Thursday, July 31, 2008

Picture CD

Kath sent a picture cd last weekend and I've finally got them all uploaded. Here are a couple, you can check the rest out by clicking on the Flickr link to the right (there were about 90 of them).





Sunday, July 27, 2008

Sunday a.m. in Mukono - 7-27-08

It's Sunday a.m. and I journeyed to Mukono to send some letters - P.O.'s not open so I can't get packages, but wanted to mail a bunch I'd written - go to the bank, and work on my blog and get a few groceries. Hope everyone is having a good Kolacky Days!!! (if you're in Montgomery).

On Tuesday my new wardrobe finally arrived (the new one was quick - the "wardrobe journey started 3 months ago)....in the back of a battered pickup which the guys had to push to jump start!! The wood is rough, but it has lots of room. The floor is sloped and the doors flew open so the guys went outside and got some rocks to put under it! The carpenter was supposed to have put little latches on the top of the doors but guess he forgot (?)...called and my police frien said they'd be up the next day. Of course, they never came, but the wood has swelled enough that the doors no longer swing open! Which is maybe why Ugandans wait so long to fix anything - it either works w/o fixing or it's totally shot and abandoned! Now I have to find a new obsession, but I'm sure I'll manage!

No classes TUesday - Sr. Goretti has everyone cleaning the compound for Wednesday's visitors - felt bad because the Bookkeeping/Agriculture teacher showed up and no class. Had a few customers for CBR...we did do referral letters to the hospitals with the caveat that Providence Home (PH) will not be responsible for any hospital charges written on the form! Dr. Antonio should be back in a few weeks and we're hopeful he's going to sponsor our referrals again. Did send some PH kids but the bakery picks that up if there's no other funding.

Still cleaning on Wednesday - I felt a bit useless so started to work on the classrooms...tailoring teacher leaves a MESS! Girls came to "mop"...they take a rag and bending over, wipe up the whole floor w. a basin of water. The water is mud by the time they finish, but they never flinch! When I do my little floor at home I keep changing the water - amazing how much dirt I get and never go in w. shoes on - just dust!

The visitors were from Jacksonville, Fl. A pediatrician and his wife - this is their 3rd trip. A very nice couple. Visitors lately have been Europeans (except Mariah's family from Milwaukee) and was struck how different Americans are. We just want everyone to like us and we have a very easy manner - very casual people who like to give things away. Europeans are a bit more stiff (from my very random samples). The tanks, gutters and electricity on the vocational building are done - now waiting for rain! They collected $ from their church, the Doctor's Rotary and one 12 year old boy whose parents give him $ to give to a charity of his choice and after seeing their last year's video, he chose PH!! Kids did great on the program - lots of speeches - Sr. Goretti's made me tear up - about how Americans have big hearts!! She was really nervous - said she didn't sleep the night before. The priest they came with talked (he's from Uganda but currently works in their Jacksonville church), Sr. Felicitas talked (my landlady at the convent; she's on the PH Board),a couple of kids gave speeches, lots of singing and dancing - THEN, they got to have a special lunch of chicken,rice and a soda paid for by the visitors!! They were so wired - kept dancing around after they ate!!

They also gave Sr. G some money to pay part of the PH hospital bill and are paying to have the kitchen stove re-built - thought Sr. G would faint! The stove is brick and holds 2 HUGE pots and one smaller one - it's been falling apart and really collapsed last week! All in all a very up day - they were fun to visit with (the wife likes to read so we talked books), and they were super generous. He also wants to take home some of the beads and try to sell them so have Holly working on getting a supply.

Holly has been super busy with her funding group - the Elton John Foundation - consultant is here to review their books (ugh). Sheri is now sick - the stomach thing has gone around!

Thursday we had a good English class - am now teaching to the test - will go over everything on it. I feel bad for the ones that don't read, but maybe we can start a remedial reading class next term (am I really saying that?). Used the suggestion of another PCV to do a "Progressive Story" - not all contributed but most got the idea - it was fun and think the others will try it next time. Went to work on the computer but it was VERY slow - so frustrating. Then tried to design Report Cards (term ends 8/8) but couldn't remember how to format Excel. Did get the English test typed but printer wouldn't print. Eventually, I got through all my e-mails, Sr. Melody got the printer to work, and Sheri came down to help me. w. Excel (forgot about right click) - got it all done - just very slowly.

It's been cool - really - 60 in the a.m. Days are overcast but no rain yet - want the tanks to start filling. Lots of power outages around 8 p.m. If it's load shedding I wish they'd wait till 10!

Friday I did laundry - sheets - ugh! Otherwise, the usual start, stop, redirect day! Nothing gets done in a straight line. Sister wanted me to help her write some Thanks You leters for the American donations but the sisters kept disappearing to other tasks. The bookkeeping teacher didn't know what to do because students were peeling casava for lunch - told him to take them and have class - enough cancellations! Lunch was very late. Having some issues between Sister and the shoe making teacher re: salary payment vs. him doing repairs on the side and use of materials. I want Sister to talk to him and get it resolved, but that's not the way Ugandans do things - everything is so round about and conversations are indirect. Was reading in National Geographic about Iranian people and it said "they never show their intention...they are making sure they're not exposing themselves to danger"...for Ugandans it's more a fear of criticism or confrontation I think, so things don't get resolved.

Had some surprise visitors from Ireland on Friday - 3 young people (late 20s) who are teaching for 6 months at a secondary school near Jinja and wanted to see where Mother Kevin started - love their accents!!

Holly and I went for a walk/run -I haven't been out all week (she has). Still haven't found a garden plot I can use but want to get some basins and start a small herb garden on my "veranda" - thanks for the seeds Jessica.

