Rural Home Stay Review

Today I returned from rural home stays where our students stay with families for a week in Kapchorwa and Soroti to experience village life. I stayed in Kapchorwa this week with Julie and Vincent, while 19 students were spread out with different families. The week went well, there was a positive debriefing weekend at Sipi Falls and after a long drive today, I am glad to be home. I wanted to share some pictures of the week...

This first picture is overlooking Kapchorwa area, lots of small farms- you can tell it is the dry season. This region produces a lot of coffee but there was not much harvesting going on right now.

Visiting a student at her home and posing with her host sister.

One of the sweetest welcomes I have seen for our students.

Vincent and I relaxing at a home.

We spent one evening with Adeline's family and got a group picture. It was a fun night with lots of food and conversation!

Julie at our guest house where we spent most of the week, being available as needed...

Ending the week at Sipi Falls, in the process of hiking up to a waterfall.

It is always a week of learning, lots of reading time and a simpler life. It is a funny balance for me of lots of down time but always being ready for any issue or emergency. I am glad when the week ends and all has gone well. It also makes me appreciate returning to my house and it's comforts and looking forward to a more routine month.

Finally, Julie and I discussed throughout the week what the interesting hedge pictured to the right was supposed to be- plane? shark? Any thoughts? Sometimes it is the small things that are entertaining. :)

Dry Season

The above picture contains something I have not seen a lot of lately- clouds. Uganda is solidly in the dry season and it has not rained for over a month in Mukono. Just today a Ugandan said to me, This is the hottest it has ever been. And while the heat is sometimes hard it is the dust that makes it almost unbearable. Dust on my clothes, my skin, in my house- it never really goes away. I think the heat makes everyone more tired, there are more headaches and just wanting to not move because of sweating. I am in the routine of showering twice a day just to feel semi-clean.

Last night at fellowship on campus we prayed for rain. Since so many Ugandans farm it is an issue of food for many. I think about spring in the States and how moist and green it is, it seems almost magical. I know it is still winter in the US right now (which has it's own issues) but the anticipation of spring is exciting, possibly matched by the anticipation of rain here.

But life goes on despite the dust and dryness...

One of highlights of this past no-rain month was meeting Dorothy's new baby, Noll. I got to visit within 24 hours of his birth and I think there is nothing like meeting a newborn:

He was getting a lot of attention during our visit! This is Hannah (Dr. Jean's daughter) with her beautiful smile.

Another highlight was a few weeks ago I made a Moroccan stew inspired by my time there last year. Stew may not seem like the most likely hot weather meal but I feel like it turned out well and was enjoyed by my friends/ coworkers. The stew simmering:

Some post-stew Bananagrams (Kaitlin those are yours!)

Life seems to slow down a bit during the dry season with the heaviness of the weather. The same can be said for winter and it's cold days and dark nights- but we can along look ahead to the promise of rain or spring!

A Friend Returned

Recently, my friend Adeline returned to Uganda after studying in the US for 1.5 years. It has been so great having her around again. Adeline stayed with me for a bit in January and has been able to stop by often (actually she is working away across from me right now on her computer). I am very grateful that she will be a part of my last months in Uganda!

So, a few pictures in honor of Adeline's return to Uganda. The first one is from 2008, my first year here, at a friend's wedding. She helped with my adjustment, being a welcoming presence at UCU and teaching me the ropes at work.

While studying in the US Adeline came and spent Christmas with my family in 2010. Below is us eating traditional Philly cheesesteaks at the Reading Terminal Market- yum.

This last picture is of an attempt to use the Photo Booth on Mac last week, which we obviously have not mastered! But I like the way it turned out anyway.

Adeline's new husband will be joining her in a few weeks in Uganda, so looking forward to meeting him. I am glad to have my friend back in Uganda!