I only have 3 minutes left on my internet so just a quick note to say we made it, we're alive and we're okay!
Start our practicums tomorrow. Toured the hospital yesterday. Very hard stuff to see in person. Will tell more later.
No malaria yet.
People stare at us so much it's unnerving, but I guess they'll get used to us soon.
See you later...will come back I promise!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Friday, April 14, 2006
Oops! Can you tell it was my first time?
That latest entry for Friday, April 14, 2006 @ 7:47pm was posted by Chandra not Erin. I'll get it right next time. Man, computers can be confusing!
Okay, later.
Chandra.
Okay, later.
Chandra.
The Uganda Project 2006
Wow, this is the first time I have ever "blogged" something, how exciting! Erin and Jen talked about getting ready to go and the feelings they are experiencing. My feelings are very similar to theirs. The days are counting down and what seemed like monthsand months away is now only days away. It is all very surreal for me, to think that soon I will be in Uganda, Africa working for three months. Africa! That just blows me away! I will be forever grateful for this opportunity. I have always believed that who a person is has a lot to do with the experiences and opportunities they chose to grab hold of throughout their life. I am very excited and grateful for this opportunity and look forward to the many experiences I will have in Uganda.
I have no idea what to expect while I am there, or even what my practicum entails, but I am not one to back down from a challenge. I will be working in the Masaka Referral Hospital under the direction of the medical Social Worker. I am ready to learn and I am ready to give whatever aid I can to the people of Masaka. Don't worry, I am a realist. I know that the hardships faced by the people of Uganda are more than I can change in three months, they are more than I could change in my lifetime. Change does not happen over night, it takes time. Even if I leave at the end of my three months and no one remembers that I was even there, I will remember and maybe the person who was supposed to change was me. Do I sound a little self-absorbed? Don't worry I know it's not all about me. I'm not looking for miracles, I am simply looking to do my part, help where I can, and do my best to never forget what the experience I am about to have taught me.
Well I guess that is about it. Geez, who knew I'd get on here say this, definitly not me. I hope you enjoy reading what the four of us post on this blog. We will do our best to keep you updated on what's happening with us. This was my piece for the moment. Until next time...
I have no idea what to expect while I am there, or even what my practicum entails, but I am not one to back down from a challenge. I will be working in the Masaka Referral Hospital under the direction of the medical Social Worker. I am ready to learn and I am ready to give whatever aid I can to the people of Masaka. Don't worry, I am a realist. I know that the hardships faced by the people of Uganda are more than I can change in three months, they are more than I could change in my lifetime. Change does not happen over night, it takes time. Even if I leave at the end of my three months and no one remembers that I was even there, I will remember and maybe the person who was supposed to change was me. Do I sound a little self-absorbed? Don't worry I know it's not all about me. I'm not looking for miracles, I am simply looking to do my part, help where I can, and do my best to never forget what the experience I am about to have taught me.
Well I guess that is about it. Geez, who knew I'd get on here say this, definitly not me. I hope you enjoy reading what the four of us post on this blog. We will do our best to keep you updated on what's happening with us. This was my piece for the moment. Until next time...
One week to go!
Okay, so it's getting a little bit scary now. Saying goodbye to my work and all my friends there was kinda hard. But also it made this trip a bit more real. Now all I have left to focus on is going and that's a wee bit anxiety provoking.
There's still lots to do but the lists are slowly being crossed off. No one is in jail so we should be all free to get on the plane ;) I think my biggest fear is getting really sick over there. I'm not looking forward to that, yet it's pretty inevitable.
It's also a bit worrying that although I've been studying social service work for 2 years now, I am being placed at an agency in a foreign country that deals with children and physical disabilites...well I haven't been trained in working with children OR in working with people with disabilites! I'm sure it will be fine...and it will give me so much experience that I would not get in Canada because it is probably not something I would have thought I was suited to do. I'm all about the old people :)
Anyway, I guess I'll be writing next in Uganda...or maybe on our 6 hour layover in London. zzzzzzzz. Anyone know anyone in London that will want to come visit us and entertain us? ha ha.
BYE CANADA!!!!
Oh, PS. It is Jen that will be missing Uma and Jasper, not me. Don't want Spirit to be getting jealous!
There's still lots to do but the lists are slowly being crossed off. No one is in jail so we should be all free to get on the plane ;) I think my biggest fear is getting really sick over there. I'm not looking forward to that, yet it's pretty inevitable.
It's also a bit worrying that although I've been studying social service work for 2 years now, I am being placed at an agency in a foreign country that deals with children and physical disabilites...well I haven't been trained in working with children OR in working with people with disabilites! I'm sure it will be fine...and it will give me so much experience that I would not get in Canada because it is probably not something I would have thought I was suited to do. I'm all about the old people :)
Anyway, I guess I'll be writing next in Uganda...or maybe on our 6 hour layover in London. zzzzzzzz. Anyone know anyone in London that will want to come visit us and entertain us? ha ha.
BYE CANADA!!!!
Oh, PS. It is Jen that will be missing Uma and Jasper, not me. Don't want Spirit to be getting jealous!
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Two weeks before leaving....
Well, only two weeks, less a day, before we leave. I don't want to speak for the others. I'm not nervous...I JUST CAN'T SLEEP!
Wow! The time is here for me to be getting things in order and starting to pack! Yeah riiiight! YIKKES!!!
I am just telling myself this is something I am going to do, not because I have to but because I feel drawn too. I am not afraid, more excited about what this will bring to the heart. Not just mine but theirs as well.
This time in Africa I will be seeing even more than I could ever imagine, as I am lucky enough to be working within the mental health industry. Schizophrenia Fellowship of Uganda, is the name of the organization I will be doing my practicum. Within this practicum I will have the opportunity to work the interconnected realities of HIV and AIDS (i.e. drug use, sex/sexuality, mental health, violence/abuse, grief/loss, discrimination, marginalization, ...).
My personal focus remains in HIV/AIDS with a specific interest on the psycho-social impacts this has to the family and children. At times this may be a painful journey, even overwhelming, and certainly frustrating. But I know from my previous journey it will also be a great privilege and honour to 'walk with' the many, many Zambians who have invited me into their lives to witness their daily struggles. This blog has been set up so you will be able to follow the journey and provide a window into our lives, inform you of the situation 'on the ground' here and for some, move you to action, whatever that might be.
Wow! The time is here for me to be getting things in order and starting to pack! Yeah riiiight! YIKKES!!!
I am just telling myself this is something I am going to do, not because I have to but because I feel drawn too. I am not afraid, more excited about what this will bring to the heart. Not just mine but theirs as well.
This time in Africa I will be seeing even more than I could ever imagine, as I am lucky enough to be working within the mental health industry. Schizophrenia Fellowship of Uganda, is the name of the organization I will be doing my practicum. Within this practicum I will have the opportunity to work the interconnected realities of HIV and AIDS (i.e. drug use, sex/sexuality, mental health, violence/abuse, grief/loss, discrimination, marginalization, ...).
My personal focus remains in HIV/AIDS with a specific interest on the psycho-social impacts this has to the family and children. At times this may be a painful journey, even overwhelming, and certainly frustrating. But I know from my previous journey it will also be a great privilege and honour to 'walk with' the many, many Zambians who have invited me into their lives to witness their daily struggles. This blog has been set up so you will be able to follow the journey and provide a window into our lives, inform you of the situation 'on the ground' here and for some, move you to action, whatever that might be.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)