Last

This is the last time you'll see today- do something to make it memorable.

In my first years on the internet, I filled out a lot of those surveys... you know the ones I'm talking about. "What's your favorite time of day? How many boys have you kissed? What's your biggest fear?" etc. The other day I came across one of those, and I thought it would be fun to fill out here in Uganda, because perhaps my answers would be a bit different than they would be in the States. As I filled it out, I realized that while some answers are very different, others are very much the same. But, either way it allows me to comment on random aspects of life in Uganda. Enjoy!

Last car ride: Today, into town- I caught a ride with a man taking his daughter to the hospital for some sort of dental problem. Hitchhiking is really easy here, and while I don't do it often, I always enjoy it when I do- my other option of getting to town is cramming into a really small car with around 10 or so other people- a lot of times I have to sit in the same seat as the driver!

Last library book checked out: It was in America- there aren't so many public libraries here. I went into a really nice bookstore for the first time a little while back and kinda freaked out because I realized that I hadn't seen a brand new book in a whole year, and there they were, thousands of them lined up on the shelves, so perfect.

Last movie seen: Knocked Up. There's a big mall in Kampala, and it costs 11,000 shillings (about $6.25) to see a movie. It's not something you can afford too often, but it's a nice treat.

Last book read: Right now I'm reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X. Peace Corps Volunteers constantly swap books, and there's a lot of down time for reading.

Last food consumed: For breakfast today I had oatmeal with sweet bananas.

Last cigarette: I've never smoked.

Last crush: Haha, not telling! ;)

Last phone call: Someone from Peace Corps just called me to tell me I need to give a presentation at an upcoming volunteer workshop...that's boring. What's exciting is that I talked to my mom, dad, and brother this morning! I am so incredibly thankful for my cell phone- I get to talk to family and friends from home a few days a week!

Last TV show watched: I don't watch TV here, but I do watch bootleg DVDs of Sex and the City quite a bit.

Last time showered: Yesterday morning. Luckily I live with very rich nuns and am one of the only volunteers to have a hot shower.

Last shoes worn: Right now I'm wearing black Chacos (the ones the rat chewed on).

Last item bought: More time on the internet. It's 45 shillings (about 2.5 cents) per minute.

Last annoyance: The computers here weren't allowing me access to my flash drive. We had to save all of my files on the server so that I can access them...and so can everyone else who's in the internet cafe right now. Grr.

Last time swimming: Hmm, maybe in October? Some of the nicer hotels here have pools, and you can pay to go swimming for the day!

Last time holding hands: Sunday, while talking with Hasaan.
In Uganda, people often hold hands. You can hold hands for a while when greeting someone, or just when talking, and you can also hold hands with someone of the same sex. Homosexuality is illegal here (imprisonable by 17 years), but you see lots and lots of men walking around holding hands with each other, as friends.

Last soda drank: In the States I very very rarely drank soda, but here I drink it quite a bit. These are the last ones I remember: Sprite Friday night, Coke with lunch on Saturday, some of Hannah's coke Saturday night, Coke on Sunday afternoon, a Fanta on Sunday night, and Fanta Citrus on Monday afternoon. I try not to drink it so much during the week, but still...my teeth are going to rot.

Last alcohol: Amaretto, at a casino last Friday. There are about three casinos in Kampala, and a lot of Peace Corps Volunteers like to play Blackjack!

Last thing written: This! But written with a pen...a list of the files that were saved to the server, so I can go back and delete them when I'm through.

Last key used: The front door to the convent. I have a two rooms and a bathroom to myself in a side wing of the building.

Last words spoken: Siiba bulungi. (Have a good day- to the woman from Peace Corps who just called me)

Last sleep: When I talked to my family this morning their phone card ran out, so I napped for about 20 minutes until the phone card reloaded and they called me back.

Last good cry: Well, it wasn't good at all, but last Sunday I cried the hardest I have ever cried here. I really disagree with certain kinds of missionary work, but I never realized just how strongly I disagree... on Sunday I went to a church service but I couldn't stand it and had to walk out, and I just sat on a dirty plank bench outside, sobbing so hard and shaking like crazy. It was awful.

Last IM: I used G-chat the other day to talk to one of my former students from the school in Thailand...he's home in Burma studying for the TOEFL right now, and if he does well, there's a family that is going to sponsor him to come study in America... I am SO excited for him!!! (And I'm selfishly excited for myself too, because I'll get to go see him and hang out and play Kachin songs on the guitar!)

Last weird encounter: My life here is a series of weird encounters, haha! My last normal encounter was purchasing a bottle of water.

Last ice cream eaten: Last Friday I had soft serve at the big mall in Kampala! Yum!

Last time bored: Ha. ALWAYS. When I do have work to do here, it never requires much thought. I wish I could take a night class or something.

Last time wanting to die: Hmm... of embarrassment? I don't know. I don't normally want to die.

Last time in love: Earlier this year

Last time driving: Last year in America... Peace Corps Volunteers aren't allowed to drive. Plus, in Uganda people drive on the left side of the road!

Last time wishing on a star: My senior year of college. And it worked, haha!

Last time at a hospital: This morning- I stopped by work before I went to town.

Last time playing hooky: Right now ;)

Last time holding a baby: Saturday on the minibus taxi. She was really cute, and her mom who was sitting next to me wasn't feeling well. I held her for a couple of hours and she just slept and slept- it was great! There is no such thing as a car seat in Uganda.

Last clothing bought: Two pairs of jeans and a light blue v-neck shirt. There is an enormous second-hand clothing market in Kampala, and you can get clothes that look like new for cheap! My shirt was only 2,000 shillings ($1.15)! The market is pretty overwhelming- people are constantly yelling at you, touching you, grabbing you, trying to overcharge you, etc, and it's dark and narrow and crowded and musty, but it's worth it.

Last web page visited: blogger.com, to post this!

Last photo taken: With my friend Hannah, before going to a party on Saturday night.

Last time hugged: My coworker Prossy, at work yesterday.

Last vacation: Officially it was Rwanda, but in general my life here is kind of like a vacation. I wish it weren't. I guess many people would like to be in my situation, but doing absolutely nothing on a regular basis gets pretty old. I do my best at things when I'm busy, and busy I am definitely not.

Last chair sat in: This chair in front of the computer at the internet cafe.

Last time you went dancing: Saturday night, until 5 am... clubs here don't get started until 1 am or so! There were a lot of Peace Corps Volunteers there- it was a blast!

Last time seeing your parents? September 2006

Last time seeing your siblings? Laura- July earlier this year, Jacob- September 2006

Last email: My dad sent me some pictures of my little brother :)

Last text message: From my sister. I told her that it's been discovered that Ugandan posho (one of her favorite dishes here) causes liver cancer, because it gets metal in it when they grind it. She texted back saying posho and beans sounds delicious right now!

Last laugh: As I was waiting for a ride into town, a man on a motorcycle pulled up and was wearing a woman's windbreaker from the 90's- it was turquoise/green with pink and purple triangles! Hehe! Jackets aren't exactly in high demand in a hot country like Uganda, so motorcycle drivers are some of the only people who wear them- they take what they can get.