Hello everyone!
I am home safe and sound now. I am still a little jet-lagged (7 hour nap yesterday, and up until 2 am last night!) but feeling great! I miss Uganda already, but am glad to be home around the creature comforts of America! I spent about 2 hours yesterday just walking around Fred Meyer and marveling at all the options and varieties we have readily available to us here in the USA. It truly is a marvel to appreciate.
I have much to show and tell you now that I'm home with fast-speed internet, external hard drive memory, and zero power outages!! YAY! Be sure to check out my photos and videos I'll be updating today on this blog and on my Facebook page. I will also be trying to update some of my "Ugandan quotes" as I remember them...there were some hilarious ones, but I wasn't good at writing them down as I heard them! I will attempt to remember today.
The last week at House of Hope was amazing. I was really just starting to get to know some of the kids living at House of Hope and making some pretty cool memories with them. We played soccer in the field across the road...and the Ugandans were amazed that not only can "muzungus" play "football", but that the girls could play too! Auntie Elise and I had a blast running and marveling at the skill of the kids. (I also had a perfect assist in a goal once - maybe my "pro soccer brother" Graham and I do have some sport skills!! hahaha). I thought about how much I wanted to take those boys I played soccer with to a Seattle Sounders Game...and how much they would love the event - wide eyed, smiling, and happy. I would like to take each HoH student to Disneyland - could you imagine how fun that would be!?! If only...
I taught English to P6 every day. We studied conditional clauses ("if/then") and comprehension of story lines as I read them animals stories in English. They seemed to enjoy our time. We played volleyball (with a not-as-inflated soccer ball...ouch! oh well, T.I.A. - "this is Africa"!) and painted with watercolors and made more bead jewelry.
My last day I made craft projects with each class (Baby to P7) and took photos. The baby class especially liked the stickers I brought. I don't think they've seen many stickers. But once I showed them how to peel them off and that they "stick", the kids started "decorating" their ENTIRE FACES and clothes!! Hahahha...it was hilarious. The rest of the day, some kids would turn around and her face would be COVERED in random animal and princess stickers! Oh...I wish I did that project sooner! Then the kids did another dancing ceremony (similar to the songs and dances in the videos I will upload) to wish me a safe journey. They sang songs with my name in it. They presented me with a home-made woven basket. It was beautiful. I almost cried, but I held it together. I didn't want to kids to think something was wrong. I just wanted them to remember smiles and laughter and my joy at their work. Because I was so happy with them.
After the ceremony, I wanted to go on a hike up one of the many hills I've been staring at for a month. So teacher Musa, Elise, and 7 kids and I made the trek up a hill next to House of Hope. It was absolutely breath-taking. Gorgeous. And the kids were so free to be kids in the tall elephant grasses - not competing for my attention with 200 others. It was so peaceful and quiet. I took lots of photos. We lingered for hours there and avoided coming back down until the sun came down. It was an awesome memory and the best last day I could ask for.
The next morning, I hung out with the kids at "porridge" (typical Ugandan breakfast. It looks and tastes JUST like the "Grits" I've had before in Washington D.C.) and then read them a story aloud on the grasses before I journeyed away from the village. They were sad. I was sad. And I cried. I already missed them. I then made my way to Masaka to Jenifer's. I helped her with some volunteer correspondence and planning for upcoming visits and worked on more grant applications.
The next day, thanks to your donations, we paid for two HoH boys (Jophes, pronouced "Jo-Fess", and Frank) to see the doctor at the hospital for muscular-skeletal consultations. THANK YOU! For around $60 USD, you allowed these two village boys to travel to Masaka Town, to the hospital, doctor fees, X-rays, and for another taxi home back in the village. They are much better now and getting the necessary medications for healing.
