Hope you are all having a great Thanksgiving weekend! Not a holiday here - tho' tomorrow may be a holiday - it's another one of those movable Muslim holidays that depend on the moon....won't know till tonite!!! Came to type and check e-mails and blog and it's taking a long time. Wanted to send a small proposal, but couldn't type in Nkokonjeru - our printer is out of ink and the one you can use for hire isn't working because they shop didn't pay their electric bill!!!! After I'm done here will go on to the graduation ceremony of our outreach worker, Moses, from his training program - it's just in the next town, but I'm getting late (got going this morning later than expected - matatu was slow to fill in Nkokonjeru - and it's slow going here)....but I expect it will start late. This blog should be mercifully short - don't think I'll get back for the weekend because of the Christmas Program on Sunday so will get it done now!
Marathon get-together last weekend was fun (if you didn't run)....it wasn't as well organized as last year and the the route was different...last 3 miles were uphill!!! Was surprised by all the begging children around - apparently they have "handlers" who hide in the bushes and these tiny kids hold up their hands (especially to muzungus).. The police are all around just watching!!! No social services here!
Got back to PH on Sunday in time to catch the Christmas program practice. Sr. Juliet was reviewing and cut a bunch of songs - it was WAY too long and she cut the popular lip-synch ones - the kids were upset, but she said "It's a Christmas Program, not a disco show!". Keyboard man continues to be unreliable, but great when he comes!
On Monday the kids slaughtered 150 chickens and we took them to Kampala to sell. Several of the previously sick ones Sister bought from Sula died and one of hers died so she decided to cut her losses and take them. None of our layers have gotten sick (thankfully) - no common people working on both groups so I'm hopeful!
I went to Kamapla w. Sula (and the chicken bodies) - I volunteered to accompany Nususla to see the plastic surgeon at CoRSU Hospital for a review. She's the 15 year old who, several years ago, had a huge tumor behind her right eye; it was removed very badly and she had more plastic surgery in August to try to cover the hole. She was upset because it's still oozing some pus, but the plastic surgeon (from the U.K.) said it looked "fantastic"!!! It's still really ugly, but it's healing nicely. She has a big bandage on it all the time and it has to be irrigated and dressed daily. I felt bad for her on the matatu (we took one from Kampala to Entebbe) - people just turned and STARED! She handled it well but was glad to get back to the truck in Kampala for the ride home.
We had company when we got back - Adrian, who is a British Airways pilot and donor to Providence Home - his small group bought the truck, part of the boys' dorm, the generator, etc. Nice guy and fun to talk to. However, when I got to my apt. (6:30) someone had stolen by good Eddie Bauer capris! That's all they took off the clothes line on my veranda - and they even replaced the clothes pins!!! Bummers - I was going to leave them here,but wasn't ready to part w. them yet! Went back to dinner and we all talked till 11 p.m.!
Tuesday Sister J, Nelson, Jasmine and I went w. Adrian to Kavule - the convent overlooking Lake Victoria - it is absolutely a breathtaking view! Went down to the lake and stopped by Sr. Juliet's home. Fun afternoon.....more talking at dinner. All this social time is wearing me out!
Wednesday a.m. Adrian left and Sr. Juliet and I worked on a proposal (I typed and sent today) to the Church of the Latter Day Saints in Uganda who may be able to donate some wheelchairs and tricycles (heavy three-wheeled chairs that operate w. crank handles). Then we went to a Grand Opening of one of the new handicapped accessible latrines at a village school - big event. The money was donated by the Rotary of Ireland and U.K. and co-ordianted by Cheshire Foundation.... Lots and lots of speeches in which everyone took credit for the building of the latrines at 10 district schools!! The National Chairman of Cheshire Uganda told everyone that every disabled child should go to school (good idea) and that if there children were too disabled they could send them to Providence Home for rehabilitation and surgery (Cheshire does not provide any funding for PH)....I asked him afterwards if we could send him the bills - he laughed, nervously, and said "no way". PH is still called (by some - and it's on the letterhead) Providence Cheshire Home, but they haven't supported it for 7 years!!!
Animals are doing well - the girl, Sara, who's helping w.the chickens WAY overfed them and we were out of food 2 weeks. The boys were giving the food previously and watched the amounts, but Sara felt the more the better!!! Fred talked to them and we're back to the boys measuring the feed - till Sara asserts herself again!!!
Things are winding down for classes - report cards "should" be done today and to Sister for her comments. Program is Sunday - we are setting up a "display room" with all the things the kids have made so parents can see them. Costumes are all made and ready to be given out.....I'm instituting a signout book for costumes so we are a little more sure they may be returned after the program!
Next week I start on my year end reports and then December 13 - 17 I am going to Rwanda to see my sponsor children. Nothing special for Thanksgiving....Holly and Shari have been on the move and we thought about eating at PH, but Sr. Goretti is sick - she's waiting for surgery to have her appendix removed and there's been several postponements at the hospital - hopefully, it will get done next Monday. If we eat there she'll try to cook and she's really not well enough. So plans change!!!
Hope you all are full of turkey - next year I intend to really go for it!!! Am so thankful for family and friends, faith, and especially for good health (when you see the effects of poor health all around it really makes you appreciate it). It's been a great 22 months, but I'll also be VERY thankful to be back in Minnesota!!!
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Happy Thanksgiving To All - Nov. 21, 2009
I'm in Kampala for the weekend - tomorrow is the Kampala Marathon and several PCVs are running all or the shorter races. I was just at the internet cafe at the Garden City Mall and it was SO slow, I asked for my money back (took 20 minutes to do one e-mail).....went to get a bagel and met up with a bunch of "the kids" and am now at another internet cafe and it's FAST!!! Like in U.S. fast!
It was a good week - all our exams are now given in the vocational school and I'm waiting for the other teachers to complete their grade reports! Looking forward to a less hectic schedule for two months. Will work on year end reports for Sister (shoes, CBR, school) and do my final grant report. Our PH printer is out of ink so I may have to do it all at the PC office, but that's O.K. I'm planning to go to Rwanda the 14th to see my Compassion "kids" there - Compassion will take me out to Faustin's home (12) and I'll see Plusca (22) and her daughter Elsa in Kigali where they live (Plusca just finished her final Secondary exams). A little less grand trip than we took as a group in 2006 when we stayed at the Mille Coline Hotel - but I'm up for it!!!
Tried to divide my exams by ability group - English had 3 versions - the most advanced group had to write a short story from an article I gave them. We hadn't really worked on that and it was hard - most just copied the required 7-10 sentences from the article, but that's O.K. For Math I had 4 different exams based on ability (and one large print one for Edward, who can hardly see).
Sister was paying some teachers and actually got out the attendance log book and only paid the tailoring teacher for the days he taught! He was upset - said he shouldn't be held to "muzungu standards" - I told him at the start of the term it would happen!!! The students have lost a lot of teaching time (he was there for 14 classes; absent for 12 - and late for most of the ones he did attend). Not at all uncommon in many schools, but it makes me furious!
We have been having a lot of rain - both at night and during the day - huge rainstorms. Puddles last all day which is unusual....the ground must be saturated! More rain than last year - the good news is that the power outages are shorter - never more than one day!!!
Tuesday was one of "those" days - agriculture teacher came late for exam because of rain (he walks in 4 km...and has a limp); found out the pigs have no more food - it's gone faster than expected because our "temporary replacement" animal manager is not giving greens in the afternoon - "too much work" he said (Vincent's - the regular manager - wife is still not doing well after the baby); ag teacher complained that one boy was copying from his notebook during the exam - he expected it all to be from memory and it was a LOT (more than most of our kids can do - or me!)......he refused to accept the kids' paper but then said it was up to me! Sister bought some of Sula's broiler chickens to fatten up for Christmas sale, and I'm nervous about then being close to our layers since his chickens have been so sick!. Sister said she wants to buy a bull after her problems finding a suitor for Maria (cow)....not a good idea in my opinion esp. since she wants to use the proceeds from the pigs to do it and we need that money for pig food! Nelson and I are trying to plan a trip to CoRSU and Katelemwa for Thursday - it's a stuggle to get people to plan two days ahead! Went to my apartment at 4:00 for a cup of tea, congratulating myself for staying calm (I still have some peanut butter cups and allow myself one on days when I'm a good girl - probably why they have lasted so long!).
Wednesday I was on my way to get the matatu to Mukono at 6 a.m. to use the internet and Sula came by w. the truck - he was going w. the headmistress of St. Peters Secondary School to the Mukono police station to pick up the National Exams for their S-6 (final year) students.....we also picked up two Nkokonjeru policeofficers - w. guns!!! to guard the exams. Exams here are a BIG deal - like in Europe....they mean everything! Kids take 12-16 exams over 2 weeks - and they are long and full of things to remember! I don't know how they do it...many sleep only 2-3 hours a nite.
Re-reading Empire Falls - still good. Want to see the movie when I get home - esp. since I learned Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are in it!!!
Thursday, we got the group organized to go to Kampala - Nelson was heading the trip and I stayed back (knew it would be a long day).....Justine went and also the little boy w. the sores (Marvin) who were due for review at CoRSU (orthopedic hospital)....both were actually ready on time. Two students went from PH who needed new applicances from Katelemwa Rehabilitation Center.....and also a Sister and another resident who wanted to go that day!!! Still having a problem w. people contributing for fuel, but let it pass this time (probably not a good idea but we really wanted those two to go and both are really poor). I have some money in our "CBR fund" thanks to your generous donations, but I'm trying to make it last - plus, we really believe that a contribution is important...gives them a vested interest in the program - although those two moms are really working hard to keep their kids treated. I was so happy to see Marvin - his mom and he were at PH at 6 a.m.!!! We said we'd leave at 7:00 - actually didn't leave till 8:30 due to additions to the riders, but I think it spoke volumes about her commitment to seeing her son treated - even the dad is now on board she said (previously he told Moses he'd given up on the boy - said "no more money" for Marvin's treatment).
Holly and I went on a long walk Thursday nite - part of the way we accompanied a blind lady to her home (she's a former teacher of the blind)...amazes me how she remembers all our names by our voice - and how she finds the path to her home w. her white stick!!!
Friday was the math exam; I was also trying to get laundry done and with the rains I kept putting it out, taking it in......there's no "throw it in the drier" here!!!