Saturday, I went with the sisters to the ordination of a young man from nearby Kisoga. Stella Maris School let the sisters go free on their bus - it was only about 1/2 hour drive to the Lugazi "cathedral"...there was one priest ordained and three deacons (here deacons are just one year away from priesthood). THe sisters were more excited than school kids on an outting!! Mariah (from Milwaukee) went along, the Florida couple were there (they are all leaving together on the same flight Sunday; passed along some beads), one of the Irish teachers was there(he wants to come back to PH and take some pictures and start a fund raising campaign in Ireland - go for it!), and met a gal from Iowa who is working for Catholic Relief in the Ft. Portal area (west). She worked for 3M for 10 years is a chemical engineer and worked in pharmaceuticals - now she's here for a year helping women organize a women's savings and loan! With her was a guy from Scotland who's teaching at a college in Fort Portal - both leaving in August - very interesting folks!! The actual service was five hours long and all in Lugandan! Afterward we went to eat at the parish of one of the new deacons - left at 9 a.m. and returned at 7, but a fun day!

Reading Smithsonian magazines from Cindy and just finished "28 places to go before you die"...not all are on my list, but sure makes you want to travel!!

Again, happy Kolacky Days. Melanie, I'll be thinking of you on Thursday...and praying! Hope all are well. The school term is about over here; they test a week early - why? Guess report cards are a big deal - all hand done! Then we have a month "holiday"...want to work on the piggery grant, we have a week of PC training and Sheri and I are going to have an ABC class again. I only have 2 classes and 23 students - revised the report cards to include an "effort" grade - I'm sure the other teachers will struggle with that since it's a new concept, but some of the kids work SO hard and really have never learned to read and it's not fair to ignore all the extra time they put in trying to copy from the board..sometimes an hour! We can change things next term...trying also to add a Religion and craft teacher to the schedule - we'll see if that works out. Sr. Juliet said I should be "in charge" of the vocational school, but they still pay (or don't pay) the salaries and the sisters like to be in charge - can't blame them. I'm a temp!

Thanks again for the letters/packages/prayers/thoughts - miss you all, but it's getting easier and easier to adapt. Love my little apartment...now just need another chair and I can have Holly and Sheri over to dinner!!!

Monday, July 21, 2008

Monday, 7-21-08 - back at the bakery

Wanted to write this long story about travel on the matatu (wrote it Sat. nite when I got home), but need to do an update first.

It is really nice to be back at PH (Providence Home)....so glad to see the kids and they seem happy to see me, too. So much went on while I was gone. A Ugandan priest who is at a church in Florida came last week and his church has donated money for 5 big water tanks and really nice, custom made gutters for the entire vocational building...a really nice gift. Plus, they are paying for electricity hook up in the building. They decided to get really nice things and concentrate on one building rather than do a half a.. job on several buildings...good idea! A couple from the church will be here Weds.

Bad news, the brick stoves in the kitchen finally collapsed....been expecting it for awhile, but inconvenient. And no shoes sold yet...but expect people to be looking before the new school term (starts Sept. 8)...they guy said some people asked about bigger sizes, but I wonder if they were just talking to back out gracefully!

My wardrobe is DONE!!! Saw it today - it's pretty rough, but dimensions and shelves/pole are correct. Will be delivered tomorrow. AND, the police got my all my money back from the original carpenter...never thought I'd see any of it!!! So now I can obsess about something else. Sr. Goretti got a taste of the tailoring teacher while I was gone and she agrees he's lazy!

Have to get ready for end of term - design some report cards and make up tests - will keep them pretty simple. Also, Sr. Juliet wanted me to contact a lady about having a craft making class...will need to buy materials but have some donation money I can work with.

Tailoring class is still making model shirts/skirts....not using the real fabric yet till Sr. Goretti is satisfied with their ability to do a nice job! Good plan!

Language training was fun but all that socializing exhausted me...I prefer the quiet (crazy) life here. Got back Saturday about 5:00, organized, cleaned, got wash ready to do and went to bed! Sunday I washed clothes, went to Sister's Mass (late), then to Kisoga (about 1/2 hour ride on the matatu) to visiting day at a secondary school - St. Balikudembe's. That's not his "real" name..Josephine thought he was white. Balikudembe means "we who are at peace". Josephine had asked me to come...she's from PH but boards there - she's a real sweetie and last visitng day she had no visitors. Sunday, the sisters came and her brother who she didn't expect - really neat to see her face light up! She's in a wheel chair but very determined...has a beautiful singing voice. Just a really nice girl. Big school that is highly ranked..but I was the only muzungu among about 1,000 guests!!

Got home and did some class preparation for English and then went to dinner at Stella Maris - the boarding school UP the hill (v. nice school) which was a goodbye for Jean, the lady who's here from Milwaukee getting pictures for sponsorships. Also, the 18 year old girl from Milwaukee who is staying at Stella Maris was there - she's going home next week. She played the violin for us!! Here we are in Uganda, eating a good meal, followed by a violin concert. I'm really not suffering!

Will let you know how the language test went when I hear...did as well as I could. Ven (our teacher) also tested me and she stuck to the questions she'd scripted for me...if I didn't pass I never will!!!

That's the update...now on to my matatu dissertation!! I so miss hopping into my car and driving to where I want to go, KTIS on the radio, AC, and having a car to take things home in - tho' I don't miss the gas pump!!

There are getting to be more and more private vehicles - and traffic in and near Kampala is awful! most roads are full of pot holes and boda bodas (motorbikes that take passengers) dart around everyone (and frequently tip and crash). Most people depend on the matatu or van taxi (like an econoline van w. windows and four rows of seats). They are supposed to hold 14 passengers, a driver and a conductor (who opens the sliding door and takes $ and yells the destination), but out of Kampala they hold a LOT more. I leave Nkokonjeru when the van is "full" - 16 or 17 - and we pick up more people along the road, usually w. bags of produce and some chickens. Everyone has a bag of something(I have a backpack). The vans are pretty beat up, and rattle at lot, and the shocks are shot. If you sit in the back seat you often hit your head on the ceiling!! Thre's a little folding seat on the sliding door side of each row that they use for an aisle...and invariably the first one who wants to get out is sitting in the far back, so everyone on the fold up seats has to get out to let them through.

