.....there were two people called Waiswa and Edith. These two people became my teaching aids for teaching about teenage pregnancy. Story-telling was one of my favourite non-formal education techniques and was really effective-they really believed in Waiswa and Edith and each time I told the story it became more and more elaborate. So if you're interested in seeing the kind of lessons I've been teaching read on to find out what happened to Waiswa and Edith....
Waiswa and Edith were in S2 (year 8). They were both 15 years old and they had been friends for a long time. They liked to watch the school sports together and sometimes they would play ludo with their friends. Edith was top of her class and one day dreamed of becoming a doctor while Waiswa enjoyed English and wanted to become a teacher one day. Edith liked Waiswa a lot and really enjoyed spending time with him. Then one day when they were walking home from the football match near the trading centre Waiswa turned to Edith and told her "I think you're so beautiful, I really like you". Edith laughed, she was embaressed but also excited as she liked Waiswa a lot, more than her other friends who were boys. Waiswa asked Edith "would you be my girl-lover (girlfriend)". Edith was a bit shy, she had not expected this but she knew Waiswa was a nice guy so she agreed. From that day on they were girl lover and boy lover.
A few months passed and they had fun. They would play ludo together, sometimes they would go for a soda in the town and Waiswa would sometimes help Edith carry her jerry can home from the bore hole. Both of them were very happy. At school Waiswa's friends started asking him about Edith. "So what is going on with you and Edith?!" they would ask. "Have you played sex with her?" . Waiswa replied that things were going well but that he had not had sex with her. He told his friends that they were both abstaining from sex until they were older. His friends laughed at him and told him "Ah you are not a man unless you have sex with her" "If you don't have sex with her she will get bored and find another boyfriend". Waiswa ignored his friends and told them he was happy to abstain and that was what Edith wanted. The problem was his friends continued to tease him and over time Waiswa started to wonder if his friends were right.
A few weeks later Waiswa invited Edith to his place to play ludo. This was normal and Edith often went there to play ludo so she agreed. When she reached his place she discovered that there was nobody at home. His parents were still digging with his brothers and sisters. It was just Edith and Waiswa at home. They started playing ludo but Waiswa had other things on his mind. He told Edith "you know I love you so much". Edith was smiling lots as she loved Waiswa too. "You are so beautiful and I want to show you how much I love you" he told her. Edith wondered what was going on. "I want you to come to my bedroom". Then Edith realised what he was asking. She told him "No, Waiswa we agreed we would abstain. We are still young what is the rush?". Waiswa told her that "you would if you love me". Edith kept saying "no" but she was worried that Waiswa would leave her if she didn't say yes. After another game of ludo and Waiswa asking lots more times she finally said yes and she went to his bedroom. I think you can guess what happens next.....
*The whole class erupts in screams*
Neither Waiswa or Edith had planned for this and they hadn't spoken about it before it happened so they didn't have a condom. Afterwards Edith felt like she had made a mistake. She felt like she had sinned and was not at all happy. The next day at school Edith was too embarassed to even look at Waiswa and Waiswa was sad that they had done it because now Edith was not talking to him. Waiswa told his friends. He thought they would be impressed but they said they didn't care.
A month had passed and Edith had not had her menstruation period. She thought it was strange but just ignored it. Then a second month passed and she still had no menstruation period. She went to the doctor and was tested for pregnancy. It was positive. Edith cried and cried. She told the doctor it couldn't be true but the doctor told her the test was very accurate. The doctor asked Edith to come back every month for a check up.
What do you think happened next? (I would then do a brain storm on the consequences for Waiswa-prison, drop out of school, forced marriage, poverty, STIs including HIV, threats from Edith's family etc, and the consequences for Edith-Drop out of school, problems delivering, sickness for her and the baby, poverty caring for the child, STIs etc.). This was to illustrate the responsibilty lies with boys and girls.
