Hello all!
I can't believe it's already christmas. It sure doesn't feel like it, I swear I've only been here a few weeks. It's hot and dry here and does not feel at all like christmas except for the festive people painting their houses with a mixture of sand and cow manure.
I am going to my Lumasaba teacher's house with some friends from the area. I will be at her house for Christmas eve until Wednesday and will see how christmas is done in the village. Hopefully I will tell you all about it pretty soon, next week even if I get the chance.
Also, I want to say Merry Christmas to all of my friends and everyone who has shown me tremendous support since I got here. I am so lucky to have absolutely the best people in the world for friends and I am greatful for that. And, my family rocks, too! Things here are going well. I miss and love you all.
Lisandro
2008 here we come! I love an election year!
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Friday, December 14, 2007
In Kampala
I am in Kampala for the weekend to play softball against Japanese volunteers. At least that is what I hope happens. And, maybe, I'll go see a movie. Not much has been going on in my village except that I am starting to understand more and more the role of corruption in development and how it hinders progress. Maybe I'll work on that, it seems like a pretty easy problem to fix.
I don't have much to say so maybe I'll put a picture and that will be that.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Life is good
I have been in an absolutely wonderful mood for the past few weeks. I am starting to get into a little bit of a routine at site and it allows me to do the things that interest me. On Mondays and Wednesdays I am working at the local health center and I am trying to start some education programs. So far, that means me talking to mothers for an hour or two, answering their questions and trying to teach them how to prevent common diseases. I love that and the mothers really seem to enjoy it. Best of all, I help with baby weighing and there are few things funnier than looking at a baby's face as it dangles from a hanging scale.
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work in the field, which means very long walks, some teaching, and, usually, a huge lunch. I have been walking a ton here (not counting my two, 15+ mile walks to town) and I enjoy the hell out of that. I walk with my counterparts and it gives me a chance to talk to them about all the questions I have about Uganda. I need to start practicing my language more, I have flatlined a bit. That is my goal for the next couple of months. On Friday I work with Paul, one of my counterparts. We do not have a set program yet, but we are trying to develop a few ideas. Mondays and Thursdays are Market days and I enjoy looking for neat clothing. Haven't bought anything yet, but there are lots of fun shirts, like a "Nyet Nyet Soviet" shirt with and crossed out sickle and hammer. I usually get lunch and milk tea at the Market, which lets me talk to some women. The woman I usually go to, Juliet, makes donuts. I am going to teach her to make a glaze so she can sell more. Anyone with a good recipe, please email me.
At night I have been eating out at friends houses a lot. Many nights that's Josh, the other volunteer that lives 10 minutes away, but lately it has been at the houses of Ugandans. I went to a friend's birthday party last night and ended up drinking Malwa (a maize and millet moonshine) with the girls family and grandmother. Pictures should come soon!
So, that's what I'm up to (plus, reading a lot - Neil, thanks for the New Yorkers!) and I want to bike more soon. I had my first machete accident last night as I sliced my finger. I am okay, just a lot of blood.
Miss and love most of you!
Lisandro
On Tuesdays and Thursdays I work in the field, which means very long walks, some teaching, and, usually, a huge lunch. I have been walking a ton here (not counting my two, 15+ mile walks to town) and I enjoy the hell out of that. I walk with my counterparts and it gives me a chance to talk to them about all the questions I have about Uganda. I need to start practicing my language more, I have flatlined a bit. That is my goal for the next couple of months. On Friday I work with Paul, one of my counterparts. We do not have a set program yet, but we are trying to develop a few ideas. Mondays and Thursdays are Market days and I enjoy looking for neat clothing. Haven't bought anything yet, but there are lots of fun shirts, like a "Nyet Nyet Soviet" shirt with and crossed out sickle and hammer. I usually get lunch and milk tea at the Market, which lets me talk to some women. The woman I usually go to, Juliet, makes donuts. I am going to teach her to make a glaze so she can sell more. Anyone with a good recipe, please email me.
At night I have been eating out at friends houses a lot. Many nights that's Josh, the other volunteer that lives 10 minutes away, but lately it has been at the houses of Ugandans. I went to a friend's birthday party last night and ended up drinking Malwa (a maize and millet moonshine) with the girls family and grandmother. Pictures should come soon!
So, that's what I'm up to (plus, reading a lot - Neil, thanks for the New Yorkers!) and I want to bike more soon. I had my first machete accident last night as I sliced my finger. I am okay, just a lot of blood.
Miss and love most of you!
Lisandro
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Let's take a long walk
Hello again friends!
I hope that you enjoyed the pictures on the last post. That is my life here. Today, I walked from my village to town. The walk actually started last night after dinner at Karine's house. We then walked to my house and slept until 5am, when we woke up and walked to Josh's house. From there we took 5.5 hours to walk in the mountains the 16 miles to town. It was hard, but fun, the mountains were lovely and the company was great. Once in town, we went to an Indian restaurant and I am going swimming at Mbale resort after this. Tough life, no?
Work has been going slowly, but I finally had a breakthrough on Friday when I was able to teach a class and have a question and answer session with about 12 mothers and fathers. I had a lot of fun with that and working at this health center so it runs a little better is my main project right now. I am still looking for other things to do, but it's hard when the people I work with are all volunteers in their own right and trying to feed their families. That can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but, that's what I am working with.
I had a great Thanksgiving with some friends here. We slaughtered (actually, josh slaughetered because I wussed out) 2 chickens. We roasted one and made a soup with the other. Both turned out wonderfully. We also had sweet potatoes with coconut milk, which was delicious and I suggest you try it. It was good to be around friends and it made the holiday not lonely, like I thought it would. Sure beats a 15 hour shift at 1789 with bratty families.
I hope everyone is well, I miss and love you all!
I hope that you enjoyed the pictures on the last post. That is my life here. Today, I walked from my village to town. The walk actually started last night after dinner at Karine's house. We then walked to my house and slept until 5am, when we woke up and walked to Josh's house. From there we took 5.5 hours to walk in the mountains the 16 miles to town. It was hard, but fun, the mountains were lovely and the company was great. Once in town, we went to an Indian restaurant and I am going swimming at Mbale resort after this. Tough life, no?
Work has been going slowly, but I finally had a breakthrough on Friday when I was able to teach a class and have a question and answer session with about 12 mothers and fathers. I had a lot of fun with that and working at this health center so it runs a little better is my main project right now. I am still looking for other things to do, but it's hard when the people I work with are all volunteers in their own right and trying to feed their families. That can be a bit frustrating sometimes, but, that's what I am working with.
I had a great Thanksgiving with some friends here. We slaughtered (actually, josh slaughetered because I wussed out) 2 chickens. We roasted one and made a soup with the other. Both turned out wonderfully. We also had sweet potatoes with coconut milk, which was delicious and I suggest you try it. It was good to be around friends and it made the holiday not lonely, like I thought it would. Sure beats a 15 hour shift at 1789 with bratty families.
I hope everyone is well, I miss and love you all!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
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