I have been in Uganda nearly a month now, and granted I'm having a fabulous time, met some fantastic people and had time to enjoy myself.... But I refuse to give you a blow by blow account of exactly what I have been doing for the last four weeks unless it regards my volunteering .

If you really want to know what I've been up to in my spare time give me a quick email and I'll happily share all the fun things I've done :)

So the month really has flown, I've quickly become immune to so many things that initially were shocking and appalling! In fact I would nearly go as far to say that nothing shocks me anymore.... But I have another two months. Initially I couldn't get used to the toilets, or lack there of.... Literally a hole in the ground in most cases. ... Which in it's self isn't too bad, but the smell always made me want to hurl. Thankfully I have adjusted there. Children with no shoes, begging for money at the side of our van, kids amazed at our hair, getting stared at, being constantly called 'muzungu' and pointed at, the constant either puzzled looks or looks of joy (sometimes) horror that accompanied the shouts of 'muzungu' ( I.e White person) ... Children carrying pangas .... Basically a machete, the police and their weaponry, seeing 14 people or more in car we would only put 5 including the driver in; never mind the trucks filled to the brim with livestock and people. Transporting a cow on the back of your boda boda ( a cross between a scrambler and a motor cycle) ... Not sure if it was dead or alive. Fresh meat hanging with flies buzzing all around, people carrying jerry cans of water on their head; actually carrying Anything and everything on their head! All this initially amazed and terrified me all at once, but now it doesn't seem to phase me. Sometimes I wonder if there's a point where I will become completely immune to the suffering and sorrow I see? Is there a point where it's ok to not empathise with the pain because you know you can't physically help every man, woman and child? I do really feel a void of helplessness sometimes as I gaze out the window of our van on a journey here or there. Sometimes it's so easy to see something and have the standardised, robotic response of 'TIA' you can't give every child shoes, or money or anti-malarials but you can do your best to get a smile!

Thats why teaching more than compensates for those feelings of guilt and numbness. It is so amazing!Tthe children are crazily good, and happy and eager to learn. It astounds me when you tell them they can go for lunch or break but they still hang around after class to teach each other or do extra work!! The people of Uganda continuously amaze and surprise me.

For me, the people are most beautiful thing here... not that it isn't a beautiful country. If I were to try and paint a picture for you all of Uganda, I would begin with colourful. It is a beautiful country, filled with mountains and hills, rustic clay soil, banana plantations and it smells fresh and vibrant constantly; especially after a crazy Ugandan thunder storm. Sounds just like a post card.... it is!

But the people are moving, fluid, eager, kind, rich in so many ways that the western society is desperately deprived. I have been privileged to get to meet and know some Uganda people and they are hilarious. They have a great sense of humour and love to laugh. That said, I still can't get over how beautiful their smiles are. It literally lights up a ugandans entire face. People are genuinely happy.... Even when they have very little.They make the best of a bad situation. That's not to say they don't have a sense of betterment, they also have a great sense of self worth and pride.

The kids are the most beautiful though; not just their smiles, but with their desire to please you to the best of their ability. It's difficult to be frustrated with those who cease to grasp the concept your teaching, no matter how ludicrous their answer may be: at the end of the day they have been denied the level of education we associate with being acceptable, the education is simply poor. So when they get it wrong and look up at you with those beautiful, dark, inquisitive eyes and a gorgeous smile, from their well worn school uniform and no shoes... it's hard to get frustrated with them. I know beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder , but to me they are stunning. They maybe haven't washed in days, have runny noses, and dirty hands but if I could I would tell every single child in Uganda how truly unique they are and how every smile melts my heart.

If you look at just the faces of the people here you really see how juxtaposed this country is. Their beautiful faces with their beautiful smiles and kindness have been marred with years of political unrest, poverty, disease, death, distress and a severe lack of basic human essentials such as medical care and education.

This is why to me Uganda is 'beautifully scarred', just like the little boy in the picture. Clearly he has had a hardtime, but when he smiles he is the most beautiful thing in the world.Uganda is the same...the evidence of strife, struggle and difficulty is so apparent everywhere you look; the scars run deep! But when you look at the people you cant help but see the real, and beautiful Uganda!

Much Love xx