Its difficult to know where to start when so much has happened in such little time. Too many things for me to write about in one blog entry so I will narrow it down to my most significant impressions. First of all, the visits to the village and other beautiful sites that Lee (John Fox’s son) took us to was absolutely amazing. I’m not going to repeat the details because Chelsea did such a great job in her blog, but I hope Lee realizes how much we all appreciated that.
Second of all, the children..I can’t say enough about them. I have the opportunity to work with children at both of my practicum placements: Kakunyu School for children with special educational needs, and at Anaweza, a program that focuses on building talents and skills of vulnerable children in Masaka. Due to school break, I have not had the opportunity to work with the kids at Kakunyu school yet, but I have been working with about 50 children at Anaweza. I will never forget my first day of practicum at Anaweza..As Melissa and I accompanied the children to a near by field for their play time, we had several children holding our hands, looking up at us with big smiles, and asking us questions. They are so curious, affectionate, and welcoming of us here. Right away Melissa and I were referred to as “Aunties”. As I’ve gotten to know the children at Anaweza, I am so amazed at their eagerness to learn and how quickly they pick up on things even when instructed in English (which most speak, but not fluently). They are so incredibly smart and have so much potential. At Anaweza, I suggested a program where the children are asked to choose one thing they are talented or skillful at and then give them the opportunity to teach or perform for the rest of the group. My hope is that the program will help increase confidence, leadership skills, and group connectedness. My supervisor thought it was a good idea, so we told the children right away. Keeping in mind that some children may be nervous or shy, we let them know that they have a choice to perform individually or in a small group. I also had assistance in facilitating a discussion about talents and skills including some examples, and probing questions for those who may have difficulty identifying a skill or talent. I’m really excited to see what the children come up with, so I will be sure to give you an update later on.
This leads me to talk about the significant impression my supervisors have had on me. They are both so passionate about encouraging and strengthening the potential of the children they work with. I have never met such passionate people who (in my opinion) put their own needs aside for the good of others. There is so much to be learned from them, and I feel very blessed to be in their company right now. I am so excited for what’s to come in the next two months! I will keep you posted!
Love,
Chera
Friday, 29 April 2011
Monday, 25 April 2011
A drop in the bucket...... (Cole)
Where to start....
When I had thought of coming to Uganda over a year ago I was excited, hesitant, curious but mostly wanted to experience a different culture and alternative way of life. It has been a shock to see how simply the people live here and yet how joyous and welcoming they are towards us. How they really value everything that they are given, and how we as westerners can be so oblivious the amazing opportunities we have at our fingertips in our country.
I have been working at the Masaka regional hospital's daycare and so far it has been an eye opening experience. I have found it is one thing traveling around a country and seeing sights, but when you are immersed in the culture through direct relationships with the people it is something else. Before arriving at the daycare I had no idea what to expect, I kept my mind open to the best and worse scenarios, noting our humble surroundings. Upon arrival at the daycare I was impressed with the space that was available for use. It is located on the top of a hill and consists of a large open grass space, a swingset, marry-go-round, slide and teeter totter. It has a large green open air tent with a ripped roof that acts as an "indoor" area for the children to get some shade and interact together. The surroundings are beautiful and lush around the area, there is a small fence that runs around the property but nothing that a small child wouldn't be able to climb over or through. The daycare operator and the children warmly greeted Linda and I which reminded me there is nothing like working with children to take all your worries away.
Linda and myself started by assessing the daycares storage room that was to be used for storing daycare materials and equipment. The room was piled high with giveaway items for the hospital; mosquito nets, water purification systems and other items of that nature. Since they were giveaway items we asked a few of the hospital staff to distribute them among the people that needed them. Soon there were 20 - 30 people lined up and the boxes were gone within minutes. After taking a full day to organize the room we started to bring in some of the supplies that we had brought from Canada. One of the real hits with the children was the parachute that we brought. I hope you can all remember these from your childhood; everyone stands around the multi colored parachute and grabs a handle, you can put balls on it, shake it like crazy or fill it up with air and quickly sit underneath it. Neither the children nor the daycare operator had ever used one and so Linda and I demonstrated how. The happiness and pure enjoyment was easily readable on the faces of the operator and the children alike. Not having an Early Childhood Education background, we helped the daycare operator to organize and inventory all of the new resources that we had brought to share with them. Our goal is to not just do these things for her, but to teach her how to do them for herself once we are gone. By the end of the day the storage room was looking like a whole new space. When Linda and I completed the final touches we brought the operator back into the room. She was overcome with joy! I thought she may cry, there were many smiles and feelings of gratitude being shared between the three of us. The gratitude not only came from her but from Linda and myself; for giving us the opportunity and trust to go into her room and demonstrate some simple methods to take care of her own space.
