Failed to mention something big going on here, the first trial of an LRA leader was held in Gulu and is making international news, as it should. The trial was put off until the 25th, but it will be very interesting to see what happens!
read more here
Friday, July 15, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
sorry for the absence
Wow. Time flies and I've been awful about posting!
Been a busy week, including a birthday for me! I had a very nice dinner with friends at the Ethiopian restaurant and discovered that I like njera, so am hoping to go try the place at home when I get back. I openned encredibly thoughtful presents and cards from friends, including two things I planned to treat myself to, I wire man riding a bike art thing and a simple sewn dress. (well, I call them simple sewn dress because it is a piece of fabric folded in half, and sown down the sides. thats it.) All in all, a very good birthday. I missed people at home, but mark sang to me at midnight and I think he enjoyed being the first to wish me a happy birthday.
I have become more and more addicted to chiapti and wissit has done a great job of endulging my habit. I now know the 3 places closet to the house to get chipati! and will learn to make it by watching, I hope. While watching, I have picked up a bit more acholi, which is good. Though I still think its a lost cause!
I've been staying at the VSO (volunteer service overseas) compound because Martha got a job in Kampala! We'll, a promotion within her company and moved to Kampala. This is what she wanted, so that is very exciting! and it will make it easier for me to see her next spring when I am in Nairobi. She also has admitted to everyone that she has a boyfriend now, though I have known for weeks now. Suppose now we can call him boyfriend not future boyfriend when we talk about him. She is beeming, new job, great man, new city (though she has lived there before) and its fun to see her so happy. She works encredibly hard and has really earned this! YAY martha!
I have gotten some fun things for gifts when I get home and had a great conversation with the craft lady- though she still wouldnt come down on prices too much! tis okay though.
The clinic is slowly coming together at Unyama and I biked out there last week, which took me an hour. Was a nice ride though, minus the last hill. I wasn't sure that I was at Unyama yet, but I thought as I climbed the hill up to the trading center that it better be! As I passed people walking their bikes up the hill, I told myself over and over, I will not get off my bike, I will not get off my bike. I had to stand and push down on the pedals by the end, but I made it! phew. Boda boda back to town!
This weekend, two dear friends get married! Lisa and KB, (and Charles and John) I wish you a fantastic wedding weekend and honeymoon!
Been working on a list of things I've learned in Uganda and will post that soon. Though I am sure it is forever incomplete!
Take Luck my loves!
Been a busy week, including a birthday for me! I had a very nice dinner with friends at the Ethiopian restaurant and discovered that I like njera, so am hoping to go try the place at home when I get back. I openned encredibly thoughtful presents and cards from friends, including two things I planned to treat myself to, I wire man riding a bike art thing and a simple sewn dress. (well, I call them simple sewn dress because it is a piece of fabric folded in half, and sown down the sides. thats it.) All in all, a very good birthday. I missed people at home, but mark sang to me at midnight and I think he enjoyed being the first to wish me a happy birthday.
I have become more and more addicted to chiapti and wissit has done a great job of endulging my habit. I now know the 3 places closet to the house to get chipati! and will learn to make it by watching, I hope. While watching, I have picked up a bit more acholi, which is good. Though I still think its a lost cause!
I've been staying at the VSO (volunteer service overseas) compound because Martha got a job in Kampala! We'll, a promotion within her company and moved to Kampala. This is what she wanted, so that is very exciting! and it will make it easier for me to see her next spring when I am in Nairobi. She also has admitted to everyone that she has a boyfriend now, though I have known for weeks now. Suppose now we can call him boyfriend not future boyfriend when we talk about him. She is beeming, new job, great man, new city (though she has lived there before) and its fun to see her so happy. She works encredibly hard and has really earned this! YAY martha!
I have gotten some fun things for gifts when I get home and had a great conversation with the craft lady- though she still wouldnt come down on prices too much! tis okay though.
The clinic is slowly coming together at Unyama and I biked out there last week, which took me an hour. Was a nice ride though, minus the last hill. I wasn't sure that I was at Unyama yet, but I thought as I climbed the hill up to the trading center that it better be! As I passed people walking their bikes up the hill, I told myself over and over, I will not get off my bike, I will not get off my bike. I had to stand and push down on the pedals by the end, but I made it! phew. Boda boda back to town!
This weekend, two dear friends get married! Lisa and KB, (and Charles and John) I wish you a fantastic wedding weekend and honeymoon!
Been working on a list of things I've learned in Uganda and will post that soon. Though I am sure it is forever incomplete!
Take Luck my loves!
Monday, July 4, 2011
fireworks- not the fun kind!
Happy fourth of July everyone! Mine started off with a night of getting sick every 15 minutes or so. Apparently I ate something not so okay yesterday. Got up around noon after catching up on sleep to hear that some friends I'd taken lunch with had been sick as well. Liz apologized profusely for her cooking or lack of proper peel it, boil it, cook it or forget it (so the slogan goes).
I can't believe it is July and that I will be turning 27 in one week! The past week was busy with the clinic moving from the location on the edge of town way out to the trading centre in one of the villages about 20km out of town. will be quite a trek out there! The nurse will soon take the bicycle and I'll take bodas, which is much more manageable. Will make the ride out tomorrow though, so we will see how that goes! So far, all the clinic possessions are just shoved into the 4 rooms of the new building. will be quite a job to move things and organize. As we were unloading the lorry, which the crowd along the way found it very humorous to see a mono in the back of a huge truck, boxes were breaking and papers and things were going everywhere. There is no telling where files go or binders or papers. is a bit of a mess! But I do love to organize! Just hope the urge to throw things out doesn't frustrate me as these are not my papers to throw out.
In other note, Ive been staying with Wissit in the VSO (like peace corp kinda) compound for the weekend as martha was away and I didnt want to be alone. has been very nice to have good company and a bit of space and privacy within a walled compound. Got to sit out for lunch yesterday in my running shorts and not worry about showing too much skin. got quite a nice lil shorts tan. Wissit was great about asking thought provoking questions as we sat over pasta with chorizo or lentin curry and rice the last two nights. Got me thinking a lot about my time here so far, what I've learned and what I've experienced. Realized I've given you a lot of the daily grind on this blog, but not a lot of big thoughts. So. Here are my big thoughts after just over two months in Gulu.
The Gulu I imagined was the Gulu of 8 years ago. The night commuters walking to avoid abduction by the LRA. People in camps because that is where they are protected, though experience great problems like food shortage, lack of livelihoods, rape and domestic violence, alcoholism, zero education, etc etc. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't expect to come into Gulu to still see night commuters nor people living in camps, but I suppose I expected a bit more palpable postconflict feel. But I've found Gulu is not in the postconflict stage anymore. It is in the rebuilding and development stage. Many of the international NGOs are gone or have drastically reduced their presence as I understand. The community is trying to cling to the perks of camp life while returning and rebuilding their villages (as I've mentioned in terms of paying for health care).
Other white people often tell me about all the stories they have heard of peoples experience in the war or visiting the ward at Gulu Hospital reserved for women who lost their legs at the hands of the LRA. I, on the otherhand, have heard very little of these stories. A few of the Boda boys who pick fares from just across the old clinic location have made minimal comments to me as they saw me reading an article in world vision about the night commuters, telling me they used to do that. But whether it is that I haven't asked or the stories have not been offered, I have heard few. I have never been in a place where so many people are on crutches, in wheelchair bicycles, or missing limbs. I pass at least one person on the street who've experienced these losses, but who is to say they are a product of the war?
There are many people here living with mental health problems and developmental disabilities. Some severe and visible as you pass on the street. There is a boy I see frequently who always grabs my arm as I pass, but says nothing. This is particularly unfun when I am on my bicycle and thus my handlebars twist and ive come close to falling. This same boy often climbs the small statue in town sitting in the middle of a roundabout and attempts to destroy it by beating it with a brick. another women stood as though she were part of the conversation that martha and i were having one afternoon on the street. She said nothing, asked for nothing, touched my arm a few times, but just looked on as we talked. I wasn't bothered but martha was uncomfortable and grew more and more impatient and angry with the woman. I've slowly picked up on the attitude towards those living with mental health problems here, and it is very dismissive. As the lorry drove back from unyama (the new clinic location) the boda boys pretended to be 'mad' in the back of the empty lorry as we drove. I told them to stop that it wasn't funny, but all thought it was hysterical but me.
Coming out of 24 years of war, fear of being abducted, living in camps, no education to speak of depending on your age, how do you not go a bit 'mad'? The young adults my age living in Gulu were 2 when the conflict started and have only known peace in the last three or four years. How can you be expected to function soundly? this week I had the great pleasure to visit the Recreation Project, a new initiative started in Lacor (about 7km from Gulu Town). Eric took me out through the back roads on his boda and dropped me to spend the afternoon with a group at this new centre. The Recreation Project (www.therecreationproject.org) is a therapeutic ropes course for groups of youth- youth here consists of 18-35 year olds). I got to talk a lot with Ben, an American counselor, who has helped to start the project with the help of the little sisters convent in Lacor. We talked a lot about western therapy and how that just isn't culturally applicable here nor would people see therapists. i got to hear about his adoption from St. Jude's Orphanage and how that process has been, which is always interesting as one day I would love an East African child. Then I got to watch the group do a few activities and then complete the zipline. These students were in the technical school where I know some instructors. As we were watching, one boy sat with me and told me they were selected from their school because they are all orphans. Again, I didn't push for information and not much more was offered. Knowing what I know about their school, most of the students are former abducted children. I was curious but have been cautious. Ben wanted to do an activity with them where they pick a tree that describes them. He told me that this gets them talking a bit about the past and normalizing some of their experiences. I was hopefully to see this activity, but they didn't do it with this group.
I am very interested to continue to follow what the Recreation Project is doing. They had a US intern from Colorado State and I thought that was quite cool. Was disappointed that Ben wasnt an MSW or else I'd be working on being there rather than Kenya next spring. Still have yet to meet an MSW in Gulu, though I haven't tried too hard, if I'm being honest. Ben told me he might could offer me a job in a few years, though I think it would have to be a bit more clinical for me to be interested. Would be like working at a summer camp year round, zipping people all day. though I thought it was pretty cool that they belayed people up the tree to the zip platform.
Gulu is much like tanzania. There are little bits of post war evidence, but from what I've seen they are structural and under the surface. People are generally happy and friendly, the children play and are pleased with the things they have. people are getting on with life, its not easy, but its one day at a time.
i have really enjoyed my work here, I have loved being able to take what I've learned in school and apply it. i love sitting on the veranda and listening to the children play and the comings and goings of life here. I relished in the hour it took me to do my 8 pieces of washing saturday morning (towels are haaaaaard to wash), and laugh at my sunglass tan. I was quite pleased by the pleases and thanks yous I heard this week at kickball, if nothing else they have learned those two words from me.
I am attempted to add a plethora of pictures to the facebook album. scroll down to the earlier blog for the address and check for those soon. kickball, the recreation project, life in gulu.
this coming weekend I will go with wissit and mike and marion (two other VSOs) to Murchison Falls National Park. I am excited to see the other end of the Nile and maybe an animal or two! Will be a nice little treat!
Until next time, take luck my friends.
nakupenda sana soft blue.
I can't believe it is July and that I will be turning 27 in one week! The past week was busy with the clinic moving from the location on the edge of town way out to the trading centre in one of the villages about 20km out of town. will be quite a trek out there! The nurse will soon take the bicycle and I'll take bodas, which is much more manageable. Will make the ride out tomorrow though, so we will see how that goes! So far, all the clinic possessions are just shoved into the 4 rooms of the new building. will be quite a job to move things and organize. As we were unloading the lorry, which the crowd along the way found it very humorous to see a mono in the back of a huge truck, boxes were breaking and papers and things were going everywhere. There is no telling where files go or binders or papers. is a bit of a mess! But I do love to organize! Just hope the urge to throw things out doesn't frustrate me as these are not my papers to throw out.
In other note, Ive been staying with Wissit in the VSO (like peace corp kinda) compound for the weekend as martha was away and I didnt want to be alone. has been very nice to have good company and a bit of space and privacy within a walled compound. Got to sit out for lunch yesterday in my running shorts and not worry about showing too much skin. got quite a nice lil shorts tan. Wissit was great about asking thought provoking questions as we sat over pasta with chorizo or lentin curry and rice the last two nights. Got me thinking a lot about my time here so far, what I've learned and what I've experienced. Realized I've given you a lot of the daily grind on this blog, but not a lot of big thoughts. So. Here are my big thoughts after just over two months in Gulu.