Nelson's report on the Kampala trip was great - they returned at 9 p.m. but got everything done! Dr. Antonio was very please with Marvin's progress after taking the TB drugs - sores are healing and he's put on some weight! Justine was treated like a queen - she was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened and was there for 210 days; Nelson said they all got lunch thanks to her mom who went to the kitchen and asked! Not as successful at Katelemwa. We had left some leg braces there to be re-sized and the man who does the work was canned and all the things he was working on (and the measurements) are "lost"! They have to start all over - Nelson argued, successfully, that we shouldn't have to pay for a new pair since it was just a re-adjustment and it was their fault they were gone.....I'll have to check the bill carefully to make sure they don't try to sneak it in!
So, that was the week - next week looks pretty good. Lots of practice for the Christmas Program (on the 29th).....the skirts for the choir are all made (thanks to the 2 advanced sewing kids).....
We need to get the rooms ready for an "open house" and display of things made (or grown).
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving - so much to be thankful for - good health always comes up on top for me. I see so much sickness here it's a constant reminder!!! Sr. Goretti may be having her appendix out Monday at the Nkokonjeru Hospital - she's been having a lot of pain and is ready for the operation - please pray for her! I may got to CoRSU on Monday w. Nusula (the girl who had the tumor removed from behind her eye)...she is taking "public" (matatu) and doesn't want to go alone. If I think people stare at me as a muzungu, it must be a lot worse for her!!
Thanks to all for your continued support - the time is going fast but I can't wait to be home (although not in winter yet). Again, Happy Thanksgiving!!!
It was a good week - all our exams are now given in the vocational school and I'm waiting for the other teachers to complete their grade reports! Looking forward to a less hectic schedule for two months. Will work on year end reports for Sister (shoes, CBR, school) and do my final grant report. Our PH printer is out of ink so I may have to do it all at the PC office, but that's O.K. I'm planning to go to Rwanda the 14th to see my Compassion "kids" there - Compassion will take me out to Faustin's home (12) and I'll see Plusca (22) and her daughter Elsa in Kigali where they live (Plusca just finished her final Secondary exams). A little less grand trip than we took as a group in 2006 when we stayed at the Mille Coline Hotel - but I'm up for it!!!
Tried to divide my exams by ability group - English had 3 versions - the most advanced group had to write a short story from an article I gave them. We hadn't really worked on that and it was hard - most just copied the required 7-10 sentences from the article, but that's O.K. For Math I had 4 different exams based on ability (and one large print one for Edward, who can hardly see).
Sister was paying some teachers and actually got out the attendance log book and only paid the tailoring teacher for the days he taught! He was upset - said he shouldn't be held to "muzungu standards" - I told him at the start of the term it would happen!!! The students have lost a lot of teaching time (he was there for 14 classes; absent for 12 - and late for most of the ones he did attend). Not at all uncommon in many schools, but it makes me furious!
We have been having a lot of rain - both at night and during the day - huge rainstorms. Puddles last all day which is unusual....the ground must be saturated! More rain than last year - the good news is that the power outages are shorter - never more than one day!!!
Tuesday was one of "those" days - agriculture teacher came late for exam because of rain (he walks in 4 km...and has a limp); found out the pigs have no more food - it's gone faster than expected because our "temporary replacement" animal manager is not giving greens in the afternoon - "too much work" he said (Vincent's - the regular manager - wife is still not doing well after the baby); ag teacher complained that one boy was copying from his notebook during the exam - he expected it all to be from memory and it was a LOT (more than most of our kids can do - or me!)......he refused to accept the kids' paper but then said it was up to me! Sister bought some of Sula's broiler chickens to fatten up for Christmas sale, and I'm nervous about then being close to our layers since his chickens have been so sick!. Sister said she wants to buy a bull after her problems finding a suitor for Maria (cow)....not a good idea in my opinion esp. since she wants to use the proceeds from the pigs to do it and we need that money for pig food! Nelson and I are trying to plan a trip to CoRSU and Katelemwa for Thursday - it's a stuggle to get people to plan two days ahead! Went to my apartment at 4:00 for a cup of tea, congratulating myself for staying calm (I still have some peanut butter cups and allow myself one on days when I'm a good girl - probably why they have lasted so long!).
Wednesday I was on my way to get the matatu to Mukono at 6 a.m. to use the internet and Sula came by w. the truck - he was going w. the headmistress of St. Peters Secondary School to the Mukono police station to pick up the National Exams for their S-6 (final year) students.....we also picked up two Nkokonjeru policeofficers - w. guns!!! to guard the exams. Exams here are a BIG deal - like in Europe....they mean everything! Kids take 12-16 exams over 2 weeks - and they are long and full of things to remember! I don't know how they do it...many sleep only 2-3 hours a nite.
Re-reading Empire Falls - still good. Want to see the movie when I get home - esp. since I learned Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward are in it!!!
Thursday, we got the group organized to go to Kampala - Nelson was heading the trip and I stayed back (knew it would be a long day).....Justine went and also the little boy w. the sores (Marvin) who were due for review at CoRSU (orthopedic hospital)....both were actually ready on time. Two students went from PH who needed new applicances from Katelemwa Rehabilitation Center.....and also a Sister and another resident who wanted to go that day!!! Still having a problem w. people contributing for fuel, but let it pass this time (probably not a good idea but we really wanted those two to go and both are really poor). I have some money in our "CBR fund" thanks to your generous donations, but I'm trying to make it last - plus, we really believe that a contribution is important...gives them a vested interest in the program - although those two moms are really working hard to keep their kids treated. I was so happy to see Marvin - his mom and he were at PH at 6 a.m.!!! We said we'd leave at 7:00 - actually didn't leave till 8:30 due to additions to the riders, but I think it spoke volumes about her commitment to seeing her son treated - even the dad is now on board she said (previously he told Moses he'd given up on the boy - said "no more money" for Marvin's treatment).
Holly and I went on a long walk Thursday nite - part of the way we accompanied a blind lady to her home (she's a former teacher of the blind)...amazes me how she remembers all our names by our voice - and how she finds the path to her home w. her white stick!!!
Friday was the math exam; I was also trying to get laundry done and with the rains I kept putting it out, taking it in......there's no "throw it in the drier" here!!!
Nelson's report on the Kampala trip was great - they returned at 9 p.m. but got everything done! Dr. Antonio was very please with Marvin's progress after taking the TB drugs - sores are healing and he's put on some weight! Justine was treated like a queen - she was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened and was there for 210 days; Nelson said they all got lunch thanks to her mom who went to the kitchen and asked! Not as successful at Katelemwa. We had left some leg braces there to be re-sized and the man who does the work was canned and all the things he was working on (and the measurements) are "lost"! They have to start all over - Nelson argued, successfully, that we shouldn't have to pay for a new pair since it was just a re-adjustment and it was their fault they were gone.....I'll have to check the bill carefully to make sure they don't try to sneak it in!
So, that was the week - next week looks pretty good. Lots of practice for the Christmas Program (on the 29th).....the skirts for the choir are all made (thanks to the 2 advanced sewing kids).....
We need to get the rooms ready for an "open house" and display of things made (or grown).
Hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving - so much to be thankful for - good health always comes up on top for me. I see so much sickness here it's a constant reminder!!! Sr. Goretti may be having her appendix out Monday at the Nkokonjeru Hospital - she's been having a lot of pain and is ready for the operation - please pray for her! I may got to CoRSU on Monday w. Nusula (the girl who had the tumor removed from behind her eye)...she is taking "public" (matatu) and doesn't want to go alone. If I think people stare at me as a muzungu, it must be a lot worse for her!!
Thanks to all for your continued support - the time is going fast but I can't wait to be home (although not in winter yet). Again, Happy Thanksgiving!!!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
It's Sunday a.m. and I'm back in Mukono to blog. Mass today was at 7:00 because the priests are going to some celebration and I got here about 10 and it was going great,but then the place filled up and it got SLOW!!! Oh, well, at least it's on - thanks to a generator (no power in Mukono).
It was a busy week - next week is final exams for our little vocational program and always is a rush - I was typing exams, but didn't realize the printer ink was finished so everyone (including me) had to hand write their exams! Learning to adapt (?). Next Sunday is the Kampala Marathon - Holly is doing the 10K so I'll go and watch...other volunteers are doing 1/2s and wholes....it will be a fun gathering.
Last Saturday after I blogged Shari and her friend Michelle had a dinner for a group of local PCVs...tempura, terriyaki beef, rice,sushi, fresh veggies and greens - VERY good!!! Most of our group's conversation now centers on what we'll do when we leave Uganda - nearly everyone's primary focus is home or post service travel!!!
Sunday, Sr. Goretti made my favorite meal of liver and chips (fries) and pineapple...really sweet of her. I worked on laundry, English prep (review for exam) and then sat in on practice for the Christmas Program (Sunday Nov. 29)...it's pretty rough,but it will pull off (I hope). We have the keyboard guy and the sound guy booked and will get some new costumes - really sparks up the performance.
I got two packets of newspaper articles from Corky and as I was reading realized that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize - talk about feeling out of touch!!! Now that she's home Maria says we're not missing much w/o TV, but I do miss the news.
Monday, Sister J. wanted to plant banana suckers so all the "walkers" (5) had to work - even the other went to watch for awhile, so English class was canceled. Banana trees (which aren't really trees) don't produce seeds - they grow "suckers" from the main stalk which you can cut and plant. The trees take about a year to produce bananas and then you cut down the main tree and go w. the sucker (keeps up for about 5 years). Actually, our suckers were bought from a demonstration farm and were grown in a lab from leaf tissue,but that's more than you need to know. We'd budgeted for 130 suckers in the grant and Sister had the prisioners dig holes, but someone forgot to tell them to stop! She ended up w. 400 holes!!! We got 250 suckers from the farm and the rest are taken from local trees. The kids worked so hard, helped a lot by a local man who's sort of crazy but works like a demon!!! I tried to help, too - the holes are 3' x 3' x 3'. You put manure in each one (we also spent time getting extra manure from the novitiates pig barn - we'd used all ours up)....then, push the sucker into the manure and put a little black dirt around the plant....it's quite a project being down in the hole, pushing the suckers into the manure - I didn't start till afternoon and I was bushed!!! (and smelly).
