Standing Out Like a Sore Thumb

30 July 2007
            I am quickly learning that in Uganda, I am, first and foremost, recognized as a “muzungu.” My white skin carries with it the status of “guest,” and therefore I receive special treatment. I have already experienced this treatment in a number of venues. At our first day at work last week, Maital [...]

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Keeping Busy…

 
30 July 2007
I can’t believe that it has only been two weeks since leaving England! The second Shabbat at the Abayudaya was much different than the first. There were only 12 guests this time as opposed to 30, and we ate Shabbat dinner at Chairman Israel’s house. During dinner, Israel mentioned that he went to [...]

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Library Deliberations

      July 27, 2007
        Adam and I are quickly adjusting to the work environment. Everyone is extremely welcoming and inclusive. In fact, yesterday they even took Adam as they traveled to a number of local schools to take pictures of some of the sponsored children (an experience that I am sure he will [...]

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Laundry Saga

July 27, 2007
After over one hour of bending over a bathtub scrubbing, wringing, soaking, wringing, and hanging, I can tell you that doing laundry here is not easy. No matter what, we will be doing our own undergarments, but since the Swedish girls staying at Anne’s house with us (at least for the next few [...]

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Babies, babies, babies…

July 27, 2007
I am sitting down to write this post as our dirty laundry soaks in three buckets of water. In one hour, we will take each article of clothing and scrub it, rinse it, and then hang it outside to dry. Today will be our first time hand-washing our clothing… we will let you [...]

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Muzunjew!!

 
July 24, 2007
 
After meeting with Josephine, Maital and I took a cab to an upscale hotel to meet the bus that the Abayudaya were driving to Nabugoye Hill in Mbale where we spent Shabbat. While waiting for Rabbi Gershom and the other leaders of the community to finish their meeting, a worker at the hotel, [...]

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first library visit

July 22, 2007
Well, there is so much to write. I am worried that if I think about writing all of the stories that I have in mind to share, I will be paralyzed from even beginning. So, I will do what I can… and hopefully, will capture some of what has been happening over these [...]

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culture shock

July 22, 2007
Our week in England was fantastic, and we were so excited to begin our adventure. The flight to Nairobi was thankfully uneventful, and it was followed by a five-hour layover in Nairobi before we flew to Entebbe, Uganda. The Nairobi airport was my first experience of Africa. The terminal I stepped into was [...]

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Arrived!!!

We are here… We landed in Uganda on Wed at 2:30 pm (after circling Entebbe for 15 minutes because we weren’t allowed to land?!?). Since then, we have been staying with a friend of mine (now ours), Jennifer, who some of you met in LA when we were out there for Sarit and Jonathan’s wedding. [...]

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Priest and Prophet

Sunday July 15, 2007
A few weeks ago, Rabbi Zuckerman of Temple Israel Center gave a very interesting sermon on Parshat Balak. Referring to Echad Ha’am’s essay “Priest and Prophet,” Rabbi Zuckerman explained the role of both characters in the Jewish tradition and how each person embodies both characteristics. Struck by his description, Adam and I [...]

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