I arrived at the field station in Kibale Forest National Park this past Tuesday. 5 hours east of Kampala, Kibale Forest boasts the most variety of primates in East Africa. It had been surreal to see red colobus monkeys and baboons (among others) as I walk around the grounds of the field station. When I walked up to my room yesterday, I had to wait because a baboon tried to open the door next to my room and then sat on the windowsill beside my door for fifteen minutes. I guess I will have to get used to giving the baboons the right of way as Kibale Forest is my home for the next two weeks.
As serene as the national park may be, I did not realize leaving Kampala would mean the end of my independent experience in Uganda. The fieldstation feels like a mix between summer camp and a relaxing vacation as delicious breakfast and dinner are served at 7am and 7pm respectively, lunches are packed for the day, and tea is ready when we return. There are planned activities including chimp trekking, one-day safaris, and walks though the crater lakes as well as education presentations about the 20 year old chimpanzee study that takes place in Kibale Forest (by the director of the Kasiisi Project’s husband). We have latched on with group of educators and administrators from Weston, MA, who are working with the Kasiisi Project in the schools for the next two weeks). Latching on with a group of Americans means beginning to adjust back to western culture. The changes are small but still take some adjusting. For example, after adjusting to the quiet voices of most Ugandans, I forgot how loud groups of Americans can be. However, by starting the adjustment process now, it will ease the adjustment period when I return home.
Part of the Weston educators visit includes attending the large welcoming ceremony at the Kasiisi school. It was humbling to be welcomed by the primary school students through song, dance, poetry, and drama interludes. The six hour ceremony included students from all 5 schools associated with the Kasiisi Project and over one hundred parents and local community members. As the teachers and administrators participate in a cultural exchange-type program, Alice and I also have a schedule of our own which expands on our internship with MakaPads. My and Alice’s goal in the Kabarole district is to get feedback on student peer educators whose role is to provide information and support about girl’s reproductive health in the school. I will update you all more the next time I travel to Fort Portal, the main town, for internet!
