Settling down...

I know that my last post wasn't too cheerful. Sorry guys! It has been quite overwhelming, but it is getting better.
For example I now have a room with private toilet (plastic box) :P a blessing so I don't have to go out when it gets dark eh eh.
I also got myself some coffee for breakfast (even if it really tastes ginger, because they use the cups to drink tea, which is mixed with ginger. So...a ginger coffee...o well...could go worse...no coffee at all :)

Tomorrow I will start working in a new microfinance institution, as the other one, IDIWA, has little to do. However, in this week I managed to finish thei business plan, which was on a draft, and create a brochure :)

So yes, I just wanted to let you know that is getting better. It takes time, but it gets better.
And...as it looks like I, too, have a good star, apparently another volunteer is coming to stay with us at the end of Jan...for 4 months!!!!

Thanks for all those sending me nice messages. They really help :) so does my diary which I write every morning and evening (Thanks Arjuna!!).

Love

Fede

PS: I was working on the business plan in the office, and from open window I heard the first few notes of "Sign of a victory"...I thought was really funny...as it is the song that became the symbol of the time spent in South Africa..and it always gives me a good kick :)

Hi everyone. I'm alive ;)

Hi everyone.
I'm here...The  flight was ok and by Friday morning I was at the village.
Ok..so this is my current situation...let's forget about the lack of facilities and the mices getting around the household...I'm actually getting used to the pit latrine (when you need it, you need it) and the fact there is little water...but let's talk about the fact that I am  THE ONLY WHITE in the whooooooooooole village. No. I'm not jocking.  I actually wish I was. And I actually wish I knew.
Here bedtime is about 9.30, as electricity is off most of the time and when is dark, is really pitch dark.
So yes, it's tough.

Food is good. Well, actually whoever knows me  should know I have no problem with food :) the only issue is that since I arrived I had rice or pasta with beans. Alternatively posho (maize flour cooked with water and resulting in something similar to polenta. It's what in  South Africa was called pap) with beans. As other choice you can have potatoes or cassava, either fried or, guess what? With beans!!
The skirt is already getting toooo tight!!

Yesterday I started at work. I walk from home to the office by myself for 15 minutes, trying to pretend that people are not staring at me as if I was an alien...
I'm not entirely sure how it will go because my role within the organisation is not define yet.
In the meantime I started to define the draft of their business plan.

I hope you are all fine. Miss you.

love

Fede

Getting ready :)

4 days to go...can I start panicking now??
I'm trying to get ready without forgetting anything too important...and besides all the "better-not-to-forget-or-I-am-dead" stuff, such as documents and medicines, I have to say it's quite difficult to think of EVERYTHING.
I'm supposed to dress nicely at work, but with clothes that I will probably leave behind when I get back. Choose light clothing, because after all you are on the equator, but without showing too much and possibly wearing long sleeves and trousers so to avoid mosquito bites... Avoid black, avoid white...I'm safe. I have almost everthing blue. :P

For me getting ready also means preparing myself psychologically for what lays ahead. Well, at least I can try :)
And looking at the next 5 months as bigger picture...I see many changes, for me and for my dearest friends too. Unfortunately, I won't be next to them, but I'll be with them with all my heart. And they know it :)

So, this is the last updates from Italy.
Thursday my adventure will start, and I have no clue what it will bring along. Am I ready? Not sure, but I'm definitely curious :)

Wish me luck my friends. And thank you for all your amazing support!! You helped me so much. See you soon...in Uganda!!! :P

With love

Fede