Well Hello everybody, and Happy Holidays!
As you very well know I'm sure, its getting very close to Christmas. Being from Wisconsin, it is difficult for me to understand that it is actually December, since there is no snow, and the temperature is above 80 on most days. The green doesn't help either, even with Christmas lights and signs everywhere. Not to mention people blaring Christmas music out of their radios, but even with all of that, it still feels strange to me. I guess that's a good thing, because if it actually felt like Christmas I might get sad and miss everyone at home that much more. But too bad for you all, I'm doing just fine!
I enjoyed all of the comments and well wishes after my illness blogs and the pictures of Spencer, so keep up with those. I just thought I'd give you all a quick update on what I'm doing for the holidays. I'm heading to a place called Enkoko-Enjiro to celebrate Christmas with some other volunteers. Enkoko-Enjiro actually means "White Chicken" in Luganda, so its a somehow white Christmas, kind of. We're going to cook all of our favorite holiday dishes and sing carols (I'll be the loudest I'm sure, you all know what a beautiful singing voice I have and how everyone longs to hear it above everyone else:) and do a white elephant gift exchange. Should be fun, although of course it's not the same without all of my loving friends and family from home to celebrate with (sigh, tear). Is that enough sap for you? I thought I'd give you a bit, it being Christmas and all.
Well, that's all I have for now, not much is new besides that I'm finally healthy (mostly, might have something intestinal now, I'm about to give a stool sample to the medical team) and am enjoying training Spencer. He loves to play frisbee, and is learning all the important commands, sit, no, down, no, out, no, uh uh, no, and maybe eventually stay and lay down. We'll see. At least he knows no.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 27, 2008
The Upside of Everything
Well it looks like I've survived everything that happened to me last week, and I'm feeling good about life. My wounded foot is finally draining of pus, and the water is back so I'm rid of the bedbugs (after a heavy dose of insecticide). I've found the best way to make it through is to think of whatever good is coming of the terrible situation. The following are a few of my favorites that I've come up with.
8 days dirty hair: No frizzies or fly-aways. Every strand of hair stays exactly where you placed it, and there's none of those bothersome little hairs tickling your face. It might itch a bit and feel disgustingly greasy, but at least everything stays put.
no water: When the tap runs dry, you might think I'd be upset. Instead I make a game out of using the least amount of water for the most tasks I can think of. I'm getting pretty good at conserving water. I can clean my house, wash my dishes, and bathe myself with 5 liters. I'm very happy about that. Maybe you can beat me, but somehow I doubt it.
large patch of bug bites: The more bites there are centered in one spot, the less you have to scratch. It means less scabs and later less scars. Maybe this seems like a very minor benefit, when you have more than 30 bites it becomes better and better.
3 hour long ride that should take 1 hour: There are many benefits to this one. There are plenty of ways of improving yourself when this happens. First, patience is the obvious one. You work on coping with the frustration of impatience, especially since you don't have a time-frame you're following. You also have plenty of time to sit and contemplate life and your place in it. Not to mention thinking up interesting blogs for your friends and family back home to read. So this one is not only beneficial to me, but also to all of you. You also can work on your personal space issues, since generally 4 or 5 people are squeezed into seats that are meant for 2 or 3.
no pre-prepared meals: I'm learning how to cook just about everything from scratch, which is a good skill to have, I think. Last weekend at our Thanksgiving celebration we had to prepare our turkey from a live bird, which was definitely a new experience for me. Spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, stir-fry, all of the things that used to be my easy meals at home now take time and preparation, but I'm learning how to cook everything from the basic ingredients, which is fun and rewarding.
Well, that's all I have for now, but if I think of any more, I'm sure I'll give them to you in future blogs.
Peace
8 days dirty hair: No frizzies or fly-aways. Every strand of hair stays exactly where you placed it, and there's none of those bothersome little hairs tickling your face. It might itch a bit and feel disgustingly greasy, but at least everything stays put.
no water: When the tap runs dry, you might think I'd be upset. Instead I make a game out of using the least amount of water for the most tasks I can think of. I'm getting pretty good at conserving water. I can clean my house, wash my dishes, and bathe myself with 5 liters. I'm very happy about that. Maybe you can beat me, but somehow I doubt it.
large patch of bug bites: The more bites there are centered in one spot, the less you have to scratch. It means less scabs and later less scars. Maybe this seems like a very minor benefit, when you have more than 30 bites it becomes better and better.
3 hour long ride that should take 1 hour: There are many benefits to this one. There are plenty of ways of improving yourself when this happens. First, patience is the obvious one. You work on coping with the frustration of impatience, especially since you don't have a time-frame you're following. You also have plenty of time to sit and contemplate life and your place in it. Not to mention thinking up interesting blogs for your friends and family back home to read. So this one is not only beneficial to me, but also to all of you. You also can work on your personal space issues, since generally 4 or 5 people are squeezed into seats that are meant for 2 or 3.
no pre-prepared meals: I'm learning how to cook just about everything from scratch, which is a good skill to have, I think. Last weekend at our Thanksgiving celebration we had to prepare our turkey from a live bird, which was definitely a new experience for me. Spaghetti, macaroni and cheese, stir-fry, all of the things that used to be my easy meals at home now take time and preparation, but I'm learning how to cook everything from the basic ingredients, which is fun and rewarding.
Well, that's all I have for now, but if I think of any more, I'm sure I'll give them to you in future blogs.
Peace
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Illness, Infestation, and Infection
Oh friends, it's been one of those weeks.
One of the weeks you would associate with Peace Corps life when you think about it. On Monday I noticed a flea bite on my foot was looking pretty scary. It became pretty badly infected by Tuesday, and now I'm on antibiotics to try and heal the sucker. But if that was all, I'd probably count myself lucky.
Later in the day on Monday, I started feeling very tired. I figured Spencer just woke me up too many times during the night to pee, so I didn't think anything of it. Then around about the time I'm going to bathe, I feel achy and very cold. I have a lovely little fever. First one I've had since I was about 7, so of course I think I'm dying. Oh well, I laid in bed for about 20 hours, and the fever and aches went away, along with the nausea and diarrhea that came with it. But if it was only the infection on my foot and 24-hour bug I had, I still might think the week went ok, especially since I seem to be surviving both.
But of course that's not all. As I lay in bed, sick and unaware of the danger, the bedbugs or fleas or whatever the devilish little creatures are that love me so much returned to my life. They chewed me to bits, especially since I was in bed for so long. I have a lovely patch of about 30 bites just below my right butt cheek, and they itch like crazy, which is how I'm going to end up if these little demons don't disappear soon. But seeing as my water is out right now, washing my sheets and clothes isn't an option, so it could be awhile before anything improves. Oh life. and Hydrocortisone cream.
One of the weeks you would associate with Peace Corps life when you think about it. On Monday I noticed a flea bite on my foot was looking pretty scary. It became pretty badly infected by Tuesday, and now I'm on antibiotics to try and heal the sucker. But if that was all, I'd probably count myself lucky.
