October 13

Today the sky was clearing and a rainbow appeared as the sun was coming up. It was our swearing in and we became Peace Corp Volunteers. Agreeing to uphold our constitution and we forgot what else.  It felt like graduation only better.  Didn't think things like milestones would mean much to me but this was wonderful and I felt like I was crowned Miss America rather then a representative of America.  The PC country director spoke, the Ugandan Dept of Health and the Department of Economics along with our national anthem and Uganda's which one of our language instructors sang in a rich beautiful tenor. There were speeches and reception after, and a party back here at the plush hotel we have been staying in since Tuesday night.  It has a large pool I took advantage of last night after class.  We have been staying here and attending classes with our host organization representative.  We have to do a master plan for what and how we will attain our work goals and our organizations goals in the time we are here and how we will make our project self sustaining. My supervisor is the director of the nursing school in Arua a school of 524 nursing and midwife students. She is freindly and warm and engaging and I feel like I can work well with her and for her.  She would like me to oversee clinical rotations and help with the community health teaching at the local level in the community.  Malaria prevention, safe water, what good nutrition is, immunization records and AIDS testing and antenatal care.  I have 3 months where I am to do nothing but observe and do a needs assessment.  After that I can start to implement what the community thinks is a need as long as my project or projects are approved by Peace Corps main office here in Uganda.  So tomorrow we go to our new home.  Enclosed find a couple pics of our big day.  Oh yea,  surprise, I passed my language test but plan to take more classes to get good enough to talk to more people rather then Tom.  Love you all from the land on the other side of the full beautiful Swearing infall moon.  I miss the colors you are enjoying but the pineapple helps me drown my sorrow...Marc
The last 2 pictures are of Tom and I with our supervisors