walking down on one side of the street then coming back up on the other side opens a whole new view of the city. It is amazing.

The family I have been staying with have been wonderful and have taken me in like one of their own and thankfully have given me some time on my own to explore Rome and I got to see Naples. The two girls have been wonderful and also fun and crazy. It has given me a great idea of what having children will be like. Still a couple years down the road I think (sorry mom and dad).

I do wish I spoke Italian, I absolutely love the language (inserting request for Rosetta Stone Italian) the girls have taught me some but I speak English with them all the time as they need the practice. Goal for the coming year and a half before COS to learn Italian. I've also learned a lot from just interacting with people. It is funny when you ask people if they speak English they go "No, I do not speak English." in perfect English. They also love to give you directions in Italian even though you just told them you don't speak any Italian. Everyone is so shy to speak English with you and when they do its great. The schools don't speak it at all. That has been the most challenging for me during my time here. Well time to hit the Italian language books.

Favorite places so far have been the Pantheon, Ancient Rome, Tearo di Marcello, walking the different streets in the former Jewish Getto, also any street that are not full of tourists, Castel Sant' Angelo, and the top of St. Peter's Basilica, Mon. Vittorio Emanuelle II, Musei Capitolini, seeing the pope give his weekly address, the Sistine Chapel, the Vatican Museums, and really everywhere I have been. I have found being the first person in line right at 9AM is awesome as by the time you are finishing up the crowds are showing up. Since it is winter go out when the weather is pooo no one is out. Only down side of being here in winter other then it being cold is that a lot of the sites are under renovation. Trevi Fountain was all covered in scaffolding and a part of Musei Capitolini and the Vatican Museums were being set up for a new exhibition.

I have not done a ton of eating out because the family has given me free range to their kitchen and I have been wanting to save my euros but I have gone to a couple places. Antico Forno Rosciali is amazing...I went on a Sunday and it was packed so I went in and turned around and went right back out and found another Pizza placce which had a signed photo of Silvester Stallone on it so I knew it was good. But I went back to Antico Forno Rosciali for lunch today and I think the guy thought I was ordering for two which was fine because he gave my twice as much pizza and I got these amazing chocolate filled things started with an "N" which had a pastry outside covered in hazelnut and they were amazing and pure heaven. Ate for two this afternoon and not ashamed of it. Really I've just picked random places away from tourist sites and done really well. The only food I did not like at all was Pizza in Naples (I think the place we ate at was yucky in general - have to go back and try a better place - come on Pizza in Naples it has to be amazing). I've just tried about everything that has been placed in front of me. I hate cheese and I've tried some random crazy cheeses and I can still tell you I hate cheese (minus on Pizza). I didn't drink but now I can't say that any more because I've drank so much wine more than I have ever had in my life and it has been amazing wine. Gelato is just amazing. The cakes they make here are to die for. Italian food why why do you have to be amazing?!

Rome is well worth the trip.     

So back to Uganda I go. I will be leaving on Sunday around 1:30PM and will arrive on Monday around 3:15AM in Uganda then a five hour bus ride back to Fort Portal and jump right into work.

Goodbye 2014 Hello 2015!

Happy New Years Everyone! 

I Hope You Make 2015 Your Best Year Ever!

I wanted to take a moment and thank all of those who have supported me over the last year and made it possible for me to be in Uganda with the Peace Corps and Europe (Italy) for the first time in my life. A lot has changed over the last year and I am so excited to see what next year brings. I also wanted to thank all of you readers for reading my blog and sending me encouraging words. It has been an amazing ride so far and I look forward to making 2015 the best year ever!

Lots of Love And Hugs To All Of You!

Cheers and Ciao From Italy And Uganda!

Lets Give Peace A Chance!

