烏干達 Uganda
一個地球另一端的國家，而我即將在九月中去造訪他。
“太酷了！“或是“很危險吧！“是我在說出我要去當義工後得到最普遍的反應，而我通常的回應是“也還好吧！反正還是在地球上！“
為什麼會想要去這個地方說來話長，但是我想大家對於long story的接受度也還蠻大的再加上我現在不用上班了時間很多，我就慢慢的打吧！
計畫改不上變化是旅行中最可以深刻體驗到的一句話，在造訪西澳之後的計畫我不知道改變了多少回，從要借居在我爸的朋友家開始，因為後來他女兒要來這裡讀大學而作罷；接下來是想要開車從南澳一直到墨爾本雪梨，但是因為麥卡蕾不爭氣的翻了過來而作罷；接下來是想要到韓國日本或是德國去，但是因為機票太貴而且不知道要準備什麼行程而作罷；然後是想要到墨爾本跟塔司馬尼亞，但是因為後來決定還是把錢省下來去Fiji而作罷；接著是因為查了發現機票不便宜再加上也找不到去Fiji的理由所以還是作罷；接下來因為我弟的關係知道了烏干達這個義工活動後，我的行程才真正的定了下來。
一開始知道這個活動是因為家弟有天很興奮的跟我說他要到烏干達去了，這個消息簡直是嚇到了我，想說我弟弟怎麼突然長大了，還是因為考上了台大研究所後整個人的成熟度都會升級，那早知道我也考個台大好了。在他給我訊息之後我開始看了一下網站上所提供的資訊，看著看著也看出了興趣來了，那時想說我在澳洲也沒有接下來的活動，給自己一年的時間也還沒有到，為何不去嘗試看看呢？
於是我就寫了信去報名，想說兄弟兩可以一起到非洲去體驗一下不一樣的生活，一開始我們申請的是七月十五號的梯次，我弟要去一個月，而我想要去兩個月，回信的結果是當時的梯次已經沒了，要等到九月十五號之後才有，我弟因為要邁向璀璨的台大研究生生活所以也只好忍痛放棄，於是只剩下我一人隻身前往。在我通知我母親大人後她跟我說“想不到弟弟不用去了怎麼變成你去“，頗有猜不透的感觸。
我當初申請的活動內容是：
Mukono Youth Project:
This is a project promoting grassroots development in Uganda. Volunteers work alongside Ugandan counselors in a variety of programs, directly benefiting 10 rural communities, which can include the following activities:
Youth Mentoring: Public speaking and mentoring of youth and youth leaders respecting HIV/AIDS, public health/hygiene, family planning, condom use, creativity workshops promoting small business development, the importance of basic education, and women's rights and empowerment. This is the most important and most common activity undertaken by volunteers.
Community Outreach: Includes home visits to elderly, disabled, and persons living with HIV/AIDS to keep company, offer relief, and assess needs. This is a good opportunity for volunteers to see the daily challenges faced by marginalized groups in Uganda.
Administration: Budgeting, planning, fund-raising, and handicraft marketing.
Vocational Training: Teaching computer skills, hairdressing, and tailoring.
原因很簡單，因為我弟弟那時候選的就是這個，但是其實我比較想要參加的是另外一個，另外一個是教小學生的課程。當初我弟弟沒有辦法去的時候我本來想要寫信去更改計畫的容的，但是想不到我報名的那個活動已經滿了，他們直接把我轉到我想要去的那個program，省下了我寫信的時間。
所以現在我參加的是這個：
Village Projects:
Our partner works with a number of small community based organizations that provide counseling, care, and education for rural people and orphaned and underprivileged children. Some of these placements focus exclusively on teaching primary or secondary school. Others include both teaching and community outreach components. Please inform us of which activities you are most interested, so we can best choose your program.
Village teaching placements can include arts and crafts, structured play, music/singing, sports, health, and academics. The main focus is to provide children with a loving, creative environment in which to flourish.
Village community outreach placements can include youth mentoring, HIV prevention and AIDS care, home visiting, sanitation and hygiene, public health, women's groups focusing on vocational skills and women's rights, and teaching modern organic farming methods. For volunteers with a medical background, placements can include working with health-based organizations.
A village placement is particularly appropriate for volunteers with great ideas and enthusiasm for grassroots development. This is a real opportunity for deep cultural exchange.
However, if you wish to work in a very remote area with HIV affected orphans, our partner works with a project in Masaka district in western Uganda. This is the area where HIV/AIDS most devastated Uganda. The organization is focused on bringing aid, education, and love to the orphans of the area, many of whom lost their parents due to AIDS related illnesses.
Volunteers help with feeding, organizing play, arts and crafts, hygiene and HIV/AIDS education appropriate to the children’s' age level (3 to 12 years). Volunteers may be asked to help with administrative work such as budgeting, updating paperwork, writing proposals, and maintaining personal files on the children. (Please note: there is a significant language barrier between volunteers and the children. Local teachers will have to help you with translation.) This is a challenging but amazing program for volunteers with experience organizing children, such as camp counselors, day care workers and people who love children. Bring your games, songs, and enthusiasm to the village!
For all village placements, accommodation and daily meals will be provided within the village of placement, and will range from private apartments to rooms in private homes. No more than 2 volunteers will be placed together in any village placement.
