Tuesday, December 29, 2009

Egypt - December 26-31

We have internet at the hostel where we are staying - so will start the blog while we are waiting for the train to Luxor (10:15 departure for an overnite trip). The hostel is really comfy - has hot water showers and nice rooms and is well located in downtown. For $13/person/nite we can't complain (oh, and includes breakfast tho' we've been going to a nearby McDonalds!!).




Judith, another older female PCV and I left from Entebbe w/o incident. We had a stop in Nairobi and then a short, unannounced stop in Karthoum, Sudan (the ticket said in small print "1 technical stop" - we think they didn't want to scare people by saying they were landing in Sudan). Moment of panic when we went through customs in Egypt and the guy said we had to have a visa (which I had not researched) but you got one at the money changing booth for $15!!! Got our Egyptian Pounds (5.4 to a dollar) and we were met by a taxi sent by the Hostel (nice touch at 11:30 at nite).



Cairo was amazing late at nite - roads were packedl and the streets in downtown were full of shoppers!!! The 9 the next morning a driver met us at the hostel and took us to some of the local sights....cost $15 each for the driver for the day and quite a luxury!!! We went first to Saqqara where the first pyramid was built (2500 B.C.) - the Step Pyramid - and saw a temple and a museum of Imotep (he was a good guy it appears - the king's builder). Saw some statues at Memphis and then went to Giza to see the pyramids. Our driver made it sound like it was a LONG walk to and around the pyramids and took us to "a friend" who rented camels and horses - we chose horses. It turned out he could have driven up to the visitor center and we could have walked around, but the horses were fun. Would have felt like Lawerence of Arabia riding over the sand but the guy who took us was nervous about our riding ability so it was a slow trip. We saw the 3 big pyramids at Giza and the Sphinx - it was amazing to be standing by (and climbing on) the pyramids!!! The Sphinx has seen better days - smaller than I expected and the face is nearly gone. Had a great dinner of kashari near our hotel - rice, hummus, pasta, tomatoes and onions....the restaurant that we went to only serves that one thing in small, medium or large bowls and the place was packed! We walked around the streets - again, just full of people walking or shopping - mainly clothing stores and pastry shops in our neighborhood!


Impressions of Cairo - people are extremely friendly - they stop us and talk if they know English; it's really overwhelming just thinking of being in Cairo. As we drove around outside the main town we saw lots of donkey carts loaded w. great looking vegetables and fruits, lots of trash blown about (unfortunately), lots of unfinished apt. construction, most women have headscarves or burquas, the children are beautiful curly headed children, many smokers, lots of police everywhere (keep the tourists safe and happy), and just a busy, busy, noisy place (20 million in Cairo). It's surprising to see all light skinned people, too!


On the 28th we went in the a.m. to the train station to try to book a seat to Luxor - the sleeping cars were all full as were the sitting car for that nite, but we got seats on the sitting car for the 29th - a bit disappointed at only having one day in Luxor - and we found out later that you can't book a return trip from the Cairo station (all the trains for foreigners run overnite)- just have to take your chances in Luxor (and we have return airline tickets for the 31st so have to come back the night of the 30th!)...a bit nervous. We went to the Egyptian Museum - got there around 11 but decided it was too packed so took a cab to the Citadel, a old fort and huge mosque w. layers and layers of history! Cabs are fairly cheap, but it's a hassle arguing w. the drivers over the fare!

Mosque at the Citadel was just gorgeous! Then we took a cab to Old Cairo and the Coptic Christian area of Cairo - again, impressive building and layers of history! We found out there was a Metro (subway) and took that back to town - it has limited lines, but is great and costs 20 cents! We are discovering a lot as we go along!


On the 29th a.m. we went to McDonalds again - really enjoying the Egg McMuffins. We went early to the Musuem and got right in at 9:00.....rushed up to the Tutankahem exhibit - absolutely breathtaking! The musuem is wonderful, but things are not labeled and there's little information but you have to be impressed. There must be literally hundreds of painted/carved mummy cases! Most of the people were in groups and so moved through quickly...and we avoided them. After that we walked on a bridge over the Nile and went to the Cairo Tower where you can go up and look over the city - it was fun to look around at the places we'd been to.


Walked back over the river, had lunch and decided to ride the Metro to the northern end of the line - cheap way to see the city outskirts! On the way back we took the "women's car" - only women allowed! On our way back to the hotel we decided to check out Egypt Air from Luxor to Cairo and were able to book a flight for the morning of the 31st for only $77 so we fly back! We went back to the hostel where we'd left our bags for the day and the guy there was able to arrange a hotel and driver for us in Luxor - also pretty inexpensive and nice to know we will be back to get our flight on the 31st (and a nite of sleep and a shower between the nite on the train and the nite on the plane).


Part II: Continuing the saga after our return from Luxor . On Tuesday nite we walked to the Metro station at 9:00 to travel to the train station - 5 of us from the hostel - 3 Americans, 2 Germans. The train left nearly on time and we had a compartment w. 6 seats (another guy from Spain)....better than I thought. Slept on the floor and seats. Got to Luxor (420 miles south) at 8 a.m. - fun to watch the scenery after sunrise from the train - lots of vegetables growing on the land by the Nile. There was a man in Luxor waiting for us w. a sign (YEA)...took us to a very nice hotel right in the middle of town - had our own bath, hot water showers AND a TV - my standards of "really nice" are low these days. We met our guide and driver and took off by 8:30 for the Valley of the Kings....it's across the river from the town of Luxor in a desolate area of limestone cliffs. The kings of the Middle Kingdom built their tombs there - nothing above ground except fabulous rock formations (tops of hills have a pyramidal shape which is one of the reasons the area was chosen). For our ticket we could go into 3 tombs....you go down into the chambers - it's a bit spooky for the claustrophobic but there are beautiful carvings on the walls and some artifacts (tho' most have been stolen or are in the museum). Unfortunately you can't take pictures even of the scenery.

Then we went on to the Temple of Queen Hutshipsut - it was totally rebuilt from original stone. An impressive building and story of the queen who was discredited in death by her stepson. We decided to skip the Valley of the Queens - had to do Luxor in one day. We were lucky to have the driver and guide - really moved things along since some things are on the West side of the Nile and some on the East. Our guide was interesting, but sometimes we longed for time to just walk around and stare!!!

By noon we were back on the East Bank and went to the Temple of Karnak (actually he started it and they kept adding on for 2000 years)....it was absolutely fabulous - enormous and so full of history.....columns, arches, buildings, statues....after we let the guide go we just sat and tried to take it in!!! Pictures won't do it justice.

Had a very late lunch at a local restaurant - lamb stew and rice; Walked around and through the huge bazaar - everyone wants you to buy!!!! Went to the hotel for a shower and some TV and an early bedtime (had been wearing the same clothes for 3 days - hygiene is slipping, too).

This a.m. (New Year's Eve) a driver came to the hotel to take us to the airport (the guy at the Australian Hostel set it all up for us - I don't know how they do it but it's great)....BUT, when we got to the ticket counter we found out that when the "kid" at Egypt Air wrote out our tickets he put Jan. 31 instead of Dec. 31 and I didn't check.....when will I learn to check and re-check? Fortunately there are lots of flights of tour groups and we were only 2 people w/o luggage so we got on a 10 a.m. flight and back to Cairo in lots of time. Went to a great public park in town and had lunch overlooking the Citadel - walked back to the hotel through an older area of town and through a huge bazaar area - some local and some tourist stuff!! Sensory overload!!!

So, that's it - don't think it's all sunk in yet - but will someday. Judith was a good traveling companion - we both go to bed early and get up early; we traveled "on the cheap" but when we needed to we spent some money to get things done (actually, our guides were so cheap by American standards we were amazed!). Australian Hostel staff was great in arranging things for us and letting us "camp" here when we were inbetween. For an "unplanned trip" - not my usual obsessiveness - it went really well!! Back to Kampala tomorrow a.m. (Jan. 1, 2010) at 9 a.m. and then on to Nkokonjeru! Hope to get a few pictures out soon and will send Gail a CD when I can.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE - Best wishes for a wonderful year in 2010! I'm excited that it's my "coming home year"..... Thanks again for all your support - could not have done it w/o you all!!!

Saturday, December 26, 2009

December 26, 2009 Boxing Day

Attempted to leave Nkokonjeru early but not much activity at 6 a.m. We did leave at 7:45 and little traffic - it's Boxing Day, which is also a National Holiday. Went to my favorite internet cafe and it wasn't open; came to Garden City Mall to find an ATM that will give me U.S. Dollars and amazingly, the internet cafe here is open. I'm going to blog and then head out to the airport for our flight to Cairo! Yes, I'm going to Egypt - with Judith, another senior volunteer. We'll be back in Uganda on the 1st - will spend New Year's Eve in the air!!! So, if you ever felt sorry for me you can stop now!

Haven't blogged since I came back from Rwanda - lots of info, but I'll try not to be too long winded.
Survived the 10 hour bus ride (one stop for potty break - goal is total dehydration!). Walked down to the Kampala taxi park marveling at the difference in Kamapal and Kigali...Kampala is much bigger but is full of garbage, unregulated traffic, sellers all over the sidewalks making it impossible to walk on them -you have to take your chances w. the traffic on the street! Kigali is so neat and orderly - there may be less personal freedom, but asthetically, it's a lot nicer (and smells better).

Got back to Nkokonjeru at 7:45 and unpacked and went to bed. Went back to Kampala Friday a.m. to meet w. Judith to plan the trip to Egypt.

LOTS went on at PH while I was in Rwanda; Evelyn and Tessa (Holland volunteers) went shopping w. Sr. Juliet for 150 basins, soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, vaseline, etc. plus cleaning brooms and soap. They also booked 100 baby layers (which came Thursday - 17th). Becky came back on Thursday too (U.K. Volunteer) and is now living in an apartment at the convent. Kids had spent days picking corn by hand - even cooked and ate meals in the field. Friday, there was a competition at PH, sponsored by Cheshire Foundation, to choose a young person to go to a conference in So. Africa in FEb. and become a spokesperson for "Young Voices" - an advocacy group for the disabled. Josephine won for the Mukono district but has to compete w. the winner from the Budaka district. AND, Sr. Goretti had her surgery - guess they took the appendix which was really enlarged and pressing on her intestines and her uterus (fibroids)....had it done at Nkokonjeru Hospital and seems to be O.K. Nelson gave a review of the big trip to CoRSU Hospital and Katelemwa Rehab Center Tuesday - they left at 7:30 a.m. and got back at 9!!

