Again, thanks!

Well I just wanted to say thanks for the people who have sent me packages, like Joan, Mark again, Merinator, and the Sheavlys. It is still such a great surprise and enjoyment when I go to the Peace Corps office and they have a package for me. I don't really care about what's inside, (although, not going to lie, I LOVE the things in them) but just the fact that people are thinking of me in their daily lives when I'm don't think I'm anywhere in the realm of thought because I'm in Africa...well I just think that's awesome. And especially for the Sheavlys; ok, time for a little tidbit of info. I am a local yokle in Canandaigua and my family has been around the area for generations. Usually I roll my eyes at events or facts that come from being from a small town, but this is pretty cool. The Sheavlys were the best friends of my grandparents; their daughter and her husband are best friends with my parents and my brother and I are great friends with their grandsons. Anyways, it was just such a nice thing to get a note and food from them. Yes yes, being across the world and living in a third world country by yourself makes you a little more sentimental than usual towards things from your home... (-:

Just to see snow...

I'm coming home for Christmas! Although I haven't earned much vacation time yet, I' just happy to be coming home for a little while. I'm first going to spend a night with my jersey fam and go to the city. Then I'll be home home for about a week, I know, really short, but I can't help it. I'll be home for Christmas but I need to be back in Africa by New Years because I'm spending it on a beach in Zanzibar, Tanzania. I know I should spend New Years with home friends, but I don't think I'll ever get the chance again to spend it there with friends again! Anyways, if you will be home for the holidays please let me know because the short time that I'll be home is already filling up. I'm SO excited to see everyone in just a couple of short months!

Pet Update!

Ok, well I have names for my pets now. When the other volunteers and I were hanging out one night in Masaka during our IST (a meeting that occurs after 3 months at site to talk about issues and develop plans for activities to do for the next 2 years) I asked them to help me think of names for my pet goat and kitten. For the goat I wanted a name that was appropriate, so I thought about where in America I would find one besides large farms. Not to stereotype, but I thought of the south. Since there are many PCVs in my year from the south I asked for some suggestions that are traditional southern names and one of my friends said, well here are the names of my uncles, “Carthell, Lamoine, Delton, Kenny Wayne…” and once he said Kenny Wayne, I knew that was it. So, although my goat is female, I call her Kenny Wayne and I think it’s funny.

Naming my kitten (who is just ridiculously cute) was a little tougher. I could have gone with the cliché tiger cat names like tigger or something but the name Carrera came to mind I thought about conversations I have had with people about names that I like. I remember back in college when a few friends and I were comparing names that we like and one of my very good friends said Carrera, like the car. Again, not exactly a pet name, but I like it. When I got back to site a few days ago and told everyone that I want to call her Carrera, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to keep that name. Then I realized that Ugandans have a hard time saying the name because there is no ‘r’ spoken in luganda, it is a mixture of an ‘l’ and ‘r’ sound. So, I kept the name because it makes me laugh inside a little when my neighbors try and say it—I know I know, I’m a jerk, but it’s the little things that make you happy.
While I was at IST my neighbors were calling my kitten Sheena. I actually really like that name for a pet, but because they named her sister (who I gave to my neighbor) Tina, I cannot call her Sheena. Cmon, sister cats living next door to the other named Tina and Sheena? No way, so Carrera it is. My cat is finally getting used to me and doesn’t run away all the time, even though I still have some scratches. However, she doesn’t eat all the time, is very picky, won’t come when I call her, bothers me and jumps on my lap when I am busy and don’t want to play with her. So she is such a pain sometimes, does what she wants when she wants and expects me to abide by her rules. No wonder people say having a pet is a bit like a child. (-: