8 days until I go!!

I'm glad that people have expressed their excitement about reading my blog and keeping up to date on my experiences.
So, I leave in 8 days. 8 days!
I'm doing little things everyday to get ready. I did a "trial" pack yesterday go make sure things would fit in my suitcase. i just wanted to pack the whole thing and let it sit there for a week. But then I realized that's nuts and unpacked my stuff :)
My mom got me these vacuum seal space bags to pack my clothes in in order to save room. Very handy. However, I felt like an idiot last night when I couldn't roll the bag and get the damn air to go out. I looked like an idiot, using all of my muscle to press down, roll, smush!
I just had to get the right angle I realized after about 10 minutes and then it worked. Brilliant.
So, I just finished reading A Long Way Gone : Memoirs of ABoy Solider, by Ishmael Beah.
Wow, this is a must read for anyone wanting to understand the horrors of these wars in Africa that are putting children on the front lines. This boy lost his entire family to the rebels in Sierra Leone and then traveled on foot for almost a year trying to survive by himself. He was scared, missing his mom and dad, and incredibly confused about what was going on and why. Eventually he was forced into the "army" to fight against the rebels. While in the army, he was given large amounts of drugs to numb him to the brutality and taught to kill, kill, kill. And he did, for two year. He killed and destroyed nonstop until he was taken out of the situation by Unicef to be helped and reintroduced into society. His story is truly fascinating and it broke my heart. I could hardly put the book down.
Check it out...
http://www.alongwaygone.com/
I'm sure I'll be meeting many boys/men who were forced into this same situation in Uganda's war and are now trying to integrate back into society and heal from what they did, saw and experienced in the war.

Here are some photos and stories from the Shanit Uganda Birthing Center being built!
http://www.shantiuganda.org/blogs/shanti-uganda
I love the photos of the women gathered around the mango tree and seeing the whole community get involved in this project!
I'll be there soon to join them!

I just want everyone to know that your support and encouragement with this trip has meant so much to me. I feel like I am taking you all with me and, really, I am because you are all a part of why I'm going and of what got me here. You all helped to create and fund the birthing center and school that I'm helping to build down there :)

OK, unitl next week....
xo Heather

Getting physically and emotionally prepared

After a terrible run in with some "bad" food and a night of getting so sick that I was basically hanging out on the bathroom floor all night, I am back to thinking about my trip. That food poisoning really threw me for a loop. What if I get sick like that in Uganda? How will I deal physically and emotionally? What the hell have I gotten myself into?!!
(And now for a deep breath......)
All will be ok, all will be ok....

Anyway, I'm back to preparing and putting my anxieties to the side. They can sit on the sidelines. I will acknowledge them but not indulge in them.
I have my fresh, crisp $50 bills, ready to exchange. For some reason, African officials don't value money made printed before 2000 as much as money printed after. ?
I have some new hiking boots, a new and efficient backpack for everyday use, some letters from my wonderful family/friends for me to take with me and read while there, and lots of donations for the kids at the school and the orphanage.
I still need all my first aid gear, travel size toiletries, work gloves and a sun hat (to be provided by Chris, I believe) and the books I finally decide to bring with me. I also must remember to make copies of my passport and ID to take with me and also leave here with someone.

So, in case you have'nt heard about this. here is a big issue (mess, horror, problem... find the word that fits best) going on in Uganda.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/world/africa/04uganda.html?scp=2&sq=uganda&st=cse
I'm sure when I'm there I'll hear much about this awful new anti gay movement brought on by some lovely American Christian Fundamentalists. (take deep breath....)
OK, that's all for now.

Oh and I just noticed today that people posted comments! I' m so new to blogs that I didn't even know where to look for that.
I loved reading the comments. Keep posting :)

xo Heather

Preparing for the trip

This is my first blog entry for this site. (well my first blog for any site actually) This is all new to me but will be a good way for me to communicate with all of you from Africa.
I'm excited and nervous for the trip. Excited to meet all of the fellow OTM travelers, to experience African culture, to see and touch the red earth, to have my eyes and heart opened by the people and life there, to do yoga every morning with Seane, to hear Suzanne chant and sing everyday, to play with kids in the orphenange, to get my hands (and clothes) dirty, to eat some yummy food, to connect with my like minded travelers and make new friends, and much much more.
I'm nervous to take a LONG trip over there. I'm a bit claustrophobic and not a big fan of being on a plane for almost a day! If anyone has a good book recommendation, please share! I need books that will suck up all of my attention! (I'll be trying some Ambien) I'm also nervous for all of the unknown things to come my way... but I guess I' excited for that too :)
So, I'm in the making lists/buying things stage... got some new lightweight pants (no shorts - not appropriate for the culture), a new raincoat that folds up into the size of my hand, have my many meds to take with me... going to buy some sneakers tomorrow that I don't mind making a mess of.... have my $50 bills that must be made after 2000 (?).
And tomorrow I'll make my complete list.
ok, I guess that's all for my first entry.
This was quite fun to write :)

xo Heather