Kristen's Blog

Donations Update

2010-01-08T08:21:00.000-06:00

Well it has been about 9 months since I have returned from Uganda and I am sorry that I have not sent out an update sooner.

Unfortunately there is little internet access near the school where I conducted my research so I have not been in contact with many people at my research site....however, I received an email today from Catherine who was one of the girls that we paid school fees for.

Catherine was one of the science track students that was in her last year of studies (S6) and was preparing to sit for her national examinations this past November. These examinations are what determine whether or not you will be able to go on to University. I chose Catherine because she was an excellent science student who showed tremendous potential, but the school was unsure she would make it through all three semesters of her final year due to a lack of funds. Both of Catherine's parents had died and she was living with a stepsister--who had her own children that she was trying to put through school. The funds that you donated not only ensured that she would be able to attend classes regularly for the entirety of her final year but also provided her with her own books from which to study. I found out today [see email excerpt below] that not only did Catherine sit for all of her examinations, but she is confidant that she did very well. I am not sure when she will find out her actual grades but I promise to let you know as soon as I do.

Again, I cannot thank you enough for the generosity that you all showed......your donations truly changed the lives of these students and I cannot thank you enough for that.

I have responded to Catherine and asked her to relay additional information about the other girls, whether the textbooks were still used during the past two terms, and information about the other students that we all helped to support. I will continue to forward any additional information that comes my way.

Sincerely and with much gratitude,
Kristen

Catherine's email:
_________________
Hi Kristen....

I completed my UNEB papers [national examinations] on 23rd November with Fine Art being the last paper.

Kristen according to how I read and how I answered my science papers, I know I am going to pass. Thanks so much for the financial support you provided to all the girls.

Your vist in Uganda was a big blessing to us and I know one day love will bring you back again.

Hoping to hear from you again

yours

Catherine

Coming Home

2009-04-28T03:22:00.003-05:00

Well....I leave for home on Friday of this week! I am so excited to see and talk to everyone. I hope you are all doing well and I promise to catch up with you as soon as I get my phone working!
K

My New Obsession

2009-04-04T02:31:00.008-05:00

Okay....so I am really sorry for the shortage of posts lately. This is partly due to the fact that I only have a month left in-country and I am frantically trying to collect as much data as possible before I ship out....but it is also partly due to my new obsession which goes by the name of "Settlers of Cattan". This is a board game that originated in Europe and has made its way to the U.S. I have played "Settlers" many-a-time before coming to Uganda....but it was not until I met Jeanel and Guustaaf that my obsession with the game truly took its form.

Let me just give you a picture of a typical Sunday now that the three of us have allowed our full-fledged obsession to take hold. Sunday morning I usually arrive at Jeanel's house at about 9 or 10. Game play commences shortly thereafter and continues until about 9:00 at night. The only interruptions being dinner preparations and any phone calls which may arrive from home. Last Sunday we played a full 12 hours of Settlers...which, I find, often makes it difficult for me to sleep afterwards...but hey what can one do???

Anyway...the reason I am telling this story is that several weekends back, we celebrated Guustaaf's birthday....and Jeanel and I decided that rather than prepare a cake to celebrate, it would be far more fun for us to make the Settler of Cattan cupcakes (an idea inspired by some anonymous person on the Internet who had created these as well). On that weekend Jeanel and I spent the entire Saturday---not playing settlers----but creating and then helping Guustaaf and his wife eat---the Settlers of Cattan.

I have attached a photo of our work of art....please keep in mind our limited resources. These were pumpkin cupcakes (made from real pumpkin) with cream cheese frosting. The frosting was made from homemade yogurt (that Jeanel made the day before) which was then hung up to drain off the excess water turning the yogurt into a cheese. This was then taken and we added icing sugar to make a cream cheese frosting. We then had to come up with the various colors of the board using only green, red, and yellow food coloring....which is why we could not make the "ore" cards gray...we found it was impossible to make gray with these three colors....but we did give it a hell of a try!

I have included more pictures of the cupcakes here as well as some photos of the chicken that Gusstaaf slaughtered for the birthday feast!

Hope all is well at home....and that you are all being more productive with your time than I am!!!! I will be back in one month and can't wait to talk to everyone!

The "NEW" Generation of Wii

2009-03-22T06:16:00.002-05:00

So my 100 year old great grandmother was recently on the news for being a fan of Wii bowling. Yes...you heard me right.....apparently the senior citizens center where she goes has recently procured a Wii and now my Nana who was an avid (and trophy winning) bowler in her younger days....is now enjoying a rebirth of her love for bowling. Who would have even thought that a 100 year old woman would enjoy a Wii and virtual bowling??? A market I never would have considered!!!

Highlight of the week

2009-03-13T03:32:00.003-05:00

So as the data collection process drags on, and on, and on, and on. I am finding less time to think about amusing things that happen in my everyday life. And, contrary to popular belief, I have not even done anything damaging to myself lately....like getting my hand stuck in a door, or almost falling off of a cliff or something....so it is within the vein of absolute boredom that you must consider this post.......

My weekly amusement consisted of:

1. Finding a child named Dorcus at my school....I mean really....who could be this cruel to their child?

and

2. Watching a baby calf terrorize a herd of sheep. The calf bucking around like a playful puppy....and the sheep running in sheer terror from this very large animal. The sheep came running down across the road right in front of me....and first the sheep almost ran me over followed by the calf who stopped short of literally jumping on top of my head (they were running around on a plot of land that is graded above the road....so the sheep jumped and the calf almost followed....luckily he thought better of it once he saw how long the drop was). The sheep then stood on the opposite side of the road like a group of terrorized rabbits.....looking up at the calf to see if it was going to follow them....the calf decided to run around in the yard trying to figure out a way to get to the sheep....until a small child came and chased it away.....

I think I may have reached an all time blogging low......

K

Uganda....Ushmanda...I am ready for home!

2009-02-14T03:44:00.005-06:00

So I apologize for the long absence in my blog writing. With Shawn visiting in Uganda and our safari traveling over the holidays it has been awhile since I have had a chance to sit down and write anything not related to work.

All is going well here in Uganda, but I am starting to long for life in the U.S. The constant battle with my neighbors to not leave garbage all over my yard, the ever constant interruptions in water and electrical service, the never ending task of data collection, and the dusty and dangerous road travel are starting to take a toll on me. I want to relax in a hot shower, go for a walk with my dog, and bask in the anonymity that comes with living in the U.S.

Missing you all and cannot wait to return and actually TALK to people on the phone....as opposed to hearing every third word in some horrible skype conversation!

K

Happy Holidays!

