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Look ma, I can carry 5 papayas on my head and still look good!
Originally uploaded by Carrie May.

Especially for all those Josh's out there! There's 5 of you who I'm in touch with.... but not too sure who the posts are from.

Thanks to everyone who leaves comments on the blog. Great to know you all are still out there ~

Check link to Flickr to see photos!!!!

Smiles for Christmas night.
Originally uploaded by Carrie May.

All smiles on Christmas night~
As a reminder, please click on the link to 'my photos on Flickr'..... just to the right - to see all my photos. I often upload photos without a traditional post on this blog.

My counterpart, Sulaiti and I.

My counterpart, Sulaiti and I.
Originally uploaded by Carrie May.

Me and my collegues in omenigiro (sp?), the traditional dress.

Me and my collegues in omenigiro (sp?), the traditional dress.
Originally uploaded by Carrie May.

Village leaders disscussing HIV and family planning issues

Village leaders disscussing HIV and family planning issues
Originally uploaded by Carrie May.

Testing to see if this works....

Moving to Karuguuza

12-10-06

I write to you by candlelight on the veranda of Hotel Starlight gazing up at the sea of stars. Since there is no electricity in the village; thus no streetlights, the stars appear amazingly bright.
I have now moved to Karuguuza in the Kibaale District of western Uganda. If you were to look at a map, it is between the larger towns of Hoima, to the north and Fort Portale, to the south. There is so much to write about, I'm overwhelmed with where to begin. I see and experience new, exciting, beautiful, challenging, sad and encouraging events every day. Thus far, when I'm feeling good all I need is a comfortable pair of shoes/sandals my water bottle and an umbrella. I go to explore with out a care in the world. Other days, my iPod and computer seem to give me a quick pick me up..... and of course chocolate! The shops in Karuguuza do not carry chocolate, so I must ration out my supply from Kampala. It is nearing the end of the rainy season, but we still get some form of rain each day.
My friend Judith sits next to me as I write this, as she is most intrigued by the laptop and my music. Judith works very hard everyday here at the Starlight Hotel. She is 22 and is a good person to sit and laugh with. She is also most helpful to me. All of the staff here have been very kind in making me feel most welcome.
I am staying at the hotel until the house they are building is finished. So far, the brick walls are up with metal sheets for roofing. The house will be complete with a front sitting room, dining room, kitchen, garage, master bedroom and guest room, each with a private bath. It will have an enclosed compound with a 'boys quarters', basically two rooms in an out building at the back of the compound for a potential 'house girl' or maid. I may be able to move in some time in January ~ For now, hotel living suits me. I am able to use the hotel kitchen when I like or order my food. During the week, I am usually to exhausted from biking in the field to cook. So, it is nice to come here, shower and have my meal prepared for me.
I foresee my endurance and cardiovascular health improving during my two years here. The landscape affords many rocky hills. Most are pretty steep. And, even with the gears on the mountain bike I find myself sometimes getting off and having to push is up hill! Empora, Empora. That means slowly by slowly in Runyooro. It is a phrase common here to describe many events. I often use the phrase to describe my language learning.
There is a 'football' or rather soccer game on tonight. Many men have gathered in the restaurant/bar to watch the match on the direct satellite TV. It is one of two place in the village. Their cheers and enthusiasm are much like those you would find in any sports bar in the US for Monday night football.