After Edith had found out she was really scared to tell anyone. She knew that people would find out soon though and she decided to tell Waiswa. "Waiswa I have not had menstruation period since that day at your house". "I went to the doctor and he told me I'm pregnant".
Waiswa was shocked. He didn't believe Edith he told her "but how can you be pregnant it only happened once?".
"Once is enough. The doctor tested me. It is true."
Waiswa didn't know what to do. "We are just 15, how can we have a baby?"
What do you think they should do next? Next we would discuss their options and what you should do if you are in this situation (don't reun away, visit the doctor regularly, look after your health and tell a trusted adult).
Waiswa started thinking about what people would say if they found out. He was sure his family would hate him and might throw him out. He had an idea...
"Edith we are too young to have this baby, we have to get rid of it. I will get the money for you to have an abortion. Just don't tell anyone".
Discussion on abortion (it is illegal in Uganda, it is very very dangerous leading to death, incontinence, infertility in the future.)
Edith knew about abortion. They had told her about it at school. So she responded to Waiswa "It is too dangerous. I am still young and I don't want to die. I can't have an abortion".
Waiswa apologised. He didn't know what could happen to her if she had an abortion.
Edith knew she had to tell someone. He mother was tough so she feared to tell her and her father was always away. She had a nice aunt who was always kind so she went to her place to talk to her. When she told her aunt the aunt was angry. She shouted at Edith "you stupid girl why have you become pregrnant? You were doing well at school and now you have ruined it all". Edith felt sad. All of this because of one day, and one mistake. After a bit of time Edith's aunt calmed down and she went with Edith to tell her mother. Her mother was angry, upset and they all cried a lot. When Edith's mother had calmed down she decided that she would help Edith if she could and offered to go with her to the health centre for check-ups each month.
As the months passed Edith became anxious about producing and she had to leave school. The doctor told her "you will have to the hospital in Kayunga to have the baby. You are very young and your body is not ready. They might have to give you an operation to get the baby out." Edith was frightened, she had never had an operation.
When the time came, Edith did as she was recommended and went to Kayunga district hospital. Edith was lucky and both her and the baby were healthy. She had to have an operation though so she was weak. One of the nurses told her "You were lucky. Last week we had a girl here who was also 15. When she delivered the baby was born dead. Having babies when you are still young is dangerous."
After returning home Edith and Waiswa were forced to marry by their parents. They found a place to live and had to look after themselves and their new baby. Life was difficult. Waiswa did what he could to earn enough money to feed them all. Waiswa and Edith were sad too. All their friends were enjoying school. They could all go and watch the sports day at the school and their friends were having fun without them. Edith had to stay at home to care for the baby and couldn't afford anything for herself. Waiswa was working everyday so while their friends were having fun they had a lot of responsibility.
What could Edith and Waiswa have done to have avoided this happening? (Edith should have been assertive, Waiswa should not have listened to the peer pressure of his friends, they should have avoided the tempting situation, the should have used a condom or family planning etc.)
Waiswa looked at Edith and said "All this because of one day. I can't believe we are like this."
Just as a note, I've tried to make this as close to the actual lesson hence my use of Ugandan English throughout!
Monday, 8 August 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
British English to Ugandan English dictionary
OK so over that past few months I have been attempting to speak in Luganda. The local languae spoken in my region of Uganda. While I have mastered greetings and enough to get by in markets and negotiating bicycle taxis my vocabularly is limited and sentence structure is non existent! But the locals are either super impressed by my efforts or find it hilarious that a muzungu would ever be able to say something in Luganda. I've become accustomed to to laughed at hysterically many times a day! So, while learning Luganda has been a struggle I do like to think I've mastered Ugandan English very well. Even being understood by my primary school students. You may be think that Uganda uses British English (which is correct after we were their colonial leader) but the Ugandans have adapted tat somewhat. Here is a little guide to the kind of English I now use.