2008-12-20T02:09:00.003-06:00

Well the holiday season is upon us....although living in Uganda makes it a bit hard to believe. The sunny skies, warm weather, lack of evergreen trees, and the fact that my toes are not frozen...makes it hard to get into the proper Christmas mood. At least in Florida it is cold enough to wear my winter jackets and scarves---even if only for a week or two--- (I miss my jackets and scarves...a whole year and they will not be worn---whatever will they do stuffed away in that dark closet for another 12 months???)

Shawn arrived in Uganda about two weeks ago and is currently down in the southwest of the country. He is currently visiting one of the hastily assembled refugee camps for the people fleeing from the Democratic Republic of Congo. I am sure it will be a hard trip for him...but educational beyond belief. This new crisis in the region is affecting a vast number of people and the response on this side of the border has been a bit slow to act. After his return we will celebrate a quiet pre-Christmas at home before heading off for our yule day safari in the northern part of the country. It should be a wonderful Christmas full of elephants, warthogs--and if we are lucky rhinos and leopards.

I also wanted to thank everyone for their generous donations to the scholarship fund this year! I have already raised enough money for one full scholarship and from emails I have received I know that there are more donations on the way! I cannot thank each and every one of you enough. Your donations will be well used!!! I promise to send pictures in February after the student receives his/her award along with other photos of how the extra funds were used.

I hope you all have a truly wonderful holiday season! For those of you in the colder climates stay warm...and for those of you in the tropics....turn down the AC and make a cup of cocoa! :)

I miss you all so much and wish I was there to celebrate the holidays...but know that I will be thinking of you!

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy New Year, and in general HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

K

7 Things You Might Not Know About Me

2008-12-06T07:48:00.003-06:00

So my friend Colleen has tagged me to identify seven things about myself that people may not know....a task that I find extraordinarily difficult...but I figured I would give it a try. So here are some of the things that I think people may not know about me. To some this may seem far more neurotic than you could ever believe is true.....others will simply sigh and say "yep...that is Kristen". Either way, enjoy......

1. A world with divider plates for everyone would be utopia---I absolutely hate it when food on my plate touches food that it is not meant to touch. For instance....gravy on mashed potatoes totally fine....gravy running across the plate and touching cranberry sauce or corn....TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE. What is even worse....putting fruit or dessert type items on a plate that has just been used for dinner foods and has yet to be washed.....or likewise a utensil used to eat a dessert item while it still has some slight remains of dinner foods left on it. I just cannot handle this....I have had this phobia since I was a little girl....and it remains with me today. I just want to add that this often makes eating food in Uganda or food at Thanksgiving a bit difficult--in these types of situations I try to grin and bare it as much as possible...but it is difficult.

2. I absolutely do not like eating any fruit on the core--I hate enjoying a nice piece of fruit and then biting into the course core parts or the seeds. It makes me gag....this usually means I don't eat apples, pears, plums....or any other fruit that has a similar type of core to it. This also reminds me of my sister Kelly who on more than one occasion would eat an apple all the way down to nothing---stem, seeds, core and all. I remember sitting next to her and just feeling sick as I watched her do this. She was very small at the time...perhaps I should have stopped her from doing it....but I was too grossed out to stop her.

3. Wet bread products make me gag. There is nothing worse than soggy crackers and bread....anyone who claims differently has a serious problem.

4. I love to watch people and make up stories about their lives.--For instance, there was a man in our neighborhood who would walk to the grocery store everyday and walk back with a free cup of coffee from the store. He had a long beard, was very thin, and I always saw him walking around town. I constructed this whole story about him being a homeless genius. I figured he was a physicist that just couldn't handle the pressure of his own genius mind and therefore over time cracked up and became homeless. For about a year I had this story building in my mind...I would keep adding on intricate details...and then one day I walked into a coffee shop and saw him emailing away on his ibook. Totally ruined my story!

5. I love "reality" tv and pop culture--I will watch anything....as long as it is mindless. I have spent more hours than I care to count (or admit) watching shows such as: Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, Survivor, and Dancing with the Stars (although I refuse to stoop so low as to watch American Idol or Big Brother). I find it helps me relate to what is going on in the world outside of academia (This is a relatively new development in my life. Prior to starting grad school you couldn't have paid me to watch most of this stuff......perhaps I need therapy)

6. I love the smell of my dog’s foot---It smells like moist earth and it is somehow very satisfying to smell the pads of her feet (I know, I know….therapy)…

7. I love the sound of rain on a tin roof---There is nothing better than a good rainstorm…especially when living in a house with a tin roof. It is the perfect excuse to do nothing but sit and read or silently watch the rain.

So there you go....that is me....

Shout Out to Nana!

2008-11-23T04:51:00.005-06:00

Well my Nana will be celebrating her 100th birthday this upcoming week!!!! Can you imagine? 100 years old?

Lets take a short trip down memory lane and see what was life like 100 years ago----according to the easiest source I can get my hands on here in Uganda (Wikipedia) here are some fun facts listed about the year 1908 (please forgive an errors that Wikipedia or I may make!):

In 1908:

A ball signifying New Year's Day drops for the first time in Times Square
Grand Canyon becomes a National Monument (later to be made a National Park)
William Taft becomes President of the U.S. ---however my Nana's mom (my great, great grandmother) would not have been able to vote in this election.
The first credit union in the United States starts operation
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid are supposedly killed in Bolivia
An earthquake in Sicily and Calabria kills over 75,000 people
Mother's Day is observed for the first time
NY passes the Sullivan Ordinance which makes it illegal for women to smoke in public
Thomas Selfridge becomes the first person to die in an airplane crash while the pilot, Orville Wright, is severely injured.

Other things to consider:

WWI had yet to start (the infamous Archduke Franz Ferdinand was still alive--and had yet to be assassinated)
The first commercial jet was still 44 years away from being used
Ford had yet to revolutionize the automobile industry with the assembly line
"Flappers" had yet to revolutionize ideas about being a "proper" woman
Prohibition had yet to start (I wonder if my Nana was a bootlegger...I never asked her!)
The Great Depression was still years away

Well I am sure this list could go on and on and on and on and on.....but I will leave it here with just these few examples. I hope everyone in NY has a fabulous time celebrating Nana's Birthday....I will be thinking of you all!

HAPPY 100TH NANA!!!!!!

A Deeply Depressing Nature Show

2008-11-14T07:33:00.004-06:00

So I was flipping through my 5 channels of TV last night and I found a nature show. As many of you know I love watching Animal Plant and find nature shows quite entertaining....so I began watching the emotional saga of three sea animals fighting for survival......

The story unfolds as such:

Three captive and rehabilitated animals: a dolphin, a tortoise and a nurse shark are being prepared for re-entering their wild habitat. The whole show centers on these three animals and preparing them for their transition into the wild. We follow the turtle, shark and dolphin through their ups and downs. Their small triumphs and their slight set backs. A true American tale of overcoming the odds and making it back out into the wild....who wouldn't love this story right????