Saturday I washed clothes and Becky and I helped Nelson plant cassava (root crop) - just put sticks from the old plants in holes and cover! Another new skill (along w. planting bananas) that is not too marketable in Minnesota!!

Sunday, Evelyn and Tessa handed out plastic shoes for everyone they had bought - then they took four kids to the pool at the Colline hotel in Mukono - guess it was quite a task...kids here don't swim and fear water (they took four boys the previous Sunday)....had to buy suits and water wings! But what an adventure for those kids!

Monday, the whole place (about 46 people) went on a rented bus to Kampala sponsored by Eveliyn and Tessa - Josephine and I stopped off early to go to the competition, but the rest went to the airport, where they actually got out and went into a viewing area and rode an elevator!!! (Sr. Juliet's first elevator trip). Not much aircraft activity but a thrill!!! We met them at the zoo. Josephine did not win (darn); she was more poised than the other girl, but the other girl was older and working at the bakery in Budaka to make money for nursing school, and also, has "just" one lame foot and Josephine is in a wheel chair - might have looked easier to transport (tho' no one would even say that).

Ate lunch at the zoo - brought chicken, rice, chipati and sodas on the bus (cooked by the kids the nite before)....sandwiches are not "food" here - it has to be cooked!!! It was a real project folding wheelchairs, stowing them in the back seat of the bus (about 12), carrying kids on and off, and taking wheelchairs on and off at PH, the airport and the zoo - but it got done and all had a great time!! Got back to Nkokonjeru at 10 p.m.

It doesn't seem like Christmas - no decorations up and just a few presents to give....I miss the carols blaring everywhere!

Tuesday we marked all the basins etc. w. marker and the big give away began- actually, it went very smoothly - they called the kids up one by one and they were very quiet! Moses and I went down to meet with the Community Development Officer from Nkokonjeru Town Council (like a township or small county). He was actually there at the appointed time (YEA) and seemed interested in going out w. Moses to assess need. The Town Clerk (boss) was not so easy - he tried to impress us w. what they've done (tho' we know none of it was their initiative - all things given by other organizations). I asked if they had done a survey of disabled people in Nkokonjeru Town Council Area (about 15,000 people) and he said they had, and identified 151 disabled people (exclusive of PH residents); There are practically 151 in Moses' back yard!!! They are really not looking!!!

Said goodbye to Eveliyn and Tessa - sorry to see them go - they are full of energy and fun!!! Visited Sr. Goretti - she seems to be doing O.K. for someone w. long scar and major surgery.
Meeting w. Fred to plan our animal feed situation; Sr. Juliet was handling the milk money for Sr. Goretti and spent it on other necessities so we have to re-group. Our regular animal guy isn't back and one of the older boys is caring for the cow and one of the girls is doing the pigs, but not with Vincent's diligence (Edward, the interim is gone) and it shows. Now we have the layers (who haven't laid yet) and the new chickens! I helped Jamil w. our layers - I really hate chickens!!! Fred and I reviewed all the pens, got greens for the pigs (they love them), and cleaned the cows stall and gave her fresh water and grass. Hoping to sell a big pig over Christmastime to get them some more food (oh, yes, and got poison for all the rats in the pig's storeroom - Merry Christmas!).

Wednesday a.m. I took Becky on the matatu to Mukono to introduce her to Ugandan travel and shopping - it actually went well and we had a great breakfast at the Colline Hotel!!! It's been hot, dry and dusty, but rained on my sheets on Thursday and has been raining off and on since!

Christmas Eve, Holly, and her friend Adam, a PCV in Mukono, made a great meal - vegetarian meatloaf, mac and cheese, beans and salad and pineapple crumble and apple tart for dessert - fabulous. Becky came as did the Australian Doctor volunteering at the hospital - she's 32 and a real go-getter - and the Ugandan anesthesiologist. We all went to 10 p.m. Mass - at the old sisters small chapel since the big chapel is still not re-roofed (started in June). Got up at 4:30 and called home - Curt and Jamie and Gail and Jesse and kids were there for Christmas Eve - heard that the 10 p.m. service was canceled because of snow. Bert called Christmas day and said they were effectively "snowed in" and enjoying it!!!

Christmas at PH - not as awesome as last year when we had all the PCVs here - also there are lots fewer residents left this year....Sister really worked at getting most home. Sr. Goretti is still in the hospital and she is the community organizer - sort of like the mom at the PH convent. The sisters cooked and served for the kids - lunch was supposed to be at 1 but it was more like 4! But they'd had eggs and porridge (w. milk and sugar) in the a.m.; great dinner of chicken, mataoke, rice, cabbage, bananas and cake - and sodas!!! Gave away small bags of candy; I gave them the 40 what I thought were plastic straws (Valentine motiff) from my church military box, but they turned out to be whistles, which the kids loved, but were LOUD. Sr. Salome (visiting) and I decorated the tree (really a shrub, but neat)....Corky had sent me all your last year's Christmas cards and I saved them and they use them for tree decorations along w. balloons - it works!

At the end of the day, Becky said (in her priceless British accent) - "it's rather like being in One Flew Over The Cukoo's Nest" - great assessment!!!

Whew, done - now to send and head to the taxi park to get a matatu to Entebbe - then have to take a taxi to the airport - can't go direct by matatu. Judith has the ticket info but we want to be there about noon. Flight leaves at 3 - stopover in Nairobi - and we arrive at10:25. We have booked at the Australian Hostel - $13/nite/person - private double w. a bath!! and they pick us up a the airport!!! They also offer tours taking the train to Luxor and we may access that service - nice to have some guidance!!!

Take care and hope you all had a good Christmas - Best wishes for 2010 - finally have made it to my return year - YEA! We have our Close of Service Conference in mid-January and think that's when we know our actual departure date (and are introduced to the mountains of federal govt. paperwork). Lots to look forward to!!

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Rwanda - December 16, 2009

I'm going to do the blog this week from Rwanda - I just had so many impressions and stories from here (and found a great internet cafe). I was here in 2006 w. the Compassion trip, but did not, at the time, appreciate the orderliness of Rwanda - it's amazing!!! Things happen on time, the streets are clean, there are no piles of garbage, the boda drivers (motor bike taxis) have helmets and are registered, AND, there are marked crosswalks, people use them and vehicles actually stop!!!! That impressed me in 2006, but now, after almost 2 years in Uganda, I find it absolutely amazing!! How can two countries, that are so close, be so different in temperment. Rwandans are absolutely law abiding; Ugandan has the same laws (no plastic bags, helmeted drivers, etc.) but no one enforces or obeys them!!! Some say that the extreme respect for following orders may have re-inforced the actions in the 1994 genocide (like in Germany) but other countries have had genocides (Turkey, Balkans) - w/o that quality.

I still wonder at the calm and co-operation here - it was only 15 years ago that the genocide occurred. Many people don't seem to want to talk about it - they would just rather forget (or try to). The one person who really was eager to answer questions was our Compassion guide yesterday, but he just came here from Uganda after the genocide and so didn't live through it. Plusca's parents and siblings were killed at their home. She was about 6....and I really don't know how she alone survived.


Faustin, Kath and Plusca


Plusca and Elsa


On with the trip diary - got on the bus in Kampala O.K. and the ride went well (10 hours total), but the border crossing was almost my undoing. You get off the bus and it goes "somewhere"; you stop at the Ugandan immigration office and get a stamp , then walk about 1/2 mile down the road ("no-man's land" where you are practially assaulted by money changers) to the Rwandan immigration office where you get stamped in! I was really worried about "losing" the bus, but it showed up on the Rwandan side (a miracle!) - the border officials completely empty it and check all incomng luggage, boxes, etc. I did change my Ug. shillings at the border tho' all the shouting for my business made me really nervous; found out when I got to Kigali that I could have done better at the FOREX (exchange offices) in town but I didn't know! There are about 3-4 Ugandan shillings to a Rwandan Franc so I'm learning money all over again! Traveling alone is not as easy as with another person; I'm hardly the world traveler you may think I am - it's a struggle!!!!

Kathy with Faustin's Family and Plusca


As we entered Rwanda you are struck immediately by the great roads and the neat fields. Lots of tea and rice plantations. There is even an obvious attempt at re-forestation.

My phone didn't work in Rwanda - there is no ZAIN network (later bought an MTN sim card, but my phone has some sort of Uganda code that wouldn't accept it). However, when I got off at the bus park a taxi man approached me and let me use his phone to call Plusca - we agreed to meet at St. Famille Church where I'd hoped to stay (they have a guesthouse) and he drove me there; unfortunately, they were full, but he took me to another hotel nearby where I got a room - I paid him well, but he was worth every franc! I had my backpack and a big heavy bag w. presents and didn't want to be walking all over looking for a room. My room is $24/nite and is really quite nice - esp. compared to where Compassion recommended at $100-140/nite!!! (more than I'd pay in Kampala, but I need to find a spot and it's very near the City Centre).

The cabbie then took me back to St. Familles - it's a big Catholic Church near the City Centre where over a thousand Tutsis actually were given refuge during the months of the genocide (many churches turned into death traps). Plusca, Elsa (her little girl) and her cousin Gerald met me there. Plusca speaks little English, so Gerald was the translator.

Plusca looks great and Elsa, at almost 4, is quite the charmer. We had lunch at the hotel - rice, peas and meat in a sauce - much spicier than Ugandan food. Then we took a matatu to her home area. She and Elsa live in a little rented room near her aunts who have a small, but very full house - there are two "aunts" who have 12 children - some are theres' and some are orphans - living with them (husbands and parents were killed in 1994 - it's hard to fathom the impact of those 3 months on this tiny country). One aunt works in a hotel - I have no idea how they support all those children but they all go to school. I wish I could send pictures now, but will ry to add at least a few from the PC office. After the visit they took me back to City Centre. I walked around a bit at the shopping areas (they have a big Naukamatt - South African, 24 hour, Wal-Mart that's in Kampala, too) - only about 5 minutes from my hotel. Checked out the Mille Colline (Hotel Rwanda) where we stayed in 2006 - it's undergone a massive upgrade!

