Livet i York

Når Han styrer båten....

2011-01-11T13:23:00.000-08:00

Tenk det etter å ha brukt siste uke av juleferien til å lese (revision), er plutselig eksamen over og hverdagen skal begynne igjen. Må egentlig bare fortelle om den utrolige følelsen av å legge alt i Guds hender. Folk kan si hva de vil om hvor stresset og nervøs jeg var før eksamen, men jeg har aldri vært så rolig under en eksamen som den jeg hadde på mandag. Jeg var på vei til eksamen og ba og ba, og min bønn ble hørt. Gud hjalp meg gjennom dette også som så mange ting; Jeg kom meg trygt fram på søndag (noe jeg også var urolig for), jeg har utrolig bra folk rundt meg som bryr seg (noe jeg var urolig for). Han er rett og slett uten grenser.

Hvorfor skal det være så vanskelig, legge alt i Hans hender og bare la han styre?

Min båt er så liten og havet så stort

men Jesus har grepet min hånd,

når Han styrer båten så går det så bra

på veien til himmelens land

når Han styrer båten så går det så bra

på veien til himmelens land!!!

Jentetur til Leeds og Ikea

2010-11-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

Sist helg var vi fire jenter som bestemte oss for å ta turen til Ikea som er i Leeds. Dette var noe jeg tror vi alle hadde godt av. Følelsen vi fikk når vi var kommet til togstasjonen var ubeskrivelig. Ingen av oss hadde vært så langt vekke fra universitetet før (og dette var i byen York vel og merke), og det å komme seg litt vekk fra boblelivet på uni var virkelig etterlengtet. Likevel hadde jeg ikke tenkt over dette før jeg kom meg litt vekk. Uansett, vi kjøpte oss billetter og kom oss på toget. Togturen var ikke lang så etter 15 minutter var vi framme i Leeds. Her tok vi oss først tid til litt shopping i hovedgata, før vi utpå dagen tok turen videre til Ikea, som var hovedmålet for hele dagen. Vi fikk kost oss med svenske kjø

ttboller, noe vi som var norske hadde gledet oss lenge til. Det var nesten som å være hjemme i Norge å spise kjøttkaker og poteter i brun saus (merk mine ord; nesten). Etter å ha trålt gjennom hver avdeling på Ikea var det på tide å komme seg hjem. For å si det slik det var ingen tvil for de vi møtte på hjemveien hvor vi hadde brukt dagen. Med store blåe ikeaposer, og et teppe under armen klarte vi omsider å komme oss hjem til Halifax (som ligger et stykke fra bussen).

Thanks for a lovely trip girls!

togstasjonen i York

Julelysene var allerede på plass

Byen Leeds (mye større enn York)

Svenske kjøttkaker. Nam!

Amy tok den britiske versjonen, chips og ketchup.

Her er vi alle sammen, Amy, Irene, Kirsti, Katrine og våre kupp for dagen.

Hverdag og bollebaking

2010-10-28T04:55:00.000-07:00

Nå begynner hverdagen å ta form. Dagene blir fylt med forelesninger, seminarer grupper og lesing. Også kveldene begynner å bli fylt mer og mer opp. Jeg har nå tatt skrittet til å prøve meg på yoga. Ja, jeg sa yoga. Kan tro det er hardt, kjenner det skikkelig i kroppen dagen etterpå. Tar det som et hint at det trengs. Ellers har jeg også blitt med på volleyball teamet til Halifax (mitt college) og joinet CU - christion union (nesten som laget hjemme) hvor vi har bibelstudie, møter og andre sosiale events.

Jeg begynner også å bli mer og mer kjent med mine flatmates, det vil si de jeg bor sammen med. Jeg deler nå hus med 3 britiske gutter, 3 amerikanske jenter og 1 amerikansk gutt. Men alle uten om de 3 britiske guttene skal bare være her til desember, da skal vi få 4 nye.

Her er bilder fra min bakekveld, tenkt de (flatmatene) hadde aldri smakt boller før. Jeg var ganske så fornøyd nå bolledeigen hevet og ble egentlig ganske så bra, selv med engelske (ukjente) merkevarer, og ikke minst med mine tidligere dårlige erfaringer med bolledeig.

rommet var varmt og godt og perfekt for heving
Bakemesteren selv...

Nå begynner skolen

2010-10-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

I morgen begynner skolen. Kjenner jeg er litt spent på hvordan det blir, plutselig er jeg student igjen. Bøker som skal leses, essay som skal leveres og ikke minst eksamen. I tillegg skal dette gå på engelsk.. på samme tid får vi utrolig mye støtte. Det er stor oppfølgning og mange ulike seminarer som skal hjelpe spesielt internasjonale studenter, så jeg får nok bare benytte meg mest mulig av dette.