The next day I brought in a few more things to share with the daycare. One item in particular seemed to grab the interest of the children and operator of the daycare. It was something that iwould have never expected to have such a huge interest but the experience of intoducing it to them was quite a processof self realizationfor myself. It was a couple of small wooden puzzles. I brought them out and the children didnt know exactly what to do with them, I was stunned. My own preconcieved notions about children in Uganda had come from my own experiences of working with children in Canada. I sat down with them and explained to them how to use the puzzle; how each piece if placed correctly can create a whole picture, and how the flat edges of the pieces go to the outside and that their are four corner pieces. Can you imagine my suprise as I spent three hours teaching different children how to complete these simple 20 piece wooden puzzles. The more important aspect was seeing the sheer joy of accomplishment on their faces when they had completed one of them. It really showed me that I need to check my assumptions and not take anything for granted as I am here on practicum. It was a great start to this adventure and I hope for many more experiences like this.
I have a few plans in the works for the daycare but one of them is to make a water table for the children to play with. It will be made from a baby bath and constructed out of some old wooden pallets that we found in the storage room. It will be able to be filled with rain water and used once it is full. I will keep the updates coming on the progress of the practicum as well as the projects that I have in mind.
-Cole.
Sunday, 24 April 2011
The ecstasy and the agony - LORNA
"Life is never simple...but at least it is interesting. Let me be grateful - for a heart that can rejoice or break, as the case may be." These words from my grandmother's creed have never challenged me as much before as they do now, in Masaka, Uganda. The ecstasy and the agony of life here, must be experienced to be fully understood. And even with my limited practicum experience, my emotions have swung like a pendulum, from one extrreme to another, awakening my understanding in new and provacative ways - life will never look the same to me.
One of my placements here is at the hospital maternity ward (I will write about the other one in a future post). I have two supervisor's at the hospital, one a social worker (whom Ive yet to work with) and the other a wonderful, gifted midwife, named Prossy. For this first week, the midwife has thrown me right into the fire, (so to speak), of the realities and struggles the women that attend the hospital experience. For example, on my first full day at maternity, I was being orientated to the special care nursery, the realities of which are heartbreaking in itself, but, when you understand that this meager facility with its one incubator, one oxygen tank ( which by the was is shared with the delivery room if a woman is in crisis) is still more than they've had before, you begin to be thankful for even the very small things. On this particular day, we were just leaving the unit when I looked down on the ground and noticed a $1000shilling note, a significant amount of money for people here, (the equivalent of about 50 cents for us). I picked it up and asked Prossy what or who I should give it to. She said, "look around, how could you know, it could belong to anyone" and then she pointed to an elderl lady that had just come out of the door behind us: "there, give it to her, she is very poor,"and so I did. Prossy could have just taken the money herself, but as Ive come to realize in this very short time training with her, Prossy is a giver, not a taker. About one hour later, a baby came into the special care nursery in great distress and in order for him to survive, the message was sent to the mother that she had to purchase a cathedar for the IV so he could receive fluids and meds (yes, they have to purchase it!).
The waiting was agonizing for me: surely the life of this child was more important than the cost of one cathedar ($1000sh) but as tempted as I was to just buy it myself, the supervisor cautioned me that I would not be able to privide for all, and that not only would my finances by potentially drained with the needs there, but also my emotions if I had to pick and choose who received help and who didnt. Just then, to my relief, the cathedar arrived. Prossy instructed me to assist her (yikes, I am not a nurse but she needed help and the baby couldnt wait for someone else). He now stood a chance of survival! I was feeling relieved and happy when just then, the grandmother, the very same elderly woman I had previously given the $1000sh to, walked into the special care nursery. She came over to the baby and was overjoyed to see that he seemed to be doing well. I felt overwhelmed! The realization that this family would never of had money to buy that cathedar, if not by that chance meeting earlier, hit me! Such ecstasy! Her and I celebrated using our only means of communication, the joy on our faces!
Later that day the celebratory atmosphere was to come to an abrupt stop for me. Another baby, just as deserving as the one previously, was in distress. He was provided with the needed cathedar, but the mother had arrived to the hospital too late, having delivered a complicated birth along the roadside during a 40km walk to the hospital. Her attendants had been with her, (attendants could be midwifes, friends, family or both) but, as Prossy pointed out, this baby had experienced brain damage and the distress caused during the difficult birth was to much for him. Although we had resuscitated him at least five times, given him oxygen, the necessary and even expensive medications ($10,000sh), for this little boy, it was to late. The baby was wrapped and prepared to give back to the attendants to carry back home, the 40kms after which they would return to inform the mother (if) she survived to return to her village. I asked why we had to wait to tell her? Prossy said "because the wailing would be too much and she is very sick and needs her strength to survive," They would only inform the mother if she recovered enough to ask to see her baby before the attendants returned.
