tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-62943876660459411002012-02-16T15:48:28.962+03:00I'm spending 74 days in Kampala, Uganda. Come with me.Prossonoreply@blogger.comBlogger231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-32494645723923141322007-08-17T12:51:00.001+03:002007-08-17T13:00:18.655+03:00

It's five in the morning and I'm sitting alone in front of my laptop, watching the cursor blink. Here's what I've learned today.We're broken and we're lonely. We can't do this on our own. Not for long. So we look for comfort and peace wherever we can find it. We think we'll find it in a partner, friends, stuff, work, etc. We won't, though. It's unfair to our loved ones to place on them

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-10897034050695624542007-08-10T13:05:00.000+03:002007-08-10T13:18:09.041+03:00

I made it home, safe and sound. I'd like to thank you again for your interest in East Africa, and for your interest in my own personal experiences.It's 5:08 AM in the morning here in Texas, and I've already been awake for a couple of hours. My first week home has been exactly what I expected - good but bizarre. My internal clock is still set on Ugandan time, and it's been difficult to readjust

Prossonoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-53608928693584655642007-08-07T09:39:00.000+03:002007-08-07T09:44:59.860+03:00

I have a four hour layover in Brussels so I thought I would type an entry out. Fast internet is confusing for me so I am visiting every site I have ever heard of. Also, this keyboqrd is setup for people from Belgium so the letters are in different places. This is zhqt it zould look like if I just typed nor,qlly qnd didnùt look qt the keys on the keyboqrd: I cqnùt figure out zhy they ,qke you

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-6473065410441382322007-08-05T22:26:00.000+03:002007-08-05T22:30:41.673+03:00

It’s August 5th, and I have a plane ticket that says August 6th. That’s wild.I’m not ready to leave Kampala yet. I miss everyone back home in Texas, but I’m really not ready to leave. I’ve met so many amazing people here, and I’ve grown up a lot. I even drink coffee now! And I have a briefcase. That sounds like the real world to me.I apologize for not updating in the past couple of weeks.

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-80824793371639230412007-08-01T17:25:00.000+03:002007-08-01T17:36:43.919+03:00

I'm sorry I've been silent for so long - things have been a bit hectic lately. We've been conducting a lot of interviews and doing a lot of fact finding. It's been both encouraging and sobering. We feel like there are a lot of brilliant people looking for solutions to the problems the judiciary faces, but that it will take a couple of years to actually see the benefits of everyone's work. The

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-1712640560805728492007-07-16T11:30:00.000+03:002007-07-16T12:03:58.083+03:00

I spent the weekend on Lake Bunyonyi in an area called Kabale. "Bunyonyi" means, "place of many small birds." They should just call it Lake Perfect because that's what it is. Even a pessimist would probably have to call it Lake Perfect except I Wish it was a Couple of Degrees Warmer at Night.Anyway, it was a wonderful weekend. Highlights included piloting a dugout canoe, climbing to the top

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-80638630499107029082007-07-12T16:06:00.000+03:002007-07-12T16:27:26.608+03:00

Today has been a good day. We are currently starting Phase Two of our internship. Phase One was all about helping the Justices with their casework. Phase Two is brainstorming about the judicial infrastructure of the country.This morning, we had the chance to tour the International Justice Mission office. We have met everyone anyway, but today we got to see them in their element. It's good to

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-13389834944117978842007-07-09T16:50:00.002+03:002007-07-09T16:51:23.017+03:00

I’m having a hard time figuring out how to explain an IDP camp. I guess I’ll start with the name. “IDP” means “Internally Displaced Person.” So an IDP camp is a refugee camp for people who stay in their home country but not at home.Hundreds of thousands of Ugandans live in IDP camps. On Saturday, I visited a camp northern Uganda. It was outside of a town called Gulu, which is less than 200

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-60503487904625289322007-07-09T16:50:00.001+03:002007-07-09T16:50:46.918+03:00

Ugandan bus rides are perfect for catching up on some reading and thinking. They are also great for developing chronic spinal problems. I don’t feel like I can really put the bus experience into words, so I will go ahead and give you an exercise you can try at home.1. Crawl under your computer desk and curl into a ball.2. Have a friend put a space heater under your desk.3. Have a friend put

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-16455357521952006712007-07-09T16:43:00.000+03:002007-07-09T16:48:48.543+03:00

It’s been awhile since I’ve included any kind of Ugandan cultural trivia on here, so I have a few observations to get things started today.First, everybody in Kampala loves mobile phones. Everyone is always texting (“SMSing”) or buying more airtime. Most people have prepaid phones, so selling airtime is a lucrative business. Guys stand in the middle of traffic during rush hour holding little

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-83250428364743361152007-07-03T10:35:00.000+03:002007-07-03T11:22:29.854+03:00

"On Fire"By SwitchfootThey tell you where you need to goThey tell you when you'll need to leaveThey tell you what you need to knowThey tell you who you need to beBut everything inside you knowsThere's more than what you've heardThere's so much more than empty conversationsFilled with empty wordsAnd you're on fireWhen He's near youYou're on fireWhen He speaksYou're on fireBurning at these

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-59006551742911338942007-06-27T15:35:00.000+03:002007-06-27T15:48:43.371+03:00