Denne uken har innehold introduksjon til de ulike modulene i faget og har dermed også fått hilst på noen av de jeg skal studere sammen med. Ellers har det vært Societies fair som vil si at vi har fått introdusert alle de ulike societiene vi kan melde oss inn i. Og her er det noe for alle. Du har alt fra birdwatchers (de som ser på fugler) til science fiction and fantasy society. Jeg har ikke meldt meg inn i noen av de nevnte, men har derimot funnet ut at jeg skal prøve meg på yoga. Første time er på onsdag, så dette kan bli spennende. Har også vært på volleyball trial det vil si prøvd meg på volleyballaget for mitt college (Halifax). Ikke at det var så vanskelig å komme med på laget, de var nemlig kun 4 gutter fra før og vi var 3 nye som dukket opp. Derav var vi to jenter. Laget må nemlig alltid ha 1 jente på laget når de spiller kamp, så regner med det blir noen kamper framover:P

Uka ble avsluttet med BibBang event på campusen hvor det var konserter, fyrverkeri og disco.

Skal snart få tatt litt mere bilder å legge ut.

Første uke

2010-10-10T14:37:00.000-07:00

Da var første uken som student i York over. Som mange av dere sikkert har fått med seg allerede har det vært en tøff uke. Det er mye nytt og mange nye folk med totalt ulike bakgrunner. Mange beskjeder og mye som skal ordnes. Samtidig får jeg oppleve mye og jeg lærer utrolig mye om meg selv.

Jeg har begynt smålig å bli kjent med byen. I dag gikk jeg og 4 andre på båttur i elva som renner gjennom York. Vi så ikke så utrolig masse av byen, men likevel var det en fin måte å starte på. Litt etter litt. Det er egentlig det jeg må si til meg selv om alt. Step by step, så skal det vel gå til slutt.

York er en nydelig by og det er mye å utforske, samtidig er det også greit å spare noe til jeg får besøk i november. Regner med det blir litt sightseeing da også:) Jeg får bli ekspert så jeg kan guide.

Her er noen få bilder fra dagen:

Livet har startet i York

2010-10-08T14:47:00.000-07:00

Da er bloggingen i gang på nytt. Nytt år og nye eventyr. Jeg har derfor valgt å kalle bloggen for livet i York siden det er det den generelt vil handle om. Så jeg starter å blogge med ny layout (som Leif Arne har hjulpet meg med, Takk forresten!) og ny overskrift = en ny start egentlig. Det er jo det dette er. Man starter helt på ny igjen, ingen har peiling på hvem du er, hvor du kommer fra, hva du gjør osv. Du får på en måte definere deg selv, hvem vil du egentlig være. Og jeg tror dette er viktig å gjøre, ikke bare flyte med strømmen, men definere deg selv. Vanskelig, ja tro meg det er ikke enkelt men til slutt vil det være verdt det.

Så tilbake til det bloggen skulle handle om, livet i York. Tenkte jeg skulle ta en kort oppsummering av de første dagene som student i York:

- en liten maur i en gigantisk stor maurtue, hvor det er nye ganger og broer hele tiden og ufattelig vanskelig og finne fram = Lost.

- Engelsk, engelsk, engelsk man starter for å til og med tenke og telle på engelsk.

- Mye informasjon (får ikke med meg halvparten)

- Masse nye folk, mange ganger har man en samtale på 10 min og deretter ser man dem aldri igjen

- Typisk engelsk rom, vegg til vegg teppe. Litt institusjonsaktig. MEN jeg har kikkehull i døra (alltid ønsket meg det)

- Ender er Yorks store stolthet, de er overalt

- Fantastiske bygninger, typiske engelske gater

- Spesiell mat, savner allerede grovbrød og mammas middager

Jepp det var en liten oppdatering for nå, så får jeg ta mer når jeg har tid. Skal prøve å få tatt litt bilder også.

Og forresten, siden er enda ikke helt ferdig. skal endre på profilen og "stæsje" den opp litt (bare som informasjon), du har mye og glede deg til!!!

Home sweet home

2010-05-23T11:45:00.001-07:00

This is my lovely home Haua, Sokndal. The pearl of Norway, it's so beautiful. Worth a vissit....

Home

2010-05-02T16:06:00.000-07:00

I have now been home for four days. It's weard thinking that it's not long ago since I was in Uganda working at Miles2smiles. Suddenly a chapter is over, and a new one begins. In some way I don't feel that I understand it. I know that I'm home, and I now that I'm not going back, but at the same time I really don't understand it.

Something else is that I have waited for a reaction about the part on coming home to my normal life again. First I thought it would come when I was leaving from Uganda, but I didn't feel a thing. Then I thought maybe when I'm landing at Sola airport and meeting my family, nothing! And after staying home for four days I have realised that theres nothing I can do. If I get a reaction it will propably come when I totally not expect it to come.

But what I do know is that I have had seven amazing months in many ways. It's really been an amazing experience.

Thank you so much Auntie Betty for being an amazing teampartner and for a incredible time in Uganda together with you. I feel so blessed, thank you!

Auntie Betty 20 years

2010-04-21T03:32:00.000-07:00

On last Friday we had a big party at Miles2smiles. We were celebrating Auntie Betty and some of the children, and at the same time it was a farewell party for me and Betty. Some of the parents came as well and we had a great time together. But off course it feels pretty weird to say goodbye to the children, they have been such a big part of our life for 7 months now. I’m really going to miss them A LOT!