The AGONY was almost unbearable. I knew I had to fight the tears as I had been informed that the woman were watching me. "Dont cry Lorna, they will think you did something wrong or are guilty." I held it together as best as I could, tears welling up in my eyes, yet a few escaped down my cheeks. Sorry for your loss - "BAMBI" as they say here in Uganda.The reality of life here in Uganda for these women, was just starting to hit me. I have so much to learn and so much to be thankful for. The ecstasy and the agony of life in Uganda is etching its place in my mind, body and spirit. What I've already learned here, in this short time will forever change me and the way I view life and the world we live in. It seems so unfair! I am reminded that we should never take for granted the supports we have - especially the medical system, that we have in Canada.
One of my placements here is at the hospital maternity ward (I will write about the other one in a future post). I have two supervisor's at the hospital, one a social worker (whom Ive yet to work with) and the other a wonderful, gifted midwife, named Prossy. For this first week, the midwife has thrown me right into the fire, (so to speak), of the realities and struggles the women that attend the hospital experience. For example, on my first full day at maternity, I was being orientated to the special care nursery, the realities of which are heartbreaking in itself, but, when you understand that this meager facility with its one incubator, one oxygen tank ( which by the was is shared with the delivery room if a woman is in crisis) is still more than they've had before, you begin to be thankful for even the very small things. On this particular day, we were just leaving the unit when I looked down on the ground and noticed a $1000shilling note, a significant amount of money for people here, (the equivalent of about 50 cents for us). I picked it up and asked Prossy what or who I should give it to. She said, "look around, how could you know, it could belong to anyone" and then she pointed to an elderl lady that had just come out of the door behind us: "there, give it to her, she is very poor,"and so I did. Prossy could have just taken the money herself, but as Ive come to realize in this very short time training with her, Prossy is a giver, not a taker. About one hour later, a baby came into the special care nursery in great distress and in order for him to survive, the message was sent to the mother that she had to purchase a cathedar for the IV so he could receive fluids and meds (yes, they have to purchase it!).
The waiting was agonizing for me: surely the life of this child was more important than the cost of one cathedar ($1000sh) but as tempted as I was to just buy it myself, the supervisor cautioned me that I would not be able to privide for all, and that not only would my finances by potentially drained with the needs there, but also my emotions if I had to pick and choose who received help and who didnt. Just then, to my relief, the cathedar arrived. Prossy instructed me to assist her (yikes, I am not a nurse but she needed help and the baby couldnt wait for someone else). He now stood a chance of survival! I was feeling relieved and happy when just then, the grandmother, the very same elderly woman I had previously given the $1000sh to, walked into the special care nursery. She came over to the baby and was overjoyed to see that he seemed to be doing well. I felt overwhelmed! The realization that this family would never of had money to buy that cathedar, if not by that chance meeting earlier, hit me! Such ecstasy! Her and I celebrated using our only means of communication, the joy on our faces!
Later that day the celebratory atmosphere was to come to an abrupt stop for me. Another baby, just as deserving as the one previously, was in distress. He was provided with the needed cathedar, but the mother had arrived to the hospital too late, having delivered a complicated birth along the roadside during a 40km walk to the hospital. Her attendants had been with her, (attendants could be midwifes, friends, family or both) but, as Prossy pointed out, this baby had experienced brain damage and the distress caused during the difficult birth was to much for him. Although we had resuscitated him at least five times, given him oxygen, the necessary and even expensive medications ($10,000sh), for this little boy, it was to late. The baby was wrapped and prepared to give back to the attendants to carry back home, the 40kms after which they would return to inform the mother (if) she survived to return to her village. I asked why we had to wait to tell her? Prossy said "because the wailing would be too much and she is very sick and needs her strength to survive," They would only inform the mother if she recovered enough to ask to see her baby before the attendants returned.
The AGONY was almost unbearable. I knew I had to fight the tears as I had been informed that the woman were watching me. "Dont cry Lorna, they will think you did something wrong or are guilty." I held it together as best as I could, tears welling up in my eyes, yet a few escaped down my cheeks. Sorry for your loss - "BAMBI" as they say here in Uganda.The reality of life here in Uganda for these women, was just starting to hit me. I have so much to learn and so much to be thankful for. The ecstasy and the agony of life in Uganda is etching its place in my mind, body and spirit. What I've already learned here, in this short time will forever change me and the way I view life and the world we live in. It seems so unfair! I am reminded that we should never take for granted the supports we have - especially the medical system, that we have in Canada.