The Gulu I imagined was the Gulu of 8 years ago. The night commuters walking to avoid abduction by the LRA. People in camps because that is where they are protected, though experience great problems like food shortage, lack of livelihoods, rape and domestic violence, alcoholism, zero education, etc etc. Now, don't get me wrong, I didn't expect to come into Gulu to still see night commuters nor people living in camps, but I suppose I expected a bit more palpable postconflict feel. But I've found Gulu is not in the postconflict stage anymore. It is in the rebuilding and development stage. Many of the international NGOs are gone or have drastically reduced their presence as I understand. The community is trying to cling to the perks of camp life while returning and rebuilding their villages (as I've mentioned in terms of paying for health care).
Other white people often tell me about all the stories they have heard of peoples experience in the war or visiting the ward at Gulu Hospital reserved for women who lost their legs at the hands of the LRA. I, on the otherhand, have heard very little of these stories. A few of the Boda boys who pick fares from just across the old clinic location have made minimal comments to me as they saw me reading an article in world vision about the night commuters, telling me they used to do that. But whether it is that I haven't asked or the stories have not been offered, I have heard few. I have never been in a place where so many people are on crutches, in wheelchair bicycles, or missing limbs. I pass at least one person on the street who've experienced these losses, but who is to say they are a product of the war?
There are many people here living with mental health problems and developmental disabilities. Some severe and visible as you pass on the street. There is a boy I see frequently who always grabs my arm as I pass, but says nothing. This is particularly unfun when I am on my bicycle and thus my handlebars twist and ive come close to falling. This same boy often climbs the small statue in town sitting in the middle of a roundabout and attempts to destroy it by beating it with a brick. another women stood as though she were part of the conversation that martha and i were having one afternoon on the street. She said nothing, asked for nothing, touched my arm a few times, but just looked on as we talked. I wasn't bothered but martha was uncomfortable and grew more and more impatient and angry with the woman. I've slowly picked up on the attitude towards those living with mental health problems here, and it is very dismissive. As the lorry drove back from unyama (the new clinic location) the boda boys pretended to be 'mad' in the back of the empty lorry as we drove. I told them to stop that it wasn't funny, but all thought it was hysterical but me.
Coming out of 24 years of war, fear of being abducted, living in camps, no education to speak of depending on your age, how do you not go a bit 'mad'? The young adults my age living in Gulu were 2 when the conflict started and have only known peace in the last three or four years. How can you be expected to function soundly? this week I had the great pleasure to visit the Recreation Project, a new initiative started in Lacor (about 7km from Gulu Town). Eric took me out through the back roads on his boda and dropped me to spend the afternoon with a group at this new centre. The Recreation Project (www.therecreationproject.org) is a therapeutic ropes course for groups of youth- youth here consists of 18-35 year olds). I got to talk a lot with Ben, an American counselor, who has helped to start the project with the help of the little sisters convent in Lacor. We talked a lot about western therapy and how that just isn't culturally applicable here nor would people see therapists. i got to hear about his adoption from St. Jude's Orphanage and how that process has been, which is always interesting as one day I would love an East African child. Then I got to watch the group do a few activities and then complete the zipline. These students were in the technical school where I know some instructors. As we were watching, one boy sat with me and told me they were selected from their school because they are all orphans. Again, I didn't push for information and not much more was offered. Knowing what I know about their school, most of the students are former abducted children. I was curious but have been cautious. Ben wanted to do an activity with them where they pick a tree that describes them. He told me that this gets them talking a bit about the past and normalizing some of their experiences. I was hopefully to see this activity, but they didn't do it with this group.
I am very interested to continue to follow what the Recreation Project is doing. They had a US intern from Colorado State and I thought that was quite cool. Was disappointed that Ben wasnt an MSW or else I'd be working on being there rather than Kenya next spring. Still have yet to meet an MSW in Gulu, though I haven't tried too hard, if I'm being honest. Ben told me he might could offer me a job in a few years, though I think it would have to be a bit more clinical for me to be interested. Would be like working at a summer camp year round, zipping people all day. though I thought it was pretty cool that they belayed people up the tree to the zip platform.
Gulu is much like tanzania. There are little bits of post war evidence, but from what I've seen they are structural and under the surface. People are generally happy and friendly, the children play and are pleased with the things they have. people are getting on with life, its not easy, but its one day at a time.
i have really enjoyed my work here, I have loved being able to take what I've learned in school and apply it. i love sitting on the veranda and listening to the children play and the comings and goings of life here. I relished in the hour it took me to do my 8 pieces of washing saturday morning (towels are haaaaaard to wash), and laugh at my sunglass tan. I was quite pleased by the pleases and thanks yous I heard this week at kickball, if nothing else they have learned those two words from me.
I am attempted to add a plethora of pictures to the facebook album. scroll down to the earlier blog for the address and check for those soon. kickball, the recreation project, life in gulu.
this coming weekend I will go with wissit and mike and marion (two other VSOs) to Murchison Falls National Park. I am excited to see the other end of the Nile and maybe an animal or two! Will be a nice little treat!
Until next time, take luck my friends.
nakupenda sana soft blue.
Monday, June 27, 2011
head, shoulders, knees and toes....
1. I am SO-OH over evangalism and my ability to bite my tongue is gone. God help the next one, just let it be a muzungu rather than a Ugandan.
2. I gave Eric the skipping rope I got him to thank him for helping me with kickball. He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. priceless.
3. Timing is a funny thing.
4. It's moving week for the health clinic (and thus my office!). We will pack all week and this weekend move out to the trading centre in a village about 15km out of town. I will travel out maybe once or twice a week.
5. 92 children is WAY too many. but fun too. hmm, which is it?
6. my report is finally done! Apparently there is a tiny bit of a procrastinator in me. how did I ever write papers every week for school?
7. My dear friend Judy has moved to Lira (about an hour or so away), sad to not see her, but she will come back for my birthday!
8. I went to see the beaders and my necklaces are not done yet. Was a bit frustrated, though I have beyond enough time to get them. Sarah tells me she is giving me only the perfect beads. I think she might have a tiny bit of procrastinator in her too.
9. Rwanda might just be a fun idea in theory but not practice. 16 hours on a bus for two days in Kigali just isn't a fair trade. Plus the $50 to get back into Uganda.
10. I got lots of baby time Saturday with my 4 month old neighbor, Martha, at church. she slept on my lap the whole time and on my back on the way to church.
11. I have NEVER seen people dance as much as I did last night when I went by to see Sarah about beads. Wow. Nice to see people so joyful. Not so frozen chosen as us Presbyterians at home.
12. This week: visiting a therapeutic ropes course wednesday while a group goes through, beading thursday with the ladies, packing the clinic, friday day trip to labora technical school (where wissit did work last year)
Almost july! whhhhhhhhat?
nakupenda
2. I gave Eric the skipping rope I got him to thank him for helping me with kickball. He looked like a little kid on Christmas morning. priceless.
3. Timing is a funny thing.
4. It's moving week for the health clinic (and thus my office!). We will pack all week and this weekend move out to the trading centre in a village about 15km out of town. I will travel out maybe once or twice a week.
5. 92 children is WAY too many. but fun too. hmm, which is it?
6. my report is finally done! Apparently there is a tiny bit of a procrastinator in me. how did I ever write papers every week for school?
7. My dear friend Judy has moved to Lira (about an hour or so away), sad to not see her, but she will come back for my birthday!
8. I went to see the beaders and my necklaces are not done yet. Was a bit frustrated, though I have beyond enough time to get them. Sarah tells me she is giving me only the perfect beads. I think she might have a tiny bit of procrastinator in her too.
9. Rwanda might just be a fun idea in theory but not practice. 16 hours on a bus for two days in Kigali just isn't a fair trade. Plus the $50 to get back into Uganda.
10. I got lots of baby time Saturday with my 4 month old neighbor, Martha, at church. she slept on my lap the whole time and on my back on the way to church.
11. I have NEVER seen people dance as much as I did last night when I went by to see Sarah about beads. Wow. Nice to see people so joyful. Not so frozen chosen as us Presbyterians at home.
12. This week: visiting a therapeutic ropes course wednesday while a group goes through, beading thursday with the ladies, packing the clinic, friday day trip to labora technical school (where wissit did work last year)
Almost july! whhhhhhhhat?
nakupenda
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Fabric, Change, and Rwanda!
Hope you got a chance to see some pictures on facebook, I will work on getting more up. mom requested to see my flat and more of gulu- just hate feeling like a tourist snapping pictures in town, but I will suck it up and take a few. There sure are enough other muzungu here, not really tourists but a lot of short term (like 2-3 week people) it seems. That will be my weekend project.
The week has gone quickly, despite being sick sunday and monday. Thank you cipro, you are a wonder drug! Been working more on my report this week and some other letters and reports. Got some fabric and set my seamstress up for a few weeks worth of sewing! had to pay more than I wanted for one fabric since the mego wouldnt come down at all on the price, so I just changed the dress design and bought less. suppose thats what I get for being oh so picky with my fabric.
This past weekend kickball went well. Eric was sick and my one trusty coach who always shows up was late. BUT I made due and got them started. I think I even successfully lectured them about the ball that went missing from the storage place last week. Although I got Rashid (the coach) to tell them again at the end. I bought them a really nice, expensive soccer ball, but was hesitant to give it to them since the other ball disappeared. I took it with me when I left, telling them that if the kickball was still there next week, I'd consider leaving the football for them to play with during the week. Also, was very clear I need to buy a netball (kinda like a volleyball, but the game is like basketball) for the girls and a few really cheap balls for the little kids. Gotta get Eric to go with me for those to get the good price.
Just calling Eric knocked 20,000 shillings off the soccer ball price. And while we were in the sports shop he looked at a jump rope he really wants, so now I know something to get him to say thank you for his help! perfect! The english lesson didnt go so well as the boys were cutting up and eric nor rashid were there to help focus them. Rashid did help me talk to them about manners, mainly please and thank you, and so we will test their skills next week with sweets. (I got busy and didnt get to get them in time for last week! opps!) But I think they said please and thank you to me 30 times practicing last week, so hopefully they've got it. Just can't be shy and the little ones probably wont know. We will review. I also asked Rashid if he was still interested in teaching the kids traditional dancing and drumming, so he will do a bit of that this coming week, which will be exciting to see. I think I will also bring the splash balls and teach them to play splish, splish, splash (think duck, duck, goose but with a drip or a full squeeze of the splash balls) since they have mastered duck duck goose!
Then will be health week. Gotta wash those hands good!
I had a big discussion with Hellen today about starting a new partnership with world vision that is essentially the same as the heifer partnership. she argues its nutrition, I argue its agriculture and focused on livelihoods not health and thus outside of the mission of the NGO. We went round and round and it doesnt matter who is right, what it comes down to is the core business (the clinic) is struggling and has the potential to do so well if there were time and effort put in to it (well and money but thats another story) instead of time going to all the other partnerships. The reports for each partnership, the meetings, the overseeing, the budgeting, etc etc just drains away from the very clear health program, the clinic. Do one thing, and do it well.
Clinics in Gulu dont have patient charts. Meaning each time you go in they have no idea what your history is, how often theyve seen you, what you might have had recently, nada. the NGO has the ability and desire to offer this, thus offering the best service possible and just quality care. These people have had camp life, they have been hearded here and there, run through clinic and world food program lines for years. now how about they get the care they need, rather than just a quick fix for whatever is wrong this week or month. also, family planning, deworming, immunizations function on a schedule. a monthly, annual, decade basis of need. How can you give these without keeping record of when a patient was last seen? kids get deworming every month because they like the orange flavored tablets, yet the supply runs out so the kids who actually need it cant get it and the total number of kids served is greatly reduced because the take it when they dont need it yet.
evaluation is hard, change is harder. you see a need and you want to fix it, but why half fix or make a tiny dent in one problem when you can really answer a full need if you stick to one area. The clinic is moving locations on 1 July. Waaaaaaaay out to one of the village trading centres. there is no health clinic here and thus the need is great. this is the perfect time to streamline services and make changes, I just hope it works out that way, for the sake of the new community that will be served.
Will go check on my bead order friday, see how its coming along and just check in with the ladies. might add a few to the order as it seems people are excited about them! yay! the more support the better, but I will get the extra from the women who meet out in the village. Give them a little business too since they were angry the last time even though they were late.
