I'll tell you about these later. Must ride back home.
Okay...here are some captions for the pictures you've been looking at.
Here is the second livestock training for group members caring for cows. The training was quite intense covering many many topics...which means we were there for many many hours. I may have enjoyed it more if it was in English, but maybe if I planned it better I could have taken something with me to occupy my time. As it was, the attendants were getting sleeping, so here is Mr. Kulumba providing an energizer to get the blood flowing and help get some tired eyes and brains a little more attentive.
This is me riding a my bicycle, if that is not obvious enough. Over the last few weeks I have been trying to get much riding in, keeps me active, helps me feel better, and I am definitely not bored. I think I'm getting to know my surrounding community and losing weight in the process, but I have a sneaking suspicion someone would rather me be at home in case I need to go give a bad speech somewhere. Just kidding, kind of. I do have to say, I have a pretty sweet bicycle and sorry, but no you cannot have it because it has already been requested and I try to keep my word.
Lake Victoria looking towards Kampala. From this location it only cost 2000 Uganda shillings by boat to go to Kampala. That's pretty sweet, especially compared to 40,000 from other locations.
From my home we rode to another landing site. This location is quite different from where I live. I didn't see any brick/cement structures, except the latrines surrounding the village. Apparently groups of homes are designated to specific latrines. I was glad to see they at least had some because while eating lunch on a bench under a tree out of the hot hot sun I had to witness a young boy go to the tall grass and do what he needed to do (I didn't watch the relieving part) but I have the unexpected sight of seeing the boy return to the bare ground near his house, sit on the ground and proceed to scoot. It wasn't unlike that of a irritated dog butt Maneuver
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I finally got a chance to climb a tree. Meaning I wasn't wearing a skirt and we just happened to be near an excellent climbing tree. You can tell this particular mango tree has been well climbed. If you can think of a place you've been where the wooden structures have been well used to the point of smoothness and discoloration, you will know exactly what I saw on every climb-able branch. I just wanted to climb the tree since we were taking a rest of our bike ride. Several children gathered to see the Muzungu in the mango tree and the magical Muzungu-ness also brought another unexpected surprise. As I was looking at all the mangoes high up in the tree suddenly a lady bearing a basket with four ripe mangoes in it appeared. I tease Raymond when he talks about having a mango...I just ask if he would like me to climb a tree. I think it's funny anyway. So as a kindness to her kind gesture, we went to her home across the road and I took a couple photos of her family. People here are way to nice sometimes.
My buddy Sarah, who lives far away from me came to visit and learn some sanitation techniques. My counterpart, Mr. Kulumba, graciously gave her some extensive presentations. He thinks a lot of Sarah. So to finish her visit with me, I took her to the landing to see the sun rise. As usual, it was beautiful as of course my friend is.
Some boat on the Lake, tied to the landing.
Now, please do not be jealous or feel forgotten, but I do have to let my little cousin Sierra know there is one little Ugandan girl born a week before Christmas Eve very early in the morning. Her mother asked if I would give her an American name. I thought and thought going through relative after relative. My goal was to find something unique that I had not heard yet here in country (and because the mother wished for something unique as well) and something that could be pronounced with Ugandan English. I have always found Sierra to be a very pretty name and being as I was quite on the spot to come up with the perfect name, I think the result was appropriate. Living in a compound with a midwife will probably provide other opportunities to name babies, but I wanted to let you know about this special first naming. Of course I had the privilege for no other reason than being a muzungu, but that's okay with me.
Making roasted G-nut paste (Ugandan peanut butter). Turned out pretty good, just a tad burnt.
The bakery up the road from my village. These little morsels are delectably rich in cooking oil, but they are rather tasty too.
Me preparing my beans Maama Gertrude gave me to be dried so I can enjoy cooking them for a day before eating them.
Inside my organization's maize mill. Yummy yummy posho...
Bicycles are used to transport just about everything from charcoal (seen here) to people. *And for taking on the go photos as well...hehe
Children from the next village over carrying water back to their homes...Their water hole is literally that too, not good.
Maama Gertrude and one of her friends on the veranda on their way to church.
A smiling goat...at least I think so...
One of the monkeys over by the police station, on the hill overlooking the landing. It's a neat place.
Ducks and Pig....someone asked to see wildlife (Dad) and this is what I got. Monkeys that snatch food out of your hand and roaming chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, and cows....
More cute, adorable ducks. But I must say, they are definitely cuter when they are young because some of the local species are as attractive as turkeys.
Here is Korie and Medi, my two chapatti guys, that's about all I have to say about them. They're nice too.
