Coming Home

Trash is sorted (research)
Bags are stuffed
And I'm scurrying to get last minute things done before my flight in 3 hours. But hey, I'm good...I'm already sitting at the airport.
But being really sad is soon to come...

Until next time...

Notions

So, I've been thinking of something things that I have been considering sharing, but either haven't had the time, forgot what I wanted to write before I did finally log on, or had not worded it just right yet. I will start with my thought for today.
As I am now a Returned PCV, I am taking advantage of seeing the country I have lived in for the last two years from a different perspective. Driving the roads of Kampala is an adventure all its own and I'm sure I've picked up skills I will need to immediately discard upon reaching home. I know in the States we like to complain about potholes, and rightfully so, they can do serious damage to vehicles. Kampala has its share of potholes, well and the rest of the country. Some have been 'blessed' with more than others-just trying to put a positive spin on things.
Anyway, I have previously told people that I never thought I would long for speed humps to be installed, but when I used taxis, I wished they have them every 10 feet.
Today I've come up with an alternative to speed humps and I find it quite clever:

Instead of speed humps, they should just install potholes, they are much easier to install and maintain!

Until next time...

Trip around Uganda

Rhinos at Ziwa Santuary
Bwindi
Crested crane at "zoo" except they have a different name for it now, it is more than a zoo, it is an educational center.
A really nice place to stay. Beautiful rooms surrounded by a beautiful rainforest. And it definitely rains in Mabira.

RPCV

I've made it. It's official. My first full day as a former Peace Corps Volunteer. I'll be returning 14th November. Right now I'm trying to wrap things up here. Research (yes, I'm actually accomplishing something, even if no one really knows about it), small projects I didn't have power at site to complete, and wrapping my head around jumping into American life with my new look on things.
See you soon Stateside.

Until next time...

Shall we begin the countdown now?

So...
I plan to buy my plane ticket this month. I'm thinking very beginning of November. Then as cheap as I can, some traveling on the way home. I figure I have to get home somehow, so I can just take it a little slower. We'll see what happens.
Right now I'm just piled with work. I knew I'd be working on research, but gee whiz where'd all this other work come in. Good thing I have people to help and it will all be over before I can believe it.

Vacation

Grandma and Amanda finally made it to Uganda.
We whisked them around the country and put them on a plane back home less than an hour ago.
Maybe after we all catch up on sleep and digest the last week and a half of events, we'll have plenty of stories and pictures to share.

Until next time.

Race Day

In March, I participated in an area bicycle race. A week before the event, I was asked if I wanted to participate because people always saw me riding here and there to go to schools and other villages.
So I signed up.
The day of the event was energizing.
The atmosphere full of excitement.
The road lined with crowds.

After a briefing, we headed toward the landing to the starting line. I was the only woman among 28 other men. The only white person for that matter.
The man with the gloves and I for part of the race kept passing each other, until he got tired. Ha.

Raymond took care to have everything I could possibly need along the race course. Which was really great, cause I needed water. It was hot and dry that day.

Somewhere I didn't take a turn and ended up not where I was supposed to go. But I was determined to complete and show girls they can ride bicycles too and that bazungu are not lazy as it seems most people think to some degree. Sorry I didn't do much for people here to think I'm smart. Ha

Most of the ride was lonely except for the times when Raymond whizzed by on the dirt bike.
Speaking of dirt, I collected some on my almost 3 hour ride. You'd think I was wearing leggings.

I finished very much last, but I think finishing was really all I needed to do. After some investigating on the part of the race facilitators, I found out I am 1 of 5 people who completed the entire race legitimately. The guy in the orange gloves passed me on the back of a truck at one point. Although I was about 1 hour behind everyone else-getting lost was not fun, but it was nice when I finally found the correct way. It was also nice to see somewhere I'd not been yet; the forest was very pretty.

Well, I staggered home, bathed, rested, and then was called back to get my prize....
What...I get a prize.
But I was dead last.
Then again, only a handful complete successfully.
SWEEEET.

My prizes. I had my eye on that bicycle pump before the race too.
How did they know?

2011

Belated Merry Christmas...

And a

Happy New Year!

Tippy Tap

After I finished this, they called it the expensive European model. I guess it does cost more than the original model, but I would like to think it will last longer and my feet will stay drier.