Saturday, 23 April 2011
Being flexible is the name of the game... (Chelsea)
Well to start off I'm going to quickly address the change in the blog design. I'm not really sure what happened but it seems as if Afican internet doesn't always agree with our custom set up (and randomly changed things on us) so I have set it to a default template so that even if some of the more interesting design elements fail all our posts and links will remain legible. Also my computer is lacking a spell check program, which means that this post (and future ones) could very well be full of spelling/typing errors. But as our supervisors have been reminding us from day one.... in Africa you need to be flexible.
So now on to the reason you are all visiting our lovely site. An African experience....
Truly, I do not know where to begin. We been in have been in Maska (our home base) for a week now and so much has happened. It feels like months have gone by because so much has happened and I have so many stories I want to share.
I will start with my first impressions of Africa and see where it goes from there.
I remember the heat and the humidity stepping of the plane after that last long 8+ hour flight. I remember being shocked by the red dirt, so reminiscent of the clay I used in high school art class. I remember being in awe of all of the green and how lush everything was. I avoided looking at pictures and video of Uganda before I left to avoid setting up expectations. But this first sight of Uganda made me realise that I did have tonnes of expectations and unfortunately they were largely based on those world vision commericals and (those similar) that show Africa to be a sad barron place. But Uganda is a rich, lush and beautiful country and not only in terms of its landscapes. It's people are amazing. I feel so blessed and grateful to have been given this opportunity as well as all of the opportunities I (we) get back at homie.
We have also been incredibly lucky insofar that the timing of our trip has happend to coincide with that of Leigh Fox, who is the son of John Fox (a Douglas college faculity member, one of the orginal Uganda Project supervisors and all around great guy). Leigh (who owns a tree planting business out here that partners with local farmers and is also an all around great guy) has been taking us out 4x4ing on the country roads in his truck to see some of the surrounding villages, trading posts, one of this partner's plantations, a century old church, an impressive village library and even invited us out to an good old fashioned BBQ. He introduced us to a part of Africa and African life that I do not know we would have been able to see without him. I only hope he understand how grateful we are for his time and all that he has offered us. Again I feel as if I could write forever just to include some of the stories that have been a result of his amazing side trips, so I will do my best to say a few words about each and you will just have to ask us when you get back.
It was quite an experience going through the villages and those back roads. The back roads do not resemble anything like north american roads and the vehicles drive on the other side of the road. Everytime children saw us, you could hear a chorus of "Muzungo! Muzungo!" "How are you!" great big smiles, hands waving (sometimes even if they weren't free and things were balanced on their heads) and sometimes even packs of them run behind the truck (I believe that there are videos).
On the plantation, we where introduced to the eating of "white ants" (these meduim sized ants with wings), saw matokee plants (a green bannana that is a staple starch of Uganda, which according to Bob has little to no nutritional value), pineapple plants, coffee, eucalyptus, pine, and papyrus (in the boardering wetlands. I learned the Lugandan terms for Cow (Entte), goat (bouzzie... I'm not going to lie. I kind of want one for a pet) and chicken (cockco). I apologise to the Ugandian people for any misspelling of their words (I have enought trouble with English some days). And we met some amazing people. We also learned that generally only boys play football (soccer) and girls play a game called net ball.
On the way to the century old church, we stopped and Leigh treated us to an spectacular view of the mountains, surrounding lakes and the general breathtaking Ugandian landscape. The church was impressive and sky was ....well there are not enough words. First the sunset and then the stars from the truckbed (yes, mom I have been riding around in the back of a truck and I am still safe and whole) with no other light in the surrounding area. Again... there are no words. We did stuck the truck stuck in a great big hole and a bunch of Ugandians had to help push/lift the truck out (which they did successfully) and then Kayla promplty walked into the hole getting back into the truck (she is also safe and whole- she only scratched her leg a little).
So we have had some amazing experiences in and outside our first week of practicum (more on that in later posts I'm sure) and are attempting to start to settle into life here. We are learning how to negoiate living together, cooking in a true Ugandian style kitchen, handing a new currency and avoiding Muzungo prices, washing our clothes by hand, avoiding drinking the tap water, trying to remember to take our malaria medication, cold showers, learning and stumbling through Lugandan, dealing with being away from our loved ones and lives back home as well as being confronted and blessed by a world that is so different from our own in many ways. It will be a challenge and we will have to be flexible. Inspite of all this, I am very excited to see what Uganda has in store for us all.
Until next time....
So now on to the reason you are all visiting our lovely site. An African experience....
Truly, I do not know where to begin. We been in have been in Maska (our home base) for a week now and so much has happened. It feels like months have gone by because so much has happened and I have so many stories I want to share.
I will start with my first impressions of Africa and see where it goes from there.
