Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Let's take a ride….

In this post I would like to show you some of the country side of Uganda. The greenery, villages, and interesting sights are breathtaking.  You can learn a lot about the Ugandan culture merely through driving from one city to another. 


"Would ya look at that!" 

A "compound" for a Ugandan family. It normally consists of the house (for bed rooms, pantry, and living room), kitchen house- where they do most of their cooking, and a pit latrine (toilet). 

Thats one way to ride in the back of a truck. (There are two people up there)

Between Mukono and Mbale there are many sugar fields and two sugar companies. 

The town of Mukono from the top of  "Monkey hill." 

Why use billboards when you can use the front of buildings. 

The beginning slopes of Mt. Elgon. Beautiful! 

BANANA'S! 

We had some extra passengers on the way back to MMM (Seth's neighbors) 

Hut 

They start teaching them how to drive boca boda's (motor bike) young here.

Corn field and huts...

boda boda boda boda boda boda boda boda 

two women carrying bags on their heads; two women with babies on their back; one young child riding on the back of a bike. 

Nile Special- Ugandan beer. 

Quite the crash

Sugar field. 

We stopped at a street market and were swarmed by people trying to selling us stuff. 

Chicken on a stick- just like the state fair. 

Another sugar brand in Uganda.

Fruit stand on the side of the road: oranges (they are green here), mangoes...

tomatoes, potatoes, watermelon, and jackfruit. 


Thanks for taking a ride with me through the country side of Uganda. Check back soon for new post! 



Saturday, 16 November 2013

When in Uganda, do as the Ugandans

PLAY FUTBALL! 

Two weeks after arriving at UCU Meghan, Casie, and I joined the UCU Lady Cardinal's futball team. Ok, they joined they team, I merely tagged along for the ride. I haven't played futball since I was about seven years old, so I was starting at ground zero. All of the girls were welcoming and encouraging in me learning the "new" sport. I had many great tutors and I feel like I did improve in my skills! I never played in a real game, but on game days I became the "Team Nurse." 


Practice, Practice Practice. 

Work, Work, Work. 

The team before the first game. 

This is the boys team playing a friendly match. 

Action shot! 

HAHA- two of the three people in this shot are flying! 

GIRLS GAME!!! WE WON!!!

The muzungu's were the primary crowed at this game! 

TEAM SHOT!

Watchin' the game! 

Half-time 

They are ready to play!

ACTION SHOT!

The futball boys watching the futball girls!

Sideline cheerleaders!  GO TEAM GO!!!

It has been a great opportunity to meet many new friends, learn a sport, and enjoy the great outdoors! 




Friday, 15 November 2013

I want you to meet....

Now that I have been here for over two months, it is time to introduce you all to some of the friends i have met! They are such amazing people!!! Each one of them have taught me so many things about the Ugandan culture. All at the same time teasing me about being such a muzungu.  I won't say much about what is going on in the picture; most of them are from random photo shoots we have had together. 

This is Phiphi. She lives in the same dorm as us. She comes to visit us occasionally and we eat dinner together in the DH frequently. 

This is Rita with my roommate Maddie. Rita is very sassy! We get a long well...'nough said.

MY SOCCER GIRLS!!! 

Melqueen!!! She has style!!! (she is also Phiphi's sister) 

Hassan~! He is one of "my soccer boys." We have dinner together most nights after soccer practice. 

Kenny! Another one of "my soccer boys" He recently graduated from UCU! 

All of my soccer boys together at dinner! We have some good laughs together, especially when I try to speak Luganda with them. 


 Phiphi and I at lunch together! 

Ugandans eat more than us....how they stay so skinny is beyond me. 

Kenny, Kelsey, and Jowas! 
This was taken at the Fresher's Ball... still don't know what that means other than free food!


Kelsey, Kenny, Jowas...
Shhh, we are in church- yes this day church was outside. 

PHOTO SHOOT with Hassan

PHOTO SHOOT with Stevenboyyi! (you have met Steven before)

.....

PHOTO SHOOT WITH KENNY

Another shot with Steven and I!!!

Kenny with his cousin Fred! Fred goes to university in Kampala, but I have gotten to know him at the soccer pitch and DH during dinner. 

Kenny!  (I differentiate the two Kenny's by size, so this is big Kenny) He graduated a couple of years ago, but still like to play and practice with the soccer team.

Ronald Reagan...no joke...He is a cheeky one, but has really helped me improve my soccer skills! 

"My boys!" We are watching a girls soccer game. You should have heard them rambling away in Luganda. It sounded like they were in a heated debate about who stole so-and-so's girlfriend they were so expressive! Don't get between a Ugandan guy and his "futball." 

MUCHO!!! yet another of "my soccer boys." 

Seth! I have known Seth since the first time I came to Uganda in January. He lives in Mbale and goes to the UCU campus there for IT. While we stay in Mbale, he is sometimes our driver, a crazy one at that. ;) 

My soccer girls!!! 


This is Doreen! She is on the girls soccer team. Get her on the field and she is FIERCE! 

Mulo. He runs the gym where I go to work out and lift weights. He is quite the character....

David. I met David just recently, but he is very easy going, laughs easily, and plays tennis! We have played once, it was hot, but a lot of fun! 

Derek! He is the "swimming coach" on campus. Even though we do not have a pool, he is trying to start a swim team on campus. They go off campus to a local pool, or in to Kampala. 

MOSES!!! I met Moses through my professor Dave. He and Moses's dad have been friends for years. Moses is in his final year at UCU. Here we are watching one of the girls soccer games! 

Solomon! He is my language tutor, I have learned many Luganda phrases from him! 

Henry! I thought he was super shy when I first met him, but now I know the truth. He is outgoing, funny, and is on the soccer team....yes again- one of "my soccer boys"

A group of my soccer boys being "cool" at Kenny's graduation party. (I think it looks like the start of a album cover picture)

SO, that is a lot of the friends I have met during my time in Uganda. I have loved getting to know each and every one of them and will miss them all when I leave in December. 

More post to come soon...I have to catch you all on on my last few weeks of craziness!