Tippy taps tend to need rebuilding every once in a while. I thought the last time was the best yet, but the termites and water had a different view…well, they might have thought yum yum, but whatever. So I had told Maama Gertrude I want to leave her with things that were both useful and I could be here to see her enjoy. I had spent some time thinking about improving the tippy tap. First of all, the jerry can could not be easily removed for refilling. Second, when the compound was sweep, whoever was doing it always seemed to move the foot pedal , making it a pain to then reposition and use. These were the main two criteria I used in my simple, yet more costly design. At the end of August, I put pen to paper and drew what I hoped would be a long last, more convenient to use, hand washing station. Here’s what I came up with.

So I quickly took it to the welder in order to wait two months to find out they really don’t understand…which I kind of figured. I had previously asked for angle bar of a length of 15 ½’ with hooks so I could use the exposed rafters to hang a couple window boxes. Surprise, surprise, I ended up with 15’ of angle bar and hooks in the wrong places. Well after a detailed visit the locations were correct as in distances from the ends, but how they were attached is another matter. Anyway, I’ll make it work. I still need to cut my box in half. That will be later.

So the tippy tap. Beginning of November. I make an appointment to go and work with the welders. They did a pretty good job and I even let them use several scrap pieces and by the end I had a brand new tippy tap support that look about 10 years old.
With the language barrier, physically showing what needed to be done was about the only way to get things moving. The main piece I have no idea of its origin, but it is a 2” metal pipe that before removing it had a small metal pipe welded inside and protruding out one end. Rusted and having just a few holes here and there, sure let’s use it.

For the bar across the top we used a nice piece of angle bar. The bracing is square pipe. There was a piece of sheet metal from a previous project (I’m sure) that they hammered flat and eventually was welded at an angle to support the cross bar. I think the part that took the longest was getting a piece of small square pipe between the two uprights to prevent tilting. But they figured it out. So that was one piece of the two piece tippy tap.
The second piece was meant to go into the ground. For some reason one of the guys was trying to get it to attach to the main piece and thank goodness the other guy had seen the location and even kind of helped me measure it. After some miming explanation and purchase of a good hinge, the second piece was complete.

Whew. It only took about 3 hours. Then they wanted to charge me 35,000/- more than what they had told me a few week prior. I was tired and ready to go home. I was happy and a little excited before that because we had just made my picture real. Then change in price made me not so happy and not really excited to get it home any time soon.. I left for the night.
The next day I was willing to give them 5000/- more than the original price and that is what they apparently had decided too. So I then took my freshly painted, newly made, ancient tippy tap home.

It took me another day to get the thing working properly. There are a few improvements to be made, but I used what I had. I guess I also surprised a few people with my drafting ability. Yep, did do some schooling in that area.

Until Next Time…

Sorry...

Hello.
Sorry about the extended absence...fell in a hole. That would make a great story if it was literal. Anyway, I'm out now and ready to start my second year in Uganda.

So what to say. Well, I want to thank Z for the great idea of getting out in the village. My organization has 13 women's groups. One assignment they gave me was to check their records books. Of course, I was like sure. Easier said than done however.

From the experience of the women's group I live near, I know they do not start on time, nor do all the members attend. How in the world would I go to women's groups of which I am not sure of the location nor their regular time they choose to begin their meetings (theoretically all the groups meet on the same day at the same time in their respective locations: Every other Tuesday at 2pm)

To me this was a dilemma. I didn't know exactly when the meetings were nor did I just want to show up for a short time and then leave. So I incorporated Z idea of weekend visits to the village. Now each meeting week I go to a different group and spend a couple days with them. What a great idea.

So far I have visited two groups and have enjoyed both. When I first arrived in Uganda, my then counterpart took me to visit some groups, these two just happened to be among them.

Bugoye Women's group is off the main road a bit and way more quieter than my place. It was a refuge and reminder of why I'm here all rolled into one. They fed me way to much food, asked me questions late into the evening, and were perfect hosts. My favorite moment was sitting in the front lawn on a mat just looking around at the green everywhere and hearing nothing. It was bliss.

Muwumuza group was next and this time I had been able to charge my camera and bring it. This group had received funds to begin a catering business, so the night before the people from the district were coming to inspect, we stayed up to mark all the items.

So pots and pans, basins, trays, buckets, and 550 plates later, we went to bed...but of course there were still utensils to do the next day.