I remember the heat and the humidity stepping of the plane after that last long 8+ hour flight. I remember being shocked by the red dirt, so reminiscent of the clay I used in high school art class. I remember being in awe of all of the green and how lush everything was. I avoided looking at pictures and video of Uganda before I left to avoid setting up expectations. But this first sight of Uganda made me realise that I did have tonnes of expectations and unfortunately they were largely based on those world vision commericals and (those similar) that show Africa to be a sad barron place. But Uganda is a rich, lush and beautiful country and not only in terms of its landscapes. It's people are amazing. I feel so blessed and grateful to have been given this opportunity as well as all of the opportunities I (we) get back at homie.
We have also been incredibly lucky insofar that the timing of our trip has happend to coincide with that of Leigh Fox, who is the son of John Fox (a Douglas college faculity member, one of the orginal Uganda Project supervisors and all around great guy). Leigh (who owns a tree planting business out here that partners with local farmers and is also an all around great guy) has been taking us out 4x4ing on the country roads in his truck to see some of the surrounding villages, trading posts, one of this partner's plantations, a century old church, an impressive village library and even invited us out to an good old fashioned BBQ. He introduced us to a part of Africa and African life that I do not know we would have been able to see without him. I only hope he understand how grateful we are for his time and all that he has offered us. Again I feel as if I could write forever just to include some of the stories that have been a result of his amazing side trips, so I will do my best to say a few words about each and you will just have to ask us when you get back.
It was quite an experience going through the villages and those back roads. The back roads do not resemble anything like north american roads and the vehicles drive on the other side of the road. Everytime children saw us, you could hear a chorus of "Muzungo! Muzungo!" "How are you!" great big smiles, hands waving (sometimes even if they weren't free and things were balanced on their heads) and sometimes even packs of them run behind the truck (I believe that there are videos).
On the plantation, we where introduced to the eating of "white ants" (these meduim sized ants with wings), saw matokee plants (a green bannana that is a staple starch of Uganda, which according to Bob has little to no nutritional value), pineapple plants, coffee, eucalyptus, pine, and papyrus (in the boardering wetlands. I learned the Lugandan terms for Cow (Entte), goat (bouzzie... I'm not going to lie. I kind of want one for a pet) and chicken (cockco). I apologise to the Ugandian people for any misspelling of their words (I have enought trouble with English some days). And we met some amazing people. We also learned that generally only boys play football (soccer) and girls play a game called net ball.
On the way to the century old church, we stopped and Leigh treated us to an spectacular view of the mountains, surrounding lakes and the general breathtaking Ugandian landscape. The church was impressive and sky was ....well there are not enough words. First the sunset and then the stars from the truckbed (yes, mom I have been riding around in the back of a truck and I am still safe and whole) with no other light in the surrounding area. Again... there are no words. We did stuck the truck stuck in a great big hole and a bunch of Ugandians had to help push/lift the truck out (which they did successfully) and then Kayla promplty walked into the hole getting back into the truck (she is also safe and whole- she only scratched her leg a little).
So we have had some amazing experiences in and outside our first week of practicum (more on that in later posts I'm sure) and are attempting to start to settle into life here. We are learning how to negoiate living together, cooking in a true Ugandian style kitchen, handing a new currency and avoiding Muzungo prices, washing our clothes by hand, avoiding drinking the tap water, trying to remember to take our malaria medication, cold showers, learning and stumbling through Lugandan, dealing with being away from our loved ones and lives back home as well as being confronted and blessed by a world that is so different from our own in many ways. It will be a challenge and we will have to be flexible. Inspite of all this, I am very excited to see what Uganda has in store for us all.
Until next time....
Friday, 22 April 2011
One Week In. (Jesse)
We arrived in Uganda one week ago, and the discomfort of the long flight is a memory. I actually hate to fly for a variety of reasons, but there was one moment that I do care to remember. I flipped up my window cover on route to Entebbe from London, and I saw a sea of lights under us.An African City! According to the "your flight" selection on the screen, it looked to be Khartoum.It struck me that we had also flown directly over Athens and Cairo, which was actually a detour from the usual route, altered so as to avoid Libyan airspace. It was a moment to briefly snap meout of my flight paralysis, and realize I was as far from home as I've ever been. That feeling was definitely amplified when we arrived to Masaka. A week into it, we've started to settle in and feel comfortable here. Even the massive prehistoric looking storks already don't look as strange.I have been placed in two practicum settings. One is Child Restoration Outreach (CRO) and one is the pyschiatric ward at Masaka Regional Hospital. I've been introduced to each of them this week.
