.....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!
Friday, 29 April 2011
Tears but not for the Royals
Why do I always seem to run into tear gas when I need to use the toilet.....? Maybe that's just because I'm little miss weak bladder.
So today has been a roller-coaster of emotions already and Mugs hasn't even arrived! So I excitedly woke up at 5am this morning-I couldn't sleep as I was too excited about seeing Mugs for the first time in 4 months. I boarded the coster from Busaana to Kampala rucksack in hand and butterflies in the tummy. The butterflies soon turned to jelly as we approached the centre of Kampala and the tear gas. The taxi park was blocked off and our driver was driving round all the back streets trying to find a way to get into the taxi park to drop us off. The whole city was chaotic so we kept hitting more chaos, burning tyres, tear gas and people running from the police. This was far worse than my previous experience. We got dropped off on the main road and fprtunatly I was with my Ugandan room mate Maureen who knows Kampala well. Me (with my giant rucksack) and her attempted to walk to the other taxi park to continue our journey. Sadly everywhere we went was more of the same. Maureen was amazingly calm and collected guiding us to a quiet part of town. From there I found someone to take me to a street where the taxis going to Entebbe were-meaning I could avoid the taxi parks and get out of Kampala sharpish. Heading out of Kampala the cu\ity was ablaze. Roads were blocked with everything imaginable-trees, shops, dead animals, rocks, burning tyres. Our taxi sped past these, the sounds of gun shots and chaos all around. I was fortunate to have got out of the city by the sounds of it. Maureen called to say she was hiding in a strangers house as there were no taxis to her home. The image of Kampala was very familiar-it looked like the riots you see across the world on the news. I avoided the worst of the tear gas this time but still got an eyeful before leaving.
I arrived in Entebbe safely and felt incredibly relieved. I found a coffee shop and a TV showing the wedding. I'm not sure if it was the tear gas, homesickness or relivef but watching the wedding I was feeling a little teary. I relaxed there for a few hours with some nice Danish girls with a real coffee and a smoothie. Entebbe is a beautiful place on the banks of lake Victoria....I'll be keeping a close eye on the news to arrange travel for the next few days so don't worry I'll be staying well clear of the tear gas. Mugs arrives in just a few hours so I best go and shower and eat before he gets here!
I hope you are all enjoying wedding fever over there in the UK-made me proud to be British watching all the eccentrics in Hyde park! And what was Tara Palmer-Thompkinson's hat all about?!
Big love to you all
xxxxx
So today has been a roller-coaster of emotions already and Mugs hasn't even arrived! So I excitedly woke up at 5am this morning-I couldn't sleep as I was too excited about seeing Mugs for the first time in 4 months. I boarded the coster from Busaana to Kampala rucksack in hand and butterflies in the tummy. The butterflies soon turned to jelly as we approached the centre of Kampala and the tear gas. The taxi park was blocked off and our driver was driving round all the back streets trying to find a way to get into the taxi park to drop us off. The whole city was chaotic so we kept hitting more chaos, burning tyres, tear gas and people running from the police. This was far worse than my previous experience. We got dropped off on the main road and fprtunatly I was with my Ugandan room mate Maureen who knows Kampala well. Me (with my giant rucksack) and her attempted to walk to the other taxi park to continue our journey. Sadly everywhere we went was more of the same. Maureen was amazingly calm and collected guiding us to a quiet part of town. From there I found someone to take me to a street where the taxis going to Entebbe were-meaning I could avoid the taxi parks and get out of Kampala sharpish. Heading out of Kampala the cu\ity was ablaze. Roads were blocked with everything imaginable-trees, shops, dead animals, rocks, burning tyres. Our taxi sped past these, the sounds of gun shots and chaos all around. I was fortunate to have got out of the city by the sounds of it. Maureen called to say she was hiding in a strangers house as there were no taxis to her home. The image of Kampala was very familiar-it looked like the riots you see across the world on the news. I avoided the worst of the tear gas this time but still got an eyeful before leaving.
I arrived in Entebbe safely and felt incredibly relieved. I found a coffee shop and a TV showing the wedding. I'm not sure if it was the tear gas, homesickness or relivef but watching the wedding I was feeling a little teary. I relaxed there for a few hours with some nice Danish girls with a real coffee and a smoothie. Entebbe is a beautiful place on the banks of lake Victoria....I'll be keeping a close eye on the news to arrange travel for the next few days so don't worry I'll be staying well clear of the tear gas. Mugs arrives in just a few hours so I best go and shower and eat before he gets here!
I hope you are all enjoying wedding fever over there in the UK-made me proud to be British watching all the eccentrics in Hyde park! And what was Tara Palmer-Thompkinson's hat all about?!
Big love to you all
xxxxx
Wednesday, 20 April 2011
Tear gas and that end of term feeling
So I blogged about my amusing bus journey to Jinja last week. From there I travelled to Hannah's placement (Namwewa) and then Emilie's placement (Bumanya). It was a long ol' journey but really worth it. Hannah's placement felt like a little holiday home. Her and her placement buddy Lastone were amazing hosts and I had a lovely time, going for a long walk in her village, visiting the home of one of her co-volunteers from the community and eating some tasty food. I wanted to stay for longer but alas I had work waiting for me. Then I went to Emilie's placement on the back of a bicycle. Emilie's house is pretty big and surrounded by chickens!! It was really nice to see her placement too and we had a little fashion show with our newly tailored outfits (photos to follow soon).
The journey home ended up being even more eventful....in Jinja taxi park I found tear gas (the stuff they use to disperse riots!). They use it everywhere here but for me it was my first experience of the lovely stuff! So I was on the taxi and kept hearing people saying "tear gas" followed by chat in Luganda. I assumed they were talking about Kampala so sat there blissfully unaware until everyone suddenly got out of the taxi. I got up to go but the conductor said "you sit" so I did and we sped off towards the taxi park. My initial thought was they're going to kidnap me in the taxi! Then we entered the taxi park and my eyes started stinging. People were running in all directions and I was trying to work out where the tear gas was coming from. Not knowing where was safe and where wasn't I jumped straight into a taxi which was going on to Kayunga (on my way home). Between taxis I got a proper taste of the tear gas. My eyes were watering and my nose was stinging-despite this there were the usual taxi conductors trying to help me to find my way-very sweet-and I found two men with bottles of water so I splashed my eyes to relieve them-which I was really grateful for. Sat on the taxi I was begining to wonder if it was safe to sit there.....but knew I would have to cross the main road to get to anywhere I knew so though sat in a metal box surrounded by people was safer than roaming the streets and getting lost. In these situations most people have a "fight or flight" reaction. For me it was fight flight or feed....I was hungry and knew that was making me feel worse so I bought some samosas from a man in the taxi park to calm the nerves!!! Fortunately the taxi filled up quickly so we left fairly quickly but not before we saw the military came in with their guns and sticks and bayonets! They looked pretty scary. In contrast the rioters were just young lads running around armed with water bottles and hankercheifs (to protect themselves from the tear gas). We sped out of the taxi park passing more exploding tear gas cannisters and crowds and military police and out of Jinja. I was never really in any danger (life in the taxi park was continuing half as normal-eg I could get samosas!) but still it was an experience I'd rather avoid in future. The protests (over high food and fuel prices) continue but I'll be trying to keep out of the way so don't worry about me.
In other news I went to church on Sunday (the first time in years I think!). I was invited by my friend in the trading centre. It is such a big part of life here I though how could I not try it at least once. It was a baptist church and I really enjoyed it. Can't say I'm converted but the singing and dancing and fancy outfits were the image of Africa I had before I came so it was really nice to see. I might go again but in the mean time have to keep defending and reasoning my atheism!
I'm spending Easter on an island in the Nile, swimming, playing frisbee and walking. Then have a few days back in Busaana before Mugs arrives and we start our wildlife adventure. Needless to say I'm super excited about that!
Life on placement has been fun. I've made lots of friends in the community including the health centre in charge and a 14 year old named Rebecca. There has been a definite end of term vibe so life has been more relaxed and cheerful.
That's all for now-I'll try and put up some photos soon (riots in Jinja permitting!).
