The First Week.

Beautiful. Challenging. Breathtaking. Emotional. Inspirational. Overwhelming.

This past week has been overflowing with so many different emotions. More mixed emotions than I’ve experienced in a long time. I’m not quite sure what I was expecting, but I don’t think I expected it to be this hard. To be honest, I’ve sort of been avoiding writing a blog entry because there’s just so much to say and I’ve no idea how to say it all. So I’m not even going to try.

I do, however, want to briefly fill you all in on how I’ve been doing thus far. The first couple days were hard. Getting used to the hot weather, being stared at constantly, the different foods, the new sights and smells, the lack of toilets and showers, the bugs, and the language barrier was a lot to take in. Because of the overwhelming nature of it all, the only way I could seem to process my new environment was through tears. 

On Sunday I was dropped off at the place I will call home for the next four months. I live with the Kitamarike family. In the family are Henry (my father), Jane (my mother), Kennedy and James (my 17-year-old brothers), Isaac (my 14-year-old brother), Irene (my 6-year-old sister) and Eddie (my 1-year-old brother). They are such a loving family and I’m looking forward to getting to know them better as the semester goes on. I live in a little farming community with lots of animals! Our home is quite “simple.” I share a room with my sister, I bathe and wash clothes using a bucket, my “toilet” is a hole in the ground, and I live out of my suitcase. In a few weeks, these things will be completely second nature, and probably won’t seem unusual at all. I’m looking forward to that.

It took me a few days to get over the initial culture shock, but I already feel that everyday gets easier. Even though I am continually on my toes, afraid of committing some “cultural taboo,” I am realizing that those moments of misunderstanding are opportunities to learn about the culture. I find comfort in the fact that it will get easier as time goes on.

Laundry time!

I will leave you with a list of the things I am already learning to appreciate and love about my life here:

-walking home during an African sunset and waking up to an African sunrise.

-the fact that I get to share this experience with 42 other American students who understand exactly what one another is going through.

-the way my baby brother, Eddie, dances when he walks.

-the beauty of the place. The colors seem so much more vivid under the equatorial sun - the grass is greener, the sky is bluer, and the flowers are more vibrant.

-the bond I already have with my brother, Kennedy. He and I fetch water every evening and we’ve already had many good conversations. He jokes around with me like a brother would, which helps me feel like I really belong in the family.

-the fact that I can hear live traditional African music every night while falling asleep.

Jonathan (a friend of my brothers), Isaac (14), Eddie (1) and Kennedy (17).

Being in this unfamiliar environment has left me feeling afraid, confused and overwhelmed. But in the midst of these changes, I’ve found beauty in the fact that I know the One who never changes. Although I’ve known this my whole life, the truth of it has never felt as real as it did this past week. I’ve felt so much comfort as I cry out to the God who sees my tears, understands all my mixed emotions, and holds my future in his hands. His faithfulness continues to amaze me.


Thank you all for your prayers and support. It is so encouraging to know I am being upheld by the prayers of so many I love. I hope everyone is doing well! Shoot me an email and let me know what’s going on in your lives. I’d love to hear about it!

Goodbye from Uganda! (Weeraba!)