Mwasuzeotyano Banyabo ne Bassebo

Hello!
(Explanation of Title) I just greeted you (pl) in Luganda: How did you spend the night? There are approximately 3 main greetings here. Greetings are incredibly important for conversation. Life here has been quite a learning experience...and I have only been here 1 week! I am at an internet caffe in Wakiso right now...spending approximately 750 Ugandan shillings for 1/2 hr. (less than $1; $1=1610ushs) of internet usage. Pretty sweet deal. Our life here right now, and probably for the next two months, is pretty structured. I go from my homestay to the training site every day during the week (8am-5pm), then the "city" Wakiso (more like a very small town). We have language in the morning, then tea (chai), then a lecture (these range from health to the history of Uganda), then lunch, then another lecture. At the end of the day we are all pretty mentally exhausted. Craziness! After the diversity lecture, one of the lecturers (a volunteer already for over a year) came up to me and asked if I went to DePaul. He recognized me and then he told me he graduated with my class in 2006! It is a small world after all. My homestay family is very nice. My jaja (grandmother) speaks no English, so communication with her is difficult, but most of my brothers I, N, A, A, and my sister N speak English pretty well. It is an interesting family dynamic because my jaja's mwami (husband) is no longer living, so there is no male authority figure at all. I actually like it very much this way because many of the other PCT volunteers have fathers who are quite intimidating and rarely speak to them. When I first arrived in my homestay, there were about 13 children ranging in ages from 7 to 19. It is amazing that they have just one maid (O - who is wonderful and helps me with my flashcards in the morning!) for such a large family. Many of my sisters and brothers have slowly disappeared over the week, possibly to school or to their mother/father's house. Family here is incredibly close. Many of my brothers and sisters real mothers and fathers live in Kampala, while they live with their jaja/mama, possibly due to financial circumstances. When I arrive home, around 7pm, we have tea, then maybe play a few games of cards. I taught my family "Bullshit", which they love. It is quite funny listening to them speak in Luganda and then call out "Bullshit" all of a sudden. My sister N also enjoys listening to my music (I knew someone else besides me would like Alanis :P!). For just a week, I can some what get around Wakiso using Luganda. Luganda is the language I am learning, while some of the other PCT volunteers are learning two of the other main languages. Because I am learning Luganda, I will be situated during my two years, around central Uganda. Speaking the language is kind of fun until you realize there are no more words in your vocabulary list to talk with the people in the katali (market). Until I have time to post again...Sula Bilungi! (good night)