Friday, February 12, 2010

Almost 2 Years - February 12, 2010

I came in to work at the Peace Corps office today and get some of the Close of Service (COS) paperwork done - well, that was my intention. There are a lot of forms and reports that need to be turned in and I need to get started - but, there were a lot of people at the office, and it's hard to concentrate! Got a little done, but then we went to lunch and I went shopping for farewell gifts!!! (much more fun).

Last Saturday after I finished the blog I decided to go to a little drum maker's shop just outside Mukono to check prices. Walked there and met a couple from Holland who are living in Kiqywe (near us) and have been at PH...they were buying a big drum and had brought along a drummer from a local troupe to help them. He picked out one the size I wanted that he said was good and did the bargaining so I just bought it! Got it home on the matatu and found a box in the infirmary that will fit it so that's one thing off my list (in fact, almost everything except the PC paperwork is off my list - now how can I procrastinate?). Had a great dinner at Shari's - hot pot cooking - veggies and meat in boiling water and oil. Those girls are so creative w. cooking on a two burners.

Sunday was a quiet day - still cool and rainy. I did laundry and cleaned. Went down to PH and handed out basins, etc. to the new arrivals - a few come every day. Number will be small for Vocational School (maybe only 6)..Sister is really worried about food and isn't going to start any 1st years....I'm disappointed, but I can see her point...it's a BIG worry.

I'm reading the book Dick left, The Sign and the Seal by Graham Hancock - actually, he left it for Shari since she's going w. Michelle to Ethiopia and Egypt after COS. It's a semi-scholarly pitch for the Ark of the Covenant being in Ethiopia (not a warehouse in DC - so there, Indiana Jones). It covers a lot of history of Israel, Egypt and Ethiopia and incorporates the "mysterious body of knowledge" theory (like Dan Brown), brings in the Templars and Masons....it's really interesting, if a bit far fetched. And another excuse for not writing reports!!!

Monday we had a Staff meeting - only started 1/2 hr. late! Fred was chairing and they set a 2 hour time limit, but when that was done, they just added minutes!! I protested, but was outnumbered. Very little gets done in way of an "action plan" but Ugandans love to debate every point!

In the afternoon, I got a call from the 2 volunteers in town from Colombia - Maricio and Maria. They are teaching at St. Peter's secondary for a year. Lovely couple. They stopped by for "the tour", tea and welcome from Sr. J. We had a great conversation about politics....they are economics majors and have done a lot of traveling.

Called Jessica in the evening to wish her Happy Birthday and she said it was snowing!!! It's been another big winter!

Tuesday CBR was depressing - Moses and Kinene are convinced that the program will fall apart when I leave. I don't know what else to do to make it their program and give them some confidence. I have helped throughout the year w. some contributions, but we're hoping to get the glasses from the 2009 clinic soon which will provide funds. The program existed 12 years w/o a muzungu - only 4 w. one but that makes no difference to them! Maybe it will fold....maybe they want it to. Their small Community Based Organization has connected w. World Vision to do some work with disabled children in their district (their CBO got the grant based on Moses and Kinene's experience at PH) so maybe that will be it....Nkokonjeru Town Council needs to rise to the occasion!

Sr. Goretti is leaving - darn! She's still moving slowly from the surgery and having problems but is so much more cheerful. She's going to be sewing at the Regional House in Kampala. The new sister, Sr. Serafina is young and really feisty. Think she'll hold her own!

Want to really thank St. John Church for their generous donation. After much discussion, we decided to put the bulk of it to buying food for this term. Sister had been so desperate about the lack of food it was truly a "God send". We used some for prisoners clearing new fields and a good chunk will go toward keeping the animals healthy and well fed (sustainability is the goal, but having a reserve in case of problems is nice). She's had our corn ground, and is buying lots of beans and corn flour plus some ground nuts for variety. We have some cassava and greens growing so at least every day won't be the same. Also, Corky said the Sunday School donated some money. We had gotten a donation to get new benches and tables for the dining area some time ago and they are almost done so next Sunday we will inaugurate them w. a special dinner courtesy of the St. John Sunday School....they kids haven't had meat since Christmas so it will be great. Hope it's all O.K. Realize it's all about food and that's consumable, but when you don't have it, it becomes awfully important!

