Off to homestay

I have news!! I am going to sandwich it though because it comes with a little bit of a sad note attached. We finally found out which region of Uganda we are going to be placed in and what languages we would be learning. I am going to Tororo district in the East. It is hilly, very green, can get pretty hot, and borders Kenya. It is also not too far from anything in the Eastern part. So I am pretty happy with this part of the country! The down-side is that I am not in a region with any of the people I have become really close with. I sort of hit my first low point since being here when that really hit me, it felt like I was right back at square one. However, I came to Peace Corps to push myself and I did not have these friends before coming, so I know I can handle this. I think all those…wow this might happen…realizations are actually hitting me now, all at once. But I am excited to be where I am at. I have a fellow runner there so we can train together for the marathons that Uganda does host. Also, best part of all, I am going to be in a primary school!! This means that I am working in a primary school coaching teachers on how to include more student-centered  and critical thinking activities. I was told I was given this role for a variety of reasons, one of which was that my trainers feel like I have a strong personality and a lot of background from which I can be a moving force in a lot of real change. It felt really empowering to know my trainers thought I could handle so much and I am super excited that I am going to get to work with kids every day. I don’t know exactly what my role consists of yet, and the first three months are observing and assessing anyway, but I will have a ton of chances to teach in a classroom!

All that said, we are finishing up practice school this week. I had a ton of fun and already we saw some positive changes in how the students were participating in class and how the teachers were teaching. I personally think the Ugandans have a natural way of teaching and being in front of pupils, especially when there are dozens, so we both have a lot to learn from each other. Our last day they threw us this big celebration and it was so genuine and hearfelt. We even got awesome handmade gifts and the kids came up to me and asked me not to go, I might have cried a little (of course) haha. It is going to be very sad to leave my friends and I am a bit nervous for homestay, but now I will finally see what this country is like. I may not have any internet or phone access, depending on electricity at my host home, so if you don’t hear from me for three weeks that is why. Wish me luck!