One day we were standing outside one of our classrooms, and one of the Bachelor of Divinity (BD) students asked me why we Americans alter our hair (perming, coloring, etc.). In his words, "why mess with something that's perfect?"
I tried to explain that sometimes our hair isn't as perfect as he thinks it is, but no joy. He pointed out that the women there spend so much time and money on their hair so it can be more like ours, and here God has given us perfect hair, and we go and mess with it (he said, tsking and shaking his head). How's that for food for thought?
And if I haven't mentioned it before, it's hot. It's 5:30 pm, 85 in my afternoon sun-getting room with the curtain drawn to protect against the direct sun rays. I appreciate when the locals talk about how hot it is, so I don't feel like a wimpy, whiny American. So I'll be wimpy and whiny here. Baby, it's HOT.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Birthday buckets
One night a couple weeks ago, several girls in the dorm were filling buckets. It was dark, so I didn't think they were fixing to do wash. I asked what was going on, and they said that it was one of their friends in the other Honours College dorm's birthday, and they wanted to ambush him. I'm talking about three buckets positively FILLED with water.
These people mean birthday business.
And sadly for them, their plan was foiled. I don't know how, only that Violet was exceptionally disappointed that they didn't succeed.
These people mean birthday business.
And sadly for them, their plan was foiled. I don't know how, only that Violet was exceptionally disappointed that they didn't succeed.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Retreat, retreat, retreat...
No, I'm not running away (though Jackson was teasing me enough yesterday that I was threatening to go home - to my dorm - it was the long Wednesday). It's going to be back-to-back-to-back retreats for the next three weekends.
First - Honours College and Uganda Studies Program (USP; the US undergrads who are here for the semester) retreat to Kingfisher Resort, Jinja (where the source of the Nile is). It's Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, and should just be playing and relaxing. While I live in the Honours College, I don't participate in the program. When I asked the coordinator about attending (the RA made a point of asking me if I was coming - very sweet), he said, "well, if you want to relax and have fun, come. Or you can stay if you have work to do." I have work to do, but I want to relax and have fun. : )
Second - theology department retreat to someplace, presumably large, in Entebbe. Bishop Evans Kisekka of Luweero is our speaker. I'm sure we'll have fun, but we clearly have a program. We leave Friday afternoon (woohoo - skip two classes!), and come back Sunday night.
Third - international women's fellowship retreat to Mto Moyoni Retreat Center, in Njeru, near Jinja. Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, and our speaker is Betsey Mulloy, from the US.
The courseworks are beginning to stack up, and though we generally have sufficient time to work on them, losing three weekends of study time is giving me pause. And my introvert is already asking for only-child time to recover from all this fellowship. : )
First - Honours College and Uganda Studies Program (USP; the US undergrads who are here for the semester) retreat to Kingfisher Resort, Jinja (where the source of the Nile is). It's Saturday morning through Sunday afternoon, and should just be playing and relaxing. While I live in the Honours College, I don't participate in the program. When I asked the coordinator about attending (the RA made a point of asking me if I was coming - very sweet), he said, "well, if you want to relax and have fun, come. Or you can stay if you have work to do." I have work to do, but I want to relax and have fun. : )
Second - theology department retreat to someplace, presumably large, in Entebbe. Bishop Evans Kisekka of Luweero is our speaker. I'm sure we'll have fun, but we clearly have a program. We leave Friday afternoon (woohoo - skip two classes!), and come back Sunday night.
Third - international women's fellowship retreat to Mto Moyoni Retreat Center, in Njeru, near Jinja. Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon, and our speaker is Betsey Mulloy, from the US.
The courseworks are beginning to stack up, and though we generally have sufficient time to work on them, losing three weekends of study time is giving me pause. And my introvert is already asking for only-child time to recover from all this fellowship. : )
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
This would NEVER happen in the US
OH MY GOODNESS.
Several times now, the class has instructed the lecturer on when an assignment is due, like on Monday, the lecturer asked, "when is your coursework on divorce due?" And the answer was Friday. The class all said, "Monday," and he didn't flinch. It's dumbfounding to me, but I've gotten used to that one.
Today, our Pentateuch lecturer was explaining how she wanted to handle two assignments: an overview of a book in the Pentateuch, and an exegesis of a predetermined passage. I will say right off that she doesn't have the best command of 50+ people in the classroom, but the class totally ran all over her. It was stunning - the class was telling her how to make the assignments (she didn't want everyone doing Genesis, for example, and people were arguing against being assigned a book, etc).