I think Martha, her best friend, and I will be traveling to Kigali Rwanda in a few weeks for a long weekend! I am excited to see what its like and to go to the genocide memorial. Ive seen the movie, read about it, seen the trials of the officers in the international criminal court in tanzania, and now will go where it happened. well, the city at least. is about a 10 hour bus ride from kampala and Martha has friends we can stay with, what other way would anyone want to go to Rwanda (okay, to gorilla trek but I dont have an extra $1,200 lying around). maybe they have fanta passion?? fingers crossed!
All in all, things are going well. Need to crank out the last bit of this report and discuss it with Hope before the end of the month. Wissit is home today, I believe, so will be fun reconnecting with her and I ran into the other social work student from er boston maybe? and am anxious to meet with her and hear about her work. Hope all is well where you are!
Take Luck!
The week has gone quickly, despite being sick sunday and monday. Thank you cipro, you are a wonder drug! Been working more on my report this week and some other letters and reports. Got some fabric and set my seamstress up for a few weeks worth of sewing! had to pay more than I wanted for one fabric since the mego wouldnt come down at all on the price, so I just changed the dress design and bought less. suppose thats what I get for being oh so picky with my fabric.
This past weekend kickball went well. Eric was sick and my one trusty coach who always shows up was late. BUT I made due and got them started. I think I even successfully lectured them about the ball that went missing from the storage place last week. Although I got Rashid (the coach) to tell them again at the end. I bought them a really nice, expensive soccer ball, but was hesitant to give it to them since the other ball disappeared. I took it with me when I left, telling them that if the kickball was still there next week, I'd consider leaving the football for them to play with during the week. Also, was very clear I need to buy a netball (kinda like a volleyball, but the game is like basketball) for the girls and a few really cheap balls for the little kids. Gotta get Eric to go with me for those to get the good price.
Just calling Eric knocked 20,000 shillings off the soccer ball price. And while we were in the sports shop he looked at a jump rope he really wants, so now I know something to get him to say thank you for his help! perfect! The english lesson didnt go so well as the boys were cutting up and eric nor rashid were there to help focus them. Rashid did help me talk to them about manners, mainly please and thank you, and so we will test their skills next week with sweets. (I got busy and didnt get to get them in time for last week! opps!) But I think they said please and thank you to me 30 times practicing last week, so hopefully they've got it. Just can't be shy and the little ones probably wont know. We will review. I also asked Rashid if he was still interested in teaching the kids traditional dancing and drumming, so he will do a bit of that this coming week, which will be exciting to see. I think I will also bring the splash balls and teach them to play splish, splish, splash (think duck, duck, goose but with a drip or a full squeeze of the splash balls) since they have mastered duck duck goose!
Then will be health week. Gotta wash those hands good!
I had a big discussion with Hellen today about starting a new partnership with world vision that is essentially the same as the heifer partnership. she argues its nutrition, I argue its agriculture and focused on livelihoods not health and thus outside of the mission of the NGO. We went round and round and it doesnt matter who is right, what it comes down to is the core business (the clinic) is struggling and has the potential to do so well if there were time and effort put in to it (well and money but thats another story) instead of time going to all the other partnerships. The reports for each partnership, the meetings, the overseeing, the budgeting, etc etc just drains away from the very clear health program, the clinic. Do one thing, and do it well.
Clinics in Gulu dont have patient charts. Meaning each time you go in they have no idea what your history is, how often theyve seen you, what you might have had recently, nada. the NGO has the ability and desire to offer this, thus offering the best service possible and just quality care. These people have had camp life, they have been hearded here and there, run through clinic and world food program lines for years. now how about they get the care they need, rather than just a quick fix for whatever is wrong this week or month. also, family planning, deworming, immunizations function on a schedule. a monthly, annual, decade basis of need. How can you give these without keeping record of when a patient was last seen? kids get deworming every month because they like the orange flavored tablets, yet the supply runs out so the kids who actually need it cant get it and the total number of kids served is greatly reduced because the take it when they dont need it yet.
evaluation is hard, change is harder. you see a need and you want to fix it, but why half fix or make a tiny dent in one problem when you can really answer a full need if you stick to one area. The clinic is moving locations on 1 July. Waaaaaaaay out to one of the village trading centres. there is no health clinic here and thus the need is great. this is the perfect time to streamline services and make changes, I just hope it works out that way, for the sake of the new community that will be served.
Will go check on my bead order friday, see how its coming along and just check in with the ladies. might add a few to the order as it seems people are excited about them! yay! the more support the better, but I will get the extra from the women who meet out in the village. Give them a little business too since they were angry the last time even though they were late.
I think Martha, her best friend, and I will be traveling to Kigali Rwanda in a few weeks for a long weekend! I am excited to see what its like and to go to the genocide memorial. Ive seen the movie, read about it, seen the trials of the officers in the international criminal court in tanzania, and now will go where it happened. well, the city at least. is about a 10 hour bus ride from kampala and Martha has friends we can stay with, what other way would anyone want to go to Rwanda (okay, to gorilla trek but I dont have an extra $1,200 lying around). maybe they have fanta passion?? fingers crossed!
All in all, things are going well. Need to crank out the last bit of this report and discuss it with Hope before the end of the month. Wissit is home today, I believe, so will be fun reconnecting with her and I ran into the other social work student from er boston maybe? and am anxious to meet with her and hear about her work. Hope all is well where you are!
Take Luck!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
pictures
so blogger hates to upload apparently so there are pictures on facebook, here is the public link (you do not need facebook to see them!)
more to come, as soon as i feel better.... musta eaten something, but taking my cipro and will be better soon!!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.869072899078.2371616.29701857&l=826108e648
more to come, as soon as i feel better.... musta eaten something, but taking my cipro and will be better soon!!
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.869072899078.2371616.29701857&l=826108e648
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Is it really friday tomorrow?? where has this week gone? gotten a decent amount of work done on my evaluation report, but still got a bit to go. No power is hard. Spent monday in the coffee hut with the millions of white people in gulu doing work because there was no power at home. Was a bit odd to be around so many muzungu, wasnt a huge fan but the mango smoothie and sausages were nice! i also went by to see the beaders monday afternoon and was surprised to see another white girl there, apparently she also buys from them. She works for a US NGO who deals exclusively in beads. and i thought they had no market....
Talked to Hope about it and she told me that the group in town has many markets, its the group out at Agonga in the village that has no market. The group kinda is all one, but not really. This is a shame because I really like Sarah, but Id also like to support them women who really need it. But ive already ordered with Sarah so I need to follow through. maybe if the bead store comes through I can get those from Agonga. In the end, the clinic gets 10% of the sales regardless of where they are made, so that at least is good.
Tuesday Hope arrived to Gulu with a brand new copy machine that was donated to the NGO. This will be really nice to have and can also generate some income for the NGO. i also learned tuesday that in partnership with Heifer International, the NGO would close the partnership with a big event where 15 calves would be passed, um the next day! hello short notice! I didnt have to do anything for the event other than be present, so that was good.
So wednesday, out we went, on ugandan time of course, and i was given a sweet Heifer t-shirt that has acholi writing on the back that im stoked about and got to help present the cows... which actually was highly humorous since ive never been around a cow and i was a bit nervous and it chased me a bit. needless to say everyone laughed. there was also traditional dancing, which was pretty cool and then hellen made me dance when they did the courtship dance for our age group. again, everyone laughed at the mono dancing! but it was fun. The girls dance in one line and the boys play calabash bowls and when the girl sees a boy playing well she dances towards him then he stops playing and dances with her. or she sees one she likes... it was pretty cool to see a lil traditional saturday night village activity. all in all a fun day!
today i didnt feel great and took it easy. went into the clinic for a few hours but didnt find hellen there and did just a spot of work before coming home. martha soon came home since there was no power an she couldnt do any work and so we hung out for the afternoon. was good.
this weekend i might go to kampala with martha but might stay here, cant decide what i want to do.
all in all things are well. going tomorrow to upload photos and will get a big photo montage up then!
Talked to Hope about it and she told me that the group in town has many markets, its the group out at Agonga in the village that has no market. The group kinda is all one, but not really. This is a shame because I really like Sarah, but Id also like to support them women who really need it. But ive already ordered with Sarah so I need to follow through. maybe if the bead store comes through I can get those from Agonga. In the end, the clinic gets 10% of the sales regardless of where they are made, so that at least is good.
Tuesday Hope arrived to Gulu with a brand new copy machine that was donated to the NGO. This will be really nice to have and can also generate some income for the NGO. i also learned tuesday that in partnership with Heifer International, the NGO would close the partnership with a big event where 15 calves would be passed, um the next day! hello short notice! I didnt have to do anything for the event other than be present, so that was good.
So wednesday, out we went, on ugandan time of course, and i was given a sweet Heifer t-shirt that has acholi writing on the back that im stoked about and got to help present the cows... which actually was highly humorous since ive never been around a cow and i was a bit nervous and it chased me a bit. needless to say everyone laughed. there was also traditional dancing, which was pretty cool and then hellen made me dance when they did the courtship dance for our age group. again, everyone laughed at the mono dancing! but it was fun. The girls dance in one line and the boys play calabash bowls and when the girl sees a boy playing well she dances towards him then he stops playing and dances with her. or she sees one she likes... it was pretty cool to see a lil traditional saturday night village activity. all in all a fun day!
today i didnt feel great and took it easy. went into the clinic for a few hours but didnt find hellen there and did just a spot of work before coming home. martha soon came home since there was no power an she couldnt do any work and so we hung out for the afternoon. was good.
this weekend i might go to kampala with martha but might stay here, cant decide what i want to do.
all in all things are well. going tomorrow to upload photos and will get a big photo montage up then!
Saturday, June 11, 2011
kickball a success!
WOW! quick post to share that 65 kids turned up this afternoon for kickball! I arrived before eric and the youth coaches and sat with many many eyes looking at me. After waiting a bit, i learned that the kids could speak a bit of english when one of the boys came to tell me the ball (a few of them were playing soccer) fell in the toilet. lol. i was confused, but soon found out that a big ditch behind the carport is a toilet. They fished it out and i told them to go wash it at the water pump on the property. they didnt and continued playing. I went through the ABCs with them, which are posted on the wall of the centre and then one of the coaches turned up. he helped me try to get them to do the sounds, but the whole phonics of letters is missing. will be a good thing to teach them, esp with so many little ones. once eric arrived, we talked about leaders and then played follow the leader. the liked it a lot. then eric lead another game, basically simon says ish, but they loved it. then we started kickball.
there were about 30 young kids so eric got them started playing a game they could play then we started kickball. i kinda went back and forth with the little ones and the kickball ones. really, without eric, it couldnt have gone nearly as smooth. a lot of the kids from last week came back so most of the boys knew how to play, which was good. by next week we should be able to just make two teams and play. I taught the young ones to play duck duck goose which they liked and also did the hokey pokey. was struggling to think of other simple games/songs. too many days since kindergarten!
i gave them all crayons as they left, giving the ones in preschool a whole box since its something they need for school and the rest 8 crayons. one boy complained he didnt like the colors and eric took them all back and told him if he wasnt happy with what he had he wouldnt have any. loved it. Also the p2 students pushed and shoved to line up and eric called them from the back first, teaching them to not push to be first. he is so good with them, small little lessons interjected here and there.
i anticipate more if not at least the 65 again next week. really hoping eric will keep coming, he seems keen, but i know he has other responsibilities. he starts uni in august in kampala, was telling me today about buying his books. he rode his bicycle out to the village so he could ride back with me. loved riding my bike out there, though 54 boxes of crayons was heavy heavy on my back.
all in all, very successful. i took some pictures but came seem to upload them on this laptop at home. will try to add some from the clinic computer or stop by the human rights focus where i still have some internet time.
happy weekend everyone!
one month until my ugandan birthday celebration!!
there were about 30 young kids so eric got them started playing a game they could play then we started kickball. i kinda went back and forth with the little ones and the kickball ones. really, without eric, it couldnt have gone nearly as smooth. a lot of the kids from last week came back so most of the boys knew how to play, which was good. by next week we should be able to just make two teams and play. I taught the young ones to play duck duck goose which they liked and also did the hokey pokey. was struggling to think of other simple games/songs. too many days since kindergarten!
i gave them all crayons as they left, giving the ones in preschool a whole box since its something they need for school and the rest 8 crayons. one boy complained he didnt like the colors and eric took them all back and told him if he wasnt happy with what he had he wouldnt have any. loved it. Also the p2 students pushed and shoved to line up and eric called them from the back first, teaching them to not push to be first. he is so good with them, small little lessons interjected here and there.
i anticipate more if not at least the 65 again next week. really hoping eric will keep coming, he seems keen, but i know he has other responsibilities. he starts uni in august in kampala, was telling me today about buying his books. he rode his bicycle out to the village so he could ride back with me. loved riding my bike out there, though 54 boxes of crayons was heavy heavy on my back.
all in all, very successful. i took some pictures but came seem to upload them on this laptop at home. will try to add some from the clinic computer or stop by the human rights focus where i still have some internet time.
happy weekend everyone!
one month until my ugandan birthday celebration!!
