I thought it would be a good idea to give a description of what I am getting myself into and describe for those that don't already know a little about my summer internship.
I will be heading to Mbarara, Uganda for 2.5 months (May 21 - Aug 3) to work on research funded by the National Institute of Health. One of the biggest perks, aside from the experience of course, is that the majority of the trip is paid for by the NIH: my plane ticket, malaria pills, lodging, etc. I also get a hefty stipend for my 'work'. On top of that, I get a room-and-board check to cover food, water, and in-country transportation that should last me the entire summer. Pretty sweet deal! The city is located in the southern part of Uganda (see red dot). I hear it is more rural than the capital, Kampala, and Gulu-one of the more famous cities in Uganda and also home to another group of researchers doing the internship. Mbarara has things like hotels, restaurants, and 'laundry mats'-quite an upgrade from village life in Tengeru, Tanzania.
I will be doing qualitative research looking at community members' opinions of traditional healers (dare I say witch doctors?) and modern practitioners and also seeing what the different kinds of doctors think about each other. So we will be conducting interviews and focus groups with the healers, doctors, and community members. Translators will be used during the interviews, which I think will add an interesting element to the whole process. I will be part of a team of four: two supervisors that are going at separate times, an anthropology graduate student, and myself. I have meet the other people twice that are going to my site and feel like we will get along and be able to work well together. There are two other students and supervisors going to Gulu. Their project involves work with art therapy on former child soldiers. They will primarily be working in refugee camps and neighboring areas. I might get lucky enough to finish my project in Mbarara and work at the Gulu site towards the end of the summer.A lot of the other details will be worked out in country. I will be getting a cell phone and a Ugandan phone number while I am over there. My mother will gladly give anyone the number that wants it I'm sure. And thanks to my wonderful aunt, I have several calling cards that can be used to call me. The more familiar voices I get to hear, the easier my time away from everyone will be. I will post some calling card numbers up here...please, don't hesitate :)
With only five days left there is still a lot that has to be done. I still don't have a place in Boston to live when I get back (I have gotten a few craigslist hits, though!), I must pay a recent and unjust (at least in my opinion) speeding ticket :/, sign up for classes next semester, hopefully contact my advisor to let them know what's up, write thank yous, man the list just goes on. Mom and I have been out and about shopping for the many things I will be taking with me. A perk this time is that I have a better idea of what to bring-the proper attire, products, and amount. It's hard thinking about what I will need over the span of 2.5 months and trying to balance that out with what a developing country can provide instead. My goal is one bag, granted it is the biggest backpack one can buy, but the less I have the better.
Having these few days between graduation and departure has been great. I love coming home to Memphis where I live with the efficency queen and things get done. I've been able to catch up on some much needed relaxation. The folks took me to the movies a few nights ago and I was proud to be their third wheel. I got a good laugh in watching all the teenagers get dropped off by their parents and make rucus the first breath of freedom they got. Ahh, those were the days...
Well, I suppose that's all for blog number one. I will post some calling card digits sometime before I leave.
Hope life is going well! Thanks for reading :)
-JOY-