Tuesday a.m. I had an interesting breakfast w. a German gentleman (v. nice breakfast included in the hotel price) - he was very sun-weathered and had a long white beard, but he must have been in his late 60s or 70 (said his mother was 89). He's been working in Africa "building machines" for 10 years and before that in India, but now is just traveling from Cairo to Capetown for fun!

Rwanda does not have ATMs - not sure why. There are some for local accounts that fooled me at first. I finally asked because I was supposed to have $100 (American) for the Compassion driver - I was sent to a big bank and was pleasantly surprised by the great help in their "Cash Dept" - within 10 minutes I had a $100 bill using my VISA card- and that at 8 a.m.!!!!

Pluaca was at the hotel and the Compassion driver and host picked us up at 8:30 - he was about 10 minutes late but had sent word via Plusca's cousin's phone - I was not expecting that kind of punctuality!!! The village was about 64 km out of Kigali; even out there the roads were better than many of the main roads in Uganda! We went first to their church/school - Baptist - where there are about 246 Compassion children!!! They gave a great welcoming ceremony - dancing, speeches etc. I felt a bit akward sitting in the front, and am sure Plusca, Faustin and his parents felt even more so!!! Faustin was part of the warrior dance troupe. We looked at his file and I was impressed w. his marks! Also, they record every time I have sent a "family contribution" through Compassion and what they bought - animals, clothes, house repairs, etc. I was a bit concerned by the recognition for the family since it may give the neighbors the impression that they have "muzungu connections" and money in the house! We went to their home - it was much nicer than I expected - brick and plaster w. a tin roof - 4 rooms and a nice compound; 3 cows and a goat and some land to cultivate! Definitely not the "poorest of the poor". I don't know if the donations the past years changed things that much for them - if so, they are good stewards! I do think they are very hard workers. Our Compassion rep, Eugene, was a lot of help - it must be difficult to keep shepharding muzungus who seem to have more to give away than you will ever have! I was glad that Plusca went along - he introduced her as a former Compassion child and seemed impressed with her story and that I continued to sponsor her individually after she had a baby (in 2005) and dropped from the Compassion program.

We got back around 3 and Plusca and I had lunch - same lunch at the hotel. She was very worried about talking to me tho' she speaks some English (and that's all I speak)....but she needs to practice. Rwanda just changed from French to English as their official language and joined the Commonwealth of Nations (which is otherwise limited to former English colonies)....so the schools are now just switching from French to English. Plusca just finished Secondary with a major in Hotels and Tourism, but she'll need to learn English and have some computer training before she is really employable - bummer! She's hoping to get some kind of a job to pay for the training and to send Elsa to school this year, but unskilled jobs, especailly for women, are hard to find except for cleaning, shop workers, etc. There are a lot of unemployed young men on the streets, too - not a good sign.

Nice nite of sleep in my little hotel - it's just a few rooms in a secluded courtyard. At breakfast today I sat w. a young couple who'd been on the bus from Uganda w. me (actually, seeing them on the bus helped me identify which was mine among all the buses and trucks at the border). They are free-lance journalists - she's from Germany and he's from the U.K. (married) and are traveling all over East Africa sending stories back to the German press! I'm impressed - unfortunately her blog site is in German! One good thing about traveling alone is that you meet lots of interesting people!!! Germany still seems pretty connected to Uganda - it was a German colony until after WWI when it was given to Belgium in the big African "give away".

Wednesday (today) was a great day. Got this blog started and met Plusca at the hotel at 10:30 - her cousin Gerald came along, which was nice. We went to the Genocide Memorial which has a very nicely done exhibit about what "caused" the genocide and what happened. We saw it in 2006 but it was much more effective seeing it w. two young people who lost parents and family in the 4 months in 1994! It's amazing that such a small country (8 mill. total at the time), who all speak the same language (Kiryawandan), unlike Uganda where there are many languages, could inflict such damage in 3-4 months! The upstairs portion reviews the genocides of the 20th century - Armenia, Cambodia, Germany, Namibia, Serbia - it was raining when we finished so we stopped at their "coffee shop" for lunch. Guess not a lot of people stop because the only item on the menu was a buffet mainly for the workers - cheap and LOTS of food - fries, rice, cassava, greens, beans, beef...full plates!!!

We walked down the hill from the Memorial and took a matatu to Ginkondo (south of Kampala city) where Plusca lives and saw her school. Went back and said good-bye to her aunt and Elsa and then we walked to Gerald's school - Kigali College of Banking and Finance - a beautiful campus on top of a hill w. lots of grass and trees! Then we had to say good-bye and I took a matatu back to town where I am now....getting ready to get something to eat and then go to the hotel, pack and go to bed. My bus leaves at 6 a.m. tomorrow - I'm about a 10 min. walk from the bus park. Just have enough money to get back (gave whatever else I had to Plusca). Hope to be back in Kampala in time to catch a matatu to Nkokonjeru and unload - got some great baskets from Faustin's family - and return to the PC office Friday to meet w. Judith and plan our Egypt vacation. Then, I'll stay in Nkokonjeru for a week - feel bad because Eveliyn and Tessa (Holland volunteers) are back for a visit and Becky (the retired nurse from the U.K.) will be coming again THursday, but they all can do just fine w/o me.

I'm really glad I came to Rwanda - sometimes it seems like a hassle, but seeing Faustin again and spending time w. Plusca was great! Doubt I'll ever see them again, but it's fun to have the connection! Pretty tame trip, but I saw Rwanda differently than I did the last time....much more personal.

I will try to get to the blog before Christmas, but if I don't, I wish all of you a very Merry Christmas - I hope you get time to enjoy the season and "God Bless You Everyone"!!!!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Remember when I thought these two months would be slow - well, it hasn't happened!!! I'm in Kamapla today on the eve of my brief trip to Rwanda. Finally got a call yesterday from someone who was with Plusca so I now have a contact and am more hopeful of meeting. On Tuesday I go to the Compassion office to get a ride to see Faustin (their requirement). Have some gifts for all - but not a lot because of carrying it all on the bus!!! I don't look forward to the bus ride, but I am really excited about the reunion and meeting Plusca's (22) little girl Elsa who is almost 4!

The week went fast. Sunday Mass was changed a bit because there was a retreat for some of the Sister's and it was just me and 70 nuns! Father kindly said "the sermon will deal mainly about living in the religious life" - don't think he knew what to say to me!!

I went out to Moses father's place for the Introduction in the afternoon. Supposed to start at 2, but of course it was 3 (not bad). The "engaged" couple have been living together for 10 years in order to save enough for the big event - and it is BIG. Tents, plastic chairs, flowers and lots of people. It starts w. all the family members taking turns approaching the bride's family and "introducing" themselves - like aunties, sisters, uncles, brothers dancing to them in turn.... Then two aunts "search" the crowd for the groom and bring him to be introduced. The bride and her attendants dance in (several times in different attire)....and the gift giving starts. The groom's relatives carry in dozens of big baskets full of food, then there is the required sack of sugar, the matoke, the sofa and chair set, and animals - he gave a cow and two goats - quite a collection of presents for the bride's parents. Surprise - they said O.K. to the marriage - tho' no one knows when that will be because it also has to be a BIG event and they have to start saving again - no wonder so few Ugandan couples are actually married!!! I sat w. Moses' sister who explained it all to me - she asked if we had a ceremony like this in America - had to admit "no", but weddings can be pretty big. I left at 7:00 because it was dark - they hadn't eaten lunch yet and generally you don't leave before the food, but I was tired and wanted to get back!

Oh, yes, Kiwaw is back (the boy who was having problems w. his father wanting to sell his head)...Sister J told a very funny story about waiting 2 1/2 days for the father to appear at the village. The father was very rude to her, but eventually was surrounded by villagers including the LC (mayor) and had to let Sister take him back. Kiwaw is full of smiles!!!!

Cindy sent me some Smithsonian magazines, mainly devoted to travel, and my favorite story was by a guy who'd traveled all over the world, but fulfilled a dream to drive across America - just quick road trip from LA to Cape Cod - it sounded so neat!!! His final remarks were "there wasn't a moment when I felt like I didn't belong...not a moment of alientation or danger - but always the reassurance that I was home, where I belonged, in the most beautiful country I'd ever seen". I read that part to Holly and we both teared up!!! Uganda is really a great country - but it's not MY country.

At CBR on Tuesday Moses and I were working on the year end reports and 2010 Workplan. He got talking about the problems connecting w. the government people, so we decided then and there to walk down to the Nkokonjeru Town Council office and see our Community Development Officer (back at site - sort of - after several years working on his university degree and not being around). Moses said "I like the way muzungu's do things - you just get up and go!". The guy was in another meeting, but we set a date to meet; he looked a little worried when I said we'd like to talk about their plans for helping the disabled in 2010 and if we could co-operate!. The CDO in Moses' district said he'd like to help and the government is supporting CBR, but he has to go to a workshop first to see what to do!!! (Workshops are a favorite Ugandan pasttime and a great money waster in my humble opinion - buit important to get lunch, per diem and travel allowance).

In the afternoon, Moses and I went w. Sr. Mwagale, a nurse a the hospital who works w. mothers and babies, out to see Baby Nakato (who at 2, in April, weighed under 5 lbs. when we took her to Mulago Hospital for a month). She still looks bad - reddish hair, swollen stomach and skinny limbs - at least she was alive and sitting up, but not walking. Saddest thing was her lack of expression - doesn't laugh anymore but also doesn't cry...just sits and stares! Her diet is still bad; mom has been trying - digging some gardens, but apparently gets little or no help from her husband or adult sons - who were absent when we got there - no one would say where they were, but our guess was "in town". Moses is going later in the month in the early morning to hopefully see the men and threaten them with getting the police involved if they don't start caring for their children - Nakato's parents have 10 living children and the adult boys have some, too, all living and eating together!!