At the end of the show both the turtle and the nurse shark have been released--but the dolphin remains...I know, I know terribly sad. Okay....so we are now following the life of the nurse shark and the turtle. We follow the journey of these two animals...the turtle slowly lumbering along in the water after almost dying on a beach---barely managing to escape death by using all of his energy to pull himself out of the searing sun and back into the beckoning surf. We watch the turtle take happily to the water while lulling music creates a sense of joy and calm as we watch him glide over beautiful sea beds and upside down jelly fish. He catches some baby squids and munches happily on his food.....slowly and lazily lumbering along....all is going very well for this rehabbed turtle.

Cut to the shark.... The shark is struggling for survival and is near death. It hasn't been able to eat since its release--as another shark and an eel chased it away from one of its kills. It gets stuck in the dolphin pen (these were ocean pens) and gets "raked against the sand" before he is able to escape back into the open ocean water. He is on death's doorstep....battered, bruised, and tired....pan back over the turtle... lulling music is once again playing....the turtle happily munching on squid....when all of a sudden the very same nurse shark comes along and bites off the turtle's head. Blood gushes out into the water and the limp turtle body just hangs in the water for a brief second....and cut to the credits! I kid you not! It was the most bizarre and terrifying nature special I have ever seen!

I think I might need to stop watching nature shows! This was such a blatant manipulation of my emotions!!! I cannot even tell you how horrified I was.....it was a complete and total setup!

OH YES WE DID!!!!!

2008-11-06T03:08:00.004-06:00

Well, I stayed up ALL night to watch the results of the election----and at about 7:30 a.m. Uganda time ----I began crying when it was announced that Obama was clearly the winner!!

Because of the time difference here in Uganda we did not have newspapers announcing Obama as the new president until today (6th). But I thought you all might like to see a collection of them....so here there are in all of their glory!

It has been really fun to be in Uganda while the election was going on. There are many Luo's in Uganda, as well as in Kenya, so everyone is feeling a lot of pride at "one of their own" making it to the top. People keep asking me "who I supported" and "if I am happy" and when I tell them I voted for Obama they slap me on the back, shake my hand, and say "congratulations". In fact, I was even told I could not take a picture of these newspapers unless I was an Obama supporter!! :)

I spent yesterday with the teachers and students of my school----weeping with excitement (and exhaustion) and celebrating with an enormous amount of food (I received extra lunch rations because I voted for Obama). They all congratulated me...shook my hand...gave me hugs....and in general shared in the bliss of the election. Part of me wishes that I had been home to participate in the celebrations...but at the same time I couldn't have asked to be anywhere better!!!

Tonight I will celebrate the new president in the the best American/African way possible.....with a Nile beer and a couple of friends!

Happily basking in victory......
K

Celebration of the Week...

2008-11-01T05:05:00.002-05:00

Each week the writing club puts up a poster with jokes, various short stories, and poems. This past week I made it on to the poster under the title of "Celebration of the Week" I love that they put (Muzungu) after my name for those who many not have been sure who I was.

I am not quite sure what the celebration is....I mostly walk around campus and disturb the daily flow of their studies...but I am flattered nonetheless!

Really? Safety Matches?

2008-11-01T04:26:00.005-05:00

As many of you know I enjoy finding humor in the overlooked items of daily existence. Here is one such example....in Uganda the most common brand of matches are shown in this photo--they are called BABY Wax Safety Matches.

Now there are several things that I find amusing about these matches:

1. The fact that there is a baby in a top hat on the cover. I don't know any baby that ever wears a top hat so I find the photo quite amusing in its own right. Plus it kind of creeps me out because it reminds me of that spooky kid in the movie Pet Cemetery. The one that is wearing a top hat right before he cuts the Achilles tendon of Herman Munster (I don't know his real name..but it is the same actor). That scene (where the kid is wearing a little purple top hat) has creeped me out ever since I saw it as a teenager. And, to this day it sends shivers up my spine when I think about it....so living alone and having to use these matches in the dark (when there is no power) just adds to the creepiness of the packaging!

2. Of all the things you could pick to name your matches after....this company chose BABY??!!?? Aren't matches supposed to be kept away from children? I don't know--I just find it to be a slight oxymoron.

3. And finally, these are the most dangerous matches I have ever used! The flint on the end of them regularly flies off when you try to light them...and it inevitably lands on the end of my finger where it burns into my skin. Now, I am pretty adept at using matches and this is something that has never happened to me before, therefor I am sure it is the product and not the user....but then again it is me so we might not ever know.

Either way, whether you find them humorous or not, I hope you have enjoyed the trip into my day-to-day life in Uganda. Sorry it is not more interesting!
K

The trials of free internet

2008-10-26T08:36:00.003-05:00

So one of the amazing things that I have found on this trip to Uganda is that there is a hotel (which shall remain nameless because I don't want all the people in Uganda to find out about this) in Kamapala which has free wireless internet. I think I may have mentioned this before, however what I haven't mentioned is that there are only about three places where you can plug your computer in while sitting at this hotel. And, once you take into consideration the areas where you can plug in AND get the wireless signal the potential plugs are decreased to only two.

Now I have never had a problem getting my computer plugged in....I sit down at one of the tables on the veranda and a waiter or waitress will come over and take the cord and pass it through the beautiful wrought iron work that sits in front of the windows that lead into the dining room of the restaurant. They will plug my computer in on the inside wall of the restaurant and I am good to go for as long as I need.

Only problem....well the restaurant is not open all day. It is open for lunch and then closes and reopens for dinner. Now as you can probably imagine....if you are not paying attention....the restaurant can close and lock up leaving your cord plugged-in on the inside of the restaurant.

So this is my current predicament...although I want to go home and have finished most of my emailing...I am stuck here waiting for the restaurant to reopen (45 minutes) so that I can unplug my computer and head home.

What I go through for a good internet connection!
K

Death of a goat---and an antennae

2008-10-19T02:47:00.003-05:00

Well yesterday....for the first time ever in my traveling history....I saw a goat getting its head cut off. Not so much of a pleasant site for me....although the Ugandan's think I am crazy for caring so much about animals. All the same, it was hard to see. It happened on the side of the road as my taxi passed through a large market area. When I told Joyce about it she said that it was very unusual for goats to be slaughtered like that. She went on to explain that the slaughter is supposed to take place in a particular place in the market---not out in the open (which explains why I have never seen it happening before). I told her that the goat also seemed too small for slaughter. She then concluded that the goat may have been "knocked" (hit by a car) and so they were just killing it quickly. Either way...it was very sad...for me....and for the goat I am sure!