Well be back = Welcome back
Well done = well done for doing nothing in particular, probably best translated to Hi or well done for still being alive.
China phone = A fake/bad quality phone
Duplicate = poor quality
You are ever busy = You are always busy
How are you = translates directly to How are you but there are only two responses- I am fine (means normal) or I am fair (I am possibly seriously sick/dying/have just lost my mother).
You are lost = You have been away for a long time, where have you been?
I think we are here = Are we in the right place?
Assist me with you phone = Please can I use your phone
Give me money = Please may I have some money from the food allowance which you are looking after.
How is there? = How is you house/town?
Extend = Please can you move up a bit so I can sit down.
It is over = There is no more/it is finished
What is the programme? = What are we doing to today?
I am sick = I don't want to do what you are asking me to do
I am coming = I might come if I feel like it, but you might never see me again.
I was at a burial = I decided not to do what you asked me (here everyone drops everything for the death of anyone in the community for the following day)
It is there = the thing you are asking for exists but this bizarre "there" place could be anywhere!
I think we should buy tomatoes = Would you like me to buy the tomatoes or will you shout at me again for buying the ones that are too big, too small, too yellow!
It's OK=Yes....this was probably the hardest one as it's OK in English means no it's OK I don't mind so it is the opposite! The cause of masses of confusion-I still haven't got used to it!
I'm sure there are many more but time is up on the internet cafe so I'll have to think of more to post later.
Lots of love
xxx
Well be back = Welcome back
Well done = well done for doing nothing in particular, probably best translated to Hi or well done for still being alive.
China phone = A fake/bad quality phone
Duplicate = poor quality
You are ever busy = You are always busy
How are you = translates directly to How are you but there are only two responses- I am fine (means normal) or I am fair (I am possibly seriously sick/dying/have just lost my mother).
You are lost = You have been away for a long time, where have you been?
I think we are here = Are we in the right place?
Assist me with you phone = Please can I use your phone
Give me money = Please may I have some money from the food allowance which you are looking after.
How is there? = How is you house/town?
Extend = Please can you move up a bit so I can sit down.
It is over = There is no more/it is finished
What is the programme? = What are we doing to today?
I am sick = I don't want to do what you are asking me to do
I am coming = I might come if I feel like it, but you might never see me again.
I was at a burial = I decided not to do what you asked me (here everyone drops everything for the death of anyone in the community for the following day)
It is there = the thing you are asking for exists but this bizarre "there" place could be anywhere!
I think we should buy tomatoes = Would you like me to buy the tomatoes or will you shout at me again for buying the ones that are too big, too small, too yellow!
It's OK=Yes....this was probably the hardest one as it's OK in English means no it's OK I don't mind so it is the opposite! The cause of masses of confusion-I still haven't got used to it!
I'm sure there are many more but time is up on the internet cafe so I'll have to think of more to post later.
Lots of love
xxx
Monday, 20 June 2011
Things I thought I'd miss
So before I left I was joking with Mugs...would I miss him or cheese more? Well actually I've barely missed cheese at all. I have of course missed Mugs but the other things I have missed have not been the things I had expected to miss.