Wednesday, Sr. Goretti went to see the Doctor again, but her cough was so bad he wouldn't operate. I volunteered to go to Mukono to get the medicine he prescribed (not available in Nkokonjeru)....got back late and then went out to the Nutrition class Holly had planned at Moses's home w. his group of Village Health Workers - started really late because of a local burial. Sr. Magwale talked about nutrition, Sam from RASD demonstrated planting bag gardens, and the hopspital dentist talked about dental hygiene. Very nicely done!

Thursday I went early to the PC office to type and use the computer and turn in my Egypt travel request (we need permission to travel - ugh). Then met Eveilyn and Tessa at the Mall - they are two OTs who were here as volunteers in early 2008 for 3 months and are back for two weeks!!! They are loads of fun and have lots of enthusiasm. Had a nice lunch of spinach ravioli (good!) and Sula and Sister picked us up around 3 p.m. The girls say they mised Uganda - the unpredictability of things, the colors, the warmth, the kids at PH - and even the bumpy road (????).

Firday Nelson and I planned his trip to CoRSU with clients next Tuesday; then Sr. J. and I sat w. Eveilyn and Tessa to plan how we hope to use the donations they brought! They are going to buy a plastic basin, soap, toothpaste, toothbrush, and vaseline for every resident!!!! A huge help w. personl hygiene. Also, another 100 layers as a learning project for another group of kids and to generate some income. They said PH seems to be doing much better than in early 2008 - nice compliment!!! Everyone is impressed w. the piggery, the cow and the vocational projects - not big profit makers, but we're aiming at training and sustainability!

In the afternoon we got two more visitors - retired nurses from the U.K. One is going to stay 3 months at PH!! I anticipate that, Becky, the one staying, will do well - she's very adaptable - you just have to be to survive here!!! She's a mom and grandmom about my age and lots of fun. I love their British expressions! The other woman, Jenny, is going back on Thursday and is part of a charity working in Uganda.

We are still having lots of rain - should be slacking off by now - but I don't miss the dust that will come when it does. Saturday I showed the new visitors around PH, the convent and the hospital and we had a nice "chat" about our families!!

So, now I'm off to Rwanda - hope to be back Thursday and on Friday will meet w. Judith, the PCV I'm going to Egypt with, to plan...then back to Nkokonjeru and my own bed!!! I'm already looking forward to it!

If you don't get back to the blog before - best wishes for a Merry Christmas!!! I'll try to blog on Friday when I'm back from Rwanda and still in Kampala. I always feel a little guilty leaving PH - will miss doing things with the Holland girls this week but it's fun to travel too!

Hope everyone is well and the sale of the referendum bonds went well - and that bids come in low!!!

Thanks to everyone for your fabulous support this past year - two years? I miss home a lot tho' I really don't miss the cold. I was a bit envious when Corky said you were having a blizzard!!! Anyone get a "snow day"?

Friday, December 4, 2009

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Hope all had a great Thanksgiving!!! Next year I'll be enjoying the turkey, etc. and some much valued family time!!! Only about 4 months to our Close of Service Date (April 9, 2010). Our COS conference is Jan. 10-14!!! That's where we get all the information I guess.


I sent Gail a picture CD - so check for pictures. Fewer this time - I'm slowing down!


Congrats Montgomery/Lonsdale District on passing the Bond Referendum!!!!! Gail said it has to start in Spring so when I come home they may be going - what a job well done!!! Completion in 2012! I'm excited to watch it progress!!!


Last week when I left off I was just going to Moses' graduation from the COMBRA program - 4 month training in community rehabilitation. It was 2 hours late (predictably) tho' I was there nearly on time - hard habit to break. He seemed very pleased w. the program and what he learned. He's a great asset to our community program and deserved the opportunity.



Last week's Christmas Program practice was going VERY poorly - also sound guy's phone was off for several days and the keyboard guy didn't show up (and no phone).....we were getting worried (well, I was. Stella, a young lady who is disabled and grew up at PH and is a recent college grad w/o a job so back living here was the program co-ordinator and she was staying calm). Power was out Friday and Sat., too!!! Stell was amazing!!! "It will work out"!


Spent Friday wrapping up - collected all the scissors and bobbins, got sales figures from Didas to do the year end shoe report. In 2008 we sold 167,000 shillings worth of shoes; in 2009 it was 1,606,000!!! He keeps good records!


Saturday a.m. I got down to PH prepared to work. Got greeens for the chickens myself - it felt good; I'm tired of prodding Sarah.....if Ugandans don't want to do something you ask them to do they just ignore your request! The kids were all busy cleaning the compound and getting ready for the Program. They still have to slaughter and clean 18 chickens and 2 small pigs and peel lots of bananas for matoke. I can't imagine adding thaose jobs to an American Christmas Program. I went w. Sr. Goretti to Lugazi w. the truck to buy groceries - she bought cabbabes and bananas on the way from guys w. bicycles loaded and headed to town!!!


Sunday a.m. was pretty hectic. I went to Mass and Father was talking about the "new Season" - I thought "Pentecost"? NO, it's actually ADVENT! When did that happen? You loose touch here.


When I got to PH, I asked Fred to take a boda up to the sound guy's home to confirm...he was coming he said, but we wanted wireless mikes. I told him when he got to PH - he said I should have told him sooner - it took all my patience not to scream "but, your phone was off for days"!!! He went back and brought them....they are never sure how to handle an upset muzungu! The keyboard guy came just as we were starting - did reduce his pay since he only came to 3 out of 6 promised practices. He told Stella he wouldn't work for me again unless I was "serious" next time about paying him!!! The tailoring teacher didn't come to put up the display of finished work, so I had to try to do it w. lots of help from the other tailoring teacher who works w. the two advanced students! Didas did a great display of materials, shoes and tools, the craft lady set up her table and Nelson had a photo display of his work w. the disabled. Pretty impressive.



The program was great (you knew it would be, didn't you?) - the kids did a really good job. Michelle's ( a PCV) sister was visiting her and she was Father Christmas at the end and was a riot. He wears a costume that makes him look like a begger and dances around giving out candy - everyone loves it! The old Sisters came from the retirement commmunity and seemed to really enjoy it...they love outings! Lunch got served to all - the PH kids cooked last nite w/o power - started at 3 a.m. w. lanterns! We did get a guy to come and video this year - I'm getting a copy to bring home! The day was a lot of work for all but it is worth it when it's over - a great co-operative effort!!!


Monday was understandable slow. Tuesday was World AIDS Day...Holly and her group at the hospital had a program planned. Maas at 9:00 (actually 10), the a walk through town and speeches and a drama group - very well done. Several of the speakers were clients who are HIV positive aand who urged people to test and get help ( there was free testing also availalbe). The drama group did songs, dances, plays....the crowd wasn't as big as hoped but it was very successful!



Holly had called me early Tuesday a.m. - she'd lost her wallet Monday nite and discovered it in the a.m. ID, her PC allowance for December, U.S. driver's license - really a LOT! She remembered using it at a shop in town Monday nite and then didn't think about it till Tuesday a.m. Probably dropped and stolen. She called PC and reported it to the Police but not much hope.


I'm reading The Last King of Scotland by Giles Folden....interesting and different in many places from the movie (which was good, but gory). In the early parts when it's still humorous, he talks about riding a matatu (van taxi). Two years ago if I had ready about the rickety van, jammed w. people and animals, full of noise and smells and luggage I would have thought he was exaggerating. Now, I just read and say, "Yup, been there, done that".... Next book is Abbissyan Chronicles by a Ugandan author and his coming of age during the Amin years. Found it at the PC office library.


Tuesday evening Sister, Nelson and I worked to finish an evaluation of the OT volunteers we've had in 2008 and 2009 - Liliane Foundation was reqeusting it before considering us for the 2010 volunteers . I was secretary so we did it "American style" - very brief and to the point. One of the BIG benefits was the attention the vounteers give the kids, who need it desperately, and the energy and new ideas they bring to the staff - intangibles, but really appreciated.


Wednesday a.m. I called Gail at 5 a.m. but it was only 8 p.m. and no news on the referendum. She called back when I was on the matatu to Kamplala and told me the good news!!! Spent most of the day at the PC office typing reports and the aforementioned evaluation which was due Thursday!!! PCV lounge has four computers and is always busy - lots of visiting goes on so it's a fun place to work - I "typed" for over five hours...my butt was sore!!!


Holly got her wallet back - but just w. the ID's bank cards and driver's license. Still it's something. Sr. Benna predicted that whoever stole the money will go out and buy a lot of stuff since "they didn't sweat to earn the money"...and, if the money's spent they don't have to return it!!!!


Sister Juliet went to Kampala Thursday w. a load - several kids going to drop off points to go home; a child going for review at CoRSU - many, many stops. She was also going to take one of the boys, Kiwaw (10) all the way home. His grandmother came to take him and told the most remarkable story. She said that she'd brought Kiwaw some time ago to PH becasue his mom was gone and dad was a drunkard and mad. After he'd been away for awhile, the dad accused her of selling the boy's head to a medicine man since he hadn't seen him. He wasn't upset about the supposed decapitation, but about her not sharing the money with him!!! So, she had to produce the boy or the money and she wanted him back. The boy told Sister that prior to coming he'd heard his dad concoct a plan to sell his head (so dad had the idea but he thought grandma captialized on it!!) and he was understanably nervous about going back - he tried to hide. Sister said that from the two stories it sounded legit so she was going to asses the situation and maybe show the dad the boy and bring him back!!! It's a crazy world.


Thursday we had 61 at the Epilepsy clinic - we had an efficient team. I'm trying to back off and everyone else does well! Nice feeling.



Holly and I have resumed our evening walks. Wednesday night three little kids w. big brown faces, peeked up from a ditch and yelled "Hello, muzungu" as we passed - full of smiles at their surprise. Sunset was spectacular - sometimes I forget the really neat stuff!