Friday, June 10, 2011
good week : )
this week has been good, if I am being truthful, I am amazed at how quickly 5 weeks has passed! I have done a fair amount of work this week and stayed decently busy, which is nice. Tuesday, 4 americans from Denver came to the clinic to visit. They are working with Partners Worldwide are were all from a church, looking for NGOs to partner with. It was interesting to hear Hellen talk about the NGO and what they are doing, knowing we are in a big evaluation period and Hope has agreed to a six month freeze of new programs and partnerships to evaluate where the NGO is going. (thank goodness... its much needed!)
The crew is interested in doing medical missions to do immunization, which is pretty dead on with what the nurse does a few times a month. They also had been looking for a paper bead supplier for 3 years. We arranged for them to return on wednesday to meet the women's group the NGO formed and buy beads from them. I was excited about this too since I had planned to bring beads back. I spent the afternoon with them visiting different villages the NGO works in and doing the best I could to paint the evaluation picture that I could, complete with a possible scaling back and refocusing on the part of the NGO. Their leader, a staff member from partners worldwide in Kampala commended me for the work im doing and said he was glad to see the NGO evaluating and really working out what it can best do thats focused, as he sees them as dabbling in a lot but not really making a huge impact in any area. So that was great to hear.
They asked me for suggestions on lunch and not ever eating out, all i could direct them to was coffee hut- where all the muzungu go. We had a nice lunch, cheeseburgers all around. i hadnt had cheese in 5 weeks and only ground beef one when i first arrived in gulu. Was a nice treat. I helped them buy airtime and put it on their phones and helped them with dialing home. Funny how I must have learned all of this at some point but dont remember when- probably in belfast in part...
The next morning I arrived at the clinic to greet the beaders and help them set things up for the group to buy. I was amazed when after 2 minutes of arriving, they approached me about buying it all. we are talking like 500 necklaces, if not more and about 100 bracelets. I told them to hold off, and wait to see what transpired. We then moved from here to the church where some of the women prepare their beads. other women met us there and we were about 20 in all. They showed us how they cut the paper, which is donated or bought in Kampala, told us about how they take the paper to be dyed at a local printers, then rolled for different sizes and strung. the amount of beads before us was doubled as more women arrived and laid out their loot.
strings were counted, bulk prices were negotiated, and the crew left with about $1000 worth of beads to be sold over the year at their church and through bead parties. They plan to return each year for supply (they come to gulu each year anyway) and to have more shipped mid year if need be.
The NGO, having started and supported this group, gets 10% of the profit from each market that come by way of the NGO. This ill be used to run the clinic. I also put in an advanced order with Sarah, the mego (mama) who seems to be in charge and with very good english. She told me about her recent trip to the US and galapagos islands where she taught people to make the beads. very good. I also got a very friendly price. They bead every MWF and I will stop by once a week I think to hang out and possibly learn some sweet beading skills. I am planning to have a party when I get back, like beadsforlife, but with beads from women I know. I also have contacted The Bead Store, a small shop in Carr Mill Mall about any interest they may have in stocking Ugandan paper beads. Would be fun to see them in a store and to have a continuous market for the women. So, be prepared for a late summer party to buy some sweet beads! for those of you who know the market (anne... mom...) Im bringing 3 string solid, multi, and long multi. any requests, just ask. I can pretty much hand choose color and style or if they dont have it, get them to make it. big time excited! it will be paper beads all around! :)
the babies are all falling sick, the rainy season is tough here. There is almost constant crying in the clinic as someone or another is feeling awful or getting a shot. We had a tiny tiny baby admitted tuesday night with malaria and pnemonia that they werent sure would make it through the night. She has since been discharged as is much better! Hellens daughter as well is quite sick and was coughing and sneezing all over. hand sani it is!
Martha spoiled me this week with ice cream multiple times, apples!, and amazing pork and potato roasties yesterday! yumm! between that and the burger at coffee hut, which the partners worldwide treated me to, I think ive put back on a few of the pounds ive lost. I have also gotten a bit more comfy riding the bicycle to work! did i tell you it showed up fixed, despite arguing and getting 60% of my money back adn being told it couldnt be fixed? oh silly gulu.
Wissit texted from the UK and my laptop and staw hat package have arrived! in about a weeks time they will be here in Uganda. Ive gotten a huge chunk of internet time and get to spend more time on skype, which makes merry all around. all in all, things are going quite well!
hope you can say the same!
take luck my loves
nakupenda sana....
The crew is interested in doing medical missions to do immunization, which is pretty dead on with what the nurse does a few times a month. They also had been looking for a paper bead supplier for 3 years. We arranged for them to return on wednesday to meet the women's group the NGO formed and buy beads from them. I was excited about this too since I had planned to bring beads back. I spent the afternoon with them visiting different villages the NGO works in and doing the best I could to paint the evaluation picture that I could, complete with a possible scaling back and refocusing on the part of the NGO. Their leader, a staff member from partners worldwide in Kampala commended me for the work im doing and said he was glad to see the NGO evaluating and really working out what it can best do thats focused, as he sees them as dabbling in a lot but not really making a huge impact in any area. So that was great to hear.
They asked me for suggestions on lunch and not ever eating out, all i could direct them to was coffee hut- where all the muzungu go. We had a nice lunch, cheeseburgers all around. i hadnt had cheese in 5 weeks and only ground beef one when i first arrived in gulu. Was a nice treat. I helped them buy airtime and put it on their phones and helped them with dialing home. Funny how I must have learned all of this at some point but dont remember when- probably in belfast in part...
The next morning I arrived at the clinic to greet the beaders and help them set things up for the group to buy. I was amazed when after 2 minutes of arriving, they approached me about buying it all. we are talking like 500 necklaces, if not more and about 100 bracelets. I told them to hold off, and wait to see what transpired. We then moved from here to the church where some of the women prepare their beads. other women met us there and we were about 20 in all. They showed us how they cut the paper, which is donated or bought in Kampala, told us about how they take the paper to be dyed at a local printers, then rolled for different sizes and strung. the amount of beads before us was doubled as more women arrived and laid out their loot.
strings were counted, bulk prices were negotiated, and the crew left with about $1000 worth of beads to be sold over the year at their church and through bead parties. They plan to return each year for supply (they come to gulu each year anyway) and to have more shipped mid year if need be.
The NGO, having started and supported this group, gets 10% of the profit from each market that come by way of the NGO. This ill be used to run the clinic. I also put in an advanced order with Sarah, the mego (mama) who seems to be in charge and with very good english. She told me about her recent trip to the US and galapagos islands where she taught people to make the beads. very good. I also got a very friendly price. They bead every MWF and I will stop by once a week I think to hang out and possibly learn some sweet beading skills. I am planning to have a party when I get back, like beadsforlife, but with beads from women I know. I also have contacted The Bead Store, a small shop in Carr Mill Mall about any interest they may have in stocking Ugandan paper beads. Would be fun to see them in a store and to have a continuous market for the women. So, be prepared for a late summer party to buy some sweet beads! for those of you who know the market (anne... mom...) Im bringing 3 string solid, multi, and long multi. any requests, just ask. I can pretty much hand choose color and style or if they dont have it, get them to make it. big time excited! it will be paper beads all around! :)
the babies are all falling sick, the rainy season is tough here. There is almost constant crying in the clinic as someone or another is feeling awful or getting a shot. We had a tiny tiny baby admitted tuesday night with malaria and pnemonia that they werent sure would make it through the night. She has since been discharged as is much better! Hellens daughter as well is quite sick and was coughing and sneezing all over. hand sani it is!
Martha spoiled me this week with ice cream multiple times, apples!, and amazing pork and potato roasties yesterday! yumm! between that and the burger at coffee hut, which the partners worldwide treated me to, I think ive put back on a few of the pounds ive lost. I have also gotten a bit more comfy riding the bicycle to work! did i tell you it showed up fixed, despite arguing and getting 60% of my money back adn being told it couldnt be fixed? oh silly gulu.
Wissit texted from the UK and my laptop and staw hat package have arrived! in about a weeks time they will be here in Uganda. Ive gotten a huge chunk of internet time and get to spend more time on skype, which makes merry all around. all in all, things are going quite well!
hope you can say the same!
take luck my loves
nakupenda sana....
Monday, June 6, 2011
oh Gulu.... get it together for me please!
Been a couple days and feel like a lot, yet not a lot, has happened. In latest news with my soon to be ready bike- yes, I know I said that two weeks ago, that’s what I was told. The bike has been returned unrepaired and I’ve been told the man couldn’t get tires that fit. He has, however, failed to return the 50,000 shillings Ive paid him for the work, despite many prompts. As well, he has stopped turning up at his stand presumably in order to avoid Hellen and I and giving the money back. He is about today though and when Hellen gets back, we will track him down. I’ve joked that I will put a sign outside his stand that says don’t give me money, I cheat people and don’t fix bikes. But ive learned my lessons- don’t give anyone money until the work is done and go price supplies myself, even if I get the muzungu price.
Saturday kickball went well. We had about 25 kids turn up, many of which were too young. Eric, the most amazing help ever!, came and helped me teach the older ones to play. They slowly got it and it was fun. The more kids we have the better it will be as it was pretty hard to play outfield with 6 people. Hopefully next week they will come, I gave them cool patterned pencils to bribe them a bit to come back. Thinking this week ill give them crayons and maybe in a few weeks some candy. Sad that I have to bribe them to come! I think Eric had the most fun of all, lol. Was exceptionally hot and my kinda gross heat rash that has been confined to my left hand and my right wrist is now all up under my chin and neck. WORST. Hoping to stay cool and get rid of it soon. Problem is once is started it will come back. Cant wait for my big straw hat to come in my package from home!
Saturday I went to the market to find Vicky (my fundi- seamstress) to get my skirt ive been chasing all week. As I got there, the road was blocked and there were people everywhere. I wasn’t sure I wanted to get in the mix, not knowing what was going on. There were two police bodas blocking the road. I walked around the edge towards the walkway I needed into the market and asked a man along the edge. He told me a man had been knocked by a car and they think hes dead. Why, I ask you, does one have to look? Is it the disbelief that makes us furrow our brow and turn our heads? Is it concern? Is it sheer curiosity? Whatever it is, I turned to see jeans and barefeet from under the front of the truck. Thankfully that was all my curiosity needed and I headed deep into the market to find Vicky. She caught me on my way in, telling me she had been away in Kampala for the week visiting family and my skirt would be done Monday. So, today I will go. Lets hope she has it or I’m going to begin to think everyone is against me and my money is all out of my control. Although, I haven’t paid Vicky yet, just bought the fabric from a different Mego (mama or woman).
I sat around and tried to cool down Saturday afternoon. Jackie was doing the washing and cleaning, but I was dying for a shower. I cooled down reading on the couch. Saturday night martha’s friend came over and I could tell there was some history there so I hung out for a bit then went to bed when the conversation turned to why Martha wasn’t interested. I woke up around 4.15 to a woman screaming outside. We are talking blood curdling, yelling, a man yelling, more screaming and crying. I was wide awake in seconds. I assumed she was being raped, but couldn’t fathom in my head how this was happening where I could here it this loud and no one on the street was doing anything. I hoped that maybe I was assuming wrongly and that it was just some argument or something. In the morning Martha woke me up with the surprise that power was back on and I asked her about it. She said that unfortunately the woman was probably being raped and I’d been right. Not sure how I feel about this. Gives me this pit in my stomach that I heard it and lay paralyzed in my bed. (not that I could have done anything or would have been safe to do anything). Police here just isn’t the same. Mark made me promise I wouldn’t go to the bar just up the road from us when I told him and I wouldn’t go there anyway. Much less be out at 4.15, I don’t even go out after dark unless im with Martha and we are driving somewhere. As I walked the street outside my house (granted it’s the kampala road, the biggest road out of town), I couldn’t help but think somewhere there was a woman trying to deal with what happened to her last night. Depressed yet?