Then, upon my return home yesterday (I spent the day in Kampala working on a grant) I find out that there had been a ferocious storm (complete with hail stones). When I get to my house--I see my TV antennae laying on the ground in pieces. I only had it for about 4 days. Now I am back to only one TV channel which also means no international news source. So I guess I will have to go buy another one, but I am totally infuriated by this.
K

How do I do it?

2008-10-18T04:33:00.003-05:00

So the first real interesting thing that has happened to me since I have been here occurred two nights ago. I attended a workshop in Kampala and did not reach home until about 8:30 at night. I was absolutely exhausted and couldn't wait to just get into the house, bathe, and then go to bed. I approached the house and unlocked the padlock on the door….

Now, as some of you know and others do not, doors in Uganda are made out of metal and are often locked with padlocks. Once you take the padlock off there is a small metal "trap" door that you have to lift (the padlock keeps this from being able to be opened from the outside--See photos here). Once you lift the little trap door you have to reach your hand inside the door and disengaged the "deadbolt" which is essentially a T-shaped strip of metal that goes through two metal loops and crosses both doors on the inside making it impossible to open the door until it is slid over. (I am sorry I forgot to take pictures of this for visuals...but I will this week). So anyway just image a sliding this metal bar back and forth to lock the door and unlock it. Well my door is a bit tricky. It is often difficult for me to slide this little lever back and forth because it is a heavy metal door and you can only fit your wrist and part of your forearm through the trap door....making it hard to gain any kind of leverage.

Okay...so hopefully you are all still with me here.....so I stick my hand in the trap door and try to move the T-bar. No luck it is totally stuck. So I try from a different angle....no luck. So I decide to try and reach my hand in a bit farther (far enough for me to try and push the bar rather than pull the bar) so I stick my hand in there and start pushing....and guess what it worked! In fact, it worked so well....that a huge chunk of my skin got wedged between the T-bar and the little metal bracket that holds it on the door. Now keeping in mind the bar didn't move far enough for me to open the door...meaning it is still locked---and my hand is now stuck in the lock AND in considerable pain. So I am now unable to pull my hand out of the trap door....and the trap is too small for me to stick my other hand inside to try to move the bar with my other hand.....so I am essentially just totally incapacitated by this stupid door. I start trying to just pull my hand out of the bracket but it hurts so badly that I can't do it. Then I start trying to figure out a way to get my other hand inside, but it is totally impossible. I am thinking maybe I can call Joyce or one of my neighbors, but there is nothing that anyone can do b/c this is the only way into the house. All of the windows have bars on them so you are unable to climb through and the back door locks in this same fashion except the lock for the trap door is on the inside of the house because I never leave through the back. So at the moment I am seeing NO way for me to get out of this situation.

Now only a couple of minutes have passed...but I am starting to panic. All I can see are the headlines "muzungu cut free from her door in Kasangati" accompanied by some stupid picture of me waving at the camera with one arm while the other is stuck inside. I just about start yelling for my neighbors to come and help me, when I look at the door and realize that although it is not open all the way....it has come slightly open which means there is a lot of pressure on the T-bar inside. I figure that perhaps if I slam my hip against the door I will be able to release enough of the pressure to allow the bar to more easily release my finger.

I start banging my hip into the door and lo and behold…the T-bar the pressure on the lock is lessened and I am able to get my finger out of the lock and finish opening the door. Miraculously….the skin on my finger was not even cut. It was pinched pretty badly….and I didn’t have any feeling in it for the rest of the night…but today it is totally fine.

All in all….a wonderful way to end a long day!

Here are some new photos...the last photo in this series is a picture of my thumb after it was stuck in the door.

Miss you all!

First Pictures from Uganda

2008-10-06T07:39:00.001-05:00

Well I have successfully uploaded some pictures for you all to see. Click here to see some photos of my house and the trading center near where I live.

Will write more later as I must dash downtown to fill in some line on some paperwork that I forgot...it is the line that asks how many children you have....apparently leaving it blank does not adequately show that you have no kids....I HAVE to write zero on the line! Ridiculous!

Kristen

Have Successfully Avoided Matooke for One Week!

2008-10-04T05:21:00.003-05:00

Hello all!

Well the first week of my in-country experiences have pretty much passed without too much excitement. I have moved into my house (which has power and water) and have been running around trying to purchase all that is needed for basic survival (a small stove, food, basins, garbage cans...you know...the essentials). I have also spent a lot of time in Kampala trying to meet with professors and immigration officials in an effort to fill out all of the necessary paperwork to conduct research here in Uganda. Loads of fun---I can assure you!!!!

I am living about 30 miles outside of Kampala in a small town. My house is a duplex with two bedrooms, a bathroom, kitchen and living room (much too big for one person). A family with 3 kids lives on the other side of the house. They are all very sweet and the middle child, Hans, (who does not speak English yet) likes to sit and observe me reading, eating, writing, or whatever it is that I happen to be doing at any given moment in time. His sister Jessica is not as impressed with me, but she likes to clean off the stoop of my house and then disappear when I tell her thank you. The third is only 2 months old....so he could really care less that a muzungu lives next to him. There is also a pig that lives right outside the gate to my house...I can't explain it, but I get incredibly happy when I pass by him each morning and his little tail is wagging excitedly as he roots around for food.

Kampala is pretty much the same---despite all the preparation for the Queen's visit last November. Some of the roads have been repaired and the parks are a bit more tidy. In addition, a lot of the barbed wire that used to fence off the plants in the road medians has been replaced with chains (a huge improvement if you ask me).

I will try to send pictures of my house as soon as possible. I am not sure how the uploading process will go, but I promise to give it a try soon. I hope all is well in the states and thanks for all of the emails!

T minus 3 days and counting

2008-09-22T16:28:00.003-05:00

After successfully defending my research proposal last Friday (yay!) I am now in last minute preparations for my flight to Uganda this Thursday. Caught between my desire to relax after completing another huge milestone in the Ph.D. process and knowing that I must accomplish all that I possibly can over the next two days----I can say that I am frazzled and quite exhausted!
However, I am excited to get to Uganda and start the next chapter in this journey--even though I know it will be somewhat gruelling. I will update my blog as much as possible (so add me to your subscription list or check often) and hope everyone sends me tons of emails over the next six months. My goal is to check email at least once a week (and hopefully more) so write often and keep me posted on all of the exciting happenings in the U.S.....inclusive of the election!

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday season--and that those of you who live in the north do not have a horrible winter! I promise to soak up as much sun as possible and eat as many fresh mangoes as I possibly can! :)

Filling Out Grant Applications Sucks!

2008-09-15T20:37:00.003-05:00

So I am currently trying to figure out how to fit all of the following elements into five double spaced pages: an abstract, the topic I propose to study (including a discussion of: the relevant literature, related research, underlying theory, and your own hypothesis or focal issue), the objectives of the study, designed outcomes in measurable terms, procedures (methods, participants, resources needed, and a timeline), evaluation, proposed use of funds (including: an itemized list of expenses), dissemination of materials (i.e. where I plan to publish and present the work), and any appendices I may have.