Jenifer dropped me off at World Vision offices in Masaka for my visit with Viola!! Finally! The day I get to meet my sponsored child (through World Vision) had come! I was going to see her! We drove to her village where about 50 people gathered at a tarp-covered reception area!! I was very surprised to see this because I was expecting to just see her for lunch! I got out and 30 kids were jumping up and down and singing my name, welcoming me! I gave Viola a big hug and she sat me down at a seat of honor! They had even picked wild flowers to decorate my chair!! I then met several neighbors, teachers, village leaders, and Viola's family. Then her school choir sang songs to me for about 30 minutes!! They were so good! I was so pleased. Then her father gave me a 10 minute speech in ENGLISH! Wow. Then they fed me a FEAST fit for the King of Buganda! They had killed two chickens, beef, g-nut sauce, matoke, spinach, sweet potatoe, bananas and sweet bananas, rice, cabbage, casava, soda, bottled water, and more. It was the most food I've ever seen in my entire month in Uganda. They were so generous and kind. It was an amazing gift to give me. Viola then showed me her garden and the presents they purchased with my Christmas gift (one-time larger donation.) The World Vision Staff asked me "Jillian...did you give Viola and her family a Christmas gift donation?" "Yes, I believe I did." "And Jillian, did you ask them to purchase a goat with the money?" "Well, yes I did. I thought they could get milk and sell the goat offspring if they had a goat." "Well Jillian, Viola has something to show you...". Viola led me to the milk-white female goat they bought with my gift! It was her favorite animal! I was very pleased. We then exchanged gifts - and yes - I said EXCHANGED. They gave me: a floor mat they made, a broom with my name woven in the handle, two hand woven baskets full of avocados, and three branches of matoke (equivalent of $15 USD worth of produce they could have sold. Instead, they wanted to bless me for being a sponsor). I was blown away. I cried with smiles. I was overwhelmed. Here, these people have literally NOTHING compared to what I accumulated by 1 year old, and they were giving me the best they had, months of work, entertainment, and the best of their crops to feed me. I've never seen such generosity. I was humbled. I gave Viola (and her village since everyone shares everything so that no one is left behind): a backpack, new shoes, socks, notebooks, pens, pencils, a kerosene lamp, kerosene fuel, a soccer ball, and a bead kit full of colorful beads that the girls will all use in their hair weaves. They were pretty excited. They sang a few more goodbye songs to me and I left to go re-pack my luggage to hold the new unexpected woven gifts given to me. The new gifts I will use forever and proudly display in my home as long as I live.
My time in Uganda has been amazing. Astonishing. I feel like Uganda and its people gave more to me than I could ever give to them. I'm grateful and humbled. I've been so honored to have heard, seen, and loved in this gorgeous country. Please, if you ever get the opportunity to visit East Africa - DO IT! Don't even hesitate. You WON'T regret it. It'll change your life as it has mine.
Uganda - thank you. Friends and Family - thank you for your unconditional support, love, and care. I am home full of new perspectives, stories, and appreciation. Can't wait to see you and share with you in person!
See you soon!
Jillian
5.20.2011
5.09.2011
Donations
Okay, so many of you have been reading my blogs and wondering "when is she going to tell me where my donations have gone to?" Don't worry: I didn't spend your donations on my safari or rafting trip. Those excursions came out of my own pocket (at a alarmingly cheap price!). The method of donating in this country is to give at the end of your volunteership for a few reasons. If I were to give a large donation at the beginning of working in Uganda, the general consensus is that you have unlimited amounts of funds to give, and the requests will not stop coming your way until you board your flight home. Also, giving at the end sends a "going-away party" feel to the volunteership, and everyone has a reason to celebrate. So, I've spent the past few weeks discussing projects at House of Hope with Jennifer that need monetary donations. Here is what I've gathered so far.
House of Hope needs:
The last two bullets are the primary concern on Jennifer's mind.
Teachers at House of Hope are paid below government salaries because it is not a government funded school. In fact, HOH runs entirely on donations, and is not fully funded by salary yet (although we are working on grants). Also, many of the teachers come during a break in their own schooling to gain experience before returning to University. These teachers stay only a short time in order to finish their studies. Because of this, Jennifer is constantly looking for new teachers and for funds to pay the ones who are employed through HOH. During this month-long Easter break, Jennifer has negotiated with a few teachers to remain at the school to teach P5-P7 (top 3 classes) to prepare them for national exams coming up soon after the break. These teachers requested higher salaries during the holiday because they could not go home and relax for a month.
Posho and beans are the staples of 3 meals given to the children at HOH. Due to inflation in Uganda and the economic situation worldwide, food and petrol has risen exponentially in the past year. To give you an idea: posho went from Ush100/kg two years ago to Ush3000/kg today. In fact, since March 2011, posho has risen from Ush1200/kg to Ush3000/kg today! More than doubled in price. Fuel costs have risen from Ush1700/liter to Ush4000/liter this year alone!! As you all can understand, gasoline is essential in the transportation of Uganda. As it is, everyone loads their taxis, cars, motocycles with more than any legal limit in the USA. I believe the term "carpool" comes from Africa! But even in sharing the costs, the fuel is still too high for many to get around for their jobs, families, or groceries.
Both costs have really hit HOH hard. The children have been given smaller portions since January in order to feed each one of them.