After class, I was trying to explain how and why I was so flabbergasted, and why I kept saying, "this would NEVER happen in the US!" They said that they were paying for the class, so it should be run the way they want it to. I said that the lecturer is in charge, and they need to respect her wishes. They reiterated they are paying, and they should get what they want. I said that sounded like a spoiled child. I wasn't trying to be harsh, but I'm still trying to wrap my mind around telling the lecturer what's what. I'm all for proposing a more pleasing alternative and negotiating for it, but wow.
Fortunately, no one seemed offended by the "spoiled child" allusion, and laughed at how aghast I was at how things played out. As Jackson has been reminding me constantly, "this is Africa."
Several times now, the class has instructed the lecturer on when an assignment is due, like on Monday, the lecturer asked, "when is your coursework on divorce due?" And the answer was Friday. The class all said, "Monday," and he didn't flinch. It's dumbfounding to me, but I've gotten used to that one.
Today, our Pentateuch lecturer was explaining how she wanted to handle two assignments: an overview of a book in the Pentateuch, and an exegesis of a predetermined passage. I will say right off that she doesn't have the best command of 50+ people in the classroom, but the class totally ran all over her. It was stunning - the class was telling her how to make the assignments (she didn't want everyone doing Genesis, for example, and people were arguing against being assigned a book, etc).
After class, I was trying to explain how and why I was so flabbergasted, and why I kept saying, "this would NEVER happen in the US!" They said that they were paying for the class, so it should be run the way they want it to. I said that the lecturer is in charge, and they need to respect her wishes. They reiterated they are paying, and they should get what they want. I said that sounded like a spoiled child. I wasn't trying to be harsh, but I'm still trying to wrap my mind around telling the lecturer what's what. I'm all for proposing a more pleasing alternative and negotiating for it, but wow.
Fortunately, no one seemed offended by the "spoiled child" allusion, and laughed at how aghast I was at how things played out. As Jackson has been reminding me constantly, "this is Africa."
Monday, January 25, 2010
Fellowships
UCU has fellowships (small groups) for just about everything... I'm in the women in ministry fellowship, international students, singles (in theology), international women's fellowship (tangentially - they meet during my favorite study/nap time on Saturdays). Then there are the regional or diocesan fellowships. And the hall/hostel/dorm fellowships. Saturday night, one of the theology students invited me to their fellowship (for students from the Eastern part of Uganda) on Sunday night; I was happy to attend, and had a great time.
Oh. My. Goodness.
When I went to class Monday morning, at least three people commented that they saw me at the Eastern fellowship. One came because she saw me go in the room. I'm not quite sure what the big deal is, other than I'm not from the east. I guess they were just surprised, hugely so. I'm a little perplexed at why I'm still treated like a special guest - I just see myself as an international student, albeit one who stands out just a tiny bit more than the rest. I just hope this doesn't mean that everyone's going to expect me to come to their fellowships...
Oh. My. Goodness.
When I went to class Monday morning, at least three people commented that they saw me at the Eastern fellowship. One came because she saw me go in the room. I'm not quite sure what the big deal is, other than I'm not from the east. I guess they were just surprised, hugely so. I'm a little perplexed at why I'm still treated like a special guest - I just see myself as an international student, albeit one who stands out just a tiny bit more than the rest. I just hope this doesn't mean that everyone's going to expect me to come to their fellowships...
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Courses thus far
Two posts in a row, so I'm clearly dawdling on creating a questionnaire for my Research Methods class. :)
Classes are going well so far, but it's early yet. By the end of the semester, I should have my research proposal completed. Pentateuch is interesting... I like the instructor, but last class we spent like 45 minutes discussing who the "sons of God" are in Genesis 6:2 (and the lecturer brought it up!), then an hour on Genesis 12-50. Yep - we blew right through Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the tribes, and Joseph. Niiiiice. Of all those topics, which do you think stands a better chance of being on the exam? Hmmm?
We've already had two assignments in Introduction to NT: one on the origins and composition of the Sanhedrin (really want to know why) and on divorce. He's giving us a ton of reading via pages from books to copy, and I think he means it when he says that if he hands it to us, he's taught us (most lecturers just test on their lectures). Worship II and Spirituality will be called something else on the transcript since we've already done Worship II. The African Theology class is good, but again, it's early. I'm a mite bit concerned about memorizing everything I need to for the exams (like names), since I have, oh, ZERO knowledge on anything African.
