best years of my life.: projects projects projects!!

So we have some AMAZING projects starting! Sometimes I get frustrated because I feel like we haven’t really done anything yet that is impacting anyone or anything but I’ve heard that the first week is always a little slow starting out. So far we have just been meeting with a bunch of partners trying to get everything figured out. Today we had a meeting with Moses and also the chairman of the village we did the needs assessment on Sunday in Lower Nabuti. Six of us went to the meeting and met at the Muzza Hotel in Mukono... hotels here are not so much like hotels in America. They are kinda like those ghetto sketchy hotels that you see and think “I would never stay there” but these are considered nice hotels here! SO the meeting with Moses and the chairman went great! We just wanted to ask them what they though would be the most important things that they would need done based on what their community members said was most important... the education system. The top things the chairman said they needed were:

to teach the mothers that education is important and to encourage their kids to attend... and also some parents use a very strong authoritarian parenting style which isn’t really going to motivate the kids
nutrition/ hygiene
literacy classes and business classes (one on one)
sports after/during school
thinking games
domestic violence issues (maybe have classes with just the women)

There were a few more, but tomorrow we are having another meeting with the chairman and a few executives in the community to talk about what the MOST important things to work on would be and what is needed most. See what I mean... meetings meetings meetings!! It’s okay though because this is the first stage of the process. After this I think it will be easier to get moving and working on specific things. I’m excited to work with this village because these people really want our help and are willing to help us with whatever we need and we really do want to involve them so they can keep improving even when we leave.

It cracks me up because the Ugandans say the funniest things to us! Today I was sitting by the window on a taxi and this guy walks up to the window and says “hello I love you”. I think at first I would’ve been a little freaked out, but I am getting so used to everything here! They also always say “hi I want to be your best friend”. It’s funny too because you can tell they have a set thing they know how to say, like we will say “hi how are you??” and they ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS say “fine thanks”... its like they were trained! Sometimes we will say “HI” and they will respond with “fine!” its so great.

Guys my favorite project we are working on is called “Proud To Be A Girl”. This is a project that was started last year. I didn’t really FULLY understand what all was involved in this project, but today I got it. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT. Today was the most amazing day ever. A few of us went to a school right here in Lugazi and gave a presentation to all the girls in this high school about self worth, motivation, personal hygiene and some sex education. In Africa, a lot of these girls don’t quite understand what is normal and what isn’t. They don’t really know how boys are supposed to treat them and how much potential they really do have. So we gave this presentation to all the girls and then we split up and told them if they had questions they could come and ask us individually. I got TONS of questions. Questions about boys, questions about families, questions about cramps and periods. Everything! They all asked for our email addresses so I am just waiting to get 40 emails tonight, I just know it is going to happen! These girls seriously have so much potential and they are so smart, I think they are just not educated on a lot of these things. They were all sooooo nice and complimented me on EVERYTHING! “you are so beautiful” “i love your skirt” “i love your hair” “i love your shoes”.... i wanted to say “TRUST ME, YOU DO NOT LOVE MY SHOES... they are not very attractive” but they were just so cute... I loved these girls! I feel like all they need was someone to talk to them and encourage them. I was talking to one girl and she just lingered a little after we were done talking and finally said “one more thing, can I have a hug?” gosh it was the cutest thing ever.... I think I gave her a bigger hug than she wanted but I don’t even care! Honestly, if I leave in 6 weeks not having done anything else, I will be fine just because I felt so good when we left the school. I’m not even kidding... it was so inspiring for me too. Education is so important and I am so lucky to be able to being going to such a great university and be learning so much. It is weird but I am excited to be in school again. I’ll probably regret saying that when Fall starts but for now I’ll stick with that!

Uganda is a beautiful country and even though I feel like I’ve been here for at least 3 weeks I know I need to cherish my time here because it will fly by and be over before I know it.

Things that are getting me through life during my time here:

COKE ZERO. Diet Coke does not exist here and Coke Light is a hard to come by, so for now coke zero will have to do.
The suitcase we all packed of JUST food. The food here just gets a little old.
The people on our team. Seriously... the people I cam with are amazing! Such a great and unique group of people!
This computer.

Missing my fam and everyone, but not to worry, I am safe and having a great time! Until next time!

Francis our neighbor! we put on MJ for him and he danced like a freaking stud! we love him!

the first day we got here after 3 days of traveling, looking REAL GOOD!

our guard, Sam. he is the best!! he is starting to know all of our names... i think he finally got mine right yesterday! whenever this one girl Elaine asks him her name, he says "Susan!" we don't correct him because it is just too funny!