You can get off anywhere - you yell "conductor" or tell him ahead - cost varies w. distance. Conductors have remaarkable memories! In Kampala you can get out (I usually get out and walk to one of the two malls on the east side where we come in), or you can go downtown to either the "old" or "new" taxi park...Nkokonjeru taxis go to the old park. They are both about the size of the floor of the Metrodome and PACKED with several hundred vans and LOTS of people. To walk through there you have to squeeze between parked and moving vans - there are not rows or walkways - it's scary! Both are ringed by stalls of anything you ever wanted or needed and vendors run around yelling in the van windows selling everything from water to watches! The ones selling herbal medicines are really long winded! There are signposts for most destinations scattered in the park so there's SOME order but when the taxis are full and move out there's so litle room to move it's chaos - lots of yelling! The old park has mainly destinations east and NE. New park has destinations west and NW - includes the "suburbs". It's about 1/3 mile between them but it's crowded and the streets are full of cars, bodas and people...noisy, smelly, polluted. Sidewalks are full of vendors and the buildings are full of shops...also, a great area for pickpockets (hence my phone theft). I really dread the walk between the two parks. The "kids" love the area. I'm a small town girl and I like some space between me and the next guy!

Saturday I got back from Mityana at the New Park, took a "local" to the Garden City Mall stop, walked up to the Mall, got some bagels, and walked back down (w. heavy backpack) to Jinja road and then it's easy to catch a van w. room going to Mukono (thus avoiding the walk between the taxi parks). It's a crazy system.

Each town has it's own taxi park - size varies with the size of the town. The taxi lets me off in Mukono by the P.O. and "supermarket" (another story), if I remember to tell the conductor, and it's a short walk from there to the Mukono taxi park. Get onto the Nkokonjeru/Kisoga taxi and when it fills up we're off! Trip from Nkokonjeru to Mukono is 3500 shillings ($2), Mukono to Kampala is 1500 Sh. ($.90), if you go direct it's 4500 sh. ($2.80) each way so it's a good deal - unless you make less than $1.00 a day which most here do. The distance from Nkokonjeru to Kampala is about 50 kilometere (30 miles) and takes 2 hours moving time (add about 2 hours for traffic in Kampala and filling up in Nkokonjeru or Mukono).

You really have to see it and ride it to experience it but maybe this explains some....we compare the matatu ride to a REALLY BAD amusement park ride!!!

Well, that's that. Just got a call from my police "friend" who said I didn't pay the carpenter, but I was sure I did - it never ends! Oh, well, I never thought I'd see my re-payment so I'm still ahead. He's a nice kid (I think)...my "tuition expense" is still being paid! I should have asked for a receipt....will I never learn?

Hope all are well and things are going better in Montgomery - it's been a tough year for many. At least here you expect things to be crazy and money to be tight! Have fun on Kolacky Day if I don't write again before the weekend.

Friday, July 18, 2008

Mityana - Friday, July 18 (?)

Lost track of the date....Mityana has been fun - nice to see everyone and the food is great - at least I'm not cooking!! But, I'm ready to go back to Nkokonjeru...wonder how things/people are and enjoy my little apartment. Am reading a great book Julie sent me - When the Crocodile Eats the Sun - about Zimbabwe - would highly recommend it...in fact I'm reading more than studying.

Had fun in Kampala....two stops at NY Kitchen - one for a bagel and one for cheesecake!! Holly bought a trumpet. She was an accomplished player in High School, but hasn't played since. She got inspired by the Providence House band and decided to give it a shot. Not sure if she'll march but she'll be a hit with the band!

We've spent the last two days learning more language - mostly how to answer the ? we have to to pass - "what do you do at your site?", "where do you live?"...should be easy but it's not! Have to use past tense in one questions and a comparison. Have my oral exam tomorrow at 8:30 a.m. I don't know if it will be any better than last time when I choked. The vocabulary is like minnows under a dock...they come out and when they see someone (the tester) they dart back into the shadows!!

Hope to be to Nkokonjeru before dark on Saturday....no stops in Kampala this time (will miss the bagels tho')...Sunday I"m going to the nearby town of Kisoga (v. small). Was invited by one of our older girls to a visiting day at her school there - she boards at the school but comes to PH for holidays - no family. She's a great gal, in S-5 (junior). Has a wheelchair and "walks" w. flip flops on her hands but has a great attitude. She also has a fabulous singing voice and know it would mean a lot if I showed up for a bit. Only other tasks are to wash clothes and prepare for class on Monday.

Have another PC Training in August in Kampala for a week - ugh! But Maria will be there and I hopefully, won't have to take any tests!

This must be the shortest blog on record....hotel we're in is very nice. More like a retreat center with a bar. We have individual rooms and private bathrooms with hot showers!! I got sick on the way up here and spent the first night in my room and really appreciated the self-contained (and private) bathroom. First time really sick in Uganda. Got off the matatu and had such bad cramps I couldn't walk up the road for awhile. Sat on the side to the amusement of several local kids!(about 200 yds to the hotel). Holly waited with me and carried my backpack and her backpack and her new trumpet! Sheri was already there, took one look at me and bought me two big bottles of water and I went to my room. They are such good friends!

