Finally, Internet access!

Hello USA friends and family! I am so sorry it has taken me this long to post a blog, I hope you have not given up on this link. I finally made it to an internet cafe 25 minutes from the orphanage just to talk to you special people. The internet is sooooooo slow here, but I will not give up on this blog thing.
I don't know where to begin. I arrived at Kampala (a city in Uganda) 4 days ago. The time difference here is 7 hours ahead so my mother and I rested, then went into the city. We ate the most delicious fruit imaginable, shopped around, and got Ugandin ice cream (to die for). The next day we took a 4 hour bus ride with two other volinteers to Rakai which is where the Children of Uganda orphanage is located. During the drive my eyes feasted on the most beautiful landscapes of Uganda. There are children EVERYWHERE! Everyone is so beautiful here you will see pictures when I get back and know what I am talking about. When we got off the bus in Sabina (the specific place the orphanage is) I was very nervous about being accepted by the children and staff, but that ended soon. I stepped off the bus and a flood of beautiful children rushed over, begging to help carry our things. They would say "Auntie! Auntie! What is your name?" Thats what they call us here, aunties and uncles. As I got my tour of the place from some of the children, there were numerous times when one would run over to me and give me a big hug, just like that without even knowing me. As I unpacked a few girls around the age of 10 came into me and my mother's room asking us all types of questions. "What is this? What is that? How long will you be here? Ohhh those shoes are so beautiful! (dirty sneakers i got from payless)" Later that night they performed for us as a sort of welcome gift. They included our names in the songs saying how happy they are that we are there. They danced and wiggled their hips better then I had ever seen before. This wasn't like some school project that they are forced to do, this was something they were so excited and happy to show us.
During the past 3 days I have been trying to get aquanted with each of the 200 hundred children that live here. I have interacted with around 60 of them so far. Yesterday a few girls and I were doing gymnastics. The way it works with these kids is if 2 children are doing something with me or listening to a story i am telling, 20 of them flock over and it becomes a large group activity. This would normaly be hard to do, but since they are all so respectful and wonderful it only makes it more fun. I ended up teaching and spotting a large group of children how to do back bends, headstands and cartwheels on their soccer field. And by soccer field I mean a large grass area with two goals made out of large sticks on each side. The ball being a large ball of grass wrapped with long leafs. Throughout the day we all learned a lot from eachother. I taught them how to wheel barrol race, hide and seek, blob, simon says, and red light green light 1 2 3. For red light green light I had to change the title to pinaple banana orange 1 2 3. This is partly because there are no traffic lights here, and also the younger children do ont know english yet, only Luganda. The way I handle this situation is by having one of the older children translate for me as I explain the rules. Every time I taught them a game it was as if i had just given them a large gift. They would say "let us repeat that one!" Then after a while, they would say "another one please auntie". Eventually I ran out of active games so they learned Go Fish. Later they taught me some Luganda (which I am picking up pretty well) and some African dancing. They get a kick out of teaching a mazoonka such as myself things about their culture. Oh sorry Mazoonka is a rich, white person. It is not an insult according to Ugandins, but it is a bit offensive after a while when everytime you walk down the street people point and say "Mazoonka!", The children however, have never used this phrase towerds me. Even though there are a few people at the orphanage that are my age, it is so surprising that they always give me so much respect. Every child here is so pure. There is no manipulation or hidden agendas that most children that I have worked with always have.
This blog is very very long, but I am not sure when the next time I will be able to do this is, so I'm just going to crame as much as I can into this one.
Mission: This summer their are a few other volinteers that are working on setting up permiculture for the grounds. This is when a lot of food is grown in a small space. The orphanage has a big food shortage problem so hopefuly this all works out so their can be more food and it will look beautiful.
Food: I have been eating rice, beans, posho, matoki, and cows milk every day. So far I have not gotten sick by staying away from foods that could make that happen, but I don't want to jinks it. The food is tastey, but very repeditive.
Their are certain kids that I have grown close with. One is Viola. She is 10, beautiful, and so much fin to be with. Another is Martin, a 13 year old boy that loves music. He has dreams of being the next Ahkoon (Akon), and I believe he can. Shira is brilliant. She learned Suduko within 4 minutes. Kuwala is so funny and sweet. No one knows her real age because if you ask her she will say 5. We estimate around her 40s. This is because she has a mental disability, but is very funtional. She washes dishes, and takes care of the babies. She is adorable. It isn't like anything I have ever seen because in the states people with mental disabilities are partly aware of them becuase of all the doctor appointments, medication, and unfortunatly teasing. Here, none of that happens so she is a happy, sweet, attention craving young child in an older womans body.
There are so many other children that I wish to mention, but that will wait until later because I need to wrap this up. Oh one more thing, I milked a cow yesterday! And I held baby chicks after they hatched. What a day it was.
OK some quick shout outs. Sara, I love and miss you dearly. I tried to call you two days ago, but it is so expensive and the service is not good. I would write you a letter, but I am worried it would not arrive until I get back. I am getting you great gifts though. Amanda, I miss you and love you as well! I hope camp is going great, I am sure it is since the children love you and you love them. Don't worry I am getting you African things as well. When I get back, its goin down.
Ariella, I don't know if you will read this, but I miss you and love you just as much! I am finding the perfect things for you and I have been showing pictures to the children of all three of you. They say you are all beautiful. Talitha, Cassie, Debra, and Tom. Your kids have been asking about you numerous times a day. Margeret told me about the "American meat" the other day that she tried with you Cassie. I cracked the code and found out she was talking about clams. All of your children have been spending a lot of time with me and I deeply enjoy their company.
Spencer and Bean, I hope the premier went well! I look forward to coming back and seeing that with you guys. I miss you both! Max Schneider, I hope camp is going well. I miss you surprisingly a lot. Just kidding, but really I do miss you. I got you something that I know you will like. Max Feist, I am not sure you will read this but I just wanted to let you know that I miss you. I got you something as well, hope you are enjoying yourself in montreal. Make good choices :). Libbie I have not forgotten you. You will love that piece of Africa I am bringing home for you. All my sisters, you have no idea how much I am missing you. I am so glad we all got to be together before I left. Natalie I am sure the run is going very well, the show was great, you were the best in it and that wasn't from a sister's point of view. Courtney, I wish I had time to visit you in Atlanta. Soon though. Tell Todd and the bebes that I LOOOOOOOOVE THEM AND I MISS THEM SOOOO MUCH!!!! I have been showing pictures of them to the kids here and they think they are just beautiful as well. Allison, bring in that money at the body shop. You are so dedicated and I am really impressed, the kids have been asking about you as well. Dad, glad we saw eachother before I left. I am missing you and you will love the pictures. I've been studying that music and I hope hope hope you will bring me to camp! Grandma, sorry I didn't make it out to visit you and Anya. I really wanted to, but it will happen very soon. I love you so much!
This really needs to come to an end so if I have not mentioned you it does not mean I do not care, it just means that my time at this internet cafe is running low. Don't change, ANYONE! I cannot wait to see you all again and thank you so much for reading my blog/novel. Enjoy your summer and know that I am thinking of you all. <3

Your truly,
~Madeline~