Betty: “I have now arranged a birthday party for 120 children, I think I’m ready to be a mother”

En bønn for barna

2010-04-21T03:08:00.000-07:00

VI BER FOR DE BARNA

som setter fra seg klissete sjokoladefingrer overalt,

som liker å bli kilt, som hopper

i vanndammer og ødelegger buksene sine,

som rapper kaker før maten,

som visker så hardt at det blir hull i matteboken,

som aldri finner skoene sine.

Og vi ber for dem som

ser på fotografene bak piggtråd,

som ikke kan løpe nedover veien i nye joggesko,

som aldri har talt potetene på tallerkenen,

som ble født på steder vi aldri ville besøkt,

aldri får gå på sirkus,

som lever i en verden forbudt for barn.

Vi ber for de barna som gir oss klissete kyss

og en neve full av løvetann,

som sover med hunden i sengen

og begraver de døde gullfiskene sine,

som nesten ikke har tid til en klem

og som glemmer matpakken,

som har hele kroppen dekket av plaster

og som synger falskt,

som trykker ut hele tannpastatuben

i vasken.

Og vi ber for alle dem

som aldri får noen dessert,

som ikke har noe koseteppe å slepe etter seg,

som ikke finner noe brød å stjele,

som ikke har noe rom de må rydde,

som ikke er på bilde på noens nattbord,

som har monstre som er virkelige.

Vi ber for de barna som bruker opp

ukepengene før tirsdag,

som kaster seg på gulvet i matbutikken

og hyler etter godteri,

som pirker i maten, som elsker spøkelseshistorier,

som gjemmer skitne klær under sengen

og som får besøk av tannfeen,

som ikke liker å bli susset

når hele skolen ser det,

som skaper seg i kirken og skriker i telefonen,

som får oss til både å le og gråte.

Og vi ber for de barna som opplever

dagene som mareritt,

som gjerne spiser hva som helst,

som ikke blir bortskjemt av et eneste menneske,

som går og legger seg sultne

og gråter seg i søvn,

som lever og puster uten egentlig å være til.

Vi ber for barn som vil bli båret

og for dem som må bæres,

for dem som aldri gir opp

og for dem som aldri har fått noen sjanse,

for dem vi kuer og for dem som griper

alle hender som strekkes mot dem.

De er Guds barn, hver og en av dem.

Qustion Question Question

2010-04-21T02:58:00.000-07:00

Who am I now?- I have now been in Uganda for 7 months (missing 7 days), am I changed? In that case: how? Why? Which things are the one that may have changed me for life? Have I made a difference, how has my stay at Miles2smiles meant something? How will it be to come home?

Questions, questions, questions………. I could have continued for a long time. This is the reason I didn’t get any sleep last night. New questions are coming all the time.

But then it hit me, maybe I don’t need to have all those answers; they will come to me when the time is there. At Hald, when I come home to my daily life and meet people, when I start school next year, when I get older and so on.

Still, it would off course be nice if some of those answers could come to me at this moment, but that’s not for me to decide (luckily).

Life of many children in Kalerwe

2010-04-14T13:45:00.000-07:00

The pictures posting here show the life of many children in Kalerwe. This is one of the only options for many of the parent, they can either bring their children to the marked or lock them home alone with little food available. This is where Miles2smiles tries to help. They want to give the children a safe environment to stay in while their parents are working, they also give them food and comfort.

Some of my adorable children

2010-04-11T04:07:00.000-07:00

Act Now

2010-04-11T04:03:00.000-07:00

In some way me and Auntie Betty have a way in coming up with something that seems like a good idea but always ends up in chaos. Like today:

ACT NOW

Smiles at Miles2smiles

2010-04-02T03:01:00.000-07:00

Miles2smiles is really the perfect name for this project. We have heard many different explanations about this name, but this day we got to experience something by our self.

Miles2smiles were lucky to take part in an organisation called Operation Christmas Child. They collect shoeboxes, full of toys, sweets and clothes, during whole December in UK and send them to children in disadvantaged situasions through projects like Miles2smiles. This year they sent over 1.18 million shoeboxes.

Finally the day was here when we got the boxes. I think we were just as excited as the children. We sorted out the boxes into age and were ready to hand them over. But when you have 120 children an no organised system it is doomed to be chaotic.

Still when we got to see the smiles the children got when they got their package, how proud and excited they were when they where walking home with their own shoebox full of things, it made everything worth it.

To see their excitement over one shoebox, it made me think about Christmas. In

Norway

we used about 43,8 billion kroner this Christmas (2009), 9 245 per person (SSB 14/12-09), think how many children we could have helped if we only received one shoebox each and sent rest of the money to someone who really need it.

webpages to vissit: http://www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk/ (if you want to know more)

Microfinance at Miles2smiles

2010-04-02T02:44:00.000-07:00

Miles2smiles has now started with microfinance, saving groups with the mothers. They have all together had two meetings but they have already saved a lot. It’s amazing to see how they manage to do this.

You can read about microfinance at http://www.strømmestiftelsen.no/

Collecting the money from the ladies and writing notes

The saving boxes

I have also started to teach the mothers to make paper necklaces, so after their saving group meeting we have about an hour where we make necklaces together. They are really engaged and it’s so fun to get to know them better.

