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
4.27.2011
Week Two
Greetings from Mukono, Uganda!
Elise and I made it back to House of Hope Sunday, after a tiring journey from Kampala. We ended up taking two different taxis (14 person buses that cram up to 27 people in them!) and a private car taxi (toyota corolla) which drove 11 people 60km!! Elise and I squished into the front seat next to a man who shared the driver's seat with the driver! A woman told me that in Ugandan transportation, no one is left behind...so they just keep cramming them into the cars/taxis/buses...you name it! Hhahaha...needless to say, it's unbelievable how rewarded you feel after getting out of a backseat laying down sideways with your nose in a strange man's chest, grasping your wallet after not feeling below your knees for the past hour. I am grateful the US does not do transportation the same way. But you sure do make friends easy here! And EVERYONE wants to be friends with a muzungu.
Ugandans have two breaks from school every year: two months for Christmas, and one month for Easter. They spend Easter with their extended families and have a large special meal. When we asked the kids how their Easter was, they replied "Not good...we had to eat posho." These 25 kids had no family, no home, no special meal to celebrate the holiday with. Until we brought out two kilos of cookies for them all! They started jumping up and down and clapping and smiling bigger than the moon. We were so grateful for the small opportunity to make their Easter a little more enjoyable.
We made origami elephants and paper airplanes the next day, after weeding in the garden. The kids had to keep a close eye on Elise and I in the garden as we pulled out weeds: "No auntie. That is irish potatoe. This is maize. Only these are weeds." they say with a knowing gentle smile. Yesterday, we went to Masaka upon Jennifer's request for money for more food for the kids at House of Hope. We got to go to a local lounge and watch the Manchester United Football (soccer) game against Germany. Manchester United won, and it was fun to cheer with the locals. Soccer is a huge part of the culture here. And the soap operas are either philipino or mexican...and outrageously dramatic.
Today we are heading to another project north of Mukono for a few days to see what the other volunteers are doing in Uganda. On the first taxi ride over, we were grateful for the spare 1/2 inch of leg room, but had to cover our noses from the reak of blood in the taxi. Source of blood: unknown. Could've been the live chicken flopping around in the trunk. On the second taxi ride, I noticed a large billboard of Libya's Gaddafhi dedicating a mosque. That is the fourth or fifth mention of Gaddafhi's contributions to Uganda; mosques, roads, arms. And Libya, Syria, and other Arab country news are updated on news stations several times daily. I'm impressed with the questions the kids are asking about US foreign policy and why Obama hasn't taken out Gaddafhi. They LOVE that the US has a black president, and one who's father is African! I believe we are going to be hanging out with more kids and weeding in the garden.
It rained for about an hour on the taxi ride over, but was pretty sunny yesterday. Ate a ripe mango, freshly cut and sliced by the order, and chipati for lunch. Navigating through the taxi parks is a bit difficult however, due to the large baggage we were carrying. Elise mentioned to me that she felt a man try to put his hands in her pocket while she walked by. Good think we had all our valuables in our hands and our zippers secured shut. We kept up our muzungu pace anyway until we sat down in another taxi. (Ugandans rarely if ever walk fast...they meander aimlessly it seems until they come to their destination).
We met Jennifer's two brothers and sister who were visiting for Easter break. Very sweet family. It is so common in Uganda to recieve help so willingly. People on the taxi, on the street, in restaurants, all just want to make sure you are finding your way and haven't lost anything. Extremely generous people.
Saturday, we will head to Jinja for some white water rafting in the Nile River. Whahoo!!
I will try to update again Friday before we head out. Hope all is well and the weather is warming up back home! Happy belated Easter and until next time...
Weraba mukwanos, (Goodbye friends)
Jillian
Elise and I made it back to House of Hope Sunday, after a tiring journey from Kampala. We ended up taking two different taxis (14 person buses that cram up to 27 people in them!) and a private car taxi (toyota corolla) which drove 11 people 60km!! Elise and I squished into the front seat next to a man who shared the driver's seat with the driver! A woman told me that in Ugandan transportation, no one is left behind...so they just keep cramming them into the cars/taxis/buses...you name it! Hhahaha...needless to say, it's unbelievable how rewarded you feel after getting out of a backseat laying down sideways with your nose in a strange man's chest, grasping your wallet after not feeling below your knees for the past hour. I am grateful the US does not do transportation the same way. But you sure do make friends easy here! And EVERYONE wants to be friends with a muzungu.
