Greeting from the luweero internet cafe

It's Sunday a.m. and I'm sitting in the Internet cafe hoping to do a relly big update - hope the generator doesn't go out because the electricity just did - does that quite often. The cafe is about 8 computers on tables in a shed but it's working and you can usually find another PCT (trainee) here.

The scene: The country is at the end (hopefully) of the dry season so it's hot and dusty....but still green. Bananna trees everywhere. We are training at a church center in Luweero, north of Kampala - it's a fairly large town. The mail highway runs through it and that's paved - it's quite a site. Full of bicycles and taxi vans and motor bikes (boda bodas) - every now and then a bus or truck comes by about 50 mph - there's no speed limit - quite the adventure. Off that, it's all gravel roads going to markets or homes. Along the highway there are tons of little shops selling all sorts of things and produce stands. We found an Indian run "super market" (one room) but they mark prices and have peanut butter, jelly and bread. We are so American.

We train at a church center that's really nice. We have big sessions in an open air pavillion and small groups on the grass....in the shade. Training runs from 8-5:30 and on Sat. till 1 and it's really intense - lots of homework. We do two hours of language (ugh), cross cultural talks, safety, health and we're starting technical training. Since I'm a health volunteer that means health topics and visiting local health centers - they try to offer free care in the government centers but it's really basic and they are often out of medicines. The private centers are nicer, but expensive, by Ugandan standards. They others are in teaching or economic development.

Schools; Uganda has Universal primary Education - but the funding and intrastructure hasn't gotten there. Elementary classes are 40-80 students /room, no special ed and few resources. They go from 8-5! Teachers get about $60/mo. which is low for professionals here. Most people w. any money send their children to private schools, or boarding school...the older girls in my family go from 7:30 to 5:30 and go Sat. a.m., too. "Caning" is allowed and can be quite harsh....my host parents think it's fine - that children need discipline - even tho' their girls have been caned. Ugandans very much value discipline and order.

My home: The Reverand works for the Church of Uganda (anglican), and has a church house on the grounds. They have been at this church (actually, it's the Cathedral, but don't think American cathedral), for two years and lucked out in getting a nicer house (I lucked out too)...
He works on Health Empowerment helping villages organize ways to improve health, mainly by getting better water - covering wells, digging new wells, but he has no funding to help them. Margaret, the mom, works incredibly hard....every evening she cooks a big meal outside on three charcoal stoves - we usually have matoke (steamed banannas), rice, sweet potatoes, cooked greens, beans, peanut sauce and often fresh fruit.....how she does it all is amazing. All the meals are the same things (even at the training center) and they eat a lot. She doesn't have a stove or refrigerator.
All clothing is hand washed - the girls taught me yesterday. When I tried to explain American washers and dryers she was shocked...."I have never seen such a thing"..and when I added the dishwasher she was really in a spin...."it would use so much power". She feels she has it easy because she can afford charcoal and doesn't have to use firewood...and she has water. She works part time in the chuch office but their budget is tight. She's a gem.

The kids are full of energy....they go to bed at 10 (we eat at 8:30)...and get up at 6 to catch a boda boda to school (no transportation for any schools). They are full of energy and laugh at me a lot, but they are helping me w. my Lugandan. They are very well behaved and do lots of chores...they got up early today to clean the house (e.g., scrubbing the concrete floors) before going to church and sunday school.

The house is stucco and has 3 bedrooms...I'm in the chuch guest bedroom and it's very spacious. There is a small kitchen and a living/dining room. The kids take bucket baths in the shower stall. I'm so glad to put that off - I really appreciate the shower even if it is cold. They work hard to keep things clean, but it's a losing battle sometimes.

It's nice in the a.m. but HOT in the afternoon and the sun is intense....we got our bikes on Friday and look pretty silly w. our mandatory helmets. There are NO women driving anything so we really stick out. Wherever you go the little kids shout "hello wazunga"....the really little ones cry and run away! Margaret took me to the market last nite for vegetables for supper - really amazing. I stayed away from the meat stalls tho - glad we have mostly beans. No problem paying for pampers here - the babies don't wear pants!

