Serere Rural Homestays

Two weeks ago, our USP coaster journey east to Serere, Uganda. There were many emotions and nerves as we drove deep into the village and began to drop students off with their new families for the next week. As they were dropped off, they quickly learned that "Yoga Noi" was the newest greeting in their vocabulary and that their Papa's and Tata's were so excited to welcome them in. The week looked different for each one of these students, but many of them spent long days learning to cook with charcoal stoves, milking cows for the first time, fetching water from the local water pump, harvesting g-nuts and casava, and learning the language of Ateso. This week gave our students an avenue to disconnect from life in the urban settings where UCU is located and gain a deeper understanding of what it means to live in rural Uganda.

Since a photo is worth a thousand words, here are some of my favorite shots from the week 

that will describe the experience better than my words ever could. 

Gracie Disher after being dropped off with her Jaja and Papa

Nazje Mansfield after being dropped off with her Tata

Sophie Davenport after church
dressed in a traditional 'gomesi'

Many students lived on farms!
Some even got to see some births throughout the week
including these small piglets

Senna Larson with her family visiting
with USP staff during the week.
Eating pumpkin that Senna had
prepared earlier that day!

Amanda Scholl and Praise Olatunde with their host families

A hike to Sipi Falls during our Rural Homestay Debrief

Moments before venturing back to UCU!
We love our debriefs at Sipi Falls.

We are so incredibly thankful for our Rural Homestay host families and everything they do for our Students. It has been another semester of incredible memories made and bonds that will last forever in Serere, Uganda.