在我繳了報名費之後這個組織還寄了問題來問我有關於我之前的經驗。
1.What is your experience working with children? (How long, how old were the children, what tasks did you perform in what setting, etc)
When I was in high school, I joined a club, which makes me having lots of opportunities to close to children. Our club provided and arranged camping activities for children. We led them to play games and took care of them. Normally, we arranged 3 to 5 days camping. Those children were from first grade to sixth grade (about 7~13 years old). In university, I joined magic club and usually we had to perform for children. I used balloon to make different shapes such as dogs and flowers to cater children. Incidentally, most of my cousins are studying in the primary school now. Sometimes my aunt and uncle want me to take care of them, I can always have a good time with them.
2.What is your experience in teaching? (How long, how old were the children, what tasks did you perform in what setting, etc)
I didn’t have much experience in teaching school subjects but I do have lots of experiences in guiding children of art and singing classes. As I mentioned, I arranged camping activities for children and in these camps I had to teach children singing and show them how to draw and other art stuffs. I know how to grab children’s attention and help them accomplish their tasks.
3.Please describe your travel experience, specifically in developing countries. How did you adjust from your home country?
I have lots of experiences in traveling. I have been to USA, Canada, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippine, China and now I am working and traveling in Australia. I grew up in Taiwan. Although I think my country is quite advanced, still, people think Taiwan is a developing country. To me, traveling in those developing countries, such as China or Indonesia, is not a problem. I think people live in those countries are simple and easygoing compared with those in developed countries such as Japan and USA. The nature landscape and the culture in those developing countries are more attractive to me. Actually, only when I travel in developed countries, I have to adjust myself for culture shock.
4.Please describe a situation where there was a language barrier. What did you do to overcome this and what would your approach be in the future.
Mandarin is my mother tongue and English is my second language. Until now, after traveling to so many countries, I don’t meet any situation where there was a language barrier. But I know if I went to a country such as Uganda and taught children I would face so many obstacles. Children who live in these sorts of countries might not understand what I am trying to tell or teach them. Nevertheless, I think body language and facial expression will be useful approaches when I face those situations. I reckon those ways are universal and easy to understand.
5.How do you think you would handle dealing with people who hold extreme and contrary views from yourself on religion, politics, and the rights of women in society?
We all have different views and opinions toward varieties of things. It is interesting for me to try to listen and realize different point of views. When I was in university, I was the chairman of student parliament. Every time when we have a meeting, we always have arguments. When I faced people hold different views from mine, I was used to listen to them first. I ask what their point of view is and why they hold that. I wait patiently until people finish what they want to tell and try to completely understand what their view is. Then I explain my opinion to them. I do not try to persuade them to hold the same point of views with me but I would want to let them know what and why I have this kind of thought and concept. It does not matter whether I change them or they alter me. As long as we exchange our opinions properly, that is enough for me.
6.It can be hard to adjust to the new concept of time in the program country. What takes one day to do at home could take 2 weeks in the program country because of delays, weather, power shortage, or relying on people who do not have the same sense of urgency. Are you a flexible person who could cope with this challenge?
I am a flexible person but I think I still need time to adjust myself to a new environment especially in the program country. That is the reason why I apply for two months in this program. Life can be so different in another country because of culture and other facts. I do not think facing a different concept of time will be a challenge to me, contrary, I consider it is going to be an interesting and unforgettable experience. Sometime it is easier to change your concept than to change the environment or other people’s opinions. I will try to merge myself to a different concept of time. Interestingly, because I live in busy cities for more than 20 years, I expect to stay in a place where people have different concepts of time. I might be able to learn different views life from them.
簡單的說就是隨便掰了掰過去的經驗之後就寄了過去，然後也很幸運了得到了正面的答覆，接下來在昨天把活動費美金1774元匯過去之後也就確定了我九月中到十一月中的行程了。
也因為如此所以我決定提早回台灣準備，去非洲可不像是去澳洲一樣簡單，從機票、簽證到預防針，還有一大堆亂七八糟的教學資料、活動指導、當地風俗氣候等，雖然不是要去外星球可是也感覺自己就像那隻第一次飛出地球的猴子一樣，不過我目前還不擔心，等我慢慢的享受玩我在澳洲的最後一個活動然後飛到新加坡玩個三五天後再回台灣慢慢準備吧。
為什麼會想要到像烏干達這樣的第三世界國家去其實還有另一段插曲，還記得某次在跟我德國好友丹尼爾聊天聊到了這個部份，我對他說“I don’t give a shit about them.“，聽完後他馬上跟我說“If you don’t give a shit about them, nobody will give a shit about you! “，當時聽完頗有啞口無言之感，也在我心中留下了這個想法。
我這個人是屬於行動派的，坐而言不如起而行，與其辯論我國是否應該成立色情特區不如真的來研究一下這個政策，與其辯論我國刑法通姦罪是否應該要除罪化不如找立委來開始研究這個問題，與其捐錢給世界展望會不如我自己到那邊去看看，去真正的出自己一份力，去完完全全用自己的感官去體會什麼是沒有飯吃、沒有水喝的生活。
對於這趟旅程因為我目前了解的還沒有很深入，所以還沒有很深刻的想法，但是目前初步的想法是我想要在我這趟旅程中去觀察那些在黑色大陸中掙扎的人們是否也能開心的度過每一天，去體驗那最細微喜悅，去感受處處充滿希望。