While waiting for the district people to come inspect, the women baked a cake. I must say, they did the best job so far...even I can't bake one without burning it a little, but these lady (and gentleman) have it down.

Both groups also did the same thing, after I taught them initial, they went and bake a second almost immediately. Cool huh?

Next up will be today's experience at the welders.

Until Next Time.

Did you miss me?

So my May and June were not the best times here in Uganda. Now, let me tell you that surviving without power, that is doable, but when forced to listen to VERY loud music coming from about 10 feet away for a good chunk of every day being from around noon until 2AM, that isn't as survivable.
I figured I would try to tolerate it because all my neighbors seemed to be able to. But I would hear Maama Gertrude tell me every so often that she had a sleepless night the night before. What was I to do. I wasn't sure I could be of any help if the people in the community couldn't do something themselves.
But after a trip to Kampala for the weekend, I noticed my ear felt not quite right. I thought, oh great, an ear infection. But upon a check-up, there was nothing wrong with my ear inside. The doctor figured it was the auditory nerve. Because even if there was nothing in my ear, it definitely felt like I have a wad of cotton in there.
So after a few talks with the town clerk and a letter to local officials (which may have been a bad idea to some people) the noise has been reduced and rarely goes past midnight. And the power is back so I can have some moment of sanity getting to listen to music that varies slightly from the soundtrack of 12 songs my neighbor plays.

Enough of my blabbing, here's some pictures I have managed to upload today.


This is the All Saints Church of Uganda I attend regularly. I have even started doing children's church during the service. This past Friday, the Bishop from Mukono came for the confirmation ceremony. My group performed 6 songs in English that we had worked on for a few months. The girl you see in the foreground there is one of the children who attend regularly too and help me out with some translations too.
This is the inside of the church. One this particular Sunday we were having baptisms and the Archbishop was visiting for that occasion.

So, hope to communicate again very soon.

Until Next Time...

Picture time...at the PC Office

So...since I like to bake sweets, that is one things I'm "teaching" my woman's group. And now I'd like to share some pictures from the last two Tuesdays of treats.

Before the started their bi-monthly meeting, I had them prepare cake mixes to bake while they discussed their important issues and what not. Their patience paid off with a nice slice of cake...yummmm.

So after our sweet treat, they were happy were feeling a photo moment was needed. Here I am with Bridget, Mada, and two of the other lovely ladies...(still learning all their names)
A monkey. I've been back to see the monkeys twice last week, first with the new interns and then when Sarah came for another great visit. I am always glad when she comes to see me and talk.
Okay. So this past Tuesday, we made a Uganda donut called amandazi. The women experimented with the recipe a bit putting milk in one and water in the other.
Rolling the dough is the chairwoman of this women's group.

Everybody take a big bit. Hehe

Karen and Regina enjoying amandazi on Maama Gertrude's verandah.

Have to run now, but will have more for you later.

Until Next Time...

Still here

Howdy people.
I will be getting you some more pictures in about 5 days, so hang on just a little bit longer. Things are going okay here in Uganda. We have been without power for the last 3 plus weeks and it has not rained good for about that same time, so our tanks are empty. Getting pretty good at fetching water from the borehole. My goal is to make it all the way home without stopping, but I've only made it almost once. It's gone down hill from there. My arms get tired and my fingers go numb...
Ummm, what else. My organization has four interns from the NCSU for the next couple months. I'm realizing I'm a very silly person and have some work to do.
I'm getting some projects started at a couple schools, so we'll see how they go. Vermiculture and keyhole gardens.

Finally thought for the day...yep you are getting a thought from me, weird I know. But I'll give you something to mull over...
You will find the same types of people everywhere you go.

Until Next Time...

New Random Pictures

I washed my shoes and needed a place to dry them. Found the perfect spot on top of my roof above my door. Almost forgot to bring them in...hence the night photo.

I have been trying to get a picture where you could possibly compare something to these Maribu stork that are everywhere in Uganda (at least in the locations I have visited). So this particular bird is about 4 feet in front of a sea flash. I'll keep trying, but this photo should give you a better idea of how huge these storks are in the bird kingdom.

In one of Maama Gertrude's gardens, I found a ring of banana plants. Thought it was pretty cool, so of course I had to take a picture of it, right?
During IST (in service training) Sarah and I went exploring Seeta. We found a water source and on the way back I wanted to get a picture of someone carrying a 20Liter Jerry can on the head...like this girl who can carry one without hands. Talk about great balance and a strong neck.

