Update!

Hello again, I’m sorry for the delay, but the internet I purchased has MUCH to be desired slash doesn’t really work at all sometimes.. which is indeed frustrating because it wasn’t exactly cheap. 

Anyways, I will try and summarize the past few days. On our way back from Mwanza, Father stopped at his home village, Rukora, and we hung out with his family for a little. It was very fun, even with the language barrier. We traveled home, had dinner with the whole gang, caught up on the past few days and in the morning, Father left w/ Olivia for the airport.. he was also to retrieve two women from his parish in Illinois, Carol and Nancy who were flying in the same day she was flying out. 

 
While Father was gone, I went to town and purchased things I will need for Father’s dads memorial service on Tuesday the 18th and a really nice pair of sandals as well! I met with Sr. Ameila, an English speaking nun who helps run St. Severin’s where I’ll be teaching, and the principal of the school later that day. We discussed my strengths and weaknesses and even though I am without any sort of teaching license, I will be an English teacher starting on June 24th! The kick of it all is that I have also been asked to teach the form 6 (a chunk of high-school for America) Biology! HAHAHA WHAT!? I am studying up myself now. I told them I was more comfortable w/ English and religion, but, they really needed someone w/ University experience to teach them biology because their state exams are the week after I leave.. so, that should indeed be interesting. I’ll have 3 classes every day and two on Saturdays! (It’s a boarding school.. most here are, actually) My schedule ranges quite a bit, but I’ll always be done by 230pm at the latest. I am excited and ready to do something more productive. 

I’m not sure how much you could grasp from previous posts and what not, but it’s been quite difficult living with these other Americans. Father even finds it so.. they knew they were coming to Africa.. they knew water, electricity, food, and accommodations probably wouldn’t always be great.. what’s even more frustrating is that the biggest complainer has been here twice before!! I think that’s another reason I am very ready to move on to my house at St. Severin’s. All of those things I mentioned are MUCH better than I ever expected, especially after visiting some of his family in the neighboring village or just seeing other homes as I pass by the roads.. So, what’s the point of all this? Carol and Nancy have been lifesavers. They are very down to earth, they’re hilarious, they don’t make me feel like I’m too young to be here, they’re interested in what I have to say, and probably most importantly, they’re very motherly.. and sometimes, it gets hard to be here alone without much communication. They will only be here until July 4th, but it has been a wonderful gift to have them around so far. We’ve done some mini missions of hanging out with kids and meeting locals, trying to converse, even with only smiles and laughs.. we went back to Rukora on Sunday the 16th and while Father was having a planning meeting with 30+ family members, we took 20+ children around the village, walking through banana, coffee, pineapple, and other such plantations. It was a barrel of fun. I also spoke with several of my ‘age-mates’ as they call it here.. 20-22 year olds.. about America and things like that. They were practicing their English and it was nice to hang out with them. They all deemed me their sister, so I now have 3 brothers! Huzzah! I will post pictures on facebook when/if I can. 

OH! Another thing I forgot to mention was that on mass on Sunday, Paula, one of the Father’s nieces, who enjoys me quite a bit, came up in the beginning of mass and sat on my lap the entire time. You have to process up twice during their mass, once for offertory and once for communion—both times, she came with me, holding my hand.. now, we mu-zun-gos (white people.. and that’s spelt phonetically, not for reals) are always starred at, but every.single.head turned when they saw a little African child holding on for dear life to a big ol’ whitey. It was kind of funny, but I did enjoy her company quite a bit. 

Speaking of being big, I was born in the wrong country! Skinny women here are very unattractive. If a boy brings a skinny woman home, she is almost shunned and most families disapprove.. now, you’re probably thinking that most of the women here are skinny, and you’d be correct.. but, all in all, bigger women are more attractive and beautiful to men here. So, you can imagine that I am quite the sight. A big, young, white girl walking around.. Father has already promised my hand in marriage quite a few times.. which is slightly embarrassing.. hahaha but, it’s all in good fun. 

Since I was hoping this trip would clear my head about my future.. I’ll give a little tidbit about that.. all of the adults here have asked my plans, of course.. so, I’ve said the same thing several times.. even to the American PA’s that were here on Saturday.. and almost all of them said, you shouldn’t just lay out two paths, you’re 21.. don’t narrow your focus just yet.. Who knows what I’m to do, I guess.. I just want to be happy and feel like I’m doing something to better at least someone or something.. that’s the only requirements! 

I was glad I got to call my dad for Father’s Day, I also had a quick hello to Riley, which was nice, too. 

We are going to the National Park in Serengetti in the next few days, I am excited—this’ll be the last vacation-type thing I will be doing while I’m here, so I better enjoy it!
Thanks for the read! ( :