Mukono (10 Jan)

-yesterday i moved in with my host family! my host mom is named margaret. she is a grandmother and many people live in her home. there is michael, 20, her nephew. michael has been a great friend to me and he is leaving soon to go back to his university where he is studying agricultural engineering. martin is my roommate and he is 26. he has a typing/computing/printing business near the university. there are around 12 or so in the house. they come and go. i'll write more about others as we go.

-my home is about a 15 minutes walk from UCU. we have a goat (embuzi). also three beautiful and very playful "siblings" - all girls. Diana is going to be 7. she speaks a little english. subi is 4 and she is a rascal. and angela is nearing 2 and is soooooo cute. i'm not sure about the goat. also there is a a baby, maria. maria has never seen a white person and so cries whenever she sees me. they say she "fears me."

-my family grows mangoes, jackfruit, advocados, corns, sweet potatoes, and bananas.

-took my first bucket bath. i filled up a basin with water and used a cup to dump the water on me. i used soap too.

-norrine, one of my mom's older daughters, prolly upper 20's, helped me handwash my clothes today.

-went to catholic mass today. it was in lugandan so i didnt understand a word. also we were late and the cathedral was packed, so michael and i stood outside with 30 or so others for the duration of the service.

-we have an indoor toilet and bathtub. but there is no plumbing. so to flush, one must refill the tank of the toilet each time. but that toilet is only for the night and for what margaret terms "short calls." if it is a "long call" one is to go use the latrine outside (hole in the ground.)