Most recent projects

This is my most recent video including some of the projects I am working on here at Masaba Secondary School. I hope you enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1YLlbCXHZeU

Budadiri Unleashed

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HL1hpAbniwk&feature=channel

My latest video of me teaching, my river, a traditional african ceremony, and much more...

MALARIA has struck!!!

I went to teach at my school today and I told some of my fellow teachers my symptoms and it was confirmed by three of them I have malaria….

Malaria is very common here in Eastern Uganda. It kills people on a daily basis, mainly children and the elderly. It actually kills more people than AIDS here in Uganda and most of Africa for that matter. Malaria is spread by mosquitoes. Considering there are hundreds of mosquitoes in my house at any given time it would makes sense I would get it. I hate those little guys…

But one thing I failed to mention is that my symptoms were that I had a headache and felt tired. One of the things that is hilarious is that whatever symptoms someone has it is automatically diagnosed by everyone and their mother that they have malaria (our medical staff warned us of this). Didn’t sleep well last night, must be Malaria. Feeling tired (even though you walked 10 miles the day before), it must be Malaria. Anything and everything results in Malaria… So Mom, don’t worry as I am confident I don’t have Malaria despite what everyone here says.

My new video is out... MTV cribs... Uganda Style...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7jHe2C6R_A

Muzungu

In my last blog I briefly mentioned being called “muzungu” by everyone and anyone here in Uganda. I hear muzungu at least 15 times every day. Whether I am walking down the street to the market to buy some eggs or just playing football (soccer) with some local kids they point at me and call me muzungu constantly. Where ever I go I am noticed by everyone along the way...

Ugandans define the word muzungu as a white person. The word muzungu originates from Swahili and is defined as a world traveler but most Ugandan’s don’t know this. White people don’t live here and aren’t seen often so they have a name for us. The good news is Ugandans hold muzungu’s in high regard. Without even knowing me they think I am really smart and show me a lot of respect. When passing old women on the street they greet me using the name “baba” which means respected father, which is a very privileged name. When children shake my hand they bow down on one knee and put direct their face to the ground as a sign of respect.

On the other hand, there are a few downfalls of being a muzungu. I frighten my neighbor’s 3-year-old daughter. Anytime I get within a 4-foot radius of her she starts to cry. She is scared because she has never seen anyone like me before. Another downfall is they associate that all muzungu’s have a lot of money so they will beg from me as well. When they beg for money from me I also beg for money from them in the local language to catch them off guard. They generally get a kick out of it because they have never seen a muzungu speak their local language before.

Overall it is fun being the muzungu in my village. I am looking forward to seeing how they respond the longer I am here. They still treat me different and probably always will but I still anticipate some type of change after being here two years…

Don't steal anything in Uganda...

3:32 pm. Thursday afternoon. I am sitting on my front porch talking to Marcos, one of my students, about what he has been doing during the break. I hear loud screaming by the river near my house. As we stop talking to listen to the noise, it is getting louder. The screaming and yelling is now coming from a group of people that must be getting closer to us because the volume is constantly increasing. Marcos and I get up to look at what is happening behind my house and we notice a group of about 30 people all running in the same direction making lots of noise. I look at Marcos in confusion and he explains to me that they caught someone stealing from their garden. He went on to explain that if someone steals they first catch them and them beat them. Beat them to death. Even if it is just a stem of bananas I asked? Marcos went on to explain that it doesn’t matter what you steal… If you are caught you will be beat to death. Uganda Lesson 101: Don’t steal anything.

I have been here in Budadiri for about two weeks. I have finally moved into my house and truly love it. I am going to share some of the details of my house in the next video so stay tuned… The neighbors have been so welcoming to me and inviting me over to share meals with them all the time. Sure it is always rice and beans but they still share all they have. The hospitality of everyone here is amazing. I have received numerous house warming gifts and I just moved in…

I start teaching on May 24^th and am really excited to do it! It is going to be a challenge to manage an average class size of 100 students but I am excited and ready for the challenge. I never really understood Physics that well but it is never too late to learn it since I am going to have to teach it in 2 weeks! Everyone I meet in town asks them if I am going to be their teacher and are super excited if I am and if I am not they ask why I don’t want to teach them? They are all excited for the “muzungu” or “white man” teacher so I am just hoping I don’t disappoint them…

I am a murderer.... What did I kill???

Please see my most recent update!! It includes me killing something I never killed before and which city I am going to spending the next two years at...

There is one thing you most do. If you watch this video you must put a comment on this blog posting. Let me know you are watching! Give me an idea for my next blog. Anything at all... The comments make my day so please comment!!!! If you watch and don't comment... shame on you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQIrqox4NNw

Sending some love your way!!

MJ