Ugandans have two breaks from school every year: two months for Christmas, and one month for Easter. They spend Easter with their extended families and have a large special meal. When we asked the kids how their Easter was, they replied "Not good...we had to eat posho." These 25 kids had no family, no home, no special meal to celebrate the holiday with. Until we brought out two kilos of cookies for them all! They started jumping up and down and clapping and smiling bigger than the moon. We were so grateful for the small opportunity to make their Easter a little more enjoyable.
We made origami elephants and paper airplanes the next day, after weeding in the garden. The kids had to keep a close eye on Elise and I in the garden as we pulled out weeds: "No auntie. That is irish potatoe. This is maize. Only these are weeds." they say with a knowing gentle smile. Yesterday, we went to Masaka upon Jennifer's request for money for more food for the kids at House of Hope. We got to go to a local lounge and watch the Manchester United Football (soccer) game against Germany. Manchester United won, and it was fun to cheer with the locals. Soccer is a huge part of the culture here. And the soap operas are either philipino or mexican...and outrageously dramatic.
Today we are heading to another project north of Mukono for a few days to see what the other volunteers are doing in Uganda. On the first taxi ride over, we were grateful for the spare 1/2 inch of leg room, but had to cover our noses from the reak of blood in the taxi. Source of blood: unknown. Could've been the live chicken flopping around in the trunk. On the second taxi ride, I noticed a large billboard of Libya's Gaddafhi dedicating a mosque. That is the fourth or fifth mention of Gaddafhi's contributions to Uganda; mosques, roads, arms. And Libya, Syria, and other Arab country news are updated on news stations several times daily. I'm impressed with the questions the kids are asking about US foreign policy and why Obama hasn't taken out Gaddafhi. They LOVE that the US has a black president, and one who's father is African! I believe we are going to be hanging out with more kids and weeding in the garden.
It rained for about an hour on the taxi ride over, but was pretty sunny yesterday. Ate a ripe mango, freshly cut and sliced by the order, and chipati for lunch. Navigating through the taxi parks is a bit difficult however, due to the large baggage we were carrying. Elise mentioned to me that she felt a man try to put his hands in her pocket while she walked by. Good think we had all our valuables in our hands and our zippers secured shut. We kept up our muzungu pace anyway until we sat down in another taxi. (Ugandans rarely if ever walk fast...they meander aimlessly it seems until they come to their destination).
We met Jennifer's two brothers and sister who were visiting for Easter break. Very sweet family. It is so common in Uganda to recieve help so willingly. People on the taxi, on the street, in restaurants, all just want to make sure you are finding your way and haven't lost anything. Extremely generous people.
Saturday, we will head to Jinja for some white water rafting in the Nile River. Whahoo!!
I will try to update again Friday before we head out. Hope all is well and the weather is warming up back home! Happy belated Easter and until next time...
Weraba mukwanos, (Goodbye friends)
Jillian
4.22.2011
Week One
Oli Otya! Wasuze otya nnyo?
Hello all! How was your night? (A morning greeting in Lugandan).
I'm writing from a hostel in Kampala, Uganda's large capital city. This has been the first chance I've had to update you all because internet is not available to me in my volunteer placement. The closest internet cafe is 2 hours away by Mutatto (taxi), which does not leave for our destination until the van fills up its 17 spots. Interestingly enough, these Mutattos can fill up to as much as 27 people...literally hanging out the window and sitting 5 or 6 to a row meant for 3!! T.I.A...(a common phrase to explain such things. It means "this is Africa"...translation: "roll with it!"). We are here with 7 other volunteers at different placements around Uganda through GVN. We usually all meet up on the weekends to get a break from our projects and fuel up on things like internet, water, and food other than the same meals we recieve daily.
I am placed at House of Hope with an 18 year old girl named Elise. She is wonderful and a great confidant to have while we adapt to Africa. She came to Uganda from 3 months volunteering in Kenya...she's my hero! House of Hope is located in a VERY rural, mountainous area of southern Uganda. The sunsets are beautiful, and very quiet (after evening "prayer time" where the kids sing and dance and clap and pray after dinner). On a clear night, you can see a million stars. During the day, I can look across the hills and feel as if it would perfectly normal for a pack of elephants or gorillas to wander through!!
