Wednesday, December 28, 2011

JBOD- Just a bunch of d*cks...

Sorry. I meant just a bunch of discs! I'm not having good sex, I mean success this week. I've seriously been having freudian slips - A LOT. No fun! Don't laugh! Sucks when people are laughing at you!

Anyhow, BEYOND my week of freudian slips, I've had many a visitors in the area and have been playing host. I've gotten opportunities to watch movies, drink, exercise and drama. I've also met so many people from the previous group and got to meet my future Tech Committee Members (we are trying to reestablish the tech committee for Peace Corps Uganda).

New pics uploaded on my facebook!

O! And of course...THANK YOU AMY AND CHRIS! I got the care package today =). I love it and the little touches you put in it. I cracked a tear when I saw the pictures and a laugh when I saw the dog tag ("return to tiffany"). Purrrfect!

All that's left is to pick up the new short term volunteer I had recruited to help us with bookkeeping (since I lack the skills...good time to learn too!) and help her settle in.

Hope you guys all had a merry christmas! And a happy new year!
--

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

A new project?

Coming to Uganda, I had always assumed I would do a secondary project. And actually, I did have many ideas in mind before arriving my (current) site. However, after arriving and assessing my situation, I came to realize that most of ideas wouldn't pan out (man, I had really wanted to start a swim team too!).

So over the past few weeks, I've still been contemplating what extracurriculars I could undertake and make my secondary projects. This week, I had a breakthrough...

As you know, corruption is common all over Africa. Earlier this week, I had met up with some friends who were volunteering here short term (meaning no more than 6 months, usually 1-3 months) and they were in a dilemma. They had just found out that the organization that they were working for was corrupt and were understandingly upset and looking for alternative options during the rest of their stay here in Uganda. Three of the volunteers had found the organization through another one at home and one through couch surfing. One of the volunteers and I discussed this issue and realized that this could have been avoided had there been proper (or any) research done on the organization before placement (for the ones who went through another org). So together, we decided the following:

There are so many people looking for short term volunteer assignments in developing countries all over the world. But selecting an ethical and legitimate organization to work with can be a difficult choice.

Having seen first hand, volunteers affected by corruption, we want to help volunteers make good decisions and have wonderful experiences.

Our goal is to identify good organizations in need of volunteers and help connect volunteers to these organizations.

As of now, two of the four volunteers have been placed another organization of their choice and two are currently undecided on where they would like to go. There is also one other volunteer coming back from the US to work with me and my organization for a short time. I really hope we can help people who are interested in volunteering connect with good organizations who really need volunteers.

We'll be working more on this idea over the next couple of weeks to further develop it. But..uh first, Christmas!

So in case I forget to write all of you...

Merry Christmas!!!

Cheers,

Tiff

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

I've been proposed!

Wow! My first marriage proposal at the age of 23. LOL. Lucky for Jon,
I turned the guy down.

Background: Me and Jeanne were swimming at the pool (Saturday). Jeanne
chats up two locals. Apparently, one of them needs to learn to swim
for a job (and was only given 2 weeks to learn to swim!) so she
volunteers me. He agrees to pay for my transport and pool fee to teach
him. As of Saturday, the man, Simpson, just learned sort of
breaststroke. On Sunday, I teach Simpson the basics of flutter kicking
and freestyle. We met again today, which by the way, the swim session
was successful. He can now swim freestyle enough to get him to a
nearby boat and tread/float enough to get someone's attention. Here
was today's conversation:

S: Tiffany, can I ask you two questions.
T: Sure. What's up?
S. Have you ever thought of having Ugandan citizenship?
T: No. I'm happy with my American citizenship.
S: Well, would you ever consider having a Ugandan man?
T: I have a boyfriend I'm happy with. Sorry.
S: What about children?
T: I'm not interested in having kids.
S: I just want to have one. I make enough money to support a family. 1
million shillings a month is good enough to support a family in
Uganda. And the lifestyle here is good and easy for you, not like
America where the cost of living is high.
T: ehh..No thanks!
S: Well I pray God will bring us together and answer my prayers.
...(later when we parted) S: I love you.
T: -___-- bye!

Also...

There are a ton of Chinese workers here in Uganda. They build the
roads, put in the complicated electricity stuff and do construction.
So this one Chinese guy, whose name I cannot pronounce and I had
become acquaintances over the last couple of weeks as he always passes
by where I am and we've talked once or twice (I really can't
understand him. His Chinese is countryside and he mumbles). So anyhow,
occasionally when he sees me these days, he'll stop and say hi.
Earlier this week, he had asked if I needed a ride to town. I didn't
so I said no thanks, but thanks anyways. Yesterday, I did need a ride
into town. And I happened to see him and he had asked me if I needed a
ride (nevermind that it was out of the way for him...which I pointed
out to him). So I said, I would call him in about half an hour for a
ride and he agreed. So later, he picks me and a couple friends up and
takes us to town.

On the way, he asks me what my Christmas plans are. Apparently, many
of the Chinese people are gathering in Kampala for Christmas. He
invites me to come. We also pass by another Chinese guy on the way.
Minutes after we pass the other Chinese guy, my Chinese friend's phone
rings. He picks up and answers the phone in Chinese: "No, she's not
Chinese, she's Taiwanese." -____- I'm still in the car you know! LOL

anyways...I think all the attention I receive from Chinese people in
my area is because all the workers are guys and I'm probably the only
young Chinese female around. I have yet to see a female Chinese except
for other volunteers (only 1) and the lady who works the Chinese
supermarket in town.

Man. And my house smells like smoke. I went outside to make sure it's
not a fire. Apparently, my neighbor is burning something to chase
mosquitos away. It smells more like burnt food/wood to me...

And sadness...I weigh 134 tonight x[p Although it is after
dinner...(fajitas yum!)