Little Over 2 Months to Go - 1-21-10

It's counting down - know I probably shouldn't count days, but it's hard not to....still lots I want to do!

Today has been "interesting"....can't resist telling the story while it's fresh! Wanted to come to Kampala to finally pick up my new passport (ordered in October!) at the Embassy - came on Monday but the Embassy was closed (but that's another story)...today the first matatu to leave Nkokonjeru was later than usual (no one going anywhere) and we got into bad traffic nearing town. Got to the connecting park and the matatu to Gaba had gone so I waited...and waited. Finally gave in and took a taxi cab after much disagreement on the price. Got to the Embassy and was in line to register and a Ugandan lady budged ahead of me (a national pasttime). I was very adamant that she get behind me...I didn't say it, but thought, "I am an American citizen and this is MY Embassy!". Got inside and they kept asking if I had an appt. I said, "no, I got an e-mail (in Oct.) to just come and pick up my new passport"...well, they've apparently changed their protocol since October and I did need an appointment! I was ready to cry and pull the trump card - "last week I was at lunch across from the Ambassador and chatting w. him" (which I was, at COS)...but they relented and gave me the passport and punched holes in my old one so I could keep it. THink I looked pretty pitiful!

Took the matatu back to the taxi park, then a matatu to near the PC office when a torrential downpour started - got soaked on the way to the office, but it's O.K. Have a problem w. my right big toe - ripped the toenail awhile ago bumping into a rock in the sidewalk and just recently it's been hurting so I had to get antibiotics from the nurses (we'll see how that goes - she said it's a mild one for skin infections - Dicloxacillin for the medical folk - so hope there's no stomach trouble). Blogging now and then will turn in my SPA report (hope it's O.K. since it's all longhand) and return to Nkokonjeru via Mukono PO!

O.K. Back to end of COS (last THursday).On the taxi to Mukono we stopped at a police check and guess there's a new law (or an old law that's seldom enforced) that no live chickens are supposed to be inside the taxi. The police woman confiscated 3 chickens and fined the driver 3,000 shilling - which we guessed was for oil to fry the chickens!!!

Power was out for 5 days while we were gone - back on when we returned tho - YEA! I had to go "grocery shoppping" in town - got a pineapple, a papaya, 2 small eggplants, 4 tomatoes, 3 bananas and a small cabbage - for 3200 shillings - ($1.60). If I stay in the village I'd be rich!!!

We're having a problem with animal feeds, but we need to sell a pig and start selling eggs - they are coming! Becky is doing the ABC class with the little kids and I'm so glad it's her and not me - she's working HARD....even teaching the Hokey Pokey!!!

I'm starting back to "work" slowly. Sister "found" the Hilton Grant application in our Nkokonjeru PO box (the PO here has been resurected)...lots of work to do since it's due in the US on Feb. 1!!!! Our initial proposal made the cut but now the work of completing the application! Where do they get those questions?? Friday Sr. was working weeding the new bananas and said we could do it Sunday - she loves farming - her stress reliever!!!

Reading A Lion Among Men - the 3rd in the Wicked series - I'm really enjoying it but need to re-read Son of a Witch - starting a library list for when I get home.

Chickens are starting to produce and we're going to give a bunch to the kids and then start selling to the bakery - YEA!

Saturday, Becky and I went to Mukono to do errands and had a lovely lunch at the Colline Hotel..so "civilized"!!! Had supper at Shari's - stuffed green peppers - very good! A very nice day!

Sunday was also pretty quiet. Shari was helping me take pictures off my camera cards for a vidoe for COS - we all are supposed to send in 10 pics, but I have very few (on 2 cards) w. me in them!!! Also, we're putting together some prints from the Lira introduction into an album for the bride!