It is a wonderful sanctuary for around 200 children (50 of which live there full time), 1 dog "Canada", and 1 kitten "cat". They ran after our car when we arrived and swarmed around our barely opened doors! We couldn't even close the doors before greetings from 200 little ones giving hugs and saying "Wellll-Comm Auntie!". The House of Hope choir then sang 4 welcome songs for us while we sat in places of honor in chairs in the front row. Then the older girls (aged 15) danced a traditional Ugandan dance for us. The choir was accompanied by 3 or 4 drummers...these kids have Rhythm at like 8 years old! Our guesthouse is spacious for the two of us, with a private room each, and a small "shower room" for bucket showers. The toilets are squatties. Every morning, we eat sweet white bread with red plum jam and black tea. Lunch is posho (think tasteless mashed potatoes) with beans (close to refried beans). Dinner is white rice with tomatoes, avocados, a tasty cabbage, beans, and posho again. We buy our own bottled water to drink throughout the day and with meals. The food is good. The guesthouse staff ("Sarah") is very sweet. Although we noticed that the adults know less english than the older students. And the very young ones know little to no english at all.
The kids are adorable and curious about us "muzungus" (white people). They like to poke our skin and watch it turn white to regular pigment. They brush our arm hairs, and stroke our straight hair. They will take and run away with anything you have on you that's not secured (sunglasses, head bands, watch, rings, jewelry, etc) so I learned real quick to not wear much more than my clothing when I'm with the children! They love to play "cow cow goat" (equivalent to our "duck duck goose"), london bridge, jump rope, a hand clap game, soccer, "net ball" (basketball for girls), volleyball, or just sitting with muzungus and teaching us Lungandan. They are awesome. I will update videos and pictures this afternoon.
Jennifer, the founder of House of Hope, is extremely impressive. Her english is impeccible. She explains things to westerners that we might not otherwise understand about Ugandan culture. And she is running House of Hope with a non-caning ("caning" is when the teachers beat the children on the back of the legs with a cane for misbehaving) policy. She is runing a very unique project in a very rural village in desperate need of education for the children in Kyazanga and surrounding villages. She is basically the Mother Theresa of this whole area of Uganda. I am confident and happy to report that she operates on a completely honest budget and I admire her vision for future developments at House of Hope. Vision is not common for Africans. She is doing something amazing in Southern Uganda, and is doing it "right" - void of corruption.
We did some home visits last Sunday. We went to a village in another hillside above House of Hope to some elderly women who have taken in orphans. These saintly women have little to nothing and have from 5 to 8 children living with them, completely reliant on them, and not-related. The live in tiny one or two bedroom mud huts and work on the banana plantation they live on for rent. We gave t-shirts, kerosene for lamps, soap for laundry, and flour and salt to make posho (Uganda's staple food). They were ecstatic. It is unbelievably humbling to even remember how grateful they were to recieve such small items. They have next to nothing in this world. And yet they still gave Jennifer a live chicken as a thanks and showed us great hospitality as we sat and met each of their "adopted" children. It was funny hearing the chicken squaking in the back of the Land Rover as we drove away!! Ahhh...Africa. Next time you invite me over...maybe I'll bring you a live chicken! I hope these women feel the depths of gratitude I felt for their selflessness. I am so grateful to live the life that I have.
Monday we taught Enlgish for 1.5 hours to the oldest classes (P6 and P7). The director's father came to our breakfast and announced that "The children in P6 and P7 are ready for your lesson. They are waiting in their class for you." We stared wide-eyed before running to fetch some english lessons I had made before coming. Elise too P6 with their teacher Daniel, while I took P7 alone! It was a fun hour of learning the english words "creative" and "inspired" before I just showed them pictures of home and my family, which they LOVED! They said my brother Graham looked like a professional soccer player in England, and they were scared of my black dog Ella, until I told them she loves children, just like Canada.
The mosquitos are nasty here, and I am adamant about my deet spray after recieving about 10 bites on my arms and neck! It has rained here for the past 4 days, but only in the morning, and usually ends around 9am. However, the roads are VERY muddy and slippery. Yesterday, our mutatto drove through a flooded street...up to a grown man's knees!!!
The Ugandans are all impressed with my Lugandan, and it inspires me to keep practicing and learning more! They appreciate when a muzungu knows their language! And it keeps the taxi prices down!
Today is Saturday morning, before Easter - a big holiday in Uganda where people go to church and then spend the day with their families eating and drinking. I think we will go to a cafe today for some coffee and hang out while we try to avoid the rain! I must go as there is a line of travelers waiting to use the internet, but I will attempt to upload videos and photos later today.