Later in the day on Monday, I started feeling very tired. I figured Spencer just woke me up too many times during the night to pee, so I didn't think anything of it. Then around about the time I'm going to bathe, I feel achy and very cold. I have a lovely little fever. First one I've had since I was about 7, so of course I think I'm dying. Oh well, I laid in bed for about 20 hours, and the fever and aches went away, along with the nausea and diarrhea that came with it. But if it was only the infection on my foot and 24-hour bug I had, I still might think the week went ok, especially since I seem to be surviving both.
But of course that's not all. As I lay in bed, sick and unaware of the danger, the bedbugs or fleas or whatever the devilish little creatures are that love me so much returned to my life. They chewed me to bits, especially since I was in bed for so long. I have a lovely patch of about 30 bites just below my right butt cheek, and they itch like crazy, which is how I'm going to end up if these little demons don't disappear soon. But seeing as my water is out right now, washing my sheets and clothes isn't an option, so it could be awhile before anything improves. Oh life. and Hydrocortisone cream.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Life Goes On
Hi all,
Thought I'd throw in an update on my life. I guess the biggest news is that I got a dog. I named him Spencer, and he is a typical village dog. I'm training him to become an American. It's taking some work, believe me. He is pretty smart though, it took less than a week to potty train him, so I think it can be done. It's a matter of teaching him how to walk on a leash, which most Ugandan's find endlessly amusing. I'll do it though, no matter what kind of humiliation I face walking through the village. He's been vaccinated against rabies and has been neutered, so he's ready for the states.
Teaching continues, and I hope I'm improving. Next week is going to be the last week of classes before finals for the 3rd and final term of the year, and then its 2 months away from school. This is going to be an incredibly quiet time for me, as I will be the only person living at the school. It's a good thing I've got Spencer to keep me company now. And Mom visiting in January, that ought to keep me fairly busy. I've still got to plan the itinerary, but I think it will include Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi to see the gorillas, Rwanda for a bit, my village, and possibly Queen Elizabeth National Park. I'm pretty excited.
I think my life has become incredibly boring, because I have no new stories to tell. Things are going on as is now usual for me, so I forget what would be interesting to tell you all. Oh well, I have no idea if anyone reads this thing anymore anyway. This is pretty short, but I don't have much to say, so I guess I'll stop here. email me if you want to know anything specific. Peace.
Thought I'd throw in an update on my life. I guess the biggest news is that I got a dog. I named him Spencer, and he is a typical village dog. I'm training him to become an American. It's taking some work, believe me. He is pretty smart though, it took less than a week to potty train him, so I think it can be done. It's a matter of teaching him how to walk on a leash, which most Ugandan's find endlessly amusing. I'll do it though, no matter what kind of humiliation I face walking through the village. He's been vaccinated against rabies and has been neutered, so he's ready for the states.
Teaching continues, and I hope I'm improving. Next week is going to be the last week of classes before finals for the 3rd and final term of the year, and then its 2 months away from school. This is going to be an incredibly quiet time for me, as I will be the only person living at the school. It's a good thing I've got Spencer to keep me company now. And Mom visiting in January, that ought to keep me fairly busy. I've still got to plan the itinerary, but I think it will include Lake Bunyonyi, Bwindi to see the gorillas, Rwanda for a bit, my village, and possibly Queen Elizabeth National Park. I'm pretty excited.
I think my life has become incredibly boring, because I have no new stories to tell. Things are going on as is now usual for me, so I forget what would be interesting to tell you all. Oh well, I have no idea if anyone reads this thing anymore anyway. This is pretty short, but I don't have much to say, so I guess I'll stop here. email me if you want to know anything specific. Peace.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Unannounced Visitors
Hello all, and sorry it's been so long since my last post. What with the new term starting and everything, I've become a bit busy. I'm teaching more classes this term, and it's been hectic with all the changes the Ministry of Education handed out and then took back. But things are beginning to settle, and I'm getting used to the constant writing of lecture notes and correcting of assignments. My poor physics class is more confused than ever, but what can you do. They try anyway. So now I have another of my famous animal encounters that y'all so love to read about.
I was minding my own business, just reading or doing crosswords or sudoku or something equally enthralling, when I thought I heard someone enter my house through the back door. I'm in the living room, which is in the front of my house, so I called out a very inviting and not at all frightened "Hello?? Anyone there?" no answer. So I continued with my entertainment, and was not at all surprised when a furry, horned, white head poked itself through the door from my bedroom to my living room.
"Wink!!! What are you doing in here?!!" It was Wink, the oldest of the 3 cows born since I've arrived at my school. Her two partners in crime, Danny and Casey, weren't far behind. I didn't waste any time shooing them out the door, and a good thing it was too, because Wink let go a hot torrent of urine, and what volume! just outside the door. Then all three just stood there looking at me, and I could tell they were thinking that I had no reason really to kick them out because they had done absolutely nothing wrong. Silly girls. For whatever reason, my house is incredibly inviting to all of the animals living at my school. I guess I just have to be less friendly. Although the cows are babies, they're still cows, and much bigger than the goats. They definitely were too big for my small house. Bull in a china shop indeed.
I was minding my own business, just reading or doing crosswords or sudoku or something equally enthralling, when I thought I heard someone enter my house through the back door. I'm in the living room, which is in the front of my house, so I called out a very inviting and not at all frightened "Hello?? Anyone there?" no answer. So I continued with my entertainment, and was not at all surprised when a furry, horned, white head poked itself through the door from my bedroom to my living room.
"Wink!!! What are you doing in here?!!" It was Wink, the oldest of the 3 cows born since I've arrived at my school. Her two partners in crime, Danny and Casey, weren't far behind. I didn't waste any time shooing them out the door, and a good thing it was too, because Wink let go a hot torrent of urine, and what volume! just outside the door. Then all three just stood there looking at me, and I could tell they were thinking that I had no reason really to kick them out because they had done absolutely nothing wrong. Silly girls. For whatever reason, my house is incredibly inviting to all of the animals living at my school. I guess I just have to be less friendly. Although the cows are babies, they're still cows, and much bigger than the goats. They definitely were too big for my small house. Bull in a china shop indeed.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Overtime On My Ass
Greetings all! I know it's been awhile since my last entry, so I thought I'd update you on my latest happenings. I recently went whitewater rafting on the Nile in Jinja, and let me tell you, it was quite an adventure. I went with some friends, Jessie Ray, Bubba and Unibomber (just a nick-name, but apt, I think). I'll start at the beginning.
Jessie Ray has a water phobia, so she was quite nervous about the whole thing. The rest of us were pretty pumped up, and the day of the event came quickly. Right away 2 South Africans decided we looked normal enough and decided to tag along with us, since there were 6 people to a boat. The day started out ok, beginning with practicing the important things like flipping the raft and getting back in it, as well as following important commands. The flip was frightening, because we were in calm water and everyone fell on top of each other, and Jessie Ray and I came up under the boat. We looked at each other, and we could both see how scared the other was. But then we came to our first rapids, and everything seemed ok. We went over Bujagali Falls, didn't flip, and made it through some other big class 5's, including Silver Back, which was huge and felt more like a mack truck hitting me in the face than water, but after pinballing around the boat and whacking people with my paddle, I stayed in and everything was ok.
