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October – Early November in a nutshell
Term III was painfully slow but went well. I had almost all of my computer lessons (yay for power actually working!) and the girls showed a refreshing enthusiasm to learn. On the eve of term III coming to a close I have ultimately decided not to teach next term.
I elected 7 girls to go to National Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) in Entebbe. They are beaming and can’t wait for camp to start. I am the activities and games coordinator, which I’m really looking forward to. The camp is possible because of donations made by friends & family of PCVs back in America – follow the GLOW blog the first week of December to read what the future female leaders of Uganda are doing daily (glowuganda2012.blogspot.com compliments of Liz).
Before Camp GLOW begins Liz & I will be holding our annual World Aids Day event in Boroboro – a 5K race and health fair. WAD is December 1st and we are busy preparing for the day. Hopefully it will be even more successful than it was least year!
My service is winding down and I find myself more restive than ever, constantly burning with village fever. I try to live in the present and occasionally remind myself, “I live in an African village, this is cool”, however, I often find myself zoning out or staring at my countdown. I have lived here for two years but get fiercely annoyed at things I have become accustomed to – shitty transport, corruption, dirty/dusty living conditions, inexcusably ignorant people, etc. It is in the final hour of my service when I should be the most motivated and spritely, however, I am irked, discouraged, and indifferent. I can’t help but admit I am disappointed in myself, nonetheless I continue to hold on by a thread. I need to go on a vacation. Luckily December 17th I ship off with my compadres for South Africa, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. My sense of adventure has been hibernating but is clawing within, ready to trounce. Once we return to Uganda my entire group will convene for our final Peace Corps gathering, our COS (close of service) conference, #%^1&@)$*3#*(7$#&, thank goodness! This is the joyous time when volunteers select their COS date. Luckily the girls and I have planned our entire COS trip so we will be busy booking flights during the conference (Turkey –> Ukraine –> India –> Thailand –> Cambodia –> Vietnam –> South Korea –> HOME). My fingers are crossed to leave late March or early April, but something tells me I’m not the only one anticipating getting the hell out of Uganda. While on the topic of leaving Uganda, some people may have noticed in international news that Uganda Parliament is “serious” about passing the kill the gays bill before the year ends. If the bill passes I will early terminate. I refuse to live in a country where people think it is ACCEPTABLE to kill someone for their sexual preference, as if it is a choice. How can people be so ignorant, close minded, and filled with odium, I am embarrassed and ashamed for them. (
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/12/uganda-anti-gay-bill-2012-pass_n_2116584.html)
Pictures to come with my next blog, which will undoubtedly be a little more upbeat as it is about THANKSGIVING!
4 Comments so far
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Thanks for the update sister. a good read as always! I am excited for you and your COS trip! that sounds like just desserts for a job well done. We all have ebbs and flows of motivation, creativity and the like.. in the times when its wearing thin, i just remember to keep my head down and baby step towards the goal at hand. sooner or later you look up and realize you not only made it but did it in a good way that you can be proud of. dont let it shake you and tint the amazing thing that you have done over the last couple of years. the world is better because of the adventure you are on.
Comment by Mike November 15, 2012 @ 8:50 pmMike
I feel certain that the trials and tribulations you have gone through in Uganda have made you a better person – compassionate, empathetic and wiser. Hang in there – you’ll be back home before you know it!
Comment by Joan Zobel November 17, 2012 @ 9:16 pmJac you’re killin it! Of course you’re excited and anxious to come home, you’ve been living in an African village for nearly 2 years, it would be a little weird if you weren’t. It sounds like you’ve got some great events and travels coming up in the near future and I have a hunch time will go by in no time. I agree with Miss. Zobel the few and far between stories and conversations I hear from you leave me in awe of the growth in character I feel I’ve seen in you (that or you just a much better BS’er either way though, I dig it). Keep on kicking ass and taking names and we’ll be adventuring in the mountains of CO in no time!
Comment by Will November 19, 2012 @ 5:34 amAttitude is everything! Keep your chin up! Hang in there !
Comment by Jack Demko November 19, 2012 @ 11:30 pmDon’t give up the ship! And many more cliches! It will be over before you know it.
Grandpa Jack