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.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
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?
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?
Monday, January 3, 2011
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…
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…
Sunday, October 17, 2010
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.
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.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
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...
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...
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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.
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...
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