The number one this is variety. Each day I wake up and I greet the same people, in the same way, at the same time. I eat one of the same two things for breakfast and I do the same chores in the same order. I got to the trading centre and visit the same shop to buy the same items (toilet paper and airtime!) and I walk the same route back to my house, waving at the same children who shout Mzungu how are you repeatedly! I then take the same route to my schools, teach different classes but similar sessions each day and go through the same repetitive process of greeting "How are you?" "How is the day?" "How was the night?" "How is work?". With the same responses "We are find sank you", "We are here pushing on" "We are trying" "The day is OK". I miss the flowery language, here the level of English is good but there is one way to say everything. If you try to vary that then they won't understand. There is a same sample of topics that people like to ask the Mzungu: "How do you find the climate" "What do you think of Uganda" and "Do you really eat posho?". In Uganda you tell people what they want to hear. You ask someone to do something and instead of saying sorry I am busy, they will tell you they will be there, but then fail to come. The ever frustrating "we are coming"! Fortunately when I meet up with the other international volunteers we are able to broaden our vocabulary and discuss issues other than the climate and posho. This has been my lifeline and I think intellectual and varied conversation has been one of the things I miss most. This is a country where the sun rises and sets at the same time each day, a place where many people with be born, live and die in the same village, maybe leaving afew times in the lifetime. it is a place where weekends blur into week days and each day is just a series of actions which constitute a survival. I wonder if the people here crave that variety, but how can you miss something you have never had? That is part of the problem with Western culture creeping into the developing world. Nobody misses something they have no knowledge of. Then you bring TV and show them sky scrapers, fast cars and places which look strange and foreign....only then do they become discontent.
My low point of the week was when a man on a bicycle, who I have never met, passed me as I was walking along talking to two school girls. He shouted at me "look our girls are suffering and you don't want to help them". These girls seems fairly happy to me. They were fairly smartly dressed (aside from one lacking any shoes) and could speak some English so obviously had had some level of education. It made me sad that people think the only way a Mzungu can help is to throw money at people.... When in my opinion that has created a lot of the problems here-a dependency on aid and a reluctance to work hard but to wait for someone to come along and give them money for being "poor". As I said in my previous post I have doubts about the true impact of what I am doing.....but the man on the bicycle was wrong. It is not that I don't want to help it's just that I am trying to help in an innovative way and that is why I am still proud to be here with Restless Development. Restless Development has some progressive and forward thinking views on development, equipping young people with skills and correct information to enable them to make healthy life choices, not just buying them a pair of shoes and leaving them to wait for the next handout.
So I miss variety but one of the things I will miss is meeting people everywhere I go. Whether I sit on a taxi, or I go for a soda and sit outside the shop, or a I walk along the street or spend a while in the staff room. I always meet someone. Some people have really interesting stories and many of them want to know all about me. Back home days can go by when you never meet a new person....here I am never alone.
When my time is up I will be sad to leave Busaana and all the friends I have made there. I will miss the eternal sunshine and the smiles and waves of the kids. But when the time comes I will be ready to come back to see all of your smiling faces, to eat my five a day again and sleep in a comfy bed. But please don't be shocked if I shout "I am fine how are you" at random intervals or if I start to wave at all the children I see. And if there is a family of chickens in my kitchen well maybe I'll have just brought a bit of Uganda home with me! (Right on cue a chicken just walked into the internet cafe I am sat in!).
I hope some of my ramblings have been of some interest to you and that they at least find you in good health.
See you all in less than 2 months!
Sula Bulungi (see you soon)
xxxx
The number one this is variety. Each day I wake up and I greet the same people, in the same way, at the same time. I eat one of the same two things for breakfast and I do the same chores in the same order. I got to the trading centre and visit the same shop to buy the same items (toilet paper and airtime!) and I walk the same route back to my house, waving at the same children who shout Mzungu how are you repeatedly! I then take the same route to my schools, teach different classes but similar sessions each day and go through the same repetitive process of greeting "How are you?" "How is the day?" "How was the night?" "How is work?". With the same responses "We are find sank you", "We are here pushing on" "We are trying" "The day is OK". I miss the flowery language, here the level of English is good but there is one way to say everything. If you try to vary that then they won't understand. There is a same sample of topics that people like to ask the Mzungu: "How do you find the climate" "What do you think of Uganda" and "Do you really eat posho?". In Uganda you tell people what they want to hear. You ask someone to do something and instead of saying sorry I am busy, they will tell you they will be there, but then fail to come. The ever frustrating "we are coming"! Fortunately when I meet up with the other international volunteers we are able to broaden our vocabulary and discuss issues other than the climate and posho. This has been my lifeline and I think intellectual and varied conversation has been one of the things I miss most. This is a country where the sun rises and sets at the same time each day, a place where many people with be born, live and die in the same village, maybe leaving afew times in the lifetime. it is a place where weekends blur into week days and each day is just a series of actions which constitute a survival. I wonder if the people here crave that variety, but how can you miss something you have never had? That is part of the problem with Western culture creeping into the developing world. Nobody misses something they have no knowledge of. Then you bring TV and show them sky scrapers, fast cars and places which look strange and foreign....only then do they become discontent.
