1. Technology can fail you no matter where you are- I had a very eloquent blog written that I saved on my jump drive but the computer here in the Internet cafe can't read it as these computers don't have MS 2007!
2. Life goes on- In just the week since I left one of my best friends uncle has been diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and my high school best friends first baby was born 6 weeks early! I'm sorry to not be there for these.
3. Hospitality is not just limited to the south- I have been treated with such kindness since I've been here. The family I'm living with has done everything to make me feel at home including giving me a bookshelf for my banda (house) once they saw how many books I had!
4. Potatoes make great gifts- After going and visiting family of the Tinka family that I'm living with their Aunt gave me a sack of potatoes to thank me for my visit. I should have been the one thanking her! People may not have much in the way of material possions but they give what they have and they are truly rich in love.
5. Monkeys are easy to spot with a good guide- On the trip to Bigodi last Weds with Tinka we saw Baboons and black and white columbus monkeys. Then on Friday on a 3 hour guided walk of the Bigodi swamp we saw red columbus monkeys, red tail monkeys, and mackerbee monkeys. They were so playful. I can't wait till I can post pictures.
6. Peanut sauce goes with everything- So peanuts or groundnuts as they are called here are very common. Groundnut sauce is served with nearly every meal and is put over cassava, sweet potatoes, steamed bananas, bread, vegetables, and the list goes on. I've learned if I don't like something, I can just bury it in groundnut sauce and it's fine.
7. There are still great needs here. The first few days were tough as I was adjusting to the extreme poverty all round me. Women and children have to carry water from unsafe distances back to their homes. We have a cisterne at my home but out of 500 in Bigodi we are the only ones! They need just $2100 to bring a pipe system to the village. If you would like to donate please let me know. In addition to un safe water, people are malnourished, school have no resources, and the list goes on.
8. Less is more- less is more in so many ways here. However, I am specially speaking of shampoo. See I bath using two basins, one gallon of hot water, one gallon of cold, and a cup for mixing the two. I am find with having a sponge bath, where I mess up i using two much shampoo and not having enough water to get the shampoo out of my hair.
9. Uganda is a beautiful country- From the mountains to the forest to the wildlife to the lakes, Uganda is a beautiful country.
10. There are drive-thus here-now before you get all worried that KFC and McDonlads have taken over Uganda what I'm taking about is the original drive thu. Here there are charcoal grills set up on the side of the road and as you stop your car. 5 or more people come cover asking if you want a roasted banana, roasted chicken or beef etc...
No comments:
Post a Comment