Sunday, February 6, 2011

Hello from Uganda

Dear Currier,

We hope that you are having a good start to the second semester and are enjoying the snow which I hear has been tremendous. Here it is 80 degrees and sunny! We have been very busy, Richard with his chimps and me with the Kasiisi Project but have managed to carve out some time for relaxation. We visited Semuliki National Park on the Congo border where Richard has a colleague studying the chimpanzees. A beautiful drive around the foothills of the Ruwenzori Mountains with terrific views over the Congo forests took us to a much lower hotter place but we survived by visiting the swimming pool at the local tourist lodge.

Motorbike Taxi Fort Portal


Richard and Pani - the Chimpanzee Project baby and Emily's daughter




Kasiisi Project Scholars


Bananas Fort Portal
  It was great fun to have Currier tutor Akshita Deora here for the first time. Akshita manges our scholarship pogram and this was a chance for her to see how we select and supervise our  scholarship recipients. We selected our 8 new scholars for 2011 and met and caught up with our current scholars who are attending secondary school, college and University.

Next week Richard goes to Tanzania to do some filming and then we both head for Cape Town at the end of the month.
We miss Currier but as you can see we are doing out best to keep our spirits up and we look forward to see you all in May for commencement.

All the best

Elizabeth and Richard

Emily (Kibale Chimpanzee Field Director and chair of Kasiisi Project scholarship committee) and Elizabeth reviewing a scholars report

Showing a teacher how to use binoculars before a field trip

Elizabeth and Prof. John Kasenene - Director of the Kasiisi Project in Uganda

Bananas - Fort Portal

Caroline Riss: Kasiisi Project Field Director; Elizabeth; Akshita Deora: Director Scholarship Program; Emily Otali: Chair Scholarship Committee

Akshita with Kasiisi Project Scholars at St. Leos Secondary School