In African Church History, I get a tiny bit uncomfortable when we discuss the white missionaries, because they brought colonialism with the Gospel. The lecturer was very sweet, and one day made a point of telling me that he means no disrespect, and it's clear that no one there holds anything against me. Nonetheless, it's painful to listen to them talk about Africanizing their worship services - they love the hymns, but have been working, and sometimes fighting, for literally centuries to make their worship theirs. Then of course, we had a discussion on whether jumping is really dancing (people will often get on the stage/go up front and dance). Then they ask me if our services are like theirs. :)
Classes are going well so far, but it's early yet. By the end of the semester, I should have my research proposal completed. Pentateuch is interesting... I like the instructor, but last class we spent like 45 minutes discussing who the "sons of God" are in Genesis 6:2 (and the lecturer brought it up!), then an hour on Genesis 12-50. Yep - we blew right through Abram/Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, the tribes, and Joseph. Niiiiice. Of all those topics, which do you think stands a better chance of being on the exam? Hmmm?
We've already had two assignments in Introduction to NT: one on the origins and composition of the Sanhedrin (really want to know why) and on divorce. He's giving us a ton of reading via pages from books to copy, and I think he means it when he says that if he hands it to us, he's taught us (most lecturers just test on their lectures). Worship II and Spirituality will be called something else on the transcript since we've already done Worship II. The African Theology class is good, but again, it's early. I'm a mite bit concerned about memorizing everything I need to for the exams (like names), since I have, oh, ZERO knowledge on anything African.
In African Church History, I get a tiny bit uncomfortable when we discuss the white missionaries, because they brought colonialism with the Gospel. The lecturer was very sweet, and one day made a point of telling me that he means no disrespect, and it's clear that no one there holds anything against me. Nonetheless, it's painful to listen to them talk about Africanizing their worship services - they love the hymns, but have been working, and sometimes fighting, for literally centuries to make their worship theirs. Then of course, we had a discussion on whether jumping is really dancing (people will often get on the stage/go up front and dance). Then they ask me if our services are like theirs. :)
Rainy season and Christmas songs
It's the rainy season, which means it can rain at any time, and it does. I had planned to go to town this morning, but awoke to clouds and thunder. The weather is fairly capricious, so one never knows what that means, so we set out with umbrellas. It drizzled. Then it poured. We took shelter in the cathedral that's right outside campus, and when the rain let up, tried to proceed, but I balk at walking about half a mile (each way), in mud, down and up a steep hill. So I shall try again tomorrow after church.
I also think I'm fighting off the "flu" (cold) that's going around. *sigh*
During meals there's often music playing in the DH (because with 1,000 people there it isn't noisy enough? I don't know...) and tonight it was Christmas music, especially those that feature snow in the lyrics. It was a riot! I was singing along, though the music was instrumental, and if it was a secular song (like "I'll Be Home for Christmas), my friends didn't know the words.
I also think I'm fighting off the "flu" (cold) that's going around. *sigh*
During meals there's often music playing in the DH (because with 1,000 people there it isn't noisy enough? I don't know...) and tonight it was Christmas music, especially those that feature snow in the lyrics. It was a riot! I was singing along, though the music was instrumental, and if it was a secular song (like "I'll Be Home for Christmas), my friends didn't know the words.
Monday, January 18, 2010
Bring it on
Not that I really have a choice in the matter, so I may as well go with the flow...
- Coursework: we have two assignments due - one Friday afternoon, and one Monday morning (which may as well be Saturday afternoon, because that's the last day we can print (class is at 0830). Makes me seriously consider getting a printer)
- Food: R&B galore, but they've introduced chickpeas this semester (called cowpeas here), and remarkably, I don't mind them. Who would've thunk? My friend Haron (from Kenya) was bemoaning the food here, saying that after being home for so long, it'll take him a month to adjust to the food here. I think it will take me a month to be mostly done with it, but will try to adopt his attitude. The chickpeas are a happy change.
- Mosquitoes: yes, they are disturbing me. 'nuff said.
- Soccer: it's the Africa Cup until the end of January, then the Winter Olympics (which I hope they show in the DH!), then a break until June for the World Cup. Oh, and the Premier League. Drama in the DH tonight: the big-screen TV is gone, and they're projecting onto the wall (bigger, and better resolution). Sadly, there's a cord that runs along the floor right where we walk... I almost tripped on it. Someone DID trip on it, and the projector tumbled out of its protective cage. No word yet on its operability, but this is fairly tragic.
- Flu: which is generally a cold, but it's going around. I'm trying to avoid it, but am tired. But it's also hot.