Sunday, Martha and I went to Lira (about an hour away) to visit her family and get outta Gulu for the first time in 3 weeks. We took the ‘shortcut’ there, a long dirt road that was surprisingly smooth until we caught up with the road crew and drove over/around huge dirt piles that were to be smoothed down to even the road. Along the way, we passed by Marthas high school. It is one of the top high schools in the country and Martha told me about being in boarding school. We decided to stop since she hadn’t been back since changing schools in 2000. The school was exceptionally nice and reminded me of summer camp, lol. Although with the insane amounts of studying they do, im sure its not even close. Was interesting to see though. Classes are about 50 students and they all have PILES of books on their desks. We just don’t study like that in the US.
(just went and argued with the bicycle man- got 26,000 back and am waiting on more…)
We then went to Martha’s parents house for a lunch of posha (the acholi word for ugali- think fine fine ground grits made into like a dough) and beans. Now, beans make posha bearable because they are similar textures and just kinda blur together. Her parents were nice and a lot like Martha. They spoke in acholi about family issues and translated a bit for me. Otherwise, I just relaxed. We came home late and I enjoyed the trees along the road. We also passed what Martha called an alligator- think like a giant iguanaish lizard. It was in the middle of the road and Martha who fears lizards like I fear snakes slammed on the brakes, swearing if she knocked it, it would crawl up in to the car and get her. Ah I know this irrational fear well! I sometimes think snakes will crawl up the toilet and get me! We stopped and bought mangos bigger than my hands and my window was attacked with women with babies asking for money and then a very persistant only man telling me he had no teeth and I had to give him money. I locked the door just in time, he started trying to open it just as I reached for the lock. Little nerve wracking. Then he went to marthas open door where she was buying mango and tangerines and continued to shout at me. I was happy to get back on the road. And then we passed this amazing tree Martha had told me to wait for! Ahhhh THAT my friends is Africa to me. I will take a picture next time I pass it!
I also got more credit on my wireless modem and have lots of megabytes now so I can upload pictures, I know anne is about to shout!
Today has been successful, with the new work plan written this morning- well draft one. The district budget year starts now, which is unfortunate. How do you start a 6 month evaluation plan when youre required to submit your annual work plan at the very beginning. I just did the best I could with the assumptions I can make with provisional evaluation. The logic model, mission statement, and vision statement still greatly need to be updated. I am waiting on feedback from Hope on the draft, so we will see. I cut out a lot, including err all the projects that are not the clinic. Well, I said the goal was to phase them out. But don’t you work my objectives were SMART!
I am hoping to beat the rain now and go get my skirt. We have been without water- literally not a drop since Saturday, despite having power. Martha was going to check today. Would love a shower- my baby wipes only go so far! And we need to cook some yummy pasta and thus need water!
Maybe ill get some pictures up tonight!
Big hopes for Gulu my friends!
Saturday kickball went well. We had about 25 kids turn up, many of which were too young. Eric, the most amazing help ever!, came and helped me teach the older ones to play. They slowly got it and it was fun. The more kids we have the better it will be as it was pretty hard to play outfield with 6 people. Hopefully next week they will come, I gave them cool patterned pencils to bribe them a bit to come back. Thinking this week ill give them crayons and maybe in a few weeks some candy. Sad that I have to bribe them to come! I think Eric had the most fun of all, lol. Was exceptionally hot and my kinda gross heat rash that has been confined to my left hand and my right wrist is now all up under my chin and neck. WORST. Hoping to stay cool and get rid of it soon. Problem is once is started it will come back. Cant wait for my big straw hat to come in my package from home!
Saturday I went to the market to find Vicky (my fundi- seamstress) to get my skirt ive been chasing all week. As I got there, the road was blocked and there were people everywhere. I wasn’t sure I wanted to get in the mix, not knowing what was going on. There were two police bodas blocking the road. I walked around the edge towards the walkway I needed into the market and asked a man along the edge. He told me a man had been knocked by a car and they think hes dead. Why, I ask you, does one have to look? Is it the disbelief that makes us furrow our brow and turn our heads? Is it concern? Is it sheer curiosity? Whatever it is, I turned to see jeans and barefeet from under the front of the truck. Thankfully that was all my curiosity needed and I headed deep into the market to find Vicky. She caught me on my way in, telling me she had been away in Kampala for the week visiting family and my skirt would be done Monday. So, today I will go. Lets hope she has it or I’m going to begin to think everyone is against me and my money is all out of my control. Although, I haven’t paid Vicky yet, just bought the fabric from a different Mego (mama or woman).
I sat around and tried to cool down Saturday afternoon. Jackie was doing the washing and cleaning, but I was dying for a shower. I cooled down reading on the couch. Saturday night martha’s friend came over and I could tell there was some history there so I hung out for a bit then went to bed when the conversation turned to why Martha wasn’t interested. I woke up around 4.15 to a woman screaming outside. We are talking blood curdling, yelling, a man yelling, more screaming and crying. I was wide awake in seconds. I assumed she was being raped, but couldn’t fathom in my head how this was happening where I could here it this loud and no one on the street was doing anything. I hoped that maybe I was assuming wrongly and that it was just some argument or something. In the morning Martha woke me up with the surprise that power was back on and I asked her about it. She said that unfortunately the woman was probably being raped and I’d been right. Not sure how I feel about this. Gives me this pit in my stomach that I heard it and lay paralyzed in my bed. (not that I could have done anything or would have been safe to do anything). Police here just isn’t the same. Mark made me promise I wouldn’t go to the bar just up the road from us when I told him and I wouldn’t go there anyway. Much less be out at 4.15, I don’t even go out after dark unless im with Martha and we are driving somewhere. As I walked the street outside my house (granted it’s the kampala road, the biggest road out of town), I couldn’t help but think somewhere there was a woman trying to deal with what happened to her last night. Depressed yet?
Sunday, Martha and I went to Lira (about an hour away) to visit her family and get outta Gulu for the first time in 3 weeks. We took the ‘shortcut’ there, a long dirt road that was surprisingly smooth until we caught up with the road crew and drove over/around huge dirt piles that were to be smoothed down to even the road. Along the way, we passed by Marthas high school. It is one of the top high schools in the country and Martha told me about being in boarding school. We decided to stop since she hadn’t been back since changing schools in 2000. The school was exceptionally nice and reminded me of summer camp, lol. Although with the insane amounts of studying they do, im sure its not even close. Was interesting to see though. Classes are about 50 students and they all have PILES of books on their desks. We just don’t study like that in the US.
(just went and argued with the bicycle man- got 26,000 back and am waiting on more…)
We then went to Martha’s parents house for a lunch of posha (the acholi word for ugali- think fine fine ground grits made into like a dough) and beans. Now, beans make posha bearable because they are similar textures and just kinda blur together. Her parents were nice and a lot like Martha. They spoke in acholi about family issues and translated a bit for me. Otherwise, I just relaxed. We came home late and I enjoyed the trees along the road. We also passed what Martha called an alligator- think like a giant iguanaish lizard. It was in the middle of the road and Martha who fears lizards like I fear snakes slammed on the brakes, swearing if she knocked it, it would crawl up in to the car and get her. Ah I know this irrational fear well! I sometimes think snakes will crawl up the toilet and get me! We stopped and bought mangos bigger than my hands and my window was attacked with women with babies asking for money and then a very persistant only man telling me he had no teeth and I had to give him money. I locked the door just in time, he started trying to open it just as I reached for the lock. Little nerve wracking. Then he went to marthas open door where she was buying mango and tangerines and continued to shout at me. I was happy to get back on the road. And then we passed this amazing tree Martha had told me to wait for! Ahhhh THAT my friends is Africa to me. I will take a picture next time I pass it!
I also got more credit on my wireless modem and have lots of megabytes now so I can upload pictures, I know anne is about to shout!
Today has been successful, with the new work plan written this morning- well draft one. The district budget year starts now, which is unfortunate. How do you start a 6 month evaluation plan when youre required to submit your annual work plan at the very beginning. I just did the best I could with the assumptions I can make with provisional evaluation. The logic model, mission statement, and vision statement still greatly need to be updated. I am waiting on feedback from Hope on the draft, so we will see. I cut out a lot, including err all the projects that are not the clinic. Well, I said the goal was to phase them out. But don’t you work my objectives were SMART!
I am hoping to beat the rain now and go get my skirt. We have been without water- literally not a drop since Saturday, despite having power. Martha was going to check today. Would love a shower- my baby wipes only go so far! And we need to cook some yummy pasta and thus need water!
Maybe ill get some pictures up tonight!
Big hopes for Gulu my friends!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
mid week meetings
Happy Hump Day!
It has been good week, time seems to be flyin by! I have started getting into some pretty hefty program evaluation this week, starting by looking through countless reports, pages and pages of strategic plans, rewritting mission and vision statements with Hope, and thinking of logic models. Its a sowo's dream! lol. joking, but really it is cool to be able to do something here that not everyone could do. its not playing with kids or holding babies, and teaching english doesnt really take a huge skill set either. so its nice to have specific skills and knowledge to offer (although im finding I still have a lot to learn about NGO management and all. just looking things over with the help of Judy, a VSO volunteer with lots of experience.) Just nice to know to make things SMART and clearly laid out.
But enough work smerk for now, i will keep you posted on that. Ive also had the chance today to watch Uganda Rising, a documentary about the conflict in this region and learned a bit more that other sources havent covered. it was made by a Canadian NGO, so if you can find a copy, i highly recommend it. It looks a lot at the problems since the camps have closed and people have begun to return to their villages and tried to start over. I also traveled about 15km out of Gulu town today to th village where Hopes husband's family is from. Along the way, we passed through Coo-pe (pronounced choo pee) which is an old IDP (internally displaced person) camp. there were tons of huts clustered together on both sides of the road. The camp is closed now, but people still live there. at the edge of coo-pe was a huge mango tree, one Hope told me was where many children were killed by the rebels. They would bring the children there, just to the edge of the camp to threaten the villagers and scare them. ugh, so awful.
Once we passed Coo-pe, the houses were abandoned and destroyed, all thanks to the rebels 5+ years ago. People have no livelihoods to rebuild or resettle out in the villages yet. We arrived at the village to about a km of land that all belongs to Julius' family. The house where his mother was visiting and our destination was large and plastered, but had been torn up by the rebels. the glass in every window was broken, the counters had been pulled outside, and the land left untended to for probably a decade or more. They are slowly beginning to farm again, but there is no money to repair the house.
The huts in the area were all completely destroyed and no evidence is left of them. it was interesting to get out of town and hear some of the stories and see some of the remains of the war. I see things in town, people missing limbs, large scars on chests, shoulders, faces. I never quite know if they are from the war, and don't want to assume. So far, the people i have had a lot of contact with were all not here for the war. Havent been able to ask anyone their story and feel pretty strongly that i want to get to know them first, not just look for a story from someone. The evangelists I met had heard lots off stories, but i felt a bit awkward about how theyd extracted them from people. feel more secure in my approach- if you can even call it that.
all in all, things are going really well. my storage basement back in NC has standing water in it, creating a headache for Mark and dad... but luckily i have a great boy and dad to help me! and ive showered today, always makes me feel good- not one of my strengths here, tend to shower twice a week... eww, i know. would never do that at home... and more dirty here. working on that... lol.
will try to get some pictures up soon!
happy June!
will try to get some pictures up soon!
happy June!
Sunday, May 29, 2011
lazy sunday afternoon
hello avid readers! bahaha.
yesterday was the kickoff day for kickball. ive found some fairly cheap- well i got ripped off with the muzungu (white person) price- balls that work really well, pretty similiar to a kickball in the US, but know to send hellen next time for the acholi price! however, we sadly only had 10 kids show up, 6 of which were 5 or younger and the feeling is that they will not be able to follow the game and the program (workshops and all) were designed for older kids. There were four boys from the youth club tree program that turned up to coach, so that was really encouraging. They seem really keen to do it and will be there, and even having them there we could run games. Looks like it will be slow to start and even if we can get two teams, enough to try to play a game we will go with that next week. Eric, the boda man, didn’t turn up, which is unfortunate and his phone has been off since. He will be good to get kids there- but it takes getting him there! I was a little disappointed, especially as workshops are meant to start next week, but there aren’t any kids nor are they turning up at even close to a steady time (apparently 10 came at 8am because they were excited). Awesome to be excited, just come when you can play! So next week I will teach them to play regardless of how many there are and will attempt to run a workshop on leadership. Also, we will see how the 5 minute English warm ups go, despite having no idea where the kids are. We will start with ABCs and see how it goes. Also, Hope will be back in Gulu Monday for the week and we can hopefully talk through mobilizing the children more. Still hopefully and we will go with what we’ve got. If nothing else, they can play kickball while I am here. They did enjoy just playing football and the drums yesterday.
