Am in Mukono to use the internet - and blog. My keyboard is SO sticky I've already got sore shoulders, but such are the trials of living in Uganda!!! It's also (almost) 6 months to our COS (Close of Service) Date - wow!!! 20 months down. Today is Ugandan Independence Day - British handed over in 1962. Schools and Banks and Govt. offices are closed but the Internet cafe is busy.
Went to see Maria in Kbale last weekend (far western Uganda) - it's so beautiful - lots of hills - heavily cropped using terraces - even less trees than here - but nice to be in another setting. Saturday a bunch of people went to a picnic at Lake Bunyonyi - had roast lamb, potato salad, rice w. curry (Indian), spinach quiche, lettuce salad, chocolate chip cookies and a Dutch apple crumble - those guys really know how to cook!!! Saturday nite we went to a performance put on my some street kids (8-18) that hang out at a center near Maria's apt. - they did some native dances and very good. Maria got a small grant for them to buy instruments and costumes and they were so appreciative..very high energy performance.
It was a very relaxing weekend - except for travel. Took the Post Office bus back to Kampala Monday a.m. (9 hours). Your seat is yours, but they pack them in the aisles - conductor wrote receipts for seated passengers and I suspect the aisle people are "bonus"....he bought a lot of matoke in the west (cheaper) for re-sale in Kampala - at least they are enterprising!!! At some stops the vendors reach in the windows to sell fruit, chipati, grilled meat (?) and beverages - at times they come on the bus and really get aggressive!
Good to have Holly back in town. Her mom sent me some leaves and Brach's candy (the corn and pumpkin stuff - delicious). I do miss the colors of fall!!! (but probably not the cold). I was freezing in August!!!!
Alex (a student) taught English for me on Monday - gave him a whole $2.50 to sub - he's good too. Tuesday we read a Ugandan folk tale and tried to write our own - it was fun and they are getting better at using their imaginations!
Chickens and cow were out of maize bran when I got back - had serious conversations w. the keepers about limiting the amount of food they give - esp. the cow...she needs to be self-sustaining. Ugandans as a whole are not good at long range planning - or looking at cost/price/profit numbers....they seem to get it when I explain (and have it translated), but not sure if it will stay as a practice! They also don't report food is out till the day after it's gone!!!
We need some lead time! Their lives (esp. in the village) are really lived day to day.....not a bad thing, except when you are trying to run a business. Many big businesses in Uganda are run by Indians.
Weds. nite there was a bad fire in the electrical box at the bakery - discovered soon and didn't spread but melted the big fuse boxes - poor Sr. Benna - another big expense!!
Yesterday we used the truck (back in service thanks to Sr Veronica - YEA)....We were hoping to take two kids from the Ngogwe clinic to CoRSU (orthopedic Hospital), but only one showed (and an hour late and w/o her contribution for transport). Other one - the baby w. the unformed lower legs - had arranged for a boda to pick her up in the a.m. and get her to PH she said, but it rained and the boda didn't come!! So many variables here! The 5 year old boy who went was the one w. sores all over his body - Dr. Antonio said it was TB of the bone - really bad! When he took his clothes off I felt SO sorry for him - covered w. pussy sores and also has a deformed spine and right hip bone is fused. He looks like he's in pain all the time and I'm sure he is!!! Doctor prescribed medication he said would provide drastic improvement in the next 3 weeks but I'm so afraid the mom won't (can't?) buy it....I was tempted to just get it while we were in Kampala, but that lets them off the hook again - parents need to assume some responsibility....problem is, it's the kids that suffer! I'll have Moses call Tuesday and see what she's done - might intervene if nothing - it's really hard!
We stopped at Katelemwa and finally picked up our parallel bars (bought w. a donation from the German volunteers). Long day -supposed to leave at 7 - left at 8:30 and returned about 8, but got things done. Lots of rain in the afternoon - several hours of hard rain!!!
Maria called while I was at CoRSU - actually, I was in the handicapped restroom trying to help another girl on the pot - and a lady was banging on the door - she wouldn't stop - must have been urgent! Anyway, Maria accused me of having the Sisters pray for the Twins - I didn't but only because I didn't think of it!!! Not much hope w. the Yankees, but it was a great finish - GO TWINS!!!!
Planning to go to Kampala tomorrow to see Maria - she's in town for a Trade Show w. her basket ladies - should be interesting!!! Wanted to get internet stuff done today since it's been a long time and leaves me more time to visit and eat. Sunday is visiting day at St. Balikudembes so I"ll go see Josephine - her last term there!!!! Taking tests now and it's really stressful!!! Weeks of tests that basically determine your future.
Hope you all are well - things are going fine here - our garden is up (well some is up) - hoed today. Had some really nice visitors today from Holland - 3 women - one is a long term volunteer in Jinja.
Thanks for all your support - it was hard after coming from home, but I'm finding my rhythm again - and the Sisters are SO appreciative! Not like I do all that much!! Maybe I should ask them to pray for the Twins - nah - too many other things! Have a wonderful October!!!!
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