Raindrops keep falling on my head

2010-03-29T11:19:00.000-07:00

It happened in Kabale……

We went to buy some fabric in the market, and suddenly it started to rain. And after living in Africa we have learned that you shouldn’t walk out in the rain. So we went under the nearest roof, to wait for it to stop. There I looked up in the sky. The raindrops were so big, that when they were falling down they looked like diamonds. It was some of the most beautiful thing I have ever seen.

The creation God is really amazing!

Killing a chicken

2010-03-24T01:56:00.000-07:00

Finally the time came for me to kill a chicken. This was one of the things I said I was going to do during my time here in Africa. We were back from

Rwanda

, and were staying with our friends in Kabale.

We were supposed to have an African girl to help us, but she got sick and we were thinking that four Norwegian girls should be able to do the same as one African girl. So we went down to the marked and picked our victim.

The two girls living in Kabale (Oda and Marte) had done this before, so they tried to remember all the details and we prepared us for the process.

I was supposed to kill while Oda was holding the chicken steady on the ground. I got in the right position, took the chickens head out and ready with the knife. BUT…….. I couldn’t do it. My idea of killing a chicken the African way was no longer a dream. Oda took over and slaughtered the chicken. And a lot of work was left to do. We started about 6.30 and 10.30 we were ready to eat our big chicken meal. Or to be honest the chicken part wasn’t that big, but we had a lot of other food (potatoes, vegetables, sauce) and it was lovely.

The day ended as a real girls night should end, with chocolate cake and pink movie (girls movie).

Trip to Rwanda

2010-03-24T01:49:00.000-07:00

We are now back from a visit in Kabale were two of our friends work with microfinance, also trough Stromme Foundation. Kabale borders to Rwanda and since we had to extend our visa we used it as an excuse to get a two days trip to Kigali in

Rwanda

As you probably know, Rwanda has a terrible history. We visited Kigali memorial centre after the genocide. The information was shocking, but we learned a lot. Not only did we get information about the genocide in Rwanda, but the museum also told us about Armenia, Nazi Germany, Cambodia and the Balkans.

Kigali memorial centre web page: www.kigalimemorialcentre.org

Teambuilding at the Bahai tempel

2010-03-14T07:15:00.000-07:00

Last sunday did we have a day with the workes at Miles2smiles. We had a focused on staying positive to eachoter, appreciate and trust eachother. We used some of the same activities we used at Hald.

Thank you for a great day!

Matoke (bananas)

2010-03-14T07:10:00.000-07:00

I have now learned how to make the delicious Matok (banana). So I am soon ready to make a good Ugandan meal for all my friend and family. Hope you will enjoy!

The process:

Peeling matoke

Banana leafs to cover the matoke with

After cooking, we mashed the bananas (it was hot)

Serving matoke to the workers

Hair

2010-03-04T04:25:00.000-08:00

For some time I went to get me a haircut down in Kalerwe. That was a real interesting experience! The lady had never cut mzungu hair before, but she promised to try. The haircut took about 15 min, and cost me 6 NOK, and the result – well; okey! But I think I’ll wait 2 months till my next haircut (meaning, home in Norway).

Hair means a lot in Uganda. They can struggle to get food on the table and get their kids at school, but still they come with a new hair almost every month. Our priorities are very different!

This has also made it hard for us to learn the names on the children and the parents. You start by finding some marks you on them, and then the hair is usually a good thing since they have all kind of different hair. But then suddenly after a month you can’t recognise the child any more, because she has a new hair.

Mum and Dad in Uganda

2010-02-27T06:38:00.000-08:00

At the mosque

Mum got to teach (Spider)

Norway!!!!

Daddy playing at Miles2smiles

at Equator

Lodge Mihingo

Gorilla tracking

Ugandan nature

at a lodge in Ishasha

Hippo walking close to our hotel room

Thank you for a good trip!

Blinke lille stjerne

2010-02-21T06:28:00.000-08:00

En av landets dyktigste pianister skulle holde en lunsjkonsert i Konserthuset. Det var dekket bord langs langsidene i rommet, og i midten sto flygelet. De besøkende spiste og småpratet mens de ventet på at konserten skulle begynne.

En kvinne hadde tatt med sin fem år gamle sønn for å oppmuntre interessen hans for pianospilling. Plutselig fikk hun øye på et par bekjente noen bord lenger bort, så hun ba sønnen vente ved bordet mens hun vekslet noen ord med vennen.

En stund senere hørtes nølende toner fra flygelet. Alle kikket nysgjerrig opp. Moren til femåringen skjønte forskrekket at sønnen, i stedet for å vente ved bordet, hadde sneket seg bort til flygelet. Der satt han nå og spilte Blinke lille stjerne med en finger.

Moren ble naturlig nok pinlig berør. Hva ville de andre besøkende si?

Men før hun rakk å styrte fram og sette en stoppe for klimpringen, sto med et pianisten framme ved flygelet. Han satte seg ved siden av gutten på pianokrakken, smilte til ham og hvisket at han skulle fortsette å spille. Så framførte mesteren og nybegynneren sammen Blinke lille stjerne. Gutten spilte melodien, pianisten la akkorder og andrestemmen. Publikum var trollbundet.

