SIT

As previously mentioned, I chose Drake because it had many excellent study abroad options; i could go places like Tibet, China, Thailand, Nepal, Uganda, South Africa, Ghana, France, italy Spain (etc) and get college credit for it. The reason i chose to go through SIT is that they had programs with themes like "Development Studies" "Conflict resolution" "Peace Studies" in which case you use thw whole country as your school. Instead of just sitting in my classes in Iowa and learning about development, or going to another country and taking History 101 and never learning the fundamentals of where i am living, i get to do both.

The hard part is explaining what i am doing to while I am there. This is difficult because quite honestly I am not very certain. My programs course of study is international development. We look at the World Bank and IMF, the Graemeen Bank (which is awesome)...basically look at how Uganda can be become self sufficient without becoming a mini-America. I live with a host family for 6 weeks, which i am very scared of. I am afraid that i will have to keep my luggage locked due to prying eyes, and that they will be strict and not let me go out with my friends, and enjoy the complete spendor of my time there.

I will learn a tribal language, Luganda, but the main language spoken in Uganda is actually English, so communication shouldn't even be aproblem until my rural homestay. I will spend a week living out "in the bush" carting water and lighting lamps for light. While there I will spend some time in Rwanda. How long i am (of course) not certain, but i look forward to going to some genocide memorials (as much as one can truely look forward to something so brutal). I have read about Rwanda for a very long time now, so it will be good to see such things. I will most certainly cry like a little girl, but that is to be expected.

For the last month or so of my stay I was required to design a project that both interested me, and connected to the program topic. Knowing me and my love of refugees, i am certain that no one is truely surprised when i say that my topic is focusing on refugees. Sudan is directly to the North of Uganda, and Sudan, with the highest displaced population in the world, has citizens that spill over into Uganda seeking refuge. The norther part of Uganda has been home to an insurrection for a long while; Sudan sponsered rebels in northern Uganda (The Lords Resistance Army or LRA), which has created a horrible Human Rights catastrophe, because the LRA captures children (called night commuters--look that term up on the BBC world service, good info) drugs them up, forces boys to become soldiers and girls to become sex slaves. The drugs make it hard for people to escape, practically ensuring that the children do as they are told.

My project is to look at refugees from the perspective of a host country-Are the Sudanese welcome in Uganda, because they are most certainly not in Egypt (Sudans northern neighbor). Do refugees feel welcome in Uganda? that type of thing. During this time of my trip i will be allowed to get an apartment or other such domicile with friends from the program.

I hope that answers peoples questions about what the heck i am doing there!