I had spent the morning w. Sr. Goretti measuring students for a possible gift of some wheelchairs and tricycles (three wheeled chairs you propel w. a hand crank - very usefull on the road). We had visitors from the Mormon church who have an office in Uganda and said they may be able to get us some - would be great for the tailors and shoemakers who will start w. a mobile workshop....cross your fingers!!! Also, went to check on a sponsored child for someone in the U.S. who is sending money to an uncle after a visit here. It was legit (payments were being made) but it pays to check it out!! So, I was a late worker in the banana fields (thank goodness)....am thinking tho' that banana sucker planting is not a skill that's highly marketable in Minnesota!
On the way to the school, I saw the Nkokonjeru Public Works Dept....one guy w. a shovel and hoe, digging dirt out of the ditch and throwing it on the huge gullies in the road!!!
Tuesday I got the English exam review done - great walk in the p.m. w. Holly - she really books!!!
Wednesday am I went to Mukono early for my bi-weekly internet fix. In the afternoon I was back and we had a BIG rain and hailstorm. I was really worried for the banana suckers, but we went out and they were a bit beaten, but fine. Guess that's an advantage of being at the bottom of a 3 foot hole!!!
Having a lot of frustration lately w. people asking for money - maybe because I'm getting close to the end, but it's been pretty constant. I never given anyone money directly (per China's hint when I first arrived), but it keeps up - some are big - business start up, house - some smaller - bicycle, school fees - and some really small - candy,chipati - but it really gets annoying!!! I can usually brush it off, but some days I have a harder time!!!
Thursday Sr. Goretti and I went to Kampala w. Sula in the truck for costume material - trip went really well and we got 27 blue T-shirts and material for 20+ skirts (blue and white).....Sr. Goretti loves blue!! Good prices on both....less than anticipated.
Sr. Juliet didn't go but spent the a.m. looking for a bull in the area that could service Maria (the cow - she was in heat and you only have 24 hours). Hilarious story about her search for the perfect suitor - some were too young, some too short, some not a good breed. She finally "rented" one and he got the job done...she was worried about our cow shed so they had to tether the cow outside!!!
The production sewers are making baby dresses for sale and they were totally unaware of how to price them (I hadn't let them know the fabric costs) so we went over that - they'd grossly underestimated the amount of material they were using (they guessed 1/2 yd./dress - it was actually 2 yards!!). We have to charge enough to at least cover cost.....I'm worried about sustainablity. Also, having trouble w. the guy who's selling the milk (our regular animal manager is home w. his wife and new baby for a bit)....he's not turning in all the money and Sr. Goretti is concerned, but no one wants to confront him (and he speaks no English). In the midst of this 3 boys left shoemaking class because they didn't want to mop the floor after Didas told them to do it. I just lost it - I'm embarrassed about it now! Yelled at everyone - sewing kids, the 3 boys - even got angry w. Sr. Goretti! Finally calmed down and apologized to all - when did I forget it's not my stuff? It was all given to PH and they have to manage it the best they can! Humbling afternoon!
Saturday we had the first ever PH Staff Party - everyone contributed and the women cooked tons of food and we all went in the truck to a place about an hour away called Sezebbwa Falls - very nice time despite some rain showers. We had 21 staff - 8 in the front of the double cabin truck, 13 in back w. the sound system, generator and the food - quite the ride.....seemed very Peace Corps (Holly came too). A very good afternoon!!! Holly and I came back before the serious dancing started - can't compete w. Africans!!! Also, there were 13 people from Bake for Life in Holland coming to PH and the kids were doing a welcome (my excuse).
So, that's the week....lots of my usual ups and downs (and one BIG down). I'm looking forward to the end of the school term, the end of the program and the exit of many of the kids for two months......and some down time. End of year reports to do, but there's no rush!!! I'm planning to go to Rwanda in mid-December to see my sponsor children and our COS (Close Of Service) conference is in mid-January where we learn everything we need to know about paperwork (a specialty in federal agencies).
Hope you are all well and enjoying the fall (or is it winter?). We are still getting lots of rain (thank goodness-can't imagine carrying water to 400 banana plants). I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers - keeps me going!!! Good luck to all in the busy (and sometimes difficult) holiday season!!!
It was a busy week - next week is final exams for our little vocational program and always is a rush - I was typing exams, but didn't realize the printer ink was finished so everyone (including me) had to hand write their exams! Learning to adapt (?). Next Sunday is the Kampala Marathon - Holly is doing the 10K so I'll go and watch...other volunteers are doing 1/2s and wholes....it will be a fun gathering.
Last Saturday after I blogged Shari and her friend Michelle had a dinner for a group of local PCVs...tempura, terriyaki beef, rice,sushi, fresh veggies and greens - VERY good!!! Most of our group's conversation now centers on what we'll do when we leave Uganda - nearly everyone's primary focus is home or post service travel!!!
Sunday, Sr. Goretti made my favorite meal of liver and chips (fries) and pineapple...really sweet of her. I worked on laundry, English prep (review for exam) and then sat in on practice for the Christmas Program (Sunday Nov. 29)...it's pretty rough,but it will pull off (I hope). We have the keyboard guy and the sound guy booked and will get some new costumes - really sparks up the performance.
I got two packets of newspaper articles from Corky and as I was reading realized that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize - talk about feeling out of touch!!! Now that she's home Maria says we're not missing much w/o TV, but I do miss the news.
Monday, Sister J. wanted to plant banana suckers so all the "walkers" (5) had to work - even the other went to watch for awhile, so English class was canceled. Banana trees (which aren't really trees) don't produce seeds - they grow "suckers" from the main stalk which you can cut and plant. The trees take about a year to produce bananas and then you cut down the main tree and go w. the sucker (keeps up for about 5 years). Actually, our suckers were bought from a demonstration farm and were grown in a lab from leaf tissue,but that's more than you need to know. We'd budgeted for 130 suckers in the grant and Sister had the prisioners dig holes, but someone forgot to tell them to stop! She ended up w. 400 holes!!! We got 250 suckers from the farm and the rest are taken from local trees. The kids worked so hard, helped a lot by a local man who's sort of crazy but works like a demon!!! I tried to help, too - the holes are 3' x 3' x 3'. You put manure in each one (we also spent time getting extra manure from the novitiates pig barn - we'd used all ours up)....then, push the sucker into the manure and put a little black dirt around the plant....it's quite a project being down in the hole, pushing the suckers into the manure - I didn't start till afternoon and I was bushed!!! (and smelly).
I had spent the morning w. Sr. Goretti measuring students for a possible gift of some wheelchairs and tricycles (three wheeled chairs you propel w. a hand crank - very usefull on the road). We had visitors from the Mormon church who have an office in Uganda and said they may be able to get us some - would be great for the tailors and shoemakers who will start w. a mobile workshop....cross your fingers!!! Also, went to check on a sponsored child for someone in the U.S. who is sending money to an uncle after a visit here. It was legit (payments were being made) but it pays to check it out!! So, I was a late worker in the banana fields (thank goodness)....am thinking tho' that banana sucker planting is not a skill that's highly marketable in Minnesota!
On the way to the school, I saw the Nkokonjeru Public Works Dept....one guy w. a shovel and hoe, digging dirt out of the ditch and throwing it on the huge gullies in the road!!!
Tuesday I got the English exam review done - great walk in the p.m. w. Holly - she really books!!!
Wednesday am I went to Mukono early for my bi-weekly internet fix. In the afternoon I was back and we had a BIG rain and hailstorm. I was really worried for the banana suckers, but we went out and they were a bit beaten, but fine. Guess that's an advantage of being at the bottom of a 3 foot hole!!!
Having a lot of frustration lately w. people asking for money - maybe because I'm getting close to the end, but it's been pretty constant. I never given anyone money directly (per China's hint when I first arrived), but it keeps up - some are big - business start up, house - some smaller - bicycle, school fees - and some really small - candy,chipati - but it really gets annoying!!! I can usually brush it off, but some days I have a harder time!!!
Thursday Sr. Goretti and I went to Kampala w. Sula in the truck for costume material - trip went really well and we got 27 blue T-shirts and material for 20+ skirts (blue and white).....Sr. Goretti loves blue!! Good prices on both....less than anticipated.
Sr. Juliet didn't go but spent the a.m. looking for a bull in the area that could service Maria (the cow - she was in heat and you only have 24 hours). Hilarious story about her search for the perfect suitor - some were too young, some too short, some not a good breed. She finally "rented" one and he got the job done...she was worried about our cow shed so they had to tether the cow outside!!!
The production sewers are making baby dresses for sale and they were totally unaware of how to price them (I hadn't let them know the fabric costs) so we went over that - they'd grossly underestimated the amount of material they were using (they guessed 1/2 yd./dress - it was actually 2 yards!!). We have to charge enough to at least cover cost.....I'm worried about sustainablity. Also, having trouble w. the guy who's selling the milk (our regular animal manager is home w. his wife and new baby for a bit)....he's not turning in all the money and Sr. Goretti is concerned, but no one wants to confront him (and he speaks no English). In the midst of this 3 boys left shoemaking class because they didn't want to mop the floor after Didas told them to do it. I just lost it - I'm embarrassed about it now! Yelled at everyone - sewing kids, the 3 boys - even got angry w. Sr. Goretti! Finally calmed down and apologized to all - when did I forget it's not my stuff? It was all given to PH and they have to manage it the best they can! Humbling afternoon!
Saturday we had the first ever PH Staff Party - everyone contributed and the women cooked tons of food and we all went in the truck to a place about an hour away called Sezebbwa Falls - very nice time despite some rain showers. We had 21 staff - 8 in the front of the double cabin truck, 13 in back w. the sound system, generator and the food - quite the ride.....seemed very Peace Corps (Holly came too). A very good afternoon!!! Holly and I came back before the serious dancing started - can't compete w. Africans!!! Also, there were 13 people from Bake for Life in Holland coming to PH and the kids were doing a welcome (my excuse).
So, that's the week....lots of my usual ups and downs (and one BIG down). I'm looking forward to the end of the school term, the end of the program and the exit of many of the kids for two months......and some down time. End of year reports to do, but there's no rush!!! I'm planning to go to Rwanda in mid-December to see my sponsor children and our COS (Close Of Service) conference is in mid-January where we learn everything we need to know about paperwork (a specialty in federal agencies).