Friday, I helped Nelson "cast" Serafina's leg - it's contracting again w/o the caliphers...which remain at Katelemwa for re-fitting (they are SO slow). He used a wrap that hardens when wet....she was pretty unhappy at our pushing her knee down, but had to be done.


In the afternoon we all went to a burial of a really nice disabled man who worked at the bakery. (Yes, we go to a lot of burials - part of life - can't imagine what it was like when AIDS was rampant) Most people are buried in a family plot near the ancestral home usually in a banana grove. He was only 30 but had osteomyletis and had surgery some years ago, but people said he was having problems w. pussing wounds and didn't have money/didn't want to go to the hospital and he died, we think, from a massive infection. There were lots of peole there - many disabled who walked/got pushed out the five miles from town. Nelson and I ended up in the back of the double cabin truck w. the kids and it POURED rain - we were absolutely soaked. When we got back to Nkokonjeru it hadn't rained at all in town! One of those African experiences I guess!!!


Holly went into the PC office Friday and they re-funded her lost money - really nice of them. It's hard when that allowance is all you have!!!


So, the week comes to a close. I'm going to an "introduction" tomorrow in Moses' family - it's a huge deal (and long) where the couple gets engaged and the families exchange presents - mainly the groom giving the bride's parents cows, sofas, etc. Wednesday Holly is having her last grant activitiy - a nutrition class and gardening advice for Moses' group of Community Health Volunteers, Thursday we pick up Evelyn and Tessa - Holland volunteers in early 2008 - who are coming for a visit....so the week looks pretty busy. Next week I'll be in Rwanda visiting my Compassion children....looking forward to that.


Another older lady PCV (younger than me tho') and I are going to Egypt right after Christmas for a few days (Dec. 26-31)....she wanted to go and I figure it's my one shot at seeing Egypt on the "cheap".....it should be fun. She's really energetic so we'll do a lot!


Best wishes for the Holiday Season - going into the really busy time of year for most - good luck!!! I'll miss Christmas and all the little ones especially, but the end is in sight!


Thanks again for all your support - I check the P.O. box before I started on the internet and I have mail - YEA! I enjoy the e-mail, but having a piece of paper that actually started w. someone at home is really special! Hard to explain.....


est wishes and happy holidays! Guy at the internet cafe is playing the soundtrack from Lord of the Rings - love it!!!!

Tuesday, December 1, 2009

New Pictures

I have added some new pictures to the Flickr site - they're in a group titled November Pictures.

Enjoy!

Gail

Thursday, November 26, 2009

HAPPY THANKSGIVING - November 26,2009

Hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving weekend! Not a holiday here - tho' tomorrow may be a holiday - it's another one of those movable Muslim holidays that depend on the moon....won't know till tonite!!! Came to type and check e-mails and blog and it's taking a long time. Wanted to send a small proposal, but couldn't type in Nkokonjeru - our printer is out of ink and the one you can use for hire isn't working because they shop didn't pay their electric bill!!!! After I'm done here will go on to the graduation ceremony of our outreach worker, Moses, from his training program - it's just in the next town, but I'm getting late (got going this morning later than expected - matatu was slow to fill in Nkokonjeru - and it's slow going here)....but I expect it will start late. This blog should be mercifully short - don't think I'll get back for the weekend because of the Christmas Program on Sunday so will get it done now!

Marathon get-together last weekend was fun (if you didn't run)....it wasn't as well organized as last year and the the route was different...last 3 miles were uphill!!! Was surprised by all the begging children around - apparently they have "handlers" who hide in the bushes and these tiny kids hold up their hands (especially to muzungus).. The police are all around just watching!!! No social services here!

Got back to PH on Sunday in time to catch the Christmas program practice. Sr. Juliet was reviewing and cut a bunch of songs - it was WAY too long and she cut the popular lip-synch ones - the kids were upset, but she said "It's a Christmas Program, not a disco show!". Keyboard man continues to be unreliable, but great when he comes!

On Monday the kids slaughtered 150 chickens and we took them to Kampala to sell. Several of the previously sick ones Sister bought from Sula died and one of hers died so she decided to cut her losses and take them. None of our layers have gotten sick (thankfully) - no common people working on both groups so I'm hopeful!

I went to Kamapla w. Sula (and the chicken bodies) - I volunteered to accompany Nususla to see the plastic surgeon at CoRSU Hospital for a review. She's the 15 year old who, several years ago, had a huge tumor behind her right eye; it was removed very badly and she had more plastic surgery in August to try to cover the hole. She was upset because it's still oozing some pus, but the plastic surgeon (from the U.K.) said it looked "fantastic"!!! It's still really ugly, but it's healing nicely. She has a big bandage on it all the time and it has to be irrigated and dressed daily. I felt bad for her on the matatu (we took one from Kampala to Entebbe) - people just turned and STARED! She handled it well but was glad to get back to the truck in Kampala for the ride home.

We had company when we got back - Adrian, who is a British Airways pilot and donor to Providence Home - his small group bought the truck, part of the boys' dorm, the generator, etc. Nice guy and fun to talk to. However, when I got to my apt. (6:30) someone had stolen by good Eddie Bauer capris! That's all they took off the clothes line on my veranda - and they even replaced the clothes pins!!! Bummers - I was going to leave them here,but wasn't ready to part w. them yet! Went back to dinner and we all talked till 11 p.m.!

Tuesday Sister J, Nelson, Jasmine and I went w. Adrian to Kavule - the convent overlooking Lake Victoria - it is absolutely a breathtaking view! Went down to the lake and stopped by Sr. Juliet's home. Fun afternoon.....more talking at dinner. All this social time is wearing me out!

Wednesday a.m. Adrian left and Sr. Juliet and I worked on a proposal (I typed and sent today) to the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Uganda who may be able to donate some wheelchairs and tricycles (heavy three-wheeled chairs that operate w. crank handles). Then we went to a Grand Opening of one of the new handicapped accessible latrines at a village school - big event. The money was donated by the Rotary of Ireland and U.K. and co-ordianted by Cheshire Foundation.... Lots and lots of speeches in which everyone took credit for the building of the latrines at 10 district schools!! The National Chairman of Cheshire Uganda told everyone that every disabled child should go to school (good idea) and that if there children were too disabled they could send them to Providence Home for rehabilitation and surgery (Cheshire does not provide any funding for PH)....I asked him afterwards if we could send him the bills - he laughed, nervously, and said "no way". PH is still called (by some - and it's on the letterhead) Providence Cheshire Home, but they haven't supported it for 7 years!!!

Animals are doing well - the girl, Sara, who's helping w.the chickens WAY overfed them and we were out of food 2 weeks. The boys were giving the food previously and watched the amounts, but Sara felt the more the better!!! Fred talked to them and we're back to the boys measuring the feed - till Sara asserts herself again!!!

Things are winding down for classes - report cards "should" be done today and to Sister for her comments. Program is Sunday - we are setting up a "display room" with all the things the kids have made so parents can see them. Costumes are all made and ready to be given out.....I'm instituting a signout book for costumes so we are a little more sure they may be returned after the program!

Next week I start on my year end reports and then December 13 - 17 I am going to Rwanda to see my sponsor children. Nothing special for Thanksgiving....Holly and Shari have been on the move and we thought about eating at PH, but Sr. Goretti is sick - she's waiting for surgery to have her appendix removed and there's been several postponements at the hospital - hopefully, it will get done next Monday. If we eat there she'll try to cook and she's really not well enough. So plans change!!!

Hope you all are full of turkey - next year I intend to really go for it!!! Am so thankful for family and friends, faith, and especially for good health (when you see the effects of poor health all around it really makes you appreciate it). It's been a great 22 months, but I'll also be VERY thankful to be back in Minnesota!!!

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving To All - Nov. 21, 2009

I'm in Kampala for the weekend - tomorrow is the Kampala Marathon and several PCVs are running all or the shorter races. I was just at the internet cafe at the Garden City Mall and it was SO slow, I asked for my money back (took 20 minutes to do one e-mail).....went to get a bagel and met up with a bunch of "the kids" and am now at another internet cafe and it's FAST!!! Like in U.S. fast!

It was a good week - all our exams are now given in the vocational school and I'm waiting for the other teachers to complete their grade reports! Looking forward to a less hectic schedule for two months. Will work on year end reports for Sister (shoes, CBR, school) and do my final grant report. Our PH printer is out of ink so I may have to do it all at the PC office, but that's O.K. I'm planning to go to Rwanda the 14th to see my Compassion "kids" there - Compassion will take me out to Faustin's home (12) and I'll see Plusca (22) and her daughter Elsa in Kigali where they live (Plusca just finished her final Secondary exams). A little less grand trip than we took as a group in 2006 when we stayed at the Mille Coline Hotel - but I'm up for it!!!

Tried to divide my exams by ability group - English had 3 versions - the most advanced group had to write a short story from an article I gave them. We hadn't really worked on that and it was hard - most just copied the required 7-10 sentences from the article, but that's O.K. For Math I had 4 different exams based on ability (and one large print one for Edward, who can hardly see).

Sister was paying some teachers and actually got out the attendance log book and only paid the tailoring teacher for the days he taught! He was upset - said he shouldn't be held to "muzungu standards" - I told him at the start of the term it would happen!!! The students have lost a lot of teaching time (he was there for 14 classes; absent for 12 - and late for most of the ones he did attend). Not at all uncommon in many schools, but it makes me furious!

We have been having a lot of rain - both at night and during the day - huge rainstorms. Puddles last all day which is unusual....the ground must be saturated! More rain than last year - the good news is that the power outages are shorter - never more than one day!!!

Tuesday was one of "those" days - agriculture teacher came late for exam because of rain (he walks in 4 km...and has a limp); found out the pigs have no more food - it's gone faster than expected because our "temporary replacement" animal manager is not giving greens in the afternoon - "too much work" he said (Vincent's - the regular manager - wife is still not doing well after the baby); ag teacher complained that one boy was copying from his notebook during the exam - he expected it all to be from memory and it was a LOT (more than most of our kids can do - or me!)......he refused to accept the kids' paper but then said it was up to me! Sister bought some of Sula's broiler chickens to fatten up for Christmas sale, and I'm nervous about then being close to our layers since his chickens have been so sick!. Sister said she wants to buy a bull after her problems finding a suitor for Maria (cow)....not a good idea in my opinion esp. since she wants to use the proceeds from the pigs to do it and we need that money for pig food! Nelson and I are trying to plan a trip to CoRSU and Katelemwa for Thursday - it's a stuggle to get people to plan two days ahead! Went to my apartment at 4:00 for a cup of tea, congratulating myself for staying calm (I still have some peanut butter cups and allow myself one on days when I'm a good girl - probably why they have lasted so long!).