Når du tror du er ute på dypt vann, når ingenting blir helt som du hadde tenkt deg – lytt nøye. Da kommer du til å høre Gud hviske til deg: ”Ikke slutt å spille. Gi meg også plass på krakken, så spiller vi sammen. Bruk talentet du har, lite eller stort, så skal jeg forvandle det til noe storslagent.”

(hentet fra Alltid elsket av Kristina Reftel)

Painting at Mils2smiles

2010-02-21T06:26:00.000-08:00

Finally the day was here, when we got to go and buy painting and start on the classroom. The walls got blue, red, green and yellow. First we started with the undercover, and we soon figured that we would be full of painting. But it was fun!

The second day we thought we could start on the benches, the chairs and the closet. That was easier said than done. The closet was full of animals. Coach roach, mouse with 8 children, coach roach and last but not leat coach roach. If there’s one thing I’ll never get used to, living here in Uganda, it’s the bugs and animals. They are horrifying! - Today there was also a cow going crazy in the marked, is it strange I don’t like cows?

Infield

2010-02-09T09:43:00.000-08:00

Infield is a week where two of our teachers came down to have a course together with us. It focused on the golden moments from our stay, how we want the last months to be, and how we should manage to make them that way. It was some “innholdsrike” days, not only did we learn a lot but we also had a great time together. For example the social day, we went biking. That was really amazing, even though we felt it on our body some days after. It was definitely worth it!

Celebrating my birthday

Newspapers from Norway

Group talks

We went biking for our social day

Childrenhome in Jinja (trip with Miles2smiles)

2010-02-09T09:29:00.000-08:00

Reality

2010-01-19T03:04:00.000-08:00

We are now back in business! Miles2smiles has now opened again, and it was good to finally be back at work. After been travelling and enjoying our Christmas holiday it was a bit hard to come home and face the real reality her. We got some shocking news that one of our boys (the one I was writing about “what if?”) lost his mother because of aids. He (5) and his sister (10) are now sent to the village to stay at their grandfather’s house for some days. But they can’t keep staying there, and right now it doesn’t look good at all. The only thing we can do is pray that somebody will come and take care of them.

We also got told that a child from Miles2smiles disappeared one day, and that the employed that went to report it, got taken in by the police to stay there for the night (they meant that she had something to do with it). Luckily some bodaboda guy’s found him and she was free to go. So now we have to be really strict about closing the gate from inside, so that nobody just comes and takes one of our children.

It’s hard to face the reality!

Team Miles2smiles

2010-01-19T02:58:00.000-08:00

You don’t see how good you have it before it’s gone. I think that’s what I really got to experience when I got back from Kenya. Then I spent five days alone in the apartment, because Betty was travelling with her parents. Those were five long day! Not that I didn’t have anything to do, because the list was long. It’s just that it felt so empty not having Betty around. We have become like an old couple. If I find the bread, she puts it in the toaster and I put butter on. She usually makes the food, while I do the cleaning. We fill each other.

One evening when we were having our dinner we were talking about all the things we do together, and we both agreed; we actually do everything together. We live together, work together, and hang out together. Funny how suddenly a person is such a big part of your life!

The experience from the five days tells me that it’s going to be hard to suddenly live apart from each other in Norway. Luckily we have some days at Hald, and there is something called phone!

Who would have known that when I went to Uganda I would suddenly be married and auntie at the same time?

Happy New Year!

2010-01-09T05:43:00.000-08:00

Days before Christmas

2010-01-04T01:09:00.000-08:00

Our apartment during December

We got calenders from Norway:)

African version of mint with mocca "Når en pepperkake baker....."
We had a bird in our apartment, it died out of shock from our screaming.

Cutting for paper necklesses.

Making neckless out of paper together with one of the mothers Troll in african style

Ready for african wedding!

Christmas in Africa

2009-12-19T05:21:00.000-08:00

Being in Africa during December isn’t exactly as staying back home in Norway. But even though we don’t have the cold weather, no snow, no Christmas tree, no busy and stressing days because of all the things we have to do, I enjoy the advent here in Uganda. It’s something different, and even though we don’t have those mentioned things we have so much of other things. Like our apartment is decorated for the occasion, we have calendars to count down for Christmas eve, Christmas party at Miles2smiles, Christmas music that is on all day long in our apartment, candles and last but not least each other

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

(I would have put in a picture, but it won't work today- it will come later)

Thank you!

2009-12-19T03:53:00.000-08:00

When Torhild came with a suitcase full of only toys we were overwhelmed. We filled up to big boxes and when went down to Miles2smiles. The joy got even bigger when the kids got to see what we brought with us. The best part – it was more than enough toys for everybody.

We have seen the need of toys at Miles2smiles, and we really appreciated the kindness of all those who gave away some toys. It’s just overwhelming! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

Visit from Norway

2009-12-17T06:42:00.000-08:00

I was so lucky to get an unexpected visit from Norway. My sister came to spent 10 days with me. We had a great time, and she really got to experience Africa in many ways. While she was here we where able to take an interesting trip to Queen Elisabeth where we went on a game drive (safari) and boat tour to look at animals. We also used some days at Miles2smiles where we also were having a Christmas party the last day she was here. At the Christmas party we first went to the church where the children were performing a Christmas play of the birth of Jesus Christ and sang a song. They were so adorable.