Hope you are all well and enjoying the fall (or is it winter?). We are still getting lots of rain (thank goodness-can't imagine carrying water to 400 banana plants). I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers - keeps me going!!! Good luck to all in the busy (and sometimes difficult) holiday season!!!
Friday, November 6, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Am at Mukono bright and early Saturday a.m. - the guy opened at 7:15, I got a really good keyboard and it's working well - think this is one of those days where things work. It's been raining a LOT and the road in was pretty rutted, but there were 3 Sisters on the matatu which always makes me feel a lot safer. I told Jean, I feel like Anne of Green Gables - either "in the depths of despair" or "the heights of rapture" - depending on how things are going - I need to level a bit!!!
It's been a busy week at Providence Home - the end of last week I spent some afternoons rounding up kids to go dig/hoe (some were under their beds) - but, then I felt obligated to join them and didn't wear my gloves - BIG blisters!
I had a great weekend w. Beth and the PCVs in the area - nice to see some other projects/living quarters - I still like mine the best! Beth is really fluent in the language (she was PCV in Namibia before here) and I can see where it helps - I should have studied more!
Sunday nite Bert called - said Henry said "let's call Grandma in Africa" - he sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" - priceless.
School is going fast - next week is Revision (review) and the following week is Exams. The last week we're saving for practice for the Christmas Program (Nov. 29). Went w. the kids to "pull" beans Monday afternoon - again, after shagging them out of the dorms. Sister went to collect a stack of firewood she saw in our fields - cut illegally from the home's property (happens a lot). She'd been there Saturday and mentioned to our caretaker who lives there, that she would come Monday to take it; he (of course) denied any knowledge of the woodcutting!!! Well, Monday it was GONE!!! Sula followed the footprints and found it hidden in some bushes (and it was a big pile). The watchman stared in wonder!! They went to get it Tuesday a.m. and neighbors told Sister the watchman paid them 10,000 shillings to move it over the weekend!!! But he stays on - and he'll do it again. Sister says having him out there (it's far out) keeps people from stealing the crops (except him!!!).
Holly came back from Rwanda Monday night - they had a great time. Saw the Genocide memorial and even went to a resort on the shores of Lake Kivu - she said Rwanda was very organized and neat - very Euro/African! She lost her apt. key on the trip and Sr. Ambrose had to dig through the hospital's pile of extra keys to find one that opened it - keys are a constant problem here!!!
Had a cockroach in my bed Monday nite - I tried to deny it as he scampered over me looking for a way out - finally got up, turned on the light and sprayed him! UGH!
Having some zuccini and cukes from our garden, but the leaf mold is gaining - it's just been raining so much and think our American seeds can't handle the African climate and diseases!!
Tuesday the Sisters, Nelson, Jasimine and I went to the burial of an 8 year old who was coming to Nelson's Wednesday afternoon physical therapy. He was really crippled and could barely eat....sad case. His sister (11) also has sickle cell and looks bad too - such tragedies! Alex subbed for me in English class - I swear he does better than I do (also can re-explain in Lugandan). Had a great walk w. Holly - she books!!!! I feel much better and sleep better when we walk (and talk).
Wednesday I left at 6:30 to go to Mukono to use the internet - but the internet wasn't working. I tried the other internet cafes but no luck....came back and sat for over 2 hours punching the screen till it came on at 9:45!!! (Fortunately I had a book). Sister J was picking me up at 10 in the truck to go to Kampala, but (also fortunately) she started late (surprise?) and didn't get to Mukono till 11:15 so I got things done. (again the UP and DOWN)
Sr. Goretti and Sr. Juliet had stops in Kampala and Sula and I went to Entebee to the Orthopedic Hospital (CoRSU) to pick up Justine - she was finally going home!!! - after 8 solid months in the hospital w/o even a visit home for her or mom (or visits by the siblings at the hospital)!!! Dr. Antonio (the Italian surgeon) told me that after all that time of having the puss coming from the bone, he was desperate and tested her for TB - and she was positive (after having the regular coughing TB, if it's not treated, it can re-occur in other parts of the body). Her symptoms are not at all textbook for bone TB but one he got her on the anti-TB drugs she improved rapidly - she's walking a bit w. crutches and looks SO much better!!! She has to take the drugs for 8 months and then should be O.K. She was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened in April and was nearly dead when she got there! She and her mom were SO happy!!! We took them home and it is WAY, WAY back off the road in the forest - and then we had to walk down a path! Their home is mud and small, but it's home. They have some nice coffee trees but mom told Sr. Goretti that they "pre-sold" their crop to cover costs while they were at CoRSU so no income this season. I'm sure they are looking forward to a return to normal life.
We had the Epilipsy Clinic on Thursday - almost 60 people!! Moses is still at his class and Kinene's Uncle died and he couldn't come, so it was a bit confused but we made it thanks to our nurse, Juliet, and Stella (a disabled young woman from PH who recently graduated from the University but hasn't found a job)....great helpers!!!
Finished reading Into Africa by Craig Parker -he is/was a Professor at the U of Minnesota! Did research w. the lions of the Serengeti and the chimps of Gombe in Tanzania. Interesting book. He says there's a "mal d'Africa" - African sickness - and that people who go back to the "boring, temperate world" long for the color, chaos and edginess of Africa!! I'm not so sure! However, as he got older (and enjoyed his creature comforts more) his stays got shorter! Now reading The Spare Room...short book about a woman who takes care of a friend w. terminal cancer..also good!
Sister J and Sr. G and I are working on a small proposal for wheelchairs and tricycles - three wheeled chairs that move w. hand cranks - very sturdy and handy for mobility in the villages! We had visitors from the Church of the Latter Day Saints and they said they may be able to provide some - would be fabulous!!! We'll see....they are made in Jinja, Uganda and are really well made!
Friday I got in one math class - a bit of a struggle - doing money counting and change - some are good, but some have NO clue. Had a long (and late) staff meeting and missed the 2nd Math class. Then, Nelson and I went to Kinene's uncle's funeral - very big crowd. When we arrived they were reading the condolence letters and a guy was still varnishing the coffin!! People bring cloths to wrap the body - some fabric, some barkcloth - and guess there were late arrivals, because they had to take the wrapped body out of the coffin and add about 6 more layers!! Then stuff him back in and proceed to the burial site. People here are buried in family graveyards....after the coffin goes in they fill the hole up w. cement - so wearing rubber boots to the funeral means you are a close male friend or relative and are shoveling cement! The man was 83 and there were lots of older people - they have the most interesting faces - all lines and curves from years of hard, manual labor in the sun!
Hope you are all enjoying the fall - well, guess it's technically winter. All is going well here (today) - we've sold a few more piglets, cow is producing well and the chickens are healthy! What more can I ask for??? Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Mailed my school election ballot on Wednesday (I was able to get the copy to mail via e-mail - YEA!)....pretty exciting!
Happy Birthday Kody and Henry.....Best wishes to you all.
It's been a busy week at Providence Home - the end of last week I spent some afternoons rounding up kids to go dig/hoe (some were under their beds) - but, then I felt obligated to join them and didn't wear my gloves - BIG blisters!
I had a great weekend w. Beth and the PCVs in the area - nice to see some other projects/living quarters - I still like mine the best! Beth is really fluent in the language (she was PCV in Namibia before here) and I can see where it helps - I should have studied more!
Sunday nite Bert called - said Henry said "let's call Grandma in Africa" - he sang "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" - priceless.
School is going fast - next week is Revision (review) and the following week is Exams. The last week we're saving for practice for the Christmas Program (Nov. 29). Went w. the kids to "pull" beans Monday afternoon - again, after shagging them out of the dorms. Sister went to collect a stack of firewood she saw in our fields - cut illegally from the home's property (happens a lot). She'd been there Saturday and mentioned to our caretaker who lives there, that she would come Monday to take it; he (of course) denied any knowledge of the woodcutting!!! Well, Monday it was GONE!!! Sula followed the footprints and found it hidden in some bushes (and it was a big pile). The watchman stared in wonder!! They went to get it Tuesday a.m. and neighbors told Sister the watchman paid them 10,000 shillings to move it over the weekend!!! But he stays on - and he'll do it again. Sister says having him out there (it's far out) keeps people from stealing the crops (except him!!!).
Holly came back from Rwanda Monday night - they had a great time. Saw the Genocide memorial and even went to a resort on the shores of Lake Kivu - she said Rwanda was very organized and neat - very Euro/African! She lost her apt. key on the trip and Sr. Ambrose had to dig through the hospital's pile of extra keys to find one that opened it - keys are a constant problem here!!!
Had a cockroach in my bed Monday nite - I tried to deny it as he scampered over me looking for a way out - finally got up, turned on the light and sprayed him! UGH!
Having some zuccini and cukes from our garden, but the leaf mold is gaining - it's just been raining so much and think our American seeds can't handle the African climate and diseases!!
Tuesday the Sisters, Nelson, Jasimine and I went to the burial of an 8 year old who was coming to Nelson's Wednesday afternoon physical therapy. He was really crippled and could barely eat....sad case. His sister (11) also has sickle cell and looks bad too - such tragedies! Alex subbed for me in English class - I swear he does better than I do (also can re-explain in Lugandan). Had a great walk w. Holly - she books!!!! I feel much better and sleep better when we walk (and talk).
Wednesday I left at 6:30 to go to Mukono to use the internet - but the internet wasn't working. I tried the other internet cafes but no luck....came back and sat for over 2 hours punching the screen till it came on at 9:45!!! (Fortunately I had a book). Sister J was picking me up at 10 in the truck to go to Kampala, but (also fortunately) she started late (surprise?) and didn't get to Mukono till 11:15 so I got things done. (again the UP and DOWN)
Sr. Goretti and Sr. Juliet had stops in Kampala and Sula and I went to Entebee to the Orthopedic Hospital (CoRSU) to pick up Justine - she was finally going home!!! - after 8 solid months in the hospital w/o even a visit home for her or mom (or visits by the siblings at the hospital)!!! Dr. Antonio (the Italian surgeon) told me that after all that time of having the puss coming from the bone, he was desperate and tested her for TB - and she was positive (after having the regular coughing TB, if it's not treated, it can re-occur in other parts of the body). Her symptoms are not at all textbook for bone TB but one he got her on the anti-TB drugs she improved rapidly - she's walking a bit w. crutches and looks SO much better!!! She has to take the drugs for 8 months and then should be O.K. She was one of the first patients at the hospital when it opened in April and was nearly dead when she got there! She and her mom were SO happy!!! We took them home and it is WAY, WAY back off the road in the forest - and then we had to walk down a path! Their home is mud and small, but it's home. They have some nice coffee trees but mom told Sr. Goretti that they "pre-sold" their crop to cover costs while they were at CoRSU so no income this season. I'm sure they are looking forward to a return to normal life.
