I have officially been living rurally now for 4 days! It takes a lot of getting used to..a process which is very draining but it's also unbelievably awesome and each day i fall more in love with my homestay family, the village and all it's people! My homestay consists of my mama who is HIV positive and her eight healthy, happy HIV free children (unbelievable!). She is managing to stay so healthy and lead such a busy life...not including looking after me and another volunteer (Rachel) on top of her own brood. Our house is made of concrete and has a tin roof. Outside there is a wooden construction which is the kitchen (you can tell when dinner's up as the smoke seeps through the log walls!), another small concrete building which is the choo (toilet), complete with all your cockroach friends! and another wooden building which houses the ducks, hens, rooster, goats and cow :D during the day we are busy walking around the vast area which is Mangarini Juu village, setting up meetings, assessing and generally making our presence known and accepted across all communities. Evenings are spent indoors with our family (yes that's 11 of us in the one room!) enjoying trying to communicate, learning about each other (through pictures, books etc) and just enjoying the great environment that is the home of a large african family...definatly one of the best experiences of my life.
On the work side of things we having been incredibly successful in just our first few days...we have managed to track down the village leaders, sit down with them and they have given us their blessing to teach all over the village in whatever capacity we see fit...amazing! We have been accepted by all 3 village schools to teach the children, and arranged to teach at three of the huge flower farms which surround our village...(these teaching will be to 300plus people at anyone time!) So far, so very good! More village news to follow...
Badaaye, Woollams xxx
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
5 comments:
Well Lucy, so far, so good. You're obviously enjoying the whole experience and wonderful to hear how your mama and the local community have welcomed you. Mum's desperate to see some photos, but we understand that may be difficult for you. Have you shared any of the gifts you took from the UK for the children? We pray that the training is really successful and will leaving a lasting legacy. Hope you, Rachel and the whole team stay happy and healthy. All our love, Mum and Dad
Hi Lucy, glad to hear that you have fully settled down in your new environment. Regards to your new family. Jim & Nenadi
Hi Lucy, It is so nice to hear all the news, you sound like you are really enjoying yourself, it sounds a beautiful place to be.
The people sound really friendly, I think it is only the English who are so reserved! Andrew flys out to Uganda on Thursday he has been keeping up with your news and all the advice re the locals.
Are you enjoying the food? Will you get to cook for them at all?
Well you are in our prayers, have fun and keep safe. Michele & Andrew x
Hi Lucy, we're glad to hear that village life is not unbearable and that you and the team are doing ok.
Stay blessed, With love from Luton. Kenny and Nikke.
woolley! great to read your blog... sounds like an amazing experience and hopefully will make an impact on the communities there. we missed you at rosie's wedding, the DA gang was just a little bit empty without you!
keep up the good work trooper!!
love katharine xxx
Post a Comment