Inmates wear yellow in Uganda

I’m finding it hard to believe it is already June 15^th! Time here moves slowly during the days, but then I look at a calendar and realize I only have 8 weeks to get my project started (and hopefully finished) and I wish I had more time. The good news is I have a solid project figured out-it’s just time to get started (which is actually much more difficult than it sounds).

I met with the group that I am working with in Myenga and all I can really say is WOW, the people are amazing. Myenga is a very small area, and the twenty two of them have come together to “Live positively” with AIDS. They support one another in everyway possible whether it be emotionally or financially. The majority of the group is women and most of the women are widows trying to raise children with little, to no income and even less energy from the effects of HIV/AIDS. Hearing there stories was sad, but empowering-they’re using all the resources they can to survive and even thrive against incredibly tough odds. Communication is difficult since only two members speak some English and I was a little disheartened when the only thing a group member said to me was “I wish you spoke Luganda.” But, I trust that we will all find ways to communicate and that we can make some even more positive things happen for the group. Someone in the group proposed making soap as the IGA for the group and the rest of the group members caught onto the idea quickly, so there you have it-We’re makin soap! So the next step is finding a local soap maker to train our crew, finishing up my work plan and budget then starting my grant proposal. Lots to get in done the next few weeks, the slow unreliable internet and difficultly contacting people make it a bit stressful, but I have a lot of faith in our group and in our project!

Now for story time! I had a good giggle yesterday when I was mindlessly walking through the field I take to get to Main St (where the cafes and shops are) from work. I often look down when I walk around here because there are lots of humps and things sticking out and I don’t want to trip or stub my toe(even though I do anyways). So, I’m walking through the field, spacing out, looking at where I’m walking when I suddenly look up because I see about 40 men in bright yellow clothing rushing towards me on both my right and left sides. I naturally start to get a little nervous, but seeing as how I have not run into a single bad person yet, my instincts were also telling me that I just needed to stay gracious. The next thing I know, the men line the pathway (on either side) and start saying “hello, how are you?” like how most people greet here. But each man begins reaching out his hand for a hand shake, so I found it a little odd. I continue walking forward while shaking their hands and greeting them, still a little confused, but trying to take it in stride, when the last man whose hand I shook decides to caresses my entire left arm, with the rest of the group laughing. That’s when I looked around and realized the men are all wearing matching prison uniforms while doing work in the field. They all kindly said goodbye as I continued to walk forward, laughing to myself.

I’ve also been watching the World Cup like crazy! It’s much more fun here because everyone is so into it. And just for the record I’m rooting for any and all African teams (and the USA when we’re not playing an African team). We stayed at Backpackers (a mzungu hostel) and watched the UK v USA match with a bunch of British people which was fun, until it was another tie…

Two other funny facts: I drink more soda than I have ever have in my entire life here since they’re cheap, cold, fizzy and sweet (and they don’t really have candy or chocolate here so it’s acting as a replacement). And I watch La Tormenta poorly dubbed in English like every night with the fam, since Ugandans love their telenovelas. I want to hate it, but some dark, terrible place within in me that misses American reality TV really likes it.

Anyways, I have lots of work to do, I need to stop using my internet time on blogging. We’re going to Kampala this weekend which I’m excited about! Can you say shopping?!! Haha

And I know I should spread the pictures out tosave them for little surprises every once in a while, but I just can’t help myself, so here's another. This guy hangs outside the butchery every day. There's tons of these birds eating garbage and looking sketchy all over Jinja, but they never bother anyone.