Following a late return from the workshop in Kampala, I had just enough time to do hand laundry and pack for another few days at All Volunteer meetup (known as AllVol) in Kitgum at the Y.Y. Okot school for Girls, where both students and staff, families included, live. Therefore there was always a gaggle of … Read more
There’s an expression we heard over and over again in training, and it had little cultural significance then A few months at site and the the week described below brought the expression home to me in a way I could not have imagined earlier. “Are we together?” i.e. are we on the same page, are … Read more
There are reasons I’d rather drink bleach than ride a bus to Kampala and yesterday I remembered all of them. We started at 8:45 in theory. Actually, mentally I started two days before, asking staff, “Now, how are are we getting to Kampala?” Praying against hope that we would go in a vehicle other … Read more
The Mosquito Zapping proved to be a diversion from the usual night activity, but I soon learned that one has to hold down a little button after turning the thing on. Instruction reading not being my forte I was not informed of this by Jaron, the current title holder in Mosquito Zapping, until I was … Read more
Yesterday dawned cool and breezy – lovely clouds in the sky – some looking like rain. I got excited – thinking optimistically that they would accidentally spill a few drops. They were just teasers… no rain – but one can dream. As I walked into town, with hat and sunglasses – always sunglasses, I … Read more
When our group of twelve was posted to Northern Uganda, five of us in Gulu Town, we were told its NGO central. I don’t have a list of all of the non-profits here, but suffice it to say, if you threw a rock, (if you could get it out of your hand before being run … Read more
The closest translation to that is Happy New Year and as it turns out New Year’s Eve is THE big celebration of the year. And frankly celebrating the birth of 2012, which is supposed to be a momentous year in evolutionary and spiritual terms, in Uganda is a bit surreal. I keep thinking I should … Read more
Christmas dawned bright and clear on this little island in the middle of the Nile, reachable only by canoe. Considering that I was away from family and old friends and the familiarity of Christmas at home (including cold weather) – it was the best possible, breathtakingly gorgeous and spent with good people. Surrounded … Read more
You all know I have two sons. One, I communicate regularly with by phone. That would be Brett, Director, Ski Patrol, Timberline) on the mountain, risking life-and-limb every day as I see it. The oldest is Travis, in the city now after coming back from a lucrative IT defense contractor post in Bagdad, a job … Read more
First of all – it is NOT raining… just thought I’d clear that up. But certainly it is getting ready to – nice overcast skies – perfect for sitting outside as I hobbled (less obviously, but still enough to attract comment due crutches and new blue) to the Kabira Country Club again to enjoy another … Read more