Hope everyone is well....Jamie, glad Curt is back home safely. Mel, thinking about you and your surgery and praying for you. Thanks again everyone for all the good thoughts and prayers.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Tuesday in Kampala - on the way to Language Training - 7/15/08

Sorry I didn't get a blog done on Sunday - Bakery Internet was down and thought I'd just wait till I was in Kampala today. Holly and I left at 6 a.m. to come do some things and go on to PC Lanuage Training in Mityana (NW of Kampala)...will be there till Sat. I'm going to miss my little apartment and my projects at Providence Home.

Sat at the gas station in Kampala that was to be our meeting place on Weds. for two hours and guy was a no show! Phone "not available"...bummer. Puts that project (appliance workshop) on a WAY back burner!

Thursday English class went well - had a celebratory lunch w. Holly and Sheri (3 mos. at Nkokonjeru). Holly made egg salad sandwiches (mayo packets from home)...and I contributed the Cheetos (thanks Julie)...good time! Went back and Sr. Groetti and I explored part of a storeroom and found some fabric, 3 sewing scissors, threads, etc....so the kids can start actual sewing practice! Had to stop in the store room because we were taking the shoes for sale (13 pair)down to the Sisters' shop in town. Very exciting moment (for me)...one of the boys took them on his tricycle (a big "wheelchair" w. a large front wheel and worked with hand cranks). Didas (the shoemaker) was really nervous...kind of like having your first child go off to school.! Hope we sell some...we oly make a small profit,but at least it's a start. The Sister in charge ofthe store wanted me to get it on the loudspeaker announcements so I had to find the community "announcer" who was up at the parish church getting ready for Sunday's Church Anniversary Celebration (111 years)....also, put signs in English and Lugandan on the store's doors!

Good to get something accomplished today!!! Sometimes progress is so slow and so many "side trips". 2nd nite in a row that power went out around 8 p.m. Went through the box of sewing supplies from the storeroom...very dirty and disorganized....even found some usable bobbins!! What treasures!! Teen rally at the parish church - singing to a keyboard till the power went out!

Friday was a busy day - busy here is not like the U.S. because everything takes so long to do - guess that's "busy". Had English since we'll be gone on Monday (fabric shopping)...trying some Lugandan to English translation work -that's part of how we learned. O.K. but some don't read - Itry to helpthem asmuch asIcan.

Italian medical team left -such nice people...was glad to be able to say goodbye. Took my box of sewing supplies down to PH and the kids are excited. Teacher didn't come till 1:30 but the kids kept busy cleaning the room, moving in a cupboard and table and 3 sewing machines! Got a padlock for the door, too! The teacher gets there and he's talking about"problems"...he now wants to move more machines, the kids don't want blue, one girl wants a tight skire (they will be gathered)...I told them to be grateful for what they were getting as a gift and if they didn't like it they could join the other vocational program which is much more fast paced, they HAVE to pay school fees and those kids look down on PH kids! No more whining after that. The teacher needs to stop encouraging the kids to complain -he won't do anything. I'd love to hire someone else. Sr. Benna said they had another teacher last year who was good and came on time, but he stole stuff!! The complications
never end!!!

Went down to he carpenters - what the heck! Guy from theTown Council was there and said he hadn't seen my guy in 3 days and I should just get someone else -and he had someone right there who could do it for the same price (surprise??). I decided to goforit -so tired of waiting and being upset ("tuition expense"). Only paid part this time...my "friend" said he's file a police report to get my $ back -he's a Police Commissioner forwhatever that's worth.

Sr. Goretti was telling me about how she raised money as a teen - she'd go to the market and get the biggest cheap dress she could, wash it, take it apart, make two dresses and sell them! I wish the PH house kids had that kind of initiative - but they also have no "seed" money - an interesting idea for another project!!

Expensive week w. 2 new phones and a new wardrobe - anniversary presents?

Back at PH I helped the sisters try to fill in the application for the water grant - so funny. They keep arguing about what to say - plus they have to be honest! I tell them to just fill it out and stress that the residents are disabled and elderly...makes us unique and more needy! Hope they get it done and turned in next week while I'm gone.

Saturday I washed and cleaned, went briefly to a Music and Drama day at St. Anthony's Girls' school (on the convent grounds), and then went with Holly at noon to do AIDS testing at one of the Landing Sites -they are villages on the shores of Lake Victoria where the fishermen live w. their families. Long way back on bad roads...went in the Ambulance; one bench seat in the back (no equipment). The landing stire is awful...gray board shacks, gray sand,it was a rainy gray day, kids with extended stomachs (malnutition(. It looked like a very not nice place to live -especially for the women - so many kids and lots of drunk men. About 75 came around for the information and about 50 got tested...results come in 15 minutes and then they get the results and counseling (by Ugandans). Ten were positive - the percentages are higher at the lake becasue of poverty, isolation, ignorance, etc. They can then come to the hospital for further testing (CD4 count) and possbible medication. I really admire the Project Hope workers - sitting in a little hut testing, or counseling in the ambulance - little privacy - and some awful heartbreak!

Sunday was the big church anniversary celebration (I thought maybe they were celebrating Corky and my 40th which was Sunday)...38 weddings, about 50 Baptisms, 60 Cnofirmations (some from PH), the Bishop and all sorts of dignitaries. Mass only lasted 3 hours (that's good). Very well run w. lots of workers with shirts and nametags, a medical tent...moved right along. Went back toPH and got Doreen and some other kids and came back when the crowds were down. There was an "icecream man"...has frozen fruit gelato on the back of his bicycle...very good! Corky called in the midst to wish me a Happy Anniversary and got to talk to Riley for a minute who said he's been at Ruby's....Sat. nite was Melanie's goodbye party (to her breasts before her mastectomy)...Riley stayed overnite w. Grandpa!