Big love xxx
The journey home ended up being even more eventful....in Jinja taxi park I found tear gas (the stuff they use to disperse riots!). They use it everywhere here but for me it was my first experience of the lovely stuff! So I was on the taxi and kept hearing people saying "tear gas" followed by chat in Luganda. I assumed they were talking about Kampala so sat there blissfully unaware until everyone suddenly got out of the taxi. I got up to go but the conductor said "you sit" so I did and we sped off towards the taxi park. My initial thought was they're going to kidnap me in the taxi! Then we entered the taxi park and my eyes started stinging. People were running in all directions and I was trying to work out where the tear gas was coming from. Not knowing where was safe and where wasn't I jumped straight into a taxi which was going on to Kayunga (on my way home). Between taxis I got a proper taste of the tear gas. My eyes were watering and my nose was stinging-despite this there were the usual taxi conductors trying to help me to find my way-very sweet-and I found two men with bottles of water so I splashed my eyes to relieve them-which I was really grateful for. Sat on the taxi I was begining to wonder if it was safe to sit there.....but knew I would have to cross the main road to get to anywhere I knew so though sat in a metal box surrounded by people was safer than roaming the streets and getting lost. In these situations most people have a "fight or flight" reaction. For me it was fight flight or feed....I was hungry and knew that was making me feel worse so I bought some samosas from a man in the taxi park to calm the nerves!!! Fortunately the taxi filled up quickly so we left fairly quickly but not before we saw the military came in with their guns and sticks and bayonets! They looked pretty scary. In contrast the rioters were just young lads running around armed with water bottles and hankercheifs (to protect themselves from the tear gas). We sped out of the taxi park passing more exploding tear gas cannisters and crowds and military police and out of Jinja. I was never really in any danger (life in the taxi park was continuing half as normal-eg I could get samosas!) but still it was an experience I'd rather avoid in future. The protests (over high food and fuel prices) continue but I'll be trying to keep out of the way so don't worry about me.
In other news I went to church on Sunday (the first time in years I think!). I was invited by my friend in the trading centre. It is such a big part of life here I though how could I not try it at least once. It was a baptist church and I really enjoyed it. Can't say I'm converted but the singing and dancing and fancy outfits were the image of Africa I had before I came so it was really nice to see. I might go again but in the mean time have to keep defending and reasoning my atheism!
I'm spending Easter on an island in the Nile, swimming, playing frisbee and walking. Then have a few days back in Busaana before Mugs arrives and we start our wildlife adventure. Needless to say I'm super excited about that!
Life on placement has been fun. I've made lots of friends in the community including the health centre in charge and a 14 year old named Rebecca. There has been a definite end of term vibe so life has been more relaxed and cheerful.
That's all for now-I'll try and put up some photos soon (riots in Jinja permitting!).
Big love xxx
Tuesday, 12 April 2011
On the buses: Uganda
Hi all,
I'm just passing through Jinja but thought I'd pop a little post here about my journey....
This morning I left placement at around 6.30am to get on my coster (cross between a bus and a mini bus) which leave from the road near my house to Jinja each morning. You know it's leaving as you hear the conductors shouts "Nile o Jinja Jinja Nile" followed by horn hooting etc! So along I go and there is Mr Yellow. Mr Yellow is one of the boda boda drivers (motorcycle taxi). He likes yellow-in fact I don't think I have ever seen him not wearing yellow. He had yellow trainers (ala Olly Carr) and is in some form of yellow t-shirt/tracksuit top. His motorcycle is also mostly yellow-I guess in terms of road safety yellow is supposed to be good? Judging by the scars on his face though I don't think the roads have been kind to him. Just another reason not to use the boda bodas-even though in some circumstances, for example when you've been sat on the back of a bicycle for an hour, with a 5 ft 2" man huffing and puffing and moaning while getting gently sprayed by the sweat flooding from his face followed by shouts of "mzungu you are too heavy", it is tempting to use the boda bodas. It takes some serious determination to convince people you don't want to go on a boda boda! However I am very proud of my boda virginity and want to keep it!
So back to Mr Yellow and this morning. I was greeted as always with "American lady" . It's got a bit late now to try and tell him I'm not actually American but English but hey ho. He helps the coster driver to shout for business so after greeting me and seeing me get on he then uses me as advertisment for the coster. Not quite shure what he was shouting-my Luganda isn't quite up to scratch yet, but the bus erupted in laughter and then lots of people began staring at me. There were lots more shouts including the words "muzungu" and "dollar" again not sure what he was saying but it seemed in good humour. The coster was full so it was time to leave....no wait not quite full- room for an old man, his chicken (still alive and tied up by the ankles), about 20 more kids, a matress....the list goes on. More and more people and bags and animals began piling in. In the seat in front of me was a lady and about 5 kids (too many to count). The all of a sudden I heard a cockerel cry and realised she had her chicken with he too. The something dripped on my foot-who knows if it was child dribble, baby wee or chicken excrement.....I don't think any is particularly better than any of the other!
So now it was time to leave (I'd already been on the coster around 45 mins by this time but if you get there too late you get one of the "seats" that fold out in the aisles where you spend the whole journey at an un-natural angle wondering if the seat will make it to Jinja with you. In order to start the coster the conductor (who I will come to in a moment) has to roll the coster forwards to enable the engine to be started. After a few tries the engine fires into action, the smell of burning fuel is delightful in the morning. Then it cut out. We try again and the engine this time sounds back to it's old self-chuggy but steady and off we go. Along the way we stop to pick up more people, sacks of rice-anything goes. I'm pretty sure if you waved it down with a wardrobe they'd find a way to accomodate you-in Uganda there is always a way.
So the conductor..... this morning he was looking particularly fetching with a lilac furry hat with ear flaps. I wish I'd taken a photo. The fashion here (which mostly consists of 2nd hand UK clothes) is truly breath-taking at times. This hat was clearly a women's (maybe even a childs) woolly hat-worn inside out. The ear flaps were neatly tied around the guys head with the label sticking out of the top. The fake fur was neat and clean....but I couldn't take him seriously! Other imported fashion include men wearing body warmers, bright pink and again clearly belonging to a women. "Hard men" wearing tin tin t-shirts and the other day I saw a man in the health centre with a toys r us employees shirt! Next time you take your clothes to the charity shop and wonder who will ever wear them-they are here.
We're making good progress on the journey (one advantage of the coster being full, there is no need to wave crazy hand signals out the windows to tout more business) until there is a clunking noise below. We stop and they realise the exhaust has fallen off. Mr lilac furry hat and the driver hop out to examine the problem. They find some rope (made of plant fibres) and within 5 mins we're back on our way-rather impressive really! Then we stop and the driver becomes the conductor and some new guy joins the team-the second driver. This one however is not used to the somehow dubious gearbox and frequently fails to find the gear, kangeroos up the hills almost stalling and crawls up other hills in clearly the wrong gear. He seemed scared to take it out of the gear for fear of not getting it back in again (probably true as each gear change resulted in an almighty crunch-I could just see my Dad's face cringe each time!).
Then as we get nearer Jinja, money changes hands, people fight over the prices and then some people get off at the first stop and from no where a giant suitcase appears through the window. There is a scramble for seats as we approach the police check point and the conductors tell everyone to sit down. I ended up with an 8 year old boy sat on my lap and we crossed the Nile into Jinja.
The place I usually get off at came and the conductor remembered offering to stop-nice personal service, but this time I was heading into town. I climbed over people seats, chickens etc and arrived safely at my destination.
Next I'm off to Kaliro district to visit Hannah and Emilie in their placements (but I stopped for a break in Jinja after the excitement of the first journey)!
This week has been good-I feel really settled, me and Maureen have bonded so have nice chats and we have our evening ritual of dedicating songs to one another on 94.8 FM for Kampala-there is a really nice atmosphere in the house.
That's all I've got time for today.
Hope all is well back home,
Ness
x
I'm just passing through Jinja but thought I'd pop a little post here about my journey....
This morning I left placement at around 6.30am to get on my coster (cross between a bus and a mini bus) which leave from the road near my house to Jinja each morning. You know it's leaving as you hear the conductors shouts "Nile o Jinja Jinja Nile" followed by horn hooting etc! So along I go and there is Mr Yellow. Mr Yellow is one of the boda boda drivers (motorcycle taxi). He likes yellow-in fact I don't think I have ever seen him not wearing yellow. He had yellow trainers (ala Olly Carr) and is in some form of yellow t-shirt/tracksuit top. His motorcycle is also mostly yellow-I guess in terms of road safety yellow is supposed to be good? Judging by the scars on his face though I don't think the roads have been kind to him. Just another reason not to use the boda bodas-even though in some circumstances, for example when you've been sat on the back of a bicycle for an hour, with a 5 ft 2" man huffing and puffing and moaning while getting gently sprayed by the sweat flooding from his face followed by shouts of "mzungu you are too heavy", it is tempting to use the boda bodas. It takes some serious determination to convince people you don't want to go on a boda boda! However I am very proud of my boda virginity and want to keep it!