I don't know what time it was, but we hit a calm stretch about 3 km long where we could swim and take pee breaks, and also had a light lunch of delicious pineapple and some biscuits. Everyone in my boat must have eaten too much, because the next rapid, called Overtime, was not quite as joyful as all the rest had been. Our guide warned us, again and again, we had to do exactly as he said, because this is the one shallow rapid of the day, and if we flip on this one, someone is going to get seriously injured. Well, we didn't listen. It started bad from the beginning. We got stuck on the rock at the very top, we were supposed to go to the right of this rock, and instead went to the left. We soon flipped the boat, and I remember very little of the next, say 30 seconds or so. I remember grabbing onto my paddle for dear life, and just relaxing. I hit my butt on about 4 big rocks, and pretty hard, but then finally came to some deeper water (this is probably the point where I went over the 12 foot waterfall). I must have had my eyes closed, because next a safety kayaker is screaming at me to grab ahold of his kayak so he can paddle me to safety. He got me to a different raft where someone else yelled at me to let go of my paddle (I have no idea how I held onto it for so long) and then someone pulled me into the boat. I landed in a heap at the bottom, and didn't want to move. The guide from that boat asked me if I was ok, and all I could answer was, "I don't know, I think so, let me check." I was of course fine, since I am writing this blog now. All I suffered was a giant purple/black shades of grey goose-egg on my right cheek. It's slowly going down, though even now it still can be difficult to sit properly.
Bubba had the same fate as me. He was the first one to go over the waterfall, and has a bruised tail bone. Unibomber went over on his stomach, and cut up his arms, but not bad enough to require stitches. The SA woman also bruised her tail bone, and the SA man got scratched up like Unibomber. Only one in our group went unscathed, and that's because she got stuck. Jessie Ray ended up somehow standing still at the top of the waterfall on some rocks. A safety kayaker managed to wedge his kayak into some rocks near the base of the waterfall, climbed up to Jessie Ray and helped her slide on her bum down to a point where she could then jump over the waterfall and into a waiting raft. What an adventure.
After we all survived, without one serious injury like we had been warned would happen, I think we felt pretty invincible. I know I did. After that, I was afraid of no rapid, and asked the guide to go the hardest route on all of them. At the last rapid, where the boats have a 90% chance of flipping, we managed to keep afloat. So on the one rapid of the day where you are absolutely not supposed to flip, we did, and on the one where its pretty certain your going to, we managed to not flip. I supposed its just characteristic of me, I tend to go the opposite way I am told. Oh well. I conquered the Nile River, and its shallow Class-5 rapid, Overtime. Hoo Ahhh!!!!
Jessie Ray has a water phobia, so she was quite nervous about the whole thing. The rest of us were pretty pumped up, and the day of the event came quickly. Right away 2 South Africans decided we looked normal enough and decided to tag along with us, since there were 6 people to a boat. The day started out ok, beginning with practicing the important things like flipping the raft and getting back in it, as well as following important commands. The flip was frightening, because we were in calm water and everyone fell on top of each other, and Jessie Ray and I came up under the boat. We looked at each other, and we could both see how scared the other was. But then we came to our first rapids, and everything seemed ok. We went over Bujagali Falls, didn't flip, and made it through some other big class 5's, including Silver Back, which was huge and felt more like a mack truck hitting me in the face than water, but after pinballing around the boat and whacking people with my paddle, I stayed in and everything was ok.
I don't know what time it was, but we hit a calm stretch about 3 km long where we could swim and take pee breaks, and also had a light lunch of delicious pineapple and some biscuits. Everyone in my boat must have eaten too much, because the next rapid, called Overtime, was not quite as joyful as all the rest had been. Our guide warned us, again and again, we had to do exactly as he said, because this is the one shallow rapid of the day, and if we flip on this one, someone is going to get seriously injured. Well, we didn't listen. It started bad from the beginning. We got stuck on the rock at the very top, we were supposed to go to the right of this rock, and instead went to the left. We soon flipped the boat, and I remember very little of the next, say 30 seconds or so. I remember grabbing onto my paddle for dear life, and just relaxing. I hit my butt on about 4 big rocks, and pretty hard, but then finally came to some deeper water (this is probably the point where I went over the 12 foot waterfall). I must have had my eyes closed, because next a safety kayaker is screaming at me to grab ahold of his kayak so he can paddle me to safety. He got me to a different raft where someone else yelled at me to let go of my paddle (I have no idea how I held onto it for so long) and then someone pulled me into the boat. I landed in a heap at the bottom, and didn't want to move. The guide from that boat asked me if I was ok, and all I could answer was, "I don't know, I think so, let me check." I was of course fine, since I am writing this blog now. All I suffered was a giant purple/black shades of grey goose-egg on my right cheek. It's slowly going down, though even now it still can be difficult to sit properly.
Bubba had the same fate as me. He was the first one to go over the waterfall, and has a bruised tail bone. Unibomber went over on his stomach, and cut up his arms, but not bad enough to require stitches. The SA woman also bruised her tail bone, and the SA man got scratched up like Unibomber. Only one in our group went unscathed, and that's because she got stuck. Jessie Ray ended up somehow standing still at the top of the waterfall on some rocks. A safety kayaker managed to wedge his kayak into some rocks near the base of the waterfall, climbed up to Jessie Ray and helped her slide on her bum down to a point where she could then jump over the waterfall and into a waiting raft. What an adventure.
After we all survived, without one serious injury like we had been warned would happen, I think we felt pretty invincible. I know I did. After that, I was afraid of no rapid, and asked the guide to go the hardest route on all of them. At the last rapid, where the boats have a 90% chance of flipping, we managed to keep afloat. So on the one rapid of the day where you are absolutely not supposed to flip, we did, and on the one where its pretty certain your going to, we managed to not flip. I supposed its just characteristic of me, I tend to go the opposite way I am told. Oh well. I conquered the Nile River, and its shallow Class-5 rapid, Overtime. Hoo Ahhh!!!!
Saturday, July 26, 2008
One Term Down
Well, I've finished teaching my first term here in Uganda, and what a term it was. It was a bumpy ride to say the least. My students have trouble understanding my outrageous American accent, and then the material is also difficult, physics and math are tough subjects. They are trying anyway, and I think they enjoy having a mzungu teacher. They have more to laugh about during class than those who don't have me, and really its just because I'm so strange. But I enjoyed it, and am glad to have a new term to think about and new lessons to plan. Now that I have some decent textbooks, thanks Dianne, and the church for sending them, teaching has become a little easier. Logical flow of material and lack of errors and typos is really quite a relief. I think the students will really benefit from this.
Not much new to say here, I'm finally feeling like I somewhat belong, and am making friends among the teachers. I have fed them stir-fry, and they absolutely love it. I also made them macaroni and cheese, which didn't go over so well, and chicken salad sandwiches, which they loved. Well, not so much the sandwich part, but the chicken salad anyway. I'll have to come up with some more dishes I think they'll like. Anything that isn't matooke can be daunting, but they're learning that American food isn't so bad. I even made fried green tomatoes, which were ok, but not the best. My neighbor enjoyed them. I"ll have to try it again, with greener tomatoes and a different batter. I'm becoming quite the experimenter in the kitchen. I"ll let you know if anything turns out well.
So this is a pretty boring post, but I guess learning about my everyday life might be stimulating to others. Who knows, stranger things have happened.