Sunday nite, Moses, the great CBR volunteer stopped by my apt....he was sick (malaria) and his wife was sick and their new baby was not well. Said he couldn't afford Coratem...I was SO tempted to give him $ but just can't. 1) it's a huge, black hole and never ends 2) it messes with the way things would be w/o us. I know just our being here makes a change, but I don't want to meddle too much. If I do give someone a little, I do it through the Sisters. Finished Jane Goodall's "In the Shadow of Man" (v. good) and know what happens when you mess w. the natural order! Butit's very hard sometimes!

Monday a.m. Sr. Goretti, Sr. Melody and I took the truck and went to Kampala to get fabric for the tailoring uniforms (thanks Anne). Right before we leftI got a call from my LC "friend" who wanted me to stop by the police station - I did - they had my carpenter in jail...he looked awful, and I felt awful. He promised to repay me! Got a call about 10a.m. and they had 80,000 sh.! Never thought I'd see any - apparently someone owed him for work done and the police collected it. Holly was nice enough to get it for me since I was gone.

Trip went well,though Sr. Melody had a million errands to run all over town...I felt so sorry for the driver! Got the fabric - small alley with lots of very narrow fabric shops - interesting! Think what we got is O.K. - it was sort of a blur. We also went to the wholesale district to get some bakery supplies - so crowded and busy! Got back about 7:30 and got ready for this week.

I know I'm going to miss being part of the projects at PH this week, but the change and perspective that comes with that might do me good...I get a little intense. MY new wardrobe should be done when I get back. I'm not looking forward to the language study and re-test tho! Hope to see Maria at the end (she's at a class in the west with her language group).

Congrats to Don and BArb Jackson - saw you had a grandchild!

Not sure what access I'll have in Mityana, but will try to write next weekend when I come back through Kampala on my way back to Nkokonjeru. Thanks everyone for the packages, letters, messages, thoughts and prayers...it goes well.

Wednesday, July 9, 2008

Wednesday a.m. in Kampala - 7-9-08

Back in Kampala at the Logogo Mall. I am in town on a strange errand...there's a guy who works at the appliance shop at the Katelemwa Orthopedic Hospital who lives in Nkokonjeru. Sister Juliet hopes to start a simple appliance shop at Providence Home (PH), but of course, we need a grant. Have a possibility but we need $ numbers for tools, machines, etc. Anyway, Joseph is meeting me at a Shell station somewhere on the outskirts of Kampala to go to an Italian shop where they sell 2nd hand machines to make things like Cerebral Palsy chairs, stands, braces, crutches, etc. I can't imagine I'm going to be much help, but he isn't getting it done by himself. Hope I can find him...this Kampala thing really is not my bag!

Did get my old phone number back on my new phone...(old one was stolen in downtown Kampala on Saturday - see why I don't like going past the mall in Kampala?). However, last nite I washed my pants w. my "new" phone in the pocket! Thought I could maybe exchange it but the gal at the desk caught the water in the screen (sharp girl), so I had to buy ANOTHER new phone. Have to take my old/new one to the Noika headquarters somewhere to get it fixed and don't have time today. So if bad luck comes in threes, does stupids come in threes, too, because I'm due for another one? Oh, well, at least I drowned it the day before I was coming to Kampala and not the day after!

Next week we are at Language Training in Mityana (nw of Kampala) from Tuesday to Sat. and I might meet up w. Maria on Saturday afternoon - they are at a different place - different language. I'm not looking forward to it (Julie, thanks for the indexcards!!)...really have a lot of things going on at PH (plus classes to teach), I am not progressing in my language skills and probably won't pass the test AGAIN!, and I really don't like traveling through Kampala! Stop whining - right! Maybe the break will be good for me.

I guess you don't know about my phone - just looked at my scribblings. Saturday (the 5th) I came to Kampala to shop and go to a PC 4th of July get together in Gabba (a suburb of Kampala). Got the shopping done great, met some PCVs at the New York Kitchen and had cheesecake and coffee and bought some bagels, then went to the Taxi Park..had to walk from the new to the old parks and on the way felt someone bump my back. I looked and the zipper on my backpack was open and the phone gone! I confronted the guy behind me but of course he denied it! Even made him pull out his pants pockets (I was MAD), but he'd already passed it off. I don't go down there often and have gotten careless...never should have left it in an outside pocket even tho' zipped in. Tried to go to the PC party anyway, got to Gabba, but wasn't sure of the directions to the field, didn't have a phone and was bummed, so came back to the taxi park to get back to the mall, to get a new phone..but couldn't get my old number back till a workday, which is part of why I'm here today (sorry that was so random...). Final conclusion - I need to be more careful with my things, and Malls = good; downtown Kampala = bad!!! Biggest problem is re-creating my phone numbers since I was also too stupid to keep a list (maybe that was #3).

I've been sleeping poorly lately - lots on my mind that I can do nothing about at nite so Sunday sermon message was a good one for me..."come to me all that labor and are weary and I will give you rest". Have been sleeping better! Spent a lot of Sunday washing (sheets, ugh) and doing class preparation for the week..it takes a LOT of time (all you teachers are going - "yes, so what?"). Trying to incorporate newspaper articles into English and doing two math sections - more advanced are doing simple story problems...it's hard for them, but they are really trying!! The English is good for my Lugandan vocabulary. I translate new words from English to Lugandan because some are pretty shaky in their English. In Tuesday's Math class one of the girls, who does great multiplication, said she can't do division. Worked w.her to show her that it's just "backward" multiplication and after some problems, she said "I got it"...such a great moment.

No Muslim call to prayer Monday a.m. - bad deal - no power! It was actually off two days. It stormed Monday early a.m. - the rain did cut down on the dust a bit. My concrete floor is painted "red oxide" - they all are - and it 's pitted so really catches the dust...looks dirty all the time.