Thank you for coming and visit me Torhild, I really appreciated it. And I had 10 great days with youJ

Some animals we saw at the safari.

Torhild locked herself in the mosquitonet.

The lodge we pretended to live at.

Wisemen

Angels

Christmas party: the wise men and angels

A day at Miles2smiles

2009-12-12T01:54:00.001-08:00

Morning circle

Class

Breakfast (porridge)

Class

washing their hands

Food

They wash their feet before sleeping

Shoes and clothes

The children sleep (and so do we)

Playing

Miles2smiles christmas trip

2009-12-09T07:06:00.001-08:00

For two weeks ago we had a christmas trip to Entebbe together with all the staff members and 8 kids. The program for the day were;

The zoo

Dinner (they had just taken antibac and

we told them not to touch anything)

The beach

Betty and the children are dancing

And also the airport to see the planes when they landed and took off. Some of the staff members had never seen a plane before, and they were very excited. Funny how amazing the small things like seeing a plane can be that awesome. Everybody was dressed up with their finest clothes, and we had a great day together!

Home vissit

2009-11-26T14:50:00.000-08:00

We have vissited some of the homes to the children at Miles2smiles. I think I'll let the pictures tell you the story this time.

Life....

2009-11-22T11:19:00.000-08:00

At the market

Kasubi Tombs

Nordic Sportsday

What if...?

2009-11-20T07:02:00.000-08:00

What if I was hiv positive?

What if my father died of aids?

What if my single mother had aids and couldn’t afford the medicine?

What if my mother died and I didn’t have any relatives to take care of me?

What if my sister had to marry in the age of 10 just to get money for food?

What if the only solution is living at the street together with some other children?

What if…..?

I could say; luckily this is not my life. But it’s not better to know that this is the reality for one of the children at Miles2smiles. His mother has aids and is really sick. He is also hiv-positive. If his mother dies he and his sister have nobody to take care of them. They don’t have any relatives, and wouldn’t be able to get any money for food. The only solution for them would be that the sister gets married in the age of ten and that he moves out and lives at the street.

What if this was my life?

Daily life

2009-11-20T06:54:00.000-08:00

Many ask me about my daily life, and what the days goes to.

Now we are starting to get the daily life here in Kampala. Our job starts at 8 o’clock and contains morning-circle with a lot of singing and dancing, and then we have class – porridge – class – food – washing and sleeping. When the children sleep it’s totally quiet at Miles2smiles and we are able to go to our apartment to rest some before we have our luganda lesson together with teacher Ismail. After that we sometimes stay a little while playing with the children before we go for dinner. Then we go out to eat, or we go to the market to by some vegetables or fruit before heading back to the apartment. And it’s funny how the evening just disappears.

This is mostly what our days contain. But of course no days are the same. Every Thursday we have a excursion instead of luganda lesson. Then our teacher Ismail takes us to different places in Kampala. We have now seen the mosque, Kasubi Tombs and we have been to a play and a piano concert at Ismail’s school (primary school). We also have a lot of visitors at Miles2smiles from different organisations (mostly Stromme Foundation).

Our weekends are mostly filled up with some program. It could be introduction, birthday party, the zoo, Nordic sports day, church etc.

Introduction

2009-11-12T06:40:00.000-08:00

On Saturday we were invited to an introduction in the village. We got told that we needed to get the traditional dress; Gomesi for this occasion. Not totally aware of how the dress looked like, we went out buying fabric and then to the tailor.

The result was not exactly what we are used to wear, but an experience. I have now a totally new view on puff arms. It’s not like the one Anne fra Bjørkely got on her dresses.

Colourful girls ready for introduction. – We don’t need a Christmas tree this year; my dress can take that part.

The introduction was an experience for itself. We were guests on the groom’s side, so we had to sit properly, carry the gifts for the bride’s family on our head and wait for the man to be accepted into the family.

Money money money:)

2009-11-12T06:38:00.000-08:00

When you are working at a nursery school you hear a lot of funny rhymes:

Money, money, money,
money is good
Everything needs money
my father needs money
my mother needs money
my neighbours need money
I need money too
God made man
man made money
money made man mad

Update...

2009-11-03T07:36:00.000-08:00

Kampala

It rains a lot

Birthdayparty at Miles2smiles

Life..

Life...

I have been here over a month now, and I thought I'll post some more pictures.. Otherwise the week have contained a lot, and we feel that the days just dissapers. But here are short what the week have contained:

-We had the funniest bodaboda tour - he were not able to gear

-We went to buy mattresses and got a lot of looks on our way to the apartment

-Bodaboda-men rarely knows were we are going, specially when we don't have a clue

-The electrisity have been gone for 2 1/2 day (candles works)

-We have bought traditional dresses

Muslim for one day

2009-11-03T07:12:00.000-08:00

When we came here we were so lucky to start luganda-lessons right away. Our teacher Ismail, comes over one hour everyday to teach us luganda. It’s hard, but we’re getting there. We are now able to go to the market and tell them what we want; Bogoya sente meka? (How much is it for the bananas?) So we are making progress, luckily! To make it easier to remember all off the words, we have decided to have one day free every week. So every Thursday were going to have an excursion together with our teacher. This Thursday we went to the biggest mosque here in Kampala. All dressed up with scarf’s and long skirts.