Weraba Mukwanos! (Farewell Friends!)
Jillian
Hello all! How was your night? (A morning greeting in Lugandan).
I'm writing from a hostel in Kampala, Uganda's large capital city. This has been the first chance I've had to update you all because internet is not available to me in my volunteer placement. The closest internet cafe is 2 hours away by Mutatto (taxi), which does not leave for our destination until the van fills up its 17 spots. Interestingly enough, these Mutattos can fill up to as much as 27 people...literally hanging out the window and sitting 5 or 6 to a row meant for 3!! T.I.A...(a common phrase to explain such things. It means "this is Africa"...translation: "roll with it!"). We are here with 7 other volunteers at different placements around Uganda through GVN. We usually all meet up on the weekends to get a break from our projects and fuel up on things like internet, water, and food other than the same meals we recieve daily.
I am placed at House of Hope with an 18 year old girl named Elise. She is wonderful and a great confidant to have while we adapt to Africa. She came to Uganda from 3 months volunteering in Kenya...she's my hero! House of Hope is located in a VERY rural, mountainous area of southern Uganda. The sunsets are beautiful, and very quiet (after evening "prayer time" where the kids sing and dance and clap and pray after dinner). On a clear night, you can see a million stars. During the day, I can look across the hills and feel as if it would perfectly normal for a pack of elephants or gorillas to wander through!!
It is a wonderful sanctuary for around 200 children (50 of which live there full time), 1 dog "Canada", and 1 kitten "cat". They ran after our car when we arrived and swarmed around our barely opened doors! We couldn't even close the doors before greetings from 200 little ones giving hugs and saying "Wellll-Comm Auntie!". The House of Hope choir then sang 4 welcome songs for us while we sat in places of honor in chairs in the front row. Then the older girls (aged 15) danced a traditional Ugandan dance for us. The choir was accompanied by 3 or 4 drummers...these kids have Rhythm at like 8 years old! Our guesthouse is spacious for the two of us, with a private room each, and a small "shower room" for bucket showers. The toilets are squatties. Every morning, we eat sweet white bread with red plum jam and black tea. Lunch is posho (think tasteless mashed potatoes) with beans (close to refried beans). Dinner is white rice with tomatoes, avocados, a tasty cabbage, beans, and posho again. We buy our own bottled water to drink throughout the day and with meals. The food is good. The guesthouse staff ("Sarah") is very sweet. Although we noticed that the adults know less english than the older students. And the very young ones know little to no english at all.
The kids are adorable and curious about us "muzungus" (white people). They like to poke our skin and watch it turn white to regular pigment. They brush our arm hairs, and stroke our straight hair. They will take and run away with anything you have on you that's not secured (sunglasses, head bands, watch, rings, jewelry, etc) so I learned real quick to not wear much more than my clothing when I'm with the children! They love to play "cow cow goat" (equivalent to our "duck duck goose"), london bridge, jump rope, a hand clap game, soccer, "net ball" (basketball for girls), volleyball, or just sitting with muzungus and teaching us Lungandan. They are awesome. I will update videos and pictures this afternoon.
Jennifer, the founder of House of Hope, is extremely impressive. Her english is impeccible. She explains things to westerners that we might not otherwise understand about Ugandan culture. And she is running House of Hope with a non-caning ("caning" is when the teachers beat the children on the back of the legs with a cane for misbehaving) policy. She is runing a very unique project in a very rural village in desperate need of education for the children in Kyazanga and surrounding villages. She is basically the Mother Theresa of this whole area of Uganda. I am confident and happy to report that she operates on a completely honest budget and I admire her vision for future developments at House of Hope. Vision is not common for Africans. She is doing something amazing in Southern Uganda, and is doing it "right" - void of corruption.
We did some home visits last Sunday. We went to a village in another hillside above House of Hope to some elderly women who have taken in orphans. These saintly women have little to nothing and have from 5 to 8 children living with them, completely reliant on them, and not-related. The live in tiny one or two bedroom mud huts and work on the banana plantation they live on for rent. We gave t-shirts, kerosene for lamps, soap for laundry, and flour and salt to make posho (Uganda's staple food). They were ecstatic. It is unbelievably humbling to even remember how grateful they were to recieve such small items. They have next to nothing in this world. And yet they still gave Jennifer a live chicken as a thanks and showed us great hospitality as we sat and met each of their "adopted" children. It was funny hearing the chicken squaking in the back of the Land Rover as we drove away!! Ahhh...Africa. Next time you invite me over...maybe I'll bring you a live chicken! I hope these women feel the depths of gratitude I felt for their selflessness. I am so grateful to live the life that I have.
