Ok, so second post. The exciting news this past week is that i got my site assignment, and found out where I will be living and working and some of what I'll be doing for the next 2 years.
I'll be in the south of Uganda, near the the Tanzania border and about 30 km from Lake Victoria. I'm not supposed to tell you the name of my town for security reasons, but shoot me an email or make plain your desire to know specifics in the comments on the blog and I'll let you know. I'm in Rakai district, not too far from the major town of Masaka.
My organization has great work planned (we got a tentative schedule for the first 2 months). I'll be working with rainwater collection tanks - both already constructed, and aiding in ongoing construction - and something related to GPS data collection for tanks already made. Sounds like they've really got their act together.
One of the coolest parts is that I'm replacing a volunteer who already finished his term with the Peace Corps, so I know my organization isn't a sham, and has good work for me to do. You can see Jon Mellor's work here and here.
I'll have electricity, and great cell phone signal, which means I can go ahead with my plans to invest in a better modem which will allow me to skype, and communicate for free with friends and family back home, which I'm very excited about. I even have a shower and a flush toilet - incredible luxuries here in uganda, though I may not use either. (The shower doesn't have hot water, and honestly I think I prefer a hot bucket bath, and for sustainability/research/personal interest reasons I might try a composting toilet rather than flush my waste down the drain). Haven't decided for sure yet. Anyway, I've got lots of possibilities for research, the community and organization sound wonderful, and I'm excited for this new phase of my Peace Corps experience. I move to Kampala on Tuesday with all my stuff, swear in (i.e. officially become a Peace Corps Volunteer, not just a trainee) on Thursday, and move to site to start my 2 years of actual service on Friday.
Much love to everyone at home!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jon, that's so exciting that you know where you're going to be for the rest of your time in the Peace Corps. Elsy was telling me the other day that you'd have electricity--what a blessing for you guys! We're praying for you here and we miss you in RUF; its especially aparent at our events.
ReplyDeleteRachel Smith
That is so awesome that you're going to be sworn in as an official Peace Corps volunteer. We're all praying for you, and for Kevin as well. Hope all is well :)
ReplyDeleteJackie Champion
Jon, congratulations! Great news you'll have some of the "comforts". May God bless you in your endeavors.
ReplyDelete++Michael
Thanks for the update, Jonathan. It's exciting to read your reports, see pictures and imagine the life there. God bless your work. ~Tim
ReplyDeleteJon,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you have a great site with great communication infrastructure. I head out to my site on the 25th of October; maybe we can organize a Skype conversation in the next few weeks.
God bless,
Kevin
Thanks for the update Jon...keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteJon! How exciting!! Wow, sounds like you've really been blessed with the project you've been given. I can't wait to hear more about what you're doing. Thanks for posting your pictures and LOVIN the C.S. Lewis reference!!!
ReplyDeleteJennifer