So.. ive been kind of trying to avoid updating this blog. I’m really not sure how to give the things ive seen justice. I feel like pictures and words won’t be able to describe Ugandan life accurately...and its only been 3 days, and Ive already seen enough to scare me to death. Its beautiful, the people are so nice, and its AFRICA. Ive always wanted to be here…but its absolutely terrifying. 

I just don’t understand this culture, really.  And hopefully staying here for the next 3 and a half months will help that… well not just staying here, but living here. I was so excited about this program to actually get the opportunity to fully immerse myself within this culture…but I think it hasn’t hit me until tonight how challenging this all is really going to be. It’s going to be a struggle for me, probably every single day. 

I’m anxious to meet my host family in the next couple of days. I’ll be living with them for the next couple of months until our independent practicum.  Each student on our program is placed with a family from different social statuses, anywhere from a family living in the slums outside of Kampala with no running water or electricity to maybe even a family with a higher income and nicer living arrangements. Itll be interesting that I will have to live with them and have to commute by myself to Makerere University everyday for classes in the CRAZY street life/taxis they have in Kampala. Tomorrow they are dropping each of us off in a random location in the city and we have to make our way back to the hotel we are staying for this first week. I get lost in Crystal Lake still, how the hell am I going to do that?! The streets of Kampala are insane, so I’m really nervous about that, especially doing it by myself. . Hopefully itll be fine, I mean, itll have to be fine considering I have to do it for the next couple of months haha. 

I’m hoping there will be children in the family. I really don’t think I want children of my own, but something about African kids gets me. Maybe just Ugandans in general. I think they are the most beautiful people.  I want to steal every child I see, the ones in their cute little school uniforms and the ones sitting on the street…literally covered in dirt. I want them all.

The children here have really been interesting to see…ive seen multiple babies (between 1-3) on the side of the dirt roads covered in dust and ragged clothing. My heart just dropped when we walked past them. We are advised by our supervisors to actually not give them money…because most likely their mothers are just a block away. The strategy is that people (mostly ‘mazungus’…meaning ‘white people’) will see these babies and of course give them money, when really these mothers just use the children so we feel bad for them so we give them money. I mean, smart idea. I was about to right then and there give this sweet little baby girl all my shillings but was told not too. It’s just too much to handle. It’s heartbreaking…but whether the mothers need the money or the children… I don’t like that I’m advised to not give them money. How can you not? Hopefully I’ll understand this more as time goes on.

I MISS YOU ALL AT HOME, more than you know.