I'm Back - August 31, 2009

Back in Uganda - no interruptions on the flight back (I was hoping for a delay in Minneapolis - it was hard to leave). Today, I'm at the bakery computer - Sr. Vero left us her wireless connector but the connection has gone off twice - one was a power outage - but the generator is on and I'll give this a try. Am constantly reminded of how everything in Uganda takes so much more time than it does in the U.S. Sister and I were doing some review of the past 3 weeks this a.m. and there are so many things to be done, but each has SO many steps and people to talk to and places to go - it's really discouraging!!!

While I was gone the cow got out (Vincent, the animal manager was not around) and ate some poisonous vegetation in the compound and miscarried - bummer! It was a bull calf but was 2 1/2 months early and didn't make it. When she recovers we'll try again! Need to get rid of bad plants - and reinforce the cow stall!

One of Sister's big pigs gave birth - 11 piglets - 2 died (very small) but the rest are doing well. We'll sell most of them at 2 months - too many mouths to feed already.

A lot of the children have gone home for the holiday - back next week and the week after.

The group from UC Davies (6) was in town while I was gone and got the old pump fixed (donated by the Italians in 2002, but hasn't worked for years) and set up six biosand filter boxes for filtering drinking water. Had a great send-off for them last nite! (it was also a welcome for me - Josephine had even written a song in my honor!!).

Our baby chickens are doing very well - lost none so far. Four months to go before we have eggs. Sula is selling his broilers (at 8 weeks) and will get another 500.

Dr. Norberto and his wife Anna from Florida were here but I got to see them at a gathering Saturday in Lugazi - great folks that I met last year on their visit.

Nantalie (girl w. leg braces) is now walking w. crutches - she's really trying. The interns and a visiting PT from Holland did a lot of work w. her while I was gone (unfortunately, they are gone now too).

RASD internet cafe was struck by lightening and is out of business - another bummer! The UC Davis folks are going to take the modem back to the US and see if it can be repaired.

When I put my traveling outfit (coral jacket and top) in to soak before washing I threw in the pair of socks I got in my KLM "gift packet" from the layover in Amsterdam (the goodie pack w. toothpaste, etc) - and they bled all over the jacket and top - super bummers - won't scrub out. I'll have to wear on my return as tie dyed! The last blow from Delta/NWA/KLM!!!

Moses is back from training for a one month practicum. We are working on planning for the report he has to turn in - then he goes back to COMBRA for two more months. CBR tomorrow and Epilepsy Clinic Thursday - I'm slow getting back into the swing, but guess I will be forced to carry on!! School won't start till the 13th (supposed to start the 7th, but I'm sure not enough students will be back). Wednesday, Sr. Goretti and I are going to Kampala to price materials and sewing machines for the grant. So, I'm being forced to get to work, but I really miss home.

Holly wants to re-try the garden - so do I but neither of are anxious to re-dig the plot!! There's been some rain so it's time. There was a mini earthquake here last nite about 1 a.m. - I was awake (too big and too late supper at the convent w. the UC Davies people) and heard it and couldn't figure out what it was - I thought maybe a huge truck going by - not much but a noise and then the dogs started howling!!!!

The mayor and Town Council are really dragging their feet in letting us use the city building for the Katelemwa orthopedic Clinic. I'm sure they don't want the local people getting the idea they should come to the local government for help (tho' the town council gets funding from the federal government to do just that)......Sister is reluctant to take it to a higher level - doesn't want to make the local officials angry - but they need to be accountable (easy for me to say, I'm a temp).

I so enjoyed seeing many of you while I was home. It was hard to leave everyone - the grandchildren were SO much fun. After a bit I'll get accustomed to Uganda again I'm sure. Holly is going home in September and is so ready.

Thanks again for the wonderful time and for all your support!

Last Sunday at Home - August 23, 2009

My time at home is going so fast - I'm still O.K. w. going back to Uganda, but it's getting harder by the day!!! I'm really not doing much except visiting, but it's been fun. I really do enjoy the convenience of going where you want to go when you want to go!!!

If you looked at the pictures last week, Bailey (Curt and Jamie's baby) is missing from the family picture - she was taking a nap. Curt is missing, too, but he was in Alaska fighting a fire. We got to see him Thursday evening at Hinkley (1/2 way for each of us). He really enjoyed his time in Alaska....guess it's pretty unusual for Minnesota crews to go to Alaska. He said the Alaskans like to take care of their own stuff and have thier own system - refer to the rest of us as "America" - they are ALASKA!!!