Water problems continue..am urging Sr. Goretti to fill out the water grant application - it's hard for them, but I'd help! Have to take my time. City water is very unreliable (have it at the taps maybe 3 days/week). Kids have to go about 1/4 mile away to a dam or a bore hole up the hill. Not far by Ugandan standards, but there are only about 1/2 that can go so they have to do double duty! We really need a well!

Another random thought: (are you ready?) Got to the taxi park in Nkokonjeru at 6 a.m. and the taxi left to pick up some people WAY out in the village - but it did leave by 6:35 (here by 8:30). However, the driver and conductor (door/money guy) kept getting on and off and switching - I never understand it. Holly and I talk about being pawns in a giant game and nobody has told us the rules...spend much time and energy just trying to figure it out (and probably never will!). Monday a.m. I was feelilng very homesick - maybe it was the phone theft - just wanted to go home for a day, get lots of hugs and come back.

I shouldn't whine about electricity in my apt. The bakery is really in a pickle..did finally use the generator (v. expensive). All the sisters were helping in the afternoon to maximize production so I tried. Was bad at shaping rolls, but managed to find my niche cutting out donuts! It's hard work - they are on their feet all day and many are disabled and have crutches so just lean on the table. Also, there is a team of medical people from Italy at the Nkokonjeru Hospital to do plastic surgery (no tummy tucks - cleft lips and palates, burn scars, etc.), and they can't operate w/o electricity - very frustrating for them. Very nice people - they are here till Friday (and power came back on last nite so they are working now).

Holly, Sheri and I went to the sisters' 6:45 a.m. Mass on Tuesday because her mother was having surgery yesterday. Haven't heard - but havent' had a working phone either!!! Will call her later.

Sr. Gorerri and Sr. Sara went to their fields to pick coffee Tuesday to make some money...I wanted to go but it was CBR (Community Based Rehab day) so had to stay - next time. The yield was poor they said - lots of bush and unripe berries..did bring back some yams and sugar cane for the kids. Sisters have gardens all over but they aren't very well cared for. They hire gardners, but absentee landlords don't do well. CBR was slow - it's depressing, but I'm really hopeful that our grant will work out and that Dr. Antonio will get some money in Italy for surgeries....just have to be patient.

Speaking of patience...no wardrobe and very little progress. My friend from the Town Council was there yesterday when I stopped - he continues to harrass him, too. Said the problem is that the money is gone and he can't buy more materials...very frustrating!!! But another lesson learned...when do I know enough?

Duke engineering students came by to see our vocational school machines Tuesday afternoon...nice kids. Our sewing machines are used by students from another school - Mother Kevin Vocational School (also Little Sisters) and they use them rent free. Their teacher doesn't supervise them well and the machines aren't being oiled and are squeaking. I asked the sisters to talk to her and they said I could do it, so I did. She said she didn't have any oil...I said repairs were WAY more expensive than oil...so she marched over to the shoemaking machine and took Didas' oil without asking and used it. She didn't return it tho' and while she was at lunch one of her students stole it! And of course she's not replacing it...very frustrating!!! We hope to get material on Friday (in Kampala) and start next week with the 2nd year students making some shirts for uniforms.

Was sitting talking to Sr. G and S after they got back from coffee picking and they were eating cold steamed "pumpkin" (tastes like acorn squash) for "lunch" at 4. A guy stopped by and said there was a wire down at PH that was causing the whole electrical problem for Nkokonjeru (wasn't), but I told Sr. G she was a troublemaker and she started to sing "One day at a time, Sweet Jesus..." - and laughing. Just priceless.

Holly and are continue to go for walks - she's running. So I walk away and when I see her coming back I start walking back. She's getting fast tho' so now I'm running with her at the end...once she's been out about 20 minutes and up the big hill and is half dead I can almost keep up w. her for about 1/2 mile!!!

Done - sorry to be so random. I seem to be getting even more random which is scary! Things continue to go well...have a lot of things pending and to do, but maybe the week "off" next week for language training will be a good break.

Take care - thanks for the thoughts, packages, letters, prayers...they really keep me going!!! Good luck Melanie and Happy Anniversary Cork!

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Saturday A.M. at Garden City Mall

Now that I have a Weds. post for this week thought this would be shorter, but you know how I love to "talk". Left this a.m. at 6 a.m. The matatu took off at 6:25...he overloaded as usual but hardly anyone got off in Mukono and he had to "bump" people since they are careful about not having more than 14 passengers on the way to Kampala! Got to the mall stop at 8 a.m. Great time - the grocery (Euchimi) was open and the internet cafe opened at 8:30, book store opens at 9 so it's going well...when I'm done here I go down to the old taxi park and get another matatu to the site of the PCV Frisbee 4th of July get together! Going back in the afternoon but will stop by to see everyone and eat lunch.

Yesterday Holly and Shari worked all afternoon to supplement the dinner for the Duke students. There are 8 Engineering students from Duke here for 6 weeks working with Shari's organization...helping with water projects, internet, vocational school, and an assortment of projects engineers like (portable oil press for nuts, etc.)..they are young (19-20) and VERY smart!! The place where they are staying supplies their meals but the girls wanted to add some American touches - deviled eggs, guacamole, garlic mashed potatoes, cheese and crackers, and sugar cookies and a cake!! The baking is done by putting one large pan over another to make and "oven" and cooking (carefully) on the gas hotplate...it was delicious!! Quite a treat!

Forgot some things on Weds. Weds. a.m. when I got to PH the animal manager was out running around the grounds with the new calf (who thinks he is his mother) - so cute. Also, when I said chipati were made "on the street" I meant by street vendors on charcoal stoves!

Holly is not going home for her mom's surgery - it was a really hard decision for her but the air fare was astronomical! She's pretty depressed about it so the dinner and today will be good distractions. She brought back some mail for me when she returned from Kampala...lots of pictures, magazines and goodies...I feel SO special!