So back to Mr Yellow and this morning. I was greeted as always with "American lady" . It's got a bit late now to try and tell him I'm not actually American but English but hey ho. He helps the coster driver to shout for business so after greeting me and seeing me get on he then uses me as advertisment for the coster. Not quite shure what he was shouting-my Luganda isn't quite up to scratch yet, but the bus erupted in laughter and then lots of people began staring at me. There were lots more shouts including the words "muzungu" and "dollar" again not sure what he was saying but it seemed in good humour. The coster was full so it was time to leave....no wait not quite full- room for an old man, his chicken (still alive and tied up by the ankles), about 20 more kids, a matress....the list goes on. More and more people and bags and animals began piling in. In the seat in front of me was a lady and about 5 kids (too many to count). The all of a sudden I heard a cockerel cry and realised she had her chicken with he too. The something dripped on my foot-who knows if it was child dribble, baby wee or chicken excrement.....I don't think any is particularly better than any of the other!
So now it was time to leave (I'd already been on the coster around 45 mins by this time but if you get there too late you get one of the "seats" that fold out in the aisles where you spend the whole journey at an un-natural angle wondering if the seat will make it to Jinja with you. In order to start the coster the conductor (who I will come to in a moment) has to roll the coster forwards to enable the engine to be started. After a few tries the engine fires into action, the smell of burning fuel is delightful in the morning. Then it cut out. We try again and the engine this time sounds back to it's old self-chuggy but steady and off we go. Along the way we stop to pick up more people, sacks of rice-anything goes. I'm pretty sure if you waved it down with a wardrobe they'd find a way to accomodate you-in Uganda there is always a way.
So the conductor..... this morning he was looking particularly fetching with a lilac furry hat with ear flaps. I wish I'd taken a photo. The fashion here (which mostly consists of 2nd hand UK clothes) is truly breath-taking at times. This hat was clearly a women's (maybe even a childs) woolly hat-worn inside out. The ear flaps were neatly tied around the guys head with the label sticking out of the top. The fake fur was neat and clean....but I couldn't take him seriously! Other imported fashion include men wearing body warmers, bright pink and again clearly belonging to a women. "Hard men" wearing tin tin t-shirts and the other day I saw a man in the health centre with a toys r us employees shirt! Next time you take your clothes to the charity shop and wonder who will ever wear them-they are here.
We're making good progress on the journey (one advantage of the coster being full, there is no need to wave crazy hand signals out the windows to tout more business) until there is a clunking noise below. We stop and they realise the exhaust has fallen off. Mr lilac furry hat and the driver hop out to examine the problem. They find some rope (made of plant fibres) and within 5 mins we're back on our way-rather impressive really! Then we stop and the driver becomes the conductor and some new guy joins the team-the second driver. This one however is not used to the somehow dubious gearbox and frequently fails to find the gear, kangeroos up the hills almost stalling and crawls up other hills in clearly the wrong gear. He seemed scared to take it out of the gear for fear of not getting it back in again (probably true as each gear change resulted in an almighty crunch-I could just see my Dad's face cringe each time!).
Then as we get nearer Jinja, money changes hands, people fight over the prices and then some people get off at the first stop and from no where a giant suitcase appears through the window. There is a scramble for seats as we approach the police check point and the conductors tell everyone to sit down. I ended up with an 8 year old boy sat on my lap and we crossed the Nile into Jinja.
The place I usually get off at came and the conductor remembered offering to stop-nice personal service, but this time I was heading into town. I climbed over people seats, chickens etc and arrived safely at my destination.
Next I'm off to Kaliro district to visit Hannah and Emilie in their placements (but I stopped for a break in Jinja after the excitement of the first journey)!
This week has been good-I feel really settled, me and Maureen have bonded so have nice chats and we have our evening ritual of dedicating songs to one another on 94.8 FM for Kampala-there is a really nice atmosphere in the house.
That's all I've got time for today.
Hope all is well back home,
Ness
x
Sunday, 27 March 2011
Little bit like a yo-yo
Hello from Jinja. I'm not really sure where to start with the blog post this time. I've been like a yo-yo over the last few weeks-very up and down. It's all part of the Restless Development experience but for the last couple of weeks I've been like one of those fancy yo-yos that stays down longer than usual...... I'm feeling better now but it is always hard to write an interesting and exciting post about the lows without sounding like a big whinge!
It is funny how quickly things can go from amazing to really negative. After a fantastic weekend in Kampala where all the internationals made my Birthday really special, we had lots of fun and were able to relax I headed back to placement with a spring in my step. Ben came back from his weekend at home with a Birthday present for me- a fluffy bunny rabbit! He thinks I'm a big kid as I have Barry the lion Mugs gave me and in fact the present was very appropriate given mine and Alexis obsession with soft toys when we were young! (Sure enough the Birthday package from my awesome sister contained another teddy bear and other kiddie goodies!) I was really touched he had got me a present and we were all getting on really well in the house after a refreshing weekend.
That didn't last however as the sports event was looming and the stress levels and sickness levels were rising. I was healthy but am limited in what I can do without the language. This limitation is often exaggerated which is frustrating but it meant I wasn't able to help to reduce the stress and the atmosphere in the house was tense. I've also learnt I have slight control freak tenancies and like to know what is going on so I found not knowing what was going on all the time a real challenge!
There have been other difficulties in the group and I am struggling to adjust to many of the cultural differences. My obscenely polite British-ness is finding the lack of thanks and constant criticism hard. This is all part of the challenge I signed up for though so I'm developing a thick skin and have decided I just have to keep positive and pick myself up and get on with it. There is absolutely no point in dwelling on the problems.
As I said previously though these highs have been interspersed with some fantastic highs. I am really really enjoying the facilitation in the class room. The students are really engaged and have been asking me loads of questions. It is really encouraging that they feel comfortable to ask me about these issues, many of which are about sensitive issues. Some of the questions are text book myths around sex eg. "can a girl get pregnant if she has sex standing up?" Hearing their eagerness to ask these questions and the fact many of these myths are so well known reinforces that we need to be here and that it is important. One of the greatest challenges for the young people is having people to ask about these sensitive issues so I feel I have a great opportunity to answer their questions and provide them with the knowledge they need to stay healthy. Now I'm teaching alone I'm enjoying utilising all the non-formal education techniques (doing role plays and games) and get a real buzz from the sessions we do. I would happily do sessions all day every day but sadly that is not feasible. We have limited time in class and soon there will be exams and the Easter holiday so there will be more free time. I feel I need to find something to fill this free time so I feel like I have achieved as much as I can during my time here. My constant need to be busy and productive is still really strong so free time is a real challenge.
Filling the free time with productive stuff is easier said than done but we'll soon be setting up our youth resource corner (a place for young people to come and speak to us for advice and support) which should give us something to do and we're hoping to grow some food on the land behind our house to use as an example for the livelihood sessions (and ease the food budget).
Currently we have just over 40 pounds to feed the three of us for a month (we also feed the community volunteers for lunches). Our group have been really good at budgeting and we haven't struggled so far but inflation is huge in Uganda. Rice which we were getting for 1,800 Ush is now 2,300 Ush for a kg....this increase has been for everything. Needless to say our budget doesn't allow for much luxury or waste. We're eating rice and beans for most meals. Sometimes rice and cabbage and once a week we have meat or fish (the fish from the river, tilapia, I think it is called is really really good). This diet is probably the reason why I have lost 8kg! I saw myself in a long mirror for the first time in weeks here in Jinja and I was shocked! I haven't been this slim for a long time! Don't panic though I've been very healthy and it is just beer and Jon cooking deprivation which has led to the weight loss not sickness. And as Mummy Ness told me in India "well at least you had some stores!"
There have been some other fun moments for example the International Women's Day celebration was held on the site where I live. I came back from teaching and there was a brass band playing outside my house. They weren't bad but it was really surreal hearing a brass band in Uganda! I ended up having a really interesting chat with the teacher leading the brass band. He had a really interesting life story starting in a really poor family. He is now a very successful man working in a variety of NGOs in Kaynunga and Kampala. His outlook on life was really inspirational and it was really interesting to hear his perspective on development in Uganda and the contrast in donors. I asked him about Global Fund funding (one of the things I was campaigning for in Stop AIDS before I left) and was reassured to know he felt the funding from Global Fund was effective and he praised the funding body. He also compared funding from UK donors and US donors which was interested and I felt encouraged to be working for Restless Development. That is one thing which has really kept me going -I really believe in the Restless Development method of development. Yes their are faults and sometimes things don't go to plan but on the whole the way in which we work in communities is, in my opinion, more beneficial than other NGOs. It has however led us to be nicknamed the "broke NGO" in our community but I am proud we are able to achieve big impact with a small budget. For example we reached over 100 students with our health talk for less than three pounds and we held a whole day sports gala with around 30 pounds. It means these activities have a better chance of continuing without us here which is the ultimate aim-sustainability!