Wednesday I was on my way to get the matatu to Mukono at 6 a.m. to use the internet and Sula came by w. the truck - he was going w. the headmistress of St. Peters Secondary School to the Mukono police station to pick up the National Exams for their S-6 (final year) students.....we also picked up two Nkokonjeru policeofficers - w. guns!!! to guard the exams. Exams here are a BIG deal - like in Europe....they mean everything! Kids take 12-16 exams over 2 weeks - and they are long and full of things to remember! I don't know how they do it...many sleep only 2-3 hours a nite.

Re-reading Empire Falls - still good. Want to see the movie when I get home - esp. since I learned Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are in it!!!

Thursday, we got the group organized to go to Kampala - Nelson was heading the trip and I stayed back (knew it would be a long day).....Justine went and also the little boy w. the sores (Marvin) who were due for review at CoRSU (orthopedic hospital)....both were actually ready on time. Two students went from PH who needed new applicances from Katelemwa Rehabilitation Center.....and also a Sister and another resident who wanted to go that day!!! Still having a problem w. people contributing for fuel, but let it pass this time (probably not a good idea but we really wanted those two to go and both are really poor). I have some money in our "CBR fund" thanks to your generous donations, but I'm trying to make it last - plus, we really believe that a contribution is important...gives them a vested interest in the program - although those two moms are really working hard to keep their kids treated. I was so happy to see Marvin - his mom and he were at PH at 6 a.m.!!! We said we'd leave at 7:00 - actually didn't leave till 8:30 due to additions to the riders, but I think it spoke volumes about her commitment to seeing her son treated - even the dad is now on board she said (previously he told Moses he'd given up on the boy - said "no more money" for Marvin's treatment).

Holly and I went on a long walk Thursday nite - part of the way we accompanied a blind lady to her home (she's a former teacher of the blind)...amazes me how she remembers all our names by our voice - and how she finds the path to her home w. her white stick!!!

Friday was the math exam; I was also trying to get laundry done and with the rains I kept putting it out, taking it in......there's no "throw it in the drier" here!!!

Nelson's report on the Kampala trip was great - they returned at 9 p.m. but got everything done! Dr. Antonio was very please with Marvin's progress after taking the TB drugs - sores are healing and he's put on some weight! Justine was treated like a queen - she was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened and was there for 210 days; Nelson said they all got lunch thanks to her mom who went to the kitchen and asked! Not as successful at Katelemwa. We had left some leg braces there to be re-sized and the man who does the work was canned and all the things he was working on (and the measurements) are "lost"! They have to start all over - Nelson argued, successfully, that we shouldn't have to pay for a new pair since it was just a re-adjustment and it was their fault they were gone.....I'll have to check the bill carefully to make sure they don't try to sneak it in!

So, that was the week - next week looks pretty good. Lots of practice for the Christmas Program (on the 29th).....the skirts for the choir are all made (thanks to the 2 advanced sewing kids).....
We need to get the rooms ready for an "open house" and display of things made (or grown).

Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving - so much to be thankful for - good health always comes up on top for me. I see so much sickness here it's a constant reminder!!! Sr. Goretti may be having her appendix out Monday at the Nkokonjeru Hospital - she's been having a lot of pain and is ready for the operation - please pray for her! I may got to CoRSU on Monday w. Nusula (the girl who had the tumor removed from behind her eye)...she is taking "public" (matatu) and doesn't want to go alone. If I think people stare at me as a muzungu, it must be a lot worse for her!!

Thanks to all for your continued support - the time is going fast but I can't wait to be home (although not in winter yet). Again, Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Sunday, November 15, 2009

It's Sunday a.m. and I'm back in Mukono to blog. Mass today was at 7:00 because the priests are going to some celebration and I got here about 10 and it was going great,but then the place filled up and it got SLOW!!! Oh, well, at least it's on - thanks to a generator (no power in Mukono).

It was a busy week - next week is final exams for our little vocational program and always is a rush - I was typing exams, but didn't realize the printer ink was finished so everyone (including me) had to hand write their exams! Learning to adapt (?). Next Sunday is the Kampala Marathon - Holly is doing the 10K so I'll go and watch...other volunteers are doing 1/2s and wholes....it will be a fun gathering.

Last Saturday after I blogged Shari and her friend Michelle had a dinner for a group of local PCVs...tempura, terriyaki beef, rice,sushi, fresh veggies and greens - VERY good!!! Most of our group's conversation now centers on what we'll do when we leave Uganda - nearly everyone's primary focus is home or post service travel!!!

Sunday, Sr. Goretti made my favorite meal of liver and chips (fries) and pineapple...really sweet of her. I worked on laundry, English prep (review for exam) and then sat in on practice for the Christmas Program (Sunday Nov. 29)...it's pretty rough,but it will pull off (I hope). We have the keyboard guy and the sound guy booked and will get some new costumes - really sparks up the performance.

I got two packets of newspaper articles from Corky and as I was reading realized that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize - talk about feeling out of touch!!! Now that she's home Maria says we're not missing much w/o TV, but I do miss the news.

Monday, Sister J. wanted to plant banana suckers so all the "walkers" (5) had to work - even the other went to watch for awhile, so English class was canceled. Banana trees (which aren't really trees) don't produce seeds - they grow "suckers" from the main stalk which you can cut and plant. The trees take about a year to produce bananas and then you cut down the main tree and go w. the sucker (keeps up for about 5 years). Actually, our suckers were bought from a demonstration farm and were grown in a lab from leaf tissue,but that's more than you need to know. We'd budgeted for 130 suckers in the grant and Sister had the prisioners dig holes, but someone forgot to tell them to stop! She ended up w. 400 holes!!! We got 250 suckers from the farm and the rest are taken from local trees. The kids worked so hard, helped a lot by a local man who's sort of crazy but works like a demon!!! I tried to help, too - the holes are 3' x 3' x 3'. You put manure in each one (we also spent time getting extra manure from the novitiates pig barn - we'd used all ours up)....then, push the sucker into the manure and put a little black dirt around the plant....it's quite a project being down in the hole, pushing the suckers into the manure - I didn't start till afternoon and I was bushed!!! (and smelly).

I had spent the morning w. Sr. Goretti measuring students for a possible gift of some wheelchairs and tricycles (three wheeled chairs you propel w. a hand crank - very usefull on the road). We had visitors from the Mormon church who have an office in Uganda and said they may be able to get us some - would be great for the tailors and shoemakers who will start w. a mobile workshop....cross your fingers!!! Also, went to check on a sponsored child for someone in the U.S. who is sending money to an uncle after a visit here. It was legit (payments were being made) but it pays to check it out!! So, I was a late worker in the banana fields (thank goodness)....am thinking tho' that banana sucker planting is not a skill that's highly marketable in Minnesota!

On the way to the school, I saw the Nkokonjeru Public Works Dept....one guy w. a shovel and hoe, digging dirt out of the ditch and throwing it on the huge gullies in the road!!!

Tuesday I got the English exam review done - great walk in the p.m. w. Holly - she really books!!!

Wednesday am I went to Mukono early for my bi-weekly internet fix. In the afternoon I was back and we had a BIG rain and hailstorm. I was really worried for the banana suckers, but we went out and they were a bit beaten, but fine. Guess that's an advantage of being at the bottom of a 3 foot hole!!!

Having a lot of frustration lately w. people asking for money - maybe because I'm getting close to the end, but it's been pretty constant. I never given anyone money directly (per China's hint when I first arrived), but it keeps up - some are big - business start up, house - some smaller - bicycle, school fees - and some really small - candy,chipati - but it really gets annoying!!! I can usually brush it off, but some days I have a harder time!!!

Thursday Sr. Goretti and I went to Kampala w. Sula in the truck for costume material - trip went really well and we got 27 blue T-shirts and material for 20+ skirts (blue and white).....Sr. Goretti loves blue!! Good prices on both....less than anticipated.

Sr. Juliet didn't go but spent the a.m. looking for a bull in the area that could service Maria (the cow - she was in heat and you only have 24 hours). Hilarious story about her search for the perfect suitor - some were too young, some too short, some not a good breed. She finally "rented" one and he got the job done...she was worried about our cow shed so they had to tether the cow outside!!!

The production sewers are making baby dresses for sale and they were totally unaware of how to price them (I hadn't let them know the fabric costs) so we went over that - they'd grossly underestimated the amount of material they were using (they guessed 1/2 yd./dress - it was actually 2 yards!!). We have to charge enough to at least cover cost.....I'm worried about sustainablity. Also, having trouble w. the guy who's selling the milk (our regular animal manager is home w. his wife and new baby for a bit)....he's not turning in all the money and Sr. Goretti is concerned, but no one wants to confront him (and he speaks no English). In the midst of this 3 boys left shoemaking class because they didn't want to mop the floor after Didas told them to do it. I just lost it - I'm embarrassed about it now! Yelled at everyone - sewing kids, the 3 boys - even got angry w. Sr. Goretti! Finally calmed down and apologized to all - when did I forget it's not my stuff? It was all given to PH and they have to manage it the best they can! Humbling afternoon!

Saturday we had the first ever PH Staff Party - everyone contributed and the women cooked tons of food and we all went in the truck to a place about an hour away called Sezebbwa Falls - very nice time despite some rain showers. We had 21 staff - 8 in the front of the double cabin truck, 13 in back w. the sound system, generator and the food - quite the ride.....seemed very Peace Corps (Holly came too). A very good afternoon!!! Holly and I came back before the serious dancing started - can't compete w. Africans!!! Also, there were 13 people from Bake for Life in Holland coming to PH and the kids were doing a welcome (my excuse).