The rise in petrol and food has been the primary motivation behind the many riots in Uganda, which almost always turn violent with tear gas and arrests. These events usually begin as a peaceful protest called "Walk to Work" or "Walk to Church" where people do just as the term states - they refuse using taxis, boda-bodas, or cars to get to work or church. Instead, they walk down main streets in large cities in Uganda to protest gas prices and food expenditures. These riots have been occurring largely on Thursdays and Mondays, but the last serious one was on a Friday. The protest leaders have been arrested and sent to hospitals for tear-gassing injuries. The last Walk-to-Work leader was sent to Kenya for hospitalization last week after his car was tear-gassed and he was drug away by a police truck. But he has since returned to Uganda to continue the "fight" against ungodly inflations. I have been fortunate enough not to witness these riots closer than the local news programs. Many volunteers I know did get stuck in riot-filled streets or tear gassed buildings during the riots. The general consensus of the people here is that they are fed up with the expense of gas and food - basic necessities this country needs to operate.
Needless to say, Jennifer has been challenged to find funds to continue to feed the children and staff the school. So far, your donations have purchased posho and beans for the children for two weeks, and some scholastic materials badly needed for the older classes to study and learn (paper, pencils, pens, chalk, and notebooks). I am limited in how much funds I can take out and will be unable to give her the entire amount raised in cash before I leave. So, I will be depositing the rest into the HOH account once I get home. This amount will be largely spent on food and staff salaries.
The last bullet is something I am contemplating still. Jennifer is in desperate need of a new laptop that has a battery. Power blackouts are the norm in Uganda (in fact, all over Africa) and she recieves daily patience lessons from responding to an email or writing a proposal that suddenly gets lost due to a sudden loss of power. We have noticed power losses everyday, and often several times a day. That's why it is so difficult to write these blogs, check email, or even charge our phones. But for the founder and director of a growing NGO like HOH, a working computer would make her work a lot more productive. Jennifer's computer work is largely coordinating volunteers who come to HOH (arrivals/departures, volunteer work, accomodations, food, transportation, safety, etc.), responding to emails from fundraisers, planning HOH's future goals and plans, establishing the project budgets, and applying for grants to establish a consistent income for the school and the kids. It is impossible to purchase a new, reliable laptop in Uganda, and it is something I will consider when I get home. But I could easily afford to purchase a new laptop once I arrive home with some of the funds you all raised.
Would you all approve to buying her a new laptop to conduct her NGO business with the money you've given me? Tell me what you think about this.
Today, I also used a small portion of the funds raised to purchase epilepsy medicine for a P7 orphan at HOH - Annette. She must take daily medications for epilepsy for two years and the expense was coming out of volunteer donations Jennifer has saved. I gave her around $22 USD for two months' worth of medication. So, Annette thanks you for that!
Student sponsorship is a goal Jennifer has for each student at HOH. For $35/month, a child at HOH would be given 3 meals a day, a safe home and individual bed, school fees paid for, medical care, and a loving school staff to help raise the orphans. $35/month is actually a little more than what's needed for food, accomodations and school fees, but Jennifer gives each child vaccinations and AIDS testing every year. She would also use the small extra money each month to pool into a medical fund from which she can draw out more money for those kids who have larger needs like Annette. I will have LOTS of more information on her budget and sponsorship details when I return. Please consider what it would take to sacrifice $35/month to really change these kids lives. I've met and hung out with them first hand - and they are all awesome. Most of them have lived through horrorific things (everyday I learn more about this) and deserve a real chance at a better future. Please consider how easy this would be for you and I'll be ready for your questions when I return.
So, in closing, HOH and Jennifer would like to thank you so much for your donations. It may sound simple, but the basic necessities of food are what is most needed for these kids right now. And your funds gave them another meal today and for some time to come. I will keep you updated on any other donations you've made here in Uganda. Your generosity has meant a lot in many tummies!! And you all make me so proud!
I am beginning to miss home and some of its amenities. But I'm looking forward to teaching this week and meeting Viola, my sponsored child on Monday. Hope you all are well.
Weraba Mukwanos!
Jillian
House of Hope needs:
- new boys dormitory so that the orphan boys who live there can have adequate accommodations to live in (currently there are 5 tiny rooms with mattresses on the floor and 2 boys to a mattress)
- 5 new classrooms to teach Primary classes in
- bunk beds and mattresses to fit more orphans in the dorms and so each child can have their own bed
- Teacher salaries (this is an ongoing need for HOH, and turn around rates for teachers here is high)
- Food
- a new laptop with a battery
The last two bullets are the primary concern on Jennifer's mind.
Teachers at House of Hope are paid below government salaries because it is not a government funded school. In fact, HOH runs entirely on donations, and is not fully funded by salary yet (although we are working on grants). Also, many of the teachers come during a break in their own schooling to gain experience before returning to University. These teachers stay only a short time in order to finish their studies. Because of this, Jennifer is constantly looking for new teachers and for funds to pay the ones who are employed through HOH. During this month-long Easter break, Jennifer has negotiated with a few teachers to remain at the school to teach P5-P7 (top 3 classes) to prepare them for national exams coming up soon after the break. These teachers requested higher salaries during the holiday because they could not go home and relax for a month.