The best thing is certainly the community. I feel at home now in Busaana. I stop and chat to a lot of people in the community. Th health centre staff always ask me how I am (and spend a lot of time discussing what is causing my spotty face!) and are interested to hear about me and the UK. They struggle to grasp the concept that most families only have 2 children (the fertility rate here is over 6, 2nd in the world) and laugh about how we have machines to do everything-even a doctor diagnoses you using a computer. The kids from the schools know my name and stop to talk to me in the trading centre and the shop where I buy my sweet buns from are really welcoming and smiley!
This weekend has been a relaxed one in Jinja-no RnB videos this time! We've had plenty of time catching up with the other volunteers and eating dairy! Went for a swim yesterday (but it clouded over and got really cold just as we got there so didn't stay long!), ate a yummy curry and found an arts festival (little bit disappointing).
Keep emailing with your news and gossip-it is always nice to keep in touch with what is going on back home.
I hope this wasn't too negative a blog. Despite the ups and downs I have no regrets about coming, I am learning a huge amount and discovering a lot about myself (some good some bad!). I'm now looking forward to getting back to placement tomorrow and doing what I'm here to do.
Love to you all
xxx
It is funny how quickly things can go from amazing to really negative. After a fantastic weekend in Kampala where all the internationals made my Birthday really special, we had lots of fun and were able to relax I headed back to placement with a spring in my step. Ben came back from his weekend at home with a Birthday present for me- a fluffy bunny rabbit! He thinks I'm a big kid as I have Barry the lion Mugs gave me and in fact the present was very appropriate given mine and Alexis obsession with soft toys when we were young! (Sure enough the Birthday package from my awesome sister contained another teddy bear and other kiddie goodies!) I was really touched he had got me a present and we were all getting on really well in the house after a refreshing weekend.
That didn't last however as the sports event was looming and the stress levels and sickness levels were rising. I was healthy but am limited in what I can do without the language. This limitation is often exaggerated which is frustrating but it meant I wasn't able to help to reduce the stress and the atmosphere in the house was tense. I've also learnt I have slight control freak tenancies and like to know what is going on so I found not knowing what was going on all the time a real challenge!
There have been other difficulties in the group and I am struggling to adjust to many of the cultural differences. My obscenely polite British-ness is finding the lack of thanks and constant criticism hard. This is all part of the challenge I signed up for though so I'm developing a thick skin and have decided I just have to keep positive and pick myself up and get on with it. There is absolutely no point in dwelling on the problems.
As I said previously though these highs have been interspersed with some fantastic highs. I am really really enjoying the facilitation in the class room. The students are really engaged and have been asking me loads of questions. It is really encouraging that they feel comfortable to ask me about these issues, many of which are about sensitive issues. Some of the questions are text book myths around sex eg. "can a girl get pregnant if she has sex standing up?" Hearing their eagerness to ask these questions and the fact many of these myths are so well known reinforces that we need to be here and that it is important. One of the greatest challenges for the young people is having people to ask about these sensitive issues so I feel I have a great opportunity to answer their questions and provide them with the knowledge they need to stay healthy. Now I'm teaching alone I'm enjoying utilising all the non-formal education techniques (doing role plays and games) and get a real buzz from the sessions we do. I would happily do sessions all day every day but sadly that is not feasible. We have limited time in class and soon there will be exams and the Easter holiday so there will be more free time. I feel I need to find something to fill this free time so I feel like I have achieved as much as I can during my time here. My constant need to be busy and productive is still really strong so free time is a real challenge.
Filling the free time with productive stuff is easier said than done but we'll soon be setting up our youth resource corner (a place for young people to come and speak to us for advice and support) which should give us something to do and we're hoping to grow some food on the land behind our house to use as an example for the livelihood sessions (and ease the food budget).
Currently we have just over 40 pounds to feed the three of us for a month (we also feed the community volunteers for lunches). Our group have been really good at budgeting and we haven't struggled so far but inflation is huge in Uganda. Rice which we were getting for 1,800 Ush is now 2,300 Ush for a kg....this increase has been for everything. Needless to say our budget doesn't allow for much luxury or waste. We're eating rice and beans for most meals. Sometimes rice and cabbage and once a week we have meat or fish (the fish from the river, tilapia, I think it is called is really really good). This diet is probably the reason why I have lost 8kg! I saw myself in a long mirror for the first time in weeks here in Jinja and I was shocked! I haven't been this slim for a long time! Don't panic though I've been very healthy and it is just beer and Jon cooking deprivation which has led to the weight loss not sickness. And as Mummy Ness told me in India "well at least you had some stores!"
There have been some other fun moments for example the International Women's Day celebration was held on the site where I live. I came back from teaching and there was a brass band playing outside my house. They weren't bad but it was really surreal hearing a brass band in Uganda! I ended up having a really interesting chat with the teacher leading the brass band. He had a really interesting life story starting in a really poor family. He is now a very successful man working in a variety of NGOs in Kaynunga and Kampala. His outlook on life was really inspirational and it was really interesting to hear his perspective on development in Uganda and the contrast in donors. I asked him about Global Fund funding (one of the things I was campaigning for in Stop AIDS before I left) and was reassured to know he felt the funding from Global Fund was effective and he praised the funding body. He also compared funding from UK donors and US donors which was interested and I felt encouraged to be working for Restless Development. That is one thing which has really kept me going -I really believe in the Restless Development method of development. Yes their are faults and sometimes things don't go to plan but on the whole the way in which we work in communities is, in my opinion, more beneficial than other NGOs. It has however led us to be nicknamed the "broke NGO" in our community but I am proud we are able to achieve big impact with a small budget. For example we reached over 100 students with our health talk for less than three pounds and we held a whole day sports gala with around 30 pounds. It means these activities have a better chance of continuing without us here which is the ultimate aim-sustainability!
The best thing is certainly the community. I feel at home now in Busaana. I stop and chat to a lot of people in the community. Th health centre staff always ask me how I am (and spend a lot of time discussing what is causing my spotty face!) and are interested to hear about me and the UK. They struggle to grasp the concept that most families only have 2 children (the fertility rate here is over 6, 2nd in the world) and laugh about how we have machines to do everything-even a doctor diagnoses you using a computer. The kids from the schools know my name and stop to talk to me in the trading centre and the shop where I buy my sweet buns from are really welcoming and smiley!
This weekend has been a relaxed one in Jinja-no RnB videos this time! We've had plenty of time catching up with the other volunteers and eating dairy! Went for a swim yesterday (but it clouded over and got really cold just as we got there so didn't stay long!), ate a yummy curry and found an arts festival (little bit disappointing).
Keep emailing with your news and gossip-it is always nice to keep in touch with what is going on back home.
I hope this wasn't too negative a blog. Despite the ups and downs I have no regrets about coming, I am learning a huge amount and discovering a lot about myself (some good some bad!). I'm now looking forward to getting back to placement tomorrow and doing what I'm here to do.
Love to you all
xxx
Monday, 14 March 2011
A day in the life
OK so yesterday was a blog of burble-today I will try to give you a little idea about what my life is like living in pretty little Busaana.
5.30 am I am woken by the sound of the gong which they use to wake the prisoners who are my closest neighbours.
6.30am I actually wake up and make the first trip of the day to my delightful latrine....there is nothing delightful about a latrine and it still puzzles me that people haven't grasped the concept that you relieve yourself in the big hole....not in the surrounding.
7am Laze around in bed for a bit-if I'm lucky and the wind is blowing in the wrong directions then the eau de latrine wafts into my room!
7.30am Up to collect water and wash while Ben starts the charcoal stove for our morning tea. The bread and honey for breakfast (a micro banana if I'm lucky).
8am some days I'll be at the school teaching and waving sanitary towels around in front of a room full of teenage boys (one of our topics in menstruation) but other days we have nothing to do except wait for our afternoon session or hand wash my clothing with a bar of soap in a plastic basin unsuccessfully!
10am start to prepare lunch (if we're enjoying beans)
1pm eat lunch, collect more water and try to convince the group to session plan (usually unsuccessfully)
2pm Wash dishes collect more water, get charcoal and read/sit around some more
3-5pm most days we have some kind of session teaching in schools or meeting with clubs.