Not much new to say here, I'm finally feeling like I somewhat belong, and am making friends among the teachers. I have fed them stir-fry, and they absolutely love it. I also made them macaroni and cheese, which didn't go over so well, and chicken salad sandwiches, which they loved. Well, not so much the sandwich part, but the chicken salad anyway. I'll have to come up with some more dishes I think they'll like. Anything that isn't matooke can be daunting, but they're learning that American food isn't so bad. I even made fried green tomatoes, which were ok, but not the best. My neighbor enjoyed them. I"ll have to try it again, with greener tomatoes and a different batter. I'm becoming quite the experimenter in the kitchen. I"ll let you know if anything turns out well.
So this is a pretty boring post, but I guess learning about my everyday life might be stimulating to others. Who knows, stranger things have happened.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Oh Life
Well, I've had some very interesting conversations as of late. Including immoral sleeping positions, why bicycle riding is bad for your sexual health, and have been told several interesting stories about former student revolts around Uganda. All of these conversations happened in the same day, and what a day it was. I learned alot.
I also had a conversation with a somewhat intoxicated man in Muhanga, the town halfway between my village and Kabale town, about how disturbing certain American's have been to him. He asked me to get a message to George Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Lee, to tell them to go to Muhanga, Uganda immediately to explain to this man exactly why they have been bothering him, or he is planning bodily harm. I said of course I knew these people, and would get the message to them as soon as I could. I was sitting in a stationary car, and since he was promising physical violence, I wanted to placate him. He said he could fire me on the spot, but he wasn't going to. He once again made sure I knew the 'ninjas', and that I was absolutely going to get the message to them, and then staggered away. I was glad he left, but the conversation was stimulating.
Back to the animal front, I now have a cow that is stalking me. She comes to the back door of my house every evening around 5 or 6 and moos loudly. She wants sweet potatoes, but I am currently all out. I suppose it's my own fault for giving them to her in the first place. Now she also comes running whenever she sees me around school, and needless to say its a bit frightening to see a full grown cow galloping towards you. She always stops short, but nonetheless its nerve-wracking. She came to my classroom one day while I was teaching. Now here in Uganda, the teachers move from room to room, and the students stay put. So this took some planning on her part. She stuck her head into the s1 classroom and started mooing loudly at me. The students erupted in laughter, as did I, and I tried to continue my lesson. She wouldn't leave. So I put a problem up on the board, and had a student come up to solve it. Then I tried to push her out of the doorway, but once again, a cow doesn't move so easily. The students laughed even harder. Eventually she got the picture and moved along, but for now I am looking over my shoulder constantly.
There's also a daily goat race at my school. Every day at about 2pm, as I'm resting in the shade after a large lunch, the goats come racing by on their way to eat the banana peels by the canteen. The same goat one for the first 3 days this week, I call him Speedy, but then was overtaken on Thursday and Friday by another. I think I may start taking bets with the other teachers on this daily race. It's entertaining anyway.
A shout out to Scott's mom, he says hi.
I also had a conversation with a somewhat intoxicated man in Muhanga, the town halfway between my village and Kabale town, about how disturbing certain American's have been to him. He asked me to get a message to George Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Bruce Lee, to tell them to go to Muhanga, Uganda immediately to explain to this man exactly why they have been bothering him, or he is planning bodily harm. I said of course I knew these people, and would get the message to them as soon as I could. I was sitting in a stationary car, and since he was promising physical violence, I wanted to placate him. He said he could fire me on the spot, but he wasn't going to. He once again made sure I knew the 'ninjas', and that I was absolutely going to get the message to them, and then staggered away. I was glad he left, but the conversation was stimulating.
Back to the animal front, I now have a cow that is stalking me. She comes to the back door of my house every evening around 5 or 6 and moos loudly. She wants sweet potatoes, but I am currently all out. I suppose it's my own fault for giving them to her in the first place. Now she also comes running whenever she sees me around school, and needless to say its a bit frightening to see a full grown cow galloping towards you. She always stops short, but nonetheless its nerve-wracking. She came to my classroom one day while I was teaching. Now here in Uganda, the teachers move from room to room, and the students stay put. So this took some planning on her part. She stuck her head into the s1 classroom and started mooing loudly at me. The students erupted in laughter, as did I, and I tried to continue my lesson. She wouldn't leave. So I put a problem up on the board, and had a student come up to solve it. Then I tried to push her out of the doorway, but once again, a cow doesn't move so easily. The students laughed even harder. Eventually she got the picture and moved along, but for now I am looking over my shoulder constantly.
There's also a daily goat race at my school. Every day at about 2pm, as I'm resting in the shade after a large lunch, the goats come racing by on their way to eat the banana peels by the canteen. The same goat one for the first 3 days this week, I call him Speedy, but then was overtaken on Thursday and Friday by another. I think I may start taking bets with the other teachers on this daily race. It's entertaining anyway.
A shout out to Scott's mom, he says hi.
Friday, June 27, 2008
What a Day
Must be because it's Friday the 13th or something. I woke up to yet more bits from some indestructable yet miniscule (and invisible to the naked eye) creature that has invaded my sleeping space, despite airing my mattress, blanket and pillow, spraying all 3 with insecticide, and washing my sheets and pillow case with hot water and an obscene amount of Omo (strong detergent).
Not such a happy start to a lovely work free and sunshiny Friday. So I made a list of songs on my ipod to match my mood, and set about doing my laundry. Then I swept my house, scrubbed my cooktop and toilet, and mopped the place down, including under my food storage box, which wasn't a pretty site (who knew mold could smell like that?).
Then I headed down to the school for lunch and to grade some assignments I gave to my physics students yesterday. After completing that, I didn't quite feel up to making notes to lecture from about Newton's 3rd Law of Motion, so I sat outside the staff room in the sunshine, and enjoyed the weather.
That must have cheered me up a bit, because I decided to return to domestic pursuits. I spent an entire hour... sewing. That's right, you read correctly, sewing. I decided to make a drawstring pouch for scrabble tiles. I don't even own scrabble. And the little bag actually works. It won't last long, the sewing isn't the greatest considering I don't even know how to do any real stitches, but it looks good. I think Uganda is turning me into a housewife. If you could see me now...
But of course the day came full circle. My ipod died and wouldn't recharge, my phone has become irrational about which text messages it will send and receive, and I get to look forward to another night of scratching. But I did successfully handsew a drawstring bag...
Not such a happy start to a lovely work free and sunshiny Friday. So I made a list of songs on my ipod to match my mood, and set about doing my laundry. Then I swept my house, scrubbed my cooktop and toilet, and mopped the place down, including under my food storage box, which wasn't a pretty site (who knew mold could smell like that?).
Then I headed down to the school for lunch and to grade some assignments I gave to my physics students yesterday. After completing that, I didn't quite feel up to making notes to lecture from about Newton's 3rd Law of Motion, so I sat outside the staff room in the sunshine, and enjoyed the weather.
That must have cheered me up a bit, because I decided to return to domestic pursuits. I spent an entire hour... sewing. That's right, you read correctly, sewing. I decided to make a drawstring pouch for scrabble tiles. I don't even own scrabble. And the little bag actually works. It won't last long, the sewing isn't the greatest considering I don't even know how to do any real stitches, but it looks good. I think Uganda is turning me into a housewife. If you could see me now...
