December Update

It’s been a while since I wrote a lengthy blog post.  Here’s what’s been going on with me:

Work

·      I’ve been teaching about 3 or 4 days a week (2-4 hours a day).  Research and lesson planning take up a lot of my time.  I’m also working on random projects that Sister Anne assigns me (e.g. creating a school brochure for visitors and potential new students).

·      Last Monday, I attended a School Management Committee meeting with Uganda Protestant Medical Bureau.  I finally learned some details about the school’s challenges and goals, - now I have a clear picture of the many administrative tasks Kuluva needs help with.  The school staff is having 2 more meetings about it next week, so those projects will be starting soon too.

·      In addition to my work at Kuluva, I have to write & submit reports to the Peace Corps about my job/site – and, of course, I procrastinated until the week they were due.

·      Now, I’ve got a stack of papers to grade this weekend . . . I have officially turned into my parents.  (Ha ha!  Love you Mom & Dad.)

Around the House

·      The power cord to my computer is on the fritz.  I think I need to limit my computer time (and not go on the internet everyday).  Blogs and emails may be fewer and farther between.

·      The dry season has arrived in Uganda – which means water is starting to run out.  The plumber can usually fix something with the pressure and the pump, but it takes him 3-4 days to respond to my phone calls (so no water for those 3-4 days).  Thankfully, I have a giant stash of Wet Wipes that will help get me through.

·      Amviko is still helping out.  We’re in a good routine of one day a week – I’m just not messy enough for her to be full-time.  Plus, I enjoy cooking for myself.  I’m trying out different recipes from the Peace Corps Cookbook that past PCVs created with local/seasonal foods.  Favorite recipe so far: Basque Style Green Beans

·      And I bought a bike!  It’s a used Schwinn in good condition.  It has several gears (to help me get through the hills near Kuluva) and I added a few extra accessories: a bell, mudguards, and a basket.  The Peace Corps provided me with a helmet, bike lock, and bike pump.  I’m set!  Now instead of a 6-mile walk (like I had during training), I’m doing a 12-mile bike ride to Arua 2-3 times a week.

Social Life 

Over the past couple of months, I’ve been so focused on work that I started to feel somewhat isolated from other PCVs.  I decided that if I have the afternoon off from teaching, I’m going to ride my bike to town and visit the other volunteers.  I’ve got to keep my mental health in check!  (And it’s a nice workout too!)  A couple of weeks ago I went out with George and Brady for drinks (sodas); then last weekend I met George, Betty, Chen, and Latoya at the Ethiopian restaurant for lunch; and on Wednesday Marcy and I went to Sherry’s house to use her (conventional) oven and bake Christmas cookies!  We put on some Christmas cd’s and baked 5 different kinds of cookies: ginger cookies, snickerdoodle, peanut butter, lace cookies, and Viennese Crescents.  (The crescents were no good and didn’t bake – I think the recipe in the Peace Corps cookbook is off.)  And since we were there, Sherry let us take advantage of her hot shower!  It was so nice to completely wash off the layer of sunscreen and dirt.  :)