PST happenings

Hi Everyone!

We are now in week 7 of training and so anxious to get to site! We still don’t have internet of our own, but hope to get it in the next couple of weeks. So, soon we hope to make our blog posts a little more interesting and less rushed! :-)

Here’s a little bit about what we’ve been up to since we last blogged...

Saturday we had our first real excursion into Kampala, Uganda’s capital city. We had been given many, many warnings about security and safety while there, so we weren’t sure what all to expect. It is certainly a bustling city, but we enjoyed the chance to get to explore a little. We left the day having bought gum boots (rain boots), pizza (mmm...), and a map of the country. We got oriented to the taxi park (I was so certain I was going to get run over!) and bus park, and waded our way through the mud! The city is built so that all the excess water (by the way, it’s rainy season now!) runs down to the taxi park. So on top of the crowded streets with taxis, matatus, and buses going every which way, vendors aggressively trying to sell their goods, you are also wading through thick mud that some in our group coined “fecal mud” (sewage literally seeps through the ground on a heavy day of rain). Nice. But we had a lot of fun seeing the city and getting some of the things we needed. The overall feeling of the group was mixed - Kampala is definitely not a city for the claustrophobic or faint of heart!

We also got a surprise visit to the PC medical office. As it turns out, Ryan is allergic to Kampala! Just as we were sitting down for pizza (divine!) he began to have an allergic reaction. Oddly enough, as we went through Kampala again the following weekend, he had the exact same reaction. We think it might be the dust or fumes from the congested taxi park, but hopefully it doesn’t become an issue while we are here.

Then last week we spent the majority of the week with our language group in a town called Ibanda in the southwestern part of the country. We were there primarily to work on “language immersion” - getting practice greeting community members, buying and bargaining in the market, ordering meals at restaurants, communicating with taxi drivers, etc. It was one of our favorite weeks of training. We loved hanging out with our fellow Runyankore-learning PCTs and fabulous LTF (language training facilitator) Mr. B, and it was wonderful getting to meet some of the hospitable people of Ibanda.

While away, we also got to experience some extra things. First, we had the chance to visit a government aided village secondary school. The 5 of us PCTs crammed in the backseat of a car (and Ryan and Silas have long legs!!) and traveled out to this beautiful hilly village about 10 km away from the town. We were taken to each classroom to introduce ourselves (in Runyankore, of course), and even had our picture taken with the 500 students that went to the school! Before we could leave, we were flooded with secondary students wanting to shake our hands, and touch our hair and skin. They were excited to see us and I think it made all of us really excited to get to our sites and begin working with students full time!

Also, we spent an evening at a Primary Teacher’s College with a PCV who works there. We had a wonderful time seeing the school, chatting with the PCV, and cooking American style. Ryan and I are both so excited to find out which PTC we will be stationed at, and begin to set up a home there.

In Ibanda town we even got some sweet new African garb. All of us ladies chose fabric and got measured for dresses. They were done in 2 days and cost a total of less than 20 American dollars. We all sported our new styles at training the next day, and according to Mr. B, made all the other language groups jealous. It was a really fun week.

Oh - and another big success: we successfully navigated Uganda’s public transportation system! Our trip took a total of 6.5 hours each way, and we utilized buses, matatus (large van taxis), and taxis along the way. We didn’t realize before hand that the buses were a regular mall, selling everything from bananas to picture frames of HIllary Duff. A traveling salesman even boarded the bus for a portion of the journey, selling a miracle vicks Vapor-rub-ish balm as well as a pill that will cure tapeworm. Go figure! Additionally, we saw some gorgeous scenery, animals (the SW is known for its cows!) and got to practice our language a little along the way as well. The trip is definitely not without bumps (craters) in the road, but a great experience and nice to know we will be able to handle it when we get out on our own in just a few short weeks.