We had the Epilipsy Clinic on Thursday - almost 60 people!! Moses is still at his class and Kinene's Uncle died and he couldn't come, so it was a bit confused but we made it thanks to our nurse, Juliet, and Stella (a disabled young woman from PH who recently graduated from the University but hasn't found a job)....great helpers!!!
Finished reading Into Africa by Craig Parker -he is/was a Professor at the U of Minnesota! Did research w. the lions of the Serengeti and the chimps of Gombe in Tanzania. Interesting book. He says there's a "mal d'Africa" - African sickness - and that people who go back to the "boring, temperate world" long for the color, chaos and edginess of Africa!! I'm not so sure! However, as he got older (and enjoyed his creature comforts more) his stays got shorter! Now reading The Spare Room...short book about a woman who takes care of a friend w. terminal cancer..also good!
Sister J and Sr. G and I are working on a small proposal for wheelchairs and tricycles - three wheeled chairs that move w. hand cranks - very sturdy and handy for mobility in the villages! We had visitors from the Church of the Latter Day Saints and they said they may be able to provide some - would be fabulous!!! We'll see....they are made in Jinja, Uganda and are really well made!
Friday I got in one math class - a bit of a struggle - doing money counting and change - some are good, but some have NO clue. Had a long (and late) staff meeting and missed the 2nd Math class. Then, Nelson and I went to Kinene's uncle's funeral - very big crowd. When we arrived they were reading the condolence letters and a guy was still varnishing the coffin!! People bring cloths to wrap the body - some fabric, some barkcloth - and guess there were late arrivals, because they had to take the wrapped body out of the coffin and add about 6 more layers!! Then stuff him back in and proceed to the burial site. People here are buried in family graveyards....after the coffin goes in they fill the hole up w. cement - so wearing rubber boots to the funeral means you are a close male friend or relative and are shoveling cement! The man was 83 and there were lots of older people - they have the most interesting faces - all lines and curves from years of hard, manual labor in the sun!
Hope you are all enjoying the fall - well, guess it's technically winter. All is going well here (today) - we've sold a few more piglets, cow is producing well and the chickens are healthy! What more can I ask for??? Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers. Mailed my school election ballot on Wednesday (I was able to get the copy to mail via e-mail - YEA!)....pretty exciting!
Happy Birthday Kody and Henry.....Best wishes to you all.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Happy Halloween! I'm a little off on my blogging - I'm planning to visit another PCV over the weekend - she was my roommate at the start of training - and I've never been to her site. Good excuse to see some new country - just staying Saturday nite, but thought I'd blog today as long as I'm in Mukono to use the internet! Sure miss it in Nkokonjeru! Got here really early and as I was doing e-mails, the cleaning lady pulled out the cable w. her mop!!!
Got back last Saturday in time to wash clothes and clean (hoping to do that again today, but it's pretty overcast - has been raining a LOT but thankfully few power outages!). One of the older girls stopped by for tea! It's always fun - they enjoy "all the sugar you can load in" in their tea!!!
Read the book The Road - about a father/son traveling after a nuclear holocaust (well years after)...it's haunting - wonder how it is as a movie. I actually read it twice - it's short - the first time I went SO fast because it was creepy and then I re-read to catch the writing!!
Sunday Mass the Sisters sang a snappy tune I hadn't heard before - Refrain "If you trust and never doubt, God will surely bring you out...Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer"....good advice!
Sunday afternoon Holly and I went to a meeting w. Moses (our outreach worker) and his Community Health Workers (they were the ones in the first aid training class)....nice group of people! They said they are running out of supplies (gauze, bandaids...) but haven't charged for them like Holly advised - small amounts like a dime - so they could replenish! The recurrent problem of making projects self-sustaining! Still planning the Infant Nutrition Class later - the problem is re-education - many people grow crops but feed little children cassava (root crop) or matoke and no fruits or vegetables (like papaya or greens)....just not something they do! Little protein too, tho' beans are easy to grow as are ground nuts! Holly has an idea for a demonstration garden called "Three Sisters" - pole beans climbing up corn stalks and squash between the rows! Might ask this group to try some as a demonstration - also one growing greens and showing how to cook and serve to children.
Really into a reading jag - escapism?? Next read A Sunday by the Pool in Kigali. I'd wanted to read it since I went in 2006 and Shari had it. Holly is on her way to Rwanda w. some other PCVs right now!!! It's a fictional (based on actual) account of the '94 genocide - very graphic and awful!!!
Sunday nite, Moses called the mom of the little boy w. the sores AGAIN, told here we had the meds and she still said she had no money for transport! Well, she showed up Monday a.m.!!! She is really frustrating....not sure why I'm so hooked on this one-maybe because he's only 5 and is so miserable. Now to see if she gives them faithfully, since she didn't pay for them (it happens).
Had dinner Monday at Shari's - beef stir fry over chinese noodles - those girls are good cooks!!! Shari got beef from the butcher - the butchers have a stall on the road, open, with no refrigeration. They hang the meat on a hook in the open stall and will whack off a piece the size you want w. a machete!!! No special cuts!!!
Tuesday I had a very frustrating day - I'm really letting stuff get to me way too much! Kids didn't want to work for the Ag teacher on the gardens in the compound - even the wheelchair ones can pull weeds - and he wasn't making them - well, I did, after much nagging!!! New wheelbarrow was missing screws and no one bothered to try and fix it (I gave Vincent money to buy new screws and do it); the cow is out of feed earlier than expected (he's feeding it more than we'd allotted again - he said it was dropping production but he went gave a LOT more and now everything is out and milk buyers don't pay till the end of the month....it's so hard to get people to think long term - say two weeks!!!). Our zuccini etc. has leaf mold again - darn - it looked so good!! And there was more than the usual amount of "begging" on Tuesday, too....there's always some - wanting money for something small, use of my phone, etc., maybe I was just annoyed at everything. We had a meeting about the cow Tuesday nite - set for 6 p.m. but actually happened at 9! Will try (once again) to get on track! I'll have to bail them out w. chicken feed money but his is (really) the last time!!! In November, it's self-supporting or the cow is hungry! I want the people here to develop their own solutions to problems, but it's just not in their nature to think "solution"! I've worked up an income/cost schedule and tried to explain it, but not sure I"m getting through.
Yesterday Holly and I went to a "Turn to Tea" event. The old man who was in Holly's 5K (he's 70?) and lost 9 children to HIV is starting an NGO to try to get people to drink tea rather than alcohol to prevent unsafe sex. He invited Holly as head of Project Hope and I just went along...nice gathering - lots of local dignitaries (and speeches). Someone from the New VIsion Newspaper was supposed to come since it's an entry in a contest for World Aids Day (Dec 1)...but they never did (he called them repeatedly and they kept saying "we're coming")....At 1 Holly left and then it started to RAIN - just sheets. At 2 I got a ride home w. the ex-mayor - after he got stuck in the road - he just kept spinning his wheels till he was mired. Some guys finally put banana leaves under the tires and pushed - like being on ice!!! I felt bad for the organizer, but he fell asleep in a chair on the porch after the rain started - no one gets angry or impatient!!! Amazing!!!
Jamie sent me the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova (I am reading a lot)....it is WAY scarier than The Road or By the Pool!!! It's about a 50 yr. old woman, Harvard College professor who gets early onset Alzheimers. Every time I forgot something I panicked!!! It's chilling! There were some lines that reminded me of how I feels sometimes (on bad days) about being in Uganda - not to be dramatic, but they fit (sometimes)....."I miss being sure of things. There's no peace being unsure of everything all the time. I miss doing everything easily. I miss being part of what's happening. I miss my life and my family".
Well, that was sad - lots of things are doing well. The chickens are great - we had to padlock their house after seeing one of the elderly men looking at them hungrily! We've sold 9 of 17 baby pigs (last group is just weaning). First mom was "serviced" again - finally, the male had something to do!! The cow went into heat, but the one guy in town who does insemination had his phone off (uncharged?) the entire 24 hours she was ready!!! Oh, well, try again! Still waiting to finish the banana tree holes and get those in before the rain stops - hate the thought of carrying water to 130 baby banana trees! Kids are progressing in school and Didas got 2 more shoe orders from Stella Maris - so, lots of good things, too!!! Sr. Juliet just called and she got a nice donation from the people from Florida to help out w. buying food for the kids - WOW!!! I have to try and get it at Western Union - don't have my passport with but do have my PC ID - hope that works!!!
Hope you have a Happy Halloween - Jasemine wants to get some pumpkins (they are green) and do some jack-o-lanterns - think we'll try!!! I like Halloween!!
Take care all - thanks again for the good wishes, prayers and thoughts. I'm looking forward to being away for a day - get a better perspective when I see others projects.
Got back last Saturday in time to wash clothes and clean (hoping to do that again today, but it's pretty overcast - has been raining a LOT but thankfully few power outages!). One of the older girls stopped by for tea! It's always fun - they enjoy "all the sugar you can load in" in their tea!!!
Read the book The Road - about a father/son traveling after a nuclear holocaust (well years after)...it's haunting - wonder how it is as a movie. I actually read it twice - it's short - the first time I went SO fast because it was creepy and then I re-read to catch the writing!!
Sunday Mass the Sisters sang a snappy tune I hadn't heard before - Refrain "If you trust and never doubt, God will surely bring you out...Take your burdens to the Lord in prayer"....good advice!
