Update on Gen's Activities: July 29 to August 13

Arua, Uganda- Visit to Our New Home (July 29 to August 5): Gen and her colleague were introduced to Arua by a Language and Cultural Facilitator (LCF) who traveled with them and who hails from Arua. Along the way, Gen was regaled by sights of baboons, macaques, birds (which she couldn’t identify but appreciated), elephants, the Nile River and Uganda’s countryside, which showcased farms, traditional huts and rural Ugandans in action. She and her colleague (Janet) were greeted by their home-stay host families and shared with them afternoon tea at White Castle Hotel. Amazingly, the host families had vehicles that eased transport issue from the hotel to their respective homes. Gen and Janet had fun participating with their respective host families’ activities after each day’s formal orientation sessions with their host country colleagues. They toured local government offices and institutions and met local officials including staff members at the Arua Regional Referral Hospital. They also had Lugbarati language lessons with Alice, their LCF. They have mastered their greetings and leave takings! Awadifo saaru (Thank you very much)!

August 6 to 13: Going back to Kampala, Gen traveled with PC staff members who were in Arua for a workshop. At the end of the trip, she and her fellow passengers enjoyed tasting fruits (highlight: Atis and Guyabano) in season found along the way. It took 9 hours to arrive at the hotel in Kampala. Craig beat Gen by 10 minutes in checking into Kolping Hotel- Kampala. More orientation sessions happened including a tour of Uganda’s national referral hospital, Mulago. Mulago is a multi-building health service delivery complex which caters to all of Ugandans’ health care needs. Gen and her colleagues also visited a traditional healer and a bone-setter. The visit to Kampala ended with the Swearing-In ceremony.