Currently my methods section alone is 11 double spaced pages.....I am pretty sure that they are asking the impossible here! I can't believe I don't even get a page per section! This is so ridiculous!

Last step before research begins.....

2008-09-10T10:55:00.002-05:00

Well I just finished the final draft of my dissertation proposal and have sent it off to my committee members. I will officially be defending my proposal on the 19th of September and then I will be off to Uganda to start my research on the 25th! In the meantime I only need to: pack, apply to a bunch of grants, update my IRB, and get my absentee ballot (something I regret having to do especially since I live, and vote, in a swing state and absentee ballots are rarely counted). Anyway....at least the proposal is "done."
K

"Happy People Dancing"

2008-08-24T19:26:00.001-05:00

If you haven't seen this yet...you absolutely must watch it! It is 3 minutes of your time that will most definitely put a smile on your face!
Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.

The Flooding of Lake Ella

2008-08-24T09:29:00.001-05:00

For any of you who have visited Tallahassee, you know we have a small duck pond a few blocks from our house. Here are some pictures of the flooded pond that we took yesterday. Keep in mind that the rain is continuing to pour down today!

Tropical Storm Fay

2008-08-23T11:17:00.005-05:00

Well although Fay is not considered a hurricane, Tallahassee is certainly experiencing a ridiculous amount of rain right now. It has been raining steadily since about 2:00 yesterday afternoon and the rain has continued to pour down every since. Yesterday schools were closed as were some banks and businesses (which was a bit ridiculous if you ask me) and today the city is out trying to pick up downed tree limbs in the middle of this torrential downpour. Luckily, both of Shawn's nemesis trees (our pecan tree and the neighbor's pine tree) have not dropped any significant debris--which means our house and our car are currently still safe. However, the storm does not appear to be moving so we are kind of stranded inside waiting for the rain to let up while continuing to hope that no trees fall on us. So as the rain continues on, the only thing that I am hoping for is that this torrential rain will wash away the dead rat that seems to be decaying under our house.....along with the dead rat smell that has plagued us for the past week! Here is a short video of Fay as it puts tons of water in our back yard! Gotta love Florida!

A New Blog

2008-08-20T11:32:00.002-05:00

As graduate life slowly moves forward---I continue to notice things that just seem so incredibly bizarre that I often find myself wondering if I am from another planet. In order to make sure that I am still sane, and in order to share these experiences with the people that I know will appreciate them, Shawn and I have decided that we needed to begin recording our observations in a place where our family and friends could appreciate the ridiculousness of life itself. Our new blog Sights and Sounds About Town will document the bizarre, outlandish, questionable, and odd things that we witness often on a daily basis-----especially here in the southern part of the U.S.!

Enjoy and feel free to let me know if you would like to contribute any stories from your own adventures---all are welcome to share in the joy of making fun of our small world!

Research in Uganda

2008-08-04T12:18:00.002-05:00

Hello all!

I just wanted to let you know that I will be heading off to Uganda once again. This time I will be conducting my official dissertation research and will stay in Uganda for approximately 6 months. I will probably be doing a lot of blogging since I will have a lot more time for writing etc. Plus my life will be infinitely more exciting since I won't be tied to books each and every day! Yay!
I will be leaving on September 25th and will not be returning until April 2009.

K

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-31T08:19:00.007-05:00

I'm DONE! I AM FINALLY DONE!
I am really, really, finally done!

I am DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE, DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Prelims are done, classes are done, and I have now regained my freedom! I didn't think that I was going to make it through----but I DID!!!

Life is fantastic! The birds are chirping, the air is just a little bit fresher, and the skies are a little more blue....and what more could anyone ask for?

BEING DONE WITH PRELIMS---THAT IS WHAT YOU COULD ASK FOR!!!!!!

I am reminded at this moment of one of my favorite Beatles songs:

Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darling, it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Little darling, the smiles returning to the faces
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes

Little darling, I feel that ice is slowly melting
Little darling, it seems like years since it's been clear
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right

doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, do

An Atheist and her Infatuation with a "Lovin' the Lord" Coffee Shop

2008-05-23T10:47:00.006-05:00

Although I only have 7 days left to finish up these prelims, I thought I would take a moment out of my regularly scheduled writing life----to write a quick blog (I know, I know--but common--- there are so few things that bring me happiness these days).

Now, as those of you from Tallahassee know, once Cool Grindz started to charge for to use their internet service we were all forced to shift our coffee habits over to what we lovingly call the LTL (lovin' the lord) coffee shop. Here in Madison I didn't think that I would ever find the need for such a a place, especially since there are a plethora of coffee houses with free internet access conveniently located all over the city of Madison. In fact, I would be willing to be bet that there is 1 coffee house per every 10 individuals in the city. I know you think that I must be exaggerating.....but seriously....I am not!

However, while working on my prelims I was starting to get annoyed by the a) intelligent looking, alternative hair wearing, vegetarian eating, bicycle riding compatriots at many of the other cafes in town b) thought that everyone else was getting annoyed with my daily presence, and c) was tired of feeling like I needed to buy lunch to make up for my exorbitant use of cafe space.

"Why would I get so annoyed at these things?" you ask......
"They have never bothered you before" you say........
You might even be bold enough to point out that those are the very places I am usually in search of to fulfill my typical coffee house needs.......

Well....I am sorry to say that I can't quite explain it. All I can say is that in my extremely stressed out state...these factors culminated in my desire to flee my regular coffee house work space in search of new and uncharted territory.

Hence the move to my new found Madison "LTL" coffee house. Conveniently situated next to the Christian book store with hours of operation that do not include Sundays, this little cafe has everything you need (minus the presence of people who look like they have read and understood every bit of Marxian theory ever written or uttered). So, here I sit in my comfy----yes comfy---soft, "cushiony" chair, enjoying the lightly playing classical music (no alternative guitar playing chic that no one has heard of here!), a great cup of coffee out of a wonderful clay mug, and a fantastic windowsill to place all of my books on.

At LTL-Madison, I do not feel pressured to buy coffee or even lunch. The guys who work here already know me and know what I like to drink, and no one carries on conversations about how cool they are at a range that I am able to hear over my purple foam ear plugs. All-in-all, it is quite lovely!

So Thank you LTL! Thank you for providing me with a little piece of heaven---right here in Madison!

Stuck in the Procrastination Doldrums

2008-05-19T09:13:00.012-05:00

It is amazing how many things you can find to occupy yourself when you are procrastinating. I feel like a cat with a ball of string right now! My attention is captured by anything and everything that is not related to my work. For example, I spent an ample amount of time on Sunday rearranging pictures on my computer, cleaning my room, drinking lots of coffee, watching Dancing with the Stars (I know, I know), scouring the LOST blogs for information on my favorite show, and god only knows what else I was doing in my procrastination induced haze.