Off to start the origin and history of the Sanhedrin...
- Coursework: we have two assignments due - one Friday afternoon, and one Monday morning (which may as well be Saturday afternoon, because that's the last day we can print (class is at 0830). Makes me seriously consider getting a printer)
- Food: R&B galore, but they've introduced chickpeas this semester (called cowpeas here), and remarkably, I don't mind them. Who would've thunk? My friend Haron (from Kenya) was bemoaning the food here, saying that after being home for so long, it'll take him a month to adjust to the food here. I think it will take me a month to be mostly done with it, but will try to adopt his attitude. The chickpeas are a happy change.
- Mosquitoes: yes, they are disturbing me. 'nuff said.
- Soccer: it's the Africa Cup until the end of January, then the Winter Olympics (which I hope they show in the DH!), then a break until June for the World Cup. Oh, and the Premier League. Drama in the DH tonight: the big-screen TV is gone, and they're projecting onto the wall (bigger, and better resolution). Sadly, there's a cord that runs along the floor right where we walk... I almost tripped on it. Someone DID trip on it, and the projector tumbled out of its protective cage. No word yet on its operability, but this is fairly tragic.
- Flu: which is generally a cold, but it's going around. I'm trying to avoid it, but am tired. But it's also hot.
Off to start the origin and history of the Sanhedrin...
It's good to have a good dorm
What a difference from last semester to this semester! I'm now in Winfred Brown, the dorm behind Rachel, where I was last semester. There are more of us (14, I think), but it's actually more quiet than with six of us, which has everything to do with the people involved. And earplugs that stay in my ears.
Though I am eternally grateful for those earplugs, I don't know how effective they would have been last semester. A number of the girls were friends when they arrived, but they've welcomed the newbies warmly. We also have four American Uganda Studies Program (USP) exchange students staying in the dorm, so mine isn't the only American accent here, which sometimes surprises me.
The last hill to get to the dorm still gets me every time (the one past Rachel). Sigh.
Though I am eternally grateful for those earplugs, I don't know how effective they would have been last semester. A number of the girls were friends when they arrived, but they've welcomed the newbies warmly. We also have four American Uganda Studies Program (USP) exchange students staying in the dorm, so mine isn't the only American accent here, which sometimes surprises me.
The last hill to get to the dorm still gets me every time (the one past Rachel). Sigh.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
So, 15 theologians get stuck in a classroom...
Sadly, it's not a joke. Towards the end of our last class, there was a larger class making noise as they left, so the lecturer shut the door. When we were done, it wouldn't open.
Thankfully, someone was still across the hall, and after 10 minutes of wrangling, we were freed. And it was a small room. :)
And it was the end of a very long Wednesday (except for lunch, non-stop from 11, and it was now 7), and it's SO hot and humid.
And yes, I do know I'm whining. I'm going to bed now. :)
Thankfully, someone was still across the hall, and after 10 minutes of wrangling, we were freed. And it was a small room. :)
And it was the end of a very long Wednesday (except for lunch, non-stop from 11, and it was now 7), and it's SO hot and humid.
And yes, I do know I'm whining. I'm going to bed now. :)
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Class of 2011. Final answer. Really!
Can you imagine our surprise this morning when Dr. Olivia (the Dean of the Theology Department) announces that we will complete our research proposals the end of this semester/beginning of next, conduct our research over the holiday, and write our dissertations in January (2011) so we can graduate that June?
Since it came from the Dean, I'm pretty sure this settles the matter. : ) We're still not certain about taking Christian Worship II, though. I must say that having only five courses would be fabulous.
Nice night!
Since it came from the Dean, I'm pretty sure this settles the matter. : ) We're still not certain about taking Christian Worship II, though. I must say that having only five courses would be fabulous.
Nice night!
Monday, January 11, 2010
Class of 2012. Final answer.
So, I'm still in a three-year program. The two-year program will take effect with the May intake, as do other changes (like the end of the scholarship program. This isn't good, as the burden for fees will be on the dioceses, and many cannot bear that). There are other associated changes, but the only impact on me is that graduation is 2012.
Other random thoughts for the day: Christian Worship II may indeed be coming off the schedule. The class representative explained to me what's supposed to happen (twice), but it's still fuzzy. I'm still curious why we're taking research methods now, rather than next year, but sometimes it's better to not question.
And there's a turkey gobbling in the yard.