My CRO placement began with a meeting between Bob (practicum superviser), the director of CRO, their accountant, Chelsea (who I've been partnered with for both settings), and myself. The director greeted us with what we've found is very customary of Ugandans, telling us "you are welcome." We were made to feel as such with a great warmth that I have found is rare in Canada. The CRO staff expressed gratitude for past contributions of students and Douglas College, and specifically mentioned the connection with the psych ward at the hospital that Douglas College facilitated as a valuable contribution of their work.
It was off to the site itself after the meeting, where we were told the children would be very excited to have two new "mzungus" (white people) amongst them. This was, to we reserved Canadians, an understatement. It is hard to conceptualize the enthusiasm of the children here. We were rushed and we had them nearly literally hanging off of us. Children grabbed our wrists, shaked and held our hands, wrapped their arms around us, sometimes just touching our faces. The children, as it seems all children here do, chanted, "Hey Mzungu!" They were all intensely curious about us and where we were from. Although these children are living on the streets, it seemed many had enough English to ask our names and where we were from. We spent part of our first day watching a rehearsal for an Easter performance the children would perform, reenaction the Easter story. We were lucky enough to be invited on the Wed to see the finished product. It ended with the children singing and dancing to the intricate pounding of African Drums. Afterward, we spend time with the kids for a couple of hours, playing basketball and soccer. The kids were even more enthused this day, full of a rare meat lunch provided for Easter. The kids held out the pale parts of our arms and joked we were better than the other mzungus there who have been well coloured by their time in Africa. The spirit, smiles, and affection of these kids all contribute to a sense of happiness, and its impossible not to be touched by it. But as much as they may seem it,it does not seem possible that they can be happy. Our way home showed a piece of reality that sharply the contrast between what our western eyes interpret in the behaviour of these kids and the grim truth of the situation. One child followed us for part of the walk after we were done, his demenour consistent with the rest of our day. He left us to join his companions, along with a homeless man, picking through trash in a garbage bin not far from the CRO centre. Earlier that day, one of the Swedes who is volunteering filled us in on various stories of some of the children. One case that really stood out was a young girl, who was amongst the sweetests and most affectionate kids there. She reportedly lives in the worst part of the Nyendo slum. Blankets and I think some food is provide to her by a close by neighbour woman, however she also provides the kids around there with drugs, including glue. I was unsure about what she gets from this arrangement and am hesitant to ask. This girl is 4 or 5 years old at the most.
As depressing as this may sound, spending time with these kids still had us feeling pretty good. These first experiences were overwhelming It is difficult not to feel inspired and awed by the spirit and resillience of them. The juxtaposition of the way the children carry themselves and what is their reality really is a marvel. They are so very resillient to say at the minimum. At least this is how it feels at the moment. It is impossible to know, however. We are on the other side of the world in a culture that is very different from our own, and young street children is an issue that is virtually unknown in Canada. Withouth a real cultural understanding its impossible to really judge the state of the kids. We likely lack the ability to pick up the signs of fear, trauma, and anger, things we would normally associate with street life of a child, as they probably manifest in ways we don't know how to interpret. I look forward cautiously to getting to know these kids and to understanding the reality of street children here.
We'll each be updating this about once a week, I'll speak to my other placement in a week!
Monday, 18 April 2011
We have arrived!! (Kayla)
Greetings from Uganda !
I thought I would do a short and sweet post just to let everyone know that we have arrived in Uganda safe and sound. It's been a very busy few days for all of us and we have just started to settle in and adjust to our new lifestyle. I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say that we have already had some amazing experiences and I'll let everyone share with you their own adventures. Please check back and we will be updating the blog often once we get our regular internet connection, which should be in the next few days !
Welaba ! ( Goodbye)
I thought I would do a short and sweet post just to let everyone know that we have arrived in Uganda safe and sound. It's been a very busy few days for all of us and we have just started to settle in and adjust to our new lifestyle. I'm sure I can speak for everyone when I say that we have already had some amazing experiences and I'll let everyone share with you their own adventures. Please check back and we will be updating the blog often once we get our regular internet connection, which should be in the next few days !
Welaba ! ( Goodbye)
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
Leaving Tomorrow....(Melissa)
It feels surreal that tomorrow I will be leaving on a trip I have been looking forward to for a long time. I am feeling very thankful to have this opportunity to learn from this experience and from the people of Uganda. I am looking forward to meeting new people and growing as a person. What to come in the next ten weeks is unknown and all I can do is embrace it.
Thank You to everyone involved in the Uganda project for there hard work to make this trip possible.
Thank You to everyone involved in the Uganda project for there hard work to make this trip possible.
