Loved and cheese

Many of you know, one of the more stressful things I faced before I left was that cheese is not common in Africa- super uncommon in most of Uganda (except for in the city and it is very expensive).

Well, you all have no need to fear for me anymore... Because I learned how to make cheese yesterday. (mozzarella and ricotta)

Today I made my first batch by myself of ricotta!

Loved and Adjustment

Hi friends. I am struggling. It is in my nature to be trusting. This culture is different. I understand some of the reasoning- but it is hard to maintain "me" and adjust.

I struggle with the fact that people stare at me ALL the time. Simply because I am white.

I struggle with the fact that I can't understand anything anyone says. (unless it is come here, or hey white person).

I struggle with the fact that I have to be constantly on my guard about not being taken advantage of financially. (because believe it or not, there is a white person price that is slightly higher for everything here... if you are not careful).

I struggle with the fact that people on the compound who are Ugandian and do speak English, have heavy accents and I always have to have them repeat what they are saying. (they also like mumbling).

I struggle with the fact that power and water are luxuries.

I struggle with the fact that paved roads are not a thing, and that dirt roads deteriorate.

I struggle with knowing how much I should trust everyone here.

but I am incredibly thankful and happy to be here.

I am learning so much, that often I am so exhausted by the end of the day that I fall right asleep and don't wake up several times in the night.

I am incredibly happy that I not only have the opportunity, but the privilege to have your support with me.

(I don't want this to sound like I am unhappy - because I'm exactly the opposite. I mean this to be a simple statement that adjusting is hard but I know I am going to be okay - but right now its just hard).

Loved and electricity

Hi friends, I am finding that weekends work best to give you updates and fill you all in, on my exciting adventures.

This week, I learned that just because sometimes I have electricity and water, does not mean that all the time I will have electricity and water. Thankfully, I live with Americans who have a generator and a water tank to help supplement some times.

Learning that city water and the power plant can go out at any moment have made me more thankful and aware about how I use my resources.

I also found out this week that my shower had been slightly electrocuting me every time I tried to adjust the hot and cold water... because power lines here are not grounded. So I have to remember to take a shower with flipflops on. (granting that water and electricity are both on - today we were missing water).

p.s. I am incredibly thankful for face wipes/baby wipes.

Loved and being a millionaire

Hey friends,

One USD is equal to 2,590 Ugandian Shillings.

In Uganada, I am a millionaire. Also in Uganda I don't understand money. 

Let's talk about my first purchase. The nice Indian man at the grocery store says "35" as my total for a coke and some cookie wafers. I had not been told about the exchange rate... All I knew is that I had just pulled 1,000,000 Ugandan Shillings out of my bank account (around $400) because that is what they normally do (it is the max you can pull out and to minimize the fees you are charged). First off the bank they took me to - which they said is the best (least fees and most money you can take out) does not accept my special bank atm card I got to travel with. 

So. Here is the thing - you are in a foreign county. people are staring at you because you are white and you just realized you are basically a millionaire. The man says "35" as your total. Do you think 35 hundred or 35 thousand. In Uganda they don't tell you - you are just expected to know. I just stood there and shuffled through my wallet.  In this case it was 3500. The nice man at the grocery store laughed and told me it took him six months to master the money when he first came.  

That being told to me - I might figure out the money stuff in time to leave. 

lots of love, 

Michelle!

Loved and Bathroom Struggles

Hi friends!

First off. I am incredibly thankful for indoor plumbing. I am incredibly thankful that here in Uganda, I have indoor plumbing. and I am incredibly thankful for city water and electricity.

here are some pictures of my bathroom.

The shower controls lead to a nozzel directed at the corner. 

I am actually having pretty good luck with this setup. but it is different... and here is how. This picture was taken during the day. At night, the bathroom looks 100% different because there is no light in the bathroom... so we leave the door open and turn on the light in the bedroom, which helps. You want to know what doesn't help. When electricity is off. Then its like hey, its not only dark in here but you must also hold a flashlight.

I have a hot water heater. Tawni gave me advice on it and I didn't listen the first time. (let it heat up the water for 30 minutes first... if there is both electricity and water).  I only let it heat up for about 15 minutes. That results in the water turning ice cold.  I have another question after I did follow her instruction tonight... which is - the water was scalding hot if I just turned on the hot water and freezing cold if I tried to add cold water. Is there an in-between?

These are very big 'first-world' problems.  I am beyond blessed to have a bathroom - I feel like a princess - just sometimes a frustrated one who has to pee in the dark or get burns in the shower.

Lots of love,
Michelle!

Loved and... I'm here!

Dear Friends, 

I am here and things are going great.  Sorry I haven't posted yet, and there is so much to share, yet when I sit down to write it out, all I can think is, today is good.

Lets start by going over what its like living here. I feel like I am a princess. I live in the back of the compound and up some stairs - which in my head I refer to as my 'tower.' I have a canopy bed (also known as mosquito netting).     And I have a bathroom in my room (read: look for a post about my struggles there).  

My 'tower' has two rooms - the front room, and a bedroom (which the bathroom is in). Currently Tawni is sleeping in the front room, but after she leaves it will just be for me to do school in/have as an entry way/have a refrigerator. (p.s. I have a refrigerator and a fan and electricity and hot water).

View from my 'tower'

so tiny!!

Kitty doesn't like flash photography.

We also have a pet kitty, I don't seem to be nearly as allergic to him, as I am to every single cat in the United States.  He (actually we are unsure if its a boy or a girl) is very cute and enjoys meowing loudly at night (keeping me and Tawni awake) climbing in his cage, and playing/exploring.

I have met many Ugandians here. As far as white people go... a couple from Australia, a retired pastor from Virginia who we met while we were just out one day, a girl from Georgia a little older than me who teaches in town, and a boy (also a few years older than me) from Texas (although I am incredibly confused on what he does).  I walked into uptown Mityana with Tawni and Elizabeth (the owner of the orphanage's 11 yr old daughter) and the children yell at us "mzungu" which means "white person." You are constantly on display. Everyone stares at you all the time.

We saw a two white people in uptown yesterday, which is very rare. The grocery store here is run by two Indian men. There are a lot of people from India here. I asked Angie (the orphanage owner) and she said that they own a lot in Uganda and don't always treat Ugandans well.  To me, they were very nice.  One that helped me the other day was teasing me because I cannot figure out the money(look for a post on money coming soon). 

I am still working on getting settled but it is so beautiful here and the kids are sweet and all is well. 

Lots of love, 

Michelle!