BUT, today is a new day! Today is THE day! Today the clouds are going to lift and I just know I am going to get some wind in my proverbial sails. I am going to sit down in this coffee shop, put my ear plugs in, pick up a copy of Antonio Gramsci's Selections from the Prison Notebooks, and I AM GOING TO WRITE THIS PAPER!

--only 12 days left until freedom is mine!
...................................................but only if I stop procrastinating!

Tick, Tick, Tick

2008-05-16T10:13:00.002-05:00

The prelim clock starts today. I currently have 2 weeks to get my prelims done and handed in. Hopefully my sanity will still be intact upon their completion!

K

For the love of god......

2008-05-05T09:58:00.003-05:00

When will this semester end? I am currently sitting in a coffee shop working on one of my prelim questions.....and I have to say it feels like the never ending story! Only a couple more weeks to go, but it does seem as if it is impossibly far away!

I miss everyone and can't wait to resurface and have a normal life!

Finally!

2008-04-13T14:34:00.004-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I have officially received one of the grants that I applied for over this past year! I just found out this week that I received the Scott Kloeck-Jenson Pre-Dissertation Travel Grant which will cover all of my plane ticket overseas and will hopefully also give me a little bit of money to do some in-country travel to and from research sites.

I am so excited that I have received some funding and am keeping my fingers crossed that I will continue to get a couple of the other ones that I applied for. It certainly has helped to re-motivate me towards my work and towards the next round of grant writing which will start as soon as the semester ends....ughhhhhh!

All else is well here, overwhelmed by the end of the school year and by my prelim exams, but Shawn is helping to keep me sane. Will write more when I have time!

K

How to tell if you are a dork.....

2008-02-10T14:28:00.001-06:00

Can you answer yes to any of the following questions:

1. Do you have a personal study carrel at the library? (My answer: yes)
2. Have you ever found yourself at the library on a Friday night? (My answer: yes)
3. Have you ever taken your library books to a bar? (My answer: yes)

I entered a new stage of dorkdom when this past Friday night all of the above mentioned experiences simultaneously occurred---culminating in the realization that I need to finish school and get a life again!!!!!

Hugh Masekela

2008-02-05T19:44:00.000-06:00

For part of my birthday present Shawn and I went to see the South African musician Hugh Masekela play on the UW campus. It was an AMAZING concert and I highly recommend going to see him if he ever plays anywhere near you! I have to say ..... it may be the best concert that I have ever seen!

Is there such a thing as an Ice Quake?

2008-02-05T19:34:00.000-06:00

Well yes there is! I would like everyone to know that I experienced a rather rare (well I am assuming it is rare because I have never heard of such a thing before) ice quake last Thursday.
I was sitting in the Education building meeting with a professor, when all of a sudden the entire building started to shake. It lasted only about 5 seconds but was very similar to what an earthquake feels like (this I know because I have been in two in: Anchorage, Alaska and Kampala, Uganda). There were several of us in the room and we were completely perplexed by why the building was shaking, and then just as suddenly as it started....it stopped. The next day this article discussing the event appeared on the University website along with photos of the fissure caused by the quake. Very odd, but a cool thing to have experienced!

Waiting, waiting, waiting......

2008-01-16T10:12:00.001-06:00

Well I am heading into my 4th semester of classes at UW-Madison, which means I finally get to say: "I am in my last semester of classes--EVER!!!!!" As you can tell, I am extremely excited by the prospect of finishing coursework, but, at the same time, exhausted by the thought of what lies ahead: preliminary exams, proposal writing, proposal defending, a year of research, dissertation writing, and dissertation defending----even just writing it tires me out! However getting to the ABD (All But Dissertation) milestone will be reason enough for celebration!!

Currently I am waiting to hear whether or not I will be funded to do my research. I applied last semester for three different grants, but they are all pretty competitive and the likelihood of me getting one is pretty small. Nonetheless, I am hoping that by some magical fluke, my application will make it into the "accepted" pile and I will get money to go do research in Africa next year. In the meantime, I am having fun procrastinating all the work that needs to be done (a paper I need to write for a conference I am attending in March, filling out paperwork for research approval, and preparing for my prelims) opting instead for copious amounts of reality TV viewing. I know, I know it is ridiculous, but it supplies a non-thinking outlet for my lack of motivation and I am easily sucked into the ridiculousness of the reality TV universe. May the writer's strike last forever! (okay well not forever, just for a little bit!)

I will keep you posted on any upcoming events and or interesting things....as of right now my life is pretty dull---just waiting, waiting, waiting to hear about grants, to start and finish my last semester of class, and to start having a life outside academia again!

I miss all of you and wish I could have come home for Christmas, but Kate's graduation is just around the corner so you never know when I might show up in Binghamton!

Is it really almost Thanksgiving?

2007-11-16T18:34:00.000-06:00

I woke up this morning and realized that it was somehow November 16th.....where in the hell did September and October go???

Heading Home

2007-07-29T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello all! Just wanted to let you know I am heading for the states on Wednesday. I got more research done than I expected....but less than I wanted. But in the end I think it was a productive trip! I can't wait to talk to you all when I get back!
See you soon!

Research, Safari and Illegal Alien

2007-07-16T07:23:00.000-05:00

Hello all! I know it has been awhile since I posted, but I have been pretty busy here in Uganda and the dial-up modem does not making blogging easy!

Research

For the most part, all is going well here and I am enjoying my time in Uganda. Research is coming along although sometimes I don’t know if I am going forwards or backwards. Some days it feels as if I have accomplished nothing, but I guess maybe that is what research is supposed to feel like…..anyone want to comment on that one????? I spend a lot of time sitting around waiting for appointments and a lot of time trying to figure out with whom I should make appointments with, but all in all I have definitely learned a lot while I have been here.

Safari

I am also doing some fun things the highlight of which was spending this past weekend on Safari at Murchison Falls National Park.

I met a group of interesting people all here doing work on their Master’s in Public Health and we had a great time seeing some really cool animals. The highlight of course was seeing elephants for the first time in the “wild”. I even saw some babies running around with their moms…it was phenomenal!

Below is a list of other animals that I saw....just to make you jealous!

Hippos
Giraffes
Black and White Collabus monkeys
Baboons
Lions (three females.....so awesome!)
Water Buffalo
Water Buck
Warthogs (there was a pack of them that slept in camp with us)
Nile crocs
and lots of deer like things (impala, kob, orubi (or something) essentially the lion food)

We also got to hike up right next to Murchison Falls which is absolutely spectacular! Total lawsuit waiting to happen too, but don’t worry I didn’t get close to the edge. (Photos to follow once I am back in the states)

It was a totally awesome trip that all ended in a bang when I realized that I am currently living in Uganda illegally since my visa which was supposed to be for 3 months expired after I was here for only 30 days…..so now onto…..

