My fifth week in Uganda

No, I haven’t skipped a week but I went back and counted and Sunday March 7th marks the end of my fifth week in Uganda! So far the time here has been full of new experiences and challenges. Here are the highlights from my fifth week.

1. Today’s special- Sometimes it really is the little things that make all the difference. During lunch one day, I was told today’s special was matoke but when I lifted thee lid it was spaghetti!! After weeks of eating only “local food” at home: beans, groundnut sauce, cassava, posha, matoke, and goat, it was such a treat to get familiar food!!

2. Birds and worms- Last Saturday, we had our second UNITE meeting with all the teachers and headmasters that are currently involved in our program. My favorite part was when I taught them a new activity on camafloge and animal adaptation to do with their students called “Birds and Worms”. The activity is a relay race where each person is a “bird” and they are trying to find the “worms” hidden in the ground. In this case the “worms” were green coffee, dried corn, and groundnuts. It was hilarious to watch the teachers and headmasters topple over each other trying to get to the worms!!

3. After weeks of waiting- We had two baby goats born this week. They are absolutely adorable. Now at the homestead we have two adult goats, two baby goats, a few chickens, and two dogs.

4. Samilyn, samilyn- Leon, the now seventeen month old who I live with has just learned to say my name but it comes out as “samilyn”. It’s too cute. This week he also figured out that he can walk from his parents house to my banda by himself. So now when I’m working in my banda, I hear the pitter patter of little feet and “samilyn, samilyn”, I know I have a visitor!

5. I can help with that- After the disastrous experience of me attempting to help with the laudry and peeling matokee, we have found three things that I can do. I am becoming skilled at shelling groudonuts (peanuts), peeling beans, and roasting groundnuts! Three very marketable skills!

6. Children’s performances- On a school visit this week; I was treated to a wonderful performance of traditional folk songs and dances from the two tribes of this region. It is nice to music and dance still have a place in schools, it’s something I think American schools could learn from Uganda! The children are so very talented.

7. Something I can do- Often when I go to visit schools, the problems they want my help with are so big ; like not enough teachers, too many students, falling down buildings or no permanent buildings at all, that often what I can do to impact those areas is minimal. However, this week a school needed help with sanitary supplies for girls, playground and soccer balls, a few extra uniforms, and a couple of basins for bathing. I could help with those things. I gave them the 20,000 Uganda shillings that I had on me (about $10) which would buy two uniforms and two basins and promised to help with the other items soon.

8. Little luxuries- This weekend, I stayed at a lovely guest house in Fort Portal and had my first shower, porcelain toilet, double bed, and salad in over a month! The guest house is run by a wonderful British/Dutch couple who prepare the most wonderful western food, it was a real treat. We even had a baked desert. In Bigodi, our foods are either steamed, roasted, or fried over a charcoal or kerosene burner. Nothing is baked since we don’t have a stove as we have no electricity.

9. It’s a small world- At the guest house; I met two American’s from the Oregon Zoo who are here working on a similar conservation education program. One of the women grew up in Raleigh!!! It was great to hear a southern accent.

10. Star light star bright- The stars here are absolutely incredible. I have never seen so many stars and they are so bright. I only wish I knew more about stars, at the moment all I can point out is the little dipper!

11. Ugandan wildlife- The wildlife here is truly amazing. One of my favorite things to do is to take the guided walk in the Bigodi Wetland Sanctuary. The walk takes about 3 hours and is truly breathtaking. On my most recent walk, I saw three kinds of monkeys, many different species of birds, and even had raw sugar cane!

12. A view of the mountains- From the porch of my banda, I have the most incredible view of the Rwenzori Mountains. I love to sit out there in the evenings and watch the sun set.

13. One day at a time- So far this has proven to be an amazing adventure but it does have its challenges. There are still many days when I miss my home, friends, and especially my pets. I try to just take it one day at a time and enjoy this incredible adventure.