Monday, 11 April 2011
2 days till take off!!!! (Chera)
I found out I was going to Uganda last July of 2010. Since then, the incredible vision of spending two and a half months in Masaka, Uganda has occupied my mind and has been the main topic of daily conversations. But all the while I felt like it was a distant dream, something I would one day do but had plenty of time to prepare. Now here I am two days before take off and I still feel like it's a dream! I think it still feels like a dream because it truly has been a dream of mine for many years. It has been difficult to comprehend that my dream has actually come true. I feel so blessed to have been given such an amazing opportunity, an opportunity of a lifetime really. My life will be enhanced in so many ways which is incredibly exciting (and perhaps a little scary too?).
Unfortunately, I can not say that I feel totally prepared. I have been trying to prepare by creating countless lists of things to do and things I need for the trip, but each day I add more to these lists and wonder if it will ever end? As the days count down, I have started to shift my view to accepting I have all that I need. Perhaps the lists were just a distraction anyway. So here we go...my next blog entry will be from Masaka, Uganda! It's not a dream!
I'd also like to send out a heart felt THANK YOU to all who have made this dream of mine a reality:
Douglas College, Bob S., Janice S., Julie R, John F., Diana S.my family/friends, and the Therapeutic Recreation department including all of my amazing classmates who have been my main supporters throughout the year. I'd also like to thank Sheila, Cheri, and Teresa from Sunnyhill, Dorothy from ARCUS, and Dianne from the Dr.Peter Centre for sharing their knowledge and allowing me to observe/volunteer at their sites during the past three weeks.
Unfortunately, I can not say that I feel totally prepared. I have been trying to prepare by creating countless lists of things to do and things I need for the trip, but each day I add more to these lists and wonder if it will ever end? As the days count down, I have started to shift my view to accepting I have all that I need. Perhaps the lists were just a distraction anyway. So here we go...my next blog entry will be from Masaka, Uganda! It's not a dream!
I'd also like to send out a heart felt THANK YOU to all who have made this dream of mine a reality:
Douglas College, Bob S., Janice S., Julie R, John F., Diana S.my family/friends, and the Therapeutic Recreation department including all of my amazing classmates who have been my main supporters throughout the year. I'd also like to thank Sheila, Cheri, and Teresa from Sunnyhill, Dorothy from ARCUS, and Dianne from the Dr.Peter Centre for sharing their knowledge and allowing me to observe/volunteer at their sites during the past three weeks.
It's real... (Cole)
Hi everyone, only two more days till we leave. The reality of leaving is finally setting in for myself. I almost couldn't believe that i was going until this weekend came around. Now as a i packed my bag today it definitely feels real. It feels sad to leave but exciting to gain new life experiences as well as grow as an Early Childhood Educator.
More writing to follow soon.
-Cole.
More writing to follow soon.
-Cole.
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Almost time to board a jet plane... (Kayla)
We're officially 7 days away from departure and I'm sitting here wondering how did it arrive here so fast?! The concept of going to Uganda has felt like a distant destination that will never arrive and now I'll be there next Friday! Time flys by way too quickly in my life, it feels like just yesterday I was in my first class in the Community Social Service Worker Program. With the goal of completing that program almost accomplished, I find myself staring into what will be the most challenging part of program, my last two practicums in Uganda. I say challenging because I really like predicatabiliy. I enjoy planning my future because if I do so, I'll know what to expect and can prepare myself for it. This experience is about being out of my comfort zone and change. All vulnerable places to be for me but a great situation because only growth will happen if I overcome those feelings.
Not only do I have 8 daunting "to-do" lists but mentally, I feel like the reality that I'm actually going away somewhere hasn't set in just yet. Each day leading up to our departure is filled with saying my good bye's with family and friends. Although people go away for a lot longer than we are, my travelling record boasts all of Smithers and Las Vegas. With the longest period of 2 weeks for me being away from my family and friends. I have to admit that I've mostly been feeling anxious about our trip but there's definitely an element of excitement starting to set in. I can't say that I've ever built up the courage to go on an adventure and experience something so different than home and I think my nervousness really stems from leaving my boyfriend, family and friends behind. However, I just remember what someone told me when she said that when I return, everything will be the same but I'll see it all different. Knowing that an experience could be that powerful on someone's worldview is fascinating to me. My goal when joining this project was to really widen my worldview and enhance my understanding of another other culture. Being in Uganda, I hope I'm able to really focus on the present for once and soak up as much of my surroundings as possible. I believe whole heartedly that my time in Uganda will enrich my life perspectives and transfom my life forever.
I hope you'll follow my team and I as we embark on this journey and share our experiences with you. I want to thank Bob, John, Diana, Janice, all the other faculty, my family, Chris and his family, my friends, my peers and everyone else that has been there along the way. Without your guidance, love and support I wouldn't be here so thank you! Just know next time you read a post from me....I'll be in Uganda !!!!