Monday we taught Enlgish for 1.5 hours to the oldest classes (P6 and P7). The director's father came to our breakfast and announced that "The children in P6 and P7 are ready for your lesson. They are waiting in their class for you." We stared wide-eyed before running to fetch some english lessons I had made before coming. Elise too P6 with their teacher Daniel, while I took P7 alone! It was a fun hour of learning the english words "creative" and "inspired" before I just showed them pictures of home and my family, which they LOVED! They said my brother Graham looked like a professional soccer player in England, and they were scared of my black dog Ella, until I told them she loves children, just like Canada.
The mosquitos are nasty here, and I am adamant about my deet spray after recieving about 10 bites on my arms and neck! It has rained here for the past 4 days, but only in the morning, and usually ends around 9am. However, the roads are VERY muddy and slippery. Yesterday, our mutatto drove through a flooded street...up to a grown man's knees!!!
The Ugandans are all impressed with my Lugandan, and it inspires me to keep practicing and learning more! They appreciate when a muzungu knows their language! And it keeps the taxi prices down!
Today is Saturday morning, before Easter - a big holiday in Uganda where people go to church and then spend the day with their families eating and drinking. I think we will go to a cafe today for some coffee and hang out while we try to avoid the rain! I must go as there is a line of travelers waiting to use the internet, but I will attempt to upload videos and photos later today.
Weraba Mukwanos! (Farewell Friends!)
Jillian
4.15.2011
Arrival
Greetings from Uganda!
I must make this posting brief as it took me 10 minutes to load up to this point, and i have only 10 minutes left to write to you all!
Uganda is beautiful. It is very humid and very warm here. My underarms are not happy and my fingers will be plump for days, I fear! I have just arrived in Mukono this morning after a brief night's stay in an Entebbe hostel after my 31+ hours of traveling to Uganda. Everything has been smooth and easy. The people are very polite (most of the time) and curious whenever we "muzungus" (white people) walk by. Everything I've talked to or come in contact with thus far have been very friendly and helpful. It is a grand start to my journey.
Tomorrow, we leave for Masaka and I will begin to see the areas I will be teaching in. I had my first meal in Uganda this afternoon: posho (think mashed potatoes) with a very nice purple-colored peanut sauce and some greens. Very delicious. I am happy and content to be here and having met my contacts. I haven't met all the other volunteers, and I don't think I will be able to until next weekend as I'm off again tomorrow!
I am staying at our GVN guesthouse tonight until my contact picks me up tomorrow. All is well. I will "perk up" after I get some more sleep (I think i've gotten around 10 hours in the past 3 days). I'm excited to be here!
Until next time...affectionately yours,
Jillian
I must make this posting brief as it took me 10 minutes to load up to this point, and i have only 10 minutes left to write to you all!
Uganda is beautiful. It is very humid and very warm here. My underarms are not happy and my fingers will be plump for days, I fear! I have just arrived in Mukono this morning after a brief night's stay in an Entebbe hostel after my 31+ hours of traveling to Uganda. Everything has been smooth and easy. The people are very polite (most of the time) and curious whenever we "muzungus" (white people) walk by. Everything I've talked to or come in contact with thus far have been very friendly and helpful. It is a grand start to my journey.
Tomorrow, we leave for Masaka and I will begin to see the areas I will be teaching in. I had my first meal in Uganda this afternoon: posho (think mashed potatoes) with a very nice purple-colored peanut sauce and some greens. Very delicious. I am happy and content to be here and having met my contacts. I haven't met all the other volunteers, and I don't think I will be able to until next weekend as I'm off again tomorrow!
I am staying at our GVN guesthouse tonight until my contact picks me up tomorrow. All is well. I will "perk up" after I get some more sleep (I think i've gotten around 10 hours in the past 3 days). I'm excited to be here!
Until next time...affectionately yours,
Jillian
4.06.2011
Packing
Have you ever spent more than two days packing? And don't anticipate finishing for another four days? It's mentally exhausting!! "Will I really need this? Yes, I think so. No, on second thought...no. I will never need this over there. Well...but what if...?" I remind myself that this insignificant tribulation will be outweighed by the trials I am about to see in Uganda...The Pearl of Africa.