Then back to the house to cook dinner. Sit around a little and watch the sun go down. Collect water, have a shower. This consists of hiding in a concrete structure with no door with a bucket of water and a cup. The cup provides the makeshift shower and the lack of door adds to the sense of danger-especially when the cows and goats and children are right outside the shower! "well done Ness" they all shout!
The evening involve more sitting-this time inside and we usually eat and go to bed pretty early. I try to listen to BBC world service if the signal isn't drowned out my one of the Jesus FM stations (of which there are many).
Writing this I've realised it is not as interesting as I had hoped (not feeling particularly witty today) but hopefully it gives you an idea of my day to day life. The next couple of weeks are going to be busier so maybe they'll be less sitting on the floor but we'll see!
Keep the texts and emails coming it is nice to hear what is happening out there!
Love to you all
xxxxxxxxxx
5.30 am I am woken by the sound of the gong which they use to wake the prisoners who are my closest neighbours.
6.30am I actually wake up and make the first trip of the day to my delightful latrine....there is nothing delightful about a latrine and it still puzzles me that people haven't grasped the concept that you relieve yourself in the big hole....not in the surrounding.
7am Laze around in bed for a bit-if I'm lucky and the wind is blowing in the wrong directions then the eau de latrine wafts into my room!
7.30am Up to collect water and wash while Ben starts the charcoal stove for our morning tea. The bread and honey for breakfast (a micro banana if I'm lucky).
8am some days I'll be at the school teaching and waving sanitary towels around in front of a room full of teenage boys (one of our topics in menstruation) but other days we have nothing to do except wait for our afternoon session or hand wash my clothing with a bar of soap in a plastic basin unsuccessfully!
10am start to prepare lunch (if we're enjoying beans)
1pm eat lunch, collect more water and try to convince the group to session plan (usually unsuccessfully)
2pm Wash dishes collect more water, get charcoal and read/sit around some more
3-5pm most days we have some kind of session teaching in schools or meeting with clubs.
Then back to the house to cook dinner. Sit around a little and watch the sun go down. Collect water, have a shower. This consists of hiding in a concrete structure with no door with a bucket of water and a cup. The cup provides the makeshift shower and the lack of door adds to the sense of danger-especially when the cows and goats and children are right outside the shower! "well done Ness" they all shout!
The evening involve more sitting-this time inside and we usually eat and go to bed pretty early. I try to listen to BBC world service if the signal isn't drowned out my one of the Jesus FM stations (of which there are many).
Writing this I've realised it is not as interesting as I had hoped (not feeling particularly witty today) but hopefully it gives you an idea of my day to day life. The next couple of weeks are going to be busier so maybe they'll be less sitting on the floor but we'll see!
Keep the texts and emails coming it is nice to hear what is happening out there!
Love to you all
xxxxxxxxxx
Pictures
My birthday cake, the Nile, International Volunteers celebrating in Kampala and my customised t-shirt.
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Getting "old" in Uganda
Hi all,
Thanks for all the messages saying you are reading my blog-it is nice to know people are interested. So since my last post lots has happened but I'll try to give you a brief overview and the highlights and low lights from the past few weeks....
So life on placement is settling down. Adjusting to life in the house was initially challenging-I think I mentioned that the lack of intellectual conversation was proving to be a real challenge and the cultural differences were really apparent. Living with any people 24/7 in a stressful environment is always going to be tricky but I'm glad to say things have been getting better. Me Ben and Maureen have settled into a nice routine and the atmosphere in the house in nice. I've got used to eating rice and beans for everyday (we've had a bit of avacado and fish to liven it up a few days) and the community members have learnt my name so I'm no longer "muzungu" but now Ness.
This month we started to deliver our lessons in the school-I'm teaching sexual reproductive health with Iginitius one of the community volunteers. It has been a little challenging t say the least. We do not work well as a team as we are both stubborn and think our method of teaching is the best. Anyway-I won't dwell on it but let's just say it is improving and the sessions overall seem to be effective even if it can be stressful! The other major challenge with placement is the amount of free time. I have far too much free time and I feel like I could be doing a lot more and achieving a lot more but it is the African way. Everything takes a long time-you can
t just set up a meeting you have to suggest a meeting, then call to confirm the meeting and then call again to tell them the meeting has started etc! The others complain if we have more than one session in a day! I've got good at entertaining myself though-lots of books, journals and I'm sewing a skirt by hand. These have been my main challenges, so fairly trivial really.
The other day I felt like I had a little break through-two girls from the school we teach at asked my some questions related to sexual reproductive help. I was able to give them advice and support and I felt like this is why we are here and that young people are going to benefit from our presence. That was nice.
There are also comical things around every corner-chickens walking into classrooms, people delivering beds on motorbikes and men dressed in yellow raincoats, one wellie boot and a sandal whistling and dancing in the middle of the street. All good to brighten up the day!
So since the last blog I turned 25....half way to 50 as Mugs likes to tell me! I had an amazing day on my placement. It was International Women's day (a public holiday here) so we had no sessions. I'd already had too many days of doing nothing in the house so I got up early and went for an epic walk. I walked for 2 hours to the Nile (around 9km I think)). It was hot and all the villages I passed through I was greeted and they all wanted to know where I was going. Someone even called one of the community volunteers to say they had seen me in the village. I was the talk of the town! It was nice, getting out on my own and being a bit independant. The constant greeting waving and smiling was a little draining but also really nice. After 2 hours I finally reached the river Nile. It was beautiful-I saw the blue sparkling water over the brow of the hill as I made it. It was lovely-birds and fishermen and a glorious blue sky. I found some shade on a disused ferry and made friends with the security guards guarding the ferry. I spent a few hours just watching the world go by. It was exactly what I needed and certainly a memorable birthday. The walk back (another 2 hours, this time in the hot sun) was tiring. Also I had to bat off many offers of motorcycle rides (too dangerous and not allowed by Restless Development). I got back tired, hot and with aching calves (flips flops maybe not the best shoes!) but very content and happy.
We had a few more days of sessions and event planning before we came to Kampala for the weekend. Kampala in mad-crossing the road is insane and there are people everywhere! Getting used to it now I've been here for a few days though. All the internationals came to celebrate my birthday so we've been stocking up on food , beer and conversation. They all clubbed together to get me a beautiful necklace and made my birthday really special. We went to try out the Ugandan nightlife at Steak Out and I had a lot more fun than I was expecting. We met some fun Ugandans and had a good dance. A welcome change from the evenings on placement which are fairly boring! We went to a big shopping centre full of Muzuzngus which was a massive culture shock (6 of us spent on lunch what we would spend on our entire food budget for 3 people). Coming home is going to take some adjusting! Found a great book shop though so I've stocked up on reading material :)
Then today we went to see the art exhibition of a guy we met at the club last night. He has set up an NGO teaching kids music and art and he screen prints t-shirts. It was really interesting (and ultimately hilarious). We looked at the exhibition and purchased some of his work as it was really nice. We'd been there for a while while he screen printed t-shirts to order for us and at the end he asked if he could do a short film clip with us....... They wanted us to be in a music video. Everyone knows white people can't dance the way Aficans dance.....! They make music videos with the young people they work with. So we stood in his bedroom/exhibition/art studio/music video studio dancing in an awkward dweeby white person way behind this very "cool" Ugandan rappers......hilarious! Search for destreet on facebook to see some of his stuff.
Back to placement on Monday ready for a busy few weeks we have lots of events to plan and run.
Will try to upload a couple of pictures
Love to you all-hope this wasn't too rambling!
xxxx
Thanks for all the messages saying you are reading my blog-it is nice to know people are interested. So since my last post lots has happened but I'll try to give you a brief overview and the highlights and low lights from the past few weeks....
So life on placement is settling down. Adjusting to life in the house was initially challenging-I think I mentioned that the lack of intellectual conversation was proving to be a real challenge and the cultural differences were really apparent. Living with any people 24/7 in a stressful environment is always going to be tricky but I'm glad to say things have been getting better. Me Ben and Maureen have settled into a nice routine and the atmosphere in the house in nice. I've got used to eating rice and beans for everyday (we've had a bit of avacado and fish to liven it up a few days) and the community members have learnt my name so I'm no longer "muzungu" but now Ness.
