"When you get to the End of Your Rope, Tie a Knot and Hold On"

So on Tuesday, we went running to train for our upcoming XC meet. The thought never occurred to me to actually run on the streets here (I have been using a track on campus), so when Ms. Wallas told us we would be running a 5k around Kampala, I really didn't know what to expect. I am sure it looked really strange, having a line of white people, and to have them running (NOBODY runs here). Especially when we stopped to stretch. :) It definitely was an experience I'm not going to forget. It felt really good to run; I just don't like the smell that we had to run through. I have come to realize how strong my nose is here! I can hardly stand all of the body odor, let alone the smell of fires and exhaust from the cars. Running through it all is even worse! You can hardly breath! Luckily, I made it!!

Today I played hooky from school (thanks to a wonderful mother who let me!), and went out to the clinic sponsored by Child2Youth, to help with some AIDS testing and watch how they do things. Wow, I can say one thing: I can hardly wait to become a nurse!! I would love to come back here and do some humanitarian work. Watching Camera (a nurse-practitioner from New Mexico) was so fun!! It was definitely different than doctor offices back home. Everyone tends to think that they have a priority that needs to be seen asap, when really, all it is is a back pain or cough. One lady, who was 93, came in and we found a lump in one of her breasts that was 10cm long! It was probably cancerous.

With the AIDS testing, it was really sad to watch and actually put the faces with those who were positive. Out of the 52 we tested, 5 were positive.

The whole day helped me see really how little these people have. They have to pay an office fee of 1000 shillings (which is about 41 cents) and depending on what medicine they received and etc. Some people could barley afford that! Like my mom has said multiple times, "God must really love Uganda, or else they couldn't survive!" It is so true!! They live with so little, but still are the happiest people.

There are so many things that I miss, like cheesecake, Cafe-Rio, my bed, friends (the list goes on); but at the same time, I know that I miss the relax feeling one has here, there is absolutely NO rush to get things done. I almost wish that everyone could have the amazing opportunity we are having!!