Sunday afternoon Holly and I went to a meeting w. Moses (our outreach worker) and his Community Health Workers (they were the ones in the first aid training class)....nice group of people! They said they are running out of supplies (gauze, bandaids...) but haven't charged for them like Holly advised - small amounts like a dime - so they could replenish! The recurrent problem of making projects self-sustaining! Still planning the Infant Nutrition Class later - the problem is re-education - many people grow crops but feed little children cassava (root crop) or matoke and no fruits or vegetables (like papaya or greens)....just not something they do! Little protein too, tho' beans are easy to grow as are ground nuts! Holly has an idea for a demonstration garden called "Three Sisters" - pole beans climbing up corn stalks and squash between the rows! Might ask this group to try some as a demonstration - also one growing greens and showing how to cook and serve to children.
Really into a reading jag - escapism?? Next read A Sunday by the Pool in Kigali. I'd wanted to read it since I went in 2006 and Shari had it. Holly is on her way to Rwanda w. some other PCVs right now!!! It's a fictional (based on actual) account of the '94 genocide - very graphic and awful!!!
Sunday nite, Moses called the mom of the little boy w. the sores AGAIN, told here we had the meds and she still said she had no money for transport! Well, she showed up Monday a.m.!!! She is really frustrating....not sure why I'm so hooked on this one-maybe because he's only 5 and is so miserable. Now to see if she gives them faithfully, since she didn't pay for them (it happens).
Had dinner Monday at Shari's - beef stir fry over chinese noodles - those girls are good cooks!!! Shari got beef from the butcher - the butchers have a stall on the road, open, with no refrigeration. They hang the meat on a hook in the open stall and will whack off a piece the size you want w. a machete!!! No special cuts!!!
Tuesday I had a very frustrating day - I'm really letting stuff get to me way too much! Kids didn't want to work for the Ag teacher on the gardens in the compound - even the wheelchair ones can pull weeds - and he wasn't making them - well, I did, after much nagging!!! New wheelbarrow was missing screws and no one bothered to try and fix it (I gave Vincent money to buy new screws and do it); the cow is out of feed earlier than expected (he's feeding it more than we'd allotted again - he said it was dropping production but he went gave a LOT more and now everything is out and milk buyers don't pay till the end of the month....it's so hard to get people to think long term - say two weeks!!!). Our zuccini etc. has leaf mold again - darn - it looked so good!! And there was more than the usual amount of "begging" on Tuesday, too....there's always some - wanting money for something small, use of my phone, etc., maybe I was just annoyed at everything. We had a meeting about the cow Tuesday nite - set for 6 p.m. but actually happened at 9! Will try (once again) to get on track! I'll have to bail them out w. chicken feed money but his is (really) the last time!!! In November, it's self-supporting or the cow is hungry! I want the people here to develop their own solutions to problems, but it's just not in their nature to think "solution"! I've worked up an income/cost schedule and tried to explain it, but not sure I"m getting through.
Yesterday Holly and I went to a "Turn to Tea" event. The old man who was in Holly's 5K (he's 70?) and lost 9 children to HIV is starting an NGO to try to get people to drink tea rather than alcohol to prevent unsafe sex. He invited Holly as head of Project Hope and I just went along...nice gathering - lots of local dignitaries (and speeches). Someone from the New VIsion Newspaper was supposed to come since it's an entry in a contest for World Aids Day (Dec 1)...but they never did (he called them repeatedly and they kept saying "we're coming")....At 1 Holly left and then it started to RAIN - just sheets. At 2 I got a ride home w. the ex-mayor - after he got stuck in the road - he just kept spinning his wheels till he was mired. Some guys finally put banana leaves under the tires and pushed - like being on ice!!! I felt bad for the organizer, but he fell asleep in a chair on the porch after the rain started - no one gets angry or impatient!!! Amazing!!!
Jamie sent me the book Still Alice by Lisa Genova (I am reading a lot)....it is WAY scarier than The Road or By the Pool!!! It's about a 50 yr. old woman, Harvard College professor who gets early onset Alzheimers. Every time I forgot something I panicked!!! It's chilling! There were some lines that reminded me of how I feels sometimes (on bad days) about being in Uganda - not to be dramatic, but they fit (sometimes)....."I miss being sure of things. There's no peace being unsure of everything all the time. I miss doing everything easily. I miss being part of what's happening. I miss my life and my family".
Well, that was sad - lots of things are doing well. The chickens are great - we had to padlock their house after seeing one of the elderly men looking at them hungrily! We've sold 9 of 17 baby pigs (last group is just weaning). First mom was "serviced" again - finally, the male had something to do!! The cow went into heat, but the one guy in town who does insemination had his phone off (uncharged?) the entire 24 hours she was ready!!! Oh, well, try again! Still waiting to finish the banana tree holes and get those in before the rain stops - hate the thought of carrying water to 130 baby banana trees! Kids are progressing in school and Didas got 2 more shoe orders from Stella Maris - so, lots of good things, too!!! Sr. Juliet just called and she got a nice donation from the people from Florida to help out w. buying food for the kids - WOW!!! I have to try and get it at Western Union - don't have my passport with but do have my PC ID - hope that works!!!
Hope you have a Happy Halloween - Jasemine wants to get some pumpkins (they are green) and do some jack-o-lanterns - think we'll try!!! I like Halloween!!
Take care all - thanks again for the good wishes, prayers and thoughts. I'm looking forward to being away for a day - get a better perspective when I see others projects.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Saturday - October 24, 2009
I'm in Mukono to blog - really miss having the internet in Nkokonjeru!!! I was going to take the 6:30 matatu, but didn't sleep well, and it was still raining (rained a LOT last nite) and didn't get down to town till 7:00 - had to wait till 8:20 till the next one filled and we left.....next time I'll stick w. the first one!!
Last Saturday I was here blogging before our little "pool party" at the Coline Hotel here in Mukono - lots of good company (other PCVs). We didn't swim - started out cool and cloudy and then a school group came in - lots of conversation tho' - most is about what we're all planning to do when we're done!!! Focus has shifted! We are now officially the oldest group in Uganda!!!
Sunday, Didas (shoemaking teacher), Alex (student) and I went up to Stella Maris (an expensive boarding school in town) for visiting day to try to sell shoes. We only sold one pair, but many people admired them and we'll go back - this term is over the end of November and the new one doesn't start till February, so think many were thinking they'd wait! I asked Didas how long he'd been at PH and how they used to market - he said 5 years, and they never had materials to actually make or sell shoes before - just practiced w. paper and maybe a little leather. So - one huge improvement thanks to generous donors - now to keep it self sustaining!!!
Got great phone calls from the family for my BD but sad to hear the Gophers lost @ Penn State. I'm enjoying reading newspaper articles Corky sends - I'm about a 3 weeks behind in the news but the Twins (in my world) are now set to play Detroit in the tie breaker - it's still fun to read!!
Monday, we had some disturbances at lunch re: food portions - it's rationed some to make it last. Many don't pay any contribution so not sure they should complain! There is no "free lunch" - no government help. And kids expect a LOT of food - you'd be amazed at how much Ugandans eat at a sitting - 'course it's mainly carbs and goes fast, plus there is not snacking! I've been standing outside the hall making sure people aren't taking an extra plate, saying it's for someone else and stashing it in the dormitories (a favorite trick).
Holly and I had a great walk and then dinner at Shari's - tuna hotdish and cherry pie - WOW!!
Tuesday Moses said he was sick and his wife and Fiona also - and his cow!!! Moses and Nelson (the OT) are teaming up to raise some pigs...they bought 3 of our little pigs - Nelson provides the capitol and Moses will keep them at his farm -hope it works! The little pigs are really healthy but I'd like to sell them all! Nelson, Moses and I went to the piggery to choose and catch their three and it was funny watching Moses in the stall trying to grab them - Vincent (the animal manager) heard the piglets squealing and came running - good for him. Moses wanted a female that was still w. her mom and Vincent got that done - very stealthily!
Wednesday I decided to go to the PC office to do my quarterly report - it has to be done electronically and I hate doing it (used to be able to do it in writing and send it in - easier for me). After I got it done (in some fashion) I went to the Indian Pharmacy by Mulago Hospital and got the TB drugs needed for the little boy w. the sores - I really should not be buying meds for people but Moses convinced me they were really poor - and the little boy (5) is SO miserable. Went to New York Kitchen (restaurant) and got some bagels and a cinnamon roll to take home - such a treat!!! Got to Mukono and had lots of mail - YEA - it's been very spotty the past two months! All in all a very productive day - and at the Mukono taxi park I was #14 on the matatu so we took right off - no waiting! Bonus!!!!
I'd gotten a newspaper (they are really supermarket tabloids) and my horiscope was (for the first time I can remember) accurate!!! Libra - "Brisk. You're very down in the mouth today. Although many things in your life are going swimmingly at this time the occasional doubts are creeping in. It will be difficult to know whether your fears are justified or whether you're conjuring up problems out of nowhere. Make sure you get some rest because that could be half your trouble." I have been struggling w. being here and I DO conjure up problems all the time!! Good one.
Few glitches in my perfect day after I got back. Moses stopped by and had gotten a call from a mom of one of the epilepsy patients - mom said the girl (24) had a "fit" and climbed a tree and fell out and broke her leg. Sister Juliet told Moses the mom had to at least find transport for her to the Nkokonjeru Hospital - mom said she couldn't! And he called the mom of the little boy w. TB and she said she couldn't afford to come to Nkokonjeru to get the meds!! First time I've seen Moses cut someone off - switched off the phone he was so mad!!! We also decided w should know the boy's HIV status - often TB is a sign of AIDS - weakened immune system - sad but true! So, we need him here for a test at the hospital.
Thursday Sr. Juliet asked if I'd take Liliane (our primary donor) money around to some schools to pay debts. It was a harder job than I'd anticipated (and I anticipated hard)....had to wait for the matatu, ride along in the dust, walk to the schools, pay, walk back to the main road, wait for the matatu, eat dust...you get the picture. Afternoons have been really HOT - felt like I was cooking!!! But I got it done!!! Always a sense of accomplishment!
Friday math went very well - after doing linear measures (metre, cm, km) we tried liquid measures - litre, etc. Had a variety of bottles, gerry cans, etc. and we poured water to see what the sizes were. The kids actually seem to be getting it - papers were very good!!! Also, the prisioners came (20) to start digging the holes for the banana trees - YEA. However, they can't come back till Nov. 3 (booked) and I'm not sure how much longer the rainy season will last. We get the prisoners for 2500/prisoner ($1.25), and extra for the wardens. They work really hard and it was HOT! Some seemed very young!
