Uganda Want It

After sorting through a number of options ("Here Today, U*gone*da Tomorrow," "Kenya Hear Me," etc.) with a number of friends, I finally decided on a title for my first post: "Uganda Want It."

When I first learned about the opportunity to complete my student-teaching in Uganda, I saw it as a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience a new and unfamiliar part of the world.  I think my parents saw it as more of an 8,000-mile-away-from-home-$2000-plane-ticket experience, (my dad literally just handed me a newspaper article called, "Graduates: Time to Confront the Money Question"), but nevertheless they agreed to let me go for it.  Whenever I travel, I find I not only learn more about myself but hopefully I become a better person from the experience. As much as I can try to fit in with my red hair and extremely pale (probably also red) skin in Uganda, I will obviously stick out as the minority.  I am leaving my family and culture to become part of a completely new one, if only for ten weeks.  Scary?  Kind of, but it's something I really want to do (hence the "Uganda Want It" title...).

If anything, I want to go to Uganda to help these kids receive a quality education just like I was so fortunate to have, and teach, in the United States.  As a country, Uganda has made incredible strides in the past twenty years, and these children now have the opportunity to go to school, to learn, to discover, and to hopefully become a well-educated future generation of their country.  These children and teachers do not have access to a good number of teaching materials and resources, and it is my hope that I will be able to share some ideas, suggestions, and teaching methods I have learned that can inspire these kids to feel empowered, confident, and capable of one day pursuing their hopes and dreams too. 

So thanks to all of you who have given me support and encouragement before this big adventure, especially my close friends who have been there for the times when I question my decision to travel and teach so far away.  And thanks to those of you who have been my teachers and mentors.  I wouldn't be able to do something like this if it weren't for all the good people I have been so fortunate to be surrounded by in my life.  You are very much a part of this journey as well.

Finally, a huge thanks to my parents.  My parents are the best parents in the world. Seriously, how many parents are likely to not only encourage but help their daughter pursue her dreams...even when her dreams take her to Africa?  Reasonably, I should be working and saving money this summer while also trying to find a teaching job to come back to so I can pay off student loans from college.  My parents understand my passion to teach these children though, and I love them so much for that. If you see Neal and Kim out and about this summer give them a giant hug for me...and then reassure them that I'm healthy, safe, and wearing my sunscreen :)