My low point of the week was when a man on a bicycle, who I have never met, passed me as I was walking along talking to two school girls. He shouted at me "look our girls are suffering and you don't want to help them". These girls seems fairly happy to me. They were fairly smartly dressed (aside from one lacking any shoes) and could speak some English so obviously had had some level of education. It made me sad that people think the only way a Mzungu can help is to throw money at people.... When in my opinion that has created a lot of the problems here-a dependency on aid and a reluctance to work hard but to wait for someone to come along and give them money for being "poor". As I said in my previous post I have doubts about the true impact of what I am doing.....but the man on the bicycle was wrong. It is not that I don't want to help it's just that I am trying to help in an innovative way and that is why I am still proud to be here with Restless Development. Restless Development has some progressive and forward thinking views on development, equipping young people with skills and correct information to enable them to make healthy life choices, not just buying them a pair of shoes and leaving them to wait for the next handout.
So I miss variety but one of the things I will miss is meeting people everywhere I go. Whether I sit on a taxi, or I go for a soda and sit outside the shop, or a I walk along the street or spend a while in the staff room. I always meet someone. Some people have really interesting stories and many of them want to know all about me. Back home days can go by when you never meet a new person....here I am never alone.
When my time is up I will be sad to leave Busaana and all the friends I have made there. I will miss the eternal sunshine and the smiles and waves of the kids. But when the time comes I will be ready to come back to see all of your smiling faces, to eat my five a day again and sleep in a comfy bed. But please don't be shocked if I shout "I am fine how are you" at random intervals or if I start to wave at all the children I see. And if there is a family of chickens in my kitchen well maybe I'll have just brought a bit of Uganda home with me! (Right on cue a chicken just walked into the internet cafe I am sat in!).
I hope some of my ramblings have been of some interest to you and that they at least find you in good health.
See you all in less than 2 months!
Sula Bulungi (see you soon)
xxxx
Are you German-ese??
Hi all,
So I have been shocking at updating my blog-apologies for that. It seems everytime I find an internet cafe my patience for super slow internet lasts long enough to send a couple of emails but not to write a thoughtful heartfelt blog. Either that or I just can't think of anything witty or interesting to say at the time. Not that things here aren't interesting it's just life here in Uganda has become normal. It's like asking me write about going to Walkley high street to buy some milk and to the lab for a day of work. Teaching lessons with chicks wandering the classroom, traveling on the back of a bicycle to work and demonstrating how to use condoms to anyone who asks is just normal and doesn't seem news worthy anymore to me! I have just under 6 weeks left in my village now-time seems to be flying by. People in the village keep asking when are you leaving and then respond by saying "we will miss you so much". I feel myself just welling up thinking about leaving. Don't take that to mean I'm not looking forward to coming home-I am really excited. It's just during my time here in Busaana I have made some real friends who have got me through some tough times. The community have been my support network. They have made me feel so welcome and for that I will be eternally grateful. Yesterday Wakko my co-volunteer from the community said to me "everyone likes you. you greet everyone and they are now used to you" "soon I will be missing you". Comments like that mean a lot to me as I am so different to everyone here so being accepted is difficult and doesn't come overnight. I come from a different world and can be seen by some as coming in here and trying to push my Western ideas onto people. I am really aware of that-and the damage that Mzungus have done in Uganda and across Africa in the past. It means I am careful about the way I go about things. I conduct my work in a way that I am proud of. I try to be culturally sensitive. I try to give people information that is correct and help them to realise the reasons why changing their behaivour can benefit them and the community. I have done a lot of soul searching about whether what I am doing here is having any positive effect and I haven't come up with an answer. Development is a tricky problem and there really isn't a golden solution. I am confident that the work I am doing is at least not having a negative effect and as an individual I have learnt a huge amount about myself and about the world by being here. I apologise that these blogs aren't more thought out and coherent-they generally tend to be a brain vomit given the time pressure of internet cafes!!
