I have arrived. My stay for one year in Uganda has officially begun, as of ten days ago. After some trouble finding an internet connection, whether because of circumstances or because of compatibility issues on the technology front, I am finally up and running. Another thing that should help immensely is there are three huge broadband lines that were run into East Africa going online any day now in Uganda--Kampala specifically.
What am I doing in Africa for a year? Most of you reading this probably already know, but in case you don't, I have just finished getting my Juris Doctor, along with a Masters in Dispute Resolution, from Pepperdine University School of Law, took the California Bar Exam this summer, and decided I should get out of dodge for a while. Actually, the process for coming to Uganda started last November, and has materialized into a position with the Commercial Court of Uganda, which is a division of the High Court (court of first instance), as a court accredited mediator--with a few other projects and some clerking duty thrown in as well.
To be honest, I am not sure what purpose this blog will serve, other than to give updates to the many people I wish to keep in contact with but unfortunately are too numerous to email or contact individually.
As far as Uganda is concerned, suffice it to say that I like it here. I am getting wonderful exposure and inundation into another culture, making new friends, acquiring amazing international law and mediation/peacemaking experience, and generally getting out of my comfort zone. All of which fit into my long term plans of a career in international peacemaking. And the people of Uganda are incredibly warm and welcoming--except possibly for the lawyers, the jury is still out on them (though they are lawyers, and lawyers everywhere in the world I have been so far are, well, lawyers).
So, to those of you who read and have interest: welcome. You may learn some things, you may be entertained, and could possibly be offended, but hopefully you will come out better for spending your time here, just as I hope to be better for having written.
Many thanks and acknowledgements are in order, but for now I am just hoping this post does not get erased before I can publish it.
Enjoy.
jmn