Did a lot of moving around during the week - drove in downtown Minneapolis and St. Paul w/o a hitch - well I got lost going to St. Paul, but I made it!!! Took Riley and Henry to the Children's Museum on Friday - they were a lot of fun - topped off w. lunch at McDonalds - the American experience!!! I was exhausted!!!

Saturday we went to a inter-squad scrimmage at the new University of Minnesota outdoor football stadium. It's really beautiful - lots of space to walk around and nice seating. Great day w. the band and football!

I know I"ve gained weight - not doing any exercising and eating whatever I can get my hands on - had a Taco in a Bag and a Milk Shake today! Jean and I were going to take Riley and Emma somewhere and we decided on the local County Fair and Gail and Jesse came w. Tucker and Greg and Jessica were there w. Dylan and Olivia, so it was a family event - lots of fun!!! Riley thinks the animals stink.....but loved the Demolition Derby! Dylan loved the rides. Another All-American experience!!

I'm watching Dylan and Oliva Monday and Tuesday and we're going to a Twins baseball game on Monday night. Tuesday nite is dinner for the local crowd at Gails and Thursday I leave - it will be sad, but it's not long till I'm home again. Enjoyed church this a.m. - did a short talk about what I do and life in Uganda. I meant to get a power point together but the project got lost in all the visiting!

Next blog will be from Uganda - maybe in two weeks. I'll bet it takes me awhile to get used to being there again. Fortunately it's still Holiday so I won't have to start teaching till mid-September and can take it easy (which is basically what I'm doing here, but it's different!).

PICTURES - Aug. 17,2009

Gail added 138 pictures today bless her heart! Most are of Uganda but some are from the vacation at Lake Vermillion for those who know our family....or who have heard about them. It was really a lot of fun, tho' we all had our moments. The little kids get along well for the most part, but there was still lots of squabbles and tears.....I'm not used to children being so verbal. In Uganda children rarely talk to adults and they just sort of do their own thing - we all were shocked at first to see little children unattended on the streets, but that's the way it's done there!

Weather at Lake Vermillion was beautiful - 80s and sunny. In fact, we got so much sun we spent one afternoon at the Tower-Soudan Underground Mine (a State Park)...very interesting. You go underground 1/2 mile in an old miner's elevator and then travel 3/4 mile on an old rail track - really well done! I got a bit claustrophobic in the elevator but we made it!!!

I wish I could describe how it feels to be back - in some ways it feels like I never left. In others, it seems so alien. I have made it through Target and that was fine, but I went to the Mall today and that was too much. Nothing looked worth buying and I balked at a Smoothie for $5.29!! I'm trying to get to see a lot of people but my time is running out fast. It was good to go to church on Sunday - everyone was so nice, but after an initial "how is it?" they like to talk about what's going on in their lives, which is actually more fun for me rather than listening to myself. Lots of people have been reading the blog and are pretty up on the news anyway!!

Tomorrow I watch Riley play T-ball and go to book club. Wednesday I hope to do some more visiting and have a dental appt. I'm hoping to get to the zoo with some of the little kids and have to schedule a meeting w. Curt - he's back from Alaska already. The fire they went to fight is 40% contained and the outstate crews were sent home. Saturday we're going to a football scrimmage at the new University of Minnesota outdoor stadium!!!

I do often wonder how things are going at Providence Home and if the animals are prospering. I know things will go along well w/o me and lots of kids are home for the holidays. I think it will be hard to go back, but I'm determined to do the next 7 months barring any unforseen problems.

I hope you all have a good end of summer!!!

Coming to America - 8-07-09

Well, I am here - it was quite the journey. Monday afternoon, we went to the Entebbe airport w. Sr. Juliet, Sula (driver), Jan and Maggie and another young woman from Holland (on the same flight) and Andrew and Fede...Andrew is about 16 and has Cerebral Palsy and loves to draw airplanes but had never seen one; Fede, an 8 year old girl, is one of the children who never goes home. They enjoyed the trip so much!!!

Our flight from Entebee went well, but I had problems in Amsterdam. Got there about 5:30 a.m. (only an hour difference from Uganda), printed my boarding pass which should have said 10:30 - it said "9:00" - I asked a worker and she said the entire flight was cancelled and re-booked to the next day at 9:00!!! I was devestated! I just sat on the floor in a corner and cried. After several attempts at the service desk and ticketing (going in and out of customs) it was apparent there was no option but to stay - flights were all over booked and you had to have your luggage on the plane you were on (U.S. regulation). We all took shuttles to a very nice hotel - way out in the country. I got a hold of Gail to tell her (she was up - 3 a.m. - and had seen the notice on the internet)...cried again. I decided to go to Amsterdam for the day - took the shuttle back to the airport, got some Euros and took the train into town. Fabulous public transport system!

