Breakfast conversation

This morning, I went to breakfast with my roommate, Joan, and our dormmate, Agrace.  I'm usually long gone before they get up, so this was a treat.

Except for some of the breakfast conversation.  I think it was prompted by the enormous dead rat we saw on the way to the Dining Hall.  So we (well, they) were discussing slaughtering chickens, and the best method for doing so.

I've been in those conversations before, but it's usually, "Jess-ca... do you know how to slaughter a chicken?"  "No."  "Why not?"  "I live in the city, and don't need to, I guess."  "You need to learn."  "Ah... no thanks."

Today's discussion was a bit more involved.  Good information to have, I reckon.

Halfway through the first draft of Numbers - woohoo!  And while it's slightly overcast, it's not raining, so I celebrated by doing wash.  Now to pray that the sheets and towel dry by sundown!

March madness (for real)

Where has the February gone?  For that matter, where has the semester gone?  Time, it is a-flyin'.

I've crossed four and two thirds assignments off my list, which feels great, but then realized yesterday that two of the biggest assignments are due next week, and I've done, um, next to nothing on them, thanks to the assignments above.  After that, there are two more big ones, plus the remaining third, all due at the end of March (she fervently hopes) then it will be time for exams.  Actually, we will have a test in African Church History at some point, and Rev. Moses said he was going to give us a small coursework.  I told him I would cry.  I do adore him, but he thinks that the circles under my eyes are the sign of a serious student.  No.  They're the sign of a stressed and sleepy student.  I've tried to tell him that, but to no avail.  He thinks the coursework will be fine.  Actually, his work is more application than academia, which I love.  But it's still another task.  *sigh*

OK... back to writing a twelve-week Adult Ed plan for the book of Numbers.  Tomorrow we're plowing through liberation theology, and its impact in the US.  And praying that both get reasonable marks.

And why, oh why, does it rain whenever I need to go into town?  Our morning lecturer couldn't come, so I seized the moment to decide to go to the ATM and supermarket.  Then walked out of the classroom to discover rain.  It wasn't bad, so we went anyhow, and I'm glad it's done, because one never knows what Mukono weather will be tomorrow.  But seriously.  I think I have a meteorological gift here - I can tell when it's going to do rain because that's when I decide to do laundry (which must be air dried) or go to town.

And we have a fan!

Joan, my intrepid roommate, went to Mukonotown yesterday in search for a fan... and got one!  She even negotiated down the price a bit (something I forget to try in a supermarket (store)).  WOOHOO!!!!  It's nice, it's quiet, and has a timer, so when I turn it on, it will turn itself off and I don't have to worry about missing my alarm through the white noise and earplugs.

Of course, it's been nice and cool the last couple nights, but hey.  I'm a happy, if tired, seminarian.  Actually, my friends ask me how I like the cold.  I love it.  Monday it monsooned, and was sufficiently cold that I wore my Polartec jacket to class (which here is called a jumper; a jumper is apparently heavier than a jacket).

But the fan!  O happy day!  And it's Friday!  I have to write two papers this weekend (!), but we have a fan!

I'm going into town myself tomorrow morning; praying for no rain.  I desperately need to get to the ATM, and since the supermarket is there, may need to get some drinking chocolate (hot chocolate - Cadbury's drinking chocolate is FABULOUS).

Prayer requests:
- Our dean, Dr. Olivia, had a baby who just turned 9 months old.  Baby Olivia was born prematurely and with severe jaundice, and has had more than her fair share of medical and developmental challenges.  She was taken to the hospital this week (don't know what's going on); please pray for her healing, and strength for Dr. Olivia and her husband.
- There's a possibility that I may be able to write a paper in lieu of an exam; Dr. Olivia told me about that last semester (after exams were over, though).  I'd love to do this for my African Theology class; I get things at the macro level, but am not the least bit confident that I'll remember enough micro things to do well on the exam.  I need permission from the Dean to do this, which requires me to have time to go to the office, and for her to be there (see above).
- We're all overwhelmed academically.  That's to be expected, I suppose.  My wise bishop pointed out that it's normal to pant at this point in the race... I'm panting.  :)  Please pray for strength and perseverance!  