Had a visitor in the afternoon - a young man in a UN truck. He's met a girl who worked in PH in 1996 and he was in Uganda (he works in Sudan fixing trucks that defuse land mines!!) and told her he'd check out how it was doing. He's from the UK and has been in Africa for 10 years and loves it - said you have to look for the beauty all around (good lesson for me).....but he's a bit of a "soldier of fortune" I think - enjoys the life of the ex-pat. We talked about aid and aid agencies and he said he firmly believes the agency people keep asking for money so they can keep employed (included himself in that group) and that little of large aid is used well - in fact, much goes back to the home country people in terms of consulting fees, materials, etc.! He'd read Dead Aid and agreed - large grants have been wasted and may have even done harm by propping up bad governments, encouraging corruption and taking away the initiative of people to do something for themselves!!!
Interesting week - time goes fast but I really miss home. Today I'm missing Henry and Ellie's Birthday party - darn! I think often of the fall leaves (love fall) - maybe it will be easier to miss Minnesota when the snow flies!!! Am interested to see how the Referendum at Montgomery/Lonsdale goes - opportunity to use some federal stimulus dollars - seems like a good deal!!! Think Cook has a bond issue too!
Take care - Thanks again for your unfailing support and prayers - couldn't do it w/o you all!!!
Last Saturday I was here blogging before our little "pool party" at the Coline Hotel here in Mukono - lots of good company (other PCVs). We didn't swim - started out cool and cloudy and then a school group came in - lots of conversation tho' - most is about what we're all planning to do when we're done!!! Focus has shifted! We are now officially the oldest group in Uganda!!!
Sunday, Didas (shoemaking teacher), Alex (student) and I went up to Stella Maris (an expensive boarding school in town) for visiting day to try to sell shoes. We only sold one pair, but many people admired them and we'll go back - this term is over the end of November and the new one doesn't start till February, so think many were thinking they'd wait! I asked Didas how long he'd been at PH and how they used to market - he said 5 years, and they never had materials to actually make or sell shoes before - just practiced w. paper and maybe a little leather. So - one huge improvement thanks to generous donors - now to keep it self sustaining!!!
Got great phone calls from the family for my BD but sad to hear the Gophers lost @ Penn State. I'm enjoying reading newspaper articles Corky sends - I'm about a 3 weeks behind in the news but the Twins (in my world) are now set to play Detroit in the tie breaker - it's still fun to read!!
Monday, we had some disturbances at lunch re: food portions - it's rationed some to make it last. Many don't pay any contribution so not sure they should complain! There is no "free lunch" - no government help. And kids expect a LOT of food - you'd be amazed at how much Ugandans eat at a sitting - 'course it's mainly carbs and goes fast, plus there is not snacking! I've been standing outside the hall making sure people aren't taking an extra plate, saying it's for someone else and stashing it in the dormitories (a favorite trick).
Holly and I had a great walk and then dinner at Shari's - tuna hotdish and cherry pie - WOW!!
Tuesday Moses said he was sick and his wife and Fiona also - and his cow!!! Moses and Nelson (the OT) are teaming up to raise some pigs...they bought 3 of our little pigs - Nelson provides the capitol and Moses will keep them at his farm -hope it works! The little pigs are really healthy but I'd like to sell them all! Nelson, Moses and I went to the piggery to choose and catch their three and it was funny watching Moses in the stall trying to grab them - Vincent (the animal manager) heard the piglets squealing and came running - good for him. Moses wanted a female that was still w. her mom and Vincent got that done - very stealthily!
Wednesday I decided to go to the PC office to do my quarterly report - it has to be done electronically and I hate doing it (used to be able to do it in writing and send it in - easier for me). After I got it done (in some fashion) I went to the Indian Pharmacy by Mulago Hospital and got the TB drugs needed for the little boy w. the sores - I really should not be buying meds for people but Moses convinced me they were really poor - and the little boy (5) is SO miserable. Went to New York Kitchen (restaurant) and got some bagels and a cinnamon roll to take home - such a treat!!! Got to Mukono and had lots of mail - YEA - it's been very spotty the past two months! All in all a very productive day - and at the Mukono taxi park I was #14 on the matatu so we took right off - no waiting! Bonus!!!!
I'd gotten a newspaper (they are really supermarket tabloids) and my horiscope was (for the first time I can remember) accurate!!! Libra - "Brisk. You're very down in the mouth today. Although many things in your life are going swimmingly at this time the occasional doubts are creeping in. It will be difficult to know whether your fears are justified or whether you're conjuring up problems out of nowhere. Make sure you get some rest because that could be half your trouble." I have been struggling w. being here and I DO conjure up problems all the time!! Good one.
Few glitches in my perfect day after I got back. Moses stopped by and had gotten a call from a mom of one of the epilepsy patients - mom said the girl (24) had a "fit" and climbed a tree and fell out and broke her leg. Sister Juliet told Moses the mom had to at least find transport for her to the Nkokonjeru Hospital - mom said she couldn't! And he called the mom of the little boy w. TB and she said she couldn't afford to come to Nkokonjeru to get the meds!! First time I've seen Moses cut someone off - switched off the phone he was so mad!!! We also decided w should know the boy's HIV status - often TB is a sign of AIDS - weakened immune system - sad but true! So, we need him here for a test at the hospital.
Thursday Sr. Juliet asked if I'd take Liliane (our primary donor) money around to some schools to pay debts. It was a harder job than I'd anticipated (and I anticipated hard)....had to wait for the matatu, ride along in the dust, walk to the schools, pay, walk back to the main road, wait for the matatu, eat dust...you get the picture. Afternoons have been really HOT - felt like I was cooking!!! But I got it done!!! Always a sense of accomplishment!
Friday math went very well - after doing linear measures (metre, cm, km) we tried liquid measures - litre, etc. Had a variety of bottles, gerry cans, etc. and we poured water to see what the sizes were. The kids actually seem to be getting it - papers were very good!!! Also, the prisioners came (20) to start digging the holes for the banana trees - YEA. However, they can't come back till Nov. 3 (booked) and I'm not sure how much longer the rainy season will last. We get the prisoners for 2500/prisoner ($1.25), and extra for the wardens. They work really hard and it was HOT! Some seemed very young!
Had a visitor in the afternoon - a young man in a UN truck. He's met a girl who worked in PH in 1996 and he was in Uganda (he works in Sudan fixing trucks that defuse land mines!!) and told her he'd check out how it was doing. He's from the UK and has been in Africa for 10 years and loves it - said you have to look for the beauty all around (good lesson for me).....but he's a bit of a "soldier of fortune" I think - enjoys the life of the ex-pat. We talked about aid and aid agencies and he said he firmly believes the agency people keep asking for money so they can keep employed (included himself in that group) and that little of large aid is used well - in fact, much goes back to the home country people in terms of consulting fees, materials, etc.! He'd read Dead Aid and agreed - large grants have been wasted and may have even done harm by propping up bad governments, encouraging corruption and taking away the initiative of people to do something for themselves!!!
Interesting week - time goes fast but I really miss home. Today I'm missing Henry and Ellie's Birthday party - darn! I think often of the fall leaves (love fall) - maybe it will be easier to miss Minnesota when the snow flies!!! Am interested to see how the Referendum at Montgomery/Lonsdale goes - opportunity to use some federal stimulus dollars - seems like a good deal!!! Think Cook has a bond issue too!
Take care - Thanks again for your unfailing support and prayers - couldn't do it w/o you all!!!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
October 17, 2009 - I'm officially 63!!!
I'm actually starting this blog Thursday at the Peace Corps office and will finish it Saturday - I'm in to have lunch and say goodbye to my good friend in PC, Maria, who is going home tonight. She just didn't have enough to keep her at her site in Kbale and decided to end early. I'll really miss her!!! I will finish the blog Saturday in Mukono - a few of us are meeting there to swim at the Colline hotel and have lunch - a little indulgence including two birthdays!
Spent last Saturday in Kampala w. Maria. We went to a huge Trade Show - a lot of commercial exhibits but also a building full of crafts and Maria's "basket ladies" had a booth. They actually sold some things to a wandering buyer from the posh craft store at the malls, Banana Boat, and they are on display there - quite an accomplishment!!! A lot of the show reminded me of under the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair - there was even a vegematic display!!! Had a great lunch and just walked around.
Sunday the Mass was especially long - two girls from St. Anthony's Secondary were becoming Catholics (former Protestants - probably Anglican). We sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"- I really like that one!! I went to Kisoga to St. Balikudembe's to see Josephine for Visiting Day, but visitors couldn't go in and kids couldn't come out - "quarantined" because of H1N1 - or swine flu here. I dropped off the goodies I'd gotten them - pens, soap, sugar, buiscuits, buns, juice, TP....an odd assortment. Came back and did English prep, watched the kids practice for the Christmas Show (November 29) and took a nice walk.
Finished Tipping Point - lots of good ideas - not sure if I agree w. all, but really enjoyed the sections on Sesame Street and Blue's Clues (don't know if I've ever seen that show) - and preschoolers who focus on not what's flashy, but what they know and that doesn't confuse them - (me too - so why I am in Uganda where everything confuses me?). Now am reading Beloved by Toni Morrison - think I started before and quit and I now know why - SO depressing!!!
Nice evening walk w. Holly on Monday - we went down to a little brook I'd never seen before - kids were getting water in gerry cans - at least it was moving water and looked fairly clean!!!
I was so concerned about the Twins I had to call Gail - sad that they lost but they had a great finish!!! She said it snowed when they went to the Gopher game and was cold!! Also, said that they really enjoyed the pork, dumpling dinner at the Church!!!
Tuesday was stressful. Learned that one of the chickens died - the boys who take care of them were so upset. Not sure what happened. Fred gave them their scheduled vaccine late and not sure if it was too old, or they just caught something. He gave them an antibiotic and vitamins and we all prayed!!!
CBR mainly focused on following up the people who went to the hospital last week (or didn't go)...Moses called the mom of the boy w. Bone TB and she hadn't gotten the medicine yet - said she'd do it Thursday - he's calling again on Friday. Sometimes they don't have the money and sometimes they don't want to spend what little they have on a child who is disabled.
