Just call me NAMPIJJA

hello again! njagela uganda! i love uganda! so it has been a very emotionally draining, productive, and englightening week for me. i have learned so much about development in the last few days and the role that i play in it here.
*oh sidenote; my mom informed me that my blog has many spelling and grammatical errors haha. so my fellow readers, just so you know, i do know how to write better than this, but many keys dont work and the delete button sticks :)
well i will catch up on the beginning of the week first. we went to the uganda vs kenya football game!! it was so much fun. it was also kind of a weird day because we drove to the capital, kampala, to gte there, and stopped at dominoes pizza. i felt a little guilty because it was so easy and cheap for us to go and get normal food. i just thought about the people in our little neighborhood who don't have that ability. its hard to explain, but it was just an eye opening experience for me. but the game was really fun! we got there early so we sat on the front row! instead of cheerleaders, they had tribal dancers who did the coolest things like play huge drums on their heads and even kick it while on their heads! uganda even won the game! also, have i mentioned that i'm never goign to get used to the strangers that just walk up to us and take our pictures? they dont try to sneak it either. its a little uncomfortable sometimes hahaha.
me and suzanne visited about ten schools this week and we are doing our first teacher training later this afternoon! i am so excited. so on wednesday, we took a taxi out to the buikwe district to meet with many schools. we were escorted by a teacher in the area we have been in contact with. well, there was a miscommunication of sorts, because we were expecting a meeting and each school put on a presentation for us and gave us time to speak to the entire school. we have realy been gettingput on the spot here. my public speaking is definitely improving! whether i want the practice or not! it was hard because each school saw us as their saviors. the ones who could give them funds to fix all their problems. as an organization, we dont just hand out money. we work with different partners to create projects with them that will be sustainable. so we couldn't make any promises, especially without talking to the rest of our team first. it was a difficult situation. the schools in this area literally have nothing. no materials, not enough teachers, and one school didn't even have a structure. it was a stick roof and the children sat in the dirt underneath it. it was so draining to see so much need and know that we can't fix everything and help everyone. i wish we had enuogh resources, but the truth is that we don't. the more i'm learning about development, the more my mindset is changing. when i came here, i was so excited because i thought i was going to change so many lives and help so many people. and i will. but not in the way i expected. the only difference between the people here and myself is that i was born into a family and country that has education and resources. ugandans are not less capable, hard working, motivated, or intelligent than we are. they simply lack the knowledge of how to improve their circumstances, and dont have resources available to help them suceed. its very heartbreaking, and i was getting discouraged this week. but we are doing our best. i can't help everyone, but i can make a difference so someone every day. and since i have been trying to do that, i have felt more hopeful and optimistic.
well, off of that serious note- i rode my first boda boda this week! they are motorcycles for anyone that doesn't know, and they take you wherever you want to go! me and ally took one through the sugarcane fields to get to seya school. it was the most beautiful ride i have ever been on! just miles of rolling green fields as far as you can see. ahhh i was in heaven. just fyi, women ride bodas sitting sideways. however, us americans prefer the safer alternative! haha the other day i was getting on one again, and the drivre said to me- you have never sat like a woman before?? he was quite shocked, it was pretty funny!
oh and at seya school, one of the head teachers i met with gave me a ugandan name! yes! i've been so excited for someone to give me one! it is........ NAMPIJJA! haha i love it. i now belong to the cow clan! meaning i respect the cow clan. each clan respects an animal, and it means you cannot eat it. the woman that gave me the name also respects this clan so i asked her if she doesn't eat cow meat. she just smiled and said that they made a rule that they only don't eat cows without tails. when i asked why, she burst out laughing and said that there aren't many cows without tails so it is good because then they can eat cow meat! ah i love uganadans :) until next week! thanks family and friends for all the support and emails! its so fun to hear from everyone! mwelaba!! bye!