Our teacher is a Muslim so he could tell us quite much about the religion, and since he used to go to this mosque every Friday he got some friends to show us around.

The mosque

Me and teacher Ismail

Wedding?

2009-10-25T08:11:00.001-07:00

OK everybody: Now I have the chance to get married! One of the guests at the birthday we went to was a mother to two boys, and she was quite eager to get them married. What wasn’t better than marrying an muzungu. And when I told her that my father was really ancient about me getting an African boyfriend and be moving to Africa for good, she came with an offer of 10 cows, 8 goats, a special song and some kind of special chair. How could he say no to that?

This woman had a solution to every problem. She could help me to learn how to cook (so he wouldn’t starve), arrange a meeting, moving to the land that he already owned and so she kept on going. This was an offer I really couldn’t say no to, she seemed to have the whole life planned.

I just say; 10 cows, 8 goats, a special song and some kind of special chair……

Be grateful...

2009-10-25T07:56:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were invited to a birthday party, or actually it was Katherine who invited us. That’s how it works. If you have some friends you want to bring, even though it’s not your party, you invite them.

Kate’s mother Path were celebrating her 57 birthday, so she had rented a place with good view over all Kampala city. We were about 20 people so we were able to talk and get to know most of them. A lot were Africans from the Caribbean who had moved back to Uganda after their forefathers had been sent away. So Jamaica was good represented at the party, with an own real Jamaican DJ. We got to know Kate’s family quite well and we have also been invited to bake cake with Path (she is well known for her cakes).

- Something I recognized through this evening is how grateful they are. How they thank God for everyday of their life, how grateful they are to be able to be one year older. How grateful they are to their parents for raising them up, giving them money to education and how grateful they are for their friends. Some of them have had a though life, struggling to get enough food or living in war. But they never seemed to loose their faith. And the love they have for each other is unique. This evening gave me a reminder to be more grateful and not taking things for granted… I know I don’t say it enough; so thank you, friends and family for being a part of my life.

Some pictures from the first two weeks

2009-10-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

Could be the taxi spot, but it's not.

I just say; I'm scared of the cows in Norway....

Tourists trying to get to know Kampala

Watoto church

Had to use my shoe to get it out...

A girl came with Act Now t-shirt (had to take picture)

You don’t know what you have, until you loose it…

2009-10-18T01:51:00.000-07:00

Today when we got back from town we noticed that the electricity was gone at the moment. So we found our flashlights and figured out that this is Africa, and we just had to get used to it. But after a whole evening without electricity we started to get a bit impatiens. The other days when the electricity had gone it only went away for some hours, but tonight it had been several hours. So we ended our night playing “spot” in the bed with the only flashlight that had not gone out of battery. But when I was going to bed I asked Betty if she wanted me to turn the switcher so she would know when the electricity came back. And guess what, the electricity had not been gone the last hours. We had just forgotten to turn on the switcher.

It definitely gave me a message to appreciate more what I have. And that is something I have to remind me of all the time when I am here in Africa. To see how lucky I am to be able to be here working with the children everyday. Showing them the love, get to know them and getting to know a totally different culture. I will also know that I will appreciate my life in Norway so much more when I get back.

Everyday is a blessing.

Miles2smiles

2009-10-11T12:07:00.000-07:00

We have now been working for 3 days, and we are just as popular as we were in the beginning. Every day when we arrive at work (it’s only 2 minutes walk from our apartment) the kids come running and screaming “mzungo, mzungo”. But even though we haven’t stayed for more than 3 days we are already getting some routines. And that is how the kindergarten is working, everything is routine. From 8am to 2pm we have different routines, but after that we do everything together.

On Wednesday Catherine took us to the market where we met some of the mothers to the children. This is single mothers who used to bring their children to the marked; placing them laying under the tables, or some locked them inside back home leaving some cold porridge and bread for the children to take something when they got hungry. Through miles2smiles they now have the opportunities to know that their children are safe while they are at work. The children also get food, bath and love. Love is the most important thing. Miles2smiles is now their life.

Even though we have a lot of different ways of doing things (some can really be a challenge), I know that we will learn so much during these 7 months at miles2smiles. I also hope that we will be able to give something back to them.

http://www.miles2smiles.org/

Norwegian stress, but we also have fun…

2009-10-11T12:04:00.000-07:00

Friday was Ugandas Independence Day, and we were going to spend it together with Catherine (our supervisor). We went to an exhibition, which is an event that takes place once a year. Here different sellers from all over (Tanzania, Egypt, Uganda etc.) gathers to sell their products. It was all kind of things; cars, pots, phones, a lot of African things etc. We also got to meet Oda and Marte who where standing together with their project, Drucilla, and selling some of the products their women had made.

We bought some things to hang on our wall in our apartment and also some other small things to the apartment. Even though it takes time, the apartment becomes more and more like our home.