Other random thoughts for the day: Christian Worship II may indeed be coming off the schedule. The class representative explained to me what's supposed to happen (twice), but it's still fuzzy. I'm still curious why we're taking research methods now, rather than next year, but sometimes it's better to not question.
And there's a turkey gobbling in the yard.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Chapel facelift
Wow - while we were on holiday, the chapel got a facelift! It has a beautiful new tile laid over the original (? circa 1921?) brick (which somewhat makes me sad, but it's gorgeous and light, which helps with all the dark wood), and the carpet is GONE! Chapel cleaning just got a whole lot easier! The hymn books (not books like you'd think, more like songbooks) got refurbished too... new covers. It looks so great in there! I'll try to take pictures this week and post them.
It was great to have our first bi-weekly Eucharist tonight... it helped get me in a good mindset before classes tomorrow.
Nice night!
It was great to have our first bi-weekly Eucharist tonight... it helped get me in a good mindset before classes tomorrow.
Nice night!
Friday, January 8, 2010
Timetable
Let me say right off that I do not love Wednesdays, and have a strong dislike of Fridays.
With that in mind, here's what the semester looks like:
Mondays: two classes - done at 1 (which is lunch)
Tuesdays: two classes, morning and evening, Community Worship just before lunch
Wednesdays: three classes and Discipleship. Basically, we start class at 11, and go straight through to dinner at 7 (lunch at 1) - no other breaks.
Thursdays: two classes and Community worship; done at 4, but we should be having Eucharist at night (as well as Sunday nights)
Fridays: three classes; early morning, then 3-7.
Once again, all classes are in two hour blocks, and we have chapel Tuesday-Friday at 7:45, then classes start at 8:30. Then there are the fellowships that meet after dinner. I'm assuming that the women in ministry fellowship will begin again, as well as the international students fellowship. There may be one for the Honours College (the dorm), but I begged off that one last time. I honestly don't know how these people sleep.
Classes on deck: Introduction to the New Testament, Worship II and Spirituality (which we had been told was smashed into the end of Worship I and we wouldn't have to take), Research Methods, Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), African Christian Theological Methods (I have no idea, but wonder if it has something to do with evangelism), and Christianity in Africa (a church history class).
You'll notice no Hebrew II (!). The lecturer is currently in the US recovering from surgery, and there's no one else to take her place. There's another lecturerer studying in the US, who will return for the May semster.
I've only had two of my lecturers previously.
Research methods surprises me... that's a second year course, in which (presumably) we are taught how to do academic research, as well as submit our dissertation proposal. Which takes me to my next post...
With that in mind, here's what the semester looks like:
Mondays: two classes - done at 1 (which is lunch)
Tuesdays: two classes, morning and evening, Community Worship just before lunch
Wednesdays: three classes and Discipleship. Basically, we start class at 11, and go straight through to dinner at 7 (lunch at 1) - no other breaks.
Thursdays: two classes and Community worship; done at 4, but we should be having Eucharist at night (as well as Sunday nights)
Fridays: three classes; early morning, then 3-7.
Once again, all classes are in two hour blocks, and we have chapel Tuesday-Friday at 7:45, then classes start at 8:30. Then there are the fellowships that meet after dinner. I'm assuming that the women in ministry fellowship will begin again, as well as the international students fellowship. There may be one for the Honours College (the dorm), but I begged off that one last time. I honestly don't know how these people sleep.
Classes on deck: Introduction to the New Testament, Worship II and Spirituality (which we had been told was smashed into the end of Worship I and we wouldn't have to take), Research Methods, Pentateuch (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), African Christian Theological Methods (I have no idea, but wonder if it has something to do with evangelism), and Christianity in Africa (a church history class).
You'll notice no Hebrew II (!). The lecturer is currently in the US recovering from surgery, and there's no one else to take her place. There's another lecturerer studying in the US, who will return for the May semster.
I've only had two of my lecturers previously.
Research methods surprises me... that's a second year course, in which (presumably) we are taught how to do academic research, as well as submit our dissertation proposal. Which takes me to my next post...
Class of 2011?
Towards the end of last semster, there were some rumblings that perhaps we will be encouraged to finish our degree in two years. At the time, this seemed optional to me. It may well not be. The school may be turning this into a two-year program, which would mean that I begin my dissertation while on holiday next year (September-December), and complete it, along with my coursework, the January 2011 semester, with graduation in June. I'm now especially grateful that my bishop gave me an idea for a topic, though now the execution becomes something to resolve.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
"You are MOST welcome!"
