Man Of The Year Award Goes To...DJ Sullivan!!!

On Thursday afternoon Heidi got home and the stitches in the rear went well and she wasn’t hurting too bad. Heidi, Amber, Natalie, Ashley and I went to a women’s group where we teach them English. I was still pretty achy, but it’s always nicee to get out of the house and walk around, it makes me feel way better. It was in Nmango and we decided to walk. I try to walk to our sites as often as possible so I don’t become a total fatty (if you haven’t noticed all I talk about is food and Irene may turn me into a fatty if I don’t start working out). The walk was long and pretty hot, but I love to feel the burn baby! The women are so cute and fun to work with. They get so excited to learn and it is so much fun. I love working with children SO much but the more and more I’m here the more I learn how much I also enjoy working with older people (high school and women’s groups). We taught them basic business words and question words like how, when, where, etc. They are so eager to learn and so fun to joke around with (often through the interpreter as many know absolutely no English. After the womens’ group we went to Deo’s house (the mayor of Lugazi where some of our volunteers will be living). The new volunteers all arrived safe and sound so we met them there to take them on tours of the village. Me and Jackie were with Lindsi. I love that girl so much, she is hilarious and I’m so stoked she is here. We took her all around but I’m sure not much sunk in, there is so much to remember and the only real way to learn it is going around day by day. We got to go on boda-boda ride which is always a great time and saw all the important stuff (like the market and wannabe grocery store). We finished around 6:30 and we were all super exhausted. At 7 Auntie Irene had a yummy dinner ready for us. How on Earth she makes a meal that delicious for that many people, I will never understand. All I know is that I’m so grateful each and everyday for that amazing woman! Man, we thought we were squished before, but now we have to fit 24 people in our tiny living room for dinner. It is ridiculous but somehow I’m sure we’ll get used to it. Thank goodness they’re all totally awesome and so it will be a blast (I just sure hope no one is claustrophobic)! We had a little team meeting after dinner to try and figure everything out with the new people for the coming day. I’m really excited to have some more hands to help with my PWD project. The new people unpacked and we got things figured out and arranged. It always sucks to change things around and reconfigure once you get into your routine. Our sink finally got all fixed and it looks great (of course the plumbers bag had a rainbow on it and said Colon as if it was his name…awesome). I was in desperate need of a shower, but cold water didn’t sound too great when I feeling feverish and achy. I took one for the team and got in. I was literally screaming out loud because the water was so cold and miserable. Surprisingly after I got out I felt SO much better! I came out and chilled the rest of the night away with some of my fellow volunteers.

On Friday morning we woke up nice and early and had a lovely meeting to get the new volunteers up to speed. We didn’t have power so I had a real boring breakfast and as soon as I finished the power came back on…boo no eggs dang it! After their meeting Leslie, Tori, Katie, Kelsi, Kira, and I went to Iganga. We had to switch from a taxi to a bus halfway there and we had to sit and wait for ½ hour til the bus filled. Ah it was such a hot and long ride! I was slightly bugged when we got there until a man came up to me selling chapatti. It was the largest, fluffiest chapatti I’ve had since I’ve been here. Of course food always puts me in just the greatest mood ever. It’s always so fun to see the kids light up when they see us come. We made masks with them. I seriously think I get even more excited than the kids for the crafts. I love playing around with the crafts and my mask turned out super rad! The kids now know me and Leslie by name because we’ve been going there so consistently. It’s so fun and I love them so much (I seriously wanna throw a few of them in my suitcase and bring them home). We played some games and had a great day with them. When we left I was starting to get a super bad headache because all I had eaten all day was that chapatti. On the way home a got an egg roll and it was to die for (Not what you’re thinking, egg rolls are a hard boiled egg wrapped in potato and fried. They taste just like hashbrowns with an egg in the middle, as amazing.) We came home and Lauren and I helped Irene with dinner. I gave her one of my granola bars and she was in heaven, she totally loved it. Of course dinner was extra good because I helped make it! We all went to bed pretty early because we were getting up early to head to Mt. Elgon in the morning.

On Saturday morning we all got up at 5:30 (Katie, Lindsi, Kelsi, DJ, Tori B., Leslie, Lauren, Tori G., Trent, Corbin, Kira, Ashley W., Heidi, Amber, Jeff, Dan and I). we left the house by 6 to head to the taxi yard. Our trip guide’s name was joseph and he was SO awesome. He was telling us all sorts of cultural stuff and all sorts of fun jokes! We had quite a long drive and we were all ready to get off the bus when we finally got there. You know you are pathetic when you get to the point where you get excited about one latrine over another. Let me fill you in on the goods…the ideal latrine consists of a porcelain bowl with foot blocks (those have a nice large hole and your feet are up high so you don’t splash yourself). We started our hike and it was quite a good little hike. After hiking for about 45 minutes we separated into 2 groups. One for those wanting a tough hike that was fast paced and one for those wanting a nice hike at a normal pace. Of course I will never admit I can’t do something and so I went for the hard one. I tried to be a tough guy and keep up with the Canadians (they’re crazy and super fast). I had no idea what I was in for. It was straight uphill and super intense, I really think we need to teach Africans the concept of traversing, it was straight up a hill. I love hiking, but this was probably the hardest hike I’ve ever done…total stairmaster! Just imagine hiking Mount Olympus without any traversing and then add in humidity so you can breathe and the hot African sun! I tried to pretend I wasn’t breathing too hard, but I was really I was dying. Sweet DJ stayed in the back helping along some girls in the back that were struggling. He was keeping up everyone’s spirits and even carried some of the girls’ backpacks. I really wondered at times how I’d make it, but somehow I did. Near the top there was the coolest makeshift ladder. It was kinda sketchy, but super cool. The whole way up African kids kept flying past us carrying all sorts of bundles (matooke, beans, bananas, etc.). It was pretty embarrassing for us. I haven’t sweat like that in a good long time! At the top of this mountain was a village, so ridiculous. The people that live there do that hike at least once, if not 2 or 3 times a day to get things from down below. I can’t even imagine living like that! When we got to the top it was totally worth it. We sat at the top and ate lunch (picnics on a hike….quite possibly one of my favorite activities on the planet). Our guide told us all sorts of customs and local traditions, so interesting. There was an amazing waterfall that washed over this cliff (it looks small in this picture but it was huge and breathtaking).

