Lot's on my plate

October 1st 2008

I have been here for three weeks now, things are getting a bit easier. I can only imagine it will get better from here on in. The fact that I am walking everywhere still is a little strenuous, I am hoping to save for a scooter somehow in order to help make my daily trips into Mukono or Kampala more productive and efficient. I noticed during my first two weeks here I had a hard time focusing as there was a lot to do and a lot of pressure to get it done. I resorted back to some mental health activities I often did at home to alleviate stress like playing my guitar and exercising. I now set aside at least an hour to play guitar each day, and wake up to do a short workout before breakfast every morning. I seem to have my head on a little better since I have started doing this and as already said things are moving along. Since visiting Kampala on the weekends I had started buying eggs to make at my friends house for breakfast. When I came home last weekend I figured I Would buy some here and see if Mrs. Lukwago would make them once and a while. The plan turned out and she has made me a really good fried egg sandwich every day this week with my evening tea. Another good thing to note is that the constant potato meals are becoming less and less, then again I was thinking that this morning while walking to the table for breakfast only to find a bowl full or potatoes, so I guess I shouldn’t say anything yet. These days rice, posha (which is ground/mashed maize – maize is corn) and beans once and a while the meals really have no flavor but I am getting used to them nonetheless.
I had organized a group meeting for members of Beacon of Hope Uganda. It was Tuesday at 2pm, but that’s irrelevant to you. What occurred at this meeting was important, I noticed the organization had no financial department or even a proper constitution that could be used as guidelines to organizational procedures. I set up both and attempted to show them, I think they really liked it and welcomed the new ideas. The main problem was that nobody wanted the role as finance director, well guess who wound up with that, I did. I am now acting Program director and finance director, yes there could be some conflict of interest but I have set some decent checks and balances in the constitution in case I decide to be rebellious and fund only things I want to do. I did however get two members to agree to try and learn the finance stuff, it’s really easy and I know that they need to keep doing it once I leave. I think the part that scared them most as that they have to hand over all financial records to a auditor once a year, first off it may be too expensive for them, secondly they have no idea what auditing is, and why they even have to do it. I am going to arrange a few tutorial sessions to try and teach them the basics. Here’s hoping it will work.
Since I have been here I think I have seen Jacob, the youngest boy wear the exact same thing every day. He waltzed into my room yesterday, with a new shirt on and the largest grin any child could have, “new shirt,” he yelled, I just laughed, he is quite the ham, much like Mark is but is really shy when you first meet him, it took about two weeks for him to come out of his shell. Apparently his sisters had bought him a few ne shirts and he tried every single one of them on and waltzed into my room like he was in some sort of New York City Fashion show. It was a good day for Jacob.
I have been going for walks before it gets dark, it’s a nice break from my work as I am often still typing away on my computer until 7 or 8. Yesterday I decided to bring my camera with me and take some pictures of some of the scenery around the area. While taking a picture a middle aged man came out of nowhere and walked right in front of my camera as the flash went off. He turned to me and started rambling on and on about something, I had no idea what he was saying but his friend rushed over and translated. Apparently he was mad that I had taken his picture, meanwhile I Was thinking in my head, you gotta be kidding me buddy, you ruined my shot, I didn’t even want you in the picture. However, as I am the foreigner I felt I had to respect the man/s wishes and delete the photo, originally he wanted my camera but told his friend that it was digital and that the photo had been erased. The whole scenario really didn’t faze me that much, I just laughed about it when I was walking back home. When I arrived back at the house I was greeted by a hoard of children begging me to take a picture of them, so I did. When I showed them the digital photos after on the camera display they would all literally fall over laughing. Mom you know how you have to try so hard to get our photos, come here, you will have the entire country of kids willing to stand still for a snap.
Isaac took me to see my new pad. I am apparently moving sometime soon to an apartment right downtown Mukono. It will be much easier for me as I will not have to walk a far distance for the internet anymore and I am hoping that the power will be more stable there…highly unlikely. The new place is in a compound which makes it appear safe. It is a small redbrick building that has two rooms, no sink, or running water. There is a section of one room that has a water drain and they are supposedly putting in a shower and toilet there! I can’t even imagine having the luxury of having a shower or toilet in my own place, I guess I know what I will be using as my new office chair. I plan to buy a hot plate to cook some meals and a few pots so not having an actually kitchen will not be that bad, nothing I can’t handle. I was thinking of getting a small fridge however the power goes out so often most things I keep in their would spoil quickly, I figure I will just buy powdered milk instead, and plan to keep things like peanut butter in safe secure places away from any ants. There is only one strict rule: NO potatoes.
I have been given more vegetables as of late, carrots mainly. The first time they gave me a carrot it had a substantial amount of dirt on it, my exact response was, “uhhh, can I wash this?” All they did was laugh and said, “Don’t worry Rose already washed it.” So there I was with a huge carrot seasoned with the finest African soil. I ate, the whole thing, it was pretty good actually and the dirt was not as discernable as I would have thought. My dad always told me I would eat a peck of dirt by the time I die, so I figured I might as well get a taste for different kinds.
Other things that I have eaten with dirt on them…
- Random berries they have picked to give me while on walks.
- My rice, since it is cooked on a dirt floor some dust is accidently sprinkled on the rice, ash as well from the fire
Like Popa Herb always used to say, “It’ll put hair on your chest.”
I could never refuse any of these things they give me dirt or not dirt. If I did it would alienate me from them making them believe that I think I am better than them and deserve different foods. They keep telling me about these white ants they catch from the hills outside the house, I promised them I would try a small amount to see if I like them first. The two best things I have done since coming here is one, attempt to learn the language, and two, try all the local foods and be thankful for what I receive. So far they love me for doing that and I am making some great friends in the process.
On October 1st I experienced my first earthquake, after a long day of walking I came home and decided I would go for a short nap. Just as I put my head on the pillow the whole house starting shaking, it wasn’t a very big, probably a 2-3 on the Richter scale. Earthquakes are common around here and they have never had ones that are destructive. I never ended up having a nap, the earthquake gave me a little jolt of energy and I decided to go outside to enjoy the rest of the day.
I am working in the website this weekend for Beacon of Hope we will have new stuff, pictures etc. so check it out at…
www.freewebs.com/beaconofhopeuganda/