Well, it's happened about the way I expected... everyone I see seems to know me (and a handful of them I'm sure I've NEVER seen before in my life), welcomes me back, and asks how is the US (cold!). During dinner tonight, we were shepherded to the top level of the dining hall because the tables had been varnished, and everyone kept walking by and on seeing me exclaiming, "Heeeey! Happy New Year! Welcome back! You are most welcome! How is US?" It got to be frequent enough that Emmanuel wanted to get me a cloak so no one would see me. My friends are awesome. I especially liked the comment from one friend who was late for our arranged dinner time, "Boy, you're punctual." And that's supposed to be news?
I made it through registration in only two trips to the athletic field (well, three if you include going to the old field, where instead of registration, they had a medium-sized market going on). I got cleared through Accounts, got my registration card, registered with the Theology Department, got my meal card. Whew. And it started out cold and rainy today, but BOY was it shiny by lunch time. Thank God for those tents.
A couple people commented on how white I am (again, that's news?). I guess I had a slight (emphasis on the slight) tan when I left, and that's what they remembered.
I'm moved in my room, registered, and that's all I had to do. Well, I'm trying to brush up on my Hebrew, and conquer jet lag before Monday's classes. I'll need to get my hands on the as-yet unpublished timetable at some point, too. Other than that, I'm trying to enjoy the downtime before the roller coaster starts.
Nice night!
I made it through registration in only two trips to the athletic field (well, three if you include going to the old field, where instead of registration, they had a medium-sized market going on). I got cleared through Accounts, got my registration card, registered with the Theology Department, got my meal card. Whew. And it started out cold and rainy today, but BOY was it shiny by lunch time. Thank God for those tents.
A couple people commented on how white I am (again, that's news?). I guess I had a slight (emphasis on the slight) tan when I left, and that's what they remembered.
I'm moved in my room, registered, and that's all I had to do. Well, I'm trying to brush up on my Hebrew, and conquer jet lag before Monday's classes. I'll need to get my hands on the as-yet unpublished timetable at some point, too. Other than that, I'm trying to enjoy the downtime before the roller coaster starts.
Nice night!
Monday, January 4, 2010
Safe arrival
Greetings from Uganda!
I should be unpacking my room, but the internet's up. I really just turned on the laptop for the iTunes, but got waylaid by the seductive lure of e-mail. Ahh... communication!
Delighted to report that travel was blissfully uneventful. I was able to upgrade on both flights (though business class was only to Amsterdam; to Entebbe was just extra legroom), and though I can't say I slept any better, it was great to stretch out and be reasonably comfortable.
The one exciting thing is that in the security line in Amsterdam I saw Gwen, one of the Uganda Studies Program staffers. It was nice to see a familiar face, and she wondered whether the school had put together that we were returning on the same flight (and had consolidated drivers). The answer is no, they didn't. The other answer is that the driver who was to get me had gone to the airport the week prior, so I rode to campus with Gwen. Such provision! Apparently, the taxis from the airport are fairly reliable, but I can't say that I wanted to experience that.
So I'm dawdling on unpacking my suitcases. I'm back in the Honours College, in Winifred Brown Hall, which is just up the hill from where I was last time. There's thunder now, which is impetus to find my umbrella. Tomorrow I'm going to the bank to pay my fees, then get blessed by the Accounts office so that I can register on Wednesday.
Nice day!
I should be unpacking my room, but the internet's up. I really just turned on the laptop for the iTunes, but got waylaid by the seductive lure of e-mail. Ahh... communication!
Delighted to report that travel was blissfully uneventful. I was able to upgrade on both flights (though business class was only to Amsterdam; to Entebbe was just extra legroom), and though I can't say I slept any better, it was great to stretch out and be reasonably comfortable.
The one exciting thing is that in the security line in Amsterdam I saw Gwen, one of the Uganda Studies Program staffers. It was nice to see a familiar face, and she wondered whether the school had put together that we were returning on the same flight (and had consolidated drivers). The answer is no, they didn't. The other answer is that the driver who was to get me had gone to the airport the week prior, so I rode to campus with Gwen. Such provision! Apparently, the taxis from the airport are fairly reliable, but I can't say that I wanted to experience that.
So I'm dawdling on unpacking my suitcases. I'm back in the Honours College, in Winifred Brown Hall, which is just up the hill from where I was last time. There's thunder now, which is impetus to find my umbrella. Tomorrow I'm going to the bank to pay my fees, then get blessed by the Accounts office so that I can register on Wednesday.
Nice day!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Subscribe To
Posts
All Comments
