Update email to Family & Friends 4

I may have missed posting one, sorry Leran...
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Enjoy this week’s update from our group in Uganda!

Shabbat shalom,

Alexis

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VS Uganda – July 16th 2009

Yoga!

As we further settle into our life here in Ramogi, we are beginning to know Uganda in new and exciting ways. As we walk through the community each day, more and more of the children refer to us by name, further solidifying our closeness with the people here. At the work site, our progress at the school is evident as there becomes less and less work for us to do on this project. We were recently told that before we arrived, the construction for this building had been halted for 15 years, which makes the work we have done in completing the school during the past two weeks all the more meaningful.

Our sweat filled work days are not all work and no play, though – our daily break coincides with the students’ morning recess which means a lot of Dhopadhoan singing, drumming and dancing circles (some of us are starting to get the Uganda moves) and many, many games. We further interact with the school community through guest lectures run by the participants of Volunteer Summer each day. Though we have loved our time at the Makaur Primary School and we are excited to move to the Ramogi campus next week to work on the church roof.

While we have truly made a home for ourselves in Ramogi, this weekend we had a chance to see some of Uganda’s breathtaking natural beauty – Sipi Falls. When we first arrived we took showers (warm ones!), ate new food (avocado salad) in the company of the first Muzungus (white people) we’ve encountered since we came to Uganda. They were Canadians and students from the US. All of this, though, pales in comparison to the highlight of our weekend: the hike on Saturday morning. We saw stunning views and splashed around at the bottom of two waterfalls (one of which was over 300 feet high).

We finished our weekend get-a-way with an afternoon in Mbale, the largest city in south eastern Uganda. We went to Nurali’s Café for a delicious Indian lunch. Though our trip was wonderful, one of the most special moments we had was when we returned to the Ramogi Center where we are staying, where we were warmly welcomed by our friends from UORDP. As the bus pulled in, we sang Wanika (we are here) as we hugged our Uganda family.

It took an expedition away from Ramogi to help us focus on the true connection that we have made with the people and this land. We look forward to our remaining four weeks here, which are sure to be filled with more laughter, intensity, change, exploration and growth.

Till next week!

VS Uganda

Written by: Rachel Greenspan

P.S. Rachel celebrated her birthday this week and Philippa got great news about her exams.