GSE -- An explanation

So many of you are writing (mostly by hand), tweeting, texting, buzzing, me: "Peter, what is the GSE?!?"* Well, I have your answers. Please stop sending all the hand-written letters.


*- this blog has not been made public yet, so this quite untrue.


Direct quote from the Rotary website: "The Rotary Foundation’s Group Study Exchange (GSE) program is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for businesspeople and professionals between the ages of 25 and 40 who are in the early stages of their careers. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's culture and institutions, observe how their vocations are practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas."


So our small group of 6 (including Tim Murphy, the team leader and only Rotarian on the trip) will be traveling to Kampala, Uganda on April 3, 2010. We will be spending about three weeks in Uganda, followed by another week in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the District Conference of District 9200 (of Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda). Throughout our time in Uganda and Ethiopia, we will staying with Rotarian families, giving presentations on our vocations here in the US, listening to presentations about local culture and businesses and possibly visiting or volunteering with RI/USAID projects in Northern Uganda. Exciting! 


As you might be able to tell from my vague description of our possible activities, the detailed itinerary has yet to be determined (or at least made public). So, who knows?! It's only slightly terrifying to be going to Africa without a clear picture of what'll happen. But it's also mostly exhilarating. 36 days away!


Asante sana (squash banana).

Ethiopian Tunes

Just another quick post to get the ball rolling. A musician friend of mine, Frank, forwarded some information on Ethiopiques, an Ethiopian afro-funk jazz group from the 1970s. I think they're fantastic, but I understand that jazz isn't everyone's cup of tea. You can listen to them freely at last.fm.

Highly recommended. (As Rachel would say, "do it for me-thiopia!")

Witty Title

I'm still working on the name of this blog. The title, as it stands, is "Uganda Love This Blog", which I think is hilarious. I may or may not have received some help on the idea (thanks Rachel!). Regardless, before I leave for Africa, this blog will have a name tag placed squarely on its chest.