But of course the day came full circle. My ipod died and wouldn't recharge, my phone has become irrational about which text messages it will send and receive, and I get to look forward to another night of scratching. But I did successfully handsew a drawstring bag...
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Too Many, uh, Cows in the Kitchen?
Even one cow is too many for any kitchen, even if she's only two years old and not quite fully grown (most of the way there though). I think it must be her youth that makes her so brazen, but she could just be an anomaly among cows. I call her Bananas, because she likes them so much (the same cow who tries to enter the staff room everyday after break tea to clean up the peels). But I suppose I should start from the beginning...
It was a Monday morning, which for me is laundry day. I was patiently performing that mundane task when I heard Bananas coming through the gate into my yard. My neighbor's kitchen is seperate from her house, and attached to some storage room (what was the kitchen for the previous occupant of my house, prior to the additions). I was washing my clothes in front of this mud/thatch hut when Bananas came around the corner, walked right by me and tried to enter the first door, the storage room, but it was blocked and she couldn't force her way through. So she backed up, stuck one big back hoof in one of my basins full of soapy water and, luckily, dirty clothes, and continued to the next door. It was open, and had no obstructions to bar her passage.
I continued with my laundry for a bit, thinking she must get bored of the room after a little while. But, the door had closed behind her and thinking she might panic and bust the place up, I went in to shoo her out. Bananas had other ideas. I walked in to find her munching happily on my neighbors food stores, particularly the matooke (plantains) and potatoes. I tried to stop her, but if you've ever tried to force a cow to do anything with brute force alone, you'll know you're no match for such a large animal (I've never been cow tipping, but I imagine it goes something like this did). I decided the only way to get her out of there and save my neighbors food was to lure her out with her favorite food of all, little yellow bananas.
So I ran into my own kitchen, grabbed the fruit, and began the long and arduous process of luring a 1500 lb hungry animal out of a room full of food. After much convincing, pushing, giving of bananas, throwing lure bananas, and frustrated arguments (all on my party), and after she knocked over the bench and cookstove, I got her turned around and out the door. This I also wish I had captured on film. I bolted the door closed after her, and felt a huge sense of accomplishment. Too many cows in the kitchen? Not with this trusty cowpoke around.
It was a Monday morning, which for me is laundry day. I was patiently performing that mundane task when I heard Bananas coming through the gate into my yard. My neighbor's kitchen is seperate from her house, and attached to some storage room (what was the kitchen for the previous occupant of my house, prior to the additions). I was washing my clothes in front of this mud/thatch hut when Bananas came around the corner, walked right by me and tried to enter the first door, the storage room, but it was blocked and she couldn't force her way through. So she backed up, stuck one big back hoof in one of my basins full of soapy water and, luckily, dirty clothes, and continued to the next door. It was open, and had no obstructions to bar her passage.
I continued with my laundry for a bit, thinking she must get bored of the room after a little while. But, the door had closed behind her and thinking she might panic and bust the place up, I went in to shoo her out. Bananas had other ideas. I walked in to find her munching happily on my neighbors food stores, particularly the matooke (plantains) and potatoes. I tried to stop her, but if you've ever tried to force a cow to do anything with brute force alone, you'll know you're no match for such a large animal (I've never been cow tipping, but I imagine it goes something like this did). I decided the only way to get her out of there and save my neighbors food was to lure her out with her favorite food of all, little yellow bananas.
So I ran into my own kitchen, grabbed the fruit, and began the long and arduous process of luring a 1500 lb hungry animal out of a room full of food. After much convincing, pushing, giving of bananas, throwing lure bananas, and frustrated arguments (all on my party), and after she knocked over the bench and cookstove, I got her turned around and out the door. This I also wish I had captured on film. I bolted the door closed after her, and felt a huge sense of accomplishment. Too many cows in the kitchen? Not with this trusty cowpoke around.
The Rat Dance
This may sound odd to you, but I believe the rat dance is something many PCVs have experienced during their to years, and one I'm becoming very adept at. It goes something like this:
Laying awake at 2am, hoping the noise will go away, knowing it won't, you toss and turn, hoping to make enough noise to scare the evil little creature out of your house. You eventually resort to fists, pummeling the mattress and walls, all to scare something about 1/20th your size.
And still, the rat is fearless, having performed this routine many times, knowing you don't want to leave the safety of your net enshrouded bed, it continues to hop around your kitchen, playing your dishes like drums.
So you lay a bit longer in your bed, gathering the courage to confront the beast. After you can procrastinate no longer, you turn on your lamp/flashlight, carefully leave the sanctity of your net and gingerly put your feet in your houseshoes (praying the rat hasn't taken refuge inside them) and proceed slowly and carefully towards where you last heard the noise (realizing you actually did leave your bed, the little devil is now stealthily silent).
Heart beating loudly with fear, you approach, and here's where the real footwork begins. The rat makes a run at you because you are between it and the exit. You scream and jump high into the air, praying you don't land on the thing and it doesn't dash into your foot again. In it's confusion, or ultimate brilliance, it scampers back for the kitchen, then back at you again, all the hile you're prancing around like an idiot trying not to touch the damn thing. After many little screams and shouts of "get out already!", the rat spies it's exit and runs for the outside, almost always right over the foot you failed to lift out of the way in time. The dance complete for that night, you return to bed and try to get back to sleep.
I finally found rat traps. No more dancing for me.
Laying awake at 2am, hoping the noise will go away, knowing it won't, you toss and turn, hoping to make enough noise to scare the evil little creature out of your house. You eventually resort to fists, pummeling the mattress and walls, all to scare something about 1/20th your size.
And still, the rat is fearless, having performed this routine many times, knowing you don't want to leave the safety of your net enshrouded bed, it continues to hop around your kitchen, playing your dishes like drums.
So you lay a bit longer in your bed, gathering the courage to confront the beast. After you can procrastinate no longer, you turn on your lamp/flashlight, carefully leave the sanctity of your net and gingerly put your feet in your houseshoes (praying the rat hasn't taken refuge inside them) and proceed slowly and carefully towards where you last heard the noise (realizing you actually did leave your bed, the little devil is now stealthily silent).
Heart beating loudly with fear, you approach, and here's where the real footwork begins. The rat makes a run at you because you are between it and the exit. You scream and jump high into the air, praying you don't land on the thing and it doesn't dash into your foot again. In it's confusion, or ultimate brilliance, it scampers back for the kitchen, then back at you again, all the hile you're prancing around like an idiot trying not to touch the damn thing. After many little screams and shouts of "get out already!", the rat spies it's exit and runs for the outside, almost always right over the foot you failed to lift out of the way in time. The dance complete for that night, you return to bed and try to get back to sleep.
I finally found rat traps. No more dancing for me.
Chicken on a Cold/Rainy Tin Roof
I have no idea where these chickens came from, but suddenly there are several running aroun. I have high hopes they'll be somebody's lunch soon, or at least that damn rooster.
I thought that crows made a lot of noise when they landed on my tin roof, but they've got nothing on chickens. I first heard the racket while I was bathing (splashing ice cold water on those parts that require daily washing). I quickly dressed to see if my roof was falling into my house. It wasn't, but some chickens had decided that my roof was the place to roost. Whatever, I'm sure I'll get used to their clumsy clawing.