This month we started to deliver our lessons in the school-I'm teaching sexual reproductive health with Iginitius one of the community volunteers. It has been a little challenging t say the least. We do not work well as a team as we are both stubborn and think our method of teaching is the best. Anyway-I won't dwell on it but let's just say it is improving and the sessions overall seem to be effective even if it can be stressful! The other major challenge with placement is the amount of free time. I have far too much free time and I feel like I could be doing a lot more and achieving a lot more but it is the African way. Everything takes a long time-you can
t just set up a meeting you have to suggest a meeting, then call to confirm the meeting and then call again to tell them the meeting has started etc! The others complain if we have more than one session in a day! I've got good at entertaining myself though-lots of books, journals and I'm sewing a skirt by hand. These have been my main challenges, so fairly trivial really.
The other day I felt like I had a little break through-two girls from the school we teach at asked my some questions related to sexual reproductive help. I was able to give them advice and support and I felt like this is why we are here and that young people are going to benefit from our presence. That was nice.
There are also comical things around every corner-chickens walking into classrooms, people delivering beds on motorbikes and men dressed in yellow raincoats, one wellie boot and a sandal whistling and dancing in the middle of the street. All good to brighten up the day!
So since the last blog I turned 25....half way to 50 as Mugs likes to tell me! I had an amazing day on my placement. It was International Women's day (a public holiday here) so we had no sessions. I'd already had too many days of doing nothing in the house so I got up early and went for an epic walk. I walked for 2 hours to the Nile (around 9km I think)). It was hot and all the villages I passed through I was greeted and they all wanted to know where I was going. Someone even called one of the community volunteers to say they had seen me in the village. I was the talk of the town! It was nice, getting out on my own and being a bit independant. The constant greeting waving and smiling was a little draining but also really nice. After 2 hours I finally reached the river Nile. It was beautiful-I saw the blue sparkling water over the brow of the hill as I made it. It was lovely-birds and fishermen and a glorious blue sky. I found some shade on a disused ferry and made friends with the security guards guarding the ferry. I spent a few hours just watching the world go by. It was exactly what I needed and certainly a memorable birthday. The walk back (another 2 hours, this time in the hot sun) was tiring. Also I had to bat off many offers of motorcycle rides (too dangerous and not allowed by Restless Development). I got back tired, hot and with aching calves (flips flops maybe not the best shoes!) but very content and happy.
We had a few more days of sessions and event planning before we came to Kampala for the weekend. Kampala in mad-crossing the road is insane and there are people everywhere! Getting used to it now I've been here for a few days though. All the internationals came to celebrate my birthday so we've been stocking up on food , beer and conversation. They all clubbed together to get me a beautiful necklace and made my birthday really special. We went to try out the Ugandan nightlife at Steak Out and I had a lot more fun than I was expecting. We met some fun Ugandans and had a good dance. A welcome change from the evenings on placement which are fairly boring! We went to a big shopping centre full of Muzuzngus which was a massive culture shock (6 of us spent on lunch what we would spend on our entire food budget for 3 people). Coming home is going to take some adjusting! Found a great book shop though so I've stocked up on reading material :)
Then today we went to see the art exhibition of a guy we met at the club last night. He has set up an NGO teaching kids music and art and he screen prints t-shirts. It was really interesting (and ultimately hilarious). We looked at the exhibition and purchased some of his work as it was really nice. We'd been there for a while while he screen printed t-shirts to order for us and at the end he asked if he could do a short film clip with us....... They wanted us to be in a music video. Everyone knows white people can't dance the way Aficans dance.....! They make music videos with the young people they work with. So we stood in his bedroom/exhibition/art studio/music video studio dancing in an awkward dweeby white person way behind this very "cool" Ugandan rappers......hilarious! Search for destreet on facebook to see some of his stuff.
Back to placement on Monday ready for a busy few weeks we have lots of events to plan and run.
Will try to upload a couple of pictures
Love to you all-hope this wasn't too rambling!
xxxx
Friday, 18 February 2011
The only muzungu in the village...
Greetings blog readers. Thanks for reading these I hope they are keeping you mildly entertained. The last couple of weeks have been pretty eventful, arriving on placement and adjusting to the placement house/village/partners etc has been interesting.
OK so as volunteers we are provided accommodation by the sub-county (essentially the town council) and there are a few minimum standards......I was preparing for the worst but what we were greeting with was pretty horrendous! So there was no lock on the door (about the only minimum standard I was worried about), a huge hole in the roof which leaks when it rains, bat droppings everywhere and Ben's room was a bathroom with a sunken concrete floor so there was nowhere to put his mattress down flat. Fortunately our community volunteer was kind enough to put us up at his house for the night. Not as simple as it sounds -it was getting dark by this point so we grabbed enough stuff for the night and walked for 40mins through the Ugandan countryside (in the pitch black) to get to his house. I had forgotten my head torch, had no battery power on my phone, had nothing more than a bottle of water a change of clothes and a scarf walking into a village with a guy I had only known for a week or two at training. Combined with sleep deprivation and a lack of lunch and you can image I was a little less than happy! Slightly freaking out we arrived at his house, arriving in the dark with no electricity it is interesting trying to get your bearings. We sat in his living room in slightly awkward silence (myself Maureen and Ben the three of us who are living together) while Ignitius prepared the house for us to stay and while his family prepared food for us. Still freaking out and feeling uneasy as everything was spoken in Luganda we then went to shower and I met his mother. She totally put my mind at rest and I realised this was true Ugandan hospitality. She told me "I love my children and now you are my children too so I love you".....3 hours in and I was already adopted! I've since found out she is an important member of the community so a good person to know. They cooked us dinner, gave up their bed and mosquito nets and after breakfast I was taught how to greet in Luganda and we headed back to the subcounty.
By the next day the Sub county Chief had arrived (the top dog) and he has provided us with alternative accomodation (his future office) which is great. It was so new there was still concrete dust on the floor and it smelt of paint :) He says this is only temporary but I'm hoping we can stay for the full 6 months (they want to refurbish the other place and put us back there!).
Here are a few photos of my accommodation, my bath room and my "bed".
Have to dash now but will blog again soon with other news about life on placement.
All the best,
Ness
xxx
Saturday, 5 February 2011
A few more pics from training.....
Here's a blog I wrote last week but couldn't post as the internet vanished!!
The market in Mukono
Training outside at Kasenge
Training inside at Kasenge
My usual mode of transport (a Ugandan "taxi")
What happens if you get your camera outside in front of kids!
The view from inside out mini bus
Lastone.....getting the message across
Sunset from the garden
OK so this week has been much the same as last-lots of training and not much else to report hence this blog being mostly photos (I'm also making the most of the quick internet connection here!).
Top 4 moments this week:
1) Playing football with some of the volunteers....the locals thought it was hilarious that Muzungu girls play football. I found it hilarious that you can play football in a field around cow, which is so uneven you have no idea where the ball will bounce let alone run without falling over in long grass which makes the ball stop!! I was modeling my newly purchased Uganda football shirt!
2) going for a run with Hannah, while the kids were laughing at me going insanely red (those who came to my triathlon will remember the colour) when Hannah then tripped over...making them laugh even more
3) Mastering the hand-washing technique....who needs a washing machine when you have a bar of soap and a bowl of water!
4) Waking up to the most incredible thunderstorm. I have never heard anything like it...this week I'll have to try and get my storm photography up to scratch.
The market in Mukono
Training outside at Kasenge
Training inside at Kasenge
My usual mode of transport (a Ugandan "taxi")
What happens if you get your camera outside in front of kids!
The view from inside out mini bus
Lastone.....getting the message across
Sunset from the garden
OK so this week has been much the same as last-lots of training and not much else to report hence this blog being mostly photos (I'm also making the most of the quick internet connection here!).
Top 4 moments this week:
1) Playing football with some of the volunteers....the locals thought it was hilarious that Muzungu girls play football. I found it hilarious that you can play football in a field around cow, which is so uneven you have no idea where the ball will bounce let alone run without falling over in long grass which makes the ball stop!! I was modeling my newly purchased Uganda football shirt!
2) going for a run with Hannah, while the kids were laughing at me going insanely red (those who came to my triathlon will remember the colour) when Hannah then tripped over...making them laugh even more
3) Mastering the hand-washing technique....who needs a washing machine when you have a bar of soap and a bowl of water!
4) Waking up to the most incredible thunderstorm. I have never heard anything like it...this week I'll have to try and get my storm photography up to scratch.
Low point of the week
1) I've found out my placement has no bed.....I was prepared for no water and electricity but a matress (aka 2inches of foam) on the floor will be interesting! Ah well at least I won't have to share with 9 girls who wake me up all the time!
For those of you who are interested I'll be going to Busaana in Kaynga on Monday. Found out my placement is right next to the sub county HQ, and the police post opposite the health centre so should have anything I need (except a bed!!). For the election period we're going to stay in Jinja just in case there is any trouble-quite happy as it means we get a long weekend with the international volunteers.