It's a lovely city - I got tickets for a hop on/hop off tour and walked around looking for the bus stop - I was getting really frustrated not finding one, then saw a man w. a brochure like mine and followed him. The tour was from the canals by boat!!! Not having done any "research" on Amsterdam was hard for this tourist......there are many, many canals in the city that used to be used for commercial transport, but now are for leisure - tours, private boats and lots of houseboats on the sides. The canals are lined by 4-5 story condominiums with restaurants and shops on the ground floor....very picturesque! I wanted to tour the Anne Frank house and the Van Gogh Museum but the lines were v. long - lots of Europeans on holiday! I was impressed w. the thousands of bicycles - parked all over - even 2-3 story parking ramps for bicycles!!! There were very few private vehicles on the roads.

We had a great buffet dinner at the hotel (all courtesy of NWA)....lots of cold meats, cheeses, fish, pasta dishes - and fabulous desserts - it was GOOD! Weds. a.m. we all took the shuttle back to the airport - a pretty nervous bunch. I was saying what I might do if we didn't take off Weds. and someone said to be careful...."don't say that in an airport"...good warning! But, we did take off and landed in MSP at 10:30 a.m. (7 hour time difference). Greg, Jessica, Gail and Corky were waiting w. Dylan, Olivia, Riley, Emma, Tucker and Henry!!! Quite the sight I'm sure - the grandkids were a bit hesitant at first, but quickly got into the hugging! Very nice lunch at Olive Garden - my request!

It's funny, but in many ways it seems like I never left - I have a real advantage in that Corky is in the house and everything is where it was when I left (other PCVs have to sell their houses, rent or have children living in them). So, the adjustment was pretty easy which in itself is strange. I thought it would be harder. People ask about Uganda, but it's hard to explain - and most just want a simple story. I can't believe how much the little people talk! In Uganda children never talk to adults - adults yell at children but there are almost no conversations. Most of the time the children amuse themselves in what seems to us some pretty dangerous ways.....but there's a lot of disinterest by parents in what the kids think or do unless they do something really bad. Same applies to their progress at school - learning is the schools' job and they only get involved (to punish) if the grades are really bad.

Sad to say, but I was not appalled by the excess - went to Bert and Naomi's Thursday and stopped at Target and Fleet Farm (looking for cheap sandbox stuff to take to the lake) and loved every minute!!! I guess I can appreciate both ways of life. I realize that if we took a tiny portion of the money we spend on "toys" and gave it to the Africans, it would be a huge donation, but I'm not sure giving money is the answer. Corky got the book "Dead Aid" for me from the library and I'm anxious to read it (after "The Half Blood Prince" - wanted to see what the movie missed). I do think we have some right to enjoy the fruits of our labors! And most money is so poorly spent in Uganda from what I see - unless you give directly to someone who uses it to help the local people, too much gets siphoned off to politicians, NGO staff, big vehicles, workshops, per diem, travel, computers, corruption, etc.

I am really looking forward to the week at the lake. Bert and Naomi won't arrive till late Saturday nite - Mallard baseball game Saturday afternoon (I'd love to see that too, but not sticking around), and they have to come back early for a wedding next Saturday; not sure when Jean and Kody will arrive but they'll be there a few days. But, no family picture - Curt called yesterday and he's off to fight fires in Alaska! He called from the Duluth airport - waiting for a charter flight to Alaska w. the crew. I'm sad, but it's a great opportunity for him - he said it's just for two weeks so I'll see him before I go back. We'll miss his quiet, calming presence at the lake, but nothing to do about it! At least we'll use up a week of Jamie's "alone time".

I'm looking forward to seeing some of you while I'm home.....the time is going so fast!!! Hope the weather is good next week at the lake - but whatever, it will be fun!

She made it!

Flight Delayed

I just talked to Kath and her flight is delayed until Wednesday morning. She's stuck in Amsterdam :(

Almost Home!!! 8-2-09

Tomorrow at this time (5 p.m.) I will be on my way to the airport!!! We are leaving Nkokonjeru around 2 (hopefully) and doing a few errands w. Sr. Juliet, picking up Jan and Maggie in Kampala (Holland teachers) and stopping at CoRSU hospital in Entebbe to see a patient - no use using the fuel for one purpose. I washed clothes, cleaned and packed this a.m. (well, packed before but have more stuff to squeeze in!!! It's Sunday evening - spent the afternoon typing some reports for Sr. Juliet and exams for Sr. Goretti (see I am useful!).

