Why I need to do this...

Here's the plan. I am going to Uganda, Africa with "Invisible Children's Teacher Exchange Program" for six weeks this summer. Right now, I have no experience and no money. But I'm going to go.

And here's why:
I know that I am supposed to do this. For whatever reason, I feel like there are parts of my life that cannot move ahead unless I do what is right. Unless I grow tired of being comfortable and go...And while this is true, the biggest reason has just dawned on me in the past couple of weeks. It has been a slow realization.

I have to backtrack a little bit for this. A few months ago I was thinking about people who I would consider heroes. One of my considerations were those who better themselves despite adversity. However, I think I was always looking at the wrong people for this. One of the people that I would most like to be like would be Erin Gruwell. The teacher that inspired the "Freedom Writers."

As someone who teaches an intensive reading senior class, I can relate to certain aspects of Erin's life. One of them being teaching students who are told that they may not make it from a young age. A couple of months ago, I had these students write an essay reliving an event that changed their life (for better or worse). One of these students I had for the second year (who we will call Toot Toot...based on the "Little Engine that Could"), wrote an essay that dated back to her elementary school days. She described sitting in an office where they told her she had to be held back, explaining she may not make it through the school system. However, this girl has more grit than anyone I know...and has overcome so many circumstances to receive a killer score on her ACT (allowing her to graduate), and to get accepted into college.

This was the start of my realization:
Toot Toot had made it into my list of heroes. The idea had shocked me. In two years, this student taught ME more about endurance than my 23 years of life had taught me. Indeed a lesson I will carry with me until I breathe my last breath. The SHOCK that I had was the realization. I had listed "those who overcome adversity and better themselves" as a hero, but did I recognize it? Sadly, not really. Not yet. Otherwise, I wouldn't be surprised at the depth of the lesson, of the heroism that I had experienced in an intensive reading classroom. Then I realized, as much as Erin Gruwell is a hero (and always will be!) maybe I was looking at the wrong person. Maybe we all were. The students are the heroes. They taught her. They taught me. American classrooms will (hopefully) forever be inspired by their legacy.

So, the real reason that I need to go to Uganda. I need to go...to meet my heroes. When I first signed up for this, I was under the illusion that I was going to go over there and teach. While that is still my intention...I know that I am going to go over there and be taught. Selfishly, I need to go over there and look in the eyes of my heroes, to give them a hug and tell them to do it. That it IS possible, and it HAS happened. Selfishly, I need to go share the story of Toot Toot with these students who have faced every kind of adversity...so that they can rise above their circumstance and succeed...and in turn, teach me.

The Adventure Starts Here...

Some background on my blog:
I have a sidesack. It has gone with me everywhere. New Orleans to clean up after Katrina. Homeless communities in Tampa. Delivering sandwiches downtown. With that, my good friend Aaron labeled that bag my "justice bag." Will it go with me to Africa? You betcha.


So here's the plan. I am going to Uganda, Africa with "Invisible Children." I am participating in the "Teacher Exchange Program." I planned on setting up this blog right before my trip so that family, friends, and sponsors could follow me on my adventures.

Well, I decided to start posting a little early. You see, I was showing an appreciation video in my classroom. This video follows Sunday in a displacement camp. The idea is that my students have so much more...so they should appreciate life and education. After all, Sunday and Daniel would so love what they have. Anyways, one part of the video follows Bobby (an American who lives in a displacement camp for a while to feel the experience). The conditions were harsh...and he had to eat a rat. Um. I was hoping to be re-inspired for my journey by watching this...now I'm more nervous than ever!

And that's when it dawned on me. The adventure, for me, starts here. You see, I have never been outside of the country: Where's the nearest Chic Fil A?! Other problems that I am starting to think about: vaccinations. I don't do needles thanks. Most importantly, money. The trip is $4000. I don't have it. I have to raise this money. Which means I have to ask for it. I don't even like to ask a waiter/ess for refill. Uhhhhh....

But. Here's what I do know. I am going to go. I have to. So, this is where my adventure begins. In America, preparing for the summer of a lifetime. It will be a lot of firsts...probably a lot of frustration and rejections...but from that a lot of good. I look forward to the journey.