Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Short, Sweet, and to the Point...somehow



Another term is coming to an end and now I’m looking forward to the long holiday break (2 months) of girl empowerment, gorillas, stove building, soap making, and of course, dreaming of a white Christmas. At site, I’ve continued to work on the stoves, books, soap, distributing AFRIpads (reusable menstrual pads that are very “smart”), classes, and maps (we have moved on from the World Map--shown here (the countries are numbered on the map and along the borders, we cut out stencils using razors and computer paper of the countries, capitals, and the corresponding number--I've recently gotten some slack for numbering the US as number 3, not number 1-Canada and Mexico come before it alphabetically...but that seems to be besides the point for most people) to the East Africa Map). This past week, I organized and gathered about 43 volunteers (about a third of the total Uganda PC population) together in Gulu to celebrate Thanksgiving (this may be one of the most ridiculous things I’ve attempted to organize in Uganda but it shockingly worked out beautifully—one Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings and more, no stress, no drama, and no one left hungry). All in all, I’m loving life here and have found myself really coming into my own here.
A few months ago, my family met a man named Sebastian in Washington DC who used to build fuel efficient stoves in Northern Uganda (it’s a small world after all). He gave them the name and contact of the organization that he used to work with called International Lifeline Fund which they then passed on to me. Long story short, I started talking with ILF and next year, starting in June, I’m going to be a Peace Corps volunteer working for them for an additional year, building large Institutional Stoves in and around Lira (which happens to be my second favorite town in Uganda, next to Kitgum, my current home). This will give me an opportunity to really commit myself to stove building, rather than struggling to fit my stove expeditions around my classes and other commitments in Kitgum, and will hopefully prepare me for going to graduate school for Environmental Engineering when I come home in Summer 2013.
For those of you who are shaking your heads right now (or crying uncontrollably), wondering when I will finally snap out of it, leave Uganda, and see them again, fear not! I will be coming home for the month of May (round trip paid for by the Peace Corps) before starting my third year. If you are living outside of Virginia, DC, or Colombia, it is my humble request that you see if you can make the trip to one of those three places and visit during that month. Otherwise, those in VA, DC, and my lovely roommate in Colombia, please expect me on you doorstop for however so briefly in about 5 months. I’ll write again shortly after Christmas hopefully with pictures of Gorillas, up close and personal. Happy Holidays! Make sure you let me know if one of your New Years Resolutions is to travel to East Africa!