English class went well, but short because the nurse came for the Epilepsy Clinic...we were reading a newspaper article I wanted to talk about. The bookkeeping teacher "borrowed" my red pen so now I'm using an assortment of colored pens to correct assignmetns - green, blue, pink, purple - makes the kids crazy!

Note on recycling - everything here gets used and re-used...except for plastic bags which are the curse of Uganda (they are technically outlawed, but no one pays any attention to that). Food garbage goes outside - I throw mine across the path off my "veranda" in the plot I hope to talk Sr. into letting me use as a garden - it's a few flowers, but mostly weeds now. Paper is used on both sides, used to light sigiris (stoves), wrap chipati or vegetables and eggs at the market, jars are used for storage. The call for food at PH (and the noviates 5:15 wake up call) is accomplished by banging a piece of pipe on a hangine old metal tire rim! (at 5:15 a.m. it makes the dogs howl!).

Epilepsy Clinic went well - Florence (the psychiatric nurse who comes from Butabeka Hospital in Kampala is a saint). Some are doing very well, but some sad stories...one young lady, who is very quiet and makes beautiful baskets comes with her mom. About a week ago she had a seizure and fell into the open fire and burned her right arm and hand terribly...it was all black and bubbly w. pink meat showing. Mom is a widow and couldn't afford any treatment. Felt SO bad for her. Sr. Sara (one of the interim nuns at PH and w. some medical background) gave her some antibiotics and mild painkillers from our supply but it must hav hurt a LOT! She just sat there. Another sad one was a 6 year old girl (new patient) who is deaf (and mute) and having seizures...cute little girl! Florence said it all could be a result of her having had many bouts of malaria and long periods of high fevers - she's actually been hospitalized two times which is really a last resort here - or, if she took a lot of quinine as treatment for the malaria it could have affected her hearing.

Malaria doesn't get nearly the press or the $$ or the star appeal that HIV/AIDS gets but it's a much bigger problem here - it's the biggest killer in Uganda and most deaths are children under 5 - and IF they survive the fevers they get epilepsy, hydrocephalis, deafness, blindness, mental retardation, etc. Just a trail of misery. Most people can't affort to treat the repeated outbreaks people of all ages have and the parasites never leave their blood system. It saps their energy and eventually erupts as high fever, chills, nausea and horrible headaches. The kids are absent a LOT from school - especially in the rainy season - for malarial episodes. Bed nets would help but in heavy areas of infestation mosquitoes can get you when you're not in bed (really bad closer to Lake Victoria). Any fever needs immediate attention at a health center but who can afford that? If you have a malerial outbreak you are supposed to take meds but if you're out in the village and a subsistence farmer or just poor that's impossible. Antiretrovirals (for HIV) are often free (thanks to the large number of foreign donations) but Coratem and Quinine are not. AIDS has really been reduced in Uganda and that's great, but they ignore malaria!

Florence saw 26 people and some are doing very well - esp. if they take their meds as they should. I had told Sr. Goretti that Florence is from northern Uganda an not a matoke fan - tho' she never complains - so Sr. G cooked a special lunch - millet bread (a northern staple), liver in a great tomato sauce, spaghetti, ground nut sauce w. greeen in it (delicious) and matoke for Moses the CBR volunteer who is our interpreter and thinks matoke is essential! She said she likes to cook and she's good at it! Very thoughtful.

Had a nice walk THursday nite w. Holly to decompress - she's actually running and I backtrack - training for the Uganda marathan in December! When we got back to the hospital I was able to catch Sr. Speciosa and ask her about selling our shoes in the Sister's store in Nkokonjeru (they just opened a school supply/whatever store in town to raise $). She said YES!! She wants a set price tho' - no bargaining and we'll give the store a small commission for shoes that sell. At last, a marketing strategy.

Power was out Thursday and part of Friday - so I go to bed by 9:00 (instead of my usual 9:30). I'm getting into the routine of being w/o electricity - have the gas hot plate and lantern/candles/flashlites/headlamp - and it makes me appreciate it all the more!

Friday I did some laundry early - no electricity/no problem! Bunch of PH kids got sent home for non-payment of school fees (mid term). All the secondary schools here are private - fees for non-boarders at St. Anthony's for example, are $100/term (3 terms in a year). The government has legislated UPE (Universal Primary Education) and it's supposed to be free but it is grossly underfunded (sound familiar - but I mean grossly),, so the schools charge fees for books, uniforms (an essential), lunch, porridge, sports, etc. It adds up! Sr. G and I went around and think we got it settled...still not sure about St. Anthony's but they're back today!

PH got another milk cow - gift from a nearby priest. But now cow food is a crisis! They cut grass(preferred is elephant grass),but all the near grass is cut and they neglected to plant more. Also, when you feed European/American breed cows just grass they don't produce much and they get sick more than the wandering African cows.
Sr G's plan is to sell some milk and eventually get a bicycle for the manager so he can get grass farther away - and plant some (but it's getting dry).

Finished up Friday running around working on ideas for tailoring class (hopefully we'll get the material this week),and marketing shoes. Who would have thought that would be my "job" a few months ago? I should have been writing reports (3 mos in) but that didn't sound like as much fun!

Which brings me up to being here in Kampala and saying goodbye. Hope you all are well and enjoying the holiday weekend. Thanks again for everything. Hope you had a happy and safe 4th of July!!!

Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Wednesday morning at the bakery - 7/2/08

It's Wednesday already and the computer is open and the power is on and the internet connected so I'm giving it a try!!! It has definitely become the dry (hot and dusty) season- nites are still O.K. though!