Posho and beans are the staples of 3 meals given to the children at HOH. Due to inflation in Uganda and the economic situation worldwide, food and petrol has risen exponentially in the past year. To give you an idea: posho went from Ush100/kg two years ago to Ush3000/kg today. In fact, since March 2011, posho has risen from Ush1200/kg to Ush3000/kg today! More than doubled in price. Fuel costs have risen from Ush1700/liter to Ush4000/liter this year alone!! As you all can understand, gasoline is essential in the transportation of Uganda. As it is, everyone loads their taxis, cars, motocycles with more than any legal limit in the USA. I believe the term "carpool" comes from Africa! But even in sharing the costs, the fuel is still too high for many to get around for their jobs, families, or groceries.
Both costs have really hit HOH hard. The children have been given smaller portions since January in order to feed each one of them.
The rise in petrol and food has been the primary motivation behind the many riots in Uganda, which almost always turn violent with tear gas and arrests. These events usually begin as a peaceful protest called "Walk to Work" or "Walk to Church" where people do just as the term states - they refuse using taxis, boda-bodas, or cars to get to work or church. Instead, they walk down main streets in large cities in Uganda to protest gas prices and food expenditures. These riots have been occurring largely on Thursdays and Mondays, but the last serious one was on a Friday. The protest leaders have been arrested and sent to hospitals for tear-gassing injuries. The last Walk-to-Work leader was sent to Kenya for hospitalization last week after his car was tear-gassed and he was drug away by a police truck. But he has since returned to Uganda to continue the "fight" against ungodly inflations. I have been fortunate enough not to witness these riots closer than the local news programs. Many volunteers I know did get stuck in riot-filled streets or tear gassed buildings during the riots. The general consensus of the people here is that they are fed up with the expense of gas and food - basic necessities this country needs to operate.
Needless to say, Jennifer has been challenged to find funds to continue to feed the children and staff the school. So far, your donations have purchased posho and beans for the children for two weeks, and some scholastic materials badly needed for the older classes to study and learn (paper, pencils, pens, chalk, and notebooks). I am limited in how much funds I can take out and will be unable to give her the entire amount raised in cash before I leave. So, I will be depositing the rest into the HOH account once I get home. This amount will be largely spent on food and staff salaries.
The last bullet is something I am contemplating still. Jennifer is in desperate need of a new laptop that has a battery. Power blackouts are the norm in Uganda (in fact, all over Africa) and she recieves daily patience lessons from responding to an email or writing a proposal that suddenly gets lost due to a sudden loss of power. We have noticed power losses everyday, and often several times a day. That's why it is so difficult to write these blogs, check email, or even charge our phones. But for the founder and director of a growing NGO like HOH, a working computer would make her work a lot more productive. Jennifer's computer work is largely coordinating volunteers who come to HOH (arrivals/departures, volunteer work, accomodations, food, transportation, safety, etc.), responding to emails from fundraisers, planning HOH's future goals and plans, establishing the project budgets, and applying for grants to establish a consistent income for the school and the kids. It is impossible to purchase a new, reliable laptop in Uganda, and it is something I will consider when I get home. But I could easily afford to purchase a new laptop once I arrive home with some of the funds you all raised.
Would you all approve to buying her a new laptop to conduct her NGO business with the money you've given me? Tell me what you think about this.
Today, I also used a small portion of the funds raised to purchase epilepsy medicine for a P7 orphan at HOH - Annette. She must take daily medications for epilepsy for two years and the expense was coming out of volunteer donations Jennifer has saved. I gave her around $22 USD for two months' worth of medication. So, Annette thanks you for that!
Student sponsorship is a goal Jennifer has for each student at HOH. For $35/month, a child at HOH would be given 3 meals a day, a safe home and individual bed, school fees paid for, medical care, and a loving school staff to help raise the orphans. $35/month is actually a little more than what's needed for food, accomodations and school fees, but Jennifer gives each child vaccinations and AIDS testing every year. She would also use the small extra money each month to pool into a medical fund from which she can draw out more money for those kids who have larger needs like Annette. I will have LOTS of more information on her budget and sponsorship details when I return. Please consider what it would take to sacrifice $35/month to really change these kids lives. I've met and hung out with them first hand - and they are all awesome. Most of them have lived through horrorific things (everyday I learn more about this) and deserve a real chance at a better future. Please consider how easy this would be for you and I'll be ready for your questions when I return.