Dodging

In the interest of full disclosure, I need to confess that I cut a class this week.  I repent.  I cut it because 1. I was exhausted, and 2. we really don't do a whole heck of a lot there.  We're all fairly miserable, and I couldn't justify torturing myself for two hours when I was already a zombie.

I'm telling you this because I received untold grief and agony from my class for this.  They all wanted my bishop's phone number and e-mail (I did put the church number on the board so they would see that I wasn't hiding anything, but it's so expensive to call I knew they wouldn't do it) so they could report me.  I won't give out his e-mail address. :)  Keep in mind that this grief and agony is coming from the very people who dodge class as well, sometimes on a regular basis.  There are people who have missed more classes than they've attended, but I miss ONCE and get abused?!  Where's the hospitality in that?!

Yeah, I know, they love me.  I feel it.  Really.

And we're back to wretchedly hot weather.  The tragedy here is that it's really hard for me to think big theological thoughts when it's oppressively hot.  And no A/C anywhere.  And then to sit at a laptop that generates heat... ugh.  Please pray for perseverance.  And that the ibuprofen does its job quickly when required.

Ash-less Wednesday

This was strange; an Ash Wednesday service without the imposition of ashes.  I'm confused by some conversations we've had in class, but it may be that the Anglican church here doesn't impose ashes today. 

We did have a nice service though, and apparently will also be having chapel on Wednesdays throughout Lent.  I do appreciate setting aside the time for reflection and introspection as the season requires, though I have to say that I really, really don't need something else to "do."  Sigh.

A time to mourn

It's been a tough week for the UCU community.  First, last Thursday, Bishop Patrick Kyaligonza was killed in an automobile accident. Then on Tuesday, on the way to the funeral, two bishops and one of the wives were in an accident, and the wife, Mama Perpetua Gimadu was killed.  Her funeral is Saturday.  Mama Perpetua's daughter Florence is a student here.

Please pray for healing for those injured in the accidents (Bp. Patrick's wife is especially hurt), and comfort for the families as they grieve.

Mission and ministry conference week

You know, because eight papers to finish by the end of March isn't enough... Sorry.  Let me stop with the snarkiness.  There's a mission/ministry conference every semester, and this is a good thing.  I just wish it came earlier in the semester when we were less busy.  I have one paper due this week, two the week after, two the week after, one the week after that, and two at the end of March.  Plus the "review questions" that are sure to appear on our exam.

And it's pretty bloody hot again, which makes it hard to sleep and/or study, depending on the time of day.  Joan, my intrepid roommate, has found a place that has reasonably sized fans, and will (hopefully) be getting one this week.

Back to the conference... for the All Saints' crowd, we were told that one of the speakers at the conference will be Uncle Ben.  I'll try to say hello to him and give greetings.  :)

Dr. Mbababzi

That's me, though I'm not convinced that I have a Ph.D in me.  Mbabazi (baBABz) is my Ugandan name, which means "gracious one."  My friend Darius gave me the name about two weeks ago, and now that the class knows that name too, some of them are starting to call me Mbabazi (but not Darius, interestingly enough).  Now I just have to associate it with me.

Theology retreat

We had a very nice day and a half at the Rest Garden Bweyogerere.  I knew that my friend Amos' dad is a bishop; I didn't know that he was leading our retreat.  When I need to take another break from coursework I'll make and post a slideshow; in the meantime, here are some pictures.

I'm still trying to get accustomed to being addressed at odd times... "Jess-ca!  We're taking a picture of the international students!  Come!" (this as I just sat to have tea.) "Can you do it without me?"  "No!  Come!"  I'm 
trying to learn to respond with the African "yes, please?" rather than the American "what?" but I'm failing a bit miserably.

Hughes!

So the class has learned my surname, and is apparently obsessed.  Pre-title, your names go like Hughes Jessica, and you're often called by your surname.  Post-title, the order switches: I will be Rev. Jessica Hughes.  So now everyone is calling me Hughes.  Well, most of them; some can't say it.  Some tribes don't have "l," and I think some don't have "h."  I pointed out that their names are so long and complex (to me), and yet they are defeated by one syllable.  Luke chimed in that their names are sentences.  :)

My friend Amos said he's going to name his kid Hughes because it's "a cute name."  His father was named after an Irishman who was present when he was born, so I guess he feels inspired.  While I like my name, I've never thought of it as cute.