Sunday was one of those great days that come every so often - kind of like a good golf shot - that keeps you going. After I did my blog I was wandering around and Doreen wanted to go to the festivities at St. Peter's High School (St. Peter's Feast Day - Ugandans will celebrate anything! - it is a BIG deal). I said I'd take her - quite a job pushing her wheelchair over the gravel roads and up the hills. She wanted Proscovia to go too so we had one in a wheelchair and one with a crutch and a muzungu pushing! The school is NOT handicapped accessible and had to have some men carry her chair up to see anything. The Sisters wanted me to stay for the big buffet - there were a lot of guests (sometimes it pays to be a muzungu). I said I was with the girls so they offered to get the girls plates, too - chicken, beef, rice, matoke, the works..and a soda! They really enjoyed it (so did I).

We got back to PH about 6 and a car pulled in - I recognized them as the group that had put in a new water system at St. Peters (also, part of the celebration). Their driver had been a volunteer at PH in '96 and wanted them to stop here (providential?). They want PH to apply for a new water system - which we desperately need. Don't know if it will work out, but it's worth a try.....might incorporate a whole big system w. the hospital and convent!

Went up to see Hollly (she feels better but is calling the PC nurses on Monday a.m.). Bad news was that she just got a call from her mom on Saturday and her mom is having a double mastectomy on July 8 - please pray for her (as well as for Corky's neice Melanie who is having a double mastectomy in July also). Apparently she was in for her regular mamogram and they found a lump - they are hoping it is still contained but won't know till after the surgery. Holly is thinking seriously about taking a trip home to be with her mom. Bad week for her.

Monday's English class was O.K. - the kids are starting to get slack about getting there on time. My least favorite Ugandan phrase now is "he's coming"....means they are around but stalling. I go flush them out of the dorms. We are working on past tense and more vocabulary. Most are doing well...a few don't try but very few...it's quite a privilege to go past primary school in Uganda.

Went to Mukono after class to get the forms from the Water Grant people - they have their office there. Did a little shopping, too. Looked at a bike....really want one, but hate the idea of wrestling it to the matatu...they will put it on the roof, no problem...just can't make up my mind.

Am enjoying Sr. Goretti - she's very level headed and easy to talk to. She's really had her hands full since she started Saturday. There are some girls having problems (adolescent girls in a dorm together is trouble everywhere!), money problems, and the rest. She's trying to "shape" things up - yesterday she was after the boys for urinating right outside their dorm door - the buidling was built w. a flush toilet system but there's no water so it's boarded up. They are building a new latrine behind the dorm, but no enough $$ to finish it....and it's still hard for the handicapped boys. She got her gum boots on and made them clean the area....she's really getting into it!!! I avoided that job detail!

After my smart talk about not many bugs - on Monday, the power was out till about 7:00 - I was busying myself w. my landern/candle, flashlite routine and one of the Sisters stopped by just as the power went on and saw a huge line of ants along my wall!! And they were the stinging kind! I got out the DOOM and killed them - swept them up and wiped the floor - but got a few bites. I kept sticking my feet into a bucket of water to get them off!!! You see them in long lines outside - moving from one nest to another, often w. their eggs - for hours and sometimes for days. But my house is not an ant superhighway!!!

Made myself a mini pizza Monday nite - cooked tomato and onion w. oregano, put it on top of a chipati (flat bread made on the street - love them) w. some mozarella cheese (from Mukono) and warmed it in the frying pan. More like a hot pocket but very good - served w. cabbage salad w. oil and vinegar dressing (lettuce is rare)..pretty nice!!

Tuesday we had our monthly CBR meeting - I think it went well. Sr. Goretti wasn't aware of the program so we talked a lot. I'm never sure what they think of my ideas and agenda! There is litle we can do till we (hopefully - and I am hopeful) get the grant $ and hear from the Italian Doctor but we need to keep going. It's hard to say "No, we can't help" all the time. We are planning a Sunday afternoon visit to a local village in July to start having educational sessions telling people that they don't have to hide disabled children - that they can go to school and be helped.

Divided up the math class - it went better. One boy brought sticks to use for addition - he got his paper done, too! Some work so hard. I don't know if I'd crawl to class or use sticks to count in class. I brought the soda bottle caps to use so maybe he thought it was O.K. The "advanced" group did O.K. but struggled w. simple story problems - will keep trying. I had fun though! We were there the whole 2 hours...some were done, but many stayed to re-do their papers.

Holly went to Kampala to the nurses and the doctors - they did an ultra sound and didn't see any gall stones but they could have passed. She talked to the powers that be about going home and they were very sympathetic so think she's going for 2 weeks. Shari taught Public Health this a.m. and did a great job. We decided last nite to do "Self-Esteem". Had them write 3 things about themselves on cards and Shari read them and they had to guess who it was....very funny. THey struggled with the idea of adding some traits about the other students(we had lists on the board to choose from), but they got the concept. On my list , I had "smart", "likes to be on time" (by that time they got it)..."talks very fast"....it was fun! They are never sure how to take us....actually, having 3 muzunzu teachers is pretty high class!!!

When I finish here I am going to talk to the Head Sister at the hospital about collaborating on the water grant - then talk to another Sister up there about selling shoes in the Sister's store in town (Sr. Specioca is in charge of the store). It's a stationery store and has extra room and we need to move some shoes. Am thinking of offering a small commission - esp. if they can bargain the price up! They've added a really nice men's sandle. Boys are doing well. Thanks to Anne we are going to get some fabric for the tailoring kids, too. Things are really going well....always fun to have some new projects!!

Proverb for the week: 25:25 "Like cold water to a weary soul, is good news from a distant land". Good one for here! Love the letters.

Please pray for Melanie and Holly's mom with their surgeries this month. Very tough times for them. Thanks again for your thoughts and prayers for me. Will try to add on Sunday, but helps knowing I've got something done for the week...off to work!