Last night, I met the second famous person of my life, I met Invisible Children’s Jolie. For those of you who haven’t seen IC, you should and you’d have a much better idea about what life was like here and what im working with. But it’s a documentary about the war that lasted for 24 years here. It was interesting to hear Martha say that Jolie started IC, when really three American boys who were headed to sudan ended up here and found out what was going on, met Jolie, and decided to make a documentary. BUT either way, Jolie is the heart and sole (yes intentionally sole) of IC and the organization on the ground here is her life. Well, that and the bar she runs (where I met her) to pay school fees for 50 children. All in all, I was amazed to meet her and got to tell her that IC is the reason I wanted to come work in Gulu and how amazing the work they are doing is.
We also made plans to travel on Friday of this week (a national holiday) to a rock (mountain?) about 3 hours away where Alice Lakwena used to go and drink tea. Alice started the LRA and the war in the North, when the spirit took over her. Joseph Kony, the much more known name behind the LRA and the International Criminal Court target for war crimes, claimed to overtake the spirit of Alice Lakwena because he was related to her and thus the war really took off. (that’s my memory at least of the start, you can read more at invisiblechildren.org if you wish. ) This rock is said to be haunted with evil spirits and Martha is very hesitant to go. It will be a great way for me to see more of the North and to learn more about the war. Plus I am anxious to spend more time talking with Jolie and learning all I can. And I haven’t been to any ‘Haunted’ places since my crazy days in college with tunnels and abandoned hospitals. Should be an adventure!
I called round to see Wissit and Judy yesterday, always good to chat with them! They are doing some interesting things and always great to bounce ideas off of. This morning just before 7am, I met Wissit for a 5 mile run. Mind you, I have not run in three weeks at all since ive been here and really only here and there for the past 3 months or so! Well, Wissit standing at 5’2’’ is quite a quick little English lady and kicked my butt! Not to mention the 5 miles! But we walked some, okay, a lot, and had great conversation and got to see some small villages outside of Gulu. Talked a bit about trauma therapy and some trauma focused CBT and my dream to do therapy in Gulu. Wissit was encouraging and suggested I make some contacts now to come back and do some capacity building and training for therapist, which is par for the course for a masters white girl, rather than doing the therapy myself. She said she knew some people to direct me to. Nice!
I got a pretty little blister from my too low socks but all in all a good run. Have been exhausted since. The highlight of the morning came when Wissit let me use her shower (!!) with hot water (OH MY!). I felt cleaner than I have since coming to Gulu. We had a nice breakfast and I discovered that I do not like papaya, tastes like soapy rubbish to me! I will miss her while she is away in the UK but am excited for her to return with my package from the US (a laptop and my big straw hat!) and will enjoy the time to get myself in shape in prep for future runs with her!
All in all, things are going well. I think having Hope here this week will be good to get things a bit more organized and see about some other time fillers. The neighbors downstairs who I have come to spend a bit of time with gave Martha and I a chicken as a thank you for the chalk I gave the children. Martha fried it today and it was sooo yummy! Now we are enjoying a relaxing Sunday afternoon! I need to go to the market and try on the skirt I had made, but the thought of walking…. No way! Have a bit of a headache and my tummy isn’t the happiest, nothing to be alarmed about though! Ive been good about taking my temperature (yes, I brought a thermometer, aren’t you impressed? This girl is prepared!) when I feel a bit off. Not trying to get malaria! Or to not know I have it.
Three weeks have flown by in many ways and taken ages in others. My bicycle is waiting on wheels from kampala but soon I will be cruising around town on a lil red bike. All in all, gulu is great. Ive managed to stay out of the majority of the rain, and am enjoying this time. Crossing fingers for more interaction with children soon!
Take luck
Friday, May 27, 2011
markets, goats, and babies!
1. I think these lists work well when I have random thoughts to share rather than a narrative like story.
2. im not a huge animal person as most of you may know. but the baby goats hanging in a bag from the handle of a bicycle crying out really pulls at my heartstrings.
3. ive worked out having internet more frequently which is nice, i like to be connected.
4. a classmate from grad school was in a really bad car accident and is in the ICU. she is nonresponsive but has opened her eyes a tiny bit a few times. thoughts and prayers for katherine and her family!
5. Money is messy and creates awkward situations.
6. I spent the afternoon at the market searching for fabric, yes i am picky!, with some evangelists from texas. those who are thinking..whhhhhat are dead on, not my cup of tea. but they were nice and i wanted to give them a shot and hear them out about what they were doing. they spoke to everyone as we walked through, fine by me. they asked the stall owners to pray with them and if they knew jesus, also okay by me. all in all, it was fine by me until i became the target. I felt a bit bad when one of them told me that she wasnt sure how i felt about what they were doing becuase of the look on my face when she told me what she was there for the day we first me. shooot, never have had a good poker face. they asked me if i had a relationship with jesus and various other questions. i tried my best not to be rude or uninterested but they kinda gave up i think when i told them that if i were going to tell people about jesus i would tell them about this guy who shows us how we should live our lives and treat people, how we should feed people, care for the sick and poor, love the least. not about salvation and hell and dying on a cross. and that i think it is a stronger message coming from a ugandan to a ugandan. but, okay overall and i dont think i offended... i did cringe when we ran into others in their group and they high fived and celebrated with dancing that someone they had spoken to was later teaching his coworker about jesus. NOW let me say.... telling someone about jesus is not bad or wrong. just not my role in this big world... not how God wants to use me. tell me that we are all called as Christians to share the gospel and i will say cool- but only use words if you have to.
7. My friend anna is in the hospital and i sat with her yesterday for a few hours. was a decent room, i think i wouldnt die if i had to go to hospital, but would demand that someone stay with me allll the time, i would be so lonely! the nurses were nice, she had tv and a generator, and a real mattress! they gave her all her meds through an IV, which, eww... gimme tablets. but i guess if youre sick enough to get admitted to the hospital you need meds the fast way.
8. mental health. i am very curious what services they offer here. despite the trauma of 24 years of war, there are the normal disorders and challenges that people go through. I have seen some pretty clear mental health cases on the street, and helplessly walked by a 13 or so year old boy who was clearly not in a good place who had sat in the middle of the road. people stopped to look but from what i saw no one did anything. im still turning over and over that i just walked on. There is a mental health district meeting some time soon, so im hoping to go and see what the deal is. There is also a peace corp volunteer who is doing counseling that i might try to get up with, but i have a feeling its hiv/aids counseling. but i think mental health is a big issue.
9. still waiting to get some war stories. the effects of the displacement are clear and there are some clear injuries, there is a whole ward at the hosptial for women whose legs were cut off by the LRA.
10. tomorrow the kids learn to play kickball! YESSSSSSSSSS!
11. sunday martha and i will go hang out with some kiddos at an orphanage that she goes to some times. very excited, esp for the babies!
2. im not a huge animal person as most of you may know. but the baby goats hanging in a bag from the handle of a bicycle crying out really pulls at my heartstrings.
3. ive worked out having internet more frequently which is nice, i like to be connected.
4. a classmate from grad school was in a really bad car accident and is in the ICU. she is nonresponsive but has opened her eyes a tiny bit a few times. thoughts and prayers for katherine and her family!
5. Money is messy and creates awkward situations.
6. I spent the afternoon at the market searching for fabric, yes i am picky!, with some evangelists from texas. those who are thinking..whhhhhat are dead on, not my cup of tea. but they were nice and i wanted to give them a shot and hear them out about what they were doing. they spoke to everyone as we walked through, fine by me. they asked the stall owners to pray with them and if they knew jesus, also okay by me. all in all, it was fine by me until i became the target. I felt a bit bad when one of them told me that she wasnt sure how i felt about what they were doing becuase of the look on my face when she told me what she was there for the day we first me. shooot, never have had a good poker face. they asked me if i had a relationship with jesus and various other questions. i tried my best not to be rude or uninterested but they kinda gave up i think when i told them that if i were going to tell people about jesus i would tell them about this guy who shows us how we should live our lives and treat people, how we should feed people, care for the sick and poor, love the least. not about salvation and hell and dying on a cross. and that i think it is a stronger message coming from a ugandan to a ugandan. but, okay overall and i dont think i offended... i did cringe when we ran into others in their group and they high fived and celebrated with dancing that someone they had spoken to was later teaching his coworker about jesus. NOW let me say.... telling someone about jesus is not bad or wrong. just not my role in this big world... not how God wants to use me. tell me that we are all called as Christians to share the gospel and i will say cool- but only use words if you have to.
7. My friend anna is in the hospital and i sat with her yesterday for a few hours. was a decent room, i think i wouldnt die if i had to go to hospital, but would demand that someone stay with me allll the time, i would be so lonely! the nurses were nice, she had tv and a generator, and a real mattress! they gave her all her meds through an IV, which, eww... gimme tablets. but i guess if youre sick enough to get admitted to the hospital you need meds the fast way.
8. mental health. i am very curious what services they offer here. despite the trauma of 24 years of war, there are the normal disorders and challenges that people go through. I have seen some pretty clear mental health cases on the street, and helplessly walked by a 13 or so year old boy who was clearly not in a good place who had sat in the middle of the road. people stopped to look but from what i saw no one did anything. im still turning over and over that i just walked on. There is a mental health district meeting some time soon, so im hoping to go and see what the deal is. There is also a peace corp volunteer who is doing counseling that i might try to get up with, but i have a feeling its hiv/aids counseling. but i think mental health is a big issue.
9. still waiting to get some war stories. the effects of the displacement are clear and there are some clear injuries, there is a whole ward at the hosptial for women whose legs were cut off by the LRA.
10. tomorrow the kids learn to play kickball! YESSSSSSSSSS!
11. sunday martha and i will go hang out with some kiddos at an orphanage that she goes to some times. very excited, esp for the babies!
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
rain rain... love my jacket
woah, two days in a row, aren't you impressed!
spent the morning 10-2.30 in a district health meeting. was very interesting. The Ugandan Gov is trying to put into place Village Health Teams (VHT) of volunteer, elected community members that will mobalize their villages to seek medical treatment, working with incoming NGO programs, check in with pregnant and new mothers to offer support, and basically streamline all health services through one group of village members. The problem: the district doesnt want to fund it and this morning basically put it to the NGOs to fund the training for the trainers who will go to each village to establish the VHTs. The VHTs are kind of in place now, but still very much so a work in progress.
Thankfully, the NGOs threw it back to the district to see what was budgeted, but the chairmen kept asking them to commit to pay without seeing the budget or the annual plans for the project and district allocations. I know from other conversations that the district has been slow at best to get involved in the NGO work and funding and this has been a big frustration from the NGOs. Then the conversation turned to about 1.5 hours of what the role of who is within the VHTs in terms of training, financing, supporting, etc. I had just finished reading the handbook and was confused as to why people were unsure as there was a handy chart in the back that spelled it allll out. thinking that people needed to have their copies or be given copies of the chart. so that was a bit frustrating as it could have easily been answered using that book.
all in all, it was interesting to see how a meeting, particularly run by the district health ministry went. we did get yummy mundaze and bananas for breakfast and rice and chicken and greens for lunch. that was a nice surprise and won out my broken backup granola bar that i keep with me! sidenote- went to the bathroom during the meeting, and saw the worst hole for a toilet i have ever seen. i wont describe it to you... but found it ironic that the ministry of health offices probably put me at the biggest health risk yet!
Ive been kinda concerned about what will fill my time with program pretty set and only actually running on the weekends. I still have some partnering to do and some commitments from community members to get and some kickballs to find and buy. Been thinking of asking around to see if anyone has any needs that I might be able to help with, and actually met another SW student who is doing community reintegration- what i thought i would be doing. So i might tag along with her and see whats up. shes doing a lot of program evaluation, so that will be cool to see. but also just realized this morning in this meeting, its good for me to just see how things run here, to get a better understanding of it all... so working on that perspective as well.
looking forward to saturday and teaching the kids to play kickball! really relieved that Eric Boda driver extraordinaire will be helping me. (a boda is a motorcycle for anyone who missed that like my mom!)
I also think my bike is ready! we took it yesterday across the street so the man could fix it. will be hard to ride compared to my road bike, but im very excited! and im glad i could give the guy a little business, its been slow over there. The nurse will ride it to do immunizations in the villages once i leave, so i count it 20 bucks well spent.
