Ethiopia...

Right so it's decided we're spending 10 days in the North of Ethiopia when my parents come visit. Here's the itinerary:



View North Ethiopia Trip in a larger map

As for the rest, no news of Sister Lutgarda hasn't replied to me yet but she knows I'm coming!

And for my project of opening a foundation there for post fistula patients I still didn't do much apart from researching how to write a proposal and funding requests.

I had a great discussion with a friend of my mum though, super experienced in development in Africa and she had a couple of great pieces of advice such as, research even if it means sleeping infront of your place of interest 4 nights before they accept speaking to you!!! Sounds.. erm.. exciting!! No but seriously, this project isn't down the drain and I will work on it as soon as I get to Uganda....

My map of things to do in Uganda

View Uganda to See in a larger map

Crafts and Food

Right, so... I got a reply from the Uganda Development Network and I'm in!!! Erm... I did mention I was an inexperienced TEFL certified (yes, I graduated!! eheeh I'm done with this part of the TEFL, left with the Business English course I'm delaying till next year), so the lady kindly suggested I teach the little ones as they are less critical! hehehe I'm not sure how well I will deal with the kids but hey, I'll have to throw myself in at some point.... Check out their website if you want: http://www.ugandanetwork.org/volunteer.html

Apart from that, been busy here in Tunisia with crafts and preparing for a Sri Lankan (-ish, I'm cheating & mixing!) dinner. THE menu: Cutlets, Lamb Saag, Dal, and Kulfi + Bibikkan for desert... Without forgetting the rotti made from scatch.... Erm... We'll see how it all turns out..... Btw, thanks Chris for the cutlets recipe, and yes I gave up on Mutton rolls a while back!!!!

Crafts; my Klimt collage is done and dusted, and framed!

I've finsihed my ceramic plate, actually I had two but once was badly injured with the grout (which, I screwed up on and used black cement!!! No comment!)

My Nespresso capsules have been well used for two wind chimes.....

Voila so far!! 

Google oh Wonderful Google!

No I haven't been sponsored YET but should look into it after this post! eheh

The reason I am madly in love with Google right now is that everytime I type in 'visit uganda', 'solo travel uganda' or something along these lines I always end up with new links.... And what did my new links say today?! Volunteer in Uganda (and no bullshit pay 1200 GBP for week!) no, you only pay your accomodation in the lodge and that's it! And volunteering isn't oh go play football with the poor kids here, no... It is much more interesting: Help improve/setup the development network in place, teach adults IT or English or admin work, teach them crafts, give suggestions on how to improve the network... AMAZING!!! And... They have a crafts workshop to improve the independance of African women (the slogan!) AMAZING! I love Google!!

So using my nice GOOGLEmail account, I emailed the contacts given and crossing fingers for an answer.... Cross fingers for me too!!!!!!

Ok, more later, right now off to go buy a kitchen sink! (No i'm not taking a sink with me to Uganda! My parents are building a flat, so i'm assisting... For the Arabic speakers, Allah Yostor!!!)

Ciao Ciao!

Preparation Phase

So here we are, the start of a blog!! Hehehe funny, I never thought I’d have one, me who never managed to keep a diary longer than a month! But anyways, we’ll try… I don’t promise to write regularly either!

Hello!!

My real travels don’t really start till November but I already got few plans coming up and too excited to wait so I decided to start sharing….

Tunisia has been treating me extremely well I have to say; I’ve been doing yoga, doing different crafts (for those of you who followed the Klimt collage experiment, it’s on its way to completion, to be framed next week hopefully!…)

About Yoga, through my mum I was introduced to Kundalini yoga; extremely different from Hatha. Very interesting, it is much slower, less physical and more focused on the breathing. And personally I find it extremely intriguing because - for me at least – each posture and its breathing technique strikes up a different sensation; some are extremely comfortable and you feel content when doing them and others, man, they bring up all the anger in you although they have nothing violent nor tough postures. If you get the chance one day and you’re into Yoga, try it… 

As for my travel plans, right now still in Tunisia but leaving on the 8^th of November to Entebbe (Uganda) via Dubai for a night. So on the 9^th at 14:45 local time, I shall land in Uganda. Super excited although I’m impressing myself as I haven’t planned much there yet. I just bought a guide for Uganda and will play it by feel and ear. One thing is planned though, thanks to Viktoria: a 2 or 3 day retreat in the Buddhist Center of Entebbe so meditation, yoga, talks and camping on the temple’s grounds. Sounds magical!

Check out their site as the photos are fantastic! (http://ugandabuddhistcenter.org/home.php)

As for Ethiopia, couple of plans, still waiting for a confirmation as I might have my first job as a TEFL certified teacher coming up!!! (I have 2 units left!)

I might put some photos of the different crafts I’ve put together, right now I’m focusing on empty Nespresso capsules!!! hehehe