So, in closing, HOH and Jennifer would like to thank you so much for your donations. It may sound simple, but the basic necessities of food are what is most needed for these kids right now. And your funds gave them another meal today and for some time to come. I will keep you updated on any other donations you've made here in Uganda. Your generosity has meant a lot in many tummies!! And you all make me so proud!
I am beginning to miss home and some of its amenities. But I'm looking forward to teaching this week and meeting Viola, my sponsored child on Monday. Hope you all are well.
Weraba Mukwanos!
Jillian
5.04.2011
Rafting, Safari, and in Between on the Nile River
Hello everyone!
I am back in Kampala for the night after my adventures throughout the Pearl of Africa.
White Water Rafting on the Nile River was so incredible, it's difficult to capture in words. No- I think it's impossible to capture in words. But it was amazing. 5 hours of non-stop fun. The rapids were class 5 and my raft was the only one that didn't tip over. After about 4 rapids, we were getting jealous of the other 4 rafts that were getting a better "feel" of the Nile...so were paddled our way back up through the rapid to try to tip over. It took us 3 tries, but we finally forced our way out of the raft and tipped over! After 10 seconds underwater, we emerged and floated downstream! We were ecstatic!! It was really funny because all the other rafters were trying to stay IN their rafts, while we were celebrating our forced defeat! We had a great group and called ourselves professional rafters! hahah....The last rapid - the largest and most unpredictable - The "Nile Special" (also a Ugandan beer!) didn't even phase us. We had to back paddle through again and then just jumped out last minute! We were adrenaline junkies to be sure!
Our Ugandan guides were hilarious! They kept paddling between the 4 other rafts to "visit" or "harass" us! One guide, Nathan, paddled up behind me and pulled me overboard. It was a pleasant break swimming in the cool water, but I started looking for ways to get him back. I soon found my opportunity after they served us freshly sliced sweet pineapple (that's right - fresh cold pineapple slices on a raft in the Nile River!). I kept the husk after the next rapid, and asked our raft to paddle over to Nathan's. When he wasn't looking, I threw it at him, missed, and hit a girl from Chicago in the knee. Ooops! Hahahah...needless to say, her knee was fine, and the two rafts got a good laugh out of it. The whole day was like that. Laughter, screaming, swimming, eating...they served us a BBQ after the trip which was a delight because they served green salads and vegetables (like green beans) that none of us had eaten in weeks! We are all craving veggies and salads when we go home! It was absolutely stunning the views on the Nile, and so much fun. I wanted the guides' jobs!!! :)
We ate nutella with banana chipatti for dinner (a real good dessert! I will be making chipatti when I return home for SURE) and hung out at the hostel bar with the other rafters of the day. We watched the rafting film they made of us and many of us bought the DVD to remember the day and show our families back home our experience. I did buy a DVD, so if you want to watch it, let me know!
The next day, we walked around Jinja town and found the source of the Nile (or so they say)! We visited craft markets (which were way overpriced due to the tourism in the town) and ate Fish and Chips - the fish being a WHOLE fish BBQ'd; eyes and bones and all!! We made our way back to our respective locations and I stayed the following night in Kampala, awaiting a bus to safari to Murchinson Falls on the Nile!
I boarded my safari trip the morning we received news of Osama bin Ladin's death! Congrats my fellow Americans! Although we know the battle against terrorists isn't over (by a long shot), the symbol Osama represented was nothing comforting to Americans, and it is some measure of relief to know that his leadership is finished on earth. So, hope you all had a beer for me! I was thinking of you!
I went on safari with 7 others - 3 couples and another lone traveler woman like myself working for the UN military in Southern Sudan! We all got along wonderfully and got to know each other fairly well through our sunset cruise on the Nile, Game Drive through the park (yes, we saw elephant, giraffe, water buffalo, lion, Ugandan Cob, more hippos than I could count, crocodiles, warthogs, baboons, and many birds!), and a Nile Cruise up to Murchison Falls. It was breathtaking and inspiring. I felt so full as we meandered downstream, basking in the sunset on the River that has given life to so many before us - human and animal alike - eons before I stepped foot in its waters. I love the Nile and its richness emerging up into us. Its energy is impossible to miss once you're on it. Sort of like how people describe New York City and its energy - only the Nile's is more natural and comforting to me! It's awesome.
We shared our safari campsite with the local "pets" - warthogs and baboons who came within 1 meter of me, searching for food and left behind snacks! hahah...it was peaceful and quiet in the National Park away from all the buzz and hubble of Kampala. We left after the third morning hiking up to the Murchison Falls where immense amounts of water passed through a 7km space and into the Nile! Hemmingway actually came to visit this site in the 1950s and his plane crashed very closely to the falls! I wouldn't want to crash land into the shores here...the crocs are quite large! It was a beautiful trip and so worth it.