So, that's the week....lots of my usual ups and downs (and one BIG down). I'm looking forward to the end of the school term, the end of the program and the exit of many of the kids for two months......and some down time. End of year reports to do, but there's no rush!!! I'm planning to go to Rwanda in mid-December to see my sponsor children and our COS (Close Of Service) conference is in mid-January where we learn everything we need to know about paperwork (a specialty in federal agencies).

Hope you are all well and enjoying the fall (or is it winter?). We are still getting lots of rain (thank goodness-can't imagine carrying water to 400 banana plants). I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers - keeps me going!!! Good luck to all in the busy (and sometimes difficult) holiday season!!!

Friday, November 6, 2009

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Am at Mukono bright and early Saturday a.m. - the guy opened at 7:15, I got a really good keyboard and it's working well - think this is one of those days where things work. It's been raining a LOT and the road in was pretty rutted, but there were 3 Sisters on the matatu which always makes me feel a lot safer. I told Jean, I feel like Anne of Green Gables - either "in the depths of despair" or "the heights of rapture" - depending on how things are going - I need to level a bit!!!

It's been a busy week at Providence Home - the end of last week I spent some afternoons rounding up kids to go dig/hoe (some were under their beds) - but, then I felt obligated to join them and didn't wear my gloves - BIG blisters!

I had a great weekend w. Beth and the PCVs in the area - nice to see some other projects/living quarters - I still like mine the best! Beth is really fluent in the language (she was PCV in Namibia before here) and I can see where it helps - I should have studied more!

Sunday nite Bert called - said Henry said "let's call Grandma in Africa" - he sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" - priceless.

School is going fast - next week is Revision (review) and the following week is Exams. The last week we're saving for practice for the Christmas Program (Nov. 29). Went w. the kids to "pull" beans Monday afternoon - again, after shagging them out of the dorms. Sister went to collect a stack of firewood she saw in our fields - cut illegally from the home's property (happens a lot). She'd been there Saturday and mentioned to our caretaker who lives there, that she would come Monday to take it; he (of course) denied any knowledge of the woodcutting!!! Well, Monday it was GONE!!! Sula followed the footprints and found it hidden in some bushes (and it was a big pile). The watchman stared in wonder!! They went to get it Tuesday a.m. and neighbors told Sister the watchman paid them 10,000 shillings to move it over the weekend!!! But he stays on - and he'll do it again. Sister says having him out there (it's far out) keeps people from stealing the crops (except him!!!).

Holly came back from Rwanda Monday night - they had a great time. Saw the Genocide memorial and even went to a resort on the shores of Lake Kivu - she said Rwanda was very organized and neat - very Euro/African! She lost her apt. key on the trip and Sr. Ambrose had to dig through the hospital's pile of extra keys to find one that opened it - keys are a constant problem here!!!

Had a cockroach in my bed Monday nite - I tried to deny it as he scampered over me looking for a way out - finally got up, turned on the light and sprayed him! UGH!

Having some zuccini and cukes from our garden, but the leaf mold is gaining - it's just been raining so much and think our American seeds can't handle the African climate and diseases!!

Tuesday the Sisters, Nelson, Jasimine and I went to the burial of an 8 year old who was coming to Nelson's Wednesday afternoon physical therapy. He was really crippled and could barely eat....sad case. His sister (11) also has sickle cell and looks bad too - such tragedies! Alex subbed for me in English class - I swear he does better than I do (also can re-explain in Lugandan). Had a great walk w. Holly - she books!!!! I feel much better and sleep better when we walk (and talk).

Wednesday I left at 6:30 to go to Mukono to use the internet - but the internet wasn't working. I tried the other internet cafes but no luck....came back and sat for over 2 hours punching the screen till it came on at 9:45!!! (Fortunately I had a book). Sister J was picking me up at 10 in the truck to go to Kampala, but (also fortunately) she started late (surprise?) and didn't get to Mukono till 11:15 so I got things done. (again the UP and DOWN)

Sr. Goretti and Sr. Juliet had stops in Kampala and Sula and I went to Entebee to the Orthopedic Hospital (CoRSU) to pick up Justine - she was finally going home!!! - after 8 solid months in the hospital w/o even a visit home for her or mom (or visits by the siblings at the hospital)!!! Dr. Antonio (the Italian surgeon) told me that after all that time of having the puss coming from the bone, he was desperate and tested her for TB - and she was positive (after having the regular coughing TB, if it's not treated, it can re-occur in other parts of the body). Her symptoms are not at all textbook for bone TB but one he got her on the anti-TB drugs she improved rapidly - she's walking a bit w. crutches and looks SO much better!!! She has to take the drugs for 8 months and then should be O.K. She was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened in April and was nearly dead when she got there! She and her mom were SO happy!!! We took them home and it is WAY, WAY back off the road in the forest - and then we had to walk down a path! Their home is mud and small, but it's home. They have some nice coffee trees but mom told Sr. Goretti that they "pre-sold" their crop to cover costs while they were at CoRSU so no income this season. I'm sure they are looking forward to a return to normal life.

We had the Epilipsy Clinic on Thursday - almost 60 people!! Moses is still at his class and Kinene's Uncle died and he couldn't come, so it was a bit confused but we made it thanks to our nurse, Juliet, and Stella (a disabled young woman from PH who recently graduated from the University but hasn't found a job)....great helpers!!!

Finished reading Into Africa by Craig Parker -he is/was a Professor at the U of Minnesota! Did research w. the lions of the Serengeti and the chimps of Gombe in Tanzania. Interesting book. He says there's a "mal d'Africa" - African sickness - and that people who go back to the "boring, temperate world" long for the color, chaos and edginess of Africa!! I'm not so sure! However, as he got older (and enjoyed his creature comforts more) his stays got shorter! Now reading The Spare Room...short book about a woman who takes care of a friend w. terminal cancer..also good!

Sister J and Sr. G and I are working on a small proposal for wheelchairs and tricycles - three wheeled chairs that move w. hand cranks - very sturdy and handy for mobility in the villages! We had visitors from the Church of the Latter Day Saints and they said they may be able to provide some - would be fabulous!!! We'll see....they are made in Jinja, Uganda and are really well made!

Friday I got in one math class - a bit of a struggle - doing money counting and change - some are good, but some have NO clue. Had a long (and late) staff meeting and missed the 2nd Math class. Then, Nelson and I went to Kinene's uncle's funeral - very big crowd. When we arrived they were reading the condolence letters and a guy was still varnishing the coffin!! People bring cloths to wrap the body - some fabric, some barkcloth - and guess there were late arrivals, because they had to take the wrapped body out of the coffin and add about 6 more layers!! Then stuff him back in and proceed to the burial site. People here are buried in family graveyards....after the coffin goes in they fill the hole up w. cement - so wearing rubber boots to the funeral means you are a close male friend or relative and are shoveling cement! The man was 83 and there were lots of older people - they have the most interesting faces - all lines and curves from years of hard, manual labor in the sun!

Hope you are all enjoying the fall - well, guess it's technically winter. All is going well here (today) - we've sold a few more piglets, cow is producing well and the chickens are healthy! What more can I ask for??? Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Mailed my school election ballot on Wednesday (I was able to get the copy to mail via e-mail - YEA!)....pretty exciting!

Happy Birthday Kody and Henry.....Best wishes to you all.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Happy Halloween! I'm a little off on my blogging - I'm planning to visit another PCV over the weekend - she was my roommate at the start of training - and I've never been to her site. Good excuse to see some new country - just staying Saturday nite, but thought I'd blog today as long as I'm in Mukono to use the internet! Sure miss it in Nkokonjeru! Got here really early and as I was doing e-mails, the cleaning lady pulled out the cable w. her mop!!!

Got back last Saturday in time to wash clothes and clean (hoping to do that again today, but it's pretty overcast - has been raining a LOT but thankfully few power outages!). One of the older girls stopped by for tea! It's always fun - they enjoy "all the sugar you can load in" in their tea!!!

Read the book The Road - about a father/son traveling after a nuclear holocaust (well years after)...it's haunting - wonder how it is as a movie. I actually read it twice - it's short - the first time I went SO fast because it was creepy and then I re-read to catch the writing!!

Sunday Mass the Sisters sang a snappy tune I hadn't heard before - Refrain "If you trust and never doubt, God will surely bring you out...Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer"....good advice!

Sunday afternoon Holly and I went to a meeting w. Moses (our outreach worker) and his Community Health Workers (they were the ones in the first aid training class)....nice group of people! They said they are running out of supplies (gauze, bandaids...) but haven't charged for them like Holly advised - small amounts like a dime - so they could replenish! The recurrent problem of making projects self-sustaining! Still planning the Infant Nutrition Class later - the problem is re-education - many people grow crops but feed little children cassava (root crop) or matoke and no fruits or vegetables (like papaya or greens)....just not something they do! Little protein too, tho' beans are easy to grow as are ground nuts! Holly has an idea for a demonstration garden called "Three Sisters" - pole beans climbing up corn stalks and squash between the rows! Might ask this group to try some as a demonstration - also one growing greens and showing how to cook and serve to children.

Really into a reading jag - escapism?? Next read A Sunday by the Pool in Kigali. I'd wanted to read it since I went in 2006 and Shari had it. Holly is on her way to Rwanda w. some other PCVs right now!!! It's a fictional (based on actual) account of the '94 genocide - very graphic and awful!!!

Sunday nite, Moses called the mom of the little boy w. the sores AGAIN, told here we had the meds and she still said she had no money for transport! Well, she showed up Monday a.m.!!! She is really frustrating....not sure why I'm so hooked on this one-maybe because he's only 5 and is so miserable. Now to see if she gives them faithfully, since she didn't pay for them (it happens).

Had dinner Monday at Shari's - beef stir fry over chinese noodles - those girls are good cooks!!! Shari got beef from the butcher - the butchers have a stall on the road, open, with no refrigeration. They hang the meat on a hook in the open stall and will whack off a piece the size you want w. a machete!!! No special cuts!!!

