Coverdell Worldwise Schools Program

Since 1989, Peace Corps has had the Coverdell Worldwise Schools Program in place, which allows current PCV’s to connect with classrooms back in the States to share their experience.  One of the main purposes of this program is to meet goal number three: “Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.”  I knew I wanted to partake in this awesome, experience-sharing program so I contacted my wonderful second and third grade teacher, Mrs. Boerio and she was in!  Below is the letter that her second grade class should receive in about a month.  I am excited to continue communicating with them throughout the year!  And when my little sister Lexi successfully finishes her credential program in May, I hope to begin communicating with her future class.

Without further a due…

Dear 2^nd Grade Cheetahs,

Hopefully this letter made its way across Africa and the Atlantic Ocean and is now finding itself in the hands of the wonderful class that I will have the privilege of corresponding with over the course of this school year.  If not, I hope whoever is reading this will forward it onto the address on the envelope.  It’d mean a lot!

I should begin by introducing myself since chances are the only person who knows me is Mrs. Boerio.  My name is Tara Matthews and I am a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uganda.  Peace Corps is a part of the U.S. government that sends volunteers all around the world to developing countries for two years to help others less fortunate than us.  What this also means is we do not get paid during the time we are helping.  I get a monthly budget, which comes out to about $6USD a day.  No Starbucks coffee or movies and I walk everywhere since I do not have a car. 

I have been in Uganda since May and since my arrival I have studied Runyankore/Rukiga (a local language), learned about the local culture and history, and met the President!  I am now working as a health volunteer at a local hospital where I go out into the villages - with no running water or electricity - and give health education talks while the doctors administer shots to babies and tablets (medicine) to adults.  I also hope to work in the primary schools with children your age to do health-related programs, like Happy Handwashing Hour!  If it works out, maybe I will come to and do it with you all when I get back in 2014. 

So.  You are probably wondering where Uganda is.  Well, have you heard of Africa?  Cue the map.  It is a big continent that has 54 countries and Uganda is located in the East, in between the Congo and Kenya.  Uganda is located on the Equator, which means that the weather is like summer year round.  It also means that there are not four seasons.  Instead we have two, a rainy season and a dry season. 

The people of Uganda are incredibly humble and welcoming.  People will invite me over for tea (and do not make me pay!), the women at the market will give me extra tomatoes, and children will come up and hug the muzungu (white person).  The scenery of Uganda is very lush and green with hills, trees, and fields filled with tea plants.  The weather is a comfortable 70-80 degrees but you must always remember to bring your rain jacket because you never know when a storm will happen!

What has surprised me the most since living in Uganda is that the people eat the same food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.  Seven days a week.  Can you imagine eating Mac-n-Cheese or PB&J sandwiches for every meal?  It would get boring!  There’s one more thing that has surprised me… About one hour, imagine two episodes of “Shake It Up” on Disney Channel, from where I work is Queen Elizabeth National Park.  I can see elephants, kob, baboons, water buffalo, and many other wild animals living in their natural habitat.  No fences or zookeepers to feed them.   

Here is an idea… I want you all to think about the similarities and differences that exist between America and Uganda.  What I mean is what do you think you have in America that Uganda has and what do you think you have in Novato that is not available here in Uganda.  Maybe you all can make a list and Mrs. Boerio can send them to me.

When I was in second and third grade, I attended Lu Sutton and guess who my wonderful teacher was?  That’s right.  Mrs. Boerio.  You are all very lucky to have such a fabulous teacher.  I miss her!  She will make you love school! 

Welbale kushoma!  (Thank you for reading!)

Tara

P.S. Maybe some of you do know me… If any of you ever visited 5 Little Monkeys, I worked there with my sister.  I was also an umpire for Novato Girl’s Softball so if you played, chances are we met. 

Notes to Mrs. Boerio:

- I have a blog (http://whatareugandado.blogspot.com/) where you can enter your email address and get updates when I post.  Feel free to share with the class!

- I have a Skype account (tara.ann.matthews) so maybe we can arrange a video chat or phone call…

- I also have a phone that I could call you on and I get a good deal to call the USA so we can arrange something through that!

- Each time I send a letter, I will send you an email with the content just in case something happens on the way.

- I recently sent some letters to my family and it seems to take about a month to get to California… That’s Uganda’s “postal service” for you!

- If the students have any questions, let me know and I am more than eager to answer!

- Feel free to write if money and time permits!  It is best to number letters (to keep track) and to use a lot of tape.

P.P. S. I am excited to communicate with you and the your class!  Hopefully your students are equally (but not more) awesome than your students of 1995-1997!