Clawing, clacking, general noise, sure. But not that morning wake-up call. At 4am, I thought for sure the rooster had gotten into my house and was crowing next too my bed. Again, like clockwork, more alarms from the bastard at 4:30. And 5. And 5:30. At 6 i finally became so desperate that I grabbed my mop and started banging it on the ceiling like a crazy person. In pjs, half asleep with my hair flying wildly, and muttering a string of curses under my breath, I'm sure I looked completely deranged. I wish I had a picture of it. But thankfully, the rooster was quiet. Until 6:30.
I have a battle plan for tonight. I'm going to check the roof before I go to bed. If he's up there, I'm throwing rocks. If that doesn't work, I'm going to kill, pluck, and clean him myself, and eat him for lunch tomorrow. I'll get you yet, worthy foe.
I thought that crows made a lot of noise when they landed on my tin roof, but they've got nothing on chickens. I first heard the racket while I was bathing (splashing ice cold water on those parts that require daily washing). I quickly dressed to see if my roof was falling into my house. It wasn't, but some chickens had decided that my roof was the place to roost. Whatever, I'm sure I'll get used to their clumsy clawing.
Clawing, clacking, general noise, sure. But not that morning wake-up call. At 4am, I thought for sure the rooster had gotten into my house and was crowing next too my bed. Again, like clockwork, more alarms from the bastard at 4:30. And 5. And 5:30. At 6 i finally became so desperate that I grabbed my mop and started banging it on the ceiling like a crazy person. In pjs, half asleep with my hair flying wildly, and muttering a string of curses under my breath, I'm sure I looked completely deranged. I wish I had a picture of it. But thankfully, the rooster was quiet. Until 6:30.
I have a battle plan for tonight. I'm going to check the roof before I go to bed. If he's up there, I'm throwing rocks. If that doesn't work, I'm going to kill, pluck, and clean him myself, and eat him for lunch tomorrow. I'll get you yet, worthy foe.
Friday, May 9, 2008
3 Billy Goats Gruff
Well, I'm sure I've mentioned my 3 little goat friends before, but there has been a new development in our friendship. The other day, during a short afternoon storm, I had my back door open, as usual, and in comes my three little friends to shelter from the storm. I figured they couldn't do much harm, considering my house is made completely of concrete, so I let them stay. They just wanted in out of the rain after all, and they stayed behind the open door and slept in the corner.
Not for long. After the storm was over, and their afternoon nap was taken care of, they decided to explore the premesis a bit. They wandered into the kitchen, didn't find anything interesting there, so continued on to the sitting room. Here they thouroughly enjoyed climbing on the small shelf at the bottom of my coffee table, and generally just walking anywhere they could. What a great new playground! They seemed to tire of this, and soon left out the back door they entered through.
Little did I realize they now thought of my house as their personal stomping grounds. I could hear them playing on the dirt wall behind my house, and watched a little bit through the door and window from my bed when I could see them. They disappeared from view, but I could still hear them stomping around. Soon enough, I heard a stampede, and they came tearing into the house and jumped up on the bed with me. Goats seem to have this wierd need to be at the highest point possible, like they are constantly playing king of the mountain. Well, in my house that point is my bed. So here they are, playing king of the mountain and getting dirty little goat hoof prints all over my blanket. Not only that, but Dodger, the white and black/brown one, decided this might be a good place to relieve herself. I quickly won the king of the mountain battle, and sent them on their way back out the door.
They continued to come tearing in and jump on the bed, and the black one, Artie, decided she was going to test me. Every time I tried to push her off, she would head-butt my hands. I guess that's a true sign of friendship. Silly goats.
Megan
Not for long. After the storm was over, and their afternoon nap was taken care of, they decided to explore the premesis a bit. They wandered into the kitchen, didn't find anything interesting there, so continued on to the sitting room. Here they thouroughly enjoyed climbing on the small shelf at the bottom of my coffee table, and generally just walking anywhere they could. What a great new playground! They seemed to tire of this, and soon left out the back door they entered through.
Little did I realize they now thought of my house as their personal stomping grounds. I could hear them playing on the dirt wall behind my house, and watched a little bit through the door and window from my bed when I could see them. They disappeared from view, but I could still hear them stomping around. Soon enough, I heard a stampede, and they came tearing into the house and jumped up on the bed with me. Goats seem to have this wierd need to be at the highest point possible, like they are constantly playing king of the mountain. Well, in my house that point is my bed. So here they are, playing king of the mountain and getting dirty little goat hoof prints all over my blanket. Not only that, but Dodger, the white and black/brown one, decided this might be a good place to relieve herself. I quickly won the king of the mountain battle, and sent them on their way back out the door.
They continued to come tearing in and jump on the bed, and the black one, Artie, decided she was going to test me. Every time I tried to push her off, she would head-butt my hands. I guess that's a true sign of friendship. Silly goats.
Megan
Thursday, April 24, 2008
The Glory of Ugandan Transportation
Since I'm near a computer and have access to internet, I thought I'd write another blog. I don't have much new to say, but haven't really given y'all any hint of what getting around Uganda is like on public transportation. So I thought I'd relay some of my favorite encounters so far.
THE BUS FROM KABALE TO KAMPALA
The buses in Uganda are very similar to our greyhound or coach buses, but much older and more used. They tend to have 2 seats on one side of the aisle and 3 on the other, and often will load people until even the standing room is gone. While riding from Kabale to Kampala, a 7 hour ride on a good day, I was passing the time by reading a book when the bus pulled over for the 1700th time.
me, "what are we stopping for now?"
Scott, "I think the windshield just shattered. Didn't you hear it? He's kicking out the rest of the glass."
me, "no, are you serious?"
Scott, "yeah, see these shards of glass all over my bag? It's the windshield."
me, "oh. Neat."
Scott, "you might want to put on your sunglasses."
me, "okay."
I'm pretty sure these kinds of conversations are fairly routine on such journies.
MATATU FROM KABALE TOWN TO MY SCHOOL
I arrived at the taxi park at about 1pm for the return journey to my school. I had been told by the headmaster, who had taken me to town that day on business, that the last one would leave by 2. I figured sitting in a matatu for an hour waiting for it to fill would be okay. I should probably tell you that matatus are toyota minibuses that hold 14 passengers, 1 driver, and 1 conductor, who collects money and yells out the window for potential passengers. Often these get filled to an extra 3 to 4 people, but not on this journey. We sat in the taxi park until 3:30, at which time we drove in circles around the town to pick up more people. I thought when we had 4 people in each 3 person row we would finally be able to leave, but I was much mistaken. The taxi filled until there were 25 people, which means 3 in the front with the driver, 6 in the next 3 person row, then 5, followed by another 5 and only 4 in the last. It was the most cramped and ridiculously long time I've ever sat on a matatu. Needless to say I won't take the same one any longer.
FELLOW VOLUNTEERS RIDE FROM KABALE TO MBARARA
This PCV boarded a matatu in Kabale to ride to Mbarara. Her matatu also filled way beyond capacity, up to 21 people (there's supposed to only be 14). She was glad to finally be on the road, but her joy wasn't to last long. Outside of Kabale town her taxi was impounded by the police, and the conductor (who had already taken money from 3 passengers) denied his position. Finally after much questioning by the police, the conductor realized he was found out and made a break for it. He ran from the matatu with a policewoman hot on his heels. He however made it to freedom, disappearing into the bush to never be heard from again.