I feel a sense of calm before the storm. Like all the days and weeks of preparation have been a fun game. Is it real? Is it true: I'm really going to Uganda for 34 days? But I don't want the game to end. And when I settle in reality for a moment, I realize, the opening song hasn't even begun yet! And that makes me smile. Oh just a few more nights and I'll be on my merry way.
It has been very helpful to have Nick in Uganda these past few days. He's given me some great advice, and a hidden insight to what my life may be like for the next month. It sounds exciting, new, friendly, and very free.
I've continued to receive donations daily. It still brings me to tears how you all have rallied to support me and the kids at House of Hope. I am honored to be the face of your donations to these deserving kids. I'll do my best to capture their response and thanks. I'm constantly reminded of how much love is surrounding me as I journey to another end of the world. Thanks to you all.
Thanks to you all for your unconditional support and encouragement.
Jillian
I feel a sense of calm before the storm. Like all the days and weeks of preparation have been a fun game. Is it real? Is it true: I'm really going to Uganda for 34 days? But I don't want the game to end. And when I settle in reality for a moment, I realize, the opening song hasn't even begun yet! And that makes me smile. Oh just a few more nights and I'll be on my merry way.
It has been very helpful to have Nick in Uganda these past few days. He's given me some great advice, and a hidden insight to what my life may be like for the next month. It sounds exciting, new, friendly, and very free.
I've continued to receive donations daily. It still brings me to tears how you all have rallied to support me and the kids at House of Hope. I am honored to be the face of your donations to these deserving kids. I'll do my best to capture their response and thanks. I'm constantly reminded of how much love is surrounding me as I journey to another end of the world. Thanks to you all.
Thanks to you all for your unconditional support and encouragement.
Jillian
3.08.2011
Bodies as Battlefields
I recently read a few articles about the violence against women in Congo that caught my attention. Since March is Women's History Month, I thought this blog might be worth writing.
The Democratic Republic of Congo shares a border with west Uganda and is familiar with the Lord's Resistance Army's brutality. In the Congo, sexual violence is so common that it is often called the "ground zero of rape". In Congo and Uganda, it is often said that rape is a weapon of war.
Women were and are continuously raped by armies to annihilate a community, a tribe, a country. They are raped to displace countless lives, tear apart families, and make it impossible to continue blood lines.
In parts of Africa, women who are raped are not "fit" to be married or live in the communities they came from. It is these countless women that are left behind after the violent crimes committed against them. They are left, often by their own family and husbands, to find food, work, and a place in society that fails to openly discuss the violence. It is a societal stigma to acknowledge the rapes, thus leaving the victims embarrassed, ashamed, and lost in hopelessness to figure out their futures.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0308/On-International-Women-s-Day-honoring-a-woman-who-told-the-world-about-rape-in-Congo
These women who have endured the sexual violence thrust upon them by combatants are now falling victim to the civilians in their local communities as rape becomes less of a war reality and more of a societal acceptance. Especially among civilians who have taken off their war clothes but still live in the mindsets taught to them by armies.
Before the war conflicts, when rape occurred, community leadership would stand up to the perpetrator and enforce punishment. Wars have displaced such "paternal" leadership in most communities, leaving women with no advocate. Leaving civilians with no consequence to their violence against their women. Law enforcement of punishment in cases of rape is rarely enforced.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2010/0630/Congo-war-leaves-legacy-of-sexual-violence-against-women
Not to mention the emotional, painful and financial hardships that come hand in hand with pregnancies as a result of rape.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2010/0509/Mothers-in-Congo-get-help-in-raising-children-of-rape
I am again overwhelmed with the vastness of human rights violations in Africa. How could I possibly do anything to change a culture? A mindset? An opinion? Is that reason enough not to try?
Marie Curie changed a culture when she discovered radium and furthered x-ray technology. My 1st grade teacher changed my mind when she taught me that the smaller brown one was a "penny", not a "quarter". And Rosa Parks changed the opinion of millions of Americans when she refused to sit in the back of that bus, insisting that blacks should have the same rights as whites, and thus igniting a spark in the USA Civil Rights Movement.
Don't know about you, but I'm with these women. I'm not giving up on the abused and neglected women of Africa. There IS something we can do. Write to your House Representative. Read actor Don Cheadle's (Hotel Rwanda ring a bell?) book called "The Enough Moment" - written to instruct and inspire people like you and me to help. Learn more and take a stand publicly.
http://www.enoughproject.org/enough-moment
Are we really gonna just let these women go on living under the oppression we shamefully experienced in the USA during our slavery decades? Please tell me "no", and then hop on your computer to do something about it.
