Happy delayed Thanksgiving
I was away from home for the first time, so I came to visit my friends Leira and Eric, and we had a nice dinner, and before we ate we said all the things we were thankful for... it was really nice.
We actually celebrated 2 days, and the second day we slaughtered a turkey. My friend cut the head off, but the little 5-10 year old boys that were standing around really helped us the most. It's funny how they knew exactly what they were doing, every step of the way. They helped us kill, pluck, and remove and cut up all the insides. Once again I'm thinking, man these kids are awesome. They are so smart. Really, if they were left on their own, they could grow their own food, prepar it, kill and eat their own meat, make just about anything and really survive completely on their own...it's pretty amazing.
I know Thanksgiving is now over, but really we can give thanks any time. My Mom is this amazing person and her Thanksgiving email to me reminded me of everything I have and everything we should all be thankful for. She says I can post parts of her email, so here goes, :
"well, I hope you have a good Thanksgiving...remember, Thanksgiving is about being thankful for what you have and where you are...so you can always celebrate that holiday...Especially where you are. You can just look around and have a million reasons to be thankful...share your gratitude by giving to someone else..You have so much to give...the neat thing about love is that the more you give it away, the more you have..it is endless and abundant...what a perfect thing...you are full of love. I love you more than all the turkeys that will be eaten tomorrow...now that's a lot."
Love,
Mom
Monday, November 26, 2007
Friday, November 16, 2007
CHOGM
CHOGM is the word of the year here in Uganda, and now it is finally here. Sometimes maybe I will be walking down the street and someone will say, "Are you ready for CHOGM?" I usually say yes. CHOGM is the https://www.chogm2007.ug/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=168&Itemid=185, actually, there is all the information.
But really what it is, is that I think I have said the word CHOGM at least a hundred billion times this week.
I wrote this in an email to my family and friends back home, but I thought it would be good for anyone to see... so here it is.
How to work out like a Ugandan:
My neighbor tells me that there are no gyms in Uganda, not because of poverty, but because they naturally work out on a regular basis. Here are some of their work-out routines, and if you want to try, here's how you can work out like a Ugandan:
1. Take 20-30 mile bicycle rides daily, but add a cushion to the back and carry a 150 pound person or extra weight on the back.
2. Fill 2 large containers with water and carry one on top of your head, and one holding with your arm. If you have an infant around, carry them on your back.Actually, carry everything. Every single thing you use daily, carry that... maybe you are building a house, carry the bricks... you want fire wood? carry that, coal, what... carry it.
3. Walk or ride your bike everywhere... no matter how far. Leave your car behind.
4. Go out to your front or back yard and plow for at least 3 hours in the morning and at least 3 hours in the evening.
5. This doesn't pertain to working out, but to eating meat: Slaughter all your own meat, that being, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, whatever you choose to eat, kill it yourself... you will feel prouder once you have it served in front of you. (Hunters, you already do that... well done).
6. Don't use your water from the tap... walk to your neighbors (at least half a mile away) house and fill buckets, then carry them back to your house, then use that water.
Pretty much do everything you normally do, but eliminate any machines or technologies that help you usually...ha, I actually don't do many of these while I'm here, I'm usually the 150 pound person riding on the back, thinking man... Ugandans work hard, but just thought about it and wanted to give you some insight on their lives... hope you like.
But really what it is, is that I think I have said the word CHOGM at least a hundred billion times this week.
I wrote this in an email to my family and friends back home, but I thought it would be good for anyone to see... so here it is.
How to work out like a Ugandan:
My neighbor tells me that there are no gyms in Uganda, not because of poverty, but because they naturally work out on a regular basis. Here are some of their work-out routines, and if you want to try, here's how you can work out like a Ugandan:
1. Take 20-30 mile bicycle rides daily, but add a cushion to the back and carry a 150 pound person or extra weight on the back.
2. Fill 2 large containers with water and carry one on top of your head, and one holding with your arm. If you have an infant around, carry them on your back.Actually, carry everything. Every single thing you use daily, carry that... maybe you are building a house, carry the bricks... you want fire wood? carry that, coal, what... carry it.
3. Walk or ride your bike everywhere... no matter how far. Leave your car behind.
4. Go out to your front or back yard and plow for at least 3 hours in the morning and at least 3 hours in the evening.
5. This doesn't pertain to working out, but to eating meat: Slaughter all your own meat, that being, cows, chickens, pigs, goats, whatever you choose to eat, kill it yourself... you will feel prouder once you have it served in front of you. (Hunters, you already do that... well done).
6. Don't use your water from the tap... walk to your neighbors (at least half a mile away) house and fill buckets, then carry them back to your house, then use that water.
Pretty much do everything you normally do, but eliminate any machines or technologies that help you usually...ha, I actually don't do many of these while I'm here, I'm usually the 150 pound person riding on the back, thinking man... Ugandans work hard, but just thought about it and wanted to give you some insight on their lives... hope you like.
In other news:
In case you want to marry me, let me let you know that you must pay the dowery of 100 cows for me and about half a million dollars, ha, sike, shillings. Here in Uganda if you want to marry someone, you have to pay the dowery. I was told a few days ago all about mine, so thought I would let everyone know. haha.