Swearing in Ceremony and moving to site

December 7, 2005

The end of Peace Corps training is celebrated or rather made official by a swearing in ceremony. On November 30, 2006 we, the 12 of us, became official Peace Corps volunteers. We sang the Ugandan and American National anthems heard speeches from the Ambassador and other dignitaries and from member of our group.
The ceremony was held at the US Ambassadors residence in the capital city, Kampala. It was like a little slice of America, literally. I must have spent at least 15 min. in their bathroom admiring the luxurious soap, lotion and in general how modern and clean it all was. They also had a Christmas tree up, which was surprisingly comforting. It sure does not feel like December here - much less the holiday season. I have never been so warm in December. It's so nice to be in a tropical climate - but, a bit disorienting.
After the ceremony we all went back to the Peace Corps office to pick up luggage and depart for our separate sites. I stayed on in Kampala an extra day to recuperate from the giardia and bacterial dysentery. I also got a chance to do some shopping and see more of Kampala.
The next morning I picked up a few essentials from the grocery store next to the hostel we stayed at: box of wine, mustard, snickers bars, shoe polish, imitation cheese, garlic powder, black pepper, astringent and cotton balls. They are not so much essential as things that I know I would not find in the village. The driver for EMESCO was very kind in helping us with our luggage and assisted with bargaining for mountain bike fair price. I ended up paying 220,000 shillings (approx. $125 US) for a used men’s mountain bike with front and middle shocks, mud fenders, a back rack and a bell. It is really a sight. But, I'm s thankful I have it. It does well on these steep hills and makes moving around town with 'stuff' easier.

Feeling better now

11-29-06

Giardia and Bacterial Dysentery

Ho hum…..what to say – It’s no fun! You might as well invent a reclining toilet for those in need because you are bound to make at least 10 trips to the thrown a day. But, Giardia makes you so fatigued that it is easier to just use a bucket beside the bed. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of Giardia….. it is basically a parasite that is passed through feces into food or water and takes up residence in your small intestine. Meanwhile, these guys kill off all your ‘good’ bacteria in your stomach.

My only silver lining to the situation is that Peace Corps provide excellent medial care for volunteers 24 hrs. a day. We have two nurses on call for our every care or worry. They are just a text message or phone call away. This has been my second bout of Giardia in the last month. I am perfecting my descriptive vocabulary of my ‘long call’ or #2.

Homestay experience

We have been living with Ugandan families the past two months as a part of our cross-cultural training. Upon first arriving in their home I was especially thankful to just have my own space, consistency of place and that sense of ‘home’.

My room consisted of about a 10 x 10’ space with a twin size bed, small table and self. From my two years of house sitting in Homer, I knew that surrounding myself with my ‘things’ would defiantly make me have that settled in feeling. So, the very first thing I did was put up my wall maps of Alaska and Michigan. Took out my small world globe, shells from Homer, photo album and hung up all my clothes.

The house I was in did not have a ceiling so the walls went up about 3/4 way to the roof. So you could hear just about everything that went on. This was especially awkward when I had a full bladder in the middle of the night. I certainly woke up to any foreign sound….. even through the 30 decible ear plugs. I was really self councious when using the honey bucket.

Feeling better

11-29-06

Giardia and Bacterial Dysentery

Ho hum…..what to say – It’s no fun! You might as well invent a reclining toilet for those in need because you are bound to make at least 10 trips to the thrown a day. But, Giardia makes you so fatigued that it is easier to just use a bucket beside the bed. For those who haven’t had the pleasure of Giardia….. it is basically a parasite that is passed through feces into food or water and takes up residence in your small intestine. Meanwhile, these guys kill off all your ‘good’ bacteria in your stomach.

My only silver lining to the situation is that Peace Corps provide excellent medial care for volunteers 24 hrs. a day. We have two nurses on call for our every care or worry. They are just a text message or phone call away. This has been my second bout of Giardia in the last month. I am perfecting my descriptive vocabulary of my ‘long call’ or #2.

Homestay experience

We have been living with Ugandan families the past two months as a part of our cross-cultural training. Upon first arriving in their home I was especially thankful to just have my own space, consistency of place and that sense of ‘home’.

My room consisted of about a 10 x 10’ space with a twin size bed, small table and self. From my two years of house sitting in Homer, I knew that surrounding myself with my ‘things’ would defiantly make me have that settled in feeling. So, the very first thing I did was put up my wall maps of Alaska and Michigan. Took out my small world globe, shells from Homer, photo album and hung up all my clothes.

The house I was in did not have a ceiling so the walls went up about 3/4 way to the roof. So you could hear just about everything that went on. This was especially awkward when I had a full bladder in the middle of the night. I certainly woke up to any foreign sound….. even through the 30 decible ear plugs. I was really self councious when using the honey bucket.