Not sure when I'll next get on here but keep sending me your news.
Lots of love
Xxxx
thunderstorms and a few pictures
So this week I'm too lazy to write much so here are a few photos, not sure why they're all over the place but I'll try to describe them. The group is me and Hannah and Elise along with some of the Ugandan volunteers at the training place. Then the people round my table are my placement group (I'll let a better pic soon!) The people on the chairs are doing "team building" the Restless Development way! Then the guy with glasses is Hannah's placement partner Lastone.....during the modelling night (see www.brentinuganda.blogspot.com for me dressed as a villager on the same night!). I think Hannah might have a lively placement!
Saturday, 29 January 2011
Just a quickie
Hi all,
This week has mostly consisted of sitting in one room, in a plastic garden chair either daydreaming or debating about sexual health issues. I've not been anywhere interesting since the last post so don't have a whole lot to write!
Interesting things this week (or in true Emily Day style) my top 5 moments have been:
1) finding out Mugs has booked his flight to come and visit in May!!!
2) having a yoga lesson from fellow volunteer Kim while the sun went down (not as spiritual as is sounds, more just funny and full of giggles when we fell over)
3) learning my first 4 chords on fellow volunteer Aiden's guitar and
4) sitting taking photos of the sunset and chatting to Hannah and Aiden for hours about all things which are taboo to talk about usually here in front of the other volunteers!
5) eating chicken and chips for lunch today-my first meal which hasn't included beans or cabbage!
Number one would have easily been overtaken by being able to sleep past 6am without being woken up but sadly that hasn't happened since I arrived so I'm living with a perpetual feeling of sleepiness! (6am you might not think that is bad but combined with them staying awake chatting and listening to the radio/talking on the phone, with the light on until gone midnight, not to mention sleepy Ness genes and well ...... you can just imagine the consequences!)
Might go and explore Kampala tomorrow and tonight I'm helping to organise "super saturday" for the volunteers-a quiz night!
We travel to placement on 7th Feb so they'll be more news then of how I'm getting on (or perhaps a couple of weeks after that as I won't have immediate internet access in my little village).
Hope you're all well-I'm already looking forward to multiple weddings in October!
Love to you all and keep texting (I think I can now send texts for about 3p so no excuse not to reply!!)
xxxxxx
This week has mostly consisted of sitting in one room, in a plastic garden chair either daydreaming or debating about sexual health issues. I've not been anywhere interesting since the last post so don't have a whole lot to write!
Interesting things this week (or in true Emily Day style) my top 5 moments have been:
1) finding out Mugs has booked his flight to come and visit in May!!!
2) having a yoga lesson from fellow volunteer Kim while the sun went down (not as spiritual as is sounds, more just funny and full of giggles when we fell over)
3) learning my first 4 chords on fellow volunteer Aiden's guitar and
4) sitting taking photos of the sunset and chatting to Hannah and Aiden for hours about all things which are taboo to talk about usually here in front of the other volunteers!
5) eating chicken and chips for lunch today-my first meal which hasn't included beans or cabbage!
Number one would have easily been overtaken by being able to sleep past 6am without being woken up but sadly that hasn't happened since I arrived so I'm living with a perpetual feeling of sleepiness! (6am you might not think that is bad but combined with them staying awake chatting and listening to the radio/talking on the phone, with the light on until gone midnight, not to mention sleepy Ness genes and well ...... you can just imagine the consequences!)
Might go and explore Kampala tomorrow and tonight I'm helping to organise "super saturday" for the volunteers-a quiz night!
We travel to placement on 7th Feb so they'll be more news then of how I'm getting on (or perhaps a couple of weeks after that as I won't have immediate internet access in my little village).
Hope you're all well-I'm already looking forward to multiple weddings in October!
Love to you all and keep texting (I think I can now send texts for about 3p so no excuse not to reply!!)
xxxxxx
Sunday, 23 January 2011
typical meal!
Matoke (mashed banana-yellow in the centre). Beans, soup, yam, un recognised meat, pinapple, cabbage and posho or rice.
xxx
The big announcement!
Hi all,
So the big news from this week is the announcement of the placement groups and locations. I'll be living in Kayungne district (which is part of the Buganda tribe, meaning they speak Luganda...best get learning). The village is called Busaana (I think that's the right spelling) and I'll be living near the trading centre (aka market). They have a farmers market every two weeks which sells all kinds of food so that sounds good. There is no power in the village but they are hoping to get in by April (they do have "solar" so I should be able to keep my phone charged). It's only about 1 and a half hours from Jinja but by the sounds of it there is only one taxi/bus a day which leaves at 6am....could make getting to the internet tricky. My placement group consists of 3 guys myself and a girl called Maureen. So we've got Ben (or Bennie) who is about 19, just out of high school, a total joker and the one who picked up on the fact I go quiet when I get hungry or tired in the first week! This morning him and another guy were doing impressions of me...which consisted of me saying "I'm sleepy". (In case you hadn't guessed the sleeping situation hasn't improved so I'm still woken up at 6am every morning.....I don't even get my Sunday lie ins....eek!). The two community volunteers are Ignitius and Mohammed-both really friendly but quite quiet. They told me loads about the village though yesterday and told me of all the volunteers I was going to the best place! The girl I'll be sharing a room with is Maureen, she's very quiet so I don't know much about her yet but she seems really down to earth and not as needy as some of the other girls!! I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get put with some of the other volunteers I've made really good friends and I'm a little concerned about the logistics of traveling out of the village for weekends etc but overall I think it's going to be a really good group to work with.
Training all this week has been quite intense, living and working in the same building everyday is tricky but I've bought some trainers and started running in the evening to keep me sane (and build up an appetite for the mountains of carbs I'm eating!). No health problems so far (touch wood) apart from a bit of a funny tummy but nothing unexpected. Some of the sessions have been better than other and we have lots of heated debates by virtue of the topics we're discussing (abortion, homosexuality, sex before marriage etc etc.). I've had to correct some horrendous scientific misconceptions too for example...shaving causes cancer was taught to us by a medical officer (someone who has done 3 years at medical school.....).
Last weekend we went on a trip to the source of the nile which was really interesting and a nice relaxing break from living at the training venue. We had a short boat ride to the source (where the nile meets lake victoria), saw monkeys and saw a wedding. Started looking at all the birds-Mugs really has had an effect on me!
Thanks for all the news from back home and the text messages I'll try to respond to you all ASAP. It is really nice to hear from back home as sometimes it feels like we're a million miles away!
I'm going to try and post some photos now so watch this space.
Lots of love,
Ness
PS my university email will no longer work so please use my gmail email instead.
So the big news from this week is the announcement of the placement groups and locations. I'll be living in Kayungne district (which is part of the Buganda tribe, meaning they speak Luganda...best get learning). The village is called Busaana (I think that's the right spelling) and I'll be living near the trading centre (aka market). They have a farmers market every two weeks which sells all kinds of food so that sounds good. There is no power in the village but they are hoping to get in by April (they do have "solar" so I should be able to keep my phone charged). It's only about 1 and a half hours from Jinja but by the sounds of it there is only one taxi/bus a day which leaves at 6am....could make getting to the internet tricky. My placement group consists of 3 guys myself and a girl called Maureen. So we've got Ben (or Bennie) who is about 19, just out of high school, a total joker and the one who picked up on the fact I go quiet when I get hungry or tired in the first week! This morning him and another guy were doing impressions of me...which consisted of me saying "I'm sleepy". (In case you hadn't guessed the sleeping situation hasn't improved so I'm still woken up at 6am every morning.....I don't even get my Sunday lie ins....eek!). The two community volunteers are Ignitius and Mohammed-both really friendly but quite quiet. They told me loads about the village though yesterday and told me of all the volunteers I was going to the best place! The girl I'll be sharing a room with is Maureen, she's very quiet so I don't know much about her yet but she seems really down to earth and not as needy as some of the other girls!! I'm a bit disappointed I didn't get put with some of the other volunteers I've made really good friends and I'm a little concerned about the logistics of traveling out of the village for weekends etc but overall I think it's going to be a really good group to work with.
Training all this week has been quite intense, living and working in the same building everyday is tricky but I've bought some trainers and started running in the evening to keep me sane (and build up an appetite for the mountains of carbs I'm eating!). No health problems so far (touch wood) apart from a bit of a funny tummy but nothing unexpected. Some of the sessions have been better than other and we have lots of heated debates by virtue of the topics we're discussing (abortion, homosexuality, sex before marriage etc etc.). I've had to correct some horrendous scientific misconceptions too for example...shaving causes cancer was taught to us by a medical officer (someone who has done 3 years at medical school.....).