Monday was my first trip this week to Kamapla - if I had had a day like that one even a year ago I'd have cried - now it's just "oh, well, some good came of it". I got on the early taxi - left Nkoko at 6:15, changed taxis and was at the Embassy to pick up my passport by 7:50!!! Amazing! But the Embassy was closed - a Holiday the guard said. I asked "WHAT HOLIDAY, PRESIDENT'S DAY?" He asked around and it was MLK Day - got by us all! Came back into town, looked for some material but didn't find what I wanted, took a matatu up to near the PC office and walked over. It was also closed so I couldn't turn in my SPA grant report, but the volunteer lounge was open and I did e-mail and got my Oct. - Dec Quarterly Report done, got into some good conversations and got four new books to read. Left and got some groceries, prints and bought two solar power lights for Moses and Kinene - they also charge phones which is a problem when people don't have power. We saw them at the Conference - theres a Retired Peace Corps Volunteer (RPCV - which we will be soon) who works for the distributor here. Got to Mukono and the PO and had a great package from Anne w. Newsweeks and Messengers - things are really coming late, but I'm thrilled w. a Nov. 2 Newsweek! Saw my letter in the Messenger in print (and many other good ones - well done!). I was so excited about reading the magazines I got on the wrong matatu in Mukono and was going to Katosi instead of Nkokonjeru....fortunately, they both pass through Kisoga, and I looked up from my magazine as we rounded the corner turning away from Nkokonjeru. Yelled at the driver to STOP and had to sheepishly get off and walk back to the center of town and wait for the Nkokonjeru matatu. But it was a good day!

Finiahed LION and started The Curve of the World (from the PC lending library) - dreadful book about a Coke rep on his way to So. Africa when his plane goes down in the jungle in the Congo; a local militia group boards and holds them hostage; he escapes into the jungle (and is surprised that it's so dense and so big???); the other hostages get rescued but he's lost in the jungle. His wife and their son (who's 7 and blind) come to the Congo and go out to a the jungle to find him - in my estimation they are both so clueless they should stay in the jungle!!!

Esoteric questions: I had a problem w. The Lost Symbol - and so the did the PCV who read it after me - does anyone know how Sato got the video she shows Bellamy?

Holly's dad (Fred) and sister (Heather) arrived on Sunday nite and they came out to Nkokonjeru Monday - really seem to be fitting in well!!! They, too, are glad to see all the people in town who take care of us!!!

Tuesday Becky, Moses and Sula took 2 clients to CoRSU (I stayed back to catch up)- one new, a 3 year old bow w. really badly bowed legs and Justine. Marvin (the little boy w. pussing sores) didn't come a 2nd time after several calls so now he's off the list - darn!! Might send Moses out to see why but don't know if it's worth the cost. Without the 2nd course (6 mos) of meds for TB the lst (2 months) round will be wasted! Maybe he got better and they decided it was good enough; or he didn't and they gave up! So frustrating. But, Justine is doing really well - Dr. Antonio is very pleased!!

Wednesday a.m. we had a neat Welcome/Farewell for Holly's family at PH - little kids did several songs and dances - they love performing. I actually got a little teary thinking I won't know what happens to these kids. Then we went out to Kavule - the convent overlooking Lake Victoria - bad roads, but the view is just breathtaking!!

Sister sold the big male pig - YEA - he'd gotten too big to service our three smaller females and was eating a lot; so now there's money to buy more feeds for the remaining pigs. The two big females are pregnant - due in 2 and 3 months - and now we'll have to get a male to breed w. the 3 hybrid ones. I want to find a good one! Fred worked out an agreement w. Sr. Benna to sell eggs as we get them - so the chickens are becoming productive. The cow's production is down, but we got brewer's mash Monday, so we expect that to pick up. Vincent (the regular animal manager) still isn't back and the boy taking care of them is tiring! I'm still hoping he returns - we need him!

Apparently Sr. Goretti is leaving - she'll go to the assignment she was meant to have last year when Sr. Juliet begged the powers that be to let her stay. But, today, Sr. J is picking up a "new" worker for PH. I don't think it's a very choice assignment - too many problems - but they do practice obedience.

Tomorrow Becky and I are taking Edward, the boy who has bad vision and is in a wheelchair, to Jinja to an eye specialist...don't know what can be done, but Sister wants to try.

Hope you all are well - I'm not crazy about professional football, but "GO VIKINGS". How is the winter? Making it through? (like you had a choice) - it's really been hot, dry and dusty here! Take care - and thanks again and again for your support and prayers!!! I'm excited to be going home soon and seeing everyone!