This is above the falls.After we hung-out at the top for a bit our guide wanted us to hurry because it looked like it was gonna rain. We didn’t understand how important this really was so we sorta still took our time. Out of no where it started pouring, like African sized raindrops…that means trouble. Now remember how steep it was…yeah so rain, mud, steepness, and slick rocks are NOT a good combo. I kept slipping and was terrified. Of course DJ stepped in again to save the day. He was so patient with me and Tori B. Basically holding my hand the entire way down. At one point he was helping me and he slipped and started rolling down the mountain. I have never been so terrified. I started screaming his name with all my might because I couldn’t see him anymore. I literally thought I was responsible for the death of him and I was freaking out. Somehow he caught a root and kept himself from falling to his death. I haven’t ever been so happy to see someones face! We kept hiking out little baby steps. We found a little hut and they let us in. 5 of us crammed into a room hooked to the side where the mother was cooking (we didn’t want to dirty her house). She insisted we go inside and wait for the rain to slow up. It was a tin roof and sounded like the sky was falling. None of us could communicate (different languages all over the place) so it was rather silent but still hilarious and fun. It didn’t seem to slow up much, but we headed out anyways. They took us to a local’s home to meet with a women’s group. We felt awful going in their house, but they insisted. They had us (absolutely covered in mud) sitting on all their furniture and tracking mud all over. They fed us steamed milk and bananas, mmm so yummy and warmed us all right up. They showed us some crafts they’d made and sang songs for us. We loaded back on the bus and they took us to our hotel…can you say amazing! It was beyond all your wildest dreams! (This is me and my roomies Lindsi and Lauren) Ya know all those wannabe tropical resorts that try to look like paradise, that’s what this place is like naturally. It was a bunch of bungalow huts with a view off a cliff of an amazing lush green ravine, there was a giant waterfall spilling over the cliff, all sorts of tropical flowers, tiki torches, warm showers, and the most helpful staff ever. After we got all showered off and clean we went to the club house for dinner. They had the most amazing table set for us looking out on paradise. It was the best meal thus far (4 courses and each one was mmmmm I can’t even describe it). After dinner we had a big bonfire looking over the edge. A ton of the team got tried super early from our hike and but a small group of us were die hard at the fire. It was so fun getting all cozy and telling all sorts of fun stories. It is so nice because it is too cold for mosquitos, so you can stay outside and enjoy the evenings. Our African guide Joseph was telling us some great local stories as well. A few of us went back to Leslie and Tori B.’s and got all comfy and had more chats til we fell asleep.

On Sunday morning we got to sleep in and then they fed us a wonderful 3 course breakfast (wow I’m such a fatty). After eating we headed off to our next hike (and all of us were SO sore). We went and saw 3 different waterfalls. The hike was pretty steep, but nothing like the day before. We had so much fun and each time I kept wondering what on Earth I ever did to be so lucky to be in such a beautiful place! It’s so fun seeing all the locals living among this amazing place and they seriously have no idea how out of this world their backyard is. We got to wade in a little pool and a bunch of the boys jumped off a little cliff. I can’t get over the beauty of this amazing continent! We got back to the hotel and had another amazing meal. A fat spaghetti lunch that ugh, gosh I get way too excited about food! We laid out on the deck and soaked in the beauty and then got back on the bus. The ride home seemed even longer and man I hate buses sometimes! We finally got home around 8 and somehow I was hungry and rushed in to enjoy Auntie Irene’s deliciousness! We had a bunch of team meetings to plan the week. I experienced a Father's Day miracle that night. Somehow my fam got a few texts to call me (I never sent one though). They called and I was totally surprised. It was amazing and SO fun!!! I even got to talk to Whit. I'm so excited to give the whole fam a HUGE hug when I get home. I love all of you sososso much!!!

This morning we got up early and headed so SSanyu Primary school (like elementary school). We go and observe classes for several days and then based on what we see we conduct teacher trainings to better the effectiveness of teachers here. Me and Lauren sat in Primary 1. The class was so fun and the teacher was amazing. The kids were having a ball. These teachers do amazing things with the limited resources they have been given! The students were SO smart and knew as much if not more than first graders in the US, I was astounded. They had all sorts of fun songs to help them memorize. It was such a blast to watch and I cannot wait to go back tommorrow! Now I'm off to market to restock my food supply.