Last weekend we went on a trip to the source of the nile which was really interesting and a nice relaxing break from living at the training venue. We had a short boat ride to the source (where the nile meets lake victoria), saw monkeys and saw a wedding. Started looking at all the birds-Mugs really has had an effect on me!
Thanks for all the news from back home and the text messages I'll try to respond to you all ASAP. It is really nice to hear from back home as sometimes it feels like we're a million miles away!
I'm going to try and post some photos now so watch this space.
Lots of love,
Ness
PS my university email will no longer work so please use my gmail email instead.
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Matooke, Mobiles and Man United
Hi all,
Thanks for all the emails from home it's nice to know someone will be reading this!
So the first week in Uganda has been pretty exciting. we have 2 days in Jinja to settle in and now we're at the Kasenge training centre where all the 70 volunteers are being trained for 4 weeks on everything from facilitation skills to how to manage conflict.....it's been pretty intense but in true Restless Development style it is full of warmers, group work and flip chart! So the training has been pretty good so far, although the cultural differences are already really extremely obvious. I heard one volunteer from Uganda stating that in a sexual relationship gender balance is impossible....this could be a challenging 8 months. My un-godly-ness has been questioned quite a bit but it's not all that serious. They all support English premiership teams-they are hysterical when I admit to being a Sheffield Utd supporter-"they're not even in the premier ship". Walking through the villages you hear the premiership commentator with their oh so English accents blairing out of the radio huts!
So here at the training venue I've been staying in a room with 8 other girls...some of whom like to wake up at 5am so you can imagine that is a bit tricky for sleepiNess! We've all made loads of friends though and all the volunteers are great fun, have spent loads of time teaching us Luganda and Lusoga the local languages. Slowly but surely I'm picking up bits.
So what have you been eating I hear you ask......Matoke. And beans. and very little else. Most of the meals here are almost identical so it is carbohydrates accopanied by carbohydrates and maybe one piece of meat and a little cabbage. But, despite the lack of variety it is tasty and filling. The fruit here is amazing too. (Jon I'm looking forward to a feast already!)
Ok got to go as my time has run out but photos will follow next time.
Hope you are all well
Lots of love
Ness
PS keep sending the emails and texts!
Thanks for all the emails from home it's nice to know someone will be reading this!
So the first week in Uganda has been pretty exciting. we have 2 days in Jinja to settle in and now we're at the Kasenge training centre where all the 70 volunteers are being trained for 4 weeks on everything from facilitation skills to how to manage conflict.....it's been pretty intense but in true Restless Development style it is full of warmers, group work and flip chart! So the training has been pretty good so far, although the cultural differences are already really extremely obvious. I heard one volunteer from Uganda stating that in a sexual relationship gender balance is impossible....this could be a challenging 8 months. My un-godly-ness has been questioned quite a bit but it's not all that serious. They all support English premiership teams-they are hysterical when I admit to being a Sheffield Utd supporter-"they're not even in the premier ship". Walking through the villages you hear the premiership commentator with their oh so English accents blairing out of the radio huts!
So here at the training venue I've been staying in a room with 8 other girls...some of whom like to wake up at 5am so you can imagine that is a bit tricky for sleepiNess! We've all made loads of friends though and all the volunteers are great fun, have spent loads of time teaching us Luganda and Lusoga the local languages. Slowly but surely I'm picking up bits.
So what have you been eating I hear you ask......Matoke. And beans. and very little else. Most of the meals here are almost identical so it is carbohydrates accopanied by carbohydrates and maybe one piece of meat and a little cabbage. But, despite the lack of variety it is tasty and filling. The fruit here is amazing too. (Jon I'm looking forward to a feast already!)
Ok got to go as my time has run out but photos will follow next time.
Hope you are all well
Lots of love
Ness
PS keep sending the emails and texts!
Friday, 7 January 2011
I've arrived-contact details
I arrived yesterday, very tired but my first impressions are good. The weather isn't too hot and all the staff at Restless Developmen have been looking after us extremely well. We're in the YMCA for a few days in Jinja stocking up on supplies and meeting the fellow volunteers, then training starts on Monday.
I can receive texts on my usual UK number and I can reply for not too much from my Ugandan sim (if you text my ugandan sim it will cost you but if you text my uk number it won't cost me or you!)
Emails and funny stories will be gratefully received. If you'd like to post me red cross food parcels/books or funny stuff then the address is
Vanessa Hearnden
c/o Restless Development
Plot 6 Acacia Road
PO Box 1208
Jinja
Uganda
Apparently DHL is the best (most reliable) way to send things. If you'd like to call text me and I'll send you my Ugandan number (please don't call my UK one it'll cost me a fortune!).
I hope you all have a brilliant 2011 and that you enjoy my blog,
All the best,
Vanessa
aka Ness
I can receive texts on my usual UK number and I can reply for not too much from my Ugandan sim (if you text my ugandan sim it will cost you but if you text my uk number it won't cost me or you!)
Emails and funny stories will be gratefully received. If you'd like to post me red cross food parcels/books or funny stuff then the address is
Vanessa Hearnden
c/o Restless Development
Plot 6 Acacia Road
PO Box 1208
Jinja
Uganda
Apparently DHL is the best (most reliable) way to send things. If you'd like to call text me and I'll send you my Ugandan number (please don't call my UK one it'll cost me a fortune!).
I hope you all have a brilliant 2011 and that you enjoy my blog,
All the best,
Vanessa
aka Ness
Wednesday, 5 January 2011
This is it......I'm off... (well almost)
So hello and welcome to my blog:come and have a Uganda.
On here I'll be documenting the next eight months of my life in Uganda. This will hopefully give you a little insight into my life out there, let you know how my project is going and all being well provide you with a little entertainment along the way.
Feel free to pop in and have a read, leave me a comment or just ignore me completely!
I fly tomorrow evening but before I go I want to say some thank yous. The last few weeks have been fantastic and it has made me realise how lucky I am and what amazing friends and family I have got.
Thank you first to everyone who travelled hundreds of miles to be at my leaving do (and those who came from closer too!). I had a brilliant night and I hope you all did too. It was lovely to see in 2011 with you and have a good ol' chin wag before I go.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me and has enabled me to have this adventure-be it sponsorship for my triathlon, encouragement along the way or well wishes more recently-you are all lovely. Apologies too to everyone who has text me over the last few days-sorry I've not replied to you all.
Thanks next to Kate for the super amazing creative book. I am going to treasure my handbound little book of memories and messages the whole time I am away. Thanks to everyone who contributed-I've not read it yet but I'm sure it'll make me smile when times get tough.
Thanks to Jon and Nish for hosting an impromptu dinner party for me and 8 friends with an hours notice! The food as always was incredible, as was the company :)
And finally a massive thanks to Mugs for being so adorable. For being so incredibly selfless and really supporting me in this adventure, for saying all the right things when I was upset about leaving and for just being incredible!
Love to you all and all the best for 2011.
Watch this space, the next post will be from Uganda!
Ness
xxx
On here I'll be documenting the next eight months of my life in Uganda. This will hopefully give you a little insight into my life out there, let you know how my project is going and all being well provide you with a little entertainment along the way.
Feel free to pop in and have a read, leave me a comment or just ignore me completely!
I fly tomorrow evening but before I go I want to say some thank yous. The last few weeks have been fantastic and it has made me realise how lucky I am and what amazing friends and family I have got.
Thank you first to everyone who travelled hundreds of miles to be at my leaving do (and those who came from closer too!). I had a brilliant night and I hope you all did too. It was lovely to see in 2011 with you and have a good ol' chin wag before I go.
Thanks to everyone who has supported me and has enabled me to have this adventure-be it sponsorship for my triathlon, encouragement along the way or well wishes more recently-you are all lovely. Apologies too to everyone who has text me over the last few days-sorry I've not replied to you all.
Thanks next to Kate for the super amazing creative book. I am going to treasure my handbound little book of memories and messages the whole time I am away. Thanks to everyone who contributed-I've not read it yet but I'm sure it'll make me smile when times get tough.
Thanks to Jon and Nish for hosting an impromptu dinner party for me and 8 friends with an hours notice! The food as always was incredible, as was the company :)
And finally a massive thanks to Mugs for being so adorable. For being so incredibly selfless and really supporting me in this adventure, for saying all the right things when I was upset about leaving and for just being incredible!
Love to you all and all the best for 2011.
Watch this space, the next post will be from Uganda!
Ness
xxx
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