After some shopping, a lot of people and loud music we took a visit to one of the big supermarkets close by, where we got to by some food that makes the dinners more tempting to make. We even got taco shells and sauce. Now we were very satisfied, but hungry … So after a long taxi drive and bodaboda we finally got back home and could make mashed potatoes and sausages for all three of us. Catherine stayed a while and we showed her some pictures from back home and got to know each other better.

We have been talking a lot about how different we look at the time in Norway and Africa. African time is something you really get used to. Right on time is not an expression that they use. And we figured out that Norwegian stress to much. WHY? Catherine really wanted an answered on this. And when we were looking at some pictures from different activities we had participated in Beate found the answered. Like carnival, playing in snow etc. “We don’t do that”, said Catherine. So here is the answered; We stress so we can have some free time, and just enjoy it, having fun!

In Africa work is life. Like the women working at miles2smiles for example. The kindergarten starts at 8.00am and last until 8.pm. And some of them even live together at the same place, so they don’t get much privacy and just having fun. Work is a bigger part of their life - it is their life. Catherine really hoped that this way of thinking wouldn’t be changed during our time here in Uganda.

Even though we have fun, we also have some to learn from the Africans. They don’t run around stressing. You take your time. When you’re going to town you go into a taxi and it doesn’t drive until it’s full. And then you just have to sit and wait. I think I’m going to enjoy this way of thinking about time. But I feel a bit sorry for the people back home who will have to wait for me when I come back, because then I will be affected by “African time”.

This day was terrific. We have an amazing supervisor. She takes us around, takes care of us and really cares.

God bless no stress.

Liten eller stor...

2009-10-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Om jeg er liten eller stor
så er det best for meg på jord
å høre Jesus til, å gå den vei han vil.

Det er det som gjør meg lykkelig.

Me and Dob

First days in Africa

2009-10-07T09:21:00.000-07:00

Suddenly I'm in Africa.. And my new chapter has begun..I am now living and working in Kampala. We got here on Friday 2/10 and we got to meet our contact person Catherine. She had been preparing our apartment for us. She had really made a big effort to make us feel comfortable and welcomed. The apartment was way over our expectations and I know that I will feel home here.

Catherine has made us feel so welcomed and already the first day we got to meet our working place, Miles2smiles and all the adorable children we are going to work with. Miles2smiles has now got about 120 children who comes every day and there are still coming some new ones everyday.

Our home

The days at Miles2smiles contains: greeting circle in the morning, class, porridge and snacks, playtime, bath time, nap, snacks and more playing...

Since we are Mzungos we are quite popular at the moment and for some a bit scary. But I hope they will get used to us and that we will be able to get to know each and one of them... They are beatuiful! Later we are also going to meet some of the parents at the markeds where they work...

Other things: Kampala is a big city, and for me who likes Haua a lot it is almost to big.. but we will get used... We have also had an introduction to stromme foundation and got to know the people working there. They have really made us feel safe and mostly welcomed..

I will have to write some more later because now it's getting late and my time is off.

A new chapter begins

2009-09-28T08:08:00.000-07:00

Suddenly 6 week at Hald was over, strange how fast it can go. It was not only strange but also sad to say goodbye at Thursday knowing that it would be 7 months before I was going to meet them again. I am really going to miss friends and life at Hald…

But when one chapter is finished a new one starts.. and right now I can’t wait!!!

I realized that I haven’t told so much about the school and what we have been doing during the starting course. Here is a link: www.hald.no where you can read all about the school and the different programs. It also has some information and pictures about the activities we had during this 6 weeks.

Hald in the church in Mandal. (Idunn og Irene)

Beate and Marte at African night

African night

SK (special kids) - with special needs

The days at Hald:

Blåtur – with the motto: I promise to do my best, help others and stay positive.
Praise and prayer - Walk and prayer
Social time
African night and Latin American night
Volleyball - football
Sleeping at the coach
Playing Idioten (and winningJ)
and more social time………

As I wrote last time it was really good to be back living at the school with people around you all the time. We are a big fruit salad of cultures which can bring to a lot of strange questions sometimes. Like why to the Norwegian get read in their face? Why do some Norwegians go out while it’s raining???

I guess we can be quite strange sometimes.. But as I said we are a fruit salad of cultures where we give and take and learn so much. Wow, think about all the things we are going to learn through 7 months in Africa…

In 4 days I will be in Kampala!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm blogging

2009-09-09T06:58:00.000-07:00

Hello!

Then I am finally blogging. I hope you will enjoy the reading and post some comments.

I have now started at school in Mandal at Hald Internasjonale Senter. Here we are students from 13 different countries in a beginning course before we travel out in the big world. It was a good feeling to be back living at school with people around you all the time. Something I kind of missed a bit during the summer. But the school is also very different from Drottningborg and there are a lot of new things to get used to. Like living in a room with 4 other girls (used to single room), lessons in English, speaking English and also be that many different nationalities together.

This year I’m going to spend 7 months in Uganda, in Kampala together with Beate. We are going to work in a kindergarten called Miles2smile. I will write some more about the project later.

Now there are only 2 ½ week left at Hald and I’m starting to get some butterflies.

I hope you will keep me in your prayers this year.

God bless