From December 13, 2014

What an amazing experience this past week has been. I said goodbye to Fort Portal and headed five hours to Kampala spent the night and then six hours north to Lira with fellow Peace Corps Volunteers for PEACE CAMP! After a long dusty bus ride which took forever we arrived and started training of the trainers for two days and then campers arrived. There were many different sessions on what is peace, peace building, and how we can use it in our lives. A day was devorted to communication practices  There was also a day on health which talked about HIV/AIDS, sexual health, and other health issues. I taught a class on Conflict Analysis to the 73 participants there at camp. It was a hot and crazy week but a lot of fun. It was a wonderful experience to meet so many young people from around the country all wanting to learn and work toward Peace within themselves and in their communities. I had eight campers that I kept an eye one for the week – four girls and four boys all from different backgrounds and beliefs. We shared some great ideas and also learned a lot from each other. This was my first Peace Corps Camp and am excited to see what camps happen next over the year. Enjoy some photos from the week!  

Peace Camp 2014

The Whole Group

Paper Mache Globes - I Was In Charge Of

Circle Drumming

Teaching Conflict Analysis

Conflict Analysis On Current World Conflicts

A Wonderful Camper

Listening To Discussions On Peace

The Future President Of Uganda

Playing Battle Ship Human Rights

Henri and  I Heading Back To Kampala

Merry Christmas From Uganda!

  MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM UGANDA!

 Here is a video our June 2014 group of PCV's put together for friends and family. Created by Josh Cruz. We also made it onto Nation of Ellen DeGeneres' web page! ENJOY!

Happy Holidays from all of us in Uganda! 

Lots of Love, Hugs and Kisses.

All I Want for Christmas Is You!

Sports Camp 2014

Netball

The Kibale Forest Schools Program held its annual Sports Cup. Seven of the 14 schools in the school district, came together to compete in Football (Soccer for you Americans) and Netball (think basketball mixed with the rules of ultimate Frisbee – minus the Frisbee).

Sporting events are taken every serious here in Uganda and there is a lot of pressure put on the players, schools take the Sports Cup very serious and practice almost all day leading up to game day. There is also a lot of bending of the rules bring older players in to play in football so the team might have a chance at winning. 

Warming Up

The first day of competition started off with a three and half hour rain delay which is normal for rainy season here in Fort Portal. After the rain delay, we got the games going and it was a fun day of competition between the schools with thankfully little arguing. One team Iruhuura complained that a rival team Kasiisi had cheated because Kasiisi players were taller than Iruhuua players and so it was not fair that Kasiisi won. I am 5’6” and I walked past both teams and they were all taller than me so I’m not sure what they were complaining about. The footballers play barefoot and without protection and they go all in for the shots and kicks without any hesitation or fear. They are born playing football here in Uganda. The field was a slip and slide because of the amount of rain that fell earlier in the day so there were some spectacular slides, skids, and falls. I started to help my fellow co-worker Patrick out in the first aid tent which was fun. There were just minor cuts and bruises. In the late afternoon, we had a group of rowdy secondary students show up and start a nice size fight right in front of the first aid tent which provided some good entertainment for the staff and I as we waited for the wounded to arrive which thankfully was one shaken up girl and a guy who had gotten a punch to the face and punched a tooth through his cheek.

Kigarama Boy Happy To Hold The Sports Cup

The second day was a beautiful sunny day and perfect game day weather. The competition was down to the semi-finals and the finals. Nothing to exciting happened during the morning and into the early afternoon. I spent all day in the first aid tent again and really I was just helping put brushes and helping out with sore muscles from the day before. Four schools competed in both football and netball. The tension was high during the semi-finals of football and when finals came around it was a pretty exciting game with a massive bloody nose with only seconds left in the game. Kigarama Primary School won the football game and Kyanyawara Primary School won a down to the wire back and forth game of Netball against Iruhuura Primary School. 

Kigarama Primary School Winners of the 2014 Sports Cup

Hanging Out At The First Aid Tent

Celebrating A Win

Winners Of The Sports Cup in Netball

A Young Fan