Countdown: One Week!!!

Welcome to my blog!!!
Here's where I'll share with you my thoughts, experiences, and pictures from my time in Uganda. I'll be spending the next four months living and studying there - I'll be taking classes on the campus of Uganda Christian University in Mukono and living with a host family in a nearby village.

I'm really excited for this semester. I have high expectations for my time there and I'm sooo excited...and also a little nervous. While there, I hope to experience Ugandan Christianity in a way that challenges my American Christianity and challenges and stretches me spiritually. I hope to develop relationships with the people there and get a taste of what life is like for them. I'm really excited about my classes that deal with politics and international development and relief - I hope to expand my knowledge and passion for these subjects and see how they may be a part of my calling and future career. I was talking with my dad tonight about how I'm not really sure what to expect in terms of living conditions - will I be sleeping on a mattress on the floor? They haven't prepared us with that kind of information. Washing my clothes by hand and bathing out of a bucket are definitely the things I'm a little nervous about, though I'm really excited about living life more simply and without our modern luxuries - I think it'll help me to develop a deeper appreciation for the things that really matter and for the blessings we have here in America.

I had my last day of work today (for those of you who don't know, I spend the summer working for Clarendon Insurance Group in Manhattan). While walking up Park Avenue on the way into the office, I passed a number of people walking by speaking languages other than English. Despite the fact that NY is such an international city, it led me to wonder how I will feel being a stranger in the Ugandan culture. I'm sure my host family and others I'll interact with will be very welcoming and help me to adjust, but I'm sure it'll be a challenge. I'm really glad it's a whole group of students going through the adjustments and struggles of the program together - I handle situations much better and benefit so much more from them when I'm able to experience and process them with others like me.

We were advised to bring gifts for our host family - especially something from our hometown/state. So after work today I went into a shop and bought two NYC t-shirts, a frame, an I LOVE NY bag, frame, and pen. My dad chuckled at the bag, wondering what someone in Uganda would carry in the kind of tote I bought. They do seem like funny gifts to bring to a family in Uganda, but I didn't really know what to buy - lol I guess we'll see how appropriate they are, if at all. I don't yet know anything about who I'll be living with, so I didn't know how many gifts to buy.

I really can't believe summer's over and it's only a week until I fly out for Uganda (I fly out of DC Thur. evening the 23rd). The summer was incredible - best I've had, and I'm sad it went by so fast. I also can't believe this will be my senior year of college - how does the time go by so fast? I take my first malaria pill tomorrow. I'm really going to Uganda!! :) I've been preparing myself mentally for going all summer, but I think the fact that I won't see any of my family or friends and will have limited contact with them for four months is really hitting me now. Janelle and Flip left for school within the last two days, so it's been two teary-eyed days filled with the stark realization that I'm really leaving in just a week.

I still feel like I have sooo much to do before I leave - including finding clothes that are appropriate. That certainly has been the most stressful part of my preparations. We have to dress up everyday for class - skirts and dress slacks with nice shirts. But they have to be light clothes that can be washed by hand. I've decided to bring the long, flowy skirts I have, but I don't feel like I have the right shirts or shoes to bring. I HAVE to finish my shopping tomorrow; I'm freaking out a little. I also have to buy a digital camera.

Well, that's all for my first post. I'll keep you updated, though I suspect the next time I write won't be until I've arrived in Uganda or shortly before I leave.