My title is probably not the best was to start - but it's how I count time!!! I am really enjoying my work here and especially the kids and the people I work with, but I miss home, too. I got a nasty cold this week (my first "illness" in Uganda) - haven't had to stay home, but sometimes I feel like I'm running down - liek I came w. really lots of energy but have to push harder these days to get things done! I'm hoping my vacation at home in August will revitalize me!!!
I'm having fun with the four students from Duke University working here for 2 months - really a smart, high energy bunch! Two are working w. a local Savings and Loan (actually a private credit organization) and the others are working on projects like biomass charcoal (from corn husks) and a solar cooker - neat projects. I have dinner w. them at the guest house occasionally - lots of good conversation! Initially, one of them teased us (Holly, Shari and I) about our obsession w. food (mainly "American" food we can't get easily) but after almost 3 weeks that's their main topic of conversation too!!!
Satuday I went to Kampala to get my electric tea kettle fixed - I made it to the center of town to look for light blue material for more uniform shirts - bummed that the shop we buy from was out of that color and I didn't have a sample so while I looked elsewhere didn't feel I should buy. Being down there reminded me of what I don't like about inner Kampala - dirt, noise, pollution, smells (garbage, urine), sidewalks full of people selling, streets full of people, cars, motorcycles - there are lots of potholes full of water thrown out from bathing, washing, etc. It's hard to visualize I'm sure.....the "kids" love the energy there - I do my business and retreat.
The garden is giving us lots of lettuce, cucumbers and beans. Not all is lost with the leaf mold, tho' the cucumbers seem to be getting infected (darn). I've asked a lot of people what the problem is and get lots of different answers but no solutions (sort of typical for here). I think maybe the site is too level and gets too much roof run off and the problem is drainage. But we are enjoying what we have - adds variety to the diet. The kids at PH still cannot believe that we eat lettuce and cucumbers (things they've never seen) raw!!!
Sunday I worked a long time w. Sr. Juliet to update our website - Gail is re-doing the text and adding new pictures (thanks Gail). The site is www.providencehomeuganda.org if you're interested. Got it all edited, attachment attached....and the internet went off!!! Six months ago that would have made me crazy - now it's "oh, well, I'll try tomorrow". Started to get the "library" organized - put cards in all the books Anne and Corky have sent (mainly Junior books and easy readers) - I am worried about getting them back when kids take them out, but we'll see. We signed four out Monday a.m.!!! Alex, one of the students, is helping me.
I went on a nice walk - decided to start walking again in the evening to clear my head - there was a beautiful sunset and I helped a little girl carry some gerry cans of water home and untangled a baby goat (they are tied up all day and this one got really tangled and was struggling - took my keys and cut some of the foliage holding the rope). Met Joseph, the piggery builder, who said he's very busy and also building his own piggery - I couldn't help but add that I'm not surprised since he was so well paid for our project!! (maybe even some of our materials???).
Monday for English class Alex, a Duke student, gave a lecture on Compost translated by Fred. Kids were good and asked questions - he said it was his most attentive audience to date. In the afternoon three of theDuke kids came down to help w. the "Music and Movement Group" - they really enjoyed themselves and the kids loved it.
Tuesday we had a busy CBR day - Moses was out with Nelson doing home visits to Cerebral Palsy children so Kinene helped. Also, visiting PH for the day was a teacher of the deaf and a young lady from the UK who teaches deaf/blind there on a short term volunteer stint. They helped us assess a new 2 year old client whose parents thought was deaf (she didn't think so), and partially paralyzed after a high fever at 6 mos. They said they would take him to Katelemwa Rehabilitation Center for a PT assessment....hope they do. He's young and seemed smart and exercises could really make a difference. We'll try to follow up.
Didas is almost done with the shoe order - he's made 40 pairs of girls school shoes for Stella Maris Primary School (actually, they are shoes for girls sponsored by Caritas, a U.S. organization). Simon, a recent graduate, is back to help. We got the payment money and it worked out well - we were able to pay Didas and Simon and still make a profit - he really estimated well and priced well - the profit isn't huge, but it will help purchase more materials. I gave Didas 2000sh/shoe ($1) and Simon 1,000/shoe (.50) and they were very happy - Didas only makes 50,000/month to teach plus what he gets for repairs so it was a nice bonus!!! He did a great job and they have worked hard! I really appreciated their effort!
I had promised to go to see a primary, residential school for the blind in Kisoga (1/2 hour away) - met a teacher on the matatu and he kept calling me. I was sort of sorry I said yes, but after going I'm so glad I did (that happens often). They have 60 blind students (or partially sighted) and several blind teachers....very nice facility and like PH they kids seem healthy and happy....I went out w. the kids and teachers to their banana garden to cut matoke bananas....the partially sighted help the truly blind!!! Just amazing - they all pick corn together,too!!! From there I went to visit the Italian Sisters at their clinic in Kisoga - they are amazing, too. They are about my age and so energetic - adorable accent! They are nurses and have a really nice, clean clinic - lots of patients, too!! Then stopped to see Benedicto (the boy who had his leg amputated) and his pig (both look good). I'm hoping he can come to PH someday to either study shoemaking or try to finish Primary School (two years to go and he's 18).....he ahd to take lots of time off because of no money. He's still angry at his lameness - it's only been 6 months I guess - think time at PH would help that! This is shameless begging, but if anyone has an "extra" $250 (hard in these times, I know), we could get him an artificial lower leg which would help. I don't like to use the blog to "beg" but you never know who's out there!!!
I got back to PH much later than I expected (no surprise) - long wait for the matatu in Kisoga - but all in all delightful day of visiting. The Nkokonjeru parish priest (Father Jembe - really a great guy) came to say Mass and afterwards went out and blessed the piggery and pigs, and the new cow. Very nice - but he kept thanking me, and I kept saying, "No, it's all from my church" - wish you all could have been there to get the recognition!!!
Hope you are all well - life here is certainly busy and interesting. Fred and Sula went to the brewery yesterday and came back w. a ton of brewer's mash for the animals - guess it really sells fast!!! My grant has all been approved. I don't have the money yet, but we are in the planning stages - deciding what to make and how to sell it. Also, what to plant for the school gardens - I want to add some variety to the diet - people here don't think that's a good idea - I think it stems from being on the cusp of being w/o food - if you try a new thing and it doesn't work what do you eat? (like our zuccini tho' we'll try again). Hope to plant some cabbages which are common but we don't have any at present. Some days I really do feel my head is whirling (doesn't take much)!
Thanks again for all your support - just knowing you're reading this makes me feel good!!! And I hope you're learning a little about life in Uganda. It's a good life here - shouldn't complain (tho' I do sometimes).....hope you are all well and enjoying the Summer.
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Kathy: Great to read your blog!!! How are you??? Charlotte and Steve will be coming in mid August from UC Davis to work on vegetable growing. I have suggested they might want to work with people at the convent as well as RASD to promote some of the vegetable ideas that have been suggested by the World Vegetable Foundation in Tanzania. You may be gone but perhaps something could be coordinated. They could also look at potential problems and solutions with your current vegetable growing. Heron and I really miss Nkokonjeru and are sad we are not going to be there this summer.
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