Pre-Departure Thoughts

Today I leave home to begin my journey. My flight leaves Bella Bella at 3pm and I'll be in Vancouver by 5pm. Just in time to have dinner with some friends and enjoy the bright lights of the city. Over the weekend I will be taking part in a CAP AIDS event and meeting with Claire and Naomi (program director and executive director for CAP AIDS). I'm excited to finally put faces to these names.

Over the past month I have sent Claire 20 odd emails and exchanged 8 or so calls. I have spoken to Naomi once. She is the director of CAP AIDS programs in Uganda. I'll be traveling with her on Monday and working under her in Uganda. Claire has been very supportive with all the administration stuff. But so far this is all I know of these two.

Some things I know about Uganda so far.

Population	32,710,000 (2009 est)
Geographic Area sq. km	236,040 km2
People per sq. km	136
Country Code (Phone)	256
Electric Voltage	220/240 volts AB at 50 Hz (cycles)
Exchange Rate	1 CND to 2324.26 UGX (as of Feb 6th, 2012)
Emergency Number (to call)	Police 999, Fire 112
Time Zones away from Home	12 from PST
Main Cultural Groups	Ganda people (Baganda), Soga people, Nkore (Banyankore) and Hema (Hima) peoples
Main Religions	Christianity & Islam

Year of Independence	1962
Type of government	Dominant Party System
Current Ruling Party	National Resistance Movement
Head of Government	Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Next Election Date	2016

I also know that the most popular sport is soccer (aka football), followed by cricket and rugby. I know that English is the official language but for most Ugandas it is their second language. Swahili is another official language and is common along side Luganda. I know that about half the population lives on less taht $1.25 a day (the international poverty line). I know that over 80% of the workers are employed in the agriculture. I know Uganda's largest export is coffee. I know Uganda is on the equator. I also know that people in Uganda drive on the left side of the road.

These are just random facts about a county, I hope to get to know very well over the next months. This tells me nothing about it's people or their culture. I am excited to immerse myself totally in another way of life.

Since I will be working with CAP AIDS I thought this information might interest you as well.

HIV AND AIDS ESTIMATES (2009) Uganda

Number of people living with HIV

1,200,000 [1,100,000 - 1,300,000]

Adults aged 15 to 49 prevalence rate

6.5% [5.9% - 6.9%]

Adults aged 15 and up living with HIV

1,000,000 [940,000 - 1,100,000]

Women aged 15 and up living with HIV

610,000 [540,000 - 680,000]

Children aged 0 to 14 living with HIV

150,000 [80,000 - 210,000]

Deaths due to AIDS

64,000 [49,000 - 80,000]

Orphans due to AIDS aged 0 to 17

1,200,000 [1,000,000 - 1,400,000]

These are just statistics. Statistics can be really scary sometimes or more often completely meaningless. I hope to be able to put human faces and experiences to these figures and to be able to share these with all of you. We are after all connected as human beings and share one home: planet earth. It is this understanding that has lead to my desire to learn about this reality which is so far from my own.
But keep in mind that, one Aboriginal person a week in British Columbia is diagnosed with HIV. Infection rates are thought to be much higher. Now that statistic will hit closer to home for many of us. I know and have known many people who are living with the infection or who have passed on from it. So this epidemic is not so far from my heart.

In closing I am excited to get to experience and learn about a new country and culture. I am nervous about stepping into the unknown.  Much love, peace, and ooligan grease!