Here's a start:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Jillian
The Democratic Republic of Congo shares a border with west Uganda and is familiar with the Lord's Resistance Army's brutality. In the Congo, sexual violence is so common that it is often called the "ground zero of rape". In Congo and Uganda, it is often said that rape is a weapon of war.
Women were and are continuously raped by armies to annihilate a community, a tribe, a country. They are raped to displace countless lives, tear apart families, and make it impossible to continue blood lines.
In parts of Africa, women who are raped are not "fit" to be married or live in the communities they came from. It is these countless women that are left behind after the violent crimes committed against them. They are left, often by their own family and husbands, to find food, work, and a place in society that fails to openly discuss the violence. It is a societal stigma to acknowledge the rapes, thus leaving the victims embarrassed, ashamed, and lost in hopelessness to figure out their futures.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/Africa-Monitor/2011/0308/On-International-Women-s-Day-honoring-a-woman-who-told-the-world-about-rape-in-Congo
These women who have endured the sexual violence thrust upon them by combatants are now falling victim to the civilians in their local communities as rape becomes less of a war reality and more of a societal acceptance. Especially among civilians who have taken off their war clothes but still live in the mindsets taught to them by armies.
Before the war conflicts, when rape occurred, community leadership would stand up to the perpetrator and enforce punishment. Wars have displaced such "paternal" leadership in most communities, leaving women with no advocate. Leaving civilians with no consequence to their violence against their women. Law enforcement of punishment in cases of rape is rarely enforced.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2010/0630/Congo-war-leaves-legacy-of-sexual-violence-against-women
Not to mention the emotional, painful and financial hardships that come hand in hand with pregnancies as a result of rape.
http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Africa/2010/0509/Mothers-in-Congo-get-help-in-raising-children-of-rape
I am again overwhelmed with the vastness of human rights violations in Africa. How could I possibly do anything to change a culture? A mindset? An opinion? Is that reason enough not to try?
Marie Curie changed a culture when she discovered radium and furthered x-ray technology. My 1st grade teacher changed my mind when she taught me that the smaller brown one was a "penny", not a "quarter". And Rosa Parks changed the opinion of millions of Americans when she refused to sit in the back of that bus, insisting that blacks should have the same rights as whites, and thus igniting a spark in the USA Civil Rights Movement.
Don't know about you, but I'm with these women. I'm not giving up on the abused and neglected women of Africa. There IS something we can do. Write to your House Representative. Read actor Don Cheadle's (Hotel Rwanda ring a bell?) book called "The Enough Moment" - written to instruct and inspire people like you and me to help. Learn more and take a stand publicly.
http://www.enoughproject.org/enough-moment
Are we really gonna just let these women go on living under the oppression we shamefully experienced in the USA during our slavery decades? Please tell me "no", and then hop on your computer to do something about it.
Here's a start:
https://writerep.house.gov/writerep/welcome.shtml
Jillian
2.10.2011
Fundraisers
THANK YOU, those of you who made it to either of my Fundraiser last month! We raised a LOT of money for House of Hope! YAY! It was amazing to see how each and every one of you came out to support me and the children of Uganda. I poured out my heart, and you each met me halfway...and then took a few steps more!! You are all incredible human beings who inspire me and encourage me in my fight for these children. I felt so loved and supported when I looked out at all of you in the audience. I think you'd all agree that it is a powerful experience when a group of people join together for a common cause...what passion is ignited and spread! I'm truly blessed for friends and family like you...all I can say is "thank you".
Please keep remembering your commitments to "create a ripple for Uganda", however you decide to! And keep following my website for updates during my trip!
All I can say is "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. Your support and encouragement has touched me more than you know.
Sincerely,
Jillian
Please keep remembering your commitments to "create a ripple for Uganda", however you decide to! And keep following my website for updates during my trip!
All I can say is "thank you" from the bottom of my heart. Your support and encouragement has touched me more than you know.
