This is the Land that I Love

Firstly, if you don’t know the song reference in the title, please click here.

Now that that’s settled, moving along…

At the end of last year, I was thinking that I might go home during the month of June and stay ‘til after the 4^th to celebrate with my family. Every year since I can remember I’ve spent it at my grandma’s house because it was my grandpa’s birthday. Over the years, less and less family members have showed up, so it’s just been grandma and my siblings lately, but it’s always a fun time. We eat a ton of food and shoot off fireworks carefully (reckless) into the field to remember grandpa. It’s one of my favorite holidays for these reasons. But I didn’t go home. I stayed in Uganda.

I didn’t post a blog in June, but a lot of really great things happened that month. One being a certain USA Supreme Court ruling that made me very happy and, as a result, feel very patriotic for my country’s birthday just yesterday passed.

To share this appreciation with my teachers, I made them an American lunch: burgers (with cheese!), salad (with lettuce!), and sugar cookies (with red, white, and blue food coloring!). Also played them some songs that truly capture the essence that is ‘Murica. #alotofTobyKeith #we’llputabootinyourassitstheamericanway

"What is this?"
"It's meat."
"Meat?!"
"Minced meat."
"What animal?"
"Cow."
"Oooh..."
Teacher Paul then proceeds to eat
with caution and curiosity haha!

Is there a more beautiful way to
do Goal 2 of Peace Corps?

This weekend, a lot of us PCVs met up to celebrate this big day. In preparation for it, I had the saloon nnyabo (hair dresser lady) tie my hair into braids with red, white, and blue thread my seamstress friend lent me. I also browsed the market for some good ‘ol patriotic attire. I came out with a red shirt that had the Soviet Union symbol and a bunch of famous communist leaders (Castro, Stalin, etc) holding red solo cups. It was the “Communist Party” XD Marx even had a lampshade on his head, haha!

Yesterday was full of hugs, laughter, and catching up with friends I hadn’t seen in months. Also dancing and a eating more meat at one time than I have in awhile :P Sometimes it’s hard to be away from home, family, and friends, but this is also my home and it makes me happy to know I have such good family and friends here to celebrate and share these good times with <3

 

Cohort 2!