One exciting opportunity that came my way was an invite to a wedding. The deputy headmistress from the primary school I work in was marrying a teacher from the secondary school I work in. Unfortunately I only had a weeks notice so ended up looking like a bit of a scruff bag amongst all the women in their beautiful gomesi (the traditional dress here). They were in such bright colours with no two the same. The whole church was filled with colour and music. There was a choir with a PA system (turned up a little too loud so it distorted when they sang too close to the microphone!). The choir were amazing though-they had such energy and vibrancy-you could see in their eyes they believed in what they were singing and looked totally absorbed in the songs. There were lots of people there that I knew, teachers from the schools, my friend Rebecca's mum and Mama Nagitta Teddy- the nurse from the health centre who is like my adopted mother! I sat with her and took some photos. As the bride, Annet, came down the isle she looked like she was on top of the world. She was beaming from ear to ear, totally embracing that this day was hers. She half walked half danced down the isle waving and smiling at people along the way. Her husband to be was stood at the end of the isle looking proud, humble and incredibly happy. The format of the wedding was very similar to that of a wedding in a church in the UK. A gift of the missionaries I guess!
At the moment when they ask "Does anyone know of any reason why these two should not be legally married?" there was the usual silence, followed by a nervous giggle. Then out of nowhere a woman screams AYE-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI! This is copied by women across the church and whole church erupted in these screams. Fortunately I am used to these kinds of screams. Instead of clapping as a sign of appreciation Ugandans favour this super loud, almost panic sounding scream! The Vicar, who seemed to be quite the comedian, didn't seemed phased and continued to conduct the ceremony. Sadly the service was in Luganda so the humour was lost on me but I have never seen a vicar have so much fun! Part way through the service I heard a strange noise coming from the pew in front of me....then I realised there was a chicken, with its legs tied in a carrier bag sat under the pew in front of me. Certainly the first wedding I've ever been to with a chicken in the congregation! I was heading to Jinja straight after so I didn't make it to the reception (it also rained at the end of the service to we were stuck there for an hour waiting for the rain to stop) but it was a fantastic experience. When I saw the teachers the following week they all said thank you to me for coming...it seemed strange to me that my being there was worthy of thanks....but that's UG as they say. I was thankful to have been invited!
So I have been shocking at updating my blog-apologies for that. It seems everytime I find an internet cafe my patience for super slow internet lasts long enough to send a couple of emails but not to write a thoughtful heartfelt blog. Either that or I just can't think of anything witty or interesting to say at the time. Not that things here aren't interesting it's just life here in Uganda has become normal. It's like asking me write about going to Walkley high street to buy some milk and to the lab for a day of work. Teaching lessons with chicks wandering the classroom, traveling on the back of a bicycle to work and demonstrating how to use condoms to anyone who asks is just normal and doesn't seem news worthy anymore to me! I have just under 6 weeks left in my village now-time seems to be flying by. People in the village keep asking when are you leaving and then respond by saying "we will miss you so much". I feel myself just welling up thinking about leaving. Don't take that to mean I'm not looking forward to coming home-I am really excited. It's just during my time here in Busaana I have made some real friends who have got me through some tough times. The community have been my support network. They have made me feel so welcome and for that I will be eternally grateful. Yesterday Wakko my co-volunteer from the community said to me "everyone likes you. you greet everyone and they are now used to you" "soon I will be missing you". Comments like that mean a lot to me as I am so different to everyone here so being accepted is difficult and doesn't come overnight. I come from a different world and can be seen by some as coming in here and trying to push my Western ideas onto people. I am really aware of that-and the damage that Mzungus have done in Uganda and across Africa in the past. It means I am careful about the way I go about things. I conduct my work in a way that I am proud of. I try to be culturally sensitive. I try to give people information that is correct and help them to realise the reasons why changing their behaivour can benefit them and the community. I have done a lot of soul searching about whether what I am doing here is having any positive effect and I haven't come up with an answer. Development is a tricky problem and there really isn't a golden solution. I am confident that the work I am doing is at least not having a negative effect and as an individual I have learnt a huge amount about myself and about the world by being here. I apologise that these blogs aren't more thought out and coherent-they generally tend to be a brain vomit given the time pressure of internet cafes!!
