I never knew how much I liked pineapple.

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WOW a lot can happen in a few short weeks. Where to begin? Well.. thanks to our marathon training sessions I now feel like a qualified business woman AND organic farmer. After long hours in the classroom I can write a killer group constitution and conduct some stellar market research. And after many hot hours in the field I know how to plant and manage a banana plantation, make organic pesticides, and make a fertile plot for vegetables.

Yesterday, as part of our training, the livelihood volunteers set out to visit several farms in a rural district just north of Kampala. We all loaded into several Matatoos (Ugandan taxis OR rather rickety old 14 passenger vans with worn velvety seats that are often filled to the brim with 20 or more people) and headed down the chaotic, dusty road where pedestrians, ancient bicycles, blinged out motorbikes, and towering trucks all compete for position as if they were in rally race. We even got the pleasure of navigating a long stretch of roadwork, which in Uganda is the equivalent of off-roading.. in a 14 passenger van mind you. After an hour of darting and weaving we finally arrived to a model pineapple plantation where we were greeted by the loveliest farmer I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. Who knew you could get SO excited about pineapples!? Yet as I stood in the tropical sun listening to this well dressed, weathered, smiling man talk about the life his small plot of fruit has provided him I became almost as enthusiastic myself. And dhen he cut one of the pineapples straight from the plant and expertly cut the first sun warmed, dripping, piece of fruit for myself, I must admit… I was sold.

My days of training are quickly drawing to a close! In just one week I will be headed out to placement as the only blond haired, blue eyed soul for many many miles. My placement village, Mulango, is apparently in the middle of nowhere.. even by Ugandan standards! But it is also reported gorgeous.. even by Ugandan standards. :) Mulongo lies right on the coast of Lake Victoria, the largest lake in all of Africa, which is home to thousands of species of birds and a hardy population of fish. I have even been told that there are monkeys there! What could be better? Besides the wildlife, I will be taking of residence with two Ugandan volunteers, Norah, an adorable, spunky girl that loves to dance, and Dennis Bob, who is the character is name suggests. The three of us will be working alongside two community volunteers who are from the village of Mulongo, Juma, the ultimate class clown, and David, who loves to talk for hourssss. There will never be a dull moment with this crew.

I must say I am quite excited to head off! I am ready to get my hands dirty and explore the country and my community.. anddd I am very excited to NOT live in a room with 7 other girls, to NOT be woken up at 7AM every morning by the radio, and to have some control over my diet (I swear I have never eaten so much rice and beans in my life!).

Here’s to the adventure (and a good nights sleep!)

Greetings from Uganda!

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After 3 days of travel and LITERALLY 24 hours on airplanes I arrived to the sweet tropical smell of the equator. Everything here hits you smack in the face. I thought we would be gently introduced into Ugandan culture, SPW training, and easily fall into our new lives... Oh but how I was mistaken. I was swiftly transplanted, tired and jetlegged, to the SPW training center on an organic farm where I was joined by 7 international and 30 national Ugandan volunteers. There we were thrown into 8 hours of intensive training a day. In a week we have already had crash courses in the history and practice of international development, monitoring and evaluation techniques, SPW standards and requirements, and cultural awareness. At meal times we are served GIANT plates of rice, potatoes, matooke (a kind of banana mush), pumpkin (delicious!), and meat gravy that leaves you absolutely stuffed for the first 2 hours and absolutely starving for next 2. In the evenings we escape into a fairy tale landscape. My eyes have never seen such a varied and contrasting landscape. Every shade of green you can imagine line dusty brick red roads. Bright yellow shops stand next to ramshackle clay and wood huts. Children run after you as you stroll down the dirt track, jumping, dancing, grabbing yours hands yelling muzoongo! muzoongo! (white! white!). It is as though I am are exploring the moon.

It is exhilarating, overwhelming, frustrating, exciting, and exhausting. I couldn't be more satisfied.

You - Gone - DUH!

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Well folks, its about that time. Time for me to leave the lovely shores of America for distant lands once again. Although I must admit, this time I am traveling much further and with much greater purpose than I ever have before. Tomorrow I begin an EPIC three day journey from foggy California to tropical Uganda where I will be working as a Youth Empowerment Volunteer with the non-profit Student Partnership Worldwide for the next seven months. After five months of living in a closet, three months of working two full-time jobs, a week of frenzied shopping, and two days of packing and repacking, I can say that I am now truly ready and, more importantly, EXCITED, for all that lays ahead. I would like to thank all of you that have helped make this day possible! I am truly grateful.

And with that... I am off!

Or, in the worlds of the lovely Tracy Gallagher... You – Gone – DUH!