This weekend we had the chance to visit our host mom’s chicken farm. It was fun to see the chickens, though it is sort of empty right now. Since the majority of the chickens become food at wedding receptions, they don’t supply as many chickens right now because lent is a season with few weddings. We also got to meet the 1 week old chicks who will become “layers”. The men who work the farm were cleaning the bodies of the chickens who had just been “harvested.” Not being a farm girl, this is a little hard for me! I sat there wondering if I would ever be able to bring myself to eat chicken again!

On Sunday we got the chance to go to visitation day at the boarding school where our 16 year old sister goes to school. We packed up the car with all of us and an enormous lunch for a” picnic” with the family. (By “picnic” I mean our dining room table literally transported an hour and a half away!) Boarding schools are much more common here in Uganda, and students often attend as young as 6 years old. Visitation days happen about twice a term (every 6 weeks or so) and students are not permitted to leave or be visited in between them. So, these days are a big deal for family connection and checking in with teachers and staff at the school. We enjoyed it a lot.

This week we have our mock LPI (Language Proficiency Interview), to give us a sense of how we will perform on the real test during week 10. We are a little nervous but looking forward to knowing how we should prepare with the weeks we have left. (We have to score a level of “intermediate low” to be sworn in to serve as PCVs.)

Well, that’s the news from our end. We think of you often and would love to hear from you if you get the chance to write. That’s my subtle way of saying.....SHOOT US AN EMAIL! ;-)

Thanks for sticking with us through this long post! I hope we have the chance to post some pictures soon and take the time to write you more personally. Until then, we love you all and hope you are well!

~emily~

Welcome Home Uganda

Hi everyone!

We are back at the internet cafe and I thought I would write a quick update.

We moved in on Saturday morning with a wonderful homestay family in Lweza. We live with a mom, dad, younger brother (10 years old), sister (21 years old and home from a break from University), and other sister who is also the household help. There are other children in the family, some directly related and some not. Some are away at boarding school or university, or don't live with the family all of the time. Our host dad works at an NGO that works on HIV/AIDS testing/eduction and our mom is an accountant who also runs a "small" chicken farm. (We found out later that her small farm has 800 chickens on it!!!) Our home is extremely nice and our family has been amazingly welcoming! We feel like we have a home and a family here in Uganda now and it is a really wonderful feeling!

On Saturday we spent the day mostly moving into our new home for the next couple of months. We have our own room in the house. Also, the house has electricity, running water (with a shower and flushing toilet!), a large gate that surrounds it for security, and guard dogs who are out once the sun goes down. We have a TV, and even a refrigerator/freezer. On Saturday we ate a wonderful meal of fresh chicken (from the farm), beans, rice, matoke (traditional ugandan dish made out of cooked, mashed, ripe bananas), and green beans. We had fresh pineapple juice afterward - delicous! We also were able to attend a meeting of a savings and credit coop that our family is a part of, along with many of their village mates.

Sunday we went to church with our mom and one older sister. It was a really wonderful experience. When nobody showed up to lead the service, our host mom and sister took it upon themselves to read scriptures and prayers from the Anglican worship book. Our mom gave the sermon! We sang Amazing Grace, What A Friend We Have in Jesus - all the classics! As we left, many more people were coming to the church for the service in Luganda that would take place after our English one was completed.

Also, my host sisters caught me up on their favorite soap opera - Hidden Passions. Unfortunately the power went out so we weren't able to watch it. We tried to go to the neighbor
s home with a generator, but it also failed. Lucky for me, one of my sisters spent about 2 and half hours catching me up on the story line - so dramatic! So, I will look forward to catching the rerun on Saturday! (PS - I NEVER followed soaps while in the states, so this is another cross cultural experience!)

There is so much more to share but my time is running out! I hope you know how often we are thinking of you all and how we can't wait to share more stories with you! Thank you for your kind thoughts and prayers and know that we are also sending them your way! If you get a chance, shoot us an email (ekjesbojohnson@gmail.com or ryanmark86@gmail.com). We miss you and would love to hear about what is going on in all of your lives!!!

Much love,

Emily