Then, Sister, Fred and I went over the bills she has and tried to allocate the Lilian Fund money - it comes in October and April and is our primary source of revenue. The allocation was down by about 20% - they said all over and that donations are just down! After we listed all the school fees owed, salaries owed and debts we were short by 7million shillings ($3500) and that doesn't get us beyond November!!! Very depressing. Really made Sister think about how we need to be more self-sufficient - have some projects written up that are out at potential donors. Also, we need to try harder to collect fees (or send kids home like most of the schools do) and somehow cut expenses! The hospital is experiencing the same problem. We reduced some payments to just end even - had Alex (student) take over English class for me so we could keep on it! Some how it will work out. I just got word that the Women of the Church at St. John's made a $500 donation!!! WOW! Sister owed me some money so I paid tha debt off and will save the rest to get the chickens through the next 2 1/2 months till they start to lay eggs!!! Really a great gift!!! We have started measuring all the feeds for the animals and hopefully can reduce costs so all are (or will be) self-sustaining.
Wednesday we took the 9 shoemaking students to Kampala to watch Didas (the teacher) use grant money to buy supplies and tools....unfortunately, Kampala is NOT handicapped accessible at all and it was really crowded so many had to stay in the truck - the walkers got out at one shop. The shops are really small and packed - you can't call or fax in an order - you just go there and tell them each thing you need and they pull it off the shelves one by one - ugh!!! And if anyone comes in w. a small order (and many did) they interupt you and serve them - ugh again!!! Boys got hot in the back of the pick-up but all in all they had fun seeing Kamapla and riding in the truck. We got back to Mukono about 2:00 and I knew they were going to miss lunch - so we stopped at a little cafe Sula recommended and bought lunch. They got to order off the menu (in one section) - could choose, beef, beans, fish or groundnut sauce over a combo of matoke, rice, sweet potatoes etc. and a soda. They had a terrible time choosing - they never choose food - just take whatever is in the pot. Good expereince and fun for me, too. Total cost to feed 11 (Sr. Goretti and one of the boys who said he gets carsick didn't eat) was $21!!!
When I left Thursday a.m. I found out that two more chickens died overnite - bummer!!
Friday there was lots of rain overnite and the power was off....it's such a thrill to wake up and flip the switch and the lights actually go on - appreciate it!!! Math went O.K., but I'm giving up on Mixed Fractions (e.g. 5/4 = 1 1/4) I've tried diagams, cut outs - and they just don't get it. Probably not important anyway!! One more chicken died Thursday, but Fred really worked w. the vet and think it's under control now - the ones in the house look perky and are eating!
Friday nite Shari and Holly made supper for me - bean burritoes, home made tortillas, guacamole, salsa and a chocolate cake - really great!!! Holly brought back a package of Reese's PB cups for my BD. Those girls really help me make it through! Today we're meeting at a hotel in Mukono to sit by the pool for the afternoon (it's $3.50 and they give you a towel!!). Tomorrow Didas, two boys and I will go up to Stella Maris (the posh school in town) and display shoes for sale - hope it works! It might take more than one try but it's a try! Didas is SO excited about his new tools - fixed up his cupboard w. compartments and signs!!!
Moses (CBR worker) stopped by this a.m. as I was doing laundry and cleaning and said that the boy w. the sores didn't get any meds and he went to the house and they were very poor - five children and 8 yr. old was watching the new baby while mom was in digging - not sure where dad was! Said the house was in bad shape and they looked really poor. I'm tempted to break my rule and just get the drugs for his TB - they should be free at government hospitals, but usually they don't have any (sold elsewhere?)...the boy is so miserable. It's really hard sometimes - but you can't fix everything! (or even close)
Heard it's cool in Minnesota - and New York and Pennslyvania!! I don't know how I'll handle that anymore - I was cold in August!!!
Thanks for all the mail, greetings and for your prayers for me! Special thanks to the St. John Women of the Church - gift was MUCH appreciated!!! Not too long to go now - it seems to be going slower, but when I look back it's gone SO fast!
Spent last Saturday in Kampala w. Maria. We went to a huge Trade Show - a lot of commercial exhibits but also a building full of crafts and Maria's "basket ladies" had a booth. They actually sold some things to a wandering buyer from the posh craft store at the malls, Banana Boat, and they are on display there - quite an accomplishment!!! A lot of the show reminded me of under the grandstand at the Minnesota State Fair - there was even a vegematic display!!! Had a great lunch and just walked around.
Sunday the Mass was especially long - two girls from St. Anthony's Secondary were becoming Catholics (former Protestants - probably Anglican). We sang "What a Friend We Have in Jesus"- I really like that one!! I went to Kisoga to St. Balikudembe's to see Josephine for Visiting Day, but visitors couldn't go in and kids couldn't come out - "quarantined" because of H1N1 - or swine flu here. I dropped off the goodies I'd gotten them - pens, soap, sugar, buiscuits, buns, juice, TP....an odd assortment. Came back and did English prep, watched the kids practice for the Christmas Show (November 29) and took a nice walk.
Finished Tipping Point - lots of good ideas - not sure if I agree w. all, but really enjoyed the sections on Sesame Street and Blue's Clues (don't know if I've ever seen that show) - and preschoolers who focus on not what's flashy, but what they know and that doesn't confuse them - (me too - so why I am in Uganda where everything confuses me?). Now am reading Beloved by Toni Morrison - think I started before and quit and I now know why - SO depressing!!!
Nice evening walk w. Holly on Monday - we went down to a little brook I'd never seen before - kids were getting water in gerry cans - at least it was moving water and looked fairly clean!!!
I was so concerned about the Twins I had to call Gail - sad that they lost but they had a great finish!!! She said it snowed when they went to the Gopher game and was cold!! Also, said that they really enjoyed the pork, dumpling dinner at the Church!!!
Tuesday was stressful. Learned that one of the chickens died - the boys who take care of them were so upset. Not sure what happened. Fred gave them their scheduled vaccine late and not sure if it was too old, or they just caught something. He gave them an antibiotic and vitamins and we all prayed!!!
CBR mainly focused on following up the people who went to the hospital last week (or didn't go)...Moses called the mom of the boy w. Bone TB and she hadn't gotten the medicine yet - said she'd do it Thursday - he's calling again on Friday. Sometimes they don't have the money and sometimes they don't want to spend what little they have on a child who is disabled.
Then, Sister, Fred and I went over the bills she has and tried to allocate the Lilian Fund money - it comes in October and April and is our primary source of revenue. The allocation was down by about 20% - they said all over and that donations are just down! After we listed all the school fees owed, salaries owed and debts we were short by 7million shillings ($3500) and that doesn't get us beyond November!!! Very depressing. Really made Sister think about how we need to be more self-sufficient - have some projects written up that are out at potential donors. Also, we need to try harder to collect fees (or send kids home like most of the schools do) and somehow cut expenses! The hospital is experiencing the same problem. We reduced some payments to just end even - had Alex (student) take over English class for me so we could keep on it! Some how it will work out. I just got word that the Women of the Church at St. John's made a $500 donation!!! WOW! Sister owed me some money so I paid tha debt off and will save the rest to get the chickens through the next 2 1/2 months till they start to lay eggs!!! Really a great gift!!! We have started measuring all the feeds for the animals and hopefully can reduce costs so all are (or will be) self-sustaining.
Wednesday we took the 9 shoemaking students to Kampala to watch Didas (the teacher) use grant money to buy supplies and tools....unfortunately, Kampala is NOT handicapped accessible at all and it was really crowded so many had to stay in the truck - the walkers got out at one shop. The shops are really small and packed - you can't call or fax in an order - you just go there and tell them each thing you need and they pull it off the shelves one by one - ugh!!! And if anyone comes in w. a small order (and many did) they interupt you and serve them - ugh again!!! Boys got hot in the back of the pick-up but all in all they had fun seeing Kamapla and riding in the truck. We got back to Mukono about 2:00 and I knew they were going to miss lunch - so we stopped at a little cafe Sula recommended and bought lunch. They got to order off the menu (in one section) - could choose, beef, beans, fish or groundnut sauce over a combo of matoke, rice, sweet potatoes etc. and a soda. They had a terrible time choosing - they never choose food - just take whatever is in the pot. Good expereince and fun for me, too. Total cost to feed 11 (Sr. Goretti and one of the boys who said he gets carsick didn't eat) was $21!!!
When I left Thursday a.m. I found out that two more chickens died overnite - bummer!!
Friday there was lots of rain overnite and the power was off....it's such a thrill to wake up and flip the switch and the lights actually go on - appreciate it!!! Math went O.K., but I'm giving up on Mixed Fractions (e.g. 5/4 = 1 1/4) I've tried diagams, cut outs - and they just don't get it. Probably not important anyway!! One more chicken died Thursday, but Fred really worked w. the vet and think it's under control now - the ones in the house look perky and are eating!
Friday nite Shari and Holly made supper for me - bean burritoes, home made tortillas, guacamole, salsa and a chocolate cake - really great!!! Holly brought back a package of Reese's PB cups for my BD. Those girls really help me make it through! Today we're meeting at a hotel in Mukono to sit by the pool for the afternoon (it's $3.50 and they give you a towel!!). Tomorrow Didas, two boys and I will go up to Stella Maris (the posh school in town) and display shoes for sale - hope it works! It might take more than one try but it's a try! Didas is SO excited about his new tools - fixed up his cupboard w. compartments and signs!!!
Moses (CBR worker) stopped by this a.m. as I was doing laundry and cleaning and said that the boy w. the sores didn't get any meds and he went to the house and they were very poor - five children and 8 yr. old was watching the new baby while mom was in digging - not sure where dad was! Said the house was in bad shape and they looked really poor. I'm tempted to break my rule and just get the drugs for his TB - they should be free at government hospitals, but usually they don't have any (sold elsewhere?)...the boy is so miserable. It's really hard sometimes - but you can't fix everything! (or even close)
Heard it's cool in Minnesota - and New York and Pennslyvania!! I don't know how I'll handle that anymore - I was cold in August!!!
Thanks for all the mail, greetings and for your prayers for me! Special thanks to the St. John Women of the Church - gift was MUCH appreciated!!! Not too long to go now - it seems to be going slower, but when I look back it's gone SO fast!
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