I BLESS THE RAINS DOWN IN AFRICA

It's considered a blessing on this continent to "bring the rain" and I am happy to say that it POURED the first night we were in Uganda.  (and yes, we figured out in the morning--after we saw our room had flooded--that the windows do indeed close... oops.) The weather here is AMAZING though; I really can't explain how beautiful the sky is and HELLO NEXT TWO YEARS OF LIVING IN WEATHER THAT NEVER GETS BELOW 65 DEGREES OR ABOVE 85 DEGREES! I am LOVING living without electricity (pshh, who needs AC with this weather???) I sleep with the windows open, under a mosquito net of course (and yes mom, we are taking our malaria meds!) I have been with my homestay family for two weeks now, a mother and two older daughters.  They are all so sweet and speak English very well.  I am learning Runyoro-Rutooro (the language they speak in Western Uganda where I will be stationed at the end of training) which is great because my host mom knows Runyoro-Rutooro better than Luganda.  mpora, mpora nsoma Runyoro-Rutooro! (slowly, slowly I learn R/R!) The  no-running-water-thing is a bit of a challenge, but I've learned how to bucket bathe using less than 2 gallons of water AND how to hand wash my clothes (what! what! skillz!) Oh, and I haven't gotten sick yet, (THANK THE LORD!), but omg I am DREADING the pit latrine.  I know, I know, I've got to get over this eventually, JUST GIVE ME TIME. speaking of which, the food here is delicious: matooke, bananas, posha, avocadoes, beans, rice, jack fruit.  ohhh a poor nutrition major's fate to FINALLY be forced to eat all natural, healthy foods.  Oh, and I REALLY enjoy my fellow peace corps trainees.  We all just clicked instantly and are amazed that we have ONLY known each other for 2 weeks.  we just all get along so well.  There are 45 of us in all, split pretty evenly half boys, half girls.  and yes HOPEFULLY once things settle down a bit, I will be able to update this blog really frequently.  and if anybody wants to come to africa, DO IT! it's amazing.  I LOVE IT!!!! seriously, we see monkeys and huge birds and cows and longhorns and chickens EVERYWHERE.  (I might kill the rooster that lives outside my window and wakes me up at 4:30 every morning, but other than that, OBSESSED with everything else africa!) so yes, I think I'm definitely off to a great start, after all, we did bring the rains.  so go ahead, blast Toto on your computer.  you know you want to.  and to leave you with a little Runyoro-Rutooro: oikale kurungi na turaorongana! (stay well and we shall see each other!) weeraba!

2 DAYS UNTIL STAGING!

NEVER AGAIN will I live in an apartment with a spiral staircase! My parents just finished helping me move out of my Austin apartment, and now it's on to bigger and greater AFRICA! Staging is scheduled for Monday, August 9th, in Philadelphia, and my fellow PCT (Peace Corps Trainees) and I officially fly out of the United States on Tuesday! Such a mix of emotions as I sit on the floor in my empty room packing the rest of my belongings to leave.  We are told to "rid our minds of all expectations." Uhh, pretty easy for me since I have NO idea what I'm getting myself into! But this should be fun.  And DEFINITELY a worthwhile experience.  I will try to update this blog as often as possible but I have no clue when I will have internet access throughout my time in Africa.  (27 months is unfathomable to me at the moment!) So, I hope you all enjoy the ridiculousness that is to come.  I know I can't wait.  smell ya later Texas, and HELLO UGANNNNDAAAAA!