She was escorted onto a new matatu to be taken to Mbarara, and much to her chagrin, the new matatu also filled itself to 21. This one, however, made it without further incident to Mbarara, and only 5 hours after she had originally planned to be there.
So those are a few of my favorites from riding public transport in Uganda. I hope you enjoyed them, and I hope that you never complain about riding a bus in the States again.
Megan
THE BUS FROM KABALE TO KAMPALA
The buses in Uganda are very similar to our greyhound or coach buses, but much older and more used. They tend to have 2 seats on one side of the aisle and 3 on the other, and often will load people until even the standing room is gone. While riding from Kabale to Kampala, a 7 hour ride on a good day, I was passing the time by reading a book when the bus pulled over for the 1700th time.
me, "what are we stopping for now?"
Scott, "I think the windshield just shattered. Didn't you hear it? He's kicking out the rest of the glass."
me, "no, are you serious?"
Scott, "yeah, see these shards of glass all over my bag? It's the windshield."
me, "oh. Neat."
Scott, "you might want to put on your sunglasses."
me, "okay."
I'm pretty sure these kinds of conversations are fairly routine on such journies.
MATATU FROM KABALE TOWN TO MY SCHOOL
I arrived at the taxi park at about 1pm for the return journey to my school. I had been told by the headmaster, who had taken me to town that day on business, that the last one would leave by 2. I figured sitting in a matatu for an hour waiting for it to fill would be okay. I should probably tell you that matatus are toyota minibuses that hold 14 passengers, 1 driver, and 1 conductor, who collects money and yells out the window for potential passengers. Often these get filled to an extra 3 to 4 people, but not on this journey. We sat in the taxi park until 3:30, at which time we drove in circles around the town to pick up more people. I thought when we had 4 people in each 3 person row we would finally be able to leave, but I was much mistaken. The taxi filled until there were 25 people, which means 3 in the front with the driver, 6 in the next 3 person row, then 5, followed by another 5 and only 4 in the last. It was the most cramped and ridiculously long time I've ever sat on a matatu. Needless to say I won't take the same one any longer.
FELLOW VOLUNTEERS RIDE FROM KABALE TO MBARARA
This PCV boarded a matatu in Kabale to ride to Mbarara. Her matatu also filled way beyond capacity, up to 21 people (there's supposed to only be 14). She was glad to finally be on the road, but her joy wasn't to last long. Outside of Kabale town her taxi was impounded by the police, and the conductor (who had already taken money from 3 passengers) denied his position. Finally after much questioning by the police, the conductor realized he was found out and made a break for it. He ran from the matatu with a policewoman hot on his heels. He however made it to freedom, disappearing into the bush to never be heard from again.
She was escorted onto a new matatu to be taken to Mbarara, and much to her chagrin, the new matatu also filled itself to 21. This one, however, made it without further incident to Mbarara, and only 5 hours after she had originally planned to be there.
So those are a few of my favorites from riding public transport in Uganda. I hope you enjoyed them, and I hope that you never complain about riding a bus in the States again.
Megan
Friday, April 18, 2008
Settling In
Wow. It's official, I'm a Peace Corps Volunteer, since Thursday, April 10. I'm currently trying to get myself situated, and my new house in living and working order. I'm having some furniture made, and am currently in the process of trying to make the place clean and homey. We'll see how far I get on that front.
I'm also trying to get to know my new neighborhood, which mainly includes several cows and goats, who I am getting to know very well. Yesterday I met 3 brand new baby goats, and they were lots of fun. I also got to know 4 of the cows that wander past my door every day, which was interesting. Who knew they were so friendly? One of them liked me so much she wouldn't stop licking me, which is gross.
I haven't done any teaching yet, but I have started helping the other teachers to finish their grading, since term just ended for the students yesterday. I have until May 25th to prepare myself for teaching physics to secondary school students, which is a very good thing since I've never done this before. I'm looking forward to getting started on my job here, and also to doing something as new and exciting as teaching. It should be interesting.
The area I'm living in is in the southwest of Uganda, which I may have mentioned before, and is the most beautiful part of the country. Its very hilly, I guess is how I should put it, and the climate is much different than the rest of Uganda, mainly its much colder. I wasn't expecting to need sweatshirts in Africa, but there I go making assumptions again. I'm going to need to buy some warmer clothing, because believe it or not it gets to 40 degrees F sometimes. I also hadn't realized that 2 months was enough time to get used to the heat of central Uganda, but apparently I am now a wimp to the cold. I'm thinking about buying a charcoal stove just to keep my house warmer.
Well, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll post again when I get to the internet next, which could be awhile since the nearest internet cafe to my house is 12 km away. I need to get a bike...
Megan
I'm also trying to get to know my new neighborhood, which mainly includes several cows and goats, who I am getting to know very well. Yesterday I met 3 brand new baby goats, and they were lots of fun. I also got to know 4 of the cows that wander past my door every day, which was interesting. Who knew they were so friendly? One of them liked me so much she wouldn't stop licking me, which is gross.
I haven't done any teaching yet, but I have started helping the other teachers to finish their grading, since term just ended for the students yesterday. I have until May 25th to prepare myself for teaching physics to secondary school students, which is a very good thing since I've never done this before. I'm looking forward to getting started on my job here, and also to doing something as new and exciting as teaching. It should be interesting.
The area I'm living in is in the southwest of Uganda, which I may have mentioned before, and is the most beautiful part of the country. Its very hilly, I guess is how I should put it, and the climate is much different than the rest of Uganda, mainly its much colder. I wasn't expecting to need sweatshirts in Africa, but there I go making assumptions again. I'm going to need to buy some warmer clothing, because believe it or not it gets to 40 degrees F sometimes. I also hadn't realized that 2 months was enough time to get used to the heat of central Uganda, but apparently I am now a wimp to the cold. I'm thinking about buying a charcoal stove just to keep my house warmer.
Well, I suppose that's enough for now. I'll post again when I get to the internet next, which could be awhile since the nearest internet cafe to my house is 12 km away. I need to get a bike...
Megan
Saturday, March 29, 2008
From Dairy State to Dairy District
Hey all,
This is going to be quick because I've only got 3 minutes left here at the internet cafe, but I'll get in as much as I can. I'm in Mbarara on my way back to Kampala from Kabale, the district I now call home, or will after swearing-in in April.
My school is very rural, with cows and goats wandering aimlessly throughout the compound. I was sitting in the teacher's lounge, just after break tea at 11 in the morning, when a cow wonders into the doorway. I'm talking to another teacher.
me: (listening distractedly, then) there's a cow trying to come into the lounge
teacher: yes. He smells the bananas
me: oh.
These things are apparently very normal. I love it. I am a lover of animals, and I now live on my very own free-range farm. I also have a flush western toilet in my house,which I have christened Fred the Fantastic Flusher. He is the new love of my life.
Everything is going wonderfully, and only 2 weeks of training remain. Very soon, I'll be a Peace Corps Volunteer.
That's all,
bye
This is going to be quick because I've only got 3 minutes left here at the internet cafe, but I'll get in as much as I can. I'm in Mbarara on my way back to Kampala from Kabale, the district I now call home, or will after swearing-in in April.
