Today was an interesting day – I went in a bit late because I was told everyone would be busy readying for a meeting with the funders and I would meet-and-greet. So I dressed accordingly, though by the time I tried to iron my clothes the electricity was off again, prompting me to put on … Read more
Red dust is the prevailing characteristic of this place. I’m sorry, but it’s the most ubiquitous of characteristics. Some places in Africa have Baboons (we passed some stealing fruit from a fruit stand after crossing the Nile), some have tea plantations (west near the Rwenzori mountains), some have exotic animals. We have dust and this … Read more
Finally! Today was the swearing in ceremony held at the home of the Charge d’Affairs for the Ambassador to Uganda. With best friends, Bill, Holly and Betty: we made it. Beautiful setting, moving ceremony and we are celebrating tonight. Moving to Gulu town tomorrow early and trading out my internet modem for a new network … Read more
So it rained heavily last night (no surprise there – it IS the rainy season), making the hike into the training site especially fun – waist high grass and deep mud, punctuated by foot-deep puddles, cow pies, ornery cows and chomping goats along the trail. One volunteer was lifted off the ground on the horns … Read more
Things are wrapping up with training and we are all so ready to go to our sites. But as I prepare to leave my Home Stay family, I leave with a bit of sadness. I’m attached to this lovely family who have taken in this Mzungu and welcomed me as one of their own. There … Read more
We are back from Technical Training – i.e. spending a few days immersed in the types of activities we may be encountering with our own NGO (non profits). It was a 6 hour ride in a bus filled with mostly Ugandans and live chickens. Yes – after a lunch break where, lusting after anything … Read more
Today felt a bit like turning a corner. We have 24 days of training left and have had both our personal assessments by trainers and a mock language test. The assessment was excellent and they even want 10 copies of my book (Moving Your Aging Parents) to begin looking at the aging population in Uganda. … Read more
Contrary to some rumors about my absence over the last two weeks or so, I have not been eaten, mauled by tigers or carried off into the bush. I’ve been off in Acholi Land for Language Immersion and a Future Site Visit to use PC terms (translate as Peace Corps terms – I quit worrying … Read more
Pinky is my family’s dog. Dogs are not pets here – they are the functional equivalent of a watchman. They are fed scraps and often (read usually) mistreated. There are wild dog packs that eat livestock and attack people (sometimes) if you dare to venture out at night to go to the latrine. Yes … Read more
I’m sitting here listening to the sound of soft rain falling on the tin roof as the storm which has been rumbling for the last hour moves away. Muddy red rivulets of water are rushing toward the road, Pinky – the ever faithful dog who has adopted me as part of his tribe and follows me … Read more