Tuesday I had a very frustrating day - I'm really letting stuff get to me way too much! Kids didn't want to work for the Ag teacher on the gardens in the compound - even the wheelchair ones can pull weeds - and he wasn't making them - well, I did, after much nagging!!! New wheelbarrow was missing screws and no one bothered to try and fix it (I gave Vincent money to buy new screws and do it); the cow is out of feed earlier than expected (he's feeding it more than we'd allotted again - he said it was dropping production but he went gave a LOT more and now everything is out and milk buyers don't pay till the end of the month....it's so hard to get people to think long term - say two weeks!!!). Our zuccini etc. has leaf mold again - darn - it looked so good!! And there was more than the usual amount of "begging" on Tuesday, too....there's always some - wanting money for something small, use of my phone, etc., maybe I was just annoyed at everything. We had a meeting about the cow Tuesday nite - set for 6 p.m. but actually happened at 9! Will try (once again) to get on track! I'll have to bail them out w. chicken feed money but his is (really) the last time!!! In November, it's self-supporting or the cow is hungry! I want the people here to develop their own solutions to problems, but it's just not in their nature to think "solution"! I've worked up an income/cost schedule and tried to explain it, but not sure I"m getting through.

Yesterday Holly and I went to a "Turn to Tea" event. The old man who was in Holly's 5K (he's 70?) and lost 9 children to HIV is starting an NGO to try to get people to drink tea rather than alcohol to prevent unsafe sex. He invited Holly as head of Project Hope and I just went along...nice gathering - lots of local dignitaries (and speeches). Someone from the New VIsion Newspaper was supposed to come since it's an entry in a contest for World Aids Day (Dec 1)...but they never did (he called them repeatedly and they kept saying "we're coming")....At 1 Holly left and then it started to RAIN - just sheets. At 2 I got a ride home w. the ex-mayor - after he got stuck in the road - he just kept spinning his wheels till he was mired. Some guys finally put banana leaves under the tires and pushed - like being on ice!!! I felt bad for the organizer, but he fell asleep in a chair on the porch after the rain started - no one gets angry or impatient!!! Amazing!!!

Jamie sent me the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova (I am reading a lot)....it is WAY scarier than The Road or By the Pool!!! It's about a 50 yr. old woman, Harvard College professor who gets early onset Alzheimers. Every time I forgot something I panicked!!! It's chilling! There were some lines that reminded me of how I feels sometimes (on bad days) about being in Uganda - not to be dramatic, but they fit (sometimes)....."I miss being sure of things. There's no peace being unsure of everything all the time. I miss doing everything easily. I miss being part of what's happening. I miss my life and my family".

Well, that was sad - lots of things are doing well. The chickens are great - we had to padlock their house after seeing one of the elderly men looking at them hungrily! We've sold 9 of 17 baby pigs (last group is just weaning). First mom was "serviced" again - finally, the male had something to do!! The cow went into heat, but the one guy in town who does insemination had his phone off (uncharged?) the entire 24 hours she was ready!!! Oh, well, try again! Still waiting to finish the banana tree holes and get those in before the rain stops - hate the thought of carrying water to 130 baby banana trees! Kids are progressing in school and Didas got 2 more shoe orders from Stella Maris - so, lots of good things, too!!! Sr. Juliet just called and she got a nice donation from the people from Florida to help out w. buying food for the kids - WOW!!! I have to try and get it at Western Union - don't have my passport with but do have my PC ID - hope that works!!!

Hope you have a Happy Halloween - Jasemine wants to get some pumpkins (they are green) and do some jack-o-lanterns - think we'll try!!! I like Halloween!!

Take care all - thanks again for the good wishes, prayers and thoughts. I'm looking forward to being away for a day - get a better perspective when I see others projects.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Saturday - October 24, 2009

I'm in Mukono to blog - really miss having the internet in Nkokonjeru!!! I was going to take the 6:30 matatu, but didn't sleep well, and it was still raining (rained a LOT last nite) and didn't get down to town till 7:00 - had to wait till 8:20 till the next one filled and we left.....next time I'll stick w. the first one!!

Last Saturday I was here blogging before our little "pool party" at the Coline Hotel here in Mukono - lots of good company (other PCVs). We didn't swim - started out cool and cloudy and then a school group came in - lots of conversation tho' - most is about what we're all planning to do when we're done!!! Focus has shifted! We are now officially the oldest group in Uganda!!!

Sunday, Didas (shoemaking teacher), Alex (student) and I went up to Stella Maris (an expensive boarding school in town) for visiting day to try to sell shoes. We only sold one pair, but many people admired them and we'll go back - this term is over the end of November and the new one doesn't start till February, so think many were thinking they'd wait! I asked Didas how long he'd been at PH and how they used to market - he said 5 years, and they never had materials to actually make or sell shoes before - just practiced w. paper and maybe a little leather. So - one huge improvement thanks to generous donors - now to keep it self sustaining!!!

Got great phone calls from the family for my BD but sad to hear the Gophers lost @ Penn State. I'm enjoying reading newspaper articles Corky sends - I'm about a 3 weeks behind in the news but the Twins (in my world) are now set to play Detroit in the tie breaker - it's still fun to read!!

Monday, we had some disturbances at lunch re: food portions - it's rationed some to make it last. Many don't pay any contribution so not sure they should complain! There is no "free lunch" - no government help. And kids expect a LOT of food - you'd be amazed at how much Ugandans eat at a sitting - 'course it's mainly carbs and goes fast, plus there is not snacking! I've been standing outside the hall making sure people aren't taking an extra plate, saying it's for someone else and stashing it in the dormitories (a favorite trick).

Holly and I had a great walk and then dinner at Shari's - tuna hotdish and cherry pie - WOW!!

Tuesday Moses said he was sick and his wife and Fiona also - and his cow!!! Moses and Nelson (the OT) are teaming up to raise some pigs...they bought 3 of our little pigs - Nelson provides the capitol and Moses will keep them at his farm -hope it works! The little pigs are really healthy but I'd like to sell them all! Nelson, Moses and I went to the piggery to choose and catch their three and it was funny watching Moses in the stall trying to grab them - Vincent (the animal manager) heard the piglets squealing and came running - good for him. Moses wanted a female that was still w. her mom and Vincent got that done - very stealthily!

Wednesday I decided to go to the PC office to do my quarterly report - it has to be done electronically and I hate doing it (used to be able to do it in writing and send it in - easier for me). After I got it done (in some fashion) I went to the Indian Pharmacy by Mulago Hospital and got the TB drugs needed for the little boy w. the sores - I really should not be buying meds for people but Moses convinced me they were really poor - and the little boy (5) is SO miserable. Went to New York Kitchen (restaurant) and got some bagels and a cinnamon roll to take home - such a treat!!! Got to Mukono and had lots of mail - YEA - it's been very spotty the past two months! All in all a very productive day - and at the Mukono taxi park I was #14 on the matatu so we took right off - no waiting! Bonus!!!!

I'd gotten a newspaper (they are really supermarket tabloids) and my horiscope was (for the first time I can remember) accurate!!! Libra - "Brisk. You're very down in the mouth today. Although many things in your life are going swimmingly at this time the occasional doubts are creeping in. It will be difficult to know whether your fears are justified or whether you're conjuring up problems out of nowhere. Make sure you get some rest because that could be half your trouble." I have been struggling w. being here and I DO conjure up problems all the time!! Good one.

Few glitches in my perfect day after I got back. Moses stopped by and had gotten a call from a mom of one of the epilepsy patients - mom said the girl (24) had a "fit" and climbed a tree and fell out and broke her leg. Sister Juliet told Moses the mom had to at least find transport for her to the Nkokonjeru Hospital - mom said she couldn't! And he called the mom of the little boy w. TB and she said she couldn't afford to come to Nkokonjeru to get the meds!! First time I've seen Moses cut someone off - switched off the phone he was so mad!!! We also decided w should know the boy's HIV status - often TB is a sign of AIDS - weakened immune system - sad but true! So, we need him here for a test at the hospital.

Thursday Sr. Juliet asked if I'd take Liliane (our primary donor) money around to some schools to pay debts. It was a harder job than I'd anticipated (and I anticipated hard)....had to wait for the matatu, ride along in the dust, walk to the schools, pay, walk back to the main road, wait for the matatu, eat dust...you get the picture. Afternoons have been really HOT - felt like I was cooking!!! But I got it done!!! Always a sense of accomplishment!

Friday math went very well - after doing linear measures (metre, cm, km) we tried liquid measures - litre, etc. Had a variety of bottles, gerry cans, etc. and we poured water to see what the sizes were. The kids actually seem to be getting it - papers were very good!!! Also, the prisioners came (20) to start digging the holes for the banana trees - YEA. However, they can't come back till Nov. 3 (booked) and I'm not sure how much longer the rainy season will last. We get the prisoners for 2500/prisoner ($1.25), and extra for the wardens. They work really hard and it was HOT! Some seemed very young!

Had a visitor in the afternoon - a young man in a UN truck. He's met a girl who worked in PH in 1996 and he was in Uganda (he works in Sudan fixing trucks that defuse land mines!!) and told her he'd check out how it was doing. He's from the UK and has been in Africa for 10 years and loves it - said you have to look for the beauty all around (good lesson for me).....but he's a bit of a "soldier of fortune" I think - enjoys the life of the ex-pat. We talked about aid and aid agencies and he said he firmly believes the agency people keep asking for money so they can keep employed (included himself in that group) and that little of large aid is used well - in fact, much goes back to the home country people in terms of consulting fees, materials, etc.! He'd read Dead Aid and agreed - large grants have been wasted and may have even done harm by propping up bad governments, encouraging corruption and taking away the initiative of people to do something for themselves!!!

Interesting week - time goes fast but I really miss home. Today I'm missing Henry and Ellie's Birthday party - darn! I think often of the fall leaves (love fall) - maybe it will be easier to miss Minnesota when the snow flies!!! Am interested to see how the Referendum at Montgomery/Lonsdale goes - opportunity to use some federal stimulus dollars - seems like a good deal!!! Think Cook has a bond issue too!

Take care - Thanks again for your unfailing support and prayers - couldn't do it w/o you all!!!