10 day mini update

It's been 10 days since I left for Uganda. Time is a funny thing here. It seems as if the morning goes by slow, between lunch and dinner the time flies by. Next thing you know it's bed time. It's hard to say if it feels like I have been here longer than 10 days or shorter. I'm sure that by day 55, when I have 10 more days until I have to leave, it will feel like I just got here.

As you know, I went to the island on Friday. What a beautiful boat ride, a little hot, but the breeze was cooling and the scenery distracted me from the uncomfortable wooden seat and the heat.
The SHIM (Shepherd's Heart International Ministry) base is not immersed in a village but rather a short walk away from one of the villages- there are three different villages on the island. Right away I felt like I was at home, everyone was warm and friendly. I spent the next several days adjusting, learning the routine, and getting to know the staff and other volunteers- well Ruth was the only volunteer at the base this week. She was a lifesaver to me, answering all my questions. It's like being a three year old, everything is new and different. She had to teach me how to open and close the windows. I also spent some time learning about the villages, meeting and greeting people by walking around the island and attending church.
I have so much to write about just this first week! I will try to condense it and just post the important/interesting stuff.

Tuesday, Ruth and I left the island to go the SHIM office in Jinja. On Wednesday the staff and volunteers were going on a youth retreat in another city. I decided to use that time to go to Kampala to visit Raising Voices, an organization that does work in violence prevention in Uganda. www.raisingvoices.org.

Before traveling I am always nervous and anxious. I am not sure why, but I do. Wednesday I took the bus from Jinja to Kampala. Usually I am go-go-go but I enjoyed the ride, not minding the stops, and not caring if i was in control. For those who know, I like being in control, and I will usually do the driving. Letting go is something I am working on. Anyhow, from there I received a marriage proposal as this man is helping me find a boda-boda to the American Recreation Association where I am to meet an American family that my professor, Dr. Norman from ecology of infectious disease class, connected me to. The family has been kind enough to host me for a few nights while I am in Kampala. Fun facts about them: They lived in Niger for 8 months, this is where I served in Peace Corps. Most of their family lives in Augusta GA, my parents used to live and my brother and his wife still live in Atlanta GA. They also lived in Houston for a few years, where I was born. The wife, was born in Columbia, SC but only lived there for a few years. Wednesday night they had a bible study that I joined, once of the couples, her family lives in Columbia, SC. I am sure that there are more fun facts that I am forgetting or that I will learn. I can't wait to tell you about my stay, it's like being in a little part of America here in Uganda. I did not mention their names, because I want to ask their permission first.

Dr. Brenner called me this morning, to inform me of a connection that he has set up for me, with a well known and respected man from Uganda who also works in public health. (Dr. Brenner was my Epidemiology of Infectious Disease professor during the fall.) I am in the process of contacting him now. I will continue to update this.

Well it's 10am here and I need to start on my adventure of finding Raising Voices in Kampala. I will try to upload pictures and blog more. However, I am trying to keep my thoughts focused on where I am, living in the moment and enjoying my short stay. Also,there will be limited information about my practicum in these posts. First, due to the sensitivity of the topic. Second, I need to save something for my practicum presentation!