Tue 9 Sep 2008
Hi everybody,
I’ve been cloistered in the village for some time and I just wanted to apologize! I want to look at this blog when I’m done and not be totally embarrassed, but dang if Eastern Uganda isn’t the slowest internet ever.
It’s circumcision season in Bagisu, the tradition that makes the Bugisu who they are. And everyone else in Uganda scared of them. I don’t have any videos yet, but I will soon. I haven’t even seen any cutting, but there is a lot of dancing and parading that i have seen, and heard (at all hours). My friend Josh took some video that he posted on facebook from the opening ceremony (that I missed). Maybe you can watch it.
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=6844294#/video/video.php?v=516794786983
I’ll do my best though, most of Emma’s (my fiance) clan circumcises in December, at his house, so i am hoping to get some video and pictures then.
I’ve been staying way busy, most of the time at least. I organized an outreach testing in a nearby village yesterday, 51 tested for HIV and NO POSITIVES. Pretty good for a country with an HIV epidemic.
9 months left, and I am starting to get excited about the next chapter of my life. If Emma and I can just get through the visa process. We have to go interview at the embassy in Nairobi, yikes! I am totally scared of Nairobi, it is apparently a lot scarier than Kampala and Dar Es Salaam.
I’ll be back with awesome videos and pictures, someday, I promise!
November 19th, 2008 at 7:36 pm
Hi Emma! Just wanted to leave a note to say that I happened to browse to your blog and think your experience in Uganda is amazing!! I am in Canada and live with my Ugandan boyfriend, we intend to move to his home city (Mbarara) eventually and reading stories like yours of participating in everyday life and learning the language make me even more excited for my own challenges!! Hope you are doing well- and enjoyed Zanzibar- I have been to Dar Es Salaam and unfortunately didn’t make Zanizibar but it is supposed to be incredible!!!
December 11th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for your interest, I just passed through Mbarara for the first time in October, it is probably the most developed city in Uganda next to Kampala, thanks to it’s famous patron, I think you know who. You’ll be able to eat ice cream! There is also the most awesome buffet ever at this hotel there. I’m sure you’ll find it. I am so obviously a village-bound Peace Corps volunteer…. it’s all about the food.