Illegal Alien

So here is the story:

Some of the people I was traveling with got their visas in America and were issued multiple entry 6 month visas which cost $90.00. I paid for a 3 month student visa at the airport which cost me $30.00. Upon arrival the other members were told they had the wrong visas and they could only stay for 30 days even though they were here to work for the summer. They then spent a week going to immigration to have their visas changed and had to pay an addition $35.00 each to stay in the country for the full 2-3 months they were planning on being here.

Upon hearing this I didn’t panic because I bought mine at the border and specifically marked the 3 month visa on the sheet and paid the appropriate amount so I was sure mine was fine...but also figured I should double check. Well when I opened up my passport I found that yes indeed my visa expired after 30 just days...which was essentially 2 weeks ago. So now I need to spend the next week running around and getting a visa extension and have to produce a letter stating why I am here, a letter from a sponsoring agency (which I do not have), my plane ticket, and some other ridiculous information plus pay additional money to extend a visa I already paid for. What did our fine U.S. Embassy say when I went to tell them I was here illegally and needed their help? “Don’t worry, we know this has been a problem but you just have to go file for an extension” So apparently not only is it not a big deal that I am currently here illegally but it also doesn’t seem to be a big enough problem for the U.S. Embassy to cite this problem with Uganda visas on their website regarding visa procedures. Needless to say...at this point I am about ready to go postal!

I just keep reminding myself to think of the elephants!

Leaving for Uganda

2007-05-30T14:34:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to let everyone know that I will be leaving for Uganda next week and will be gone until the beginning of August. I will be starting a pilot study for my dissertation and am very excited to get the chance to spend some time doing preliminary groundwork. I will mostly be working in Kampala trying to identify agencies that are doing work in the HIV/AIDS sector and will hopefully find some agencies that I will be able to work with long term.

As for in-country living arrangements our friend Joyce ,who is the sister of Shawn's friend Sam Watulatsu , is allowing me to stay with her for the duration of my time. I am so grateful for her opening her home to me since there is no way I would have been able to stay long term in a hotel. Joyce is a secondary school teacher in Kampala and Sam is the founder of the Foundation for the Development of Needy Communities (FDNC). FDNC is a non-government organization that works to provide community health education services (click here for some pictures), as well as vocational education in carpentry, tailoring, and masonry (to name a few) while also providing special education services and community development activities such as installing water catchment systems. FDNC also has a brass band that performs at weddings and other gatherings to help raise money for the organization.

I will update my blog whenever possible to let everyone know how and what I am doing, so stay tuned and keep your eyes peeled for my updates!

I hope every one has a fabulous summer--keep in touch and let me know what is going on!

Separated at Birth?

2007-04-20T12:34:00.000-05:00

YOU DECIDE!

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HOORAY!!! SHAWN HAS GRADUATED!!!!

2007-04-20T12:01:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone...I just wanted to let you know that Shawn has finished his Master's degree in Community Health Education. He turned in his last paper yesterday in class and has now officially finished his academic career! I cannot tell you how happy this makes me and I just wanted to share the news with everyone!

CONGRATULATIONS BABE....YOU DID IT!

(Now.....let the job hunt begin!)

A Graduate Student’s Nightmare

2007-04-14T18:08:00.000-05:00

For those of you who know me, you are well aware that I am not known for my gracefulness!! My ability to trip, fall, twist my ankle and knock things over on a regular basis is beyond comprehension and unparalleled by any other person that I know. However, the story that I am about to tell moves beyond any kind of physical embarrassment and goes quickly into the realm of sheer humiliation. This humiliating moment did not take place in front of my friends or family, you know the people that love you no matter what, instead it happened in front of the very people that I have been working to impress for the last two semesters of my academic career--my area studies department.

In order to give you a little bit of a perspective on my life as a graduate student, I will first provide you with some background information on the neurosis of a being in graduate school. As a graduate student one of your biggest fears is the idea that you might say something that will really embarrass you in front of the people you respect in your field. These types of things usually come in the form of forgetting or not knowing the names of prominent professors and researchers in your area of study. Now I realize that this is one of those ridiculous academic things, knowing the names of philosophers, sociologists, anthropologists etc., but it is really embarrassing if you are in a conversation with someone and they say “Well do you know so and so?” and you have no idea of who that person is talking about, only to find out later that they wrote the most important book in your field.

Now, for me, this fear moves beyond just conversations with other graduate students and professors in my department and into the reality of conferences and larger gatherings. When I go to conferences, one of the purposes of which is to network, I completely panic and avoid talking to people that I meet because I know these “superstar-type” people are walking around everywhere—you could be sitting next to them in a seminar, you could be in the elevator with them, god forbid you spill your coffee on one of them or you could find yourself in an actual conversation with one. So I always figure that with my luck I will end up talking to one of the biggest names in the field and during the conversation will say something along the lines of “Now, what do you do?” or “What is your area of research?” only to have them say “Well actually I am the editor of CER” (the most important journal in my field—this almost became reality for me when I was actually in an elevator with a man who turned out to be an editor of one of these journals—thankfully I didn’t say anything to give myself away!). So, obviously, this type of experience would be pretty embarrassing and could blow my opportunity to make a good impression or even worse insult the person while simultaneously making myself look like an idiot. Therefore, I try to avoid these types of situations if at all possible!

So now that you know a little of the “behind-the-scenes-neurosis” part of the story, we can move back to the present day. This past week I walked into the conference room that holds weekly presentations on one of my interest topics, I took my seat in my usual spot (a little OCD I know, but I enjoy not having to turn my head to look at the screen like I have to do when I sit on the side of the horseshoe and I like to be near the door in case I need to run to the bathroom or leave early—what can I say?) and prepared for the presentation.