Sincerely,
Jillian
2.02.2011
We Want Peace music video
by Sudanese "Lost Boy"
Emmanuel Jal
Visit his website to reach peace for Sudan: http://www.we-want-peace.com/
1.22.2011
Song from an Unknown Lover
My Africa whose dry air is Sahara
Whose black skin haunts my dreams
And leads my thoughts
Whose white smile is stained with hunger
Whose hair is curled like Cyrtanthus
Whose eyes has seen Sheol
Whose ears have heard blood spilling like the rains of monsoon
My Africa whose land has swallowed men whole
Whose dust spreads across the mountains like ants carrying life
Whose water knows not the filter's passage
Whose exhausted feet have clubbed the long trails' rock
My Africa has many children
Who've breathed long breaths for their lost and wandering
My Africa has tasted two poisons
In the sweltering heat of her dark throat in sickness
In the pounding drums of AK47s
My Africa whose mind swells of packed lies, stored in harvest bundles
Whose pastures cup no rain
Whose land is beaten and barren as the unfaithful wife
Whose mountains cleave their young like hoarse dogs
Whose farms scatter into reckless neglect
Whose seeds grow fruit
For the fat and lonely far away
Whose soil drinks in the blood of mortality
Whose fig tree roots are fed to the holy ones
My Africa who abandons her kin like a shadow in the dark
And corrupts her sister to evil
Whose eyes are the jewels of kings long before
And hold secrets of the world in small crevasses
My Africa who sings deep and loud in her ribs
My Africa whose hands and feet move with the rhythm of the air
My Africa whose legs run with the lone leopard
Whose arms climb trees as monkeys
Whose spear pins down the elephant
Whose sweat pours from the oldest depths of the sea
Whose sex is stolen at her last tear
Whose hands plow the red dust for dying food, for re-birth, for early death
My Africa whose beer is stirred with scarred, lined hands
Whose tongue clicks with foreigners
Whose fear seals over her eyes like scales on a trout
My Africa whose flesh is rubbed with metal
Coughing black powder like the hyena
Whose hands search with envy, prying
All consuming of exotic potions that stain her soul and leave her wanting
My Africa whose neck is long and regal
My Africa with limbs forever cut and bleeding
My Africa sings the songs telling the wind and rain to quench life
By Jillian Theriault
Whose black skin haunts my dreams
And leads my thoughts
Whose white smile is stained with hunger
Whose hair is curled like Cyrtanthus
Whose eyes has seen Sheol
Whose ears have heard blood spilling like the rains of monsoon
My Africa whose land has swallowed men whole
Whose dust spreads across the mountains like ants carrying life
Whose water knows not the filter's passage
Whose exhausted feet have clubbed the long trails' rock
My Africa has many children
Who've breathed long breaths for their lost and wandering
My Africa has tasted two poisons
In the sweltering heat of her dark throat in sickness
In the pounding drums of AK47s
My Africa whose mind swells of packed lies, stored in harvest bundles
Whose pastures cup no rain
Whose land is beaten and barren as the unfaithful wife
Whose mountains cleave their young like hoarse dogs
Whose farms scatter into reckless neglect
Whose seeds grow fruit
For the fat and lonely far away
Whose soil drinks in the blood of mortality
Whose fig tree roots are fed to the holy ones
My Africa who abandons her kin like a shadow in the dark
And corrupts her sister to evil
Whose eyes are the jewels of kings long before
And hold secrets of the world in small crevasses
My Africa who sings deep and loud in her ribs
My Africa whose hands and feet move with the rhythm of the air
My Africa whose legs run with the lone leopard
Whose arms climb trees as monkeys
Whose spear pins down the elephant
Whose sweat pours from the oldest depths of the sea
Whose sex is stolen at her last tear
Whose hands plow the red dust for dying food, for re-birth, for early death
My Africa whose beer is stirred with scarred, lined hands
Whose tongue clicks with foreigners
Whose fear seals over her eyes like scales on a trout
My Africa whose flesh is rubbed with metal
Coughing black powder like the hyena
Whose hands search with envy, prying
All consuming of exotic potions that stain her soul and leave her wanting
My Africa whose neck is long and regal
My Africa with limbs forever cut and bleeding
My Africa sings the songs telling the wind and rain to quench life
By Jillian Theriault
1.21.2011
Inspirational Quotes
"One does not discover new lands without consenting to lose sight of the shore for a very long time." - Andre Gide
"This world demands the qualities of youth; not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the life of ease." - Robert F. Kennedy
"I've learned that people will forget what you've said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel." - Maya Angelou
"What you are is what you have been, and what you will be is what you do now."
- Buddha
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
- Mark Twain
"Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly." - Robert F. Kennedy
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