a rat in my room

two nights ago i woke up to a rat crawling up and down my mosquito net from the ceiling, one landed right by my head. unfortunately this has not been the first night of rats. and of all the differences and challenges, sleeping with rats around has been the most difficult.
this is our third week of classes. i had an awesome time on our trip to western uganda and into rwanda, it was also a nice break from the routine. the last two weeks of classes have been lectures on broad topics of development. it is like taking my favorite classes all day. we have had previous members of parliament, professors from the top national university, political activists, contributors to the writing of the constitution, and ad visors of policy come to speak to us. this week and next seven of us from the group have begun an in depth study on human rights and development.
uganda gained its independence from britain in 1962 so the country is young but its history full. in the spring of 2011 uganda will have its presidential elections. president musevini has been the president for 24 years. he commissioned the writing of uganda's current constitution in 1995. in 2006 he bribed members of parliament in order to remove term limits that had been written in the constitution. he is running again for election in 2011, the united states congress has just issued a directive and 70 million US dollars to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair, and peaceful. secretary of state hilary clinton will be leading this directive. it is an exciting time to be in uganda. hopes and expectations are very high for the upcoming election. uganda will also begin drilling for new found oil this year in northern uganda. the revenue has the potential to serve the ugandan people tremendously but most ugandans face the new oil with much trepidation as they remember nigeria.
it feels like we are living in uganda's hisotry. so much is changing, so many opportunities, and so many things unknown.
in 4 weeks everyone in the group will spread out throughout uganda to begin on 6 week practicum. i am looking into studying japan's foreign policy to uganda and its affects on national identity here. there is still alot of practicals to work out :)
the heavy rainy season has begun here in uganda, the skies have opened. i am curious to see how the dirt roads hold up in these sort of conditions :)
love you all.