I think i mentioned that I bought a sweet apron the other day in the market. it had a sticker on it and they assured me it would iron off and i asked if it didnt if i could bring it back. I ironed it this morning and it came off, still a bit of residue but i think i can iron it onto paper. martha told me it was the fabric label and i got good fabric so thats good. some of you know how i love my east african fabrics!
All in all things are going well. feel really good about the program i put together, need to work on some funding stuff since im not a bank. but all in all think it will be successful!
Have a really hard time being home alone without power.... martha has been away all weekend and friday night i was not ok looking at my powerless weekend alone. luckily the power came back saturday evening just as i hunkered down for another 6 hours of reading by a small candle.
annnnd powers out, thank god for generators!
take luck my loves!
spent the morning 10-2.30 in a district health meeting. was very interesting. The Ugandan Gov is trying to put into place Village Health Teams (VHT) of volunteer, elected community members that will mobalize their villages to seek medical treatment, working with incoming NGO programs, check in with pregnant and new mothers to offer support, and basically streamline all health services through one group of village members. The problem: the district doesnt want to fund it and this morning basically put it to the NGOs to fund the training for the trainers who will go to each village to establish the VHTs. The VHTs are kind of in place now, but still very much so a work in progress.
Thankfully, the NGOs threw it back to the district to see what was budgeted, but the chairmen kept asking them to commit to pay without seeing the budget or the annual plans for the project and district allocations. I know from other conversations that the district has been slow at best to get involved in the NGO work and funding and this has been a big frustration from the NGOs. Then the conversation turned to about 1.5 hours of what the role of who is within the VHTs in terms of training, financing, supporting, etc. I had just finished reading the handbook and was confused as to why people were unsure as there was a handy chart in the back that spelled it allll out. thinking that people needed to have their copies or be given copies of the chart. so that was a bit frustrating as it could have easily been answered using that book.
all in all, it was interesting to see how a meeting, particularly run by the district health ministry went. we did get yummy mundaze and bananas for breakfast and rice and chicken and greens for lunch. that was a nice surprise and won out my broken backup granola bar that i keep with me! sidenote- went to the bathroom during the meeting, and saw the worst hole for a toilet i have ever seen. i wont describe it to you... but found it ironic that the ministry of health offices probably put me at the biggest health risk yet!
Ive been kinda concerned about what will fill my time with program pretty set and only actually running on the weekends. I still have some partnering to do and some commitments from community members to get and some kickballs to find and buy. Been thinking of asking around to see if anyone has any needs that I might be able to help with, and actually met another SW student who is doing community reintegration- what i thought i would be doing. So i might tag along with her and see whats up. shes doing a lot of program evaluation, so that will be cool to see. but also just realized this morning in this meeting, its good for me to just see how things run here, to get a better understanding of it all... so working on that perspective as well.
looking forward to saturday and teaching the kids to play kickball! really relieved that Eric Boda driver extraordinaire will be helping me. (a boda is a motorcycle for anyone who missed that like my mom!)
I also think my bike is ready! we took it yesterday across the street so the man could fix it. will be hard to ride compared to my road bike, but im very excited! and im glad i could give the guy a little business, its been slow over there. The nurse will ride it to do immunizations in the villages once i leave, so i count it 20 bucks well spent.
I think i mentioned that I bought a sweet apron the other day in the market. it had a sticker on it and they assured me it would iron off and i asked if it didnt if i could bring it back. I ironed it this morning and it came off, still a bit of residue but i think i can iron it onto paper. martha told me it was the fabric label and i got good fabric so thats good. some of you know how i love my east african fabrics!
All in all things are going well. feel really good about the program i put together, need to work on some funding stuff since im not a bank. but all in all think it will be successful!
Have a really hard time being home alone without power.... martha has been away all weekend and friday night i was not ok looking at my powerless weekend alone. luckily the power came back saturday evening just as i hunkered down for another 6 hours of reading by a small candle.
annnnd powers out, thank god for generators!
take luck my loves!
Monday, May 23, 2011
thoughts
1. I hate feeling like a bank.
2. I am very thankful for Wissit and Judy and the afternoon I spent with them at their compound yesterday and for Wissit who is allowing the package to be sent to her in the UK and will bring it back from her trip home to ensure that i actually get it.
3. reading by candle light alone gets boring and lonely fast- martha come home!
4. the kickball kids speak NO english... even hello was a stretch and the balls i bought didnt make it through football. they were less than $1 each though...
5. Eric will be my new besti- he drives a boda and will come get me when i need him and he also used to volunteer with the NGO and knows the kids- he is going to help get more coaches (there were only 6 who came, and they really shouldnt even be coaching as the oldest was 14 and only in primary 7.) He is going to be a superstar- just gotta touch base with Hope about paying him orr how that works, i know there is no money.
6. mango. i have had sooo much mango! still loving it, praying it doesnt repeat the avocado disaster of tanzania. It is especially fun when we get to collect them by the pig farm and knock them fresh from the trees. they are EVERYWHERE.
7. Ive met some new friends. motmot (slowly). and another social worker! WOO SOWO.
8. Been talking with the placement agency about how to spread the word about what im doing with the contract to not disclose the name of the NGO. been really frustrating. im blogging for the NGO, on the new blog ive set them up with, but cant share it with you bc of this contract. pretty frustrating, will be a reason to not go through a placement agency again and be better about researching NGOs to work with.
9. i shoulda written these down.
10. my belly is very full but im dreaming of cheddar bay biscuits cuddled on the couch.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
quick
I am in the human rights focus office where I have paid a membership
to use the computers for NGO business when there is no power in the
clinic- I have yet to see power there! i just printed documents for
the program and used almost all my credit- ahh oh well. things are
good, had a very productive meeting with a woman called Judy from
Kenya who has an MPH and lots of training on lifeskills. she is going
to be really instrumental in facilitating a few of the workshops in
the kickball program and gave me lots of good ideas. We also looked at
the programs the clinic runs and she supported me in some of my brief
evaluations, first and foremost the mission statement, vision, and
goals all say pretty much the exact same thing. So those need to be
updated.
things are coming together with the program, i will meet the parents
tomorrow, and the children saturday morning and the coaches training
and meeting is saturday afternoon. I have been invited to lunch with
Judy and Wissit, an english woman who i think will be good people to
know socially, on sunday and so the weekend will be good. I went to
see the pigs from the new Heifer International project. They are all
pregnant and should have their piglets in the next week or so! Also
the farmer let me take TONS of mangoes home with me! they were fresh
off the tree, he knocked them with a big stick while i ran around
collecting them all the while squealing like a child with excitment!
they were everywhere and are SO yummy! I had a nice snack when i got
home last night.
Went to aerobics again last night with Martha, still really makes me
giggle. But its a nice group of people and they are all very friendly
and welcoming to me. also caught the tail end of marimar- yes my awful
soap at the acholi inn on our way out! lol. lame!
all in all, things are very good! just ready to meet some kids.
yesterday on my 45 min walk home children followed me for a while.
very funny.
alright hope is ringing from kampala, have to go!
to use the computers for NGO business when there is no power in the
clinic- I have yet to see power there! i just printed documents for
the program and used almost all my credit- ahh oh well. things are
good, had a very productive meeting with a woman called Judy from
Kenya who has an MPH and lots of training on lifeskills. she is going
to be really instrumental in facilitating a few of the workshops in
the kickball program and gave me lots of good ideas. We also looked at
the programs the clinic runs and she supported me in some of my brief
evaluations, first and foremost the mission statement, vision, and
goals all say pretty much the exact same thing. So those need to be
updated.
things are coming together with the program, i will meet the parents
tomorrow, and the children saturday morning and the coaches training
and meeting is saturday afternoon. I have been invited to lunch with
Judy and Wissit, an english woman who i think will be good people to
know socially, on sunday and so the weekend will be good. I went to
see the pigs from the new Heifer International project. They are all
pregnant and should have their piglets in the next week or so! Also
the farmer let me take TONS of mangoes home with me! they were fresh
off the tree, he knocked them with a big stick while i ran around
collecting them all the while squealing like a child with excitment!
they were everywhere and are SO yummy! I had a nice snack when i got
home last night.
Went to aerobics again last night with Martha, still really makes me
giggle. But its a nice group of people and they are all very friendly
and welcoming to me. also caught the tail end of marimar- yes my awful
soap at the acholi inn on our way out! lol. lame!
all in all, things are very good! just ready to meet some kids.
yesterday on my 45 min walk home children followed me for a while.
very funny.
alright hope is ringing from kampala, have to go!
--
I dream of an Africa which is in peace with itself.
Nelson Mandela
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Bye for a bit?
Hope is away to Kampala tomorrow, laptop in tow.
The clinic (my 'office') has yet to have power when I am there so I am
not sure when I will have internet again. Working on getting martha to
share hers or stopping by the community resource centre for NGO
workers.
have a meeting tomorow morning with a woman called Judy whom we met
this morning. she has lots of training in life skills and reproductive
health and will hopefully be a big asset to the kickball program and
helping with the workshops. and she is kenyan, so i will get to mack
out some swahili and feel confident again in my language abilities!
although, i must say, my acholi is coming together nicely!
I also made a new friend tday, a former volunteer with hope is back in
town. she is away in three weeks, but we talked a lot today and will
be good to know someone in town. I also met wisset, an english woman
who has worked in gulu a lot. she is soon to be my running buddy!
seems like a very cool lady, so im excited to get to know her.
so, know that i am program planning and will meet with my future
coaches on saturday afternoon! cross your fingers it goes well, a lot
of the program hinges on them! Rose seems to be confident about
getting coaches and even encouraged us to have 3 coaches per team to
include more young adults.
will get on internet when I can but am anxiously awaiting the new
minilaptop that will soon be in the mail to me! ill use it while im
here then Hope will buy it off me for easier traveling on her part! I
have a very good boyfriend for dealing with that end of the purchase
and shipping : )
take luck friends!
The clinic (my 'office') has yet to have power when I am there so I am
not sure when I will have internet again. Working on getting martha to
share hers or stopping by the community resource centre for NGO
workers.
have a meeting tomorow morning with a woman called Judy whom we met
this morning. she has lots of training in life skills and reproductive
health and will hopefully be a big asset to the kickball program and
helping with the workshops. and she is kenyan, so i will get to mack
out some swahili and feel confident again in my language abilities!
although, i must say, my acholi is coming together nicely!
I also made a new friend tday, a former volunteer with hope is back in
town. she is away in three weeks, but we talked a lot today and will
be good to know someone in town. I also met wisset, an english woman
who has worked in gulu a lot. she is soon to be my running buddy!
seems like a very cool lady, so im excited to get to know her.
so, know that i am program planning and will meet with my future
coaches on saturday afternoon! cross your fingers it goes well, a lot
of the program hinges on them! Rose seems to be confident about
getting coaches and even encouraged us to have 3 coaches per team to
include more young adults.
will get on internet when I can but am anxiously awaiting the new
minilaptop that will soon be in the mail to me! ill use it while im
here then Hope will buy it off me for easier traveling on her part! I
have a very good boyfriend for dealing with that end of the purchase
and shipping : )
take luck friends!
Monday, May 16, 2011
office day 1
today was a busy day! woke up early to take advantage of having Hopes laptop to Skype with mark. starting the morning off well, i knew it would be a good day. Martha and I had omlettes for breakfast and then she dropped me off at Hopes, saving me the 10 min walk. I waited there for Hope who had gone to talk to the contractor who is building the new health clinic. eventually we headed out to Agonga, where Ill be running the program to see the site and the new health centre. Luckily the contractor drove us bc that beast is far! took like 13 minutes driving. meaning er 40 walking? hoping they get that bike, though the conversation is back to the boda- ugh! maybe i can be hardcore and drive a motorcycle... just dont want to pay for gas! and the excercise from biking would be awesome- though i did go to aerobics tonight (more on that later).
after seeing the site we came back to the current health centre and i met hellen who will realy be the one helping me run this program. I also met Rose, an older community member who is really the backbone it seems of the who NGO. She is the community key informant. she is the mobilizer and she gets people to come. As we arrived there was a line of children waiting to get de-worming pills and vitamin A. Mothers were there to get tetnus injections. i asked Hope a bit about that process and apparently the kids are supposed to get the de-worming tablets every 6 months but they are chewable orange goodies and they often come every month. fundingwise this isnt sustainable, but until better records can be kept, i suppose it is to happen. they do at least record each child they give a tablet to.
anyway, back to Rose. she listened to the program idea and said she would get kids for saturday! wow, this is really going to happen. we went over the plan in depth today and talked through with hellen what I will need and how she can also work to make this sustainable. basically the kickball league will be comprised of 4 teams, each will be coached by 3 youth (think 18-24) from the youth club. They will play games every weekend and on wednesday as well when they are out of school. they will practice together and coaches will also help teach kids about sportsmanship and manners. Each saturday before the games the kids will attend a workshop which will rotate health, education, community partners, and fun. The health will be nurses teaching them about HIV/AIDS, sexual and reprodutive health, hygeiene (hand washing and teeth brushing). The education will be a mix of life skills and tutoring/lessons. We will talk about leadership and pick team captains for each team, etc. community partner workshops will really be role model/career days. each workshop two members of the communiyt wll come talk about their career and how they got to where they are. the influence will be on staying in school, trying and caring about your education, and aspriring to be something. most kids in Agonga have given up on doing anything and dont try at school. hopefully these community partners can help encourage this kids and they can set some goals. the fun days will include group games and individual games like jump rope, bubbles, silly string. basically just to give them some unstructured time to play together.