So, I arrived this evening back at the hostel in Kampala, and I leave in the morning for more craft markets on my way back to House of Hope. I've missed the kids, and look forward to my last few weeks giving more lessons and craft activities with the kids! That also means that I may have limited internet access until I get home! So, I look forward to writing again soon, unknowing when that will be.
Hope all is well back home and you've enjoyed my updates. Until next time,
Jillian
I am back in Kampala for the night after my adventures throughout the Pearl of Africa.
White Water Rafting on the Nile River was so incredible, it's difficult to capture in words. No- I think it's impossible to capture in words. But it was amazing. 5 hours of non-stop fun. The rapids were class 5 and my raft was the only one that didn't tip over. After about 4 rapids, we were getting jealous of the other 4 rafts that were getting a better "feel" of the Nile...so were paddled our way back up through the rapid to try to tip over. It took us 3 tries, but we finally forced our way out of the raft and tipped over! After 10 seconds underwater, we emerged and floated downstream! We were ecstatic!! It was really funny because all the other rafters were trying to stay IN their rafts, while we were celebrating our forced defeat! We had a great group and called ourselves professional rafters! hahah....The last rapid - the largest and most unpredictable - The "Nile Special" (also a Ugandan beer!) didn't even phase us. We had to back paddle through again and then just jumped out last minute! We were adrenaline junkies to be sure!
Our Ugandan guides were hilarious! They kept paddling between the 4 other rafts to "visit" or "harass" us! One guide, Nathan, paddled up behind me and pulled me overboard. It was a pleasant break swimming in the cool water, but I started looking for ways to get him back. I soon found my opportunity after they served us freshly sliced sweet pineapple (that's right - fresh cold pineapple slices on a raft in the Nile River!). I kept the husk after the next rapid, and asked our raft to paddle over to Nathan's. When he wasn't looking, I threw it at him, missed, and hit a girl from Chicago in the knee. Ooops! Hahahah...needless to say, her knee was fine, and the two rafts got a good laugh out of it. The whole day was like that. Laughter, screaming, swimming, eating...they served us a BBQ after the trip which was a delight because they served green salads and vegetables (like green beans) that none of us had eaten in weeks! We are all craving veggies and salads when we go home! It was absolutely stunning the views on the Nile, and so much fun. I wanted the guides' jobs!!! :)
We ate nutella with banana chipatti for dinner (a real good dessert! I will be making chipatti when I return home for SURE) and hung out at the hostel bar with the other rafters of the day. We watched the rafting film they made of us and many of us bought the DVD to remember the day and show our families back home our experience. I did buy a DVD, so if you want to watch it, let me know!
The next day, we walked around Jinja town and found the source of the Nile (or so they say)! We visited craft markets (which were way overpriced due to the tourism in the town) and ate Fish and Chips - the fish being a WHOLE fish BBQ'd; eyes and bones and all!! We made our way back to our respective locations and I stayed the following night in Kampala, awaiting a bus to safari to Murchinson Falls on the Nile!
I boarded my safari trip the morning we received news of Osama bin Ladin's death! Congrats my fellow Americans! Although we know the battle against terrorists isn't over (by a long shot), the symbol Osama represented was nothing comforting to Americans, and it is some measure of relief to know that his leadership is finished on earth. So, hope you all had a beer for me! I was thinking of you!
I went on safari with 7 others - 3 couples and another lone traveler woman like myself working for the UN military in Southern Sudan! We all got along wonderfully and got to know each other fairly well through our sunset cruise on the Nile, Game Drive through the park (yes, we saw elephant, giraffe, water buffalo, lion, Ugandan Cob, more hippos than I could count, crocodiles, warthogs, baboons, and many birds!), and a Nile Cruise up to Murchison Falls. It was breathtaking and inspiring. I felt so full as we meandered downstream, basking in the sunset on the River that has given life to so many before us - human and animal alike - eons before I stepped foot in its waters. I love the Nile and its richness emerging up into us. Its energy is impossible to miss once you're on it. Sort of like how people describe New York City and its energy - only the Nile's is more natural and comforting to me! It's awesome.
We shared our safari campsite with the local "pets" - warthogs and baboons who came within 1 meter of me, searching for food and left behind snacks! hahah...it was peaceful and quiet in the National Park away from all the buzz and hubble of Kampala. We left after the third morning hiking up to the Murchison Falls where immense amounts of water passed through a 7km space and into the Nile! Hemmingway actually came to visit this site in the 1950s and his plane crashed very closely to the falls! I wouldn't want to crash land into the shores here...the crocs are quite large! It was a beautiful trip and so worth it.