My school is very rural, with cows and goats wandering aimlessly throughout the compound. I was sitting in the teacher's lounge, just after break tea at 11 in the morning, when a cow wonders into the doorway. I'm talking to another teacher.
me: (listening distractedly, then) there's a cow trying to come into the lounge
teacher: yes. He smells the bananas
me: oh.
These things are apparently very normal. I love it. I am a lover of animals, and I now live on my very own free-range farm. I also have a flush western toilet in my house,which I have christened Fred the Fantastic Flusher. He is the new love of my life.
Everything is going wonderfully, and only 2 weeks of training remain. Very soon, I'll be a Peace Corps Volunteer.
That's all,
bye
Saturday, March 15, 2008
A Day in the Life...
Hey all!
I know you're dying to hear from me, so I thought I'd sit down and write you a nice long blog since I am in Kampala for a bit. My daily routines have changed so much in the last month, that it's hard for me to remember what is 'normal' and what isn't back home, and what shouldn't be normal to me here. So, I thought I'd give you a narrative of my daily life here in Luweero at training.
Wake up around 6:45 am to the rooster crowing his brains out. Lovely. Push aside the mosquito net and grab my toilette paper, heading for the pit latrine. Next, return the tp, wash hands with sanitizer and grab my toothe brush and paste. Pick up my nalgene which I put boiled drinking water into the night before, and head to the concrete space next to the pit latrine where I brush my teeth. Get dressed and grab some breakfast, which generally consists of avacado, green beans, and cut up spaghetti noodles with some strange but tasty reddish sauce on them. Grab my helmet and bag and jump on my bike to head to the training center.
At the training center, its 4.5 hours in the morning and another session after lunch break. Break is about an hour, and generally I head to the little stand next to the people selling fruits/veggies and grab a rolex. This lovely creation is not a watch mind you but a tortilla with an omelette wrapped in it. The omelette usually has tomatoes and onions, but sometimes even cabbage is included! Its quite the Ugandan delicacy.
Training usually ends at 5pm, and depending on my mood for the day, I'll either play volleyball, pretend like I can do yoga, or head to Travellers, the local watering hole. When finished with any of these activities, I throw my helmet on once again and bike back home. Once home, I put on my lesu (a wrap used to walk to the outdoor shower), grab my bucket and soap (thanks Dode), and grab the jerry cans that have water in them for my 'shower', and get going on my bucket bath. I'm getting really good at it now. After my bath I take tea, which is actually boiled milk with a slight discoloration from the tealeaves that it was boiled with, and wait for dinner. This always has the lovely dish of matooke involved, which is steamed plantains (so mushy and tasteless it's criminal), gnut sauce (peanuts to you), beans, rice, cassava, potatoes, etc. Mostly starches. Occasionally we have meat with the evening meal.
After eating what I can, I take my leave of the family and head for my room, where I do some homework, or more often than not reading, by flashlight and kerosene lamp. When I'm tired enough, I lock the windows, close the curtain, and tuck in the bug net so not rats or other lovely creepy crawlies can snuggle in with me for the night. Then, the process is repeated.
Oh and for those of you were worried, I am getting very good at riding my bike in a skirt. I've only flashed the entire marketplace of Luweero once.
And I"m trying to post some pictures so you can see my experiences so far. Its not easy, but I'lls ee what I can do. For now, here's one of me from this morning in front of the sunrise, with my new haircut.
Sunday, March 2, 2008
I've Arrived!!
Hey everyone,
Sorry this took me so long to post, but I haven't had access to a computer in a while. This will be quick, because I'm running out of time here at the internet cafe, but I want y'all to know that I've arrived safely in Uganda, after a brief unscheduled detour in Brussels (our plane was delayed out of JFK and we spent 3 days there waiting for the next flight to Entebbe). I've been here in Uganda now for 2 weeks, and am enjoying myself immensely. I just came back from a visit to a currently serving volunteer, and we went to Jinja and got to explore the city a little bit (it's the headwaters of the Nile). I can't wait to go back to do some white water rafting!
Hopefully I'll get back to write another blog soon, and a longer one, but for now, that's all. Know that I'm doing really well and having a blast.
Megan
Sorry this took me so long to post, but I haven't had access to a computer in a while. This will be quick, because I'm running out of time here at the internet cafe, but I want y'all to know that I've arrived safely in Uganda, after a brief unscheduled detour in Brussels (our plane was delayed out of JFK and we spent 3 days there waiting for the next flight to Entebbe). I've been here in Uganda now for 2 weeks, and am enjoying myself immensely. I just came back from a visit to a currently serving volunteer, and we went to Jinja and got to explore the city a little bit (it's the headwaters of the Nile). I can't wait to go back to do some white water rafting!
Hopefully I'll get back to write another blog soon, and a longer one, but for now, that's all. Know that I'm doing really well and having a blast.
Megan
Monday, January 28, 2008
Preparations
Hello everybody. I am just beginning my Peace Corps adventure, and am trying to gather together everything they suggest to bring, and in only one suitcase, which is going to be a challenge. I'm a little nervous, as I leave for Philadelphia in 12 days, and from there on to Uganda. I know this will be an incredibly rewarding experience, but 2 years is a very long time.
This isn't going to be a very long post, because I haven't got much to say yet. I still don't really have a clue what I'll be doing or if I'm qualified to do it, but I know I'll figure it out and do just fine. Right now I'm worried about all the little things, like where to buy food, how to cook without electricity, where to bucket bathe, how to get my luggage from one place to another, etc.
I can't wait to meet the other volunteers who are going to be at my staging event (2 day orientation in Philadelphia prior to departure for Uganda) and in my training group in Uganda. I'm sure we'll get to know each other very well, considering we'll be experiencing something incredibly strange and new for all of us for 2 + months together during training. I'm definitely getting very sad thinking about leaving here, all my friends and family who have been so great in helping me out with getting all the gear I need, sending me off with great parties, and intending to send me care packages while I'm away. I'm very excited to see what all of you send, and you should send me regular old letters as well! I will want to know what y'all are up to. If you want my address in Uganda, please ask my mom, Charlene Bender, for it.
So let me know what you are doing, and I'll keep you posted on this site as much as I can.
This isn't going to be a very long post, because I haven't got much to say yet. I still don't really have a clue what I'll be doing or if I'm qualified to do it, but I know I'll figure it out and do just fine. Right now I'm worried about all the little things, like where to buy food, how to cook without electricity, where to bucket bathe, how to get my luggage from one place to another, etc.
I can't wait to meet the other volunteers who are going to be at my staging event (2 day orientation in Philadelphia prior to departure for Uganda) and in my training group in Uganda. I'm sure we'll get to know each other very well, considering we'll be experiencing something incredibly strange and new for all of us for 2 + months together during training. I'm definitely getting very sad thinking about leaving here, all my friends and family who have been so great in helping me out with getting all the gear I need, sending me off with great parties, and intending to send me care packages while I'm away. I'm very excited to see what all of you send, and you should send me regular old letters as well! I will want to know what y'all are up to. If you want my address in Uganda, please ask my mom, Charlene Bender, for it.
So let me know what you are doing, and I'll keep you posted on this site as much as I can.
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