“We have a mouse,” the text from my housemate says…. “Have you named it?” I reply. “Skid.” “Did you or did he – skid, that is?” I asked. At the time I was half-way through my first solo bus ride back to Gulu. I mention “solo” because I had been dreading this – we all dread travel. … Read more
It finally happened… after a pretty decent day yesterday which started with a hike across town for a Cappuccino and an apple tart (or a reasonable facsimile thereof) my trusty Mac (called a dinosaur by some – its being a 2008 version) was put on life support today and has rallied with a cable transplant … Read more
Everything around here is just different – even things that would appear somehow the same – as in the language, which is English, but different somehow. Even the word somehow takes on meaning that is uniquely Ugandan – meanings almost, about, the-same-but-not-really, sometime, maybe, your-guess-is-as-good-as-mine, makes-no-sense etc. So everyday, there’s a bit of something that just … Read more
Well that’s not entirely true…. there IS water, sometime, but it has been cause for some minor panic. “Water is finished – again,” as they say and we are back to hauling it in. At one point, there was even a run on drinking water sold in the ubiquitous plastic bottles. When we couldn’t … Read more
Some days not much happens here – and that would be a plus. Everyone, including supervisors has been in a pissy mood because of the heat. A friend mentioned to me that I talk a lot about what is happening over here, but not much about how I FEEL. Well, that’s complicated – and because … Read more
There are many of these around – and that tells you something. Here’s another based on first hand experience… Thanks to fellow PCVs – you get a broader perspective 😉 Read it and weep, laugh and wonder, “Just how nuts do you have to be to do this?” Well – as Jimmy Buffett … Read more
Aaaaah – Gulu Town. I remember this. Hot, dusty, noisy, dirty – but temporarily “home” nevertheless. Most of us have left the surrounds of IST and points in between and have returned “home.” Climbed on a Homeland Bus this morning and landed a decent seat thanks to another PCV who called ahead and reserved! … Read more
“I speak Acholi a little…” And at least well enough to pass the second round of testing. It was about as badly handled as something like that can be – our language trainers being the only bright spot in an otherwise dark journey. The whole remaining group of 40 (one more has been Medically … Read more
It was a day like any other – somehow, except that it started in Kampala. I awoke at 5:30 AM, not to the Call to Prayer this time or roosters, but courtesy of the hotel cleaning staff. This morning’s headache from the three sips of beer (it’s hell getting old) I’d had the night … Read more
Contrary to what you might be thinking, I have not fallen off the planet nor had all my teeth pulled out with pliers. Although, a bus ride to Kampala is close to being in another dimension, this one was pretty good as 5 hour bus rides go. It was a it overcast and coolish and … Read more