Face Rash

So the only really exciting thing to happen recently is that I have somehow gotten a face rash. The Peace Corps nurse told me it sounded like it came from some kind of beetle. However, the beetle looks more like an ant…? Apparently, when you squash the beetle there is a toxin it emits that you don’t notice and if you touch any part of your skin, the rash will spread. Not to describe it in detail, but I have a couple lines across my face that resembles very small clusters of blisters. It sounds rather awful, but it’s not that bad, as in Ugandans haven’t said anything to me. Although a face rash in America would make people notice and maybe stare, most people wouldn’t say anything because it’s rude. Ugandans are ridiculously blunt when it comes to physical appearance. So unless I point it out to people, they think it’s acne or something. And I have had it for about 2-3 days now so it’s healing. The first few days I hid in my house but even then, my neighbors said they didn’t notice right away. Anyways…so that is the most exciting thing that has happened lately.

In other news, my kitten is awesome. I have officially named her Ferrari-strange, I know, unless you know I named my other cat Carrera and I’m trying to stick with the expensive European automobiles that are difficult to pronounce. She is just getting used to my house and has ventured outside a couple times. The neighborhood kids scare her as much as she scares them (yes, Ugandans are scared of sweet little kittens). Work wise, the term is about to start so here comes academic workshops and meetings. I'm also slowely getting things done with my thesis again. I have finished one grant for a tree nursery project that won't get funding til October or so and I am just beginning another one that hopefully will get funding in August. That's it, I'll keep you updated...

Not much...

That's what's going on in my life right now...not much. I haven't written a blog entry in a while because nothing too spectacular has happened in a while. All the school kids are on break so none of the teachers want to work either, which means I don't conduct any workshops or anything. Also, the other half of my job which entails assisting teachers who are working while to get their teaching certificate, isn't functioning because they just took their first round of exams and get a break. However, one of my teachers just got me information for a grant that I may write which would get the school cows to breed as an income generating project. However, I asked him to get me the prices last November and now I think by the time it's reviewed (in July or August) it will be too late to finish by May 2008. Extending my service isn't in my grand scheme of things. However, I am also trying to complete my master's thesis for my master's of engineering and because of a funding, or lack thereof, issue with the environmental officer I'm working with, he's been successfully avoiding my calls and meetings for a month. So again, hopefully I will not have to extend but it's not out of the picture.

So what HAVE I been doing? Well... a lot of community integration work, aka hanging out with my neighbors and the teacher's kids. I have also been planting a vegetable garden and germinating seedlings. I have been visiting some of the PCVs who are leaving (a sad time...) while helping out my teachers in other ways, like fixing computers, bikes, tutoring, etc.

But OH, one new fun thing just happened today. A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer gave me one of the kittens that his cat had. So I'm going to try my luck again with this cat, hopefully she won't be stolen also. But now the problem is coming up with a name....

Not much...

That's what's going on in my life right now...not much. I haven't written a blog entry in a while because nothing too spectacular has happened in a while. All the school kids are on break so none of the teachers want to work either, which means I don't conduct any workshops or anything. Also, the other half of my job which entails assisting teachers who are working while to get their teaching certificate, isn't functioning because they just took their first round of exams and get a break. However, one of my teachers just got me information for a grant that I may write which would get the school cows to breed as an income generating project. However, I asked him to get me the prices last November and now I think by the time it's reviewed (in July or August) it will be too late to finish by May 2008. Extending my service isn't in my grand scheme of things. However, I am also trying to complete my master's thesis for my master's of engineering and because of a funding, or lack thereof, issue with the environmental officer I'm working with, he's been successfully avoiding my calls and meetings for a month. So again, hopefully I will not have to extend but it's not out of the picture.

So what HAVE I been doing? Well... a lot of community integration work, aka hanging out with my neighbors and the teacher's kids. I have also been planting a vegetable garden and germinating seedlings. I have been visiting some of the PCVs who are leaving (a sad time...) while helping out my teachers in other ways, like fixing computers, bikes, tutoring, etc.

But OH, one new fun thing just happened today. A fellow Peace Corps Volunteer gave me one of the kittens that his cat had. So I'm going to try my luck again with this cat, hopefully she won't be stolen also. But now the problem is coming up with a name....