Long Awaited Update

I have nothing to say and lots to say. Things are going well. A special thanks to all those who helped me out with my wish list. Even a few simple comforts from home can make a person happy. So my wishes have been granted.

Pictures: I added more pictures!!! Check out my house, my work, and wildlife!

Frogs: I am walking around at night like I would in the US. No major frog scares. It helps that it's the dry season now.

Bike: I have not fallen off anymore. I would like to attribute that to my superior skill in riding, but it's probably because I lend my bike out more than I ride it. People love it. Not me. So I give the people what they want. Ride On!

Weight: I am still losing weight. Haven't weighed in a while, but my clothes are loose. But, I have a confession. I love meat. I had committed to cooking veggies and fish, but the people here can roast a mean kabob! So, if I buy food already prepared on the roadside or in a restaurant I choose meat. Beef, Goat, Chicken, Fish- U name it. I love it. However preparing meat myself- I only prepare fish and pork. Yes, I said pork. I like the pork butcher shop, they are nicer than the beef butcher shops. Now I couldn't leave North Carolina and deny myself some good old BBQ!!! I made some BBQ today for my counterpart and my nearest neighbor, Zach. I topped it off with macaroni salad and a mean coleslaw. Thanks for the recipes mom!! And for Christmas and Thanksgiving I fried a turkey. That is my confession.

Job: I have a lot of work. Which is an anomaly for the first 3 months in Peace Corps. They told us all during training that we would have a lax time at site for the first 3 months and we would probably have to make work for ourselves. After swearing in on a Thursday I was in the office bright and early at 8am on Monday. No lax breaks for me or the other volunteers in my group. We all have plenty of work. So, when our Christmas break came- We broke camp!!! I will tell you abut my Christmas vacation adventures in another blog. Back to the job. Computer classes aside, I love it. I am going to try to get out in the field more. Organizing sports games, film shows, and outreaches. Language is most of the volunteers barriers here, but we get by pretty well. It's sometimes difficult to go out in the field with our small grasp on the language. But, I am ready and willing. The times I have gone- I have loved it. So prayerfully this new year will provide more opportunities in the field for me.

Thanks for all the prayers and well-wishes. Things are going well. I promise to update more soon. Check out my pics, they will tell you more!



~Renee

Changes

Things Change, but somehow we remain the same. I am sitting here in Uganda eating popcorn, watching a bootleg movie (sorry Rhea- it somehow is the norm here), and talking on my cell phone. Ain't life grand. I left the continent of North America to a whole new continent, but I have found some semblance of home. God is awesome.

Frog Update, Bike Falls, and More

Things are... going well. I still like it here A LOT. I am currently teaching computer classes. The background knowledge of my students varies, from being able to access the internet to not knowing how to turn on the computer. And their ages are from 15-40. Of course the younger ones know all about the computer! Who would have thought I would have come all the way into the Peace Corps to Africa to teach about computers!!! Don't worry there will be more opportunities to come.

Frog Update
Haven't seen one. Until today- A loud toad is in the office behind the file cabinet as I am typing this blog. Less than 5 feet away. But, I must continue this must needed update. I will just put my feet up, not look down, and keep typing. "I THINK I CAN. I THINK I CAN."

Mail Update
Still waiting...*Hint *Hint

Food Update
Still cooking veggies. Mmmmh-Mmmmh!

Bike Update
I fell off already. I think I am the first volunteer in my group to bite it. I did it gracefully, on my way home, in front of a gang of people! I was coming home from a day of shopping. I kind of over judged my turn into my driveway- or grass/yard. And I went left and my bike went right. All the people just looked at me. No one said "Bambi" (sorry in Lusoga) or tried to help me up. So I got up and told them I was ok. I had to laugh at myself. I survived with only a scrape on my elbow. I told all my fellow PCV's that I would fall off 1st. And I did. A few others have fallen behind me so, I am told. They may have told me that just to be nice. I will take it either way.

This fall was a far cry from The Fall of 1989. The Place- Ford Gates Drive. The Occasion- Mean Big Brothers. I was riding my bike down the street when I waved to my brother who was across the street on the porch of our house. He waved to me and threw a paper airplane. Somehow my brother's plane defied all aeronautic scientific principles of a "paper airplane" and made the flight all the way from the porch, over the yard, across the street all to land in my eye. I fell off my bike and scraped my knee and elbow. I went crying to my mom and he went running. I still have both scars today. But, I am still here. That experience alone gave the courage to fall of a bike with grace and finesse. Thanks Mike.

Other than that- Things are good. I will share more later. Somehow I don't like writing too much. So, I am doing my best here to share what I can when I can. Hugs and Kisses!