The program calander is set through December, so they should be able to run this without me. The coaches will be instrumental in leading some of the workshops and i hope to prepare them for these before i leave. i will be here through the first 7 games! So this was what i spent my day finalizing.There are tons of statistics ad the likes that go with the formal progrm plan but none of you would be interested in those- i can hear the Sowos now! NO MORE! bahaha.
its been really fun to use the skills ive learned in program development for something i will actually run! makes last semester seem sooo much more useful and worth the crazy stress!
Got home today with samosas in hand for dinner! ahh such a treat! gotta lay off these or ill come back sluggish and all. actually, i saved my samosas for after aerobics at the acholi inn wth my housemate. Now. think billy blanks- tight spandex and all, with blaring african techno and a ugandan accent. THAT is what I went to tonight! glorious! then at the end we stretched to this slow, dreadful country song from the US. the change was so drastic i couldnt help but giggle. they have this m-tr and martha will go as often as she can. the people at hte hotel know her and didnt make me pay, which is nice. it was hot as helllllll and the stank was pretty vibrant! i felt like the uncoordinated musungu in a room of ugandans, but it was fun. and might even get me in shape- although it was only moderately hard. better than nothing i say!
came home and took my first gulu shower... yes, i got here saturday, dont judge, im in africa ok? i cleaned the important bits. took about 30 minutes to bucket shower my insanely long hair. dont think i really realized how long it is. luckily it will not get washed all that often. africa people!
and now i should be wrking on my program plan but im blogging to all of you. took some pictures at the health clinic today, will try to post them soon and im sure anne is dying to know what my house here looks like and all. Anne you can stalk my housemate like mom did, lol. shes my friend on facebook. music is blaring tonight- will be interesting to sleep. but im sure ill manage.
all in all, a great day! hope leaves wednesday morning, so im anxious about and feeling program ready. hellen wil be a huge help and martha of course is great for home things. she is leaving super early tomorow so i will cook my own omlette! eeek! just hope i can get the jiko to light! (caling it a jiko because I have yet to learn the acholi word). speakin of acholi, an a tye kafwonyo leb acholi motmot... ah! i do remember it! that means i am learning acholi slowly! Rose laughed hard when i told her that. Think she will be AWESOME to teach me.
afoyo my loves,
happy summer!
after seeing the site we came back to the current health centre and i met hellen who will realy be the one helping me run this program. I also met Rose, an older community member who is really the backbone it seems of the who NGO. She is the community key informant. she is the mobilizer and she gets people to come. As we arrived there was a line of children waiting to get de-worming pills and vitamin A. Mothers were there to get tetnus injections. i asked Hope a bit about that process and apparently the kids are supposed to get the de-worming tablets every 6 months but they are chewable orange goodies and they often come every month. fundingwise this isnt sustainable, but until better records can be kept, i suppose it is to happen. they do at least record each child they give a tablet to.
anyway, back to Rose. she listened to the program idea and said she would get kids for saturday! wow, this is really going to happen. we went over the plan in depth today and talked through with hellen what I will need and how she can also work to make this sustainable. basically the kickball league will be comprised of 4 teams, each will be coached by 3 youth (think 18-24) from the youth club. They will play games every weekend and on wednesday as well when they are out of school. they will practice together and coaches will also help teach kids about sportsmanship and manners. Each saturday before the games the kids will attend a workshop which will rotate health, education, community partners, and fun. The health will be nurses teaching them about HIV/AIDS, sexual and reprodutive health, hygeiene (hand washing and teeth brushing). The education will be a mix of life skills and tutoring/lessons. We will talk about leadership and pick team captains for each team, etc. community partner workshops will really be role model/career days. each workshop two members of the communiyt wll come talk about their career and how they got to where they are. the influence will be on staying in school, trying and caring about your education, and aspriring to be something. most kids in Agonga have given up on doing anything and dont try at school. hopefully these community partners can help encourage this kids and they can set some goals. the fun days will include group games and individual games like jump rope, bubbles, silly string. basically just to give them some unstructured time to play together.
The program calander is set through December, so they should be able to run this without me. The coaches will be instrumental in leading some of the workshops and i hope to prepare them for these before i leave. i will be here through the first 7 games! So this was what i spent my day finalizing.There are tons of statistics ad the likes that go with the formal progrm plan but none of you would be interested in those- i can hear the Sowos now! NO MORE! bahaha.
its been really fun to use the skills ive learned in program development for something i will actually run! makes last semester seem sooo much more useful and worth the crazy stress!
Got home today with samosas in hand for dinner! ahh such a treat! gotta lay off these or ill come back sluggish and all. actually, i saved my samosas for after aerobics at the acholi inn wth my housemate. Now. think billy blanks- tight spandex and all, with blaring african techno and a ugandan accent. THAT is what I went to tonight! glorious! then at the end we stretched to this slow, dreadful country song from the US. the change was so drastic i couldnt help but giggle. they have this m-tr and martha will go as often as she can. the people at hte hotel know her and didnt make me pay, which is nice. it was hot as helllllll and the stank was pretty vibrant! i felt like the uncoordinated musungu in a room of ugandans, but it was fun. and might even get me in shape- although it was only moderately hard. better than nothing i say!
came home and took my first gulu shower... yes, i got here saturday, dont judge, im in africa ok? i cleaned the important bits. took about 30 minutes to bucket shower my insanely long hair. dont think i really realized how long it is. luckily it will not get washed all that often. africa people!
and now i should be wrking on my program plan but im blogging to all of you. took some pictures at the health clinic today, will try to post them soon and im sure anne is dying to know what my house here looks like and all. Anne you can stalk my housemate like mom did, lol. shes my friend on facebook. music is blaring tonight- will be interesting to sleep. but im sure ill manage.
all in all, a great day! hope leaves wednesday morning, so im anxious about and feeling program ready. hellen wil be a huge help and martha of course is great for home things. she is leaving super early tomorow so i will cook my own omlette! eeek! just hope i can get the jiko to light! (caling it a jiko because I have yet to learn the acholi word). speakin of acholi, an a tye kafwonyo leb acholi motmot... ah! i do remember it! that means i am learning acholi slowly! Rose laughed hard when i told her that. Think she will be AWESOME to teach me.
afoyo my loves,
happy summer!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
pictures
Hopes adorable 2 year old sweeping!
preparing greens... yum!!
Hope and Julius, my fabulous Hosts!
power is back. now to restart the pictures... blah!
anyway, think i posted all i meant to post
ah no, gulu centre is about the size of downtown carboro- armadillo to the farmers market.
think thats about all, lol. lil factoid.
ah and Hope will take me to a wedding in one months time. pretty fun! never been to an african wedding! have to get something to wear! think ill have a dress made... will find a fundi this week.
pictures- power out
More blog time! yesss.
The above pictures are in Kampala. The big house is where Hope and Julius live. The others are around the area I stayed and my swanky bathroom at the guest house! Havent taken any in Gulu yet, but will try to soon to appease my sister. AND power just went out, wnt load pictures tonight.
Gulu town centre is a grid of 3 long roads and 5 short ones- think three rows, 5 columns. seems very easy. I already know where the supermarkets, a cute bakery, and the posti are. Tomorrow il go to the clinic with hope.
was a lazy sunday- tends to be the case. I hung out with Hope and Martha a bit (think I called her Nancy before- dont know whyyy i kept calling her that!) my housemate. Apparently, the two hours a day of power is not the case- at least so far. we have had power all day yesterday and again today. nice little surprise, i was prepared for nada. also, i have only heard rain twice in my whole time here, not ever seen it during the day. thats a nice surprise too. but im sure it will make up for it later!
Mom is sending a package soon with some things for the kiddos, and my big floppy straw hat! YESS! shoulda brought it in the first place anyway. and we've already got money for a handful of balls! Thanks guys!!
no power, trying to post before laptop dies!
take luck
The above pictures are in Kampala. The big house is where Hope and Julius live. The others are around the area I stayed and my swanky bathroom at the guest house! Havent taken any in Gulu yet, but will try to soon to appease my sister. AND power just went out, wnt load pictures tonight.
Gulu town centre is a grid of 3 long roads and 5 short ones- think three rows, 5 columns. seems very easy. I already know where the supermarkets, a cute bakery, and the posti are. Tomorrow il go to the clinic with hope.
was a lazy sunday- tends to be the case. I hung out with Hope and Martha a bit (think I called her Nancy before- dont know whyyy i kept calling her that!) my housemate. Apparently, the two hours a day of power is not the case- at least so far. we have had power all day yesterday and again today. nice little surprise, i was prepared for nada. also, i have only heard rain twice in my whole time here, not ever seen it during the day. thats a nice surprise too. but im sure it will make up for it later!
Mom is sending a package soon with some things for the kiddos, and my big floppy straw hat! YESS! shoulda brought it in the first place anyway. and we've already got money for a handful of balls! Thanks guys!!
no power, trying to post before laptop dies!
take luck
quick
hi all,
dont have much time... but i am in Gulu! the bus was long but not miserable. i sat next to a man who also places volunteers so we had a decent conversation. he works with refugees and human rights, which is cool. gulu is small- about what i expected. im in the flat now and met martha, my 26 year old housemate this morning. she seems very nice and outgoing and excited to have me here. should be fun. she sells beer in the district and so she is out a lot and knows a lot of people. she also said she might run with me! thinking im not too keen on running alone yet, at least not where the flat is, too busy. I rode a boda (motorcycle) yesterday- made me a lil nervous, the driver laughed at me when i told him to be careful, he had precious cargo.
seem to have reliable power so far in Gulu, might just be the weekend though. not sure how internet will work out, should have good access when hope is in town and at least check emails in the office. looks like ill be eating a lot of omlettes, which is good- especially since i like mine plain, makes it easy since thats what we get over here. Hope is cooking stew for me now because she knows i like it : )
all in all, things are good. havent seen the office yet, not sure ill have a bike, but think i have my bearings of town and where the flat is. not as hot as i expected. its quite comfortable inside, so thats good and at night. we shall see! kickball will be hot, im sure. but nice to know ill have some break. Nancy is already set to find me an MSW so i can come back here for my field work, rather than go to Kenya. lol.
alright. more later and hopefully some pictures!
ah and some acholi words Ive learned!
take luck
dont have much time... but i am in Gulu! the bus was long but not miserable. i sat next to a man who also places volunteers so we had a decent conversation. he works with refugees and human rights, which is cool. gulu is small- about what i expected. im in the flat now and met martha, my 26 year old housemate this morning. she seems very nice and outgoing and excited to have me here. should be fun. she sells beer in the district and so she is out a lot and knows a lot of people. she also said she might run with me! thinking im not too keen on running alone yet, at least not where the flat is, too busy. I rode a boda (motorcycle) yesterday- made me a lil nervous, the driver laughed at me when i told him to be careful, he had precious cargo.
seem to have reliable power so far in Gulu, might just be the weekend though. not sure how internet will work out, should have good access when hope is in town and at least check emails in the office. looks like ill be eating a lot of omlettes, which is good- especially since i like mine plain, makes it easy since thats what we get over here. Hope is cooking stew for me now because she knows i like it : )
all in all, things are good. havent seen the office yet, not sure ill have a bike, but think i have my bearings of town and where the flat is. not as hot as i expected. its quite comfortable inside, so thats good and at night. we shall see! kickball will be hot, im sure. but nice to know ill have some break. Nancy is already set to find me an MSW so i can come back here for my field work, rather than go to Kenya. lol.
alright. more later and hopefully some pictures!
ah and some acholi words Ive learned!
take luck
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