Culture for dinner

Tonight at dinner my friends were asking why the USP (Uganda Studies Program; undergrads here for a semester) are different from me.  Apparently people find me to be free and social, and some of my friends think that the USPs just stick together, and only superficially talk to the natives.  We had an interesting discussion on how hard it is to be in a different culture and try to fit in.  It seems that they think that since I've done it, the USPs should be able to.  I had to point out that if I had another American in class, I'd probably be spending a lot more time with them.  Now my classmates are my friends, and it's not an issue, but that first week when everyone was watching me to see what kind of American I was was hard.  So they hear me, but don't seem to be fully persuaded. 

Another thing that came up was our discussions about the white missionaries and colonialism in the African Theology and African Church History classes, and yes, I'm uncomfortable hearing about and thinking of what my ancestors did.  Not in bringing Christianity, but how they did it sometimes. 

Side note:  I've been selectively asking people why they think whites are so special... is it just because they may not see many of them in the village?  The consensus seems to be that's one of the major reasons (though with colonialism, I'm surprised they think so well of us).  My favorite answer is, "Oh!  You're so principled!"  Coming from DC, I thought that was hysterical.

And as for yet another blog post... it's not that I have a hard time writing a lesson plan for the book of Numbers.  It's just forcing it into twelve lessons that's challenging me - I'd love to know how our lecturer arrived at that number.  It's just so arbitrary.  Sigh.  Next up:  a critical assessment on the speed, growth, and impact of Christianity across Egypt, Nubia (Sudan), and Ethiopia.

Running for MP - NOT!!!

The student government here leaves me in the dust a bit.  There's the Guild, the government.  Then there are MPs (ministers of parliament?) for lots of things... the different faculties have representation, residence, etc.  

People are stating their candidacy for various posts, and circulating petitions to secure a slot on the ballot.  When one signs a petition, one must also provide your registration card (proof, I suppose), which is copied and submitted with the petition.  Elections will come eventually.

No fewer than four people have suggested I run for MP of international students.  Thanks, but no thanks.  The no is for many reasons, one of which is that I think the MPs have to be here to run the government, even during the long holiday.  Not keen on that idea.  Nor on the idea of losing more time, and I don't know how things work here, and I have no interest in student government.

The irony here is that I'd probably have the petition filled out in record time, and have no problem being elected.  Goodness.

African theology class

The African Theology and African Church History classes are two of my most challenging because I have absolutely no clue what's going on.  In African Theology, we're having a lecture one week, then presenting a response to it the next week. 

Today's topic was the nineteenth century missionaries, and one of the points of discussion was that the missionaries failed not in what they brought (Christianity, schools, medicine, etc.), but condemning the religious practices (music, dancing, etc.) that were already there.

Take, for example, drums, which were removed from African worship by the missionaries, and are still trying to be reintroduced in many parts.  Someone thought that the missionaries didn't condemn drums.  I spoke up (which doesn't happen often) and said that I thought they did, as there are no drums in Western worship, so clearly they did condemn the drums.  

My friend Zipporah turned around, somewhat appalled, and asked, "Really?!  Even in the seminary?"  Indeed.  The poor girl was flabbergasted.

Introducing Joan

Joan is the new roomie, and she moved in tonight.  She's a dear, a first year law student (here it's a bachelor's) from Kenya.  It's also "only" about 77 with a breeze... think my agreeing to room with her had any impact on the weather?  Things that make you go hmmm... And she has a lead on where to get a fan, and will try to get it this weekend while I'm on the retreat!  I love this girl!

So now it's much cozier in here - I'll try to take pictures while the room is in a reasonable state.  But not now, because it's midnight.  The desk is now between our beds, and is therefore at my head.  I'm just hoping I don't knock my head when I get up in the morning.