So, I am sitting there minding my own business and this slightly nutty professor (aren’t they all) sitting next to me asks if I am in the History department, to which I reply “No I am not.” He then says “Why would you be here then? What is your interest in this topic?” I explain that I am in Educational Policy Studies (EPS) and that I am interested in this topic broadly because of my regional interests and also explain to him that I come every week (how he could not recognize me I don’t know—because I am always sitting 1-2 chairs away from him every week—but that is besides the point). He then asks me if I know Professor X. I respond that I do not and ask who he is. He responds “You don’t know him? He is a retired professor from education and he has written a book on education in developing countries.” I explain that I don’t know the name and that I am in EPS, and ask if the professor was maybe in Curriculum Instruction (a different department from mine) and he says “Oh yes, that is the department he was in” to which I say “Oh, okay, well that is a different department than mine, so that is why I probably have not heard the name before.” Now at this point I am rather uncomfortable, but feel as though I have survived okay in the line of fire and try to go back to minding my own business (this usually consists of me flipping through my calendar in an attempt to look very busy and not have time to engage in idle conversation—again slightly OCD I know—but I have become really “un-fond” of small talk these days). Just then the assistant director of the program walks into the room and the professor that I have just been talking to shouts across the room (and in front of about 10 people that are either professors or graduate students in the department) “Hey L--do you remember Professor X” to which the assistant director says “Of course I do, why?” and my friendly neighbor then says “Well SHE (pointing at me) is in education and SHE doesn’t know who he is.” At this point I am in complete shock that this professor just called me out in front of everyone in the room and am so mortified that I am ready to crawl under the table. The assistant director who thoughtfully tried to let me off the hook responded with, “Well that is what happens to you when you retire—it will happen to all of us!” I nervously smile in his direction and return to flipping through my calendar—although this time with a renewed sense of vigor. As soon as the presentation was over, I made a run for the door and am still contemplating if I will return next week.

Now the question becomes what have I learned from this experience? What is the moral of the story? Well, I guess the number one thing is to not sit next to the nutty professor, even if that means giving up my choice seat for presentation watching! And, number two is to NEVER EVER say I definitively don’t know someone—instead my new mantra will be: “Gee that name sounds so familiar is she/he the one who does education work in X place?”

Will this new mantra save me from future embarrassment?

If I was a betting woman I would say absolutely not, but I figure it can’t hurt--right?

Spring Break in Madison

2007-04-07T12:21:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone! I hope all is going well in your part of the world. I am currently on spring break but unfortunately, due to ticket prices, I had to spend it in Madison instead of traveling to Tallahassee. Fortunately, I have been able to use my time wisely and I was was able to tie up a bunch of loose ends--such as: finishing my taxes, creating my reading lists for the summer, the organization of all of my crap, selecting classes for the fall semester and I also finished my first consulting job for
Save the Children-Mozambique.

The consulting job was, of course, my favorite item to complete. Shawn and I had the opportunity to work together in an effort to revise an HIV/AIDS curriculum for 4th grade Mozambican students. It was a wonderful opportunity to try on my consulting hat and it gave me a sense of what it will be like to do consulting work in the future. It also allowed us to start making contacts in the realm of HIV/AIDS education in Africa. It was a really great experience for both of us and I think we did a really good job!

In other news I have received funding to travel to Africa this summer!! This money will allow me to do a pilot study that ideally will help to narrow my focus for future dissertation research. I do not know when we will be traveling, or where we will be going (either Uganda, Malawi or Mozambique), but I am excited at the prospect of doing actual field research in my interest area. Plus, I get to return to Africa which is always a fabulous thing!

Well, that is it for me on the Midwestern home front. I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring weather (we had flurries the last two days in Madison!!). Stay warm--or cool, depending on where you are, and write soon!

What is better....

2007-03-04T16:49:00.000-06:00

than being a broke college student?

Being a broke college student whose computer breaks! I am now blogging on my brand new computer that I had to buy today since my old HP started to go bonkers this weekend. Luckily it waited until after I returned from my conference in Baltimore....but still I am not thrilled with the idea of just spending a lot of money on a new computer! But my new baby (Toshiba) is smaller and lighter than the old and has the added bonus of actually hooking up to wireless networks unlike my last computer that never seemed to work properly in that area!

My Baby Elephant

2007-02-21T09:45:00.000-06:00

This year, for my birthday present, I became the proud foster parent of a baby elephant. Lesanju was rescued from a man-made well by people of the Samburu tribe of central Kenya. She was only 4 weeks old when she was separated from her mother but she is now living happily with the other orphaned elephants of the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. You can read her whole story and keep up with all of her adventures at:

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust--Lesanju

On January 22, 2006 Sky News ran a story on the The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust's Orphans Project. You can watch the video footage on their website and if you look closely you can see little Lesanju running around with all of the keepers and other baby elephants (just look for the elephant with the big notch cut out of her ear). I believe that she is the cutest elephant in the bunch, but I guess I could be biased!

How cold is it in Madison?

2007-02-05T18:15:00.000-06:00

For anyone back home wondering how cold it is in Madison these days, let me give you an idea. On my way to school this morning the thermometer read -12 degrees Fahrenheit. How cold is that you ask?? Well according to the National Weather Service it feels like -22 degrees Fahrenheit and you should not touch any metal with bare hands as your skin can immediately be frozen to said metal. I figured this was a bit of malarkey myself, but as I left the house this morning, my leather mitten actually froze to the doorknob....so I guess maybe the NWS was right!

So how miserable was going to campus this morning??

Well.....it was so cold that it actually hurt my esophagus to breath in through my mouth, froze all my nose hair in my nose, and made my wool-socked-wrapped-toes numb in the 5 minutes it took me to walk from my house to the bus stop! All of this was then compounded when I got on the bus for my 45 minute bus ride...only to realize the heat was not working! OHHH the joys of public transportation! Let me just say that -12 degree weather that feels like -22 degree weather, just about made me want to drop out of school!

Sipi Falls and Uganda Pictures

2007-02-01T15:14:00.000-06:00

Kate and Julius (our guide) hiking Sipi Falls in eastern Uganda.

Click here to see the rest of our photos from Uganda.

Uganda 2006

2007-01-27T10:55:00.000-06:00

Well, we have returned from Uganda a little tired, a lot happy, and completely unscathed by any of our travels. We caught up with old friends, visited with our Ugandan family members and had a wonderful time traveling the country. It was fabulous to reconnect with the pace that we enjoyed so much and see the people that we left behind so abruptly 8 years ago.

It was also great to travel with Kate who was visiting Africa for the first time. Viewing the country through her eyes helped us remember some of the differences that make us love Uganda so much.

Some of which were:

traveling on the back of motorcycles and bikes while sitting sideways in a skirt
the friendliness and "soft-spokeness" of Ugandans
"You are most welcome"
spending an entire day waiting for the "big event" to start--only to realize that talking to one another WAS the "big event"
seeing long-horned cattle walking down major city streets
CHICKEN ON A STICK!
red earth contrasted with the beautifully green vegetation
re-learning how to navigate the public transportation system
eating samosas everyday....sometimes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner!
finding old friends by navigating a labyrinth of people who know someone, who knows someone else, who knows someone else, who knows the person we are looking for....this never ceases to amaze me!
and seeing the amazing success of people from our villages....from improved schools to creating schools....amazing work has occurred in the last 8 years!

To all of our friends in Uganda....thank you so much for your hospitality, your love and your kindness....let it not be 8 years until we meet again!