Sunday, November 4, 2007
We are warriors fighting for peace
Dancing is fun. If you haven't danced lately, then you should.
This week has been alright. It's November, and that means it's cold at home. It is not cold here. Actually, it is really hot. The hottest times in Uganda occur in November- February or something close. Sometimes if I am sitting in a room, maybe I will be just sweating sitting there. I pretty much don't like it too much. The worst is when you are sleeping and it's hot. ooo boy, not fun.
Caning is a common practice in the schools here, although it is ILLEGAL, but like a lot of laws here, it is not enforced. I am going to try to do a workshop for the teachers, making them aware of the alternatives to caning and beating a child and how to impliment these alternatives. It makes me upset to see, even like I want to throw up. It is quite terrible. "If your only tool is a hammer, pretty soon all the world appears to be a nail"
There is an organization here in Uganda that is working on fighting Violence against women and children. Their website is raisingvoices.org
America is a dream to some, maybe a lot of people probably for so many reasons. Maybe for money, opportunities, studying, anything really, but sometimes I forget how lucky we are to have the things we have, live the life we live, and have all the opportunities layed out before us. They really are there, we just have to go after what we want. It's not the same for everyone else in the world. Being here does help me open my eye lids a little to see, but still... I will never really know what it's like because I am me, and this is my life.
So, recently one of my friends lost his 16 year old brother. I was sad for him, and we were talking about it... he said that he wished he had been in America, America you know. He said he wished he had been there with his brother, because they would have had the machines that could have saved him.
One thing I hate here is being treated like I am a Queen or something. It is insane! Really, they roll out the red carpet for me to walk on usually, and a lot of times I have a hard time coming to terms with this. It doesn't always happen, but when it does I'm like woah dude, it's alright. I actually really hate it, and it makes me really uncomfortable. Some examples are as follows, If I am stopping by a neighbors house to say hello, I have to have a seat, even if it is the very one they are sitting on, then they will sit on the floor. If I am in a meeting or gathering, burial, wedding, church, anything, I am usually ushered up to the front. I may not even know what's going on, but I will be introduced and given a golden plate to eat off of. Yesturday I was at a ceremony, and I just wanted to sit with some of my fellow teachers/friends, but I was actually not allowed to. They made me move to the front row because it would look bad on their part as the hosts of the ceremony. I want people to realize that I AM NOT BETTER than them! These situations makes it difficult to prove.
Well anyway, Happy November to everyone who reads this and even those that don't. ha. I love November at home, fall, woo, I love it, so live it up!
oh... and did you know that Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants. ? haha... random email from my Dad, but interesting anyway.
This week has been alright. It's November, and that means it's cold at home. It is not cold here. Actually, it is really hot. The hottest times in Uganda occur in November- February or something close. Sometimes if I am sitting in a room, maybe I will be just sweating sitting there. I pretty much don't like it too much. The worst is when you are sleeping and it's hot. ooo boy, not fun.
Caning is a common practice in the schools here, although it is ILLEGAL, but like a lot of laws here, it is not enforced. I am going to try to do a workshop for the teachers, making them aware of the alternatives to caning and beating a child and how to impliment these alternatives. It makes me upset to see, even like I want to throw up. It is quite terrible. "If your only tool is a hammer, pretty soon all the world appears to be a nail"
There is an organization here in Uganda that is working on fighting Violence against women and children. Their website is raisingvoices.org
America is a dream to some, maybe a lot of people probably for so many reasons. Maybe for money, opportunities, studying, anything really, but sometimes I forget how lucky we are to have the things we have, live the life we live, and have all the opportunities layed out before us. They really are there, we just have to go after what we want. It's not the same for everyone else in the world. Being here does help me open my eye lids a little to see, but still... I will never really know what it's like because I am me, and this is my life.
So, recently one of my friends lost his 16 year old brother. I was sad for him, and we were talking about it... he said that he wished he had been in America, America you know. He said he wished he had been there with his brother, because they would have had the machines that could have saved him.
One thing I hate here is being treated like I am a Queen or something. It is insane! Really, they roll out the red carpet for me to walk on usually, and a lot of times I have a hard time coming to terms with this. It doesn't always happen, but when it does I'm like woah dude, it's alright. I actually really hate it, and it makes me really uncomfortable. Some examples are as follows, If I am stopping by a neighbors house to say hello, I have to have a seat, even if it is the very one they are sitting on, then they will sit on the floor. If I am in a meeting or gathering, burial, wedding, church, anything, I am usually ushered up to the front. I may not even know what's going on, but I will be introduced and given a golden plate to eat off of. Yesturday I was at a ceremony, and I just wanted to sit with some of my fellow teachers/friends, but I was actually not allowed to. They made me move to the front row because it would look bad on their part as the hosts of the ceremony. I want people to realize that I AM NOT BETTER than them! These situations makes it difficult to prove.
Well anyway, Happy November to everyone who reads this and even those that don't. ha. I love November at home, fall, woo, I love it, so live it up!
oh... and did you know that Donald Duck comics were banned from Finland because he doesn't wear pants. ? haha... random email from my Dad, but interesting anyway.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
