More Interns - 31/01

Orientation is over and the work begins. Phil, my project team leader and the Intern Coordinator, has asked me to build and install some wooden shelves and hang some picture frames. All the interns and myself have created a standard drawing in AutoCad, visited a local church and visited some volunteer agencies. Some more interns and office staff have just returned from climbing mount Kilimanjaro. The photograph below shows all the interns and the STORIES tab has a short story about having no power.

Orientation - 26/01

On the 23rd I made my way to Kimpala by flying to Entebbe and an overnight stop off at Kigali. Orientation has kept me very busy as I have learned to use my house, met local staff, met long term volunteers, met other interns, discussed cultural differences, set-up my office, hearing testimonies about God, etc. The other interns are from Australia, America, Nigeria and Kenya. The photograph below shows the other interns.  The STORIES and TECHNICAL EXP. tab has other descriptions and photographs.

Sailing Dar es Salaam - 19/01

Leaving wellington airport behind I passed through Auckland, Sydney and Dubai on my way to Dar es salam. My University of Canterbury friend, David, met me off the plane and we caught a bagagi striaght to the Dar es salaam yacht club. This week has mostly consisted of sailing various vessels including a laser, 16' catamaran and a 27' keel. The photograph below shows the bay where we have been sailing and I have described some first impressions under the STORIES tab.

Internet Woes

Sometimes there is no power and other times there is not internet, nearly every time there is no explanation. Although it is the dry season it rains here about once a week and whenever it rains there is no internet. This blog shall be updated every Friday by 6 pm (NZDT) God willing, and I shall be available for chat on Facebook or Skype every Friday from 5 to 6 pm (NZDT) God willing. Feel free to email or Facebook message me anytime or even arrange a chat outside of the designated hour, Kampala is currently 10 hours behind NZ(Skype name is "uriah.mccall").

Final Touches

The final week of preparation has been incredibly smooth. All my stuff has found new home(s), my friends and family have given me a superb farewell, this website is finally up and the last of my financial needs have been obliterated. Although looking back now it has been a wee bit taxing, with 2 all nighters and no bed or pillow to rest my head, but looking a head sees me sleeping for 19 hours..maybe (so naive).

Preparations

Total cost associated with this volunteer work amount to $14,600 and $12,600 has been raised (see DETAILS). On the weekend I moved all the furniture out of my Upper Hutt flat and brought some Africa appropriate clothing from Save Mart. This week I will consider how to access finances in Africa, arrange storage for my possessions, launch a website, make a packing list and read the fine print of various documents.