The 5K on Satuday was a HUGE success!!! Holly got it started at 8:30 (she'd hoped for 8 but 8:30 is really good for Uganda). There were about 60+ runners and about 20 kids in wheelchairs (shorter route). A big crowd gathered and lots more along the way - Sr. J commented on how long it had been since they had a community event. The bodas (motorcycles) led the way, horns blaring!!! The last two people were the ex-mayor (probably my age) and a 76 year old gentlemen who told me afterwards that he has lost 9 children to AIDS!!! There was singing and a ceremony afterwards....Holly had to argue that the first two women should get a reward.....the committee said "but the first four people were men" - she won!!! Her running group did very well, tho they "flopped" pretty dramatically at the end! There were a lot of PC volunteers - some ran, some pushed. We had a pasta supper at Holly's Friday nite - people all over - she had 3 tents in her little yard and people in the house, I had people on my floor and some stayed at PH!!! Really a well done event and lots of fun! They had a tent and chairs for the ceremony after and water for the participants (PH kids each got their own bottle of water - a BIG event for them) and T-shirts for the winners and the committee - her Project Hope volunteers seemed really happy about the event! She's not sure of the total raised yet.

Back to last week - seems so long ago. Last Sunday I went w. four Sisters to a first mass in a tiny village near the lake - very poor place, but lots of people were there - a big event. It was long but part of the entertainment was a professional troupe of Rwandan dancers - very good - Rwandans use their hands more; Ugandans use their hips!

On Monday I gave my English exam and Fred and Sula took 5 kids (plus assorted other riders in the back) to Kampala to pick up the chicks (100 layers). The chickens are doing well (as of today - Sunday - none have died). The kids are doing what they can - cleaning the drinkers, checking on them and Jude (18 year old resident who watching Sula's chicks) is doing the rest....have the charcoal pots at nite (days are HOT and DUSTY - no rain - but nites are cool).

The 27th was Sr. Juliet's BD (33)....I heard about it from the Holland girls and Jan and Maggie (the teachers visiting from Holland) ordered a cake. Sr. J. said it was the lst time she ever celebrated her birthday!!!

I had a melt down Monday w. the tailoring teacher (why don't I give up?)...he was 2 hours late (usual) and the kids were sleeping (also usual)....the room and cupboard were a mess - sloppy attitudes! Teachers not showing is common in many Ugandan schools.....but I'm determined not to tolerate it. I watch for him and he has to sign in at the time he arrives and we told him we'd adjust his salary accordingly! UGH!!

Tuesday at CBR we did some planning for the Epilepsy Clinic the 6th - the hospital is bringing 20 nursing students and want to see local councilmen and talk at some schools, in addition to working w. the clients!!! So, were trying to get that all organized and Sr. Goretti has agreed to make them all lunch (she's a saint). We are still planning for a Katelemwa Rehab Center clinic on Aug. 13 to be held at the city offices tho' no formal response from the city.....Sister and I met w. the Mayor but he said we had to send a formal letter and they would have to meet - it doesn't seem he's too eager to host the clinic and have people come to the town for assistance!

Thursday a.m. I got the Math exam done - kids did well in both exams. The rest are doing exams next week (but I'll be home - YEA). Weds. nite I got bitten in bed by something - a lot of bites...was afraid it was bed bugs but the bites are big so maybe it was a spider...washed sheets, sprayed, put everything out in the sun - reminded me of the old head lice days!!!

The family who was going to come Thursday never made it unfortunately - the girl is a PCV and mom is a PT and wanted to see what we do (or don't do) at PH - mom got really sick on Thursday (it happens) and didn't feel up to the matatu ride - very understandable!!! Lots of people came Friday for the 5K so it was busy enough! One of the older PCVs from the "new" group stayed w. me and stayed over Sat. nite, too. She's older like me and has had an interesting life - did some college teaching and lots of traveling. Good to have the company tho' PH had visitors from the US on Sat. afternoon and I was there a lot! Guess we are all pretty adept at entertaining ourselves!!!

It's August already - the time waiting for my trip home went FAST!! Cross you fingers that all the flights are on time - I don't think I can wait to land in Minneapolis beyond my expected time! Have a fairly long layover in Amsterdam (5 hours) but I enjoy being in airports. Looking forward to seeing many of you! Some I will have to wait to see till next April (darn).....it will go SO fast!!!