"The Blues"By SwitchfootIs this the New Year or just another night?Is this the new fear or just another fright?Is this the new tear or just another desperation?Is this the finger or just another fist?Is this the kingdom or just a hit n' miss?A misdirection, most in all this desperationIs this what they call freedom?Is this what you call pain?Is this what they call discontented fame?It'll be a day

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-7446941952367811032007-06-26T11:38:00.000+03:002007-06-26T12:56:31.653+03:00

For days I’ve been trying to come up with an effective way to relate what I saw and felt in Rwanda. I want to convey to you what it means when a million people are murdered by their neighbors, friends, and family. I want to understand it myself.I want to understand how so many people could be killed so brutally. I stood in a church where 10,000 people where killed. I felt the bullet holes in

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-86712601076008230512007-06-17T17:55:00.000+03:002007-06-17T18:20:45.474+03:00

I know it's been almost a week since I've posted an update. Let me go ahead and say that while I would've loved to post an update, I was a little preoccupied with "not dying."Let me make a long and disturbing story nice and short for you by giving you a rundown of my weekend.- Have you gotten food poisoning in America? I haven't, but I've had it in Africa!- Have you ever had to provide a urine

Prossonoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-32347777831172299362007-06-12T16:39:00.001+03:002007-06-12T16:48:22.218+03:00

I just realized that I haven't said much about the links on the right side of the page.Invisible Children is a group that works on behalf of displaced chlidren in Northern Uganda. They are the people responsible for the Displace Me nights all over the world where people (usually young people) sleep in the streets to show solidarity with their little brothers and sisters in Uganda.Waves of

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-22304146756185967432007-06-12T09:49:00.000+03:002007-06-12T16:36:21.946+03:00

I am:InterestedCuriousWillingDrivenInvestedConfusedFlawedSelfishUglyHungryA ForceI am not:Anyone’s saviorSelflessPerfectAltruisticJadedCynicalAfraidFatalisticEnoughComfortableSatisfiedCompleteI stood on the bank of the river, squinting to see through the rain. Each cold drop bounced off my head and ran down my shoulders, my chest. Little hands squeezed my own hands and pulled me up the hill.

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-35749338008906280922007-06-11T11:16:00.000+03:002007-06-11T11:26:03.436+03:00

I went whitewater rafting on the Nile River yesterday. Tales of victory, defeat, and a weird stomach problem will surely follow. For now, I just wanted to let everyone know that I went, it was maybe the most fun I've had in 2 1/2 hours, and I'm still alive. And kicking.I'll write more later but I'm at work right now. By the way, work right now involves me consulting on the creation of a small

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-39668013519393216372007-06-07T20:29:00.000+03:002007-06-07T20:51:12.882+03:00

Good news, friends! I am the proud owner of the most economically priced mobile phone in East Africa. Here's how this phone purchase went down: I handed a young woman some shillings. She proceeded to smile, laugh, and hand me an Etch-A-Sketch with an antenna. I said, "Thank you, nyabo," and scampered away.If you feel like giving me a call, you can reach me anytime at (get ready for this):

Prossonoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-66297881478107756942007-06-06T13:54:00.000+03:002007-06-06T14:01:24.772+03:00

I may or may not have malaria. I probably don't because no one really gets malaria in Kampala. I do have several symptoms, though, so I'm going to get tested today. What is more likely is that I swallowed some local tap water or ate something prepared with local tapwater, and that has bacteria in it that I'm not used to yet. I really hope I'm ok because we are supposed to go to Jinja tomorrow

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-45987487780955091762007-06-05T13:35:00.000+03:002007-06-05T14:21:04.971+03:00

I've made quite a few friends since I've been here: my house mates, expat wanderers, and local people. Here are a few...James: James is from CA, and he works for Invisible Children. He's been in charge of the IC bracelet campaign for awhile. If you know my friend Brett, then picture Brett, and you will have a general idea of James. He's thoughtful, kind, intelligent, and he's searching.

Prossonoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-15103608278288966812007-06-02T17:34:00.000+03:002007-06-02T17:54:57.504+03:00

Hello!After more than a week, I finally have the chance to sit down and post some real thoughts. I apologize for taking so long to send you an update.I arrived in Uganda last Friday night, safe and sound. Unfortunately, my luggage decided to spend an extra few days in Europe. It worked out, though, because my roommate Kevin is exactly my size and he let me borrow clothes until I was reunited

Prossonoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-91477051230824651392007-05-24T04:14:00.000+03:002007-05-24T04:40:20.672+03:00

I'm in Dallas right now, making sure I have everything I need before the trip. Here's how my flight is going to work tomorrow:DallasNew JerseyBelgiumKenyaUgandaIt's something like a 26 hour travel time. (I'm really hoping that at some point tonight I start to enjoy doing crossword puzzles.) I'll get to Kampala late Friday evening. That means Friday is day one. I'll be able to communicate

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6294387666045941100.post-10005889416372772172007-05-23T17:14:00.000+03:002007-05-23T17:16:00.143+03:00

Hi, folks! I know this page is pretty bare right now, but I will be adding much to it very shortly. Please check back often!

Prossonoreply@blogger.com0