One exciting opportunity that came my way was an invite to a wedding. The deputy headmistress from the primary school I work in was marrying a teacher from the secondary school I work in. Unfortunately I only had a weeks notice so ended up looking like a bit of a scruff bag amongst all the women in their beautiful gomesi (the traditional dress here). They were in such bright colours with no two the same. The whole church was filled with colour and music. There was a choir with a PA system (turned up a little too loud so it distorted when they sang too close to the microphone!). The choir were amazing though-they had such energy and vibrancy-you could see in their eyes they believed in what they were singing and looked totally absorbed in the songs. There were lots of people there that I knew, teachers from the schools, my friend Rebecca's mum and Mama Nagitta Teddy- the nurse from the health centre who is like my adopted mother! I sat with her and took some photos. As the bride, Annet, came down the isle she looked like she was on top of the world. She was beaming from ear to ear, totally embracing that this day was hers. She half walked half danced down the isle waving and smiling at people along the way. Her husband to be was stood at the end of the isle looking proud, humble and incredibly happy. The format of the wedding was very similar to that of a wedding in a church in the UK. A gift of the missionaries I guess!
At the moment when they ask "Does anyone know of any reason why these two should not be legally married?" there was the usual silence, followed by a nervous giggle. Then out of nowhere a woman screams AYE-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI-JAI! This is copied by women across the church and whole church erupted in these screams. Fortunately I am used to these kinds of screams. Instead of clapping as a sign of appreciation Ugandans favour this super loud, almost panic sounding scream! The Vicar, who seemed to be quite the comedian, didn't seemed phased and continued to conduct the ceremony. Sadly the service was in Luganda so the humour was lost on me but I have never seen a vicar have so much fun! Part way through the service I heard a strange noise coming from the pew in front of me....then I realised there was a chicken, with its legs tied in a carrier bag sat under the pew in front of me. Certainly the first wedding I've ever been to with a chicken in the congregation! I was heading to Jinja straight after so I didn't make it to the reception (it also rained at the end of the service to we were stuck there for an hour waiting for the rain to stop) but it was a fantastic experience. When I saw the teachers the following week they all said thank you to me for coming...it seemed strange to me that my being there was worthy of thanks....but that's UG as they say. I was thankful to have been invited!
Wednesday, 25 May 2011
Mango time of year-awoooga!
Hi all,
So I got back to placement on Saturday to a super warm welcome from my community "thank you for coming back" they were all saying! Everyone was really welcoming and I was really happy to be back....thought I might have the post holiday blues but it was not so. I've been in the house on my own for a few days which I thought might be lonely but doing all the chore, sweeping, cooking, fetching water, planning session, washing etc have been keeping me busy and where my house is I am always having visitors (some more desirable than other ("have you found Jesus as you eternal saviour" "no I'm preparing lunch!"). Uganda is feeling more and more at home the longer I am here so I am sure to have severe culture shock when I get back. People in the village refuse to believe me when I tell them my life here without electricity etc is much less stressful than life in England. They all have this rose tinted view of life in the west where we have machines to do everything for us. It's interesting everyone here is a subsistence farmer.....and people in the UK are going back to being subsistence farmers as allotments etc become fashionable....! I've been having some great sessions with role plays and team games so I'm having a lot of fun and I'm much happier now I'm busy. My placement partner Ignitius has also left which means I'm free to do my own thing much more (I have realised I;m not a good team player!).