So, I arrived this evening back at the hostel in Kampala, and I leave in the morning for more craft markets on my way back to House of Hope. I've missed the kids, and look forward to my last few weeks giving more lessons and craft activities with the kids! That also means that I may have limited internet access until I get home! So, I look forward to writing again soon, unknowing when that will be.
Hope all is well back home and you've enjoyed my updates. Until next time,
Jillian
4.29.2011
Ntenjeru
Oli Otya? Sula Bulungi.
I am back in Mukono after two days in Ntenjeru with Nick's Ugandan family. Elise and I had a wonderful time making friendships with the people there. We worked about 8 hours yesterday doing menial labor building more classrooms at a primary school. We loaded, shoveled, and carried wheelbarrows of dirt and brick. I think I'm going to make a massage appointment when I get home!
After yesterday's long work day, Nick's friend Steve caught up with us walking back "home". He invited us to a beer, which we couldn't refuse! Steve is a retired father of 9 boys, and was a very good conversationalist. We also found out that he is a huge fan of 1970's pop band Abba!! He turned to us and asked "Do you like Bob Marley?" to which we replied "But of course!!" He gave a DVD to the waitress who put it into the DVD player in this bar of two tables (yes, this was a VERY fancy place because not only did it have a tv on the wall, but it also had christmas lights surrounding the beer shelves!) But what made us laugh to ourselves was what appeared on the TV: not notorious Bob Marley but 1970's music videos of "Mamma Mia"...hehe hehe...Steve is funny. It was extremely generous and sweet of him to buy us all a beer and chat with us. We left after one beer to walk back the 30 minutes to our host family's for dinner. Steve and his generousity is just one small example of African hospitality. Although they are very hard workers, Africans are truly interested in the relationships that enrich their lives and how they can help your life. Some good mindsets that I hope are rubbing off on me!
We made it back to dinner later than we hoped, and helped make Lidiya's famous Chipati...the best in all of Africa. And my friends, let me tell you: it IS!! Lidiya is a school administrator at the school Nick worked for, and she puts onion, carrot, and green peppers in her Chipati...making it the most delicious anyone's ever had. I will DEFINETELY miss Chipati back home...I think I could eat it everyday. Especially Lidiya's. They made a huge feast for us: chicken, g nut sauce, rice, chipati, eggplant, and sweet potatoes. It was all pretty good. And we felt so honored to be fed so well!
We really got to know the girls and boys of Nick's house: Lidiya mother of two (Teddy- smartest 6 yr old I know, and Martha - super cute with braided hair), Molly and Joyce (orphaned sisters), Maureen (student), Fred, Hassan, Idi, Isaac, and "JaJa" or Festus - the "father" of them all! He is the director of the placement and a very educated, responsible man. I had a really cool conversation with him last night about what Ugandan orphans and children really need, US politics, and education. I would love to come back to Uganda and spend more time with this family. It's been time well spent building relationships with these people. They love to teach us Lugandan and ask us how many fiances we had!!
Today was Nick's last full day of work in Ntenjeru. For volunteers in the GVN program, you can do whatever you want for your last day in your placement. Many volunteers have a special meal prepared or take their host families out to eat. Some leave a present. For Nick's last work day in his village, he took his whole host family and the construction workers swimming at a nice hotel in Mukono, and treated them all to lunch! Elise and I got to join in as well. They were SO excited...they could barely work this morning as we were shoveling dirt! Then we showed up to the pool...and we were the only ones who could swim!! None of the Ugandans could swim! In fact, 3 of them refused to even get into the water because they feared it so much!! So, we spent some time giving swimming lessons and bouncing the little ones in the water. They LOVED it. It was so awesome to hear their squeals and laughs and watch them flounder around making splashes. Maybe not a day full of building schools or feeding children, but a great day giving a special memory to 15 people and building friendships with some who've seen too much hardships in life.
Maureen wanted to show us her secondary school and her dormitory. So we went with her after swimming and she proudly showed us her school and dorm. It was fascinating to see how much she loved her school and greeted everyone there with pride...showing off all her "muzungu brothers and sisters" (us white people with her). We felt lucky to know where she would be going to school and living once Easter break ended and we felt so proud of her and her studies to become a teacher (even though her dream is to be a doctor...she has not enough funds to accomplish this now in life).
We had wet eyes when we said goodbye. I'm amazed at how much these people have meant to me in only two days...but then again, should I be surprised? This is Uganda after all. And I love it.
We are staying in the Guesthouse in Mukono tonight, leaving in the morning for Jinja and White Water Rafting. Elise and I are super sore, but stoked to get into the Nile and have some more fun! Should be a fantastic experience!