Random Pictures from Uganda

I went to visit people in Nkokonjeru and we were heading to a football match that was in progress, but as we arrived it turned out they finished early. One of the teams refused to continue play because they disputed a goal made by the other team.

This is my friend Sarah's view out her window. She gets to see a version of this Every morning. Lucky her!

If I walk a ways, I get to see this colorful seen of the setting sun back dropping a sand mine.

The children that run over for pictures every time they see me near the maize mill.

The very persistent three (from the above pic).

Working hard in the maize mill.

Sunset on Lake Victoria with the fishermen at work catching their pay.

These are children up the road from the sand mine. They all collect water from an unprotected spring and then carry the 20L of water back home...up to pretty good inclines, smiles and all.

Just wanted to share a picture of crops grown together. At the moment the term is escaping me...sorry Drs. Petrillo and Demchik.

An Ankole bovine. Their horns are definitely massive.

Welcome to my "house"

Before we get to the whole tour, I wanted to share with you my oven. It is there on the gas stove. This method is used to cook many dishes in Uganda, but there are some important differences to making this a functional oven. Ugandans would put sand in the bottom sauce pan and some would put rocks, however, I would not recommend either if you don't plan on purchasing another sauce pan soon.

The items I use are three ceramic coated metal cups. They raise my cakes and cookies off the bottom, allowing plenty of air to circulate and allowing the heat on the bottom of the pan to dissipate. I know people who have burned through the bottom of the "oven" because they used rocks. Sorry for them, but I'm still baking with mine. I do miss real ovens though, so enjoy them, those who have them, and bake something nice for me...hehe

So if you remember from the time before where my door is, this is the entrance looking out. Yep, there is the refrigerator, with all its rusty, puddle making, electricity taking convenience. There on the wall is a picture of my Grandma's house, and there in the corner is that wonder long handled blue broom.

Here is the sitting area. I do have two chair, but they take up quite a bit of room, so I am using the other elsewhere. In the corner there is my shelf that my friend help me get made. It is getting extensive use. Also you see my table for everything from pre-eating to eating, and also puzzle setting, catch-all, foot rest...

My friend also help get me a stand for my kerosene lamp because it does have an awful smell and I can get better light coverage from its new location.

Better view of the couch with what looks like stuff to iron and unpack as well as another package from home...thank you thank you thank you by the way.

Good view of the lamp stand and my new Peace Corps calendar...thank you very much Susan! There hanging next it is my new bag from Banana Boat for carrying my things to school and elsewhere. It comes in quite handy.

Now, let go to the kitchen. You will see where I store my food and dishware, a there on top is my water filter. I have found that the rainwater I get from the compound tanks makes my filter dirty very quickly, but the water from the borehole in town keeps it clean for much longer. There is my gas tank there in the corner as well.

Here is my stove with all my frying pans and cooking utensils above as well as a really nice out of the way place for my dish-rack. When the tanks dried up, I went and purchased 3 more jerry cans for hauling water...only ended up using them for just under two weeks and except for washing, don't use an exceptional large amount of water. Pretty good for me, right?

Okay, so that brings us to the entrance to the second room...my bedroom.

As you enter, my bed (or what I refer to as my sanctuary) is on the other side of the wall from my kitchen. It may be called a mosquito net, but it is definitely for ALL types of bugs.

Turning around, you will see the other chair and whatever you call the wooden compartmentalized structure where I put my clothes and other necessities (cause there is not any room for superfluous stuff).

As we continue the turn to the right we find my bathroom complete with walls and a floor drain. I have my basin and 3L jerry can for washing. I also store my bucket and soap for clothes washing in here too.

Since we are on the subject of bathroom...and since that translates to something different in America, I want to now show you my latrine. So we need to go back out of the house. Out the door to the right, and straight ahead, you can see the tippy tap I use to wash my hands.

Once you get to the wall, you take yet another right. The sign tells people not to pee in the area of that first door...it is the outdoor bathing place.

Hey, our first left...There's my latrine door complete with lock, tucked away here in the corner.

Okay, so what is behind this door....

Well, I have TP, a broom and a wooden cover...

And you guessed it...a hole in the floor or ground or what have you...

So that's it for the tour, hope you enjoyed seeing my place as much as I enjoyed showing it to you.