Information as of July

This is information (as I receive it) about Uganda, partially so I have it colected somewhere and partally for anyone who's interested in what I'll be doing second semester next year:

--The website's decription of my study abroad program: "The USP offers students a very personal encounter with this African success story, which has become an economic and public health model in its region. Another success story, Uganda Christian University (UCU), serves as the base of study for students in the USP. Set on the outskirts of the capital city Kampala, this rapidly growing institution brings USP students together with the UCU Honours College. Courses taught by local faculty in the English tutorial tradition will immerse students in a uniquely African education. Topics such as Christianity and Islam in Contemporary Africa, African Literature and East African History will present many insights into African life because of the guidance of faculty who live in and love Uganda and East Africa. Home stays, travel, service learning and daily interaction with Honours College students form the backbone of the USP experience. In addition to the core experiential course, students will choose from an approved selection of courses from the UCU Honours College to earn up to 16 hours of credit."


--My classes: Faith & Action in the Ugandan Context, African Literature, African Traditional Religions, Christianity and Islam in Contemporary Uganda, Understanding the New Testament, Understanding Ethics


--I supposedly have TMobile service (International Roaming), but have to check on costs and such when me leaving gets closer


--Uganda (Kampala) is 10 hours ahead of Arizona (i.e. right now it's 10:20 am here and 8:20 pm there)


--Daily Life (from the website): "At first, your daily life at Uganda Christian University (UCU) may seem filled with challenges: cold showers, basic meals and navigating frequent power outages to do homework and email. As the days turn into weeks, the differences begin to disappear as you share the challenges of university life with Ugandan peers. Attending lectures, learning to find books in the library and participating in community worship-even the most basic activities give you an insight into the lives of your classmates.

As a Uganda Studies Emphasis (USE) student you will spend the majority of the semester living on campus at UCU, rooming with other USP students, but sharing dorms with students from Uganda and elsewhere in East Africa. For two weeks of the semester, you will live with a Ugandan family near the university, coming for classes during the day and spending the evening learning first hand about culture, politics and religion. These families adopt you as their own daughter or son and you will find yourself attending traditional introduction ceremonies, weddings, burials and other events that make you a brief, but full participant in these communities.

You will also participate in service project with the goal of both assisting and learning from Ugandan institutions dedicated to serving Ugandans. Placement locations include orphanages, a physical rehabilitation center, a primary school, a school for the blind, and a church Sunday school and children's library.

If you are willing to step outside of your comfort zone, there are many opportunities to be involved in campus life. Even though you are only here for a semester, USP students are welcomed in worship groups, athletic teams, and fellowship groups from the different regions of Uganda."

--Traveling: "Although the academic schedule leaves little time for independent travel, the USP schedule is filled with opportunities to experience and learn from East Africa. The semester generally includes a week-long trip to Rwanda, five days living and learning with a family in a rural Ugandan village, a weekend that focuses on the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Uganda and a visit to groups doing community based peace and reconciliation work.

Because we closely follow the US Embassy's recommendations for travel in East Africa, all trips are tentative and subject to strict safety evaluation. If you want to travel independently, we recommend that you change your ticket to stay after the program dates.

In addition to your academic travel, home stay experiences and time on campus with Ugandan peers, there are many other opportunities for cultural engagement. Field trips related to your core courses are offered throughout the semester that expose you to a wide variety of religious, political, and cultural aspects of the country. Traditional dance ceremonies, art exhibits, historic palaces and the site where early Ugandan Christians were martyred are just some of the significant aspects of Uganda culture experienced by USP students."

--I'm going through Best Semester, which is affiliated with Biola, so all my financial aid and such transfers. The total cost for a semester in Uganda (inc. tuition, room and board, and a flight out of DC) is $11,150 - which is way cheaper than a semester at Biola.

--I know 2 other Biola kids (Amy Armstrong and Geoff) who got in for the same semester, which is pretty cool.

--I'm leaving Arizona on January 7th and get back on May 9th (tenatively, depending on the exact dates of my flights and such)

--I'm pretty sure the dress code means I'll be wearing long (ankle length) skirts the whole time, so I'm going to need to buy a few of those

--It's 9,171 miles from Phoenix, AZ to Kampala, Uganda.

--I have to get shots for yellow fever and polio. I also have to take pills for typhiod and malaria pills weekly for 2 weeks efore I go, throughout the semester, and for a month after I get back.

--The websites for the program are:

http://www.ugandastudies.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

http://www.bestsemester.com/contentID.2003/main.asp

Vaya con Dios