Still no photos...sorry. The computers take about 4 hours to download (if at all possible), and sometimes the hard drives are full. I will try in Jinja this weekend.
Until then, much love and smiles to you all...I wish I could carry you all in my pocket through this magical country! I think you'd all find things to love.
Jillian
I am back in Mukono after two days in Ntenjeru with Nick's Ugandan family. Elise and I had a wonderful time making friendships with the people there. We worked about 8 hours yesterday doing menial labor building more classrooms at a primary school. We loaded, shoveled, and carried wheelbarrows of dirt and brick. I think I'm going to make a massage appointment when I get home!
After yesterday's long work day, Nick's friend Steve caught up with us walking back "home". He invited us to a beer, which we couldn't refuse! Steve is a retired father of 9 boys, and was a very good conversationalist. We also found out that he is a huge fan of 1970's pop band Abba!! He turned to us and asked "Do you like Bob Marley?" to which we replied "But of course!!" He gave a DVD to the waitress who put it into the DVD player in this bar of two tables (yes, this was a VERY fancy place because not only did it have a tv on the wall, but it also had christmas lights surrounding the beer shelves!) But what made us laugh to ourselves was what appeared on the TV: not notorious Bob Marley but 1970's music videos of "Mamma Mia"...hehe hehe...Steve is funny. It was extremely generous and sweet of him to buy us all a beer and chat with us. We left after one beer to walk back the 30 minutes to our host family's for dinner. Steve and his generousity is just one small example of African hospitality. Although they are very hard workers, Africans are truly interested in the relationships that enrich their lives and how they can help your life. Some good mindsets that I hope are rubbing off on me!
We made it back to dinner later than we hoped, and helped make Lidiya's famous Chipati...the best in all of Africa. And my friends, let me tell you: it IS!! Lidiya is a school administrator at the school Nick worked for, and she puts onion, carrot, and green peppers in her Chipati...making it the most delicious anyone's ever had. I will DEFINETELY miss Chipati back home...I think I could eat it everyday. Especially Lidiya's. They made a huge feast for us: chicken, g nut sauce, rice, chipati, eggplant, and sweet potatoes. It was all pretty good. And we felt so honored to be fed so well!
We really got to know the girls and boys of Nick's house: Lidiya mother of two (Teddy- smartest 6 yr old I know, and Martha - super cute with braided hair), Molly and Joyce (orphaned sisters), Maureen (student), Fred, Hassan, Idi, Isaac, and "JaJa" or Festus - the "father" of them all! He is the director of the placement and a very educated, responsible man. I had a really cool conversation with him last night about what Ugandan orphans and children really need, US politics, and education. I would love to come back to Uganda and spend more time with this family. It's been time well spent building relationships with these people. They love to teach us Lugandan and ask us how many fiances we had!!
Today was Nick's last full day of work in Ntenjeru. For volunteers in the GVN program, you can do whatever you want for your last day in your placement. Many volunteers have a special meal prepared or take their host families out to eat. Some leave a present. For Nick's last work day in his village, he took his whole host family and the construction workers swimming at a nice hotel in Mukono, and treated them all to lunch! Elise and I got to join in as well. They were SO excited...they could barely work this morning as we were shoveling dirt! Then we showed up to the pool...and we were the only ones who could swim!! None of the Ugandans could swim! In fact, 3 of them refused to even get into the water because they feared it so much!! So, we spent some time giving swimming lessons and bouncing the little ones in the water. They LOVED it. It was so awesome to hear their squeals and laughs and watch them flounder around making splashes. Maybe not a day full of building schools or feeding children, but a great day giving a special memory to 15 people and building friendships with some who've seen too much hardships in life.
Maureen wanted to show us her secondary school and her dormitory. So we went with her after swimming and she proudly showed us her school and dorm. It was fascinating to see how much she loved her school and greeted everyone there with pride...showing off all her "muzungu brothers and sisters" (us white people with her). We felt lucky to know where she would be going to school and living once Easter break ended and we felt so proud of her and her studies to become a teacher (even though her dream is to be a doctor...she has not enough funds to accomplish this now in life).
We had wet eyes when we said goodbye. I'm amazed at how much these people have meant to me in only two days...but then again, should I be surprised? This is Uganda after all. And I love it.
We are staying in the Guesthouse in Mukono tonight, leaving in the morning for Jinja and White Water Rafting. Elise and I are super sore, but stoked to get into the Nile and have some more fun! Should be a fantastic experience!
Still no photos...sorry. The computers take about 4 hours to download (if at all possible), and sometimes the hard drives are full. I will try in Jinja this weekend.
Until then, much love and smiles to you all...I wish I could carry you all in my pocket through this magical country! I think you'd all find things to love.
Jillian
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