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

The PERFECT gift...

Today was a BRILLIANT day!
As tomorrow is my last day at work, my lovely colleagues decided to give me a really sweet card, some Maltesers (aaaaaaaaaaalways welcomed), a travelling towel and....a solar shower. Indeed...a SOLAR SHOWER! The perfect gift for someone who was almost adjusting to the idea of 5 month just with a bucket...I literally jumped. I love it. It's the most precious gift I could think of!!!

Now I feel a real humanitarian worker, with proper tools, ready for the field challenge :)
And after all, it's not said for nothing that Oxfam is world leader in water and sanitation, right??  :)

Thank you so much to all my colleagues in Supporter Relations. I'll think of you even more now!!

Fede

Talking about priorities...:P

Just a small update to let you know that I've paid off all the fees for the 5 months.

Now I just need to sort the vaccinations out, and the baggage.

I also received all the details about where I will stay.

As expected, I'll be hosted by a family. And apparently the house is at walking distance from the workplace (good I like walking...because I don't know why, but I feel it won't be "our" walking distance eh eh).

What I'm not sure about...is that it looks like I won't have a toilet (which I knew), but I'll have a telly....NOW....SHOULD WE TALK ABOUT PRIORITIES???Well...from a certain point I should be happy....I have been without telly for the past few years...now finally I'll have one!! :P

Fede

Finally I had the confirmation for my placement!

So, after 5 weeks of wondering what I'll end up doing in Uganda...here we are:

I'll be working at the Integrated Disabled Women’s Association (IDIWA), an association for persons, especially women, with disabilities.  The organization has a cross section of activities supporting the rural poor. 

Apparently I'll get involved in most of the project areas like microfinance, project planning and management, and HIV/AIDS work. I'll be involved in building capacity for the staff to handle diverse issues in management of loans and microfinance in general including loan tracking, portfolios, budgeting, developing business plans, etc.  (should I warn them that my financial skills need...well...a bit of improvement?!Naaa, I'll be just fine, I'm sure :P )

I already had a look on their website http://www.idiwa.org/ and I virtually met the rest of the team!

So...now...how does that sound if not exciting and challenging??? :)

Oh I know it already...I won't sleep tonight...too much adrenalin!!

Fede

Waiting time....

This is the time I hate the most: the "waiting time". 

I've sent all the documents, and now I just have to wait to have all the detailed info from Eliabroad about what project I'll work on. Apparently they taylor your volunteering experience according to your skills and expected outcome...well, that would be great!

As soon as I have all the info, I'll post them!

In the meantime, I keep my mind busy with some reading. If you are interested in African modern history, I'd suggest "A passage to Africa", by George Alagiah. A really powerful insight on the most recent and crucial events in the African continent, country by country. 

If you want a lighter novel, try "The lion children", by Angus, Maisie and Travers McNeice. It's an amazing story about these kids moving to Botswana with her mum and toddler brother. They soon fell in love with Africa, the life in the bush and the lions. 

I have to admit it: day after day, I'm getting more and more excited (and nervous)...and I love the feeling!!

Fede