Unfortunately that's all I have time for as I need to get back to Busaana before dark but I miss you all loads. Please keep texting and messaging me on facebook (I have facebook on my phone now). I hope you're all well and enjoying the start of summer.
Big love xxxx
So I got back to placement on Saturday to a super warm welcome from my community "thank you for coming back" they were all saying! Everyone was really welcoming and I was really happy to be back....thought I might have the post holiday blues but it was not so. I've been in the house on my own for a few days which I thought might be lonely but doing all the chore, sweeping, cooking, fetching water, planning session, washing etc have been keeping me busy and where my house is I am always having visitors (some more desirable than other ("have you found Jesus as you eternal saviour" "no I'm preparing lunch!"). Uganda is feeling more and more at home the longer I am here so I am sure to have severe culture shock when I get back. People in the village refuse to believe me when I tell them my life here without electricity etc is much less stressful than life in England. They all have this rose tinted view of life in the west where we have machines to do everything for us. It's interesting everyone here is a subsistence farmer.....and people in the UK are going back to being subsistence farmers as allotments etc become fashionable....! I've been having some great sessions with role plays and team games so I'm having a lot of fun and I'm much happier now I'm busy. My placement partner Ignitius has also left which means I'm free to do my own thing much more (I have realised I;m not a good team player!).
Unfortunately that's all I have time for as I need to get back to Busaana before dark but I miss you all loads. Please keep texting and messaging me on facebook (I have facebook on my phone now). I hope you're all well and enjoying the start of summer.
Big love xxxx
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
West side
So this will have to be quick but I thought I'd just mention that I haven't had any more tear gas experiences and I had the most incredible 2 weeks traveling Uganda with Mugs. I hear Uganda has been in the news back home? Don't fear I plan on staying well clear of Kampala as much as I can and sticking in the much quieter Jinja and my sleepy little village.
We're having our midplacement training in Jinja this week. It's a nice chance to chat with all the other volunteers in particular the other internationals (although we're now down to 5 and we started from 7-we miss you Elise and Rana). It's also a good transition to get back out of holiday mode...I got a little too used to a nice cold beer in the evening with Mugs.
So what did we do where did we go....well we went on Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park (got stuck in the mud on the savanna-had to be pushed out but 10 of our driver's friends-who needs a winch when you've got strong men!). We went for a swamp walk in Kibale Forest, hired bikes (which broke) and went to some caves, crater lakes and a waterfall, ate loads of food, had our own private island on the Nile and Mugs visited my placement.
That's all I have time for now but I will try my best to write more again soon.
Missing you all lots-just 3 months til I come back
PS I have a job in my old lab in Sheffield to come back to-horay!
We're having our midplacement training in Jinja this week. It's a nice chance to chat with all the other volunteers in particular the other internationals (although we're now down to 5 and we started from 7-we miss you Elise and Rana). It's also a good transition to get back out of holiday mode...I got a little too used to a nice cold beer in the evening with Mugs.
So what did we do where did we go....well we went on Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park (got stuck in the mud on the savanna-had to be pushed out but 10 of our driver's friends-who needs a winch when you've got strong men!). We went for a swamp walk in Kibale Forest, hired bikes (which broke) and went to some caves, crater lakes and a waterfall, ate loads of food, had our own private island on the Nile and Mugs visited my placement.
That's all I have time for now but I will try my best to write more again soon.
Missing you all lots-just 3 months til I come back
PS I have a job in my old lab in Sheffield to come back to-horay!
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