Went to church this a.m. and teared up when they sang "Lord, We Lift Your Name on High"....English service and great singing. Lots of enthusiasm.....they are very religious.. It really is a great country and I'm amazed how easy it is to feel at home - people are people everywhere....and kids are kids. Take care - I'll try to keep this up but can't promise anything.

one week in uganda

i'm at an internet cafe on friday nite - excuse the bad typing but my time is so limited....uganda is amazing - beautiful, but noisy, busy, hot, crowded in the cities and slow in the country. we visited a clinic way out today and it's pretty primitive. i do hope to be in the country however, but won't know for another few weeks. training is very intense but the other trainees are just great - such talent and enthusiasm. wish i could send pictures but not here at the cafe....biked her down a busy, dusty road...doing things i never thought i'd do. Gail filled you in on my home - the people are so nice. I have a big room to myself...the little kids are trying to teach me things, like how to speak lugandan and how to hand wash clothes. I love the cold shower.....will put off the bucket bath as long as i can. electricity is great too, tho' not dependable. the children are victoria - 10, vivian - 9, victor - 8 and violet - 4 and they are so cute. Margaret is the mom and she works part time at the church office and the dad is pastor shem...I think it's anglican. The catherdral is on the grounds but it's just like a large church having a lot of renovations. I'm going to an english service there on Sunday. All is well, but overwhelming.....it will take some time to feel at ease tho' I'm amazed at how comfy it already seems. I'll try to stay in touch....miss you all.

Phone Call

It’s Gail here with a quick update; I got a call from my mom this morning and thought I would pass along some information for those that are interested. She does not have internet access at this point, but did just purchase a cell phone. She has arrived in the city of Luweero where they will be doing their 8 weeks of intensive language and cultural training. She is staying with a family that has electricity, a flush toilet that they use at night and a cold shower, which all sounded like luxuries! The family has 4 children; 11, 10, 9 and 7, the Dad is a Reverend and I believe the Mom stays home.

They speak 5 languages in Uganda and she has learned that her language assignment while she is there will be Lugandan and she will be in Central Uganda, but she does not know exactly what she will be doing. She has requested to do work with mothers and infants and is actually doing a presentation this Friday with another woman at a local hospital to young mothers about breastfeeding. If anybody wants to know more they can email me at gailskluzacek@yahoo.com

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY

our flight to brussels got delayed by snow in new york and we missed our flight to uganda - after much waiting peace corps put us up in brussels for two nights till the next flight to Entebbe, Uganda: Am walking around brussels with another volunteer and we stopped at the National Library to check out internet access....got a library card for 2.5 euros and here we are. We leave tomorrow - Friday - am for uganda. Brussels is full of palaces and old winding streets with neat shops - also museums - this peace corps thing is pretty easy. my roommate is 25 and just got done with two years in Namibia and is going around again - she said the first 6 months can be hard but after that it falls into place. I hope so:

Leave Tomorrow

we leave tomorrow a.m. for Brussels and then to Uganda - it will be a long two days, but I'm excited to go. We spend several days getting over jet lag, having lectures and learning bicycle repair! Then we meet our host family -we will stay with them during the 3 months of training.....and move in and training begins. They say we will have very limited access to a computer during training, so it may be awhile before I can write again. Stay warm.

In Philadelphia

Sunday 2/10 - 8 p.m. Missed the connection in Detroit - the gate was frozen and we sat on the plane for 45 minutes......but got to Philadelphia around 3:30. Another PCV from St. Paul was on the flight and waited for me at baggage claim - looking for someone w. 80 lbs. of luggage! I actually had one bad w. 49 lbs. and one w. 30.5 so I had 1/2 lb. to go! However, security took my peanut butter out of my carry on - very distressing. The training is very general so far.....anxieties, aspirations, maleria pills, etc. Another day tomorrow, then Tuesday we bus from here to JFK and fly to Brussels then to Entebbe, Uganda.....

Two Days to Go

Two days to leave and I'm getting edgy - it's starting to really sink in that I am leaving for Uganda and will live there for two years! Well, that should have been obvious when I applied last March, but it hasn't seems real till now.

Thanks much to everyone for their warm wishes and thoughts and prayers.

Less Than a Week to Go

I am returning to the blog - I want to make sure I have this down before I take off. I really hope this works as an effective means of communication. It is now down to six days till take off and I'm very excited and anxious. I still believe this is the right thing for me to be doing and despite all the many people (and comforts) I'll miss I am ready to try it.

I have basked in the warmth of wonderful friends and family here as they send me off.....had a great sending service at church and dinner with my former co-workers yesterday (Sunday).....one last lunch at Olive Garden and I'm ready. The bags are packed and at the required 80 pounds tho' I'm sure they are full of stuff I'll wonder why I took - especially when I'm dragging them on and off busses and trying to fit them in someone's home during training. Wish I wasn't so dependent on my creature comforts!