news

Big news: We are off to Uganda! 

Why Uganda? Good question. 

This April I will be graduating with my Bachelor of Education (finally -- I'm a teacher!) while Isaac has one more year left to complete his undergraduate degree at Saint Mary's University. As a student of International Development, one of the reasons Isaac chose Saint Mary's was its study abroad programs and connections to universities around the world. One of those universities is Uganda Martyrs University in Nkozi, Uganda. The school focuses on development issues, offering a Ethics and Development program. Because of its relationship with Saint Mary's, the credits Isaac will earn there will count as Saint Mary's credits. Saint Mary's has successfully sent many other students to UMU (there are two students there right now), so it is a well-trodden path. Isaac has been planning to do a year abroad from the beginning of his studies; because he has planned his courses around this goal he will still be able to graduate in the spring of 2014. Obviously, the experience of living in Uganda and learning about development from African professors will be a huge benefit to him in his area of study. 

For those reasons Uganda was the best choice for Isaac's year abroad. 

But...we also wanted to find a place where I could get a job as a teacher. This past winter I have been in contact with schools in different parts of the world where SMU has sister universities. We figured that wherever I could get a job, Isaac would apply to that study abroad program. One of the schools that caught my attention was Heritage International School (HIS) in Kampala, Uganda. It is a small Christian school that was originally started as a school for missionary children. Since then it has expanded; staff and students come from all over the world. (Check out the website: http://www.heritageinternationalschool.org) After going through the application and interview process I was offered and have accepted the position of Middle School Language Arts teacher. 

While these plans have been coming together for months now, the study abroad process through St. Mary's is a little slow. Today Isaac got an email saying that he has passed the most important hurdle: being accepted into the program by Saint Mary's University. So we figured it's pretty safe to share the news with everyone! 

We will be leaving for Uganda at the beginning of August and the school year at HIS ends in early June. 

While UMU has sites in Kampala, HIS and the UMU main campus (I apologize for the many acronyms!) are a little over an hour apart. We will have accommodations provided by HIS, but Isaac will also have a dorm room at UMU. While my experience in Africa is limited, we know enough not to rely on being able to do an hour commute every day! Depending on his class schedule it may be better for him to stay at the campus a few days a week. Many students and faculty commute to UMU from Kampala, so there is a shuttle that Isaac may be able to use to go back and forth. 

Anyway ... that's what's going on with us! We have prayed about this every step of the way and so far we feel peace about it and confidence that God has opened these doors for us. While things may change from now until August, right now it seems that God is bringing us to Uganda. We're a little nervous but we are also pretty excited! We know that we will miss everyone a lot so we are trying to savour these last weeks in Halifax and will be moving back to Ontario for the months of June and July. 

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare and when we are over there! While this blog has been a little personal space for me, it will probably morph into a way to update family and friends.