I took a happy nap late this afternoon because I didn't sleep last night because it was so hot, so I'm tired and sleepy, but not quite ready to sleep.  No (real) time for a happy nap tomorrow, so hopefully I can get back in a decent sleep pattern.  And since she's a law student, she has to read (study) quite a lot, so perhaps she'll rub off on me that way too.

She was pretty cute when she came in this afternoon to see if the RA had spoken to me about the switch.  The poor thing was at her wits' end, and is so grateful to be out of a toxic room.  She told me that she had told her family about the situation, and that they were praying for a good and quick resolution.  I told her that now she' rooming with a theologian; is that better?  Her face brightened and she said, "my mom will be so happy!"

Desperately seeking sleep

First of all, let me say that with the heat, the cold shower is still invigorating... it's just a bit more welcome.

I'm not quite sure why I haven't slept the last few nights, but I think it has something to do with the heat.  I did my senior year of college on four hours of sleep a night.  That was 18 years ago.  I need sleep now, or I get a bit cranky.  One of my friends here has told me several times that Napoleon said that a wise man needs two hours of sleep a night; I point out that he was a short Frenchman who was ultimately defeated.

So I'm trying to head off an academic Waterloo here.  Please pray that I get some good sleep.  A fan would be wonderful, but I am desperately needing sleep, and not during class.

Nice day!

March madness

Three posts in a row, and I'm not particularly procrastinating on anything - that's a first!  I'm tired, but can't fall asleep - I'm sure the heat isn't helping there.

The good news is that January passed pretty quickly; last semester, time seemed to crawl.  I'm pretty comfortable here, though I've only ventured off campus twice thus far.  Since my mosquito friends come out at night, I'm not keen on walking around then, even if the temperatures are better.

Courseworks are acomin'... we currently have six outstanding, and will get another this week (and at least two are unassigned so far).  One is due 24 Feb, and the rest are due in March, which includes the 15 page research proposal.  Their proposals include a literature review, which seems a bit absurd to me - I don't recall doing a full-blown lit review in my first masters, but since the proposal is the only coursework for the class, a 15 page proposal it shall be.  Now I'm grateful that the Sanhedrin and divorce are out of the way, though I'm praying he doesn't give us anything else to do.  

I think revision/reading week will be the first week or so of April, ending around the 9th, and exams from the 12th to 21st (or so).  Then two weeks off, and return and resume as a second year student.  Woohoo!!

Three down to one

A few days ago, I thought I was going on three retreats, and I was really excited.  Didn't go on the first one, because the Honours College folks hadn't budgeted for me.  The second is for the theologians, and is this weekend.  Won't go on the third (international women's fellowship) because they exceeded their participant count, and the retreat center wouldn't expand it (and I'm not really a member of the group anyhow).

So we're down to one, and it's more like an overnight - we're leaving Saturday morning, and coming back late Sunday morning/early Sunday afternoon.  Still not quite sure where we're going... I think someone said the venue changed.  I'll need to get clarification of where the bus will be - if they just say "by the mango tree," that doesn't help.  I can now identify a mango tree (and avocado), but there are several large mango trees on campus.  I still don't get how they know which one they're talking about.

Getting a roommate

Yep.  This should be interesting.  Apparently there's a bad roommate situation down the hall, and our RA asked me if the "good" one could move in with me.  I told her it wasn't my preference, but I feel selfish keeping this room to myself when she's miserable (the "bad" one plays music at all hours, won't open the windows (and it's abominably hot; I can't fathom that one), etc.).  

The switch will probably happen this weekend.  I'm not at all amused, but really didn't feel comfortable saying no.  Among the changes is that the desk now becomes a common desk, and is no longer next to the one outlet in the room.  And I'm sharing a room for the first time in my 39 years.

So one of the understatements for 2010 is that this will be interesting.  It's only until the end of the semester, that's what the RA said.  

Sick of the heat

Really... aside from just being tired of how hot it is (when I woke at 5:30, it was 76 in my room), I think it's making me a wee bit sick.  I'm fine, I'm drinking water, but got a bit lightheaded yesterday.

Mom - I'm FINE.  :)

All prayers appreciated.  The consensus seems to be that the heat will break mid- to late- Feb.  Oy vey.