Coincidence...I think not!

Coincidence…I think not!

Well, here I am obviously in Gulu Uganda. You’d think that America would be really far away, and that everything would be foreign. But you know before I left I remember hearing many conversations at Upper Merion with other science teachers, and their weird encounters with seeing students on vacation in other countries or states. I didn’t mean to set you up too much, b/c I haven’t seen any students from Upper Merion (that would be completely bizarre) but I have had a lot of weird interactions. Some of you may not know that I was born in the Midwest, and that basically my parents are both from the Midwest, thus we have many connections out in other states…here begins the weird connections I’ve come across in Gulu

Pizza Shuttle

If you’ve never been to Manhattan Kansas, a small college town, you’d have no idea what Pizza Shuttle is. Family friends of ours’ moved from Nebraska down to KS and started a pizza place there in town. They had more and more success with it, and thus turned it into a small franchise. If you’re ever in town, you have to go there. Well, I met a girl who came up to Gulu from Kampala to visit a friend who works for IC. I began to talk to her and found out that she was from Manhattan KS. I asked her if she knew of Pizza Shuttle. She responded with, “OH my gosh, that is the one food I miss the most! The first thing I’m going to do when I get home is go to Pizza Shuttle.” So Botbyle’s, just incase you didn’t know, you’re franchise is now world famous!

Computers for Africa

During Thanksgiving Day on Friday at Awere, Matthew had announced that the school would be receiving 10 computers from an organization called Computers for Africa. I was totally excited, but thought nothing of it really. Then on Saturday(next day) before leaving for Awere we met at Awere. That may sound confusing, but we met at the school site in Gulu town where I am teaching, and we were going out (1.5 hrs) to the original school site. There were two other muni there talking with Matthew. Before we left, the woman came over and started to talk to us. She said that she was with Computers for Africa, talking to Matthew about bringing the 10 computers over. She then mentioned that they were an organization from Omaha NE. “NO WAY!” I thought in my head. My sister and I were born just outside Omaha, where my Dad was stationed in the Air Force for many years. My sister and I basically spent our childhood there. I talked to the lady a little bit about NE, but I just could not believe that I have met someone here in Gulu from Omaha, and someone who knows Bellevue! The lady explained that they get computers from various girls’ schools and other private schools in the Omaha area. I think when the school gets new computers, they clean up the old, useable ones, and bring them over to certain schools in Africa. A totally cool idea!

Central Valley CA

I spent a summer out in Merced CA back in 2003 working with teenagers at a church. It was an awesome summer that I will never forget. I loved the time I spent in Merced. In one conversation with an American IC staff member he mentioned that he was from Modesto, which is quite close to Merced. We started talking and he seemed to think that I was crazy to spend a summer in Merced. I guess he doesn’t know how great it is. Anyway, a couple days later I was helping an Acholi Awere teacher move from one home to another. It was great because there were about 5 of us American teachers, and Nancy, the Awere teacher. We took about 5 trips back and forth from one house to another, which was about a little more than a ¼ mile each way. It ended up turning into a muni parade…or so thought the kids in the neighborhood. We quickly formed a whole line, Nancy leading with her daughter Faith just behind and then 5 Americans, followed by anywhere from 5-25 Acholi children. It was hilarious. The best was that on one of the trips I carried my things on my head, although Nancy was much better at it, b/c she carried a whole full suitcase on her head! Well, it became a game to unexpectedly turn around and scare the kids behind us. They would laugh and laugh and laugh. They loved it. At one point I was looking at one of the kids shirts and it had a big box on it with people’s signatures inside it. Outside the box it read, Turlock High School, Class of 2001. I could not believe it! Turlock is a neighboring town to Merced, and I could not believe it. Some random kid in Gulu was wearing a Turlock Senior Class shirt!

Dixie Chicks

Speaking of T-shirts, I had noticed that one of my S4 students at Awere was wearing a Dixie Chicks Top of the World Tour shirt. Again, kinda strange, and definitely out of place. Most of the music t-shirts which students wear here are like 50cent and Ice Cube, some Tupac and Ja’Rule. I asked him if he knew of the Dixie Chicks, and he just looked back at me quite confused. Then I told him that the shirt he was wearing was a band in America, a group of 3 women who play guitar. I wasn’t sure if he’d understand it if I said country music, so I just left that part out. I definitely told him that they were my favorite band in America. He just responded with, “For me, this is my clothes.” He obviously was just wearing it because it is his shirt. I guess for all he cared it could have said anything on it, and he’d wear it. So different than in the states. Well, anyway, it’s exciting to see the Dixie Chicks in Gulu. I was going to make the student a copy of some of the Dixie Chicks songs (b/c I have them on my computer) but I’m not sure he has anything to play a CD on. We’ll see.

So those are just a few of the coincidences I have come across while being here in Gulu. Some of you may be surprised to hear that I have not met anyone who knows of Washington Township NJ, or anyone from Washington Township NJ. Sorry Christine…although I can hear your response right now “If I were there, I would be able to find someone from Township.” Well hopefully someday you’ll have your chance! :o)

I now have only 6 days left in Gulu and I cannot believe it's almost over! I really do not want to leave. (sorry family) But have no fear, I will be leaving as I have a new job, a new apartment, and friends and family waiting! This next week will be full of plenty of excitment though. Just last night, Bobby and Laren arrived here in Gulu...if you've seen Invisible Children the Rough Cut, they are two of the three filmmakers. They are here to do some stuff this summer, but also to help out with the music video shoot for the next 4 days. Yes, Fall Out Boy is here in Gulu, but no I have not met them yet. I am going to be helping with the video shooting on Wednesday, so I will let you all know what that is like...besides unreal!

Miss you all! Peace!