- Kayla
Not only do I have 8 daunting "to-do" lists but mentally, I feel like the reality that I'm actually going away somewhere hasn't set in just yet. Each day leading up to our departure is filled with saying my good bye's with family and friends. Although people go away for a lot longer than we are, my travelling record boasts all of Smithers and Las Vegas. With the longest period of 2 weeks for me being away from my family and friends. I have to admit that I've mostly been feeling anxious about our trip but there's definitely an element of excitement starting to set in. I can't say that I've ever built up the courage to go on an adventure and experience something so different than home and I think my nervousness really stems from leaving my boyfriend, family and friends behind. However, I just remember what someone told me when she said that when I return, everything will be the same but I'll see it all different. Knowing that an experience could be that powerful on someone's worldview is fascinating to me. My goal when joining this project was to really widen my worldview and enhance my understanding of another other culture. Being in Uganda, I hope I'm able to really focus on the present for once and soak up as much of my surroundings as possible. I believe whole heartedly that my time in Uganda will enrich my life perspectives and transfom my life forever.
I hope you'll follow my team and I as we embark on this journey and share our experiences with you. I want to thank Bob, John, Diana, Janice, all the other faculty, my family, Chris and his family, my friends, my peers and everyone else that has been there along the way. Without your guidance, love and support I wouldn't be here so thank you! Just know next time you read a post from me....I'll be in Uganda !!!!
- Kayla
Friday, 1 April 2011
The countdown continues ... 12 days (Chelsea)
I can't believe it. We leave in less then two weeks. Somehow time has snuck up on me, after a year of preparing and waiting for April to come. Here it is, April 1st. I feel like I still have way too many things to do and not enough time to do it. Maybe I'm feeling overwhelmed by it all suddenly becoming real. I'm not too sure. I know I'm excited and I know I'm anxious (8.5, 7 today Bob).
I can't wait for this adventure to begin and as many of my friends and family know, over the past year I have been feeling like my life has been on hold. I am trilled to taking this next exciting step in my education and in my life. I have extremely high hopes for this adventure. After 5 years of university preparing myself for what I thought was my ultimate goal (a PhD in Clinical psychology), I found myself uninspired and unsure about committing myself to any particular research question (and another 6-9 years or research). So the last few years and Douglas' CODS (co-occurring disorders) program have been about my continued learning, enhancing my skills and knowledge as well as the very difficult and slightly vague goal of 'finding myself'. So I'm banking on being inspired and finding direction during my time away (maybe even finding the elusive 'self' that I have been looking for). I have only heard amazing things from people who have traveled and worked in Africa. I am so excited to learn and see perspectives about life and the world that are so different from my own. In light of this pressure that I'm putting on this practicum and myself, I am going to be constantly reminding myself to remain present, keep my eyes, ears and heart open and truely experience Africa as it presents itself. I am ready and open for the trials, tribulations and amazingness that await just a week and a handful of days away (that's what I keep telling myself).
I want to thank my family and friends for their continued support. It means the world to me. So this is me (I make up words, can't spell and love to use brackets for side-notes/random related Chelsea thoughts). I'm signing off for now. I'm holding my going away/belated birthday party tonight because I'm packing up my place next weekend (oh my goodness.... so little time... just keep smiling). Hopefully, I do not cry too much. Love you all. I hope life is treating you well.
Until next time....
I can't wait for this adventure to begin and as many of my friends and family know, over the past year I have been feeling like my life has been on hold. I am trilled to taking this next exciting step in my education and in my life. I have extremely high hopes for this adventure. After 5 years of university preparing myself for what I thought was my ultimate goal (a PhD in Clinical psychology), I found myself uninspired and unsure about committing myself to any particular research question (and another 6-9 years or research). So the last few years and Douglas' CODS (co-occurring disorders) program have been about my continued learning, enhancing my skills and knowledge as well as the very difficult and slightly vague goal of 'finding myself'. So I'm banking on being inspired and finding direction during my time away (maybe even finding the elusive 'self' that I have been looking for). I have only heard amazing things from people who have traveled and worked in Africa. I am so excited to learn and see perspectives about life and the world that are so different from my own. In light of this pressure that I'm putting on this practicum and myself, I am going to be constantly reminding myself to remain present, keep my eyes, ears and heart open and truely experience Africa as it presents itself. I am ready and open for the trials, tribulations and amazingness that await just a week and a handful of days away (that's what I keep telling myself).
I want to thank my family and friends for their continued support. It means the world to me. So this is me (I make up words, can't spell and love to use brackets for side-notes/random related Chelsea thoughts). I'm signing off for now. I'm holding my going away/belated birthday party tonight because I'm packing up my place next weekend (oh my goodness.... so little time... just keep smiling). Hopefully, I do not cry too much. Love you all. I hope life is treating you well.
Until next time....
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