Becky's friend's husband donated some money to buy a "starter shoemaking kit" for two of last year's graduates that have no one to help them. Didas drew up the list and bought the tools and materials Wednesday....he was so excited!!! Really a great start for about $100.

All the chickens are doing well - getting about 60-70 eggs/day and the cow is producing much better w. the new guy! YEA!!! Bad news is that she's not pregnant, so we'll have to try again. Two big female pigs will deliver soon and we plan to breed the "girls", Shirley, Liz and Debbie next time they come into heat! We had good luck selling piglets last time and are hopeful now that people know the pigs and their quality. Sister said they are the best looking pigs she's seen in town!

I'm trying to get Sr. J to start the PC application for another volunteer, but there's always some "emergency" (she likes paperwork like I do). Also, am trying to track down the Italian Sister in Kisoga to get her application but we keep missing each other. The new group just arrived in Uganda last nite - 29 newbies! We really feel superior!!!

The infirmary is all painted and Becky moved back in - looks GREAT! Cheery walls and organized!

After the 5 days of rain last week it stopped and it's hot and dry again (but it saved the little banana trees)....some people are planting, but Sr. J said it's too early - the rain was just a "tease"!

Nelson has two OT students from Mulago Hospital's training program for two weeks and we'll be getting two more OT students from Holland on Feb. 22. Their help is very much appreciated. Most of our new residents are pretty severely handicapped and require a lot of attention. I cleaned out the room the German students prepared for the afternoon activities (and added all the craft supplies left in my apartment) and the Mulago students are carrying on! The Holland students will be working two days a week in the community visiting families (with Moses and Nelson), but we're hoping they will help out w. that program, too.

Monday I was washing my feet on the veranda and slipped on the cement and really landed hard on my rump! It hurt (and still does a little when I walk a lot).....I was so mad at myself! Reported it to the nurse at PC today - told her it's just bruised - she concurred - but I wanted it documented!

Wednesday nite I heard rustling under my bed about 1 a.m. - sure sign of cockroaches. Got up, turned on the light, and sprayed Doom under there...went back to bed. Then, felt one run over my back - I was MAD! Got up, turned the light on again and there he was running all over my bed, trapped by the mosquito net. I DOOMED him and then noticed what I thought was a big flying one on the outside the net and sprayed him - only to discover that it was a bat (I like bats). I felt bad watching him dizzily crawl across the back of the net and drop on the floor. Swept them up and put them outside -hope he made it. An old Sister died Weds. and there is lots of cleaning going on at the convent for visitors and think they(bugs) are all in an uproar...apparently my apt. has become a camp for Internally Displaced Critters (two more coackroaches last nite and this a.m.). I REALLY dislike cockroaches!!


Thursday the hospital had a Mass and Program for Day of the Sick - nicely done. Holly's Project Hope clients did a drama about a sick woman who went alternately to a witch doctor, hospital, herbalist, and what happened - it's all in Lugandan, but you can tell just what's going on!

That was the week....not too exciting but still very busy. Next week we have two visitors from the UK - Jenny's daughter is visiting PH (she's in Uganda for 2 weeks) and Adrian's wife, Verity, is coming (he's the pilot who started Uganda Childrens Trust and have been very generous to PH). She's bringing the glasses! We have a big group going to CoRSU on Tuesday so it will be a busy week, too. Oh, well, it makes the time go fast. And visitors are fun (and sometimes they bring chocolate).

Hope you are all surviving the winter storms. Gail said there was another snow day and that they are into "make up" days....

I'm really getting excited about coming home - hate to "count down" but it's hard to resist. At lunch today we were all talking about how ready we are to go - many are traveling after for awhile, but they are all anxious to see home!!! I've really lost my "snap"....used to take me 30-35 minutes to walk to the PC office from Lugogo Mall - now it's 45 or 50. Slowing down a lot!!! Can't wait to sit in my chair and watch movies....maybe open and close the refrig, and watch the washing machine go round and round!!!

Thanks again to everyone who has been so generous w. support, prayers and thoughts. I'm still really glad I did PC, but will also be REALLY GLAD to be back home!!!

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