Hurray ! We're here

We arrived in Uganda last Wednesday, August 20, about 8 PM. We were picked up at the airport by, Thomas, a driver from the Embassy. He was very kind and very helpful. However, there were four of our bags that did not arrive--I'll save the suspense, they arrived the next day and Thomas picked them up from the airpport and brought them to our hotel.

Thursday morning we walked to the Embassy and met a couple of other Fulbrighters we met in DC and a few staff members, including Dorothy who has been incredibly helpful so far.

In the afternoon, Paul came from Uganda Martyrs University and picked us up from the hotel. After two hours of passing buses and trucks and dodging potholes, we arrived at UMU. We were shown to our house--we have a three bedroom place. It's a duplex, the dean of Humanities and Social Sciences lives in the other half with his family. I met his wife yesterday after mass. She was very kind and helpful.

There's tons more to write, but I'm not on my own computer and I only have a few more minutes on this one. Next time, hopefully, I'll be able to post some pictures. The country is beautiful.

We leave tomorrow

It's been a crazy day. I finally mailed the books--the Fulbright folks allow us four boxes of books, no more than 50 pounds each. It might sound like a lot, but it's not. One box a 11 pounds overweight. I had to repack it twice. Lifting 50 pound boxes of books the day before I leave on a long plane trip is not a good idea.
Right now I'm copying passport pictures, in color and black and white so we have pictures for our Visas and Bry'Chell school ID.
I'm also including a picture of my LGU--a group of sisters who gather regularly to talk and pray and laugh and eat. This isn't everyone, just those who could get together this past weekend.

Four Days and Counting

I'm back in Chicago after five days with my folks. For every one thing I scratch off my list, three more get added. Still, whatever needs to get done will and the rest will not. I'm ready to go.

Count Down

We're leaving in less than a week. At this point in time my mind is in overdrive. I think we're just about done packing. We have four duffle bags, three footlockers and three large bags. We have malaria medication for the first three months. We have our tickets, but I do have to remember to check in--add to list of things to do--it will be #51.

Right now I'm in Las Vegas visiting my folks. No, it's not that exciting. I'm not your Vegas type, although it is good to see my parents, especially since I will miss both of their 80th birthdays. One nice thing is that I'm relaxed, getting plenty of sleep, eating well and getting enough exercise. All good things to do before a 22 hour flight.

Five days to go...

Packing

So far we have four duffle bags and two large roller bags. Most of my clothes are packed. How much do you need for a year? One thing I've learned so far is that I have too much crap. If I'm packing for Uganda for a year, all that should be left in my closet are my winter clothes--I won't need wool skirts and sweaters in Uganda. That's not all that's left. I think a trip to the St. Vincent de Paul thrift store is in order--to give, not get.

I have two duffle bags of donated school supplies, one of first aid and household stuff, and one of Bry'Chell's school supplies and my office supplies. My clothes are in one roller bag. Bry'Chell's are supposed to be in another. I didn't count on two stuffed animals and an American Girl doll. Oh well, we all need our comfort objects and Uganda is a long way from home when you're twelve--or, for that matter when you're 53.

The house is a mess and I'm a bit crazed. That's pretty normal for me, but not this time of year. This time of year I'm usually into a full chill mode--relaxed and in shape. That's not quite my MO this year.

On the plus side, I have Bry'Chell's insurance in place. We have all our shots and our paper work is in order. I received a very reassuring email from the American Embassy in Uganda assuring me that they will pick me up from the airport in Entebbe on August 20. Hurray for Dorothy at the embassy, her clarity and efficiency are very soothing.

Tomorrow is our block party. It should be fun. One last hurrah before we head out.

Fulbright Orientation

Last week Bry'Chell and I went to Washington DC for the Fulbright in African Orientation. My brain is still swimming from all the information we received.

I must say, I am more excited about going to Uganda now than I was before the meeting. That's saying a lot. I've been so wound up for the past two months, I babble incessantly about Uganda and Fulbright.

It was three days of input and conversations that answered the questions I didn't even know I had. Some was stuff I know we had to hear, but wasn't that exciting, like U.S. foreign policy. Most of it was fun and interesting--talking to other Fulbighters, meeting folks who have actually been to Uganda. Of the folks going to Uganda, Bry'Chell and I are the only ones who have not already been in the country.

OK, it's a little embarrassing to admit, I finally learned how to spell Fulbright--one "l", not two. Oh well, spelling never was my strong suite.

The Fulbright folks sent us a check that was supposed cover part of our expenses. Thanks to the good sisters, it covered all of our expenses. We did not stay at the lovely two hundred a night hotel, rather we stayed at the equally lovely convent for free.

Thanks to Sisters Marian, Lourdes and Petra, we had a great time at Immaculta Convent. Bry'Chell especially enjoyed having a TV in our room, which she watched more than I should have let her. Well, there has to be some reward to behaving well during a day full of meetings that are undoubtedly boring from a 12 year old perspective. I, on the other hand, delighted in conversation with other Sisters of Providence.

We took in a few of the sights, the National Basilica with the newly dedicated statue of our own Mother Theodore in the Mary Garden and the American Indian Museum, also fairly recently opened. The musuem was great, a wonderful mix of the historical and the current. The space was beautiful and gave a feel for the range of Amerindian culture.

Getting Closer

Our departure date, which hasn't actually been set, is getting closer. This week I received my first round of shots--hepatitis--two of them, tetanus and a TB test, which isn't really a shot but still involves a needle. The nurse drew enough blood to transfuse a small child, but didn't leave any bruises. For me, that was pretty good.

Pat McGreal and some of the students at Mother McAuley High School collected some school supplies for children in Uganda and gave them to me to take. I was touched and impressed that they would make such an effort. I just met Pat a week or so ago and she was willing to help. That's pretty cool.

Tomorrow we leave for orientation in Washington, DC. This feels like a big deal--official and all. We won't, however, be staying at the $200 a night hotel. We'll stay for free with some of the good sisters in DC. I've always been impressed with the public transportation in DC, so it won't be any problem getting around. So, what are they going to tell us? Who are the "they" that will do the telling?

Not there yet

I will be leaving for Uganda in August. We will be there for about ten months. We is Bry'Chell and me. Bry'Chell is twelve years old and has lived with me for three years. I have a Fullbright award to teach and do a little research in Uganda for the coming school year. I'm really excited about going. Bry'Chell is less so.