a word from earlier...

January 27
Hello from Uganda :) It is my 4th night here in Kampala and I am currently sitting on my bed in Jaleaz Hotel. Now don’t be impressed with the title ‘hotel’… instead picture basic accomodations. But the mosquito nets, unpredictable showers, and clean sheets are a welcomed home for this first week. There is no internet but the plan is to type updates and save them until there is a chance to get online ;) Our group is 32 all together. The average student is: from the East coast, attends a liberal arts college, is a junior, has travelled a bit but likely this is their first time to Uganda, and is majoring in something around economics or international development. Everyone seems wonderful and so excited to be here. The program I am with is SIT (School of International Training), we have an awesome program staff who love their country, are highly qualified, and are dedicated to providing the best enviroment and opportunities for us to learn.
Today training began today in social etiquite, safety, and health. As well as our first session in learning the language here, Lugandan. On Sunday we will be meeting our host families and moving in for 6 weeks. During those weeks we will be going to language classes, attending lectures at Makarere University, and working on selecting a theisis and organization for our research practicum.
I am loving it here. I am surprised at how excited I am for this semester and for all that I will learn, and how at home I already feel. I am thankful to be here with Caleb for the comfort of a familiar face certainly eased any possible feelings of loneliness.
So at this point I know very very little about, well, everything. But I am just beginning to realize all that I am going to learn and know, like learning how to navigate through the city of Kampala via ‘taxis’ everyday to and from school?!... or better yet, mastering how to cross the street.