safe and sound :-)

hi everyone! i just wanted to let you all know that after 2 days of traveling i arrived safely in uganda.

i was verrrrrrrrry nervous, but once i joined the other USP students in washington, d.c., i started to feel much more comfortable. the plane rides were long and i couldn't sleep (way too excited and nervous), but everything went smoothly. we had a long layover in england and we had a the opportunity to tour all over london. it was a lot of fun and i will try and write more about that later.

once we got to uganda christian university (UCU) they just let us do whatever. a lot of people slept, but i went visiting (shocking, i know). the people are very friendly. some are just as nervous about talking to me as i am about talking to them! (which is easy to forget)

i am spending the weekend with a UCU student originally from kenya named adalynn. she is so nice and was gracious to let me stay with her until my room is ready. i am very lucky because i am the only person who is staying with a UCU student. the vice chancelor (president) said this school is growing faster than it can build buildings! they are just about done with a new dorm that will house 400 students--that is where i am going to live! UCU now has about 4000 students, so it is a bit bigger than roberts (it grew from about 250 10 years ago). PS....thank you kacy for praying for a Ugandan to help me!!!! :-D

the weather is absolutely gorgeous (around 80 and fairly dry). the UCU students complain that it is too hot! haha....i'm loving it for now.....maybe that will wear off. at night it gets cooler (maybe 65). the ugandans all put on sweaters! it is so funny to me. :-)

i saw a monkey on my way to class today.

last night i had an awesome talk with one of the UCU students about their government. they are very open about talking to us....which is awesome.

i crashed at about 10:30 and then woke up a little after midnight thinking it was morning (i heard people outside talking). adalynn must have thought i was crazy. i untucked my mosquito net and started getting ready before i realized what time it was. haha....jet lag is FUN. i am a bit tired....nerves and excitement have been keeping me up for like the last week. adrenaline is keeping me awake now. this is all so exciting.

food is pretty good....im enjoying the rice and beans. water is a little harder. the bottled stuff is ok, but our drinking water tastes like chlorine and it is gonna take some getting used to.

oop....i have to go. we